2 years and 3 months Gap
Emma Swan rolled over as the sound of pounding against her bedroom door, curtosy of one Franky Doyle - roused her from the deep sleep she had fallen into but hours ago.
"Swan! I've sent Henry off to school and made you some breakfast but you need to get out of bed now and feed Alexis or you're going to be late for work!" Franky yelled through the oak barrier and Emma released a groan into her pillow.
The case she had not long returned from early morning was particularly rough and left her with eight stitches in the right side of her neck, hidded beneath bandages and three broken ribs wrapped tightly by the bindings beneath the singlet she barely managed to change into before unconnciousness took over her. She was also marred by multiple small cuts and quite afew brusies including a fairly dark one along her left cheek and jaw. She took afew moments to get her barings together before rising from her bed.
"Just a minute Doyle!" She called out as she pulled on a pair of tracksuit pants, she cross the room and opened the door to be met by deep brown eyes, which widened at the site of her.
"Ohh babe." Franky said lightly brushing her hand against the large bruise marring the blondes face. "They really did a number on you this time..." She said and turned to follow Emma who had brushed past her in favor of the kitchen. She started eating and flicking through mail as she talked with Franky.
"Bikies, you'd think I'd get warning before being sent headlong into that kind of situation." She said as she opened one of the letters. "My girls took some damage though, Alexis will be on formula for alittle while." Emma explained, unconciously rubbing at a sore breast with the hand not holding the letter she was now skiming over.
"Hopefully you will be on desk duties for a while then?" Franky asked hopefully and Emma just face took on a confused expression before handing her the letter and going back to her food, brushing the rest of the mail into the trash.
"What's this?" Franky asked before reading over it out loud. "Swan, we have recieved a call from a woman called Regina Mills. I am to inform you we are transfering you to a different department. The pay is significantly better but the position is outside of Bosten and probably not something you are used too but she has requested you personally. She is the Mayor of a small town called Storybrooke, in Maine and has informed us she calls on you to take up the position of Sheriff. I want you to take Francesca with you, you both leave today, no discussions. You are to work for the Mayor and are not to return untill I have recieved a call from Mayor Mills herself, telling me that your services are no longer needed." Franky's eyes flitted over the letter multiple times to make sure she had all the right words down before she looked to Emma with confusion. At the sight of the blonde's eyes closed in a wince as she rubbed lightly at the bandages across her chest, brown eyes glazed with symphaty.
"I supose you can look at this as a kind of blessing. Surely being Sheriff of a small town can't attrack too much, bad attention." She said in what she hoped was a comforting voice and Emma looked at her through bleary eyes. "I'm going to go and retrieve Henry from school, you will get his, Alexis' and your stuff together while I'm gone and I'll throw a bag together when I get back, then the four of us will head off. We will send for more stuff once we get there." She said and Emma just sighed before nodding.
Within half an hour, the four were packed into Emma's pale yellow Volkswagen Beetle and heading out of Bosten. Franky reached over with the hand not on the steering wheel to shift Emma's hood so It covered the blonde's eyes from the sun before moving her hand back and focusing on the drive.
"Ma, are you really going to meet and help the Mayor?" Henry asked in awe and Emma nodded to his words from her position in the passenger seat - Franky had insisted on driving and Emma had reluctantily handed over the keys to her precious car, dubbed the 'bug'.
"Mayor Mills, In fact." She started sleeply. "I'm sure at some point, you will get to meet her aswell." Emma mumbled, trying to stay awake. Franky's eyes met Henry's in the rear-view mirror and the younger nodded, he wrapped his arm around Alexis' car seat and begun speaking softly to the child who gave him all her silent attention. It wasn't long till Emma drifted off to sleep, Henry and Alexis following.
The four hour drive was quiet and the silence was only broken by Franky when she lightly shook Emma awake when the Bug rolled to a stop around the side -hidden from view of the street- of a large old-styled building. Emma roused awake and looked at her with confusion.
"We're here, we are going to book into the Inn, and then your going to get some sleep while I make sure Henry and Alexis are ok." Franky said and Emma nodded. They both got out of the Bug, Franky bundling Alexis in her arms and Emma carrying a sleeping Henry and headed into Granny's Bed and Breakfast.
There was no one manning the desk and Franky frowned as Emma took a seat, she was slowly dozing off, but keeping her tight grip on Henry so the fourteen year old wouldn't fall from her lap. She moved to look out the glass window and noticed Granny's Diner across the street. Seeing the similar name she got an Idea.
"I'll be right back, I'm just going to go get someone to help us." Franky said softly and Emma's only response was a soft grunt to show she had heard. Franky sighed before rushing across the street and pushing open the door.
She adjusted Alexis on her hip when all chatter inside stopped and all eyes turned to her. With a soft smile she crossed the small diner, noticing the old lady who was watching her with wairy eyes.
"Sorry to bother you miss, but my partner and I are looking to stay at what I presume is your B&B across the street. My partner has been called here by the Mayor on business and we will be needing a place to stay while she works." Franky explained jostling the toddler sitting on her hip, she awoke and seemed to be taking in everything around her silently.
A look of confusion crossed Granny's face before she nodded once.
"Ruby, mind the counter." She called before moving out and leading Franky back across the street to the B&B. "I apologise about the state of my diner patreons, we don't often get visitors in our small town." Granny said and Franky could hear the nervous tinge to her voice.
She frowned as they entered the B&B though when Granny froze at the site of Emma and Henry, it was only a moment before she continued towards the counter but Franky could tell something was off.
"Your... partner?" Granny asked gesturing to the two slumbering and Franky noted the look of slight recognizion in the elders eyes as she nodded.
"We will need a room with two beds please." Franky requested, pulling some money from her back pocket.
Granny's eyes flickered from the money to Emma and back again before shaking her head.
"Your partner..." She started and Franky nodded.
"Emma, Emma Swan." She filled in helpfully and Granny nodded.
"Miss Swan, is the Sheriff Mayor Mills called upon?" Granny confirmed and Franky nodded. "Then no charge, it's the least I can do for someone willing to risk her life for our small town." Granny smiled handing over a key before shifting her book. "I will need all of your names for the log." Granny said and Franky nodded.
"My name is Francesca Doyle, but I prefer just Franky. This little princess is Alexis Swan, the teen is Henry Swan and I've already told you Emma's name." Franky supplied and Granny nodded as she wrote everything down.
"And may I ask you to please lift her hood, I need to see her so I do not mistake her for another." Granny requested and Franky looked the woman over wairly before nodded softly.
"Alright, but I must warn you... She just yesterday got back from a brutal job, and she took quite abit of ware and tear." Franky cautioned as she knelt down so she was looking up into Emma's closed eyes beneath the hood. "Em..." She called softly as she brushed against Emma's cheek and she smiled softly when the blonde batted away her hand and snuggled her head into Henry's shoulder.
"Momma, wake!" Alexis giggled out lightly pulling on a strand of blonde hair beneath the hood.
"Em's you gotta wake up, I can't carry the three of you upstairs myself." Franky laughed jokingly patting Emma's knee and the blonde chuckled softly as she sturred.
"I s'pose not." She murmered as she took hold of Franky's arm and the younger helped her to her feet. Alexis clapping at Emma's movements.
Franky looked to Granny who had a quirked eyebrow at them and she flushed slightly.
"Babe, the Inn keeper needs to see your face before we can head up to our room." Franky said softly and Emma's arm's tightened around Henry but she nodded and Franky reached up and pulled down her hood before brushing soft blonde curls out of the way.
Granny gasped at the site of the bruise and bandage but at the look Franky shot her, she figured not to say anything. Emma blinked open bleary green eyes and took in Granny with a soft smile.
"Thankyou for allowing us to stay in this fine establishment..." Emma paused in her wording and Granny figured it was for a name.
"Lucas... Eugenia Lucas, but everyone here just calls me Granny." She responded with a warm smile and Emma nodded.
"Granny Lucas." Emma finished with a bob of her head and Franky smiled at her.
"Come on sleepy, lets get some rest into you before you gotta meet the Mayor. We are in room 102." Franky said before handing her the room key and nudging her gentally towards the stairs. Emma smiled and slowly made her way up them, careful to balence Henry even in her half state of mind.
Franky looked to Alexis who was watching them go before she turned to Granny.
"The boy despite being a heavy sleeper, has a sixth sense when it comes to his mother in danger. I do not want him worrying about her, I apologise if my actions caused offence." Franky apologised bowing slightly, careful of Alexis who giggled at the movement, her attention now back on Franky and Granny.
"It is quite alright, I understand the need to protect your child. Even if they are not yours by blood." Granny said softly and Franky nodded.
"Thankyou for understanding." Franky smiled before looking down at Alexis then outside before back to Granny. "Ahh... Awkward question but would you mind holding Littlest Swan while I get our stuff from the car?" Franky asked softly and Granny practically beamed at her.
"Of cause. Come here young one." Granny encouraged with outstretched arms and Alexis almost glared at the woman. She looked up to Franky and at her nod, Alexis reluctantly held out her arms for the elderly woman and Granny took the eighteen month old into her arms and recieved a small smile from Franky. Franky pinched both Alexis cheeks softly and nuzzled her nose with her own before grinning at the child who giggled.
"I'll be right back." She said and Alexis repeated the action against Franky's cheeks.
"Hurry." Alexis smiled and Franky nodded before she ran from the building.
