I Know The End || Killian Jones

𝟶𝟸 - 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚋

storybrooke, maine

– "HERE," REGINA SPOKE SOFTLY, OFFERING A MUG TO THE WIDE-EYED, FIDGETING WOMAN ON THE COUCH. "Apple cider tea. It'll settle your nerves." She wasn't doing too great herself, but she tried her best to keep it together for her friend, who had it much worse, especially after their long conversation with Sheriff Graham.

"Thank you." Ajatri practically whispered. The heat that radiated from the drink warmed her fingertips through the cup, a small comfort against her raging anxiety.

The mayor and the owner of the town's cafe were an unlikely pair, but truthfully, it was Grey and Henry that sparked their friendship. The more time the boys spent together, the more often they found themselves in one another's homes. Eventually, they started coming over for coffees and chit-chat and dinners on their own. Over time, Regina had realised that Aja's looking after her little brother was much more than responsibility. Having lost both of her parents, she'd felt so alone for so long. Her brother was all she had, and she wanted him to grow up happier than she had. She loved and protected him so fiercely that to a stranger's eyes, she could be his mother.

Neither of the two paid much attention to the car engine they could hear outside, but no sooner than Aja had taken one sip from her mug, they heard car doors and voices that grew steadily closer. Aja nearly split the tea all over Regina's carpet in their hurry to get to the door. Regina threw it open, and there they were, accompanied by a strange blonde woman.

"Henry?"

"Grey!" The both of them rushed forward as fast as their feet could carry them, but while Grey accepted his sister's tight embrace with a sweet smile, gently patting her back in assurance, Henry pulled away from Regina's arms and her flurry of questions. Aja was too worried about her little brother to hear much of it. "Oh my god, where did you go?! You scared me!"

His eyes became suddenly fixated on his shoes like they were a Van Gogh painting rather than dirty blue sneakers with half-tied laces. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"I found my real mom!" Henry's outburst caught her attention just before he shoved past Regina to rush inside.

Aja blinked in surprise, but her mouth formed a silent 'oh'. She squeezed her brother's shoulder gently, letting him know she understood. "Why don't you go talk to him?" She whispered. "I think Henry might need you right now." Grey nodded in agreement before following his friend into the house and up to his room.

After a small, somewhat awkward exchange between Regina and the woman who soon introduced herself as Emma, the two of them headed for the door for 'something stronger' than apple cider. Ajatri followed close behind, picking up her tea again. She definitely didn't need anything stronger than this right now. After that whirlwind of a night, she'd probably throw up. She stayed quiet, however, through Regina and Emma's conversation. It really wasn't any of her business, and she already felt like she was intruding. She was only still here because Grey was.

It wasn't long before Graham was returning down the steps from checking on the boys. "Madam Mayor, Miss Hope, you can relax. Other than being a couple of tired little boys, Henry and Grey are both fine."

"Thank you, Sheriff."

Aja smiled in thanks as well. "Thank you." After he'd gone, that was when her head finally found its way back to her shoulders and she realised she was standing in the middle of Regina's entryway in Mickey Mouse Pyjamas with a serious knot of tension in the air that didn't involve her in the slightest. "Grey and I should be getting home." She said.

Regina nodded. "I'm sorry for the trouble, Aja. Try to get some sleep."

"It's alright." She chuckled. "Grey is safe, so is Henry. That's all that matters. Goodnight, Regina." She offered Emma a nod of acknowledgement too before heading upstairs to fetch her brother.