CHAPTER TWO — THE MAYOR OF STORYBROOKE
pilot — part two

"Madame Mayor, I'm surprised to see you here." — carlos garcia

IT HAD BEEN MONTHS SINCE THE WEDDING BUT THE EVIL QUEEN'S THREAT CONTINUED TO HAUNT THEIR MINDS. Snow White and James had gathered their friends and allies to their war council to discuss the future of their realm and whether they had one at all. Puss in Boots stood on the council table next to Jiminy Cricket, the talking animals too small for the large wooden chairs that everyone else had planted themselves down onto.

They all looked towards James who had taken control of the meeting. Normally their regular gatherings were used to discuss matters of importance to the realm, so their current topic was the Queen's impending curse. Snow and Charming had recently received information from the reptile in their dungeon who confirmed the Queen's plans. So now they were all trying to come up with ways to stop her from casting such an evil spell.

"I say we fight!" Announced James, standing up and slamming his palms flat against the round table. A pregnant Snow jumped in her seat, startled by the sudden sound.

Nearly everyone had noticed that the Princess had not been the same since her wedding. Her days and nights were consumed with anxiety and fear over the Queen's threat. James had tried his best to reassure her, but it appeared even his abilities were limited. They were understandably worried about the fate of their baby, but Puss could tell it was starting to get too much for them both to bear.

Jiminy Cricket, the conscience, spoke up. "Fighting is a bad idea. Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything." Puss looked down at his small friend and nodded in agreement with the bug. Many knew that Jiminy's wisdom came from experience but none had the heart to ask their friend about what darkness laid hidden in his past. If he wanted them to know, Puss was sure he would tell them.

"And how many wars has a clear conscience won?" Retorted Prince James. Jiminy did not reply. Puss knew Charming was right, even if sometimes, he did not want to believe it. "We need to take the Queen out before she can inflict her curse."

Doc looked over to the royals and queried. "Can we even trust Rumplestiltskin?"

They had just been informed about the Snow and Charming's trip down to the dungeons to see the caged Dark One. Not only did he tell them what they wanted to know about the Queen's upcoming curse, but he also prophesied the birth of a saviour who would break her infamous curse and save them all. And that saviour would be the child soon born to Snow White and Prince Charming.

Puss folded his arms over his chest and voiced with a slight scoff. "I do not think we can ever truly trust that demon. But I do believe his information is true."

Many nodded along in agreement with Puss's words. "I've sent men into the forest." James informed them as he leant forwards against their round table. "The animals are abuzz with the Queen's plan. This is going to happen, unless we do something."

Snow looked up at her husband, her voice heavy with hopelessness and despair. "There's no point. The future is written." They all turned to the Princess in concern as she rubbed her protruding stomach. Hope was what the Princess was known for, so to watch as a void of distress and pessimism grew in its place, it hurt Puss and the others.

The Prince shook his head in denial. "No. I refuse to believe that! Good can't just lose."

"Maybe it can."

"No. Not as long as we have each other." Charming said as he turned to Snow. He bent down to her level and gave her a reassuring look as he gently placed his hand on her cheek. "If you believe him about the curse, then you must believe him about our child. She will be the saviour." Snow said nothing. They all spun around at the sound of the council doors opening and they were all greeted with the sight of their fairy friend, Blue. Following behind her where a couple of soldiers heaving a large tree into the room. Puss frowned. "What the hell is this?"

She fluttered over to the table and proclaimed softly. "Our only hope of saving that child."

Grumpy glanced between the tree and the fairy and asked, words laced with disbelief. "A tree? Our fate rests on a tree?" He looked back at James. "Let's get back to the fighting thing."

Blue then went on to explain. "The tree is enchanted. If fashioned into a vessel, it can ward off any curse." This seemed to spark hope in the room, even Snow perked up a little at the news. Puss focused on Blue as he, like everyone else, was eager to find out the rest of Blue's plan. She turned to Geppetto, an elderly man and friend of Puss, who was a master craftsmen. At his feet sat his miracle boy Pinocchio who was busying himself with wood carving as the meeting went on. "Geppetto, can you build such a thing?"

