Chapter 13
David/Charming
My daughter and the huntsman were speaking in private, in the huntsman's office before our interview. I was sitting with Killian Jones. Who was he? I wondered to myself as the door behind my daughter and my friend closed. Just then Killian turned towards me and spoke quickly and in hushed tones
"Listen, we have maybe five minutes before they're prepped for your interview. Let's make this quick. You know don't you, you remember?" I looked at him suspiciously.
"Remember what?" I asked cryptically, wanting to be sure he was speaking about what I thought he was speaking about.
"No offence meant, Your Majesty, but we don't have time for this nonsense. You know that the girl in there is your daughter and you know that Mary Margaret is Snow White and that you are married and you know that the Mayor is the Evil Queen and the Mr. Gold is the crocodile or Rumplestiltskin rather and that not a single one of them knows a damn thing because of their stupid curse." I sighed in relief. I wasn't alone.
"Yes, I know. Who are you? How do you remember? Does anyone else know? I think the boy, Henry was it? I think he might know."
"I was sent here by Cora, Regina's mother after the curse began, to keep an eye on Regina. Don't worry, I don't hold any love for either woman in my heart. I'm just here for revenge on Rumpelstiltskin." He held up his hand and it took me a minute but I realized it was fake. "He took my hand the same day he killed my love. I can't touch him until this damned curse is broken so I intend to do everything in my power to help your daughter to break it. Henry does know but I am fairly certain he is the only one."
"Who is Henry? How does he know?" I asked quickly, eyeing the door and my daughter, my Emma through it.
"He figured it out. The kid is a genius. Snow White is his teacher and she gave him a book on fairy tales and he completely figured it out. Regina has the kid in therapy and she and Emma are working on making him less dependent on his "fantasy". Emma of course because she doesn't think it's real but Regina because she doesn't want him to help Emma break the curse."
"Emma? Why would she care about what the boy thinks?" I asked, my brow furrowed. Killian Jones had a look on his face. That look of, I really don't want to be the one to tell you this.
"Look, mate, I'm really not sure I should be the one to tell you this but since you need to know here goes." Sure enough. I was right. "Henry is Emma's son. Regina adopted him when he was an infant and a week or two ago he hitchhiked to Boston, the city Emma was living in and told her he wanted her in his life. That's why she's here, mate. That is why she's staying in Storybrooke, it's for Henry." My heart dropped into my stomach.
"I'm a grandfather?" I whispered. He nodded.
"Look. Whatever happens, don't let them know what you know. They will lock you up, think you're crazy. Just tell them you don't remember a thing. Amnesia. That's a real thing. They won't lock you up in the nut house for that." I didn't have time to ask what a nut house was per say as my daughter and the huntsman stepped out of the office, ready to question me. I was a grandfather. My daughter was my age, and I was a grandfather. Regina what the hell did you do?
My daughter and the huntsman were speaking in private, in the huntsman's office before our interview. I was sitting with Killian Jones. Who was he? I wondered to myself as the door behind my daughter and my friend closed. Just then Killian turned towards me and spoke quickly and in hushed tones
"Listen, we have maybe five minutes before they're prepped for your interview. Let's make this quick. You know don't you, you remember?" I looked at him suspiciously.
"Remember what?" I asked cryptically, wanting to be sure he was speaking about what I thought he was speaking about.
"No offence meant, Your Majesty, but we don't have time for this nonsense. You know that the girl in there is your daughter and you know that Mary Margaret is Snow White and that you are married and you know that the Mayor is the Evil Queen and the Mr. Gold is the crocodile or Rumplestiltskin rather and that not a single one of them knows a damn thing because of their stupid curse." I sighed in relief. I wasn't alone.
"Yes, I know. Who are you? How do you remember? Does anyone else know? I think the boy, Henry was it? I think he might know."
"I was sent here by Cora, Regina's mother after the curse began, to keep an eye on Regina. Don't worry, I don't hold any love for either woman in my heart. I'm just here for revenge on Rumpelstiltskin." He held up his hand and it took me a minute but I realized it was fake. "He took my hand the same day he killed my love. I can't touch him until this damned curse is broken so I intend to do everything in my power to help your daughter to break it. Henry does know but I am fairly certain he is the only one."
"Who is Henry? How does he know?" I asked quickly, eyeing the door and my daughter, my Emma through it.
"He figured it out. The kid is a genius. Snow White is his teacher and she gave him a book on fairy tales and he completely figured it out. Regina has the kid in therapy and she and Emma are working on making him less dependent on his "fantasy". Emma of course because she doesn't think it's real but Regina because she doesn't want him to help Emma break the curse."
"Emma? Why would she care about what the boy thinks?" I asked, my brow furrowed. Killian Jones had a look on his face. That look of, I really don't want to be the one to tell you this.
"Look, mate, I'm really not sure I should be the one to tell you this but since you need to know here goes." Sure enough. I was right. "Henry is Emma's son. Regina adopted him when he was an infant and a week or two ago he hitchhiked to Boston, the city Emma was living in and told her he wanted her in his life. That's why she's here, mate. That is why she's staying in Storybrooke, it's for Henry." My heart dropped into my stomach.
"I'm a grandfather?" I whispered. He nodded.
