"Early teens," Graham confirmed.

"They're orphans?"

"More or less. A guardian who couldn't care less about their well-being," Regina answered with conviction.

Emma nodded, knowing very well what that was like. "They're angry and scared too. They'd want some familiarity right now, so check some obvious places. Known hideouts but secret rooms you didn't think to check."

"You talk from experience," Graham noted.

"First hand," the blonde confirmed with a slightly smug smirk.

"Do you have first hand experience in finding them?"

Emma turned from Graham to Regina and back again. "Yeah, I can find anyone," she said. "Search and rescue is kind of my forte. That's how I got promoted."

She caught the small proud smile teasing Regina's lips before the Sheriff spoke again.

"How would you like to be an honorary deputy for the day?" Graham asked.

Emma's eyes widened. "Me?"

She looked to Regina who seemed to be taking to proposition in thought. Finally the brunette nodded. "If you find them in time and talk some sense into them then perhaps we can convince Mr. French to drop the charges."

Emma considered it and nodded. She stood and slipped her arms into her leather jacket. "Okay."


Graham pulled up to Town Hall and placed the cruiser into park hours later. It had taken a good chunk of time to find the twins in the woods, but the other two teens who had hid out in an abandoned shack and the clock tower were relatively easy, given Emma's advice. It's where Emma would have hidden if she had no other options in this town. Seeing the boys, Emma was reminded of herself at that age, alone and pissed at the world. From what she picked up from Graham, the boys' guardian, a young man old enough to be their big brother didn't give two shits about them and spent his days reliving high school glory days. She had taken the eldest aside, a scruffy sixteen-year old with a scowl and a temper to match, and got him to tell her about vandalizing the shop. He had scoffed at her "it gets better" speech, but when she showed him her dog tags and clasped his shoulder, she promised that with a little guidance and some good decision making, he and his brothers wouldn't be as lost anymore.

"I don't know how you did it, but if you ever decide to be a Deputy, Storybrooke could always use an extra pair of hands."

Emma grinned and shook her head. "Not really a fan of your uniform."

"You can wear your own from what I hear," he enticed.

The idea of settling down in this town quickly coursed through Emma's mind. Apparently she already had a job, and she could see Regina and the kid every day. What was better than that?

At Emma's contemplative silence, Graham smirked and continued to enhance his offer. "If you want, I'll even look for a place for you to live."

"Oh." Emma said aloud when she realized that in her mind's eye, she'd be walking home to the mansion on Mifflin. She swallowed sharply at the thought, her mind betraying her. She was sure to give August an earful for planting thoughts into her mind. She shook her head and smiled again. "Ask me that again when I'm done my active duty."

"I'll keep that in mind." Graham waved as Emma stepped out of the cruiser and made her way back into the building.

Graham's offer continued to ring in Emma's ear, and during the walk from the lobby, past the court room, up the flight of stairs, to Regina's office, Emma seriously contemplated freshening up her résumé for the chance to stay in Storybrooke. She had only been in town for more than a week and she could see herself living there? God, there must be some magic in Storybrooke's water or something. Emma never liked to stay anywhere. Which was ironic since she constantly looked for home, but now? Now she wanted to stay. Well then, she thought, shrugging her leather jacket closer around her, that's a concern for another day.

Her fist was raised to knock on the partially closed office door when she heard the phone inside Regina's office slam down and the brunette emit an aggravated groan. Emma knocked twice and stuck her head inside offering a sheepish smile. "Bad day?"

"Long day," Regina corrected, walking briskly toward a filing cabinet and selecting key folders. "Some investors have pulled through on a project that needs to be finalized by 8 am tomorrow. I have to stay and discuss tactics with them and sign off on their tasks."

Emma looked down at her watch to see it was nearly five. "I can pick up Henry," Emma offered. "We can come back here and have dinner with you."

Regina took a moment to look up from the cabinet to smile thoughtfully at Emma. "I appreciate that, but I can't wager how long I'll be here, and he tends to get aggravated when waiting too long in my office. Perhaps you and Henry can have a night in with yourselves?"

"Yeah, I think I can manage without burning the place down," Emma teased as she followed Regina to a picture frame where behind it she kept a safe.

