Disclaimer: In what universe would a fifteen year old own this year's top rated tv show? Not this one apparently.

Just a little tibit I came up with after missing the hot hipster sheriff a little too much, but he and Emma don't kiss in this one, nor does the awesome Regina!Emma catfight take place. Dang.

Might do a Multi-Chapter AU later on "what if graham doesn't die and he and Emma fight crime like a bad-ass princess and hunter against the Evil Queen" but we'll how that goes.

In which Graham has a nightly encounter with Emma. AU after 1x07.

How many days and nights will come and go
While the only light you'll see is from my glow
There will never be a dawn that breaks the spell surrounding us
Till the earth dies with the sun

~ Oh Land-Wolf and I

He realizes that he expects something more after he remembers. A little more fireworks, a little more spoof, maybe, and that's why he finds himself standing under Henry's bedroom window at night, ten o'clock on his watch, throwing pebbles at the glass. He really doesn't know what he doing here, but he does need answers.

The face that he sees peeping out the window isn't one he expects, but he welcomes the sight anyways, with a surge of surprise and the flooding of warmth in his stomach that makes him want to blush like a bumbling schoolboy with his first crush.

"Emma?"

She blinks at him before rubbing her hand over her eyes and yawning quietly. The sight of her hair all messed up and that soft smile on her face he's sure she has no idea about has him smirking.

"Henry... the kid wanted me to have a sleepover of some sorts, snuck me through the window... darn those puppy dog eyes of his, can never say no to him." She talking rapidly now, words all strung up in one sentence, and inside it amazes him that this is Emma Swan before coffee.

The most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

They talk for a while more, and Graham leaves when she's just a little more awake and he hears the wolves howling in the forest.

She doesn't ask him why he's there. She can sees the shadows underneath his eyes, the whiteness of his hands. She's been there many times herself, and distance is always one thing she keen to keep. Not that it's really working with him. The harder to tries to push away, the more she can't stop thinking that she should stop running. For once. From Henry, and from him.

The voices are now merely a whisper, and the weight of his past self rests itself comfortably on its shoulders. There will be a time for answers, but not right now. It'll come soon enough. The sun's not up yet, and for now, he's content with humming a song under his breathe as he starts the engine and holding a hope he hasn't felt in a long time close to his heart.

And tomorrow, he plans on asking his plucky, adorable deputy to dinner. And maybe a movie.