Granny watched Franky run back and forth, as she ran the last lot of luggage up the stairs Granny turned her attention back to bobbing Alexis on her hip while taking in the small childs features, while Alexis glared off to the side, ignoring the woman holding her. Granny looked up at the sound of the bell when a confused Regina Mills entered the inn.
"Widdow Lucas, what's going..." She started to demand when her eyes fell on Alexis who was looking at her with soft green eyes shining with recognizion. "On... And why do you have a child?" Regina's voice went from angry and confused to soft as she took in the small girl. Alexis immediantly shifted under the attention and outstretched her arm for Regina to take her.
Granny watched the childs reaction and the frozen woman for a moment and was about to say something when Franky jogged back down the stairs.
"Alexis." She drawled childishly with a smile, she eyed Regina wairly before she stopped infront of Granny and Alexis who was still reaching for Regina. "Momma and big brother Henry are waiting up stairs Littlest Swan." Franky said and Alexis seemed to look between Franky and Regina with confusion on her face before she nodded softly and held out her arms for Franky. Franky took her from Granny before looking to a shocked Regina.
Franky up and downed her dress suit and her regal manor despite her slack-jawed expression and assumed she was the Mayor.
"Mayor Mills I presume?" Franky asked with an outstretched hand and Regina seemed to regain her composure and her regality fell into place like a mask.
"Indeed and who might you both be dear?" Regina said taking grasping Franky's wrist and giving it a firm shake.
"I'm Franky, formally known as Francesca Doyle and this is Littlest Swan, formally known as Alexis Swan. You called upon my partner for a job?" Franky asked noting Regina's eyes scan over Alexis in a new light, she shifted slightly so she was blocking the brunette who suspiciouslly looked very similar to Alexis and she ignored the slap on her shoulder form the child who now had her view of the brunette blocked before she continued. "Sherrif Swan is currently resting upstairs, she is still recovering from injuries sustained from her last job and she will be resting for a couple days before taking on your job. Her boss gave her no choice on coming here but she is not available to start till I give the okay." Franky said sternly before turning from a fuming Regina to Alexis who was playing with her small plait, having gotten over her momentary anger at her. "Come on we will go see if big brother Henry will play with you while I make sure Momma sleeps, yeah?" She asked and Alexis nodded with a smile. "That's my girl." She said with a tap to her nose, Franky looked to Granny with a smile. "Thankyou again for allowing us to stay here, I hope the Bug is okay where I parked it." She gave a lopsided smile and literally bounced up the stairs making Alexis giggle with each one.
Regina sat down and Granny moved over to her with concern. "Regina..." She started as she placed a soft hand against Regina's folded in her lap.
"She has another child... A partner and no memories? What about Henry?" Regina asked with sorrow and Granny just frowned.
"I don't know, he was asleep the whole time, but Emma looked right through me..." Granny said sadly and Regina accepted the arm slung around her shoulder.
Franky glared down at them from her position just out of sight at the top of the stairs and looked down at Alexis who tugged her plait for her attention.
"What is it Littlest Swan?" She asked softly and Alexis looked down at her hands before pointing towards their room.
"Momma." She said and Franky nodded, confusion taking over her eyes as Alexis then pointed down at the Mayor. "Momma two." Alexis said seeming proud of her self at the new word and Franky glanced down to where Mayor Mills and Granny were conversing softly before she headed to her room filled with confusion at Alexis' words.
Over the next four days, everyone had grown used to Franky's presence within the town as she, with Alexis was the only one to leave their room at the inn. Henry stayed with Emma while she regained her strength and Franky learned the layout of the town and made fast friends with Ruby, Granny's grandaughter at the diner who she would talk to every time she went to get food for the family. Over these few days Franky had crossed paths with the Mayor multiple times and each encounter passed with a glare from the regal woman and confusion from Franky. What confused Franky -more then the Mayor's apparent dislike of her- about their interactions was Alexis' reactions to the woman each time their paths crossed. It was as if each time Alexis was seeing Regina in a personal light. As her mother.
Franky sighed as she crossed the street towards the B&B, Ruby in tow behind her.
"Are you sure your ok with this, I wouldn't ask... It's just I don't feel Emma is up to scratch yet but she does need to get a brief from the Mayor if she is to police this town properly?" Franky asked again and Ruby nodded.
"Of cause, Henry can't stay holled up in the inn forever." Ruby responded cheerly and Franky eyed her before nodding.
She lead Ruby up to their room and opened the door to see Henry on the loungeroom floor playing with Alexis. He looked up with a smile but frowned when he noticed Ruby and stood up, protectivly holding Alexis against him.
"Ma is still asleep." He stated evenly and Franky nodded before gesturing behind her.
"This is Miss Lucas, she will be staying with you and Alexis today while I take your mom to see the Mayor." Franky explained and Ruby smiled softly at Henry who held his neutral face. Franky crossed the room past Henry and lay a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Remember respect, she means us no harm." Franky whispered and she noted the flash of confusion in Ruby's eyes, as if she had heard them before she went off to awaken Emma.
With Franky gone Henry wairly watched Ruby as she took a seat on the arm chair near the lounge Henry stood by, Alexis' eyes were on Ruby and she giggled.
"Wolfey." She smiled before looking up at Henry who just grinned, missing the shocked look cross Ruby's face, which was quickly masked.
"So... Your mom told me that you and your... Ma, have been holled up in here since your arrival?" Ruby started and Henry frowned slightly at her.
"Franky isn't my mother, she's my Aunt." Henry stated and Ruby was taken aback by his hard response, her eyes flicked to the doors Franky had dissapeared through before back to Henry.
"Ohh I apologise for assuming, if you don't mind me asking. Where is your father?" Ruby questioned softly, motioning between Alexis and Henry, she noticed Henry's caution as his eyes also moved to Alexis, they then flicked to the door before back to Ruby.
"My father... Is dead." Henry whispered and Alexis' hands immediantly went to his cheeks squishing them together like a fish.
"Be... Hap... Happie." She smiled and Henry nuzzled her causing the younger to giggle. Ruby smiled at the interaction and nodded once Henry looked back to her, before she looked to Alexis.
"And what of the young ones father?" She asked and she frowned when Henry's eyes darkened.
"He ran out on Ma and I when she told him she was pregnant, that's when we moved to Bosten." Henry's voice was full of bitterness and Ruby's eyes widened, she was glad Henry was looking down at Alexis who was babbling at him about his mood and didn't see her expression.
"If you don't mind I just need to make a quick phonecall, I'll be right back." She said and Henry grunted so she jumped up and left the room, she moved down into the Inn's lobby and quickly diled a well-known number.
'Mayor Mills.' Regina's voice drawled through the phone and Ruby smiled.
"Well don't you sound board." She chuckled and she heard a sigh.
'What is it wolf?' Regina asked and Ruby looked around before speaking softly into the phone.
"I'm at the B&B, I just saw Henry and Alexis. That Franky woman has asked me to look after them while her and Emma go see you about the what Emma will be doing as Sheriff." Ruby explained and she could hear the immediant shift in Regina's voice when she spoke after a shocked silence.
'Is he alright, what did you find out?' She asked anxiously and Ruby grinned.
"Well I'll start with the main things you want to know, Henry is fine, perfectly healthy and happy and Franky and Emma aren't a couple, Henry refers to Franky as an 'aunt'." She heard a sigh of relief from the other end of the phone before continuing. "But Regina there is something you should know..." She said softly and at Regina's prompting she finally worded. "It's about Alexis the child. She is Emma's biological daughter."
'How can you tell?' Regina asked confused and Ruby glanced to see if anyone was listening before speaking.
"The child has Magic Regina, she knew the moment she laid eyes on me that the skin I display is not my true nature." Ruby explained and Regina gasped. "There's also something else you should know..."
'What wolf?' Regina groused over the phone and at her next words, she heard the phone drop.
"Emma knew she was pregnant before she left for Boston. The father lives here, in Storybrooke." Ruby waited a moment for a response before calling. "Regina? Regina!" But with no response she realised the Mayor had hung up on her and she ended the call before heading back into the room.
Just as she shut the door behind her another opened and Emma stepped out, stretching with a large yawn. A huge smile crossed Henry's face and he rushed over to wrap an arm around her the other supporting Alexis.
"Momma!" The young girl cried over Henry's words.
"It's good to see you out of bed Ma." He smiled and when he pulled back Alexis held out her arms and Emma complied, taking the her in her arms and spinning her around and Alexis released a shrill giggle of happiness. Ruby noticed Franky leaning against the door frame watching them with fondness, and she took the time to take in Emma's appearence as she talked softly with Henry about how she was ok and that her new job wouldn't be as dangerous. She frowned a the bandages and the well hidden bruises and her eyes flickered to Franky who was glaring at her for staring, her eyes then flitted to the floor.
"Ems. This is Miss Lucas, she will be looking after Henry and Alexis while we head over to see the Mayor." Franky introduced and Emma's attention turned to her as if only just noticing her in the room. She shifted Alexis onto her left hip and held out her right for Ruby.
Ruby clasped her forearm in greeting and slight confusion crossed Emma's eyes before she smiled and gave a single shake before retracting her arm.
"Alright Princess. Momma has to go with Aunty to see the nice lady who is giving Momma some work. Can you look after big brother Henry and make sure Miss Lucas is on her best behavior?" She asked with a wink and Alexis nodded with a smile.
