Gretel

Different Types of Women

(A/N: Trigger Warning: Mentions of bodily harm/bruising.) 

~~Storybrooke~~

We had managed to get Ashley to the hospital, and Emma and I were pacing past each other restlessly in the waiting room. I had begged the nurses to let me be in the room with Ashley to offer her support, but in the chaos of getting her set up in the delivery room while she was actively in labor, my pleads went ignored. 

Henry watched the two of us curiously, not seeming to understand how stressful the situation was. "You know Emma, you're different." I looked at him confusedly, ignoring the way he perked up when he caught my gaze. I turned away uncomfortably. 

"What's that?"

"You're the only one who can do it." Henry told Emma, looking pensive as he looked back at the older blonde. "Break the curse? Yes, I know. You keep telling me that." She said dismissively, passing me as she continued her brisk pace. I made a face, "What?" "Don't ask." 

"No, leave." The boy clarified, sitting forward. "You're the only one who can leave Storybrooke. Emma slowed, looking at the kid. "You left and came and found me in Boston." He shook his head, "But I came back. I'm ten. I had no choice, but if anyone else tried to go, bad things would happen."

I frowned at the thought, glancing at the room I knew Ashley to be in. Something bad did happen when we tried to leave Storybrooke but... I shook my head. One incident isn't enough to say he's right about... whatever his theory is. 

"Anyone, except me?" Emma asked disbelievingly. "You're the savior." The boy shrugged, looking between the two of us as we slowed to a stop, standing next to each other as we stared at him.  "You can do whatever you want. You can go."

"Ms. Swan?" We both turned, and I held my breath as the doctor approached. "The baby is a healthy six-pound girl, and the mother is doing fine." She assured, making us both sigh in relief. The doctor smiled at us, telling us we could visit her momentarily and left the room.  

"What lovely news."

My blood went cold at the voice, Emma and I turning in sync to face the pawn broker. "Excellent work, Ms. Swan. Thank you for bringing me my merchandise."

~

If you were to ask Ava how the conversation with Mr.Gold went she'd tell you that she and Emma were badass' who put that old man in his place. What she wouldn't tell you was that she was scared out of her mind but her anger took over, and she may have said some things that got her ropped into the deal Emma made with the man.

Basically, she now owed the old man a favor too.

But now it was a week later, and Ava was frowning as she walked away from the school to go to her shift at Granny's. Why was she frowning, you may ask? Because Henry Mills had seeked her out at every opportunity since Ashley gave birth to Alexandra, and the boy had just hugged her  goodbye. 

Ava had no clue why the boy suddenly thought they were friends; they weren't. For one the boy was at least five or six years younger than her, and secondly he was the mayors son! Was he trying to get her in trouble?

Her face paled as she looked up, her gaze meeting the Mayors. "Shit..." She breathed, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk as the woman stormed up to her. Speaking about getting in trouble...

"You," The woman seethed, grabbing her arm in a tight hold and dragging her to the side under the shade of a tree. Ava gulped, forcing a mask of indifference over her face. "Me?"