"Look. Whatever happens, don't let them know what you know. They will lock you up, think you're crazy. Just tell them you don't remember a thing. Amnesia. That's a real thing. They won't lock you up in the nut house for that." I didn't have time to ask what a nut house was per say as my daughter and the huntsman stepped out of the office, ready to question me. I was a grandfather. My daughter was my age, and I was a grandfather. Regina what the hell did you do?
Chapter 14
Emma Swan
He lied his way through the entire interview. But none of my tricks worked! He wasn't caught in any lies because all he had to say was-I don't remember-and Graham would believe him because he had conveniently been in a coma for God knows how long. There were no lies to catch him in, no words to trip him up on and he kept staring at me awkwardly. It had thrown me off my game. When a guy normally stared at me, I could handle myself. But when he stared at me, I could tell that it wasn't in an 'I'm imagining you naked' way, but in a completely different and non-sexual way and it was really creeping me out. He was lying but what was he hiding?
Killian Jones
He had done brilliantly. But she didn't buy it. Graham completely accepted it as this damn curse was prone to make you accept things, but Emma knew he was lying. She was so smart. I don't know how she did that but I would have to be careful around that one. If I wasn't careful she would capture me in that super powered web of hers.
David/Charming
Who was Killian Jones? The relief I felt when I found out I wasn't alone began to dissipate the moment I noticed the way he looked at my daughter. He didn't take his eyes off her. I don't care what he said about breaking the curse, he liked her. He like Emma. My daughter. And not in the curious, this woman is going to help me get vengeance for my true love's death, but more in the, this woman is my track for forgetting about my true love kind of way. And I was not having that. I didn't know who he was, but there was no way he was laying a single one of his five fingers on my baby girl.
Sheriff Graham
He had lost his memory. So why was Emma looking at him so suspiciously? And what was up with the look he was giving Emma? And when was Killian going to stop staring at her and start doing his job? Something was going on and I was going to find out. After David Nolan left on his way back to his wife's house and Emma back to Mary Margaret's I made my way to Regina's house. I needed to clear my head and this was usually the place that I did that. I pounded on her door and within a minute she had opened it and her arms to me. I kissed her as passionately as I knew how, I did everything that had worked in the past. Nothing. I felt no emotions. I was happier and felt such stronger emotions simply talking to Emma Swan and here I was screwing Regina and I felt nothing. Something was wrong. And Emma was the key to fixing it.
Emma Swan
As the sky darkened I made my way back to the apartment I shared with Mary Margaret. Passing by Granny's I noticed Killian exiting with Ruby. She was laughing hysterically at something he had just said and he was holding the door for her pleasantly. We made eye contact as Ruby caught up with me, walking beside me.
"Allow me to walk you ladies home." Killian offered, smiling without a hint of flirtation in his voice, but rather something else, was it chivalry? I was about to decline but Ruby took him up on it immediately. We were headed the same way and the three of us walked listening to Ruby chat away gaily about her day. And there it was. That crack in the sidewalk that I tripped on every day on my walk to Granny's. Yet somehow I had forgotten about it. But once again, before I could hit the pavement, a pair of strong hands caught me, setting me back on my feet. This time, I wasn't looking into Graham's eyes but Killian's.
"Are you alright, Emma?"
"How did you do that?" Ruby looked extremely impressed. "My mind barely registered that Emma was tripping. You started to reach for her before she even fell! That was so ninja!"
"Emma trips on that crack every day. I saw it and realized just before it happened." He said softly. He noticed me tripping every day and remembered now? Did he really think about me that much? Surprisingly he didn't flirt with me the entire walk home. There were no innuendos, no eyebrow raises and no attempts to wrap his arm around me suggestively. Who was this man and what had he done to Killian Jones?
After I got home I set the alarm and went straight to bed. It would be an early start tomorrow and to be honest, after dissecting every word of David Nolan's I was exhausted. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying not to think about a pair of sea blue eyes.
Before I could drift off, my phone buzzed on my night side table. Glancing at the screen my brow furrowed in confusion. Regina had just texted me? She hated me-if this wasn't a death threat I would be shocked.
Hey mom-it's Henry. I'm outside your door! Will you come let me in?
I sighed. Jumping out of bed I nearly ran to the door. It opened to display a grinning, brown haired boy with a small backpack.
"Hi mom!"
"Kid, what are you doing here? You're mom's going to kill me! And then you. And then me again." I grimly thought aloud.
"She won't notice, she's got company." He said with a scowl.
"What are you talking about? Come on kid, we've got to get you home. We can do breakfast tomorrow, how about that?" I hated taking him home, mostly because I knew he hated it but when I did make him leave I always promised an event in the near future to pacify him.
"Fine." He said with a sigh and the saddest lost puppy look on his face that would make a less stubborn woman cave in a heartbeat. As it was, I was still close to caving, but the thought of Regina's wrath outweighed the ten year olds pity face. The yellow bug sped us down the street to the mayor's house and when we pulled up I was shocked to see Graham's police cruiser in the drive. Good Lord, she'd noticed Henry was missing again and called the police. This kid was going to put me through more jail time than his father.
"Come on kid, you've got to stop doing this. Your mom called the cops on me again!"