"Yes Momma, Wolfey on bestest 'havior." Alexis nodded looking to Ruby the back to Emma, placing a small hand on her cheek.
"That's my princess." Emma smiled, kissing the hand on her cheek before handing her back to Henry. She then moved towards the door, limping slightly. Franky ruffled Alexis' black locks before she nipped at her nose.
"We will be back later Littlest Swan, miss you already." She said and Alexis giggled. The three watched as Franky and Emma left the room and an awkward silence settled in.
"Why don't I take you two over to the diner for some breakfast?" Ruby suggested and Henry looked to Alexis, the younger seemed to be taking in Ruby and Henry seemed content to wait. Ruby felt a ripple in the air around her and she allowed her natures eye to take over, rimming her hazel eyes with the gold of her wolf. Surrounding her was a fine lilac mist and she tell it was wafting from the child who locked eyes with her. The scent of the childs magic greatly confused Ruby though, it was as if someone had twisted Emma and Regina's magic together. The colour was a perfect medium of Regina's dark purple magic and Emma's blue almost white magic, the scent a mixture of Apples and Cinnamon. After a moment the tendrals of lilac mist retreated and the scent slowly disipated as Alexis broke eye contact and the gold from Ruby's eyes recieded. Alexis looked back to Henry with a smile.
"F'anky right." Alexis nodded with a smile. "Wolfey safe." She confirmed and Henry nodded before looking to Ruby.
"Alright." He responded he then crosed to grab his coat and a smaller one for Alexis before waiting for Ruby to lead the way.
Regina paced her office like a caged tiger.
Emma and Henry were back...
Neither had their memories...
Emma had another child...
Said child's father was living in her town...
The child had magic...
Did Emma know of the child's magic?
She jumped at the knock on her door and straightened her close before crossing to her desk and pressing the intercom buzzer.
"Yes?" She asked and she heard her secretary respond.
'The princess is here to see you.' She said in a hushed voice and Regina almost growled at her secretary's words.
"Send her in, and don't refer to her as Princess, she no longer has her memories." Regina responded before she moved to her desk, she begain moving the papers around finding the ones she needed Emma to fill out.
Her door opened and she looked up with a smile which quickly turned to a scowl at the site of Franky by Emma's side.
"Come in, please take a seat." She said gesturing to the chairs on the other side of her desk. Emma nodded and moved confidently across the room despite her limp and when she was about to sit down her arm shot out, Franky grasped her hand and helped her lower into the chair. A soft noise of pain fell from her but she just bit into her bottom and sucked in a deep breathe. Franky took the chair beside her and Emma looked up to meet Regina's eyes.
Regina had to hold in the gasp, despite the damage the blonde had clearly suffered, she was still as beautiful as the day she sent her away. Regina felt the urge to take Emma's hand in her own but restrained herself.
"My boss in Boston informed me that you personally requested that I fill the job of Sheriff within your quaint little town, Madam Mayor." She said and Regina nodded, she had to hold back the grin at the title falling from the blonde's lips once again. "Not that I am ungreatful for such attention, as not only am I flattered that you wanted me for the position but it is significantly safer and pays more then my old line of work. My question though, is why you would want an unqualified person in such a high standing position among a close-knit town." Emma explained and Regina was shocked by the depth of Emma's words. The blonde was never so indepth with matters such as this. 'Must be a side-affect of the curse.' Regina thought before she nodded and slipped on her politicion mask.
"Despite having no experience in an actual policing position, the role of a Bounty Hunter is not to be taken lightly, you are just as much part of the law enforcement as the Detectives and the Officers. Whilst I could have requested someone who has been behind a desk all their career only leaving for Patrols and home time, I wanted someone with hands on experience and as a Bounty Hunter, you have just that." She explained and Emma nodded, Regina's eyes flickered to Franky who had her eyes closed but her hand was periodically squeezing Emma's atop the arm rest, showing her support. She then looked up to Emma when she spoke.
"Yes I can understand that, however there are multiple Bounty Hunters within the Bosten area, some with more experience then myself." Emma argued and Regina just smiled noticing some of the old flare within the blonde.
"While I can accept the fact that there are some with more experience then yourself Miss Swan. You have something that every Bounty Hunter in Boston does not have." Regina said pointedly flicking her eyes to Emma's chest before returning to her eyes, she smirked at the blush that tinted pale cheeks. "And you would be much more plesent to work with then some Misogynistic male, no matter how good at the job they may be." Regina explained and Emma nodded.
"Point taken, what do you need me to do and when do I start?" Emma asked and Regina handed over a stack of papers.
"I need you to read over and sign these documents, your department currently has two deputys, Ruby Lucas and David Nolen, they will be yours to command as you see fit, within the rules ofcause, It's also your free will when you go into the office and when you go on patrol, you will need to make a roster for yourself and your deputys." She explained and Emma nodded, she shakly rose the pen before she started reading. "Francesca, a word outside please?" She said before heading out of the office, she held the door open waiting.
"I'll be back in a moment Babe, call if you need me." Franky said kissing Emma on the hair before she followed a glaring Regina and they both left the room.
The moment the door closed, Regina had Franky up against the soundproof glass wall with her hand around the youngers neck. In a swift mothion, Regina found herself on her back, arms pined either side of her head and strong thighs pinning her hips to the floor. She released a chuckle and Franky, confused backed off in an agile move, putting some distance between them.
"Thought I smelled wolf." Regina said as he got to her feet, brushing off her suit.
"How do you..." Franky started but Regina just waved off her words and lead her across the hall to another room. It was smaller the the office Emma sat in but still sizeable. Regina took a seat by the desk and gestured for Franky to take he other one.
"I want you to explain to me how an Alpha wolf of the Enchanted forest made her way to the land without magic." Regina stated and Franky looked startled before she steeled her eyes.
"With all due respect Madam Mayor, I have no clue to what your refering." She said and Regina rolled her eyes.
"I can tell from your aproximate age that you were but a pup when you got here, but even a pup knows not to play games with the Queen." Regina threatened and Franky's eyes widened with recognizion before her head lowered, eyes closed.
"I apologise your Magisty, I was unaware." Franky apologised before looking up again, not meeting Regina's eyes.
"Do not apologise young wolf, All I wish to know is how you got to this land and how you have come to know Emma Swan." Regina asked and Franky's temper flared despite now knowing who she was talking too.
"What do you know of Swan?" Franky snarled and flinched when she saw the hardening in Regina's eyes.
"Had I been who I was back I the Enchanted Forest you would be punished severly for your insolence." Regina said sternly and Franky sighed before looking down at her hands. Despite her words though, Regina explained everything that had happened within Storybrooke from the moment the first curse landed them all within it's confines. Franky listened attentivly and asked questions here and there and once Regina was done a new light filled Franky's eyes.
"I apologise about everything that has happened Regina, but I can see your a better person for it. As for myself... My third moon was nearing when you cast the Dark Curse upon the inhabitants of the Enchanted Forest. At the time it was just me and my future mate at the den. We had not long finished celebrating her first Summer so she, like me was still young, but still she used all the true love she felt for me and all the magic she had within her being to create two pendents. Which would protect us from the Dark Curses magic as they were made with true love." She stopped to make sure that Regina was following and at the Mayor's nodd she continued. "After your curse ravished the land I found my self in the middle of a forest. The same one I drove through to get here. I howled for my mate but got no response and I was left to assume that either she was swept up with the curse or that she remained in the Enchanted Forest. I roamed after what I assessed to be roughly five hours, I heard wailing. My curiosity peaked by the human sound I approached and found baby Emma. I could smell the royals on her and knew she had escaped your curse as I did. Knowing I would have better luck with four legs then two. I snagged the baby blanket between my fangs and began dragging her along. I could tell by the sounds that we were nearing civilisation and I found myself on the outskirts of Boston. After a while of dragging her down the deserted streets we were found by a woman, she was kind and she lifted baby Emma for me and she didn't seem to care that I was a wolf, she just allowed me to trail behind her into a large building we were near passing. She wailed every time we were seperated so the humans allowed us to stay together as they checked her over and once she was deemed healthy they sent her to an orphanage and I was allowed to stay by her side. As she grew and was adopted by family after abusive family I followed her on the outskirts, keeping her as safe as I could without getting myself captured. When she turned seventeen she told me her plans to escape the foster system and with a large distraction on my wolf's behalf, she managed to escape however I lost her at this point and after finally tracking her down four months later, I found her happy with Henry's father. Seeing my charge was happy, I began to set up my own life. I found an appartment studied hard at law school and by my twenty-fifth birthday I found myself an upstarting Laywer. I came in contact with Emma multiple times over the span of three years but I allowed her to live her life and didn't interfere. That was untill she went missing the night of her twenty-eighth birthday. I checked her appartment and tryed all leads to find her but nothing. I'll tell you your magisty, this place is locked down." Franky complemented and Regina chuckled. "I began staying in her appartment hoping she would return and the night she did, still confuses me even now. Her memories were shot, she had a son who she believed she had looked after his whole life, she made no pretense about who I was. Henry's Aunt and Emma's childhood friend and appartenly I owned the appartment and they moved in with me. Emma got her job back and we became partners in the work force and then eight months later we found ourselves at the hospital and Emma birthed Littlest Swan." Franky explained she fidgeted slightly before looking to Regina and back to her hands.