Regina ignored Emma's seriously? look at the safe before inputting the code and retrieving the spare house key.

"All that for a key?" Emma eyed the small piece of metal.

"I take safety very seriously, soldier," Regina explained haughtily though Emma simply grinned and nodded.

"I'll pick up the kid and see you at home." Emma squeezed Regina's arm on her way past her before calling out over her shoulder, "try not to make anyone cry while I'm gone."

"I make no promises."


Regina was exhausted by the time she stepped out of her heels, placing then delicately on the shoe rack inside her hallway closet and allowed her toes to breathe for the first time all day. Regina had worked efficiently in order to get the investors out of her office by 8, allowing her to walk through her door at 8:30. She was expecting the first floor to be quiet for Henry was scheduled to be in bed half an hour prior, but the indistinct chatter in her living room led her to believe that her son had successfully conned Emma into a later bedtime.

She placed her briefcase quietly on the side table and walked softly on the hardwood to inspect the culprits. She stopped just shy of the living room entrance, partially hidden by the wall, and couldn't help but let the wide smile that was forming on her face to bloom.

Emma was lying on her stomach behind the couch with what appeared to be eyeliner marks under her eyes like a football player. Henry, who was hidden under the coffee table, sported similar marks on his cheeks as he remained low to the ground as well.

"Pssh," Emma mimicked radio static as she spoke into a fisted hand, oblivious to Regina's presence at the entrance of the room, "the target is in sight, Commander. Do you read me? Over."

"Loud and clear," Henry nodded seriously.

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is search and rescue, Commander. One of our own has been captured and it is your duty to bring them back."

"No one gets left behind," Henry replied, and from the slight smirk on his face, Regina could tell it was a phrase Emma had just recently taught him.

"Exactly. On three. One, two, three."

On three, both Emma and Henry moved from their spots, crawling on their stomachs toward what Regina could see as one of Henry's dragons hidden behind the fireplace gate Regina had installed when Henry was a baby.

Regina nearly moved to pick up Henry when the boy bonked his head on the underside of the table, but he muttered a simple "ouch", rubbing the bump and proceeded on his mission toward the dragon. She didn't realize how big he was getting until then. Before every bump and bruise was soothed by a kiss, but now her little prince simply soldiered on.

"Approaching enemy lines, Commander. Stay low," Emma narrated as she met up beside Henry. He gave up on the crawling and pulled himself to his feet, racing towards the gate.

He caught the dragon in between the gates and pulled it up, reaching over to free it and hug it to his chest. "Rescue complete."

Emma laughed and reared up on her knees, speaking into her makeshift walkie-talkie. "Pssh, search and rescue completed. Let's go home, soldier."

She picked up Henry in her arms and stood, turning to find Regina.

Regina raised an eyebrow, her arms folded across her chest and a knowing smirk on her face. "The mission went well, Corporal?"

"Yes ma'am," Emma nodded, grinning when she realized she wasn't in trouble, for the time being at least.

"Rescue complete!" Henry repeated, launching himself into Regina's arm when Emma closed the distance between them.

"You certainly are a brave hero," Regina nuzzled his cheek and pressed a kiss there. "And brave heroes need their rest."

"I promised him one more mission," Emma explained.

"And two stories," Henry reminded her, holding up three fingers.

"I did, didn't I?" Emma asked, lowering one of his fingers. "Well, let's go, little soldier."

Regina set Henry down and let him lead up the stairs as she walked beside Emma, smirking at the blonde. "Extended playtime and two stories. Who's the weak one now?"


Emma had decidedly taken up Graham's offer, for the time being. When Regina had noticed Emma's eyes begin to drift at the paperwork she was supposed to be reading, Regina had suggested that Graham was always looking for extra help around the station, and it was in the same building anyhow so their paths would cross eventually. Emma found that despite the small town, going on patrol with Graham, and occasionally settling disputes throughout the day, was quite fulfilling. It was like being out on patrol in the Middle East, except a lot more safer and a lot less humid. There were no rifles or bombs or dead- Emma shook off those thoughts quickly, reminding herself of where she was. She had worked with Graham for two days now, and already she was starting to feel as if she were truly part of the town.