"No she didn't he was already here." Henry mumbled angrily.
"What? Why would Graham be here?"
"I told you," Henry continued to mumble. "She had company." Good Lord, did he mean what I think he meant? Was Regina sleeping with someone while Henry was in the house? No wonder he ran off. Well she wasn't getting away with this. I walked up to the door but before Henry could use his key to unlock the door I put my hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.
"Let me handle this one, kid. She's not getting away with this." I pounded on the door. A minute passed and still no answer. I continued to pound until I finally heard footsteps in her entryway. Regina's head poked out of the door.
"Miss Swan was this really necessary? Henry is sleeping! You will wake my son." After her emphasis on 'my', I decided I wasn't holding back.
"Actually Madame Mayor, you and your guest already woke my son up and he came running over to my place." Henry peeked at his mom from behind my back. "And I would really appreciate it if you kept your night time activities secret from this ten year old boy." Graham appeared from behind the stairs shirtless. He looked at me in horror.
"Emma," he breathed. I saw a twitch begin on Regina's face. She opened her mouth to speak but I didn't let her get a syllable in edgewise.
"Now, I will leave Henry here tonight but rest assured if he comes by my place again because of something like this not only will I allow him to stay but I may let him sleep at my place every night. Graham, my son is going to bed and we have to work in the morning, perhaps you should go to." I handed Henry his backpack and gave him a quick hug as Graham awkwardly put on his shirt. As soon as Henry disappeared back upstairs I turned and walked out to my car.
"Emma, Emma wait!" Graham called out.
"I have to get home Graham. Can we talk in the morning?"
"Emma, I'm sorry."
"You should be, Henry heard you two. Next time just tell me in advance and I can take him for the night."
"No, Emma, that's not what I meant,"
"I will see you in the morning Graham." I got into my bug and drove away, leaving Graham standing in the road behind me. He had always been the nice guy to Killian Jones' rebel. The sweet caring boyfriend material to Killian's dark, sexy one night stand. But tonight, I was beginning to wonder if I had them mixed up after all.
He lied his way through the entire interview. But none of my tricks worked! He wasn't caught in any lies because all he had to say was-I don't remember-and Graham would believe him because he had conveniently been in a coma for God knows how long. There were no lies to catch him in, no words to trip him up on and he kept staring at me awkwardly. It had thrown me off my game. When a guy normally stared at me, I could handle myself. But when he stared at me, I could tell that it wasn't in an 'I'm imagining you naked' way, but in a completely different and non-sexual way and it was really creeping me out. He was lying but what was he hiding?
Killian Jones
He had done brilliantly. But she didn't buy it. Graham completely accepted it as this damn curse was prone to make you accept things, but Emma knew he was lying. She was so smart. I don't know how she did that but I would have to be careful around that one. If I wasn't careful she would capture me in that super powered web of hers.
David/Charming
Who was Killian Jones? The relief I felt when I found out I wasn't alone began to dissipate the moment I noticed the way he looked at my daughter. He didn't take his eyes off her. I don't care what he said about breaking the curse, he liked her. He like Emma. My daughter. And not in the curious, this woman is going to help me get vengeance for my true love's death, but more in the, this woman is my track for forgetting about my true love kind of way. And I was not having that. I didn't know who he was, but there was no way he was laying a single one of his five fingers on my baby girl.
Sheriff Graham
He had lost his memory. So why was Emma looking at him so suspiciously? And what was up with the look he was giving Emma? And when was Killian going to stop staring at her and start doing his job? Something was going on and I was going to find out. After David Nolan left on his way back to his wife's house and Emma back to Mary Margaret's I made my way to Regina's house. I needed to clear my head and this was usually the place that I did that. I pounded on her door and within a minute she had opened it and her arms to me. I kissed her as passionately as I knew how, I did everything that had worked in the past. Nothing. I felt no emotions. I was happier and felt such stronger emotions simply talking to Emma Swan and here I was screwing Regina and I felt nothing. Something was wrong. And Emma was the key to fixing it.
Emma Swan
As the sky darkened I made my way back to the apartment I shared with Mary Margaret. Passing by Granny's I noticed Killian exiting with Ruby. She was laughing hysterically at something he had just said and he was holding the door for her pleasantly. We made eye contact as Ruby caught up with me, walking beside me.
"Allow me to walk you ladies home." Killian offered, smiling without a hint of flirtation in his voice, but rather something else, was it chivalry? I was about to decline but Ruby took him up on it immediately. We were headed the same way and the three of us walked listening to Ruby chat away gaily about her day. And there it was. That crack in the sidewalk that I tripped on every day on my walk to Granny's. Yet somehow I had forgotten about it. But once again, before I could hit the pavement, a pair of strong hands caught me, setting me back on my feet. This time, I wasn't looking into Graham's eyes but Killian's.
"Are you alright, Emma?"
"How did you do that?" Ruby looked extremely impressed. "My mind barely registered that Emma was tripping. You started to reach for her before she even fell! That was so ninja!"
"Emma trips on that crack every day. I saw it and realized just before it happened." He said softly. He noticed me tripping every day and remembered now? Did he really think about me that much? Surprisingly he didn't flirt with me the entire walk home. There were no innuendos, no eyebrow raises and no attempts to wrap his arm around me suggestively. Who was this man and what had he done to Killian Jones?