"What? What is it?" Regina questioned and Franky sighed.
"You love her... Don't you?" Franky asked softly and Regina froze for a moment before sighing.
"Yes..." She responded and Franky smiled before meeting Regina's eyes.
"I must ask a favor of you..." She stated and Regina looked confused.
"What do you need?" She asked and Franky smiled at her willingness to help.
"I may know of Littlest Swan's parentage." Franky responded and Regina's eyes went wide.
"What can I do to help?" She asked and Franky gestured with her hands.
"Can you please release tendrals of your magic into the air between us?" Franky asked as her eyes bled golden.
"If it will help..." Regina said as she allowed her magic to flow freely from the confines of her body. "But I sware, if it's that blood pirate I will castrate him." Regina all but growled and Franky smirked.
"That won't be a problem your magisty. I now know who her parents are." Franky said and seeing it was no longer needed, Regina recalled her magic.
"Who?" Regina asked curiously and Franky smiled.
"You are of cause." She said with a smirk and Regina froze again, before she frowned.
"Do not kid about such things wolf, it is not physically possible for that little Girl to be mine or did you fail basic anatomy?" Regina snarked angrily and Franky held up two hands placatingly.
"Tell me your magisty, what significant event including magic happened between you and Swan 2 years and 3 months ago?" Franky asked and Regina looked thoughtful.
"Humm, that was just before neverland... The trigger?" Regina said certainly and Franky nodded.
"And what exactly happened?" Franky prompted and Regina frowned knowing she had already skimmed over it.
"Greg and Tamara had activated Storybrooke's self-distruct device and I had interviened with my magic in an attempt to shut it down but I was too weak to do it on my own and I could feel it slowly draining away my life. That's when Emma stepped in with her own magic and the Tonne's weighing me down, felt like mear kilos and we easily stopped the trigger, but our magic burst back at us and the force blasted us in opposite directions, I felt a streak of her magic hit me as I imagine a streak of my own hit her. It coursed thoughout my body reguvinating the energy I had lost and leaving me with the plesent tingle of love and light. In the end it was that which allowed us to connect enough to cause the eclypse in Neverland, the fact that we had previously connected our magic." Regina explained and Franky just looked at her, after a moment Regina's eyes widened. "Are you saying it was my magic that did it?" She questioned in awe.
"You magic would not have been able to create such a life on it's own, you had to have wanted it to happen, however Emma would have had to want the same. The swirl of light and dark magic bound by true love. A baby was bound to happen." Franky finished and Regina just stared down at the table. Franky reached over and patted her hand before she got up.
"Regina, Henry knows about Magic. He caught me shifting one day when he returned for something he forgot for school and I was just about to head out and help Emma with a job. I didn't know the whole story when I explained everything to him but I will send him over. It's about time you see your son and he remembers you. Now i'm going to go make sure Emma is ok." With that Franky left the room.
She found Emma already waiting for her in the waiting room and the two of them left, when they returned to the inn went to lay down and Franky waited up for Ruby to return with the young Swans after which they parted ways and she fed and sent them to bed. She stayed guard as the Swan's slept.
Come morning found Franky ushering Henry down the steps of the Inn with Alexis on her hip. Emma had said she wwanted one mor day of rest before officially taking up the Sheriff's position and Franky had decided now was as good a time as any to go out.
Knocking on the front door allerted Regina to visitors. She frowned as she looked to the clock 8am, 'Who on earth would that be?' She thought as she placed down the jug she was measuring and moved to answer the door. She stood shocked at who greeted her.
"Morning Mayor Mills." Franky said with a smile and Alexis immediantly brightened.
"Momma!" She squealed, holding out her arms for Regina and Regina looked to Franky who nodded before she took the small girl in her arms. It was then for the first time that she noticed the resemblance. Alexis looked like a perfect blend of her and Emma. She couldn't hold in the grin that broke out on her face as she hugged Alexis to her, the youngest Swan returneing the embrace just as tightly.
"It's nice properly meet you." She whispered and she startled as a finger brushed a tear from her cheek, her eyes opened to find Henry smiling softly at her.
"So your her." Henry stated evenly and Regina again flicked her gaze to an encouraging Franky before back to Henry.
"I'm her." She responded and Henry wrapped his arms around Regina's waist. "Ohh my dear prince." She murmered as more tears fell. "I've missed you so much." She finished with a kiss to his head and a small ripple broke out around them. When Henry pulled back to look at Regina, full recognision shone in his brown depths.
"Henwe member nao?" Alexis asked poking Henry in the shoulder.
"Yes little Lexi." Henry responded with a bright smile, "I remember everything. It's good to see you mom." He said to Regina before pulling her in for another hug.
"Perhaps we should take this inside?" Franky suggested and Regina nodded before leading Henry and Franky into her study. The room whilst neat had things everywhere and what drew all the attention was the clear tubes bubbling away. Regina handed Alexis over to Franky before she returned to the jug she had been measuring upon their arival and evened out 600grams of the brown dust, which was then poured into the boiling liquid.
Franky took in a deep breath and watched as Regina began sifting through what she now knew was ingredients.
"Your trying to make a memory potion." Franky stated and Henry watched in facination as Regina threws something else into the liquid and it popped.
"Yes, regardless of how she would have felt about me once her memories returned I need her to Remember. She won't be able to stay if she can't and this is her home, her whole family is here. Henry's grandparents, the Lucas', that godaweful pirate..." Regina trailed off as she stopped what she was doing.
"Mom what happened? Clearly Alexis recognizes you as her mother but I was there when Ma gave birth to her. If you catch me up to speed, perhaps I can help. And little Lexi has magic aswell, Aunt Franky says it's even more powerful then Emma's." Henry explained and Regina frowned before turning her attention to Alexis.
"Princess, can you show Momma your magic please?" Regina questioned as she released tendrals of her own magic in Alexis' direction, Alexis giggled and released her own, it immediantly pushed back and subdeued Regina's magic before surrounding her with its soft caress. "It is a perfect even of both my magic and Emma's..." Regina whispered in awe as she brushed Alexis' cheek affectionatly. Alexis then pulled her magic back and Regina smile. "This is just another reason why Emma needs her memories back, we need to talk about Alexis' magic."
Franky handed Alexis over to Henry who smiled as gnawed away on an apple she had conjured before turning to Regina.
"I'm going to leave them here for a bit, I need to head back to Boston and get some more of our stuff. I'll get Ruby to stay with Emma." Franky explained and Regina nodded.
"They will be fine, drive safely." She said and she clasped Franky's wrist shook it once and released her. Franky smiled before running from the room.
Left with just her and her children, as in plural. She spoke with them as she moved about the study. Answering any questions Henry deemed to ask with complete honesty and listening, soaking up all his words when he talked about the two years he was with Emma and Franky.
By the time there was a knock at the door it was already 7pm and Regina had just sat down to eat with Henry. Alexis was already asleep in the cot Regina had magiked up. Regina smiled as she went and let to let Franky in and was suprised to be greeted by a flash of blonde as Emma pushed past her to run into the house.
"Henry! Alexis!" She called out, her voice sounding frantic and she found herself being hugged lightly by her son.
Regina watched them for a moment, she glanced outside to see if Franky was coming and when she just saw the cool night air she shut her door and returned to where Emma was looking over Henry like he had be in utter peral.
"Ma, I'm fine. The Mayor has taken great care of both me and Alexis." Henry said with a plicating smile and Emma seemed to just remember where she had just stormed. She turned to look at Regina, a protective arm still wrapped around Henry's shoulder and her eyes flickered over the woman whose house she currently stood in.
Regina smiled softly before leaving the room and returning with a still sleeping Alexis nestled against her chest. Emma's worried eyes immediantly calmed as she took in the sleeping toddler.
"Everything is alright, Franky brought them over and asked me to look after them while she headed back to Boston to retrieve your belongings. She said Ruby was with you, did she not inform you of this?" Regina asked softly and Emma had the good grace to blush.
"I didn't hear much past you having the kids and not Franky." She gave a sheepish grin and Regina just shook her head.
"It's quite alright, we were actually just sitting down to dinner. I had set out an extra plate for Franky when she returned but there is plenty if you would also like some. Come join us." Regina encouraged, gesturing to where three plates of food were steaming on the table.
Emma seemed to think about it for a moment, she looked down at Henry who nodded encouragingly before she smiled softly.
"Alright. Henry did want to meet you, he was thrilled at the thought of meeting a Mayor." Emma said with a chuckle as she ruffled Henry's brown looks. Henry blushed at her words and the Mayor's knowing eye. Imagine his suprise at actually being the Mayor's son.
Regina chuclked good naturedly. "Well I'm glad I got to meet him also, such an amazing young boy, and this little one..." Regina started as she lightly an her hand over Alexis' hair. "So smart."
Emma smiled. "Yes, she is. Too smart sometimes..." Emma finished with a tired sigh before a squeeze from Henry's hand brightened her mood and she smiled up at the worried look in Regina's eyes. "She must get it from her father, she certainly doesn't get it from me." Emma joked and despite her words Regina smiled.
"Don't sell yourself short Dear. Now come on, before it gets cold." Regina again gestured to the food before she left the room to relay Alexis in the crib.
