Have A Little Faith (OUAT AU)

Something Fishy

I'm trying my best to give the Charmings a chance like Amanda asked; I really am. However, i'm entirely uncomfortable and completely out of my element as we enter the small diner with what I can only imagine is the entire town crowded inside of it. While I wasn't hungry since Amanda and I had a late lunch right before arriving in town, Henry had let it slip that I had never tried hot chocolate and wanted to go to Granny's anyways. I'm now regretting agreeing to this little outing. I almost bolt for the door when some of them actually cheer upon seeing us. The only consolation I have is that Emma seems to be every bit as mortified as I am.
"Mary Margaret, David!" Both of my foster parents grin widely at the busty, grey haired woman whom I'm guessing owns the diner since her name tag says 'Granny.' "I'm so glad you made it. And you must be Everleigh." She smiles kindly at me and I'm thankful she makes no move to embrace me.
"It's nice to meet you." I say awkwardly. I've never been good with meeting new people.
"We saved you a table in the back." Granny gestures to the only empty seats in the diner. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"You should try hot chocolate with cinnamon!" Henry jumps up and down excitedly.
"Henry, Everleigh may not want hot chocolate with cinnamon." Mary Margaret admonishes.
"It's fine." I cut in at Henry's disappointed look. "I would love to try hot chocolate with cinnamon."
Henry beams up at me as we make our way to the table saved for us. The crowd immediately parts for us and I can feel eyes analyzing my every move. I get increasingly nervous as we approach the table, not entirely sure which seat I should take. Thankfully, Henry makes the decision for me when he grabs my hand and seats me between himself and Emma.
"So Everleigh, tell us about yourself." Mary Margaret suggests as she leans into David, both of them watching me intently.
"There's not really much to tell." I inform them dryly as I fiddle with the napkin in my lap. "What do you guys do?" I ask, glancing between David and Mary Margaret and effectively divert the attention from me.
"Well, I'm a school teacher." Mary Margaret smiles. "I teach grade four."
"And I'm the sheriff." David explains and I have to hide my discomfort. I'm not overly fond of cops. "Along with Emma here." David looks oddly proud when he speaks about Emma. I find it weird that he seems so proud and find of his sister-in-law but I guess they're just a close family.
"You don't look like a cop." I admit to Emma causing everyone to chuckle.
"Well, I've definitely been on the wrong side of the law my fair share of times." She admits as a young red head in a very revealing mini skirt and fishnet stockings brings our drinks over.
"Thank you, Ruby." Mary Margaret thanks the waitress who smiles brightly in return.
"You must be the new addition to the Charming family." She smiles kindly at me.
"I'm their new foster kid, yes." I correct her, not liking be referred to as part of their family. "I'm Everleigh."
"Nice to meet you, Everleigh."  The kind smile never leaves her face as she sets a large mug of hot chocolate complete with whip cream and a cinnamon stick in front of me. "I like your name. "
"Thanks. I, uhm, like your leggings." I offer half heartedly and she chuckles.
"You can borrow them sometime." She is clearly joking but David immediately cuts in.
"No she can't. " He shuts the idea down immediately and I purse my lips, bristling at his authoritative tone.
"Actually, I may take you up on that offer." I say, not at all serious. I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl and would never dream of wearing fishnet stockings but I've also never handled people telling me what I can and cannot do very well either.
"Let me know and I'll throw a skirt in with it." She grind and gives me a conspiratorial wink.
"No you won't." David argues again, clearly not picking up on the fact we're not serious.
" Why not? " I ask innocently. "What's wrong with the way Ruby dresses?"
David flounders for a moment, obviously not wanting to insult Ruby but not wanting to give me permission to wear something so revealing.
"I, uh, um-" he stumbles over his words for a moment before Emma begins laughing quickly followed by Mary Margaret and Ruby.
"You weren't serious, were you?" he asks, finally catching on.
"No, I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl." I admit and he looks relieved.
"Enjoy your drinks." Ruby still looks amused as she leaves our tables when another customer calls for her.
"Try it!" Henry orders excitedly and I grin but feel an odd sense of nervousness; hot chocolate seems to be a really big deal to these people. Hesitantly, I take a small sip of the piping hot drink.
"It's good." I confirm before admitting, " but I think I like coffee better. "
"Finally!" David claps while Mary Margaret rolls her eyes and Henry groans.
"You're still outnumbered 3 to 2, old man." Emma jokes as she takes a large dip of her own drink.
"I'll take what I can get." He shrugs, raising his cup of coffee in a toast towards me.
They continue to make small talk while I choose to remain silent, only speaking when spoken to. A few more people approach our table to introduce themselves and Emma takes Henry home soon after since he can barely hold his eyes open. I find myself wishing Henry was still with me as the Charmings and I begin the short walk back to their apartment since he provided sort of a buffer between us. I remain silent and I can tell from the look on Mary Margaret's face, the same look she has had every time she looked at me this evening, she wants to say something. Thankfully, she doesn't have the opportunity as another person approaches us, no doubt to introduce themselves; you would think the Charmings are royalty or something.  David and Mary Margaret both tense up as the fierce looking woman approaches.
"Well, well, well it looks like the Charming family is complete at last." The woman taunts with a malicious smirk painting her lips.
"Regina, now is not the time." Mary Margaret narrows her eyes at the taller woman causing the woman's eyes to narrow on me.
"Don't worry, Snow, I just want to congratulate your little family on this happy, happy day." The woman, Regina's, smile grows bigger as her words obviously strike a chord with David and Mary Margaret. I briefly wonder why Regina called Mary Margaret 'Snow' but assume it's just some kind of nickname.
"You must be the prodigal daughter, Everleigh." Regina states as she looks me over from head to toe and gives an unimpressed scoff.  I arch one eyebrow in reply not really sure how to respond to someone who so blatantly dislikes me after meeting me for 2 seconds
"Mary Margaret, let's just go home." David places a firm hand on said woman's shoulder as she takes a step forward. She reluctantly backs down from Regina who gives one last, triumphant smirk before continuing past us, her shoulder harshly bumping into my own as she passes; David's hands steadying me is the only reason I don't fall.
"Are you okay?" David asks, removing his hands from my shoulders as soon as he's sure I have my footing.
" I've had much worse, trust me. " I assure both of them.  "Who was that and what was her problem? " I ask, completely mystified, as I watch the woman continue down the street past us.
"That would be Regina." Mary Margaret explains as we continue back to the apartment. "She's the mayor of Storybrooke."
"She's the mayor?" I question incredulously. Why in the world would the townspeople elect someone with such a sour disposition? " Why did she call me the prodigal daughter? " I inquire, still perplexed over the whole ordeal.
"That's a good question." Mary Margaret smiles softly at me and I have a feeling whatever it is she's been wanting to say all evening is about to be said. " You-" she starts but David cuts in.
"You don't need to worry about it." He quickly finished before Mary Margaret can say anything else. He and Mary Margaret seem to be having some kind of silent conversation from the looks they're giving each other.
Finally Mary Margaret sighs heavily which seems to finish the conversation, "Let's get home." Is all she says.
The rest of the walk home is completely silent and I'm even allowed to escape to the loft without any more "get to know you" questions but the whole time my mind is running a mile a minute. There's something fishy going on in this town and it's not Ruby's leggings.