After I got home I set the alarm and went straight to bed. It would be an early start tomorrow and to be honest, after dissecting every word of David Nolan's I was exhausted. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying not to think about a pair of sea blue eyes.
Before I could drift off, my phone buzzed on my night side table. Glancing at the screen my brow furrowed in confusion. Regina had just texted me? She hated me-if this wasn't a death threat I would be shocked.
Hey mom-it's Henry. I'm outside your door! Will you come let me in?
I sighed. Jumping out of bed I nearly ran to the door. It opened to display a grinning, brown haired boy with a small backpack.
"Hi mom!"
"Kid, what are you doing here? You're mom's going to kill me! And then you. And then me again." I grimly thought aloud.
"She won't notice, she's got company." He said with a scowl.
"What are you talking about? Come on kid, we've got to get you home. We can do breakfast tomorrow, how about that?" I hated taking him home, mostly because I knew he hated it but when I did make him leave I always promised an event in the near future to pacify him.
"Fine." He said with a sigh and the saddest lost puppy look on his face that would make a less stubborn woman cave in a heartbeat. As it was, I was still close to caving, but the thought of Regina's wrath outweighed the ten year olds pity face. The yellow bug sped us down the street to the mayor's house and when we pulled up I was shocked to see Graham's police cruiser in the drive. Good Lord, she'd noticed Henry was missing again and called the police. This kid was going to put me through more jail time than his father.
"Come on kid, you've got to stop doing this. Your mom called the cops on me again!"
"No she didn't he was already here." Henry mumbled angrily.
"What? Why would Graham be here?"
"I told you," Henry continued to mumble. "She had company." Good Lord, did he mean what I think he meant? Was Regina sleeping with someone while Henry was in the house? No wonder he ran off. Well she wasn't getting away with this. I walked up to the door but before Henry could use his key to unlock the door I put my hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.
"Let me handle this one, kid. She's not getting away with this." I pounded on the door. A minute passed and still no answer. I continued to pound until I finally heard footsteps in her entryway. Regina's head poked out of the door.
"Miss Swan was this really necessary? Henry is sleeping! You will wake my son." After her emphasis on 'my', I decided I wasn't holding back.
"Actually Madame Mayor, you and your guest already woke my son up and he came running over to my place." Henry peeked at his mom from behind my back. "And I would really appreciate it if you kept your night time activities secret from this ten year old boy." Graham appeared from behind the stairs shirtless. He looked at me in horror.
"Emma," he breathed. I saw a twitch begin on Regina's face. She opened her mouth to speak but I didn't let her get a syllable in edgewise.
"Now, I will leave Henry here tonight but rest assured if he comes by my place again because of something like this not only will I allow him to stay but I may let him sleep at my place every night. Graham, my son is going to bed and we have to work in the morning, perhaps you should go to." I handed Henry his backpack and gave him a quick hug as Graham awkwardly put on his shirt. As soon as Henry disappeared back upstairs I turned and walked out to my car.
"Emma, Emma wait!" Graham called out.
"I have to get home Graham. Can we talk in the morning?"
"Emma, I'm sorry."
"You should be, Henry heard you two. Next time just tell me in advance and I can take him for the night."
"No, Emma, that's not what I meant,"
"I will see you in the morning Graham." I got into my bug and drove away, leaving Graham standing in the road behind me. He had always been the nice guy to Killian Jones' rebel. The sweet caring boyfriend material to Killian's dark, sexy one night stand. But tonight, I was beginning to wonder if I had them mixed up after all.
Chapter 15
Emma Swan
I walked out of the bathroom at Granny's and ran into him. Graham. He was throwing darts rather impressively but he was also drunk and had that look in his eyes. He wanted to talk. I so did NOT want to talk. Not to him. Not about that.
"Emma!" Ruby piped up. "What can I get for you?" I shook my head, my eyes not leaving Graham's.
"Nothing." I side stepped Graham and made my way out the door. I met Killian's eyes on the way out and he was giving me a look of complete confusion. I was staring at Killian when it happened. A dart hit the wood panel next to my head. I spun around as Killian leapt out of the booth staring daggers at Graham. "What the hell? You could have hit me!"
"I never miss." Graham said, walking slowly towards me. "Have you been avoiding me since you saw me,"
"Leaving the mayor?" I suggested crossing my arms. "And yes that is a euphemism. I'm not avoiding you I just have no interest in having this conversation with you. It's none of my business and I really don't care." I left the dinner and began walking down the street. Graham chased after me and called my name. There was desperation in his eyes and a few weeks ago I would have been completely ecstatic to have Graham chasing after me but today I had been disenchanted with Graham as a whole. And I couldn't help but wonder what Killian thought was going on. He better realize that Graham had nothing on him and make a move already. And Graham had better let him.