When she returned to the room a bright smile lit up her face at the site of Emma and Henry sitting at her dinning table, waiting for her to sit down so they could all eat. As a family. She took up her seat
Emma Swan rolled over as the sound of pounding against her bedroom door, curtosy of one Franky Doyle - roused her from the deep sleep she had fallen into but hours ago.
"Swan! I've sent Henry off to school and made you some breakfast but you need to get out of bed now and feed Alexis or you're going to be late for work!" Franky yelled through the oak barrier and Emma released a groan into her pillow.
The case she had not long returned from early morning was particularly rough and left her with eight stitches in the right side of her neck, hidded beneath bandages and three broken ribs wrapped tightly by the bindings beneath the singlet she barely managed to change into before unconnciousness took over her. She was also marred by multiple small cuts and quite afew brusies including a fairly dark one along her left cheek and jaw. She took afew moments to get her barings together before rising from her bed.
"Just a minute Doyle!" She called out as she pulled on a pair of tracksuit pants, she cross the room and opened the door to be met by deep brown eyes, which widened at the site of her.
"Ohh babe." Franky said lightly brushing her hand against the large bruise marring the blondes face. "They really did a number on you this time..." She said and turned to follow Emma who had brushed past her in favor of the kitchen. She started eating and flicking through mail as she talked with Franky.
"Bikies, you'd think I'd get warning before being sent headlong into that kind of situation." She said as she opened one of the letters. "My girls took some damage though, Alexis will be on formula for alittle while." Emma explained, unconciously rubbing at a sore breast with the hand not holding the letter she was now skiming over.
"Hopefully you will be on desk duties for a while then?" Franky asked hopefully and Emma just face took on a confused expression before handing her the letter and going back to her food, brushing the rest of the mail into the trash.
"What's this?" Franky asked before reading over it out loud. "Swan, we have recieved a call from a woman called Regina Mills. I am to inform you we are transfering you to a different department. The pay is significantly better but the position is outside of Bosten and probably not something you are used too but she has requested you personally. She is the Mayor of a small town called Storybrooke, in Maine and has informed us she calls on you to take up the position of Sheriff. I want you to take Francesca with you, you both leave today, no discussions. You are to work for the Mayor and are not to return untill I have recieved a call from Mayor Mills herself, telling me that your services are no longer needed." Franky's eyes flitted over the letter multiple times to make sure she had all the right words down before she looked to Emma with confusion. At the sight of the blonde's eyes closed in a wince as she rubbed lightly at the bandages across her chest, brown eyes glazed with symphaty.
"I supose you can look at this as a kind of blessing. Surely being Sheriff of a small town can't attrack too much, bad attention." She said in what she hoped was a comforting voice and Emma looked at her through bleary eyes. "I'm going to go and retrieve Henry from school, you will get his, Alexis' and your stuff together while I'm gone and I'll throw a bag together when I get back, then the four of us will head off. We will send for more stuff once we get there." She said and Emma just sighed before nodding.
Within half an hour, the four were packed into Emma's pale yellow Volkswagen Beetle and heading out of Bosten. Franky reached over with the hand not on the steering wheel to shift Emma's hood so It covered the blonde's eyes from the sun before moving her hand back and focusing on the drive.
"Ma, are you really going to meet and help the Mayor?" Henry asked in awe and Emma nodded to his words from her position in the passenger seat - Franky had insisted on driving and Emma had reluctantily handed over the keys to her precious car, dubbed the 'bug'.
"Mayor Mills, In fact." She started sleeply. "I'm sure at some point, you will get to meet her aswell." Emma mumbled, trying to stay awake. Franky's eyes met Henry's in the rear-view mirror and the younger nodded, he wrapped his arm around Alexis' car seat and begun speaking softly to the child who gave him all her silent attention. It wasn't long till Emma drifted off to sleep, Henry and Alexis following.
The four hour drive was quiet and the silence was only broken by Franky when she lightly shook Emma awake when the Bug rolled to a stop around the side -hidden from view of the street- of a large old-styled building. Emma roused awake and looked at her with confusion.
"We're here, we are going to book into the Inn, and then your going to get some sleep while I make sure Henry and Alexis are ok." Franky said and Emma nodded. They both got out of the Bug, Franky bundling Alexis in her arms and Emma carrying a sleeping Henry and headed into Granny's Bed and Breakfast.
There was no one manning the desk and Franky frowned as Emma took a seat, she was slowly dozing off, but keeping her tight grip on Henry so the fourteen year old wouldn't fall from her lap. She moved to look out the glass window and noticed Granny's Diner across the street. Seeing the similar name she got an Idea.
"I'll be right back, I'm just going to go get someone to help us." Franky said softly and Emma's only response was a soft grunt to show she had heard. Franky sighed before rushing across the street and pushing open the door.
She adjusted Alexis on her hip when all chatter inside stopped and all eyes turned to her. With a soft smile she crossed the small diner, noticing the old lady who was watching her with wairy eyes.
"Sorry to bother you miss, but my partner and I are looking to stay at what I presume is your B&B across the street. My partner has been called here by the Mayor on business and we will be needing a place to stay while she works." Franky explained jostling the toddler sitting on her hip, she awoke and seemed to be taking in everything around her silently.
A look of confusion crossed Granny's face before she nodded once.
"Ruby, mind the counter." She called before moving out and leading Franky back across the street to the B&B. "I apologise about the state of my diner patreons, we don't often get visitors in our small town." Granny said and Franky could hear the nervous tinge to her voice.
She frowned as they entered the B&B though when Granny froze at the site of Emma and Henry, it was only a moment before she continued towards the counter but Franky could tell something was off.
"Your... partner?" Granny asked gesturing to the two slumbering and Franky noted the look of slight recognizion in the elders eyes as she nodded.
"We will need a room with two beds please." Franky requested, pulling some money from her back pocket.
Granny's eyes flickered from the money to Emma and back again before shaking her head.
"Your partner..." She started and Franky nodded.
"Emma, Emma Swan." She filled in helpfully and Granny nodded.
"Miss Swan, is the Sheriff Mayor Mills called upon?" Granny confirmed and Franky nodded. "Then no charge, it's the least I can do for someone willing to risk her life for our small town." Granny smiled handing over a key before shifting her book. "I will need all of your names for the log." Granny said and Franky nodded.
"My name is Francesca Doyle, but I prefer just Franky. This little princess is Alexis Swan, the teen is Henry Swan and I've already told you Emma's name." Franky supplied and Granny nodded as she wrote everything down.
"And may I ask you to please lift her hood, I need to see her so I do not mistake her for another." Granny requested and Franky looked the woman over wairly before nodded softly.
"Alright, but I must warn you... She just yesterday got back from a brutal job, and she took quite abit of ware and tear." Franky cautioned as she knelt down so she was looking up into Emma's closed eyes beneath the hood. "Em..." She called softly as she brushed against Emma's cheek and she smiled softly when the blonde batted away her hand and snuggled her head into Henry's shoulder.
"Momma, wake!" Alexis giggled out lightly pulling on a strand of blonde hair beneath the hood.
"Em's you gotta wake up, I can't carry the three of you upstairs myself." Franky laughed jokingly patting Emma's knee and the blonde chuckled softly as she sturred.
"I s'pose not." She murmered as she took hold of Franky's arm and the younger helped her to her feet. Alexis clapping at Emma's movements.
Franky looked to Granny who had a quirked eyebrow at them and she flushed slightly.
"Babe, the Inn keeper needs to see your face before we can head up to our room." Franky said softly and Emma's arm's tightened around Henry but she nodded and Franky reached up and pulled down her hood before brushing soft blonde curls out of the way.
Granny gasped at the site of the bruise and bandage but at the look Franky shot her, she figured not to say anything. Emma blinked open bleary green eyes and took in Granny with a soft smile.
"Thankyou for allowing us to stay in this fine establishment..." Emma paused in her wording and Granny figured it was for a name.
"Lucas... Eugenia Lucas, but everyone here just calls me Granny." She responded with a warm smile and Emma nodded.
"Granny Lucas." Emma finished with a bob of her head and Franky smiled at her.
"Come on sleepy, lets get some rest into you before you gotta meet the Mayor. We are in room 102." Franky said before handing her the room key and nudging her gentally towards the stairs. Emma smiled and slowly made her way up them, careful to balence Henry even in her half state of mind.
Franky looked to Alexis who was watching them go before she turned to Granny.
"The boy despite being a heavy sleeper, has a sixth sense when it comes to his mother in danger. I do not want him worrying about her, I apologise if my actions caused offence." Franky apologised bowing slightly, careful of Alexis who giggled at the movement, her attention now back on Franky and Granny.
"It is quite alright, I understand the need to protect your child. Even if they are not yours by blood." Granny said softly and Franky nodded.
"Thankyou for understanding." Franky smiled before looking down at Alexis then outside before back to Granny. "Ahh... Awkward question but would you mind holding Littlest Swan while I get our stuff from the car?" Franky asked softly and Granny practically beamed at her.
"Of cause. Come here young one." Granny encouraged with outstretched arms and Alexis almost glared at the woman. She looked up to Franky and at her nod, Alexis reluctantly held out her arms for the elderly woman and Granny took the eighteen month old into her arms and recieved a small smile from Franky. Franky pinched both Alexis cheeks softly and nuzzled her nose with her own before grinning at the child who giggled.
"I'll be right back." She said and Alexis repeated the action against Franky's cheeks.
"Hurry." Alexis smiled and Franky nodded before she ran from the building.
