Reset

Emma looked towards Henry, "surprisingly good."

"It will take a while for him to understand fully," Mary Margaret commented.

"That's what I'm afraid of.." Emma sighed, "he wants to start up Operation Cobra again, to check if Regina is up to anything."

Mary Margaret paused for a moment, "unless.. unless he is using Operation Cobra as an excuse to be closer to Regina?"

Emma looked at Henry and silently considered that for a moment, "maybe," she shifted in her seat, "you might be right, should I encourage him?"

Mary Margaret let out a breath, "I don't know.. it's hard to know what's for the best.. Does Regina know about Henry's birthday party at Granny's next week?"

"Yeah, she asked about his birthday a couple of weeks ago so I told her, I also posted her an invite," Emma replied with a sigh.

"Well," Mary Margaret said with some forced cheer, "being in the same room should do them both good."

Emma nodded despite knowing Mary Margaret couldn't see her, "yes, whatever the situation is legally, she still deserves a place in Henry's life."

"Yes, she does," Mary Margaret agreed steadfastly.

Emma let out a small chuckle, "are you defending Regina's rights?"

Mary Margaret laughed lightly, "I suppose I am.. don't forget that Regina was kinda my Mom too.."

"That just makes my head hurt," Emma admitted.

"Even when she really wanted to hate me, she could still be a good Mom to me.." Mary Margaret puzzled, "I never really understood why.."

"Why did she never have children?" Emma asked, "in the Enchanted Forest, I mean, surely your father wanted more children?"

"I was very young but I think she was pronounced infertile by the Royal doctor," Mary Margaret replied softly.

Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I see.."

Henry was returning to the car and Emma smiled at him and picked up the paperwork from the front seat and shoved the documents in the glove box, "I have to go, Henry is here, can you watch him this evening while I go to see Gold?"

"Sure," Mary Margaret agreed, "we'll see you soon."

Chapter 4

Emma walked into Gold's pawnbroker shop and took a deep breath as she closed the door behind her. The shop was empty of people and Emma took the opportunity to look at all the items the man had amassed and wondered, not for the first time, where Gold had procured everything from and who the rightful owners were.

"Sheriff," Gold greeted as he walked into the shop from the back room.

"I'm ready to sign," Emma said and held up the folder of papers.

"Did you seek independent counsel?" Gold asked as he picked up a leather box from behind the counter and placed it on the glass countertop.

"Yes," Emma said as she walked forward and put the folder down on the glass.

"And do you have any questions? Any amendments you wish to be made?" Gold asked as he opened the box and slowly started to unpack various notarising equipment.

"Nope," Emma countered quickly.

"You understand that this will be a legally binding document, you have read and understood all of the documents?" Gold pressed as he picked up a notary stamp and began to stamp the various documents.

"As much as I can understand," Emma said with a shrug, "Regina is giving the kid up. What I don't understand is your involvement in this."

Gold smiled that creepy grin that Emma hated so much, "I owe her."

Emma raised her eyebrow and laughed, "you owe her?"

"Yes, we have a.. long history," Gold evaded, "we have a deal, this is part of it."

"And the rest of it?" Emma pressed.

"Is between Regina and myself," Gold said as he held out a silver fountain pen towards Emma.

Emma held his gaze for a few moments before grabbing the pen and signing her name several times where Gold indicated. When she was done he countersigned the documents and stamped a couple before handing a copy to Emma, "this is for you, the official documents will be sent to you in due course."

"So that's it?" Emma asked.

"That is it," Gold confirmed, "you are now Henry's only legal guardian. Congratulations, Miss Swan."

"Thanks," Emma mumbled and turned around to leave the shop.

"If I can be of any further assistance, with the change of name for example, don't hesitate to contact me," Gold called after her.

Emma turned around, "change of name?"

"Well," Gold chuckled as he started to pack away the notary items, "he can't very well be Henry Mills now, can he? Henry Swan, very fitting."

Emma nodded blankly, "yeah.. I'll.. I'll er, let you know.." she answered as she rushed out of the shop.

Mister Gold placed the leather box back where it had come from and gathered up all the papers and placed them back into the manila folder and limped back into the room at the rear of the shop. He placed the folder a small table, "there you go, Dearie."

Regina sat stiffly in a leather wingback chair holding a teacup and saucer and looked at the folder with disdain, "she signed them?"

"Of course," Gold replied with a nod as he approached a workbench with an open aluminium briefcase on top of it.

Regina took a deep breath and exhaled.