Killian Jones
What the hell was that? A euphemism, she said. So Emma had caught Graham and Regina together. She seemed frustrated. Did she feel jealous? Did she want him? Would she fight for Graham? Not that I cared. I was after the Savior not the Princess. Watching the way her father watched me when we were together I knew that I didn't have a shot in hell, even if I had wanted one. Which I didn't. Obviously. But I did want her to break the curse and Graham was an obvious distraction. I needed to protect her from the kind of heartbreak that would make her pack up and run for the hills, leaving this town and myself cursed. I practically threw money at Ruby and stormed out of Granny's, following the path Emma and Graham had taken. I came up to them down the street but before I could call out, Graham had reached forward and taken Emma's face in his hands before pulling her face to his and locking lips.
The anger that I had suppressed these past months bubbled up exploded. He just kissed her. He was seeing Regina and he had no business pulling Emma into this nonsense. She had enough to deal with from Regina without this. Not to mention the sight of anyone's lips on hers was excruciatingly painful for me to watch. She pushed him away and my heart soared for half a second. Graham was panting and staring at the pavement.
"Did you see that?" he asked. Okay that is not what I thought was about to happen.
"See what?" Emma spat out. "Graham that was way out of line!" she admonished them.
"The wolf. There was a wolf." He insisted. But Graham had been friends with a wolf, in the other world. Henry thought he was the huntsman and he had owned a wolf. Good Lord, he was remembering. True Love's Kiss. Shit. I looked around. But if that were really true love's kiss the town would be running about with their memories. What was happening? I needed to find my co-conspirators. I needed to call together Operation Cobra.
David/Charming
If this one handed idiot thought that he could just wake me up in the middle of the night and not tell me what was going on yet still think I would just follow him to wherever the hell we were going then he had another thing coming. And yet here I was, following him down the street after he simply said 'Emma'. We ended up at Regina's house and I felt a great uneasiness settle in my stomach. The Evil Queen. She may not have magic here but that didn't make her any less conniving or ambitious.
"Killian! What are we doing?"
"I think Graham might know."
"The Huntsman? God I hope so. He is an old friend." I interjected. "How did he remember? Can we use it on the rest of the town?" Killian snorted and shook his head.
"I doubt it and even if we could we're finding another way." He insisted.
"What?" I questioned him. "Why?" He spun on his heel halfway up Regina's front path and stared into my eyes.
"Believe me, once Graham explains fully you will understand why not." It came out almost in a snarl. I didn't question him but I wondered for the hundredth time that week, who was Killian Jones?
Henry Mills
Killian and my grandpa were helping me sneak out of my room. This was awesome. If mom found out she was going to freak. Ha. We walked to Graham's apartment and Killian knocked on the door until it swung open. I had my book under my arm, as Killian had told me to bring it for Operation Cobra's first advance since David had woken up.
"Killian, what are you all doing here?" Killian brushed past him and we all filled into his room.
"Hey Graham!" I said cheerfully. "I hear you're remembering things." I grinned and wagged my eyes at him. He looked shocked.
"Yes! Yes, how did you know? Am I going crazy?"
"You're not going crazy and I know exactly who you are." I reassured him.
"But how did you know, it only happened half an hour ago."
"Because I saw you, you prat." Killian said angrily.
"What's a prat?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Something you shouldn't call someone." David said putting a hand on my shoulder.
"You saw that?" Graham asked nervously.
"Yes. I did. And to be honest?" Killian stopped speaking and punched Graham in the face. "Don't distract her from breaking the curse man! I need her to break the curse so I can skin myself a crocodile." Graham look as confused as David and I were.
"What the hell, mate?"
"Just talk to the kid, get this all sorted out, mate." Killian hissed. I pulled Graham away and we sat on the couch.
"So what have you been seeing?" I asked, feeling more and more like Archie with every passing word.
"I saw a wolf. A wolf with a red eye. And Mary Margaret. I had a knife, and I was going to kill her. But then I didn't. I told her to run. So I killed a deer and took its heart. I returned to Regina but she had found out what I had done and took my heart. I've been dreaming about a wolf. It's been taking me to the cemetery. To Regina's vault. My heart is in there, that's why I don't feel anything, it's because Regina has my heart locked up."
"You don't feel anything? Really? That's not what it looked like to me earlier." Killian hissed. Graham started to get up looking at Killian angrily but I didn't have much time before my mom noticed I was gone so I pulled him back down.
"When did these flashbacks start?" I asked.
"When I kissed Emma." He said, matter-of-factly. My brow furrowed.
"You kissed my mom?" I said, completely grossed out. At the same time Killian's fist curled into balls and David spoke with the same tone I had.
"You kissed Emma?"
"Oh come on, you can't tell me that you and Killian like her. We can't all go after her and since I made the first move I think I am well within my rights to call dibs."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." I cut him off. "You can't dibs both my moms. That seems very greedy to me."
"Well, fine. I un-dibs Regina." He tried to placate me.
"No. That is not how this works. You can't un-dibs one of my moms so you can have the other one. You have my adoptive mother so Killian gets my birth mother and David can have mygrandmother. It all works out that way. Get with the program!"
"Oh? And how does David feel about getting your Grandmother? I'm sure he wants to fight Killian for Emma. Why don't we all fight Killian, hmm?" He flashed an angry look at his friend and enemy rubbing his sore chin.
"There will be no fighting, huntsman." David snarled, finally getting a word in edgewise. "Keep in mind that this is my daughter we're talking about."
"Who's your daughter?" Graham asked, clearly confused.
