Stay With Me! (Emma)

I'm not just a Savior

Emma sighed contently as she finished packing up the boxes in the storage room down in Boston. She had left early that morning knowing it was going to take some time to sort through everything. Hard to believe that for the first time in what felt like years she was finally going to have a more permanent resident. She still didn't know why she cared so much to do so, but Henry just seemed so sweet and well he'd gotten into her head. For a woman who'd spent her years alone a majority of her life, it felt slightly weird, but she was sure to adapt to it all. Besides, something drew her to the pleasant woman who had managed to bail her out of jail despite hardly knowing her. She couldn't exactly begin to understand why that was or why Mary Margaret had even begun to offer her a room, but she had eventually given in. Wasn't like she really had much of a choice considering that Regina had made sure to leave her no option, but her car. Not to mention there was little vacancy in this small little town which meant it was either her car or bunking with a roommate. While she had thought better of it originally given her need to be alone, she had finally given into her offer and here she was. Luckily, she didn't have much in the way of personal belongings as she placed the last box of her things into her yellow bug.

She was tired and a bit hungry, but she'd wanted to get this out of the way knowing it was going to be a long drive. Thankfully, it was all done as she went to deal with the man responsible for the storage units. Thanking him for his well assistance and paying him for this month's fees. He nodded gently as she headed back to her car, getting in and making her way back to Storybrooke, stopping to get herself a hot chocolate. She had always loved it as a child though she did find it strange that both Henry and Mary Margaret also seemed to appreciate the drink. Not that she wasn't happy to have that connection to either of them, even if she found it odd that Henry thought she could be her mother. She'd yet to tell Mary Margaret though knowing that was just not something one would say to her friend. No, it was better to keep such speculations to herself for the time being since she still wasn't even sure she believed it. Granted, she knew better than to admit such things to Henry knowing the last time she had done so it had almost cost her, her son. She wasn't about to make that mistake again and well maybe it wouldn't be quite so bad to believe in it for her son. Seemed to her that her every thought always managed to travel towards Henry and yet it didn't actually really bother her all that much.

A quick washroom break and getting herself something to eat, she finally turned her car towards Storybrooke. Still hard to believe how much this town had changed Emma and yet it didn't really bother her. Well, not as much as she thought it might as she turned on the radio and enjoyed a pleasant enough car trip. It was lonely this time around since Henry wasn't there, but she was used to being alone for the majority of her life. One couldn't get nearly as easily hurt if one didn't spend time with others. At least that was what she liked to preach to herself even if it wasn't necessarily true. She really didn't like being alone, but she'd learned a long time ago that life was just disappointment after disappointment. She shook her head of her thoughts as she enjoyed the quiet of her road trip, knowing this was a big deal. That she was doing what Regina said she'd never claim to do. Which was was to lie down roots and actually consider staying somewhere longer than a week in one place. No, she was going to prove that Regina that she wouldn't be scared away so easily.

It seemed to take forever, but eventually the sign saying 'Welcome to Storybrooke', appeared on her right making her sigh in relief. She was happy to be back in a strange sort of way even if she couldn't even really begin to explain why that was. Most likely because it was the only real sort of home she'd ever had. Where people actually wanted to talk to her and well the town did have a sort of mysterious vibe to it. Something that had always been a sort of interest for Emma knowing she use to have thoughts of being a police officer back when she'd been able to attend school. Hard to believe she'd ended up a detective out at this little town, but well Emma had always loved a good mystery. Watching all those crime shows when she was a child and such and trying to figure it out as she went along. She shook her head of the thoughts, glancing briefly down at the badge on her hip before returning her gaze to the road and pulling up by the apartment building. Quickly parking the car and turning it off, she slowly got out and grabbed one of her boxes carrying it into the apartment building and up the stairs. Locating the number of Mary Margaret's door she quickly made her way over to it. She knew Mary Margaret had already unlocked the door so she merely set her box by the door to grab her other three boxes.

