Dark Hearts | Once Upon A Time

IV. The Price of Family

Storybrooke. Present-day.

ERICA SWAN SAT at Granny's Diner with Gemma Wexler, waiting for the arrival of her sister, who had dropped Henry Mills off at school today. They were talking over the events of last night and how odd it was that the wife just happened to show up at the hospital after they had got -- David Nolan -- back there safely, and then there was the topic of what was in the newspaper this morning -- and Erica knew that her dear sister would be angry beyond belief -- this was what Emma was so worried about the other day, and it seemed like it had finally come to pass.

The bell above the door rang and Erica swung her head around to the door expecting it to be Emma and her heart hammered in her throat, where it had been lodged for most of the morning. However, she was relieved and surprised to see Sheriff Graham, but her stomach twisted when Emma came in behind in

"Ric, the Sheriff wants to talk to you" Emma smirked and Erica wanted to punch Emma, she didn't know where it came from but she didn't like the cocky suggestive look in Emma's eyes, almost as if she knew something that Erica didn't 

So with that in mind, she approached the conversation with scepticism and since she didn't know what direction the conversation was going in she decided to play her cards close to her chest  "What about?" 

"I want to...thank you...for last night for helping and recovering the John Doe"

"That it?" Erica asked, her eyebrows raising up "I'm pretty sure Em could have told me"

"No, I want to offer you a job."

"A job?" "I already have a job, thanks"

"You do, but it looks like you are sticking around for a while, and your skills as a detective and a deputy could help me as I want you to become a deputy, we can start you on a temporary job and if you leave, fine, but I could really use a pair of hands while your around" Sheriff Graham tells the blonde girl

"I'll think about it alright?" Erica says, planning her words carefully

"Alright, let me know your decision by the end of the day"

Without another word the British Sheriff turned on his heel and left the diner and left the three women in the diner, Erica could feel eyes on them, and she had a sneaking suspicion that it was the high riding short waitress Ruby but before the deputy could double-check, her sister was already looking nervously at the newspaper which was in the middle of the table and Erica could see how nervous she was as Emma was twiddling her thumbs and had her lips trapped between her teeth and to make things worse the bell above the diner door chimes again and in walks the mayor Regina Mills.

"How was your walk with Henry?" Regina asks, but there was a sense of bitterness between her words as she sat down at the booth that the trio were occupying and looked at everyone in the booth, when she spotted Gemma she dressed her "Ms Wexler shouldn't you be at work?"