"Emma is my daughter. And her mother, Mary Margaret also known as Snow White is my wife. So yes. I get Henry's grandfather, but NEITHER of you get Henry's mother and to be honest huntsman? I would get your heart back before Regina knows you know and get out of that relationship because it can only end in your death." He glared at Killian.
"Hey, I never said I wanted Emma. I don't I just want her to break the curse so I can skin my crocodile. He was a distraction," Killian gestured to Graham. "I was angry that he distracted her, that's all papa bear, calm down." David looked Killian over and he must have decided that he was not an immediate threat because he turned back to Graham.
"Okay, Killian is going to take Henry home, you and I are going to go get your heart, and then tomorrow we will all meet for breakfast at Granny's and discuss further actions, all right?" We nodded and even though I felt a little put out for not being involved, I was too happy that the curse was weakening to mind. But what had Killian said? He wasn't interested in Emma? But they were perfect for each other. I opened my book and flipped to the last page. There it was. True Love's Kiss. The Savior and Captain Hook. Their love would save the world. But only if they got together. And while, yes, breaking the curse was important. Getting Killian and Emma to fall in love might be even more important.
I walked out of the bathroom at Granny's and ran into him. Graham. He was throwing darts rather impressively but he was also drunk and had that look in his eyes. He wanted to talk. I so did NOT want to talk. Not to him. Not about that.
"Emma!" Ruby piped up. "What can I get for you?" I shook my head, my eyes not leaving Graham's.
"Nothing." I side stepped Graham and made my way out the door. I met Killian's eyes on the way out and he was giving me a look of complete confusion. I was staring at Killian when it happened. A dart hit the wood panel next to my head. I spun around as Killian leapt out of the booth staring daggers at Graham. "What the hell? You could have hit me!"
"I never miss." Graham said, walking slowly towards me. "Have you been avoiding me since you saw me,"
"Leaving the mayor?" I suggested crossing my arms. "And yes that is a euphemism. I'm not avoiding you I just have no interest in having this conversation with you. It's none of my business and I really don't care." I left the dinner and began walking down the street. Graham chased after me and called my name. There was desperation in his eyes and a few weeks ago I would have been completely ecstatic to have Graham chasing after me but today I had been disenchanted with Graham as a whole. And I couldn't help but wonder what Killian thought was going on. He better realize that Graham had nothing on him and make a move already. And Graham had better let him.
Killian Jones
What the hell was that? A euphemism, she said. So Emma had caught Graham and Regina together. She seemed frustrated. Did she feel jealous? Did she want him? Would she fight for Graham? Not that I cared. I was after the Savior not the Princess. Watching the way her father watched me when we were together I knew that I didn't have a shot in hell, even if I had wanted one. Which I didn't. Obviously. But I did want her to break the curse and Graham was an obvious distraction. I needed to protect her from the kind of heartbreak that would make her pack up and run for the hills, leaving this town and myself cursed. I practically threw money at Ruby and stormed out of Granny's, following the path Emma and Graham had taken. I came up to them down the street but before I could call out, Graham had reached forward and taken Emma's face in his hands before pulling her face to his and locking lips.
The anger that I had suppressed these past months bubbled up exploded. He just kissed her. He was seeing Regina and he had no business pulling Emma into this nonsense. She had enough to deal with from Regina without this. Not to mention the sight of anyone's lips on hers was excruciatingly painful for me to watch. She pushed him away and my heart soared for half a second. Graham was panting and staring at the pavement.
"Did you see that?" he asked. Okay that is not what I thought was about to happen.
"See what?" Emma spat out. "Graham that was way out of line!" she admonished them.
"The wolf. There was a wolf." He insisted. But Graham had been friends with a wolf, in the other world. Henry thought he was the huntsman and he had owned a wolf. Good Lord, he was remembering. True Love's Kiss. Shit. I looked around. But if that were really true love's kiss the town would be running about with their memories. What was happening? I needed to find my co-conspirators. I needed to call together Operation Cobra.
David/Charming
If this one handed idiot thought that he could just wake me up in the middle of the night and not tell me what was going on yet still think I would just follow him to wherever the hell we were going then he had another thing coming. And yet here I was, following him down the street after he simply said 'Emma'. We ended up at Regina's house and I felt a great uneasiness settle in my stomach. The Evil Queen. She may not have magic here but that didn't make her any less conniving or ambitious.
"Killian! What are we doing?"
"I think Graham might know."
"The Huntsman? God I hope so. He is an old friend." I interjected. "How did he remember? Can we use it on the rest of the town?" Killian snorted and shook his head.
"I doubt it and even if we could we're finding another way." He insisted.
"What?" I questioned him. "Why?" He spun on his heel halfway up Regina's front path and stared into my eyes.
"Believe me, once Graham explains fully you will understand why not." It came out almost in a snarl. I didn't question him but I wondered for the hundredth time that week, who was Killian Jones?
Henry Mills
Killian and my grandpa were helping me sneak out of my room. This was awesome. If mom found out she was going to freak. Ha. We walked to Graham's apartment and Killian knocked on the door until it swung open. I had my book under my arm, as Killian had told me to bring it for Operation Cobra's first advance since David had woken up.
