Discovering Storybrooke

Before the rays of morning sun entered the warm cottage room, Seraphina had walked to her car near the town line and returned to the inn before anyone was awake. She placed her suitcase on the bed and was unpacking the belongings she had with her, when someone knocked on her door.

"Oh, good morning, Granny," she said with a bright smile. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"Not at all dear," the elder women replied, glancing into the room. "I see you retrieved your belongings from your car already?"

"Yes. I was going to get them last night, but the weather today is so much nicer."

Granny nodded and motioned for Seraphina to follow her. "We'll go to the diner and get you something to eat. Then, Ruby will take you to the auto shop."

"Granny, these are by far the best over easy egg sandwiches I have ever had," Seraphina complemented. "Whatever you make is both filling and delicious… As though you regularly cook for starving wolves."

"Well, you know the men around here," Granny stated warily. "Always starving no matter what. They keep me in business alright."

Seraphina again helped Granny with her dishes and followed Ruby to the car shop across town. While they were walking, the two women talked about the regular weather Storybrooke received, whether it was usually warm or cold and if they received many people from out of state. Their conversation was light and they paused it prematurely when they arrived at the auto shop.

"Michael," Ruby called when they neared the garage. "You open yet?"

A man with an oil-stained shirt emerged from the garage, holding in his hand an equally stained rag. "Ruby, always a pleasure to see you," he smiled, then turning to Seraphina he said, "and you must be our new guest."

"Seraphina Erik," she replied shaking his hand. "Word must travel fast in small towns."

He nodded his head. "Indeed it does. So, what can I help you with?"

"I was passing by late last night and thought I would stop to find somewhere to eat, but before I could even get anywhere in the town, my car stopped."

"Let's pile in my truck and I'll tow it back here. Then we'll see if we can fix it."

"And you're sure it wasn't making any unusual noises before you passed into Storybrooke?"

She shook her head. "Nothing was wrong until then. But when it stopped working, I looked at the gas gage and it ready empty."

Michael came away from under the hood of the car and wiped off his hands. "Well, it appears there was a small hole in the gas pipe. Small enough to not do much damage, but large enough to drain the gas. You're lucky it didn't ignite."

"Thank you for finding the problem," Seraphina responded.

"It's no trouble at all, Miss. If I can get the parts in time, your car should be ready in about a week."

"Don't worry if it takes longer," she voiced. "I'd like to stay and learn more about the town for a while."

Ruby linked arms with her and started walking to Town Hall. "Let's get started!"

For the next three hours, Ruby gave Seraphina a tour of Storybrooke, telling her about each building they went through and showing her the highlights of them. From the Marine Garage, they went to Town Hall, Hooper Psychiatry Office, the Convent, Game of Thornes flower shop, Marco's Handyman & Woodworking Services, Storybrooke Heritage Park, and finished off at Granny's Diner. After eating a bite of lunch, Seraphina continued touring the town alone, as Ruby had to take over a coworker's shift.

"I'll have a nice hot supper waiting for you whenever you get back, dear," Granny reminded the women.

Stepping out of the diner, Seraphina looked around for a grocery or convenient store and her eyes landed upon the Dark Star Pharmacy. Deciding to purchase a few items for her room at Granny's Bed and Breakfast, she crossed the road and entered the store.

She took a basket at the entrance of the store and walked up and down the aisles, placing the items she needed in the basket. The people she passed greeted her and asked if they could help her find anything. From looking at them, Seraphina knew they didn't work there, but thought it was kind of them to ask. She asked to be directed to the wines and spirits and they pointed towards the back of the grocery store.

There were many different types of wines, several of which Seraphina had never heard of, yet she could not find the one she liked. When she was about to give up, a woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair came up to her.

"White Apple is really good if you're in the mood for a kick, but if you want something with less strength and more sweetness, Ruby Delicious is the one you want." Her smile was bright, matching the friendly gleam held in her eyes.

"I sometimes prefer White Apple, but I can't seem to find the one I enjoy the most. You don't suppose they have Pure Magic?"

The woman smiled again and led Seraphina into a large room in the back of the store. "They don't put it on display because no one here except myself and a friend of mine buys it." She handed a bottle to her and held out a hand. "I'm the mayor by the way, Regina Mills."

"Seraphina Erik," she answered, shaking the mayor's hand. "This is a lovely town, Mayor."

"Please, call me Regina. And yes, it is nice." She glanced around the store, grinning to herself.

They continued to walk through the store together, gathering items both women needed and proceed to the checkout. As the cashier scanned their items, Regina asked, "So, what brings you here? We don't usually have many visitors."

"I was passing through to find somewhere to eat, but my car stopped working shortly after I entered the town. Ruby took me to the Marine Garage and Michael said he would see if he could fix it." Seraphina paid the cashier for her groceries and waited for the Mayor.

"Oh, so you've met Granny then?"

"Yes," she replied. "She was kind enough to give me a room at her inn. Is she normally so kind to everyone?"

Regina chuckled, nodding her head as she took her groceries. "She's been that way for as long as I've known her. Even helping me out a few times." She walked with Seraphina out of the store and to her car. "Hop in. I don't pick up my son until three. Maybe I can take you around town for a bit before I drop you back off at the inn?"

"I'd like that."

"You've been Mayor for how many years?"

"About twenty-nine."

"And nobody has tried to take your spot? Not that they should; I've just never heard of one person the same position for so long."

Regina smiled and shook her head. "Not yet anyway. Although a few years ago I didn't think that was the case." Before Seraphina could ask what she meant, the Mayor stopped the car. "We're here."

Seraphina looked out the windshield and took in a sharp breath. Before her lie a cemetery that contained at least a hundred graves; probably more if she were to walk through the woods alongside it. She opened her car door, and followed the Mayor, her eyes scanning the carved names on the graves, now faded and worn.

The Mayor walked towards a large vault-like fixture, tall and white, with strong oaken doors as its entrance. She placed a vase of white roses at the doors, putting her fingers to her lips and placing them on the handles. Bowing her head as her right hand went to her eyes, Regina backed away slowly, returning to Seraphina, who had been silently watching the Mayor.

"Your father loved white roses?" She asked softly.

"He said they reminded him of when I was born, white and pure, just like my heart. At least now he got his wish. But how did you know this is my father's grave?"

Seraphina smiled meekly. "When one's mother has passed and is placed in a vault such as this, the doors never remained locked." She turned to look around the rest of the cemetery, noticing a newly hewn stone. "There has recently been a death?"

Regina nodded, "My friend's wife passed away suddenly. It was about three weeks ago yesterday." She watched as Seraphina walked to the grave, placing her hand on the white marble headstone, reading it quietly to herself. Regina caught the few soft words Seraphina offered towards the grave.

"It was not in vain." She slowly wandered back towards the Mayor's car and sat in the passenger seat, her head downcast and face laden with burden. "He must have loved her dearly."

The woman nodded, glancing at Seraphina skeptically. "She was everything to him."

"It's a shame really; to have your happy ending within your grasp, and then suddenly taken from you." Seraphina wiped at her eyes, looking at the fading cemetery. "Sometimes you wish you could just escape."

"You've lost someone as well then?"

Seraphina nodded solemnly. "I did once; but he grew stronger and survived, though his injuries were great. There's always that fear though, that one day, he might not be so lucky."

The rest of the car ride was quiet, no verbal conversation was spoken, but each allowed their minds to consider time and life and death and the cost everyone must eventually pay.