Granny watched Franky run back and forth, as she ran the last lot of luggage up the stairs Granny turned her attention back to bobbing Alexis on her hip while taking in the small childs features, while Alexis glared off to the side, ignoring the woman holding her. Granny looked up at the sound of the bell when a confused Regina Mills entered the inn.
"Widdow Lucas, what's going..." She started to demand when her eyes fell on Alexis who was looking at her with soft green eyes shining with recognizion. "On... And why do you have a child?" Regina's voice went from angry and confused to soft as she took in the small girl. Alexis immediantly shifted under the attention and outstretched her arm for Regina to take her.
Granny watched the childs reaction and the frozen woman for a moment and was about to say something when Franky jogged back down the stairs.
"Alexis." She drawled childishly with a smile, she eyed Regina wairly before she stopped infront of Granny and Alexis who was still reaching for Regina. "Momma and big brother Henry are waiting up stairs Littlest Swan." Franky said and Alexis seemed to look between Franky and Regina with confusion on her face before she nodded softly and held out her arms for Franky. Franky took her from Granny before looking to a shocked Regina.
Franky up and downed her dress suit and her regal manor despite her slack-jawed expression and assumed she was the Mayor.
"Mayor Mills I presume?" Franky asked with an outstretched hand and Regina seemed to regain her composure and her regality fell into place like a mask.
"Indeed and who might you both be dear?" Regina said taking grasping Franky's wrist and giving it a firm shake.
"I'm Franky, formally known as Francesca Doyle and this is Littlest Swan, formally known as Alexis Swan. You called upon my partner for a job?" Franky asked noting Regina's eyes scan over Alexis in a new light, she shifted slightly so she was blocking the brunette who suspiciouslly looked very similar to Alexis and she ignored the slap on her shoulder form the child who now had her view of the brunette blocked before she continued. "Sherrif Swan is currently resting upstairs, she is still recovering from injuries sustained from her last job and she will be resting for a couple days before taking on your job. Her boss gave her no choice on coming here but she is not available to start till I give the okay." Franky said sternly before turning from a fuming Regina to Alexis who was playing with her small plait, having gotten over her momentary anger at her. "Come on we will go see if big brother Henry will play with you while I make sure Momma sleeps, yeah?" She asked and Alexis nodded with a smile. "That's my girl." She said with a tap to her nose, Franky looked to Granny with a smile. "Thankyou again for allowing us to stay here, I hope the Bug is okay where I parked it." She gave a lopsided smile and literally bounced up the stairs making Alexis giggle with each one.
Regina sat down and Granny moved over to her with concern. "Regina..." She started as she placed a soft hand against Regina's folded in her lap.
"She has another child... A partner and no memories? What about Henry?" Regina asked with sorrow and Granny just frowned.
"I don't know, he was asleep the whole time, but Emma looked right through me..." Granny said sadly and Regina accepted the arm slung around her shoulder.
Franky glared down at them from her position just out of sight at the top of the stairs and looked down at Alexis who tugged her plait for her attention.
"What is it Littlest Swan?" She asked softly and Alexis looked down at her hands before pointing towards their room.
"Momma." She said and Franky nodded, confusion taking over her eyes as Alexis then pointed down at the Mayor. "Momma two." Alexis said seeming proud of her self at the new word and Franky glanced down to where Mayor Mills and Granny were conversing softly before she headed to her room filled with confusion at Alexis' words.
Over the next four days, everyone had grown used to Franky's presence within the town as she, with Alexis was the only one to leave their room at the inn. Henry stayed with Emma while she regained her strength and Franky learned the layout of the town and made fast friends with Ruby, Granny's grandaughter at the diner who she would talk to every time she went to get food for the family. Over these few days Franky had crossed paths with the Mayor multiple times and each encounter passed with a glare from the regal woman and confusion from Franky. What confused Franky -more then the Mayor's apparent dislike of her- about their interactions was Alexis' reactions to the woman each time their paths crossed. It was as if each time Alexis was seeing Regina in a personal light. As her mother.
Franky sighed as she crossed the street towards the B&B, Ruby in tow behind her.
"Are you sure your ok with this, I wouldn't ask... It's just I don't feel Emma is up to scratch yet but she does need to get a brief from the Mayor if she is to police this town properly?" Franky asked again and Ruby nodded.
"Of cause, Henry can't stay holled up in the inn forever." Ruby responded cheerly and Franky eyed her before nodding.
She lead Ruby up to their room and opened the door to see Henry on the loungeroom floor playing with Alexis. He looked up with a smile but frowned when he noticed Ruby and stood up, protectivly holding Alexis against him.
"Ma is still asleep." He stated evenly and Franky nodded before gesturing behind her.
"This is Miss Lucas, she will be staying with you and Alexis today while I take your mom to see the Mayor." Franky explained and Ruby smiled softly at Henry who held his neutral face. Franky crossed the room past Henry and lay a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Remember respect, she means us no harm." Franky whispered and she noted the flash of confusion in Ruby's eyes, as if she had heard them before she went off to awaken Emma.
With Franky gone Henry wairly watched Ruby as she took a seat on the arm chair near the lounge Henry stood by, Alexis' eyes were on Ruby and she giggled.
"Wolfey." She smiled before looking up at Henry who just grinned, missing the shocked look cross Ruby's face, which was quickly masked.
"So... Your mom told me that you and your... Ma, have been holled up in here since your arrival?" Ruby started and Henry frowned slightly at her.
"Franky isn't my mother, she's my Aunt." Henry stated and Ruby was taken aback by his hard response, her eyes flicked to the doors Franky had dissapeared through before back to Henry.
"Ohh I apologise for assuming, if you don't mind me asking. Where is your father?" Ruby questioned softly, motioning between Alexis and Henry, she noticed Henry's caution as his eyes also moved to Alexis, they then flicked to the door before back to Ruby.
"My father... Is dead." Henry whispered and Alexis' hands immediantly went to his cheeks squishing them together like a fish.
"Be... Hap... Happie." She smiled and Henry nuzzled her causing the younger to giggle. Ruby smiled at the interaction and nodded once Henry looked back to her, before she looked to Alexis.
"And what of the young ones father?" She asked and she frowned when Henry's eyes darkened.
"He ran out on Ma and I when she told him she was pregnant, that's when we moved to Bosten." Henry's voice was full of bitterness and Ruby's eyes widened, she was glad Henry was looking down at Alexis who was babbling at him about his mood and didn't see her expression.
"If you don't mind I just need to make a quick phonecall, I'll be right back." She said and Henry grunted so she jumped up and left the room, she moved down into the Inn's lobby and quickly diled a well-known number.
'Mayor Mills.' Regina's voice drawled through the phone and Ruby smiled.
"Well don't you sound board." She chuckled and she heard a sigh.
'What is it wolf?' Regina asked and Ruby looked around before speaking softly into the phone.
"I'm at the B&B, I just saw Henry and Alexis. That Franky woman has asked me to look after them while her and Emma go see you about the what Emma will be doing as Sheriff." Ruby explained and she could hear the immediant shift in Regina's voice when she spoke after a shocked silence.
'Is he alright, what did you find out?' She asked anxiously and Ruby grinned.
"Well I'll start with the main things you want to know, Henry is fine, perfectly healthy and happy and Franky and Emma aren't a couple, Henry refers to Franky as an 'aunt'." She heard a sigh of relief from the other end of the phone before continuing. "But Regina there is something you should know..." She said softly and at Regina's prompting she finally worded. "It's about Alexis the child. She is Emma's biological daughter."
'How can you tell?' Regina asked confused and Ruby glanced to see if anyone was listening before speaking.
"The child has Magic Regina, she knew the moment she laid eyes on me that the skin I display is not my true nature." Ruby explained and Regina gasped. "There's also something else you should know..."
'What wolf?' Regina groused over the phone and at her next words, she heard the phone drop.
"Emma knew she was pregnant before she left for Boston. The father lives here, in Storybrooke." Ruby waited a moment for a response before calling. "Regina? Regina!" But with no response she realised the Mayor had hung up on her and she ended the call before heading back into the room.
Just as she shut the door behind her another opened and Emma stepped out, stretching with a large yawn. A huge smile crossed Henry's face and he rushed over to wrap an arm around her the other supporting Alexis.
"Momma!" The young girl cried over Henry's words.
"It's good to see you out of bed Ma." He smiled and when he pulled back Alexis held out her arms and Emma complied, taking the her in her arms and spinning her around and Alexis released a shrill giggle of happiness. Ruby noticed Franky leaning against the door frame watching them with fondness, and she took the time to take in Emma's appearence as she talked softly with Henry about how she was ok and that her new job wouldn't be as dangerous. She frowned a the bandages and the well hidden bruises and her eyes flickered to Franky who was glaring at her for staring, her eyes then flitted to the floor.
"Ems. This is Miss Lucas, she will be looking after Henry and Alexis while we head over to see the Mayor." Franky introduced and Emma's attention turned to her as if only just noticing her in the room. She shifted Alexis onto her left hip and held out her right for Ruby.
Ruby clasped her forearm in greeting and slight confusion crossed Emma's eyes before she smiled and gave a single shake before retracting her arm.
"Alright Princess. Momma has to go with Aunty to see the nice lady who is giving Momma some work. Can you look after big brother Henry and make sure Miss Lucas is on her best behavior?" She asked with a wink and Alexis nodded with a smile.