"Killian, what are you all doing here?" Killian brushed past him and we all filled into his room.
"Hey Graham!" I said cheerfully. "I hear you're remembering things." I grinned and wagged my eyes at him. He looked shocked.
"Yes! Yes, how did you know? Am I going crazy?"
"You're not going crazy and I know exactly who you are." I reassured him.
"But how did you know, it only happened half an hour ago."
"Because I saw you, you prat." Killian said angrily.
"What's a prat?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Something you shouldn't call someone." David said putting a hand on my shoulder.
"You saw that?" Graham asked nervously.
"Yes. I did. And to be honest?" Killian stopped speaking and punched Graham in the face. "Don't distract her from breaking the curse man! I need her to break the curse so I can skin myself a crocodile." Graham look as confused as David and I were.
"What the hell, mate?"
"Just talk to the kid, get this all sorted out, mate." Killian hissed. I pulled Graham away and we sat on the couch.
"So what have you been seeing?" I asked, feeling more and more like Archie with every passing word.
"I saw a wolf. A wolf with a red eye. And Mary Margaret. I had a knife, and I was going to kill her. But then I didn't. I told her to run. So I killed a deer and took its heart. I returned to Regina but she had found out what I had done and took my heart. I've been dreaming about a wolf. It's been taking me to the cemetery. To Regina's vault. My heart is in there, that's why I don't feel anything, it's because Regina has my heart locked up."
"You don't feel anything? Really? That's not what it looked like to me earlier." Killian hissed. Graham started to get up looking at Killian angrily but I didn't have much time before my mom noticed I was gone so I pulled him back down.
"When did these flashbacks start?" I asked.
"When I kissed Emma." He said, matter-of-factly. My brow furrowed.
"You kissed my mom?" I said, completely grossed out. At the same time Killian's fist curled into balls and David spoke with the same tone I had.
"You kissed Emma?"
"Oh come on, you can't tell me that you and Killian like her. We can't all go after her and since I made the first move I think I am well within my rights to call dibs."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." I cut him off. "You can't dibs both my moms. That seems very greedy to me."
"Well, fine. I un-dibs Regina." He tried to placate me.
"No. That is not how this works. You can't un-dibs one of my moms so you can have the other one. You have my adoptive mother so Killian gets my birth mother and David can have mygrandmother. It all works out that way. Get with the program!"
"Oh? And how does David feel about getting your Grandmother? I'm sure he wants to fight Killian for Emma. Why don't we all fight Killian, hmm?" He flashed an angry look at his friend and enemy rubbing his sore chin.
"There will be no fighting, huntsman." David snarled, finally getting a word in edgewise. "Keep in mind that this is my daughter we're talking about."
"Who's your daughter?" Graham asked, clearly confused.
"Emma is my daughter. And her mother, Mary Margaret also known as Snow White is my wife. So yes. I get Henry's grandfather, but NEITHER of you get Henry's mother and to be honest huntsman? I would get your heart back before Regina knows you know and get out of that relationship because it can only end in your death." He glared at Killian.
"Hey, I never said I wanted Emma. I don't I just want her to break the curse so I can skin my crocodile. He was a distraction," Killian gestured to Graham. "I was angry that he distracted her, that's all papa bear, calm down." David looked Killian over and he must have decided that he was not an immediate threat because he turned back to Graham.
"Okay, Killian is going to take Henry home, you and I are going to go get your heart, and then tomorrow we will all meet for breakfast at Granny's and discuss further actions, all right?" We nodded and even though I felt a little put out for not being involved, I was too happy that the curse was weakening to mind. But what had Killian said? He wasn't interested in Emma? But they were perfect for each other. I opened my book and flipped to the last page. There it was. True Love's Kiss. The Savior and Captain Hook. Their love would save the world. But only if they got together. And while, yes, breaking the curse was important. Getting Killian and Emma to fall in love might be even more important.
Chapter 16
Sheriff Graham
We were in Regina's vault and I could feel it. The closer I got the more emotions ran through my veins. It was here I was sure of it. But it wasn't. There was a stone tomb and that was it. Save that single casket there was nothing in this room. My heart dropped, so to speak, but David didn't look dissuaded. He began to push on the walls and knock on various spots listening to see if things were hollow.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I know how Regina works. There will be a trap door somewhere, just start trying to move things." We ran around the room for over an hour and finally when it looked like we would never get anywhere David and I leaned against the coffin simultaneously. It moved. We looked at each other and immediately turned and pushed it with all our strength. It slid aside to reveal a staircase leading down into a dark lower room. We crept down into the eerie red glow. The glow came from the hearts. There were hearts everywhere. She had taken so many in her life and here they all were. So which one was mine? I closed my eyes let my heart find me. And find me it did.
"This is it." I said pulling a box from the wall.
"Are you sure?" David asked me.
"Positive." I opened the box and David took out my heart gently. I nodded. "That's it." He looked at me and I braced myself as my heart was plunged back into my chest. I gasped. A cool breeze flowed over me as every emotion that I had not felt over the years stormed through me. I was crying and laughing at the same time and I felt an overpowering sense of every emotion. And the memories. I could remember everything. My heart had never forgotten, it was never part of the curse, my heart never had to forget and it reminded me of everything I hadn't recalled yet. In a moment the sensation was over and my body got used to the sensation all over again.
