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@GrownUpDuckling But I hide my uncertainty as best as I can in the game, pretending my expression is because of my hand, not your words. "And do you think you see that? The bad in me?"

@GrownUpDuckling not even touching the gentle warmth that rose up in my chest hearing about my mother. The apprentice told me about her, of course, but not like this. I'm not even sure what to think about that. --

𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒖𝒆 𝑨𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔 [For @GloamingFire] With the extra time to myself from opening up to having Henry spend time at Regina's, and the time he was already at Neal's... I get to thinking about the most random things. And today is apparently about when I +

@GrownUpDuckling As we play, my eyes find their way to your face more often than my own cards. I’ve always had terrible judgment, but despite everything, I’m hesitant to believe trusting you was one of them. “What can you tell me about my mother?”

@ScaryDragonBtch cards, deciding which to trade.

@GrownUpDuckling “I guess it depends on if you believe in fate or not. Maybe it was meant to be this way. I don’t know.” My fingers toy with the sugar packets, and I toss a few onto the table between us. “Three packs a decent starting bid?”

@ScaryDragonBtch Henry... I might not have found my family or yours. But I do hope we both stick around this time." I pick up the deck. "Five card draw? Simple, and great for if we ever do... rematch."

@GrownUpDuckling “Just think where we’d be if you had gone with me when you had the chance.” I push the deck of cards toward you. “What game are we playing?”

@ScaryDragonBtch "I never said it had to be domestic. But maybe I would like that." I shrug and take my packets. "Then I could challenge you to a rematch any time I wanted."

@GrownUpDuckling “How domestic. You’re planning to take me home, a meeting with the parents—parent, in this case—and then a nice night in. You’ve always dreamed big, Emma.” As I talk, I split the sugar packets into even piles and push one toward you. “Sugar it is.”

@ScaryDragonBtch "Oh, if I'm going to wish, it would be that we were someplace private, like... my place when we get to Storybrooke." I'm absolutely calling her bluff... if she wants to play that she'd be willing for such a game with me... let's see just how real she'd be willing to get.

@GrownUpDuckling Your expression is priceless, and it brings a cocky grin to my face. “Careful what you wish for, Princess.” I take the seat across from you and shuffle the cards a few times. “Your choice. Do we need the sugar packets?”

@ScaryDragonBtch you try." I smirk.

@GrownUpDuckling an exaggerated survey of your body, I turn around to get a deck of cards and a box of sugar packets that I'm technically supposed to be stocking.

@GrownUpDuckling "See, being sheriff did make you a little boring. Besides, who says I'd let you undress me? I've been around long enough, I could probably leave you with nothing but that jacket." With a teasing grin and --

@GrownUpDuckling shouldn’t be worth thinking about it. Which is why it’s so frustrating that I think about those times so often. “Anyway, how do you want to pass the time? We could play poker with the sugar packets.”

@GrownUpDuckling “I doubt it. I mean, I don’t want to crush your dreams or anything, but ‘home’ hasn’t really worked out for me.” I don’t bother to say that the only times I had a home to lose, it was with you. Those few days are bright lights in a sea of darkness, but they were so short it—

@GrownUpDuckling "If it lives up to that name, I'm even more convinced that town's not ready for me." I pause, taking a few bites of my thus-far-ignored pie. "But I suppose nowhere really is."

@ScaryDragonBtch "I'm still no saint. I make mistakes like anyone else. And, don't laugh, the name is... quaint. Storybrooke."

@GrownUpDuckling I catch myself before making a critical slip. "Of wherever-you're-taking-me-ville."

@GrownUpDuckling "Well, I know that. I was the one rescuing you from stealing all those years ago. Hopefully, you got better at it at some point, but... It's not your past I'm talking about. I'm talking about Emma the Mom. The Sheriff. Upstanding citizen of--"

@GrownUpDuckling extra packs of sugars, in case the dispenser you grabbed runs out.

@GrownUpDuckling would’ve thought a goodie-two-shoes like you would be vegan and all natural or something. Good to see you’re still human under all that happiness and security.” Despite my teasing, I get you a carafe of freshly brewed coffee, a mug, and a few—

@GrownUpDuckling is more important. “Coffee I can do. How do you take it?”

@GrownUpDuckling “I’ll come, but you might end up regretting it,” I say, half teasing. The fact that I almost certainly will do things she won’t approve of doesn’t need to be said out loud. I want her in my life, but if I have to pick, finding a way to get justice for what her family did to me—