He smiled and reached down to ruffle his boy's auburn hair. "Me and my boy. We can do it."

"This will work." Blue tried to assure the royal parents-to-be who were on the edges of their seats at this point. "We all must have faith." Snow grabbed Charming's hand, moving his gaze to her and she smiled up at him hopefully. Puss watched as Blue's fell. "There is, however, a catch."

Sighing, Puss shook his hat-covered head. "There always is."

Blue's lips formed a fine line as she looked down sadly, her flowery curls falling from its place on her shoulders. "The enchantment is indeed powerful, but all power has its limits, and this tree can protect only one."

Everyone's faces dropped and the cat looked over at Snow White and Prince Charming. Whatever decision they ended up making, it was not going to be an easy one.

CARLOS' REGULAR DONATION TO THE SCHOOL WAS READY AND PACKED INTO AN ENVELOPE THAT HE HELD TIGHTLY IN HIS HANDS. The man made his way to the school grounds during a time he knew the students would be busy in class so his presence there would go mostly unnoticed. He crossed the threshold before making his way inside. Every visit to the school brought back fond memories for Carlos, a time when he was truly happy even if he didn't always have a friend to play with.

His feet took him to the Headmistress' office on muscle memory alone, his mind busy wondering about the Mayor's son and the mysterious blonde he brought to town. News of her arrival and more specifically, her destruction of the town sign, spread like wildfire. But still Carlos had no idea why Henry Mills had brought her to Storybrooke.

Janice Portia's office was all too familiar with Carlos. Beneath all the slight renovations and new decorations, was the room he had sat in many times over his years at school. Janice's Father was the Headmaster in his time and it appeared running a school was a family business.

Raising his hand, Carlos rapped his knuckles against the wooden door as he gazed through the small rectangular glass pane to see Miss Portia look up at the sound. Their eyes met for a short moment before she got up from her chair and made her way over to the door to open it. A pair of glasses were perched on the end of her nose and strands of chocolate hair framed her face as it fell from the otherwise tightly pinned knot on the back of her head. Despite the kitten heels she was wearing, the Headmistress was still shorter than the friendly thief so she had to turn her head upwards to look at him.

"It's that time again, isn't it Carlos?"

The man hummed, confirming her words as he turned his gaze to the white envelope in his hands before handing it over to her. "Here you go, Janice." He smiled.

Their arrangement had been going on for a very long time, but still Janice hesitated before taking the money being offered. It was the circumstances in which he obtained the cash that caused her to question. Everything came from the things he had stolen and pawned off to whoever would buy them and Janice didn't particularly want to drag herself and the school into Carlos' shady illegal endeavours. But they needed the money. So, with a reluctant sigh that Carlos had heard too many times to count, Janice accepted the money and slipped the envelope into her pocket.

"Thank you." She said, truly grateful, but then looked down in what Carlos recognised as shame. "We wouldn't be able to fund our arts programs if it weren't for you."

"I'm glad I could help." Carlos said with a small smile. "That money would have been wasted otherwise, so it's nice to know it's being put to good use. After all, these kids need it more than I do."

Janice returned her eyes to meet his and gave a tight-lipped smile as she patted her pocket. "Not a penny is wasted."

"That's nice to hear." He said, stuffing his sly hands into his own pockets.

The gratitude on Janice's face shone brightly. "Thank you again, Carlos. Your contribution really does mean a lot to these kids, even if they don't know it's you."

He smiled, a happy and proud feeling washing over him. "I don't do this for the recognition, Janice. I just want to help these kids."

"I admire that about you." Admitted the Headmistress whose cheeks suddenly reddened with embarrassment — she had just complemented the town thief.

Carlos nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Janice."

She returned the gesture before saying, "See you next time." and then disappeared back into her office. The door shut in his face but Carlos remained staring at the wood, lost in his own mind. And just as he was about to leave, he spotted the Mayor charging in his direction looking as if she was about to explode.

