Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The young woman with red streaks spilled nothing. Only making comments about how it seemed to be kidnapping and interrogation when she did nothing wrong but do the job Granny asked her to do.

The little brat.

Regina huffed, irritation and worry clear on her face. What was she supposed to do? Her son was missing and there were new women in her town who she didn't have the patience to deal with.

It seemed she would have to either chase them away or keep her new enemies close.

Because anyone new who entered the town was a threat. It had never happened before.

But now wasn't a time to think about it, she needed to find Henry. She needed to find her son.

------

Paige and Pheobe had left earlier, Prue watching the car drop Ruby and drive away quickly off the curb. She looked back to Piper, "We should head down now." She said softly to her, keeping her distance at the window for only a moment before moving towards her sister and squeezing her shoulder.

Piper looked up to Prue, seeming a little lost. "What was that?" She asked softly, looking back down to the same pattern of flowers on the bed that she had gotten so familiar with.

"Pipes." Prue's strict but comforting tone broke Piper from her thoughts once more. "I know you're hurting sweetie. I know you miss him. I know you're angry. But I really need you right now and Henry needs you too."

After a moments hesitation Piper sighed, nodding slowly and receiving a small kiss on her forehead. "Thank you. Now come on, Paige and Pheobe should already be seeing Mary Margaret at the hospital. We're going to go speak to the mayor." She said, taking Piper's reluctant arm.

Meeting anymore residents didn't take that long, in fact, it was a bit too easy as Mr. Gold took the roll of money that Granny had given him.

"Always a pleasure doing business..." He said, a slightly mocking tone in his voice. Catching sight of the witches, Gold raised an eyebrow. "New tenants? Perhaps I shall up the rent..." He said to the older woman who snorted, a flash of anger raised in her eyes.

"Hello, we'll be on our way now..." Prue said, pulling Piper along with her. They were one foot out the door when Gold called after them. "Watch out dearies, its a cold night tonight. You may run into wolves."

The words sent a shiver down Piper's spine and Prue looked back briefly as they continued onto the street.

-----

Phoebe had been directed into a hospital wing with Paige close behind. They walked into a glass door, looking around for anyone who looked like a Mary Margaret.

A nun looked up, her soft curls kept out of her face as she stared at the two in slight confusion. "I'm sorry..." she whispered softly. "Can I help you?"

Paige nodded, "Yeah, we're looking for um... Are you Mary Margaret?" She was a nun right? It was worth a shot.

The sister gave a small smile. "No, you must be new to town?"

Phoebe laughed awkwardly, "How'd you guess?"

Mother Superior gave a kind smile. "We don't get any tourists. Nor do we get any new faces coming around town. If you're looking for Mary Margret she's already left I'm afraid. You just missed her."

The sisters' faces fell. "Do you know where we can find her? It's kinda important, we're here to help with Henry." Phoebe said, hoping it would get the nun to give out more information.

Mother Superior raised an eyebrow once more before sighing. Her gentle voice sounding a bit defeated. "I can't give you an address, but I can..." Her voice lowered, "Say that her car has been parked in front of an apartment..." She said slipping a pen from her pocket and writing down the name of the apartment. "You didn't get it from me."

-----

"Are you positive this is hers?" Piper almost whined.

Prue sighed, "Piper. We asked Archie and he said that her house is the biggest on the block.

"No, we didn't ask Archie. He spoke to us because we probably look like suspicious thieves trying to figure out where everything is and-"

"Piper..."

"-That creepy looking guy who's obviously some kind of business tyrant gave us a warning-"

"Piper stop."

"-I mean, he must be a freaking warlock!"

Prue clamped a hand over Piper's mouth as she smiled at Regina who had walked up to them, arms crossed and a not so pleasant smile on her face.

Piper's eyes widened and the woman turned around quickly, her hands to her chest.

"Uh... Hello... You must be the mayor." Piper said in a high pitches voice.

Regina hummed not making any friendly gestures. "I am. And it's after hours. If you need anything, call my office in the morning."

She began to leave but Prue called out to her. "Wait, we were hoping to talk to youabout your son, Henry... We know he's missing, and we want to help."

Regina's eyes widened and she glared at them, fire in her eyes and her hand twitching with the need to do something.

"What do you know about my son?" She hissed at them. "Do you know where he is? Because so help me if you were the ones who took my boy from me..." Regina was in their faces, her nostrils flared and her lip curled up in a snarl.

"I. Will. Destroy. You. If it's the last thing I do..."