Reset

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/3072524.

Reset

by CurvyPragmatist

Chapter 1

There were two distinctive, similar sounds that Emma dreaded hearing when she was at work. One was the sound of Regina Mills’ heels clicking and the other was the occasional clack of Mister Gold’s cane as either one approached her office. Emma was convinced that they had set put their differences aside if only to coordinate their diaries to ensure that one or the other was disrupting Emma’s day with some ridiculous business.

Today it seemed to be Mister Gold’s turn and Emma looked up from her desk as the man walked into the main office and turned to see Emma in her office. He was holding a manila folder in one hand and leaning on his cane with the other, “Sheriff Swan, you’re very hard to get hold of,” he commented with a greasy smile.

Truth be told Emma had been avoiding Gold, she’d seen him a few times lately and just as he looked like he was going to approach her she had managed to dodge him. Clearly he’d decided to bring his issue to her door so she put her pen down and indicated the chair in front of her desk with a nod of her head.

“Thank you,” he said with a smile as he sat down and placed the folder on the desk in front of him.

“Well?” Emma asked with a sigh. She was in no mood to play any games, since the curse had been lifted five months ago she had gone out of her way to have as little to do with the man as possible. She knew he was responsible for bringing magic to Storybrooke and she also knew he had sent the wraith after Regina, to her mind that was enough to steer clear of the man.

“Right down to business,” Gold grinned, “I like that in a person. If you ever get bored of law enforcement..”

“Gold,” Emma interrupted in a low, warning voice.

“Of course,” he said as if suddenly remembering his business with her. She hated the genial façade he would display, it usually meant he was planning something.

“As you will know,” Gold began, “I am the closest thing Storybrooke has to a lawyer. My.. understanding of contracts has been contracted to engage in a spot of business with you, Sheriff.”

“With me?” Emma frowned, “I don’t have anything to sell..”

“Ah, this isn’t a contract of sale, Miss Swan,” Gold smiled as he tapped the folder lightly with his finger, “this is.. more of bequest.”

“Bequest?” Emma asked, “has someone died?”

“Not exactly,” Gold said with a smirk as he opened the folder to reveal a stack of official documents. He picked up the covering piece of paper and turned it to face Emma and laid it in front of her on the desk.

Emma looked down at the document, she could see her name, Henry’s name and Regina’s name. It had been signed by Regina and witnessed by Gold. There was another space for Emma’s signature.

“What is this?” Emma asked with irritation.

“I believe it’s rather clear, Sheriff,” Gold frowned as he leaned forward and run his finger across the top line of the document and read aloud, “Adoption dissolution.”

Emma’s heart began to pound loudly in her chest as a number of terrifying thoughts ran through her mind, “cut the crap, what is this? Explain it! Now!”

Gold looked put out by her outburst but she knew it was all part of the butter-wouldn’t-melt act that he liked to play.

“Regina is absolving her rights towards Henry, she is undoing the adoption and placing him, legally, in your care,” Gold explained.

Emma picked up the paper in shaky hands and read the first few lines which, although in legal language that made little sense to her, seemed to corroborate what he was claiming.

“Henry will be your son. Regina will have no legal right to see him, in fact she stipulates that she doesn’t wish to see him,” Gold continued.

“Why..” Emma breathed and looked up at Gold with a fierce glare, “why would she do this? What is she planning?”

Gold leaned back in his chair and shrugged, “I am merely in charge of the creation, delivery and witnessing of the documentation.”

Emma slammed the piece of paper back onto the folder, “I’m not signing anything, this is some kind of twisted game.”

“I did rather suspect that you would think so,” Gold nodded, “Edith Monroe has some legal experience, as does Katherine Nolan and I believe Widow Lucas would also be able to assist you. I suggest you speak with someone else to confirm the validity of these documents, including the timescale requirements.”

“What requirements?” Emma hissed at him.

“Regina feels she is in an unsustainable situation and would like this matter resolved sooner rather than later, to this end she wishes for these documents to be signed and acted upon within the next twenty eight days. Unless, of course, you wish to negotiate the terms of the agreement,” Gold sighed as if the whole conversation was boring him.

Gold may well have been bored but Emma’s brain was doing somersaults, “what happens in twenty eight days if I don’t sign?”