Carlos no longer risked entering the Mayor's warpath since with one wrong move she could send him to be locked away. But there was something different about this one that led the thief to believe it wasn't just anger that fuelled her. Cheeks flushed, she stormed down the corridor as Carlos bravely stepped forward to block her path.

She looked even more enraged to find Storybrooke's local cat burglar in her way. "Madame Mayor," He spoke up, not fully able to meet her gaze. "I'm surprised to see you here."

Surprisingly, she made no comment about his reason to be at the school so she must have known why he was there, most people did by now.

"Well, Henry's run off again." She said with a sigh and Carlos raised his eyebrow curiously. Henry Mills was a brilliant boy who dreamed big in their small town. Carlos had met the boy a few times in passing but never had the two properly talked and he was sure the Mayor wouldn't let him near her son. Still, he wanted the best for him. "First this Emma Swan, and now this." Continued Regina, and upon noticing the perplexed look on the man's face, she supplied an answer. "Henry's birth mother."

Eyes widening, Carlos' jaw dropped ever so slightly as he became startled by her small announcement. The woman he had seen the night before, driving in a yellow bug and wearing a crimson leather jacket, she was the one who gave birth to the Mayor's son. That certainly did make everything complicated.

She threw up her arms, exasperated with the whole situation. "And no one knows where he is."

"He's a smart kid." Carlos attempted to reassure her. He was going to place his hand upon her arm in a comforting manner but then quickly discarded the idea. "I'm sure wherever he is, he's okay. He'll come back when he's ready."

"I hope you're right, Mr Garcia." She sighed, finally exhaling all her pent up anger. In response, the thief just nodded. Henry Mills wasn't exactly an enigma to figure out but he did hope he was right and that the boy would return on his own accord.

Turning away, Regina resumed her journey to wherever it was that she was headed without as much as a thank you — but to be honest, he didn't expect one. Carlos then watched as she walked away from him and down the corridor. She may have been the powerful Mayor of Storybrooke, but in that moment she was just a scared mother looking for her son. It was something he couldn't relate to with having no family and hardly any friends to call his own, yet some part of his heart reached out to her and what she was going through.

And as he stood there in the empty hallway, the Mayor having left and the headmistress retreated into her office, the town thief thought back to what Regina had said. Henry's birth mother was in town which could mean either two things: nothing, or a big storm was coming and Carlos had no doubt that it would sweep up Storybrooke in its wake.

FLICKING THE REINS HARD, PUSS ENCOURAGED BABIECA TO GALLOP FASTER AS THEY FLED THE LARGE PURPLE CLOUDS HOT ON THEIR HEELS. The ginger cat had done his best to prepare as many villages as he could for the curse, but now he was on his way to the castle to ensure that Snow and her Prince Charming were ready for what was about to come. And whatever it was, it was too close for comfort.

Babieca was the fastest horse in the Enchanted Forest but even the majestic steed was struggling to outrun the violet inevitability. Wind flew through Puss' fur, almost whisking away his hat which he managed to catch just before it disappeared into the curse. Puss could see the castle up ahead and the Queen's carriage not far behind, he knew he had to get there before she did.

"Come on, Babieca. We can do this." He egged on his horse, his companion, as he fixed his gaze upon the tall castle gates.

Babieca sped up his pace and the feline dared to look back at the dark curse the Queen had cast. When he had first noticed it on the horizon, he jumped onto Babieca and rode straight for the castle. Seeing it up close was something different entirely. The clouds appeared to be mauve but as he stared into the heart of the storm, he could see the darkness that lay within. A darkness that the entire realm, including those he cared about and himself, would have to endure. It saddened him beyond belief.

But it was not the time to get emotional, so Puss put on a brave face and returned his gaze to the road ahead. They were almost there now and so was the Evil Queen. Her obsidian carriage of carnage stirred fear wherever it went and even when the dark curse was knocking at their door, the sight of the elegant transport still racked every heart with terror.

Puss tightened his grip on the reins, crushing the coarse leather into the soft pads of his hands. Determination flashed across his face as he drew even nearer to the castle gates. He was so close now.