That done, she locked the door of her sweet little car knowing it had been with her through so much. Hard to believe it was the closest she'd had to a friend before Henry or Mary Margaret. Still, she smiled gently as she took a deep breath, looking at the door as she slowly knocked on it. Even with the knowledge it was unlocked, she still felt drawn to the normalities of knocking before entering a person's domain. Some habits were simply too old to deny she had to admit.

that's only half of who I am.

I'm not just a Savior

Emma had to admit that it felt strange coming to the apartment of a woman who had done so much for her without knowing her. She still couldn't really begin to understand why she had been so kind to her, but at the same time it was a welcomed change as she looked at her small group of boxes. Making sure that she had everything she had wanted to take with her from the storage unit in Boston. Wasn't like she really wanted to make a return trip just for a few missing things since that would be just a bit much. And while she was nervous about this she knew it would be good for her. After all, Mary Margaret was pleasant company for Emma finding she was able to confide in her with a lot of things. Mostly centered around her son, Henry who had ended up on her doorstep the night of her 28th birthday. Granted, having friendly conversations around town and actually living with someone were two different things, but she was confident they would mix well. Not to mention, sleeping in one's car was becoming increasingly more difficult to do so with age. Not that she was by any means old, but the car wasn't exactly the same as it once was. Besides, she'd had to get the rest of her clothes and such anyways.

Still, she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth as the saying goes and so here she was now. Waiting for Mary Margaret to open the door and allow her inside. Luckily, it was a pleasant enough day which made her feel good about it. She would have hated to have done this on a rainy morning with all her things potentially getting ruined. Including a few snow globes, one of her social workers use to get for her on her birthday. She often wondered how he was doing at times, but she didn't bother to get into contact with him after she had run away from her foster home. Not surprising considering she had overheard their plans to return her and knowing that her chances at adoption were practically slim to none. So it had just made it much easier to take off while she could to avoid further heartbreak. Wasn't like the family was exactly kind to the young girl anyways. No, she wasn't going to let herself walk down memory lane like that. She was free from that system and a grown woman so she had no need to worry about foster homes and such.

So with nothing better to do and no other excuses to be made as to why this was a bad idea, she slowly lifted her hand and knocked. Stepping back away from the door as she waited to see if Mary Margaret would be home. She said she was going to be which was why Emma had taken the opportunity to grab her things. That was the thought at least and her phone hadn't alerted her to any new text messages or calls either. So she was fairly certain that the other woman was still there waiting to help with the move and such. Luckily, it was only a matter of time before the door opened and she stared into the face of Mary Margaret whom Henry believed to be her mother. If that were even remotely true, not that she was going to voice her opinions to the woman. Sighing contently as she looked at the woman.

"Hot chocolate sounds lovely and all of my stuff is already up here. Just a case of bringing it inside," replied Emma as she gestured to the boxes propped up against the wall beside the door.

There wasn't too much thankfully so they were able to easily managing to get everything inside the apartment. Only about 5 boxes really with the majority of them taking up her clothing. After all, she'd had to swing by her old apartment home too to grab her clothes and giving the man her money and the key back to that apartment. He was a bit miffed at the late notice, but not by much as she stared at her boxes of things. Not a whole lot, but then again she wasn't really the type of woman that kept many mementos or keepsakes. Once that was done, Emma sighed in relief attempting to get herself settled and turning when Mary Margaret started speaking again. Finding that she already found herself enjoying the woman's company and that made her feel all the better about this whole move thing.

"Drive was pleasant enough, if not a bit quiet. I'm glad to know Henry's happy, though. I mean it's because of him that I'm staying. As to Regina, well something isn't quite right about her. And the more she tries to get me the leave the more I want to stay. Like she has this vendetta against me or something," replied Emma as she took a sip of her hot chocolate with cinnamon.

that's only half of who I am.

