For notes and disclaimer, please see part one.

Previously, on Grimm: Nick and Hank go investigate Denise Callahan, the girlfriend of Emma's late father, but find that she's missing. Renard retires for the evening but gets a late night visitor who isn't all that she seems.

Nick and Hank glanced at the Captain, who was standing along the wall in the back of the courtroom, watching as Denise Callahan was brought before the judge for her initial appearance. None of them had slept, but only Renard looked at all put together.

"So, what is she exactly?" Hank asked in a whisper, leaning toward Nick.

"Rosalee said, best she can tell after looking at the..." Nick swallowed what he was going to say: 'snakeskin,' for a more euphemistic term, given their surroundings. "At the evidence... and it looked like it was from a rare kind of Lausenchlange."

Renard cleared his throat, glancing over at them. When he returned his attention to the front of the courtroom, the judge was asking Denise, already in county correctional orange, how she wanted to plead.

She was defiantly silent for a moment, before catching Renard's cold eyes. "Guilty, your honor," she said to the astonished murmurings of the crowd in the gallery.

With a slight nod, Renard turned to leave. Nick and Hank weren't far behind. Before they could make it out of the courthouse, the Captain was stopped by a small group that included the Mayor, the Chief, and several members of Portland's elite. Each was congratulatory and thankful for Renard's hard work in finding the real thief and eliciting a confession, all within a week.

"It was a team effort," Renard assured them. "Thankfully, we have incredible officers in the Portland Police Department, particularly in lead detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin," he said, gesturing at them. "And, we wouldn't have found the true thief if not for Emma Scott." He looked at the Mayor. "Wasn't there a reward? I think you might need to draw up a funds transfer."

"It's already in progress," the Mayor assured him.

While the others were distracted by Nick and Hank, Renard headed out into the morning sun to greet the waiting press with the Mayor and the Chief.

Emma had been shocked when Renard had called in the middle of the night to tell her that they had caught the true thief. Rather than spook her with the truth about Denise's wesen abilities, Renard had told her that others had been hired by Denise, like her supposed fairy godmother with the ticket and the dress. It had been a huge relief, and it had infinitely softened the blow that came when her company released her from their employ.

She really couldn't blame them. Guilt by association was unfair, but it existed. She'd seen the video image of herself, stealing a necklace. If she had been in the shoes of the homeowner, she wouldn't want anyone with her face walking about her home either. At least she was financially set for a little while as she searched for a new job. She had already been by City Hall that morning to pick up her reward check for providing information that led to the arrest and confession of the thief.

She lingered at the police station, after the morning press briefing. She wanted to see her Captain. It wasn't long before he emerged from his office.

"Emma," he said, surprised to see her.

"Sean... I hope this isn't a bad time..."

"Just got a call," he said as he pulled his coat on. It was a rather gruesome scene, apparently, and he spared her those details. "But I have a moment for you."

She smiled softly up at him, thankful for whatever time he could give. "I just... just wanted to say thanks. I thought maybe I could properly show you my gratitude, over coffee... sometime?" she ventured.

His thoughts drifted back mere hours ago, to the coffee with her lookalike. Inwardly, he shuddered. "How about dinner instead?" he asked. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah," she said, her smile growing. "I'd like that very much."

"Good," he said. "I'll pick you up at seven thirty." He started to walk down the corridor, but paused and returned to her. "Emma?" When she looked up at him, he reached into the interior pocket of his jacket. "I almost forgot." He pulled out the spare ticket he had gotten from the Chief and offered it to her. "Apparently I did have a date to the masquerade Friday."

She was stunned, accepting the ticket from him.

He leaned in and quickly kissed her cheek. "Until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," she murmured softly in return.

End.