"Yes Momma, Wolfey on bestest 'havior." Alexis nodded looking to Ruby the back to Emma, placing a small hand on her cheek.
"That's my princess." Emma smiled, kissing the hand on her cheek before handing her back to Henry. She then moved towards the door, limping slightly. Franky ruffled Alexis' black locks before she nipped at her nose.
"We will be back later Littlest Swan, miss you already." She said and Alexis giggled. The three watched as Franky and Emma left the room and an awkward silence settled in.
"Why don't I take you two over to the diner for some breakfast?" Ruby suggested and Henry looked to Alexis, the younger seemed to be taking in Ruby and Henry seemed content to wait. Ruby felt a ripple in the air around her and she allowed her natures eye to take over, rimming her hazel eyes with the gold of her wolf. Surrounding her was a fine lilac mist and she tell it was wafting from the child who locked eyes with her. The scent of the childs magic greatly confused Ruby though, it was as if someone had twisted Emma and Regina's magic together. The colour was a perfect medium of Regina's dark purple magic and Emma's blue almost white magic, the scent a mixture of Apples and Cinnamon. After a moment the tendrals of lilac mist retreated and the scent slowly disipated as Alexis broke eye contact and the gold from Ruby's eyes recieded. Alexis looked back to Henry with a smile.
"F'anky right." Alexis nodded with a smile. "Wolfey safe." She confirmed and Henry nodded before looking to Ruby.
"Alright." He responded he then crosed to grab his coat and a smaller one for Alexis before waiting for Ruby to lead the way.
Regina paced her office like a caged tiger.
Emma and Henry were back...
Neither had their memories...
Emma had another child...
Said child's father was living in her town...
The child had magic...
Did Emma know of the child's magic?
She jumped at the knock on her door and straightened her close before crossing to her desk and pressing the intercom buzzer.
"Yes?" She asked and she heard her secretary respond.
'The princess is here to see you.' She said in a hushed voice and Regina almost growled at her secretary's words.
"Send her in, and don't refer to her as Princess, she no longer has her memories." Regina responded before she moved to her desk, she begain moving the papers around finding the ones she needed Emma to fill out.
Her door opened and she looked up with a smile which quickly turned to a scowl at the site of Franky by Emma's side.
"Come in, please take a seat." She said gesturing to the chairs on the other side of her desk. Emma nodded and moved confidently across the room despite her limp and when she was about to sit down her arm shot out, Franky grasped her hand and helped her lower into the chair. A soft noise of pain fell from her but she just bit into her bottom and sucked in a deep breathe. Franky took the chair beside her and Emma looked up to meet Regina's eyes.
Regina had to hold in the gasp, despite the damage the blonde had clearly suffered, she was still as beautiful as the day she sent her away. Regina felt the urge to take Emma's hand in her own but restrained herself.
"My boss in Boston informed me that you personally requested that I fill the job of Sheriff within your quaint little town, Madam Mayor." She said and Regina nodded, she had to hold back the grin at the title falling from the blonde's lips once again. "Not that I am ungreatful for such attention, as not only am I flattered that you wanted me for the position but it is significantly safer and pays more then my old line of work. My question though, is why you would want an unqualified person in such a high standing position among a close-knit town." Emma explained and Regina was shocked by the depth of Emma's words. The blonde was never so indepth with matters such as this. 'Must be a side-affect of the curse.' Regina thought before she nodded and slipped on her politicion mask.
"Despite having no experience in an actual policing position, the role of a Bounty Hunter is not to be taken lightly, you are just as much part of the law enforcement as the Detectives and the Officers. Whilst I could have requested someone who has been behind a desk all their career only leaving for Patrols and home time, I wanted someone with hands on experience and as a Bounty Hunter, you have just that." She explained and Emma nodded, Regina's eyes flickered to Franky who had her eyes closed but her hand was periodically squeezing Emma's atop the arm rest, showing her support. She then looked up to Emma when she spoke.
"Yes I can understand that, however there are multiple Bounty Hunters within the Bosten area, some with more experience then myself." Emma argued and Regina just smiled noticing some of the old flare within the blonde.
"While I can accept the fact that there are some with more experience then yourself Miss Swan. You have something that every Bounty Hunter in Boston does not have." Regina said pointedly flicking her eyes to Emma's chest before returning to her eyes, she smirked at the blush that tinted pale cheeks. "And you would be much more plesent to work with then some Misogynistic male, no matter how good at the job they may be." Regina explained and Emma nodded.
"Point taken, what do you need me to do and when do I start?" Emma asked and Regina handed over a stack of papers.
"I need you to read over and sign these documents, your department currently has two deputys, Ruby Lucas and David Nolen, they will be yours to command as you see fit, within the rules ofcause, It's also your free will when you go into the office and when you go on patrol, you will need to make a roster for yourself and your deputys." She explained and Emma nodded, she shakly rose the pen before she started reading. "Francesca, a word outside please?" She said before heading out of the office, she held the door open waiting.
"I'll be back in a moment Babe, call if you need me." Franky said kissing Emma on the hair before she followed a glaring Regina and they both left the room.
The moment the door closed, Regina had Franky up against the soundproof glass wall with her hand around the youngers neck. In a swift mothion, Regina found herself on her back, arms pined either side of her head and strong thighs pinning her hips to the floor. She released a chuckle and Franky, confused backed off in an agile move, putting some distance between them.
"Thought I smelled wolf." Regina said as he got to her feet, brushing off her suit.
"How do you..." Franky started but Regina just waved off her words and lead her across the hall to another room. It was smaller the the office Emma sat in but still sizeable. Regina took a seat by the desk and gestured for Franky to take he other one.
"I want you to explain to me how an Alpha wolf of the Enchanted forest made her way to the land without magic." Regina stated and Franky looked startled before she steeled her eyes.
"With all due respect Madam Mayor, I have no clue to what your refering." She said and Regina rolled her eyes.
"I can tell from your aproximate age that you were but a pup when you got here, but even a pup knows not to play games with the Queen." Regina threatened and Franky's eyes widened with recognizion before her head lowered, eyes closed.
"I apologise your Magisty, I was unaware." Franky apologised before looking up again, not meeting Regina's eyes.
"Do not apologise young wolf, All I wish to know is how you got to this land and how you have come to know Emma Swan." Regina asked and Franky's temper flared despite now knowing who she was talking too.
"What do you know of Swan?" Franky snarled and flinched when she saw the hardening in Regina's eyes.
"Had I been who I was back I the Enchanted Forest you would be punished severly for your insolence." Regina said sternly and Franky sighed before looking down at her hands. Despite her words though, Regina explained everything that had happened within Storybrooke from the moment the first curse landed them all within it's confines. Franky listened attentivly and asked questions here and there and once Regina was done a new light filled Franky's eyes.
"I apologise about everything that has happened Regina, but I can see your a better person for it. As for myself... My third moon was nearing when you cast the Dark Curse upon the inhabitants of the Enchanted Forest. At the time it was just me and my future mate at the den. We had not long finished celebrating her first Summer so she, like me was still young, but still she used all the true love she felt for me and all the magic she had within her being to create two pendents. Which would protect us from the Dark Curses magic as they were made with true love." She stopped to make sure that Regina was following and at the Mayor's nodd she continued. "After your curse ravished the land I found my self in the middle of a forest. The same one I drove through to get here. I howled for my mate but got no response and I was left to assume that either she was swept up with the curse or that she remained in the Enchanted Forest. I roamed after what I assessed to be roughly five hours, I heard wailing. My curiosity peaked by the human sound I approached and found baby Emma. I could smell the royals on her and knew she had escaped your curse as I did. Knowing I would have better luck with four legs then two. I snagged the baby blanket between my fangs and began dragging her along. I could tell by the sounds that we were nearing civilisation and I found myself on the outskirts of Boston. After a while of dragging her down the deserted streets we were found by a woman, she was kind and she lifted baby Emma for me and she didn't seem to care that I was a wolf, she just allowed me to trail behind her into a large building we were near passing. She wailed every time we were seperated so the humans allowed us to stay together as they checked her over and once she was deemed healthy they sent her to an orphanage and I was allowed to stay by her side. As she grew and was adopted by family after abusive family I followed her on the outskirts, keeping her as safe as I could without getting myself captured. When she turned seventeen she told me her plans to escape the foster system and with a large distraction on my wolf's behalf, she managed to escape however I lost her at this point and after finally tracking her down four months later, I found her happy with Henry's father. Seeing my charge was happy, I began to set up my own life. I found an appartment studied hard at law school and by my twenty-fifth birthday I found myself an upstarting Laywer. I came in contact with Emma multiple times over the span of three years but I allowed her to live her life and didn't interfere. That was untill she went missing the night of her twenty-eighth birthday. I checked her appartment and tryed all leads to find her but nothing. I'll tell you your magisty, this place is locked down." Franky complemented and Regina chuckled. "I began staying in her appartment hoping she would return and the night she did, still confuses me even now. Her memories were shot, she had a son who she believed she had looked after his whole life, she made no pretense about who I was. Henry's Aunt and Emma's childhood friend and appartenly I owned the appartment and they moved in with me. Emma got her job back and we became partners in the work force and then eight months later we found ourselves at the hospital and Emma birthed Littlest Swan." Franky explained she fidgeted slightly before looking to Regina and back to her hands.