I'm not just a Savior

Emma had to admit that she was happy to be here even if she had taken a bit of time to really decide that this was the right choice. It still wasn't normally within her thoughts to live with people, preferring the solitude that came with being alone. At the very least, she knew that way she couldn't get hurt. She'd already been so hurt so much that she really didn't like the idea of getting her heart broken any further. Besides, she didn't normally linger in one place longer than a week so there wasn't time to make friends or such in those circumstances. The fact that she had pulled out of the bail bond job to work as a deputy sheriff and now having a roommate was definitely changed. A nice change she had to admit though as she was ushered into the apartment looking around and finding that it was just perfect. She could understand though why Mary Margaret had wanted a roommate though considering that it was perhaps a bit much for just one person. Still, it was a lovely little apartment that would be more than enough for her since she didn't think she'd spend much time in it. Enough to cook meals here and there and go to sleep as she preferred to be up and about for the most part. Regina wasn't wrong when she said that she didn't like lingering in places for too long.

Which was why she spent most of her time out about the town rather than stuck at the apartment with nothing to do. It helped relieve her of the boredom she felt at times. Normally due to the fact that she was holed up in an apartment or such things which probably was brought on from her months in jail. When you're only friend is a small little bed and a toilet, it tends to make you want to spend more time outside. So it would be a bit of an adjustment for her to get use to a schedule that was more consistent rather than running around doing what she pleased. Especially now with the fact that she had a job to her name that was a bit more reasonable. Particularly if she was hoping to stay a little longer than anticipated with the simple fact that she felt as though Henry needed her. Not just because he was her son, but Regina seemed a bit off in her books and she worried. Not to mention how smart he was at making sure she stayed in the town. Not to mention the fact that he had gotten it into his head that everyone else was a fairy tale character which had nearly caused her to end up in jail again. Even if she knew well enough that she was being set up by the Madame Mayor herself.

She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts because she wasn't about to let herself get chased off. She was certainly not afraid of this woman like the others perhaps might have been. Then again she had nothing holding her to this town besides Henry at this point. Which was the reason she found herself here at all for the fact he was her son. Sighing gently as she listened to Mary Margeret mention that there was water ready to make hot chocolate. A small nod of appreciation coming from Emma as she made her way over to the kitchen area. Getting everything she needed to make herself something finding that she was surprisingly tired given that she'd woken up quite early. Mostly because she knew traffic would be bad later in the day and wanted to get there and back relatively fast. Besides, she wasn't feeling up to doing this later when she'd be absolutely exhausted figuring today was as good a time as any. Running a hand through her hair as she looked for a mug, finding herself rather at home in the kitchen oddly enough despite only been in there last night. It was almost identical to the organization system that Emma had in her own apartment back in Boston.

Sighing gently as she leaned back in the chair she was currently sitting on as she sipped her drink. It was surprisingly cold out there which was why she was even more grateful for the drink. Though at least the sun was out which made her a little happier preferring to be out in the sun rather than the pouring rain. Stretching herself out to the best of her abilities as it were as she made herself at home. Her jacket still on her shoulders as she didn't often like to part from it at the moment. Turning when she spoke again mentioning Regina and her being a threat to their simple ways.

"She certainly seems like she's got a lot going on. I just want to make sure Henry's alright. I really have no intention of taking him away from her. Be in his life sure, but she in her own way seems to care for him. Though I'm not about to let the likes of her run me off after a bad frame job. Yet, I can't help feel like I'm doing anything good by Henry. I mean if I leave, he'll be hurt and if I don't leave...well it's quite possible he'll get hurt just as much too. The last thing he needs is his two mothers going at each other in an attempt to win him over," replied Emma, finding herself letting out far more than she intended.

It was like someone had force fed her a truth serum of some sort, which was ridiculous. Still, there was just something about this woman that made her feel welcomed. More than that really in that she felt comfortable with her in ways she didn't often feel. True, Henry claimed that the woman was her long lost mother, but she wasn't going to delve into that reasoning so soon. It didn't exactly make a lot of sense to Emma in that regard. However, she hadn't thought she'd ever really find herself sharing an apartment with anyone and yet it wasn't completely terrible. It was actually a pleasant thought knowing she'd come home to find someone there rather than be all alone. After all, she'd made more than enough wishes on cupcakes to know that while she put up a wall, she really did want friends even if she pretended otherwise. Everyone needed friends in their life because it was in human nature to be social with others. Pulling out of her thoughts when Mary started talking again making her look up from her drink once more. Nothing was better than good hot chocolate with cinnamon.