The recent increase in Babieca's speed had put even more distance between them and the Queen behind which was about to come in handy. Puss rode up to the gates and was relieved to see at least one guard still stood on the wall above. "Open the gates." Yelled the feline and instantly recognising him, the guard quickly went ahead and did as he asked.

Upon entering the castle walls, Puss leapt down from Babieca, the horse then turning to make his way to the stables like he usually did. His sturdy boots landed on the cobblestones, securing his footing and softening the landing. The ginger cat looked up from under his low hat to see a collection of soldiers huddled inside the castle walls. Every single one had fear in the eyes and he could see a few shaking where they stood. The dark curse was coming and it was scaring them all.

Puss strode up to the men with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Men, I need you to barricade those doors. The Evil Queen is on her way and we cannot let breach the castle." He ordered but none of them responded, it seemed they were too afraid. Puss understood but was annoyed nonetheless. He sighed before demanding. "Now!"

That did the trick and the men appeared to wake from whatever trance they were in and head towards the gates to delay the Evil Queen as long as they could.

Puss then took off into the castle, running as fast as his small legs could carry him. Corner after corner, corridor after corridor he ran. He just knew he had to get to Snow and Charming. Fatigue crept up his legs, trying to pull him down, but he pushed through it and kept going; he was not going to let simple tiredness stop him from reaching his friends. They needed him and he was not going to let them down.

He turned yet another sharp corner only this time to be greeted with a small gathering of familiar faces: the dwarves. Stopping in his tracks, Puss stared at his friends who were discussing amongst themselves, unaware of the cat's arrival. Fixing his hat that had gone askew from all the running, Puss went up to the miners and noted how all of them but Doc were present.

"What is going on, my friends?" Inquired the swordsman and at his voice, the band of dwarves turned to face him.

Grumpy stepped forwards and Puss could see the same fear in his eyes as the soldiers. "Snow's gone into labour early. Doc's with her now." Snow was in labour? That certainly was poor timing.

"What about the wardrobe?"

The dwarves shared a look amongst themselves, a solemn look full of despair and heartache. Puss frowned at that and took another step forwards. It appeared the dwarves did not know what was going to happen but they and Puss knew that whatever it was, it was not going to be pleasant.

Suddenly the cat was lifted off his feet by a crying Happy who rocked him side to side to try and bring some comfort. Puss did not attempt to free himself from the dwarf's clutches, it was always futile and besides, the usually cheerful dwarf needed a hug. And even though he would not admit it, Puss did too.

"Happy! Let the poor kitty cat go!" Snapped Grumpy. Puss felt himself stop and then lower to the ground as Happy did as Grumpy asked. The dwarf looked down in disappointment but Puss could still see his face. He then placed his paw upon the miner's arm and gave him a small smile. It was not much, but it was enough for Happy who returned it and was once again true to his name.

Just as Happy looked up and away from their short ginger friend, Doc rounded the corner and almost ran into them. Immediately the gathering pestered the elderly dwarf with questions whilst he stood still, catching his breath and then proceeded to straighten up the glasses on the edge of his nose.

Taking a deep breath, he began and could not help the smile that spread across his wrinkled face. "The Princess has been born. Emma's a strong and beautiful child." A chorus of cheers spread through the group at the news, the Princess had been born. But they then watched as his face dropped and hope faded from his eyes. "Charming is taking her to wardrobe as we speak. Emma is going through alone."

Oh no.

It had been planned that a pregnant Snow would enter the wardrobe upon its completion and then be whisked away to another realm to raise her daughter. But it seemed fate had different plans.

Rumplestiltskin was never wrong, evil and manipulative perhaps, but never wrong. So when he declared that Emma would save them on her 28th birthday, Puss believed him. And now it appeared their fates rested on whether or not the Dark One was playing them or not.

The regular heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the castle, the clinking of chainmail on soldiers running. Puss knew that sound, it was one he would never forget: the Black Knights. It seemed the Evil Queen had managed to breach the castle and now they just had to hope the curse hit before she reached Charming and baby Emma.

