Shard of Exile

Embrace For Impact

Emma and I road in the beetle in a tense silence, both of our minds on the blonde we were trying to find. "What are you going to say to her when we find her?" I said finally, looking at Emma who kept her eyes on the road. "I mean, she's a pregnant girl who assaulted someone... she's gotta be freaking out, but she's also bound to have a motive."

This got Emma's attention. She glanced at me quickly, "You think she has a motive?" I shrugged, "She stole something from Mr. Gold and he's not willing to tell us what it is. That's suspicious on it's own, never mind the the fact that the most a pregnant woman would want to steal is more diapers... I think whatever she stole was important enough for her to risk getting in trouble."

"You think Mr. Gold did something." Emma said. It wasn't a question. I nodded, "Something's up with Mr. Gold, and I'm not letting him get near Ashley until I know what's going on." I said firmly, smiling appreciatively when Emma nodded. "Alright. I'm with you."

We parked on the street next to Sean's dads house. "Ok, let's-"

"So what's the plan?"

Emma and I screamed, with me whipping out my wand in an instant and aiming it into the back seat. Henry grinned at us, and Emma groaned when she saw who it was. "Henry! What the hell?" Emma said frustratedly as I quickly tucked my wand away. Henry eyed me curiously, "What was that?" "What was what?" I asked, ruffling his hair and casting a wandless and wordless confundus charm. He blinked rapidly for a moment, looking confused before looking to Emma. 

"I'm here to help! Please let me help!" He pleaded, making Emma sigh. She eyed my hand until I took it off of Henry, raising it in surrender. "No, I need you to stay in the car." She said, turning to look at Henry as he leaned between the two front seats. "With Emry?" He asked. "No, I need Emry with me." She said stiffly, getting out of the car. I followed her lead, frowning at her stiffness. "Stay here." She told Henry before shutting the door. 

I waiting until she was walking next to me to talk. "Ok, what'd I do?" I asked bluntly, watching her sigh. "Did you just use your tricks on Henry?" "Magic. I used magic on Henry." I said, stopping when she did as she stepped in front of me angrily. "Now is not the time to correct me! You used that crap on him!" I raised my hands in surrender, "He saw my wand Emma, I just didn't want him to get even more amped up about his theories." When she still stared at me sternly I sighed. "I'm sorry Emma, I won't do it again."

Finally she exhaled and relaxed, "Thank you." She muttered before leading the way to the door. I bit my lip and glanced back to the car as she knocked, finding Henry watching us. He waved and I shot him a half smile before the door opened and I turned. 

I hadn't expected what Sean and his father told us.

~

We raced back to Granny's, furiously storming in and confronting Ruby. "Why didn't you tell us she sold the baby?" Emma asked incredulously. Ruby sent as a sarcastic smile as she walked down the counter to wipe the end, the red on her lips making her smile appear rather wolfish. "Because I didn't think it was important."

"Really?" I scoffed, "Considering that's why she's running away?" She narrowed her eyes at me, "Look, Ashley's my friend. I don't like the idea of people judging her." She said, looking me up and down. I clenched my jaw, ready to tear into her when Emma suddenly picked up a figurine off the counter and looked outside. "Ruby, where's your car?" She asked tensely, the two of us watching her avoid our gaze and turn to the coffee pots. "You didn't send us to Sean to find her, you sent us there to give her a head start." Emma accused knowingly. 

When my teeth started hurting I forcefully unclenched my jaw. I hadn't wanted a cigarette in years, but suddenly I felt like a starving man without them. "Look, I'm only trying to help her." Ruby defended, refilling a customers cup before setting the pot aside. "Yeah, so am I." I quipped sharply, getting her attention. I sighed when Emma gave me a look. "So are we. Ashley's in more trouble than you know, Ruby. Where is she? Don't make her deal with Gold without us."