"What? What is it?" Regina questioned and Franky sighed.
"You love her... Don't you?" Franky asked softly and Regina froze for a moment before sighing.
"Yes..." She responded and Franky smiled before meeting Regina's eyes.
"I must ask a favor of you..." She stated and Regina looked confused.
"What do you need?" She asked and Franky smiled at her willingness to help.
"I may know of Littlest Swan's parentage." Franky responded and Regina's eyes went wide.
"What can I do to help?" She asked and Franky gestured with her hands.
"Can you please release tendrals of your magic into the air between us?" Franky asked as her eyes bled golden.
"If it will help..." Regina said as she allowed her magic to flow freely from the confines of her body. "But I sware, if it's that blood pirate I will castrate him." Regina all but growled and Franky smirked.
"That won't be a problem your magisty. I now know who her parents are." Franky said and seeing it was no longer needed, Regina recalled her magic.
"Who?" Regina asked curiously and Franky smiled.
"You are of cause." She said with a smirk and Regina froze again, before she frowned.
"Do not kid about such things wolf, it is not physically possible for that little Girl to be mine or did you fail basic anatomy?" Regina snarked angrily and Franky held up two hands placatingly.
"Tell me your magisty, what significant event including magic happened between you and Swan 2 years and 3 months ago?" Franky asked and Regina looked thoughtful.
"Humm, that was just before neverland... The trigger?" Regina said certainly and Franky nodded.
"And what exactly happened?" Franky prompted and Regina frowned knowing she had already skimmed over it.
"Greg and Tamara had activated Storybrooke's self-distruct device and I had interviened with my magic in an attempt to shut it down but I was too weak to do it on my own and I could feel it slowly draining away my life. That's when Emma stepped in with her own magic and the Tonne's weighing me down, felt like mear kilos and we easily stopped the trigger, but our magic burst back at us and the force blasted us in opposite directions, I felt a streak of her magic hit me as I imagine a streak of my own hit her. It coursed thoughout my body reguvinating the energy I had lost and leaving me with the plesent tingle of love and light. In the end it was that which allowed us to connect enough to cause the eclypse in Neverland, the fact that we had previously connected our magic." Regina explained and Franky just looked at her, after a moment Regina's eyes widened. "Are you saying it was my magic that did it?" She questioned in awe.
"You magic would not have been able to create such a life on it's own, you had to have wanted it to happen, however Emma would have had to want the same. The swirl of light and dark magic bound by true love. A baby was bound to happen." Franky finished and Regina just stared down at the table. Franky reached over and patted her hand before she got up.
"Regina, Henry knows about Magic. He caught me shifting one day when he returned for something he forgot for school and I was just about to head out and help Emma with a job. I didn't know the whole story when I explained everything to him but I will send him over. It's about time you see your son and he remembers you. Now i'm going to go make sure Emma is ok." With that Franky left the room.
She found Emma already waiting for her in the waiting room and the two of them left, when they returned to the inn went to lay down and Franky waited up for Ruby to return with the young Swans after which they parted ways and she fed and sent them to bed. She stayed guard as the Swan's slept.
Come morning found Franky ushering Henry down the steps of the Inn with Alexis on her hip. Emma had said she wwanted one mor day of rest before officially taking up the Sheriff's position and Franky had decided now was as good a time as any to go out.
Knocking on the front door allerted Regina to visitors. She frowned as she looked to the clock 8am, 'Who on earth would that be?' She thought as she placed down the jug she was measuring and moved to answer the door. She stood shocked at who greeted her.
"Morning Mayor Mills." Franky said with a smile and Alexis immediantly brightened.
"Momma!" She squealed, holding out her arms for Regina and Regina looked to Franky who nodded before she took the small girl in her arms. It was then for the first time that she noticed the resemblance. Alexis looked like a perfect blend of her and Emma. She couldn't hold in the grin that broke out on her face as she hugged Alexis to her, the youngest Swan returneing the embrace just as tightly.
"It's nice properly meet you." She whispered and she startled as a finger brushed a tear from her cheek, her eyes opened to find Henry smiling softly at her.
"So your her." Henry stated evenly and Regina again flicked her gaze to an encouraging Franky before back to Henry.
"I'm her." She responded and Henry wrapped his arms around Regina's waist. "Ohh my dear prince." She murmered as more tears fell. "I've missed you so much." She finished with a kiss to his head and a small ripple broke out around them. When Henry pulled back to look at Regina, full recognision shone in his brown depths.
"Henwe member nao?" Alexis asked poking Henry in the shoulder.
"Yes little Lexi." Henry responded with a bright smile, "I remember everything. It's good to see you mom." He said to Regina before pulling her in for another hug.
"Perhaps we should take this inside?" Franky suggested and Regina nodded before leading Henry and Franky into her study. The room whilst neat had things everywhere and what drew all the attention was the clear tubes bubbling away. Regina handed Alexis over to Franky before she returned to the jug she had been measuring upon their arival and evened out 600grams of the brown dust, which was then poured into the boiling liquid.
Franky took in a deep breath and watched as Regina began sifting through what she now knew was ingredients.
"Your trying to make a memory potion." Franky stated and Henry watched in facination as Regina threws something else into the liquid and it popped.
"Yes, regardless of how she would have felt about me once her memories returned I need her to Remember. She won't be able to stay if she can't and this is her home, her whole family is here. Henry's grandparents, the Lucas', that godaweful pirate..." Regina trailed off as she stopped what she was doing.
"Mom what happened? Clearly Alexis recognizes you as her mother but I was there when Ma gave birth to her. If you catch me up to speed, perhaps I can help. And little Lexi has magic aswell, Aunt Franky says it's even more powerful then Emma's." Henry explained and Regina frowned before turning her attention to Alexis.
"Princess, can you show Momma your magic please?" Regina questioned as she released tendrals of her own magic in Alexis' direction, Alexis giggled and released her own, it immediantly pushed back and subdeued Regina's magic before surrounding her with its soft caress. "It is a perfect even of both my magic and Emma's..." Regina whispered in awe as she brushed Alexis' cheek affectionatly. Alexis then pulled her magic back and Regina smile. "This is just another reason why Emma needs her memories back, we need to talk about Alexis' magic."
Franky handed Alexis over to Henry who smiled as gnawed away on an apple she had conjured before turning to Regina.
"I'm going to leave them here for a bit, I need to head back to Boston and get some more of our stuff. I'll get Ruby to stay with Emma." Franky explained and Regina nodded.
"They will be fine, drive safely." She said and she clasped Franky's wrist shook it once and released her. Franky smiled before running from the room.
Left with just her and her children, as in plural. She spoke with them as she moved about the study. Answering any questions Henry deemed to ask with complete honesty and listening, soaking up all his words when he talked about the two years he was with Emma and Franky.
By the time there was a knock at the door it was already 7pm and Regina had just sat down to eat with Henry. Alexis was already asleep in the cot Regina had magiked up. Regina smiled as she went and let to let Franky in and was suprised to be greeted by a flash of blonde as Emma pushed past her to run into the house.
"Henry! Alexis!" She called out, her voice sounding frantic and she found herself being hugged lightly by her son.
Regina watched them for a moment, she glanced outside to see if Franky was coming and when she just saw the cool night air she shut her door and returned to where Emma was looking over Henry like he had be in utter peral.
"Ma, I'm fine. The Mayor has taken great care of both me and Alexis." Henry said with a plicating smile and Emma seemed to just remember where she had just stormed. She turned to look at Regina, a protective arm still wrapped around Henry's shoulder and her eyes flickered over the woman whose house she currently stood in.
Regina smiled softly before leaving the room and returning with a still sleeping Alexis nestled against her chest. Emma's worried eyes immediantly calmed as she took in the sleeping toddler.
"Everything is alright, Franky brought them over and asked me to look after them while she headed back to Boston to retrieve your belongings. She said Ruby was with you, did she not inform you of this?" Regina asked softly and Emma had the good grace to blush.
"I didn't hear much past you having the kids and not Franky." She gave a sheepish grin and Regina just shook her head.
"It's quite alright, we were actually just sitting down to dinner. I had set out an extra plate for Franky when she returned but there is plenty if you would also like some. Come join us." Regina encouraged, gesturing to where three plates of food were steaming on the table.
Emma seemed to think about it for a moment, she looked down at Henry who nodded encouragingly before she smiled softly.
"Alright. Henry did want to meet you, he was thrilled at the thought of meeting a Mayor." Emma said with a chuckle as she ruffled Henry's brown looks. Henry blushed at her words and the Mayor's knowing eye. Imagine his suprise at actually being the Mayor's son.
Regina chuclked good naturedly. "Well I'm glad I got to meet him also, such an amazing young boy, and this little one..." Regina started as she lightly an her hand over Alexis' hair. "So smart."
Emma smiled. "Yes, she is. Too smart sometimes..." Emma finished with a tired sigh before a squeeze from Henry's hand brightened her mood and she smiled up at the worried look in Regina's eyes. "She must get it from her father, she certainly doesn't get it from me." Emma joked and despite her words Regina smiled.
"Don't sell yourself short Dear. Now come on, before it gets cold." Regina again gestured to the food before she left the room to relay Alexis in the crib.
When she returned to the room a bright smile lit up her face at the site of Emma and Henry sitting at her dinning table, waiting for her to sit down so they could all eat. As a family. She took up her seat