Puss pushed the dwarves behind him as the echoing grew closer and louder in their ears. He withdrew his sword and pointed it outwards, ready to fight for his and the dwarves' lives. But it never got that far. Instead, the magenta smoke crept through the gaps in the windows and doors and slithered towards them. Puss still did not lower his sword.

They remained together as the curse crept towards them, wisps floating up into the air and and filling the corridor. Sneezy could not help but sneeze and Happy tried to keep up a brave face. "See you on the other side, boys."

Puss watched as the smoke wrapped around the tip of his sword and curled downwards towards him. It was so close to him now, he did not long left before it would take him completely. No one had any idea what the curse would do, where it would take them, but it was not going to be good. "Good luck to us all. And good luck to the Princess."

Puss felt the violet storm wrap around his precious boots before the darkness swept over him like a crashing wave. Then Puss in Boots was no more.

DULCINEA PURRED AS SHE SETTLED DOWN IN CARLOS' LAP, THE LATTER HAVING JUST RETURNED FROM A LONG DAY OUT IN THE TOWN. Carlos was pleasantly surprised when he returned home that afternoon to find Dulcy still in his apartment, the thief having thought that the cat would have left during the day. He had found her curled up on his pillow, soundly asleep and as it looked, awaiting his return. And when she noticed he was home, she jumped from the bed and immediately went to rub her head against his leg which caused him to smile.

Out of the many strays he had helped over the years, it seemed one had finally decided to stay and that made Carlos happy.

He prepared them both dinner, which just happened to be whatever cat food he had lying around for Dulcinea and something simple for himself. For once it was nice to not eat alone, after all, being a criminal in a small town didn't typically attract friends. But it did mean the friends Carlos did have were true and loved him for who he was, thief or no thief.

After they both finished eating their meals, Carlos plopped himself down on his old, worn couch, only for Dulcinea to seize the opportunity and jump into his lap. It drew a laugh from the man's lungs as the feline made herself comfortable, much to his discomfort, before settling down in a position they both liked. Carlos ran his fingers along her white fur, stroking her side with one hand as he drank his coffee with the other.

Purrs of contentment filled the room, echoing off the walls of the otherwise silent apartment. The man smiled behind his cup of coffee and continued to stroke his new friend. The pair were happy in their peace, enjoying each other's company was enough. As he drained the last dregs of coffee from bottom of the cracked mug, Carlos replaced it on the small table to his right, making sure to use a coaster as the nuns taught him.

TICK.

Carlos almost jumped out of his skin at the surprising sound. He went to get off the sofa, Dulcinea leaping down from where she was sat, as he then made his way to ajar window. The sound he heard, he couldn't believe it, especially if it was from where he thought it was.

But as he stared out into the night, he knew what he thought was impossible was true: the clock tower was ticking once again.

Never in his life had the hands of that clock moved or ticked, but something had changed, that or the innards had finally sorted themselves out. Still, as Carlos watched the hand journey around the clock face for the first time in who knows when, he couldn't help but wonder if this was only the start and if there was more change to come.

Chapter two is out!!! It also didn't take me as long as I thought to get this chapter compared with some of my other books. I absolutely love writing for Regina and Carlos, they are my babies and I love them so much.

This chapter is dedicated to the amazing -Aphrxdite- who is such a big fan of Carlos already. Thank you so much for your support and love for this book, it really makes me so happy that you're enjoying this story.

I would also like to thank MissHiraeth98 and IightbIoom for helping me come up with Janice Portia: her fairytale character and her cursed name. If Janice makes a reappearance, I will add her to the cast list, but for now she'll remain here because I don't exactly know if we'll see her again.

FELICITY JONES as
JANICE PORTIA

JANE PORTER

Easter Egg challenge:

5. Janice Portia, the Headmistress, is actually Jane Porter from Tarzan.

6. Babieca, Puss' horse from 'The Adventures of Puss in Boots'

Carlos and Regina bonded a little! Yay! And things are starting to change around Storybrooke. What this means for Carlos and Puss, lets just wait and see.

Thank you all for reading!!! I hope to see you all in the next chapter!!!

Sincerely Rosie aka Winter326