"Yes, he does certainly seemed to have brightened up quite a bit. Which is nice to see and believe me, I'm not about to let Regina chase me off. If anything it's about time someone took a stand against her if at all. I mean she certainly seems like she's been running this town in fear for quite some time. That aside, I do want to do what's in Henry's best interest at this moment. Regardless of what Regina wants and well..I can't help, but care about him," replied Emma gently as she stared into her mug tapping her fingers against the mug ever so gently.

that's only half of who I am.

I'm not just a Savior

Emma sighed gently deep in her own thoughts as she sipped her mug of hot chocolate finding that eased her spirits. The thoughts that kept running through her mind as time progressed. She didn't have any of the answers like Henry thought she did and she still wasn't any closer to trying to understand him. Such as what had caused these thoughts in the first place aside from the fact that he was obviously an outcast like her. Which was a real shame considering that he was such a sweet boy from what she could see. He certainly reminded her of her and even to an extent his father. Which only made the pain of the betrayal by Neal that much harder to bear in that sense. At times, she almost wanted to find him again and demand him to tell her why, but at the same time she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Wanted to comprehend why it was that he had at that moment left her to take the fall for a crime she hadn't committed. Still, there was a bigger part of her that found it that much easier to hate him rather than hear him justify his reasonings. Sure, he'd aided her in a chance to turn her life around, but did he realize how hard that was on her.

True, he didn't know that Emma had been pregnant with their child, considering she hadn't known either. Except, she never thought that he would call the police on her. Let alone throw her into jail which was currently making her rather bitter. It was just one of the things that had made her withdraw from people. On top of the fact that her parents had never seemed to care much about her, if the leaving her on a road was anything to go by. Making her wonder if this town would be what finally brought her out of her withdrawing phase. Henry certainly had managed to weasel his own way under her skin and honestly she wasn't that upset about it. She had really taken a shine to her son even if she at the moment regretted being unable to care for him. Still, she knew that she had done the right thing since a prison was no place for a child. Not to mention, she was only 18 and could barely function as an adult let alone be a parent to a child. Still, there was nothing she could do to change any of this, only try to be there for him now and help him as best she could.

"Not surprising with the town so isolated from everything else. Didn't even know it existed until Henry showed up on my 28th birthday. Really, I haven't ever been in a place longer than a week for my job. So really this is my first time being anywhere and actually wanting to settle down. I just hope that it's the right choice. I mean I want to try and work things out with Regina. I really have nothing against her even if she clearly hates me. It doesn't change that Henry has come into my life now," murmured Emma, deep in thought as her hands came around the mug.

The warm mug that helped chip away at the chill in her fingers as she leaned against the table she was sitting at. Smiling at the woman who had so graciously allowed her into her heart and home. It meant quite a bit to Emma who had once had nothing in the way of friends let alone someone to talk to. It had just been her and the world for quite a while that she almost didn't quite know how to really let someone back into her life. Henry was different though considering that he was a part of her life and a child which was always a sort of weakness of hers. She loved children and it only grew that much more with the fact that he was her own flesh and blood. However, the same didn't necessarily apply to other people so this was a really big change for her. To even open to one person was completely foreign to her now. Sipping away at her hot chocolate and chatting away with the woman, nodding gently at her words. Eventually finishing the hot chocolate and sliding it away from the table as she turned to look at her.

"Alright, shall we make this official then? Get those boxes into the room and all?" asked Emma gently as she slowly stood up now that she had finally defrosted. Ready to get everything into the apartment and start unpacking things. To really prove to herself and Regina that she wasn't going to run anymore. She wanted to think that this town was a second chance for her and well she was tired of running away. The old Emma would have, but this one had just a little more fight to her which was what enabled her to stand up to the likes of Gold or Regina. If she didn't, then nobody would and well she liked the idea of being Henry's hero.

that's only half of who I am.