"You okay?" David asked grabbing my arm. I nodded. "Good." He responded. He shook my hand and wrapped me into a hug with his free arm patting my back. "That, was for sacrificing your heart to save my wife all those years ago." I grinned by the smile stopped when a fist hit my jaw for the second time that night. "And that was for kissing my daughter without her permission." He turned and looked around the tomb. "We can't take all the hearts we don't know who they belong to. But these potions, these spells, we can take those, hide them." I nodded and rubbed my jaw. We took all we could and left the tomb. The sun was rising by the time we had hidden Regina's magic and made our way back downtown. I texted Killian telling him that I wouldn't be able to make it in to work today. And I lay down on my bed sighing in relief. I finally closed my eyes, feeling as though it had been weeks since I had last slept not days, and fell asleep.
We were in Regina's vault and I could feel it. The closer I got the more emotions ran through my veins. It was here I was sure of it. But it wasn't. There was a stone tomb and that was it. Save that single casket there was nothing in this room. My heart dropped, so to speak, but David didn't look dissuaded. He began to push on the walls and knock on various spots listening to see if things were hollow.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I know how Regina works. There will be a trap door somewhere, just start trying to move things." We ran around the room for over an hour and finally when it looked like we would never get anywhere David and I leaned against the coffin simultaneously. It moved. We looked at each other and immediately turned and pushed it with all our strength. It slid aside to reveal a staircase leading down into a dark lower room. We crept down into the eerie red glow. The glow came from the hearts. There were hearts everywhere. She had taken so many in her life and here they all were. So which one was mine? I closed my eyes let my heart find me. And find me it did.
"This is it." I said pulling a box from the wall.
"Are you sure?" David asked me.
"Positive." I opened the box and David took out my heart gently. I nodded. "That's it." He looked at me and I braced myself as my heart was plunged back into my chest. I gasped. A cool breeze flowed over me as every emotion that I had not felt over the years stormed through me. I was crying and laughing at the same time and I felt an overpowering sense of every emotion. And the memories. I could remember everything. My heart had never forgotten, it was never part of the curse, my heart never had to forget and it reminded me of everything I hadn't recalled yet. In a moment the sensation was over and my body got used to the sensation all over again.
"You okay?" David asked grabbing my arm. I nodded. "Good." He responded. He shook my hand and wrapped me into a hug with his free arm patting my back. "That, was for sacrificing your heart to save my wife all those years ago." I grinned by the smile stopped when a fist hit my jaw for the second time that night. "And that was for kissing my daughter without her permission." He turned and looked around the tomb. "We can't take all the hearts we don't know who they belong to. But these potions, these spells, we can take those, hide them." I nodded and rubbed my jaw. We took all we could and left the tomb. The sun was rising by the time we had hidden Regina's magic and made our way back downtown. I texted Killian telling him that I wouldn't be able to make it in to work today. And I lay down on my bed sighing in relief. I finally closed my eyes, feeling as though it had been weeks since I had last slept not days, and fell asleep.
Chapter 17
August Booth
The fall months passed and soon it was November and I had not a clue as to where to find my Emma. I had failed my father, I had failed my King, my Queen but most of all I had failed my sister. My Emma. I tried to go to the government. Say I was looking for my sister, but as we weren't blood relatives they denied my claims. I tried social media but I did it half-heartedly. Emma didn't have the kind of friends who checked up on her online. There was no way she would have had Facebook, or twitter or any other way of contacting her. I had a month and a half to get her to Storybrooke. There was no way. No. Way.
Emma Swan
Henry. That boy reminded me of August in ways that I could never have expected. Of course he was his father's son and I could see Neal in him in every move he made, but I saw August too. That made me inexplicably happy. This boy, who was not related to August by blood, had never met the guy, still somehow acted like him, spoke like him, thought like him. I missed August every day. Every single day that I was here, every day since the one he had been dragged away from me as we kicked and screamed swearing that we would find each other. He had come to visit me at jail. They asked if I wanted an August Booth to be allowed visiting hours but I had said no. I wouldn't let him see me like that. He would have been so ashamed. And if he found out that I had put a kid in the foster system, he would have been furious. I couldn't let him know. But now I found myself wishing that I had. What if he was angry with me for not letting him see me? What if I would never find him again? What if the last time I would see my friend would be a time filled with tears, screams and broken promises?
Henry Mills
I walked into Emma's apartment and I knew something was wrong.
"Hey Emma, everything okay? You sounded strange over the walkie."
"No, I'm okay it's just, yesterday when I tried to take you away, you were right." She sighed. "I can't take you out of Storybrooke. But I can't stay either."
"What?" My mom was leaving me. Again.
"I have to go." She whispered. "I spoke to Regina, we made a deal. I can still see you and Henry I swear I will come back but there's someone I need to go find. I promise you Henry. I swear to you that I will come back that I will find you just like it says in your book but this person has been missing for a very long time and I owe it to him to go and find him." I was silent for a moment.
"Is it my father?" I asked. She smiled but there were tears in her eyes.
"No Henry, it's not your father."
"Good, because something good is happening with you and Killian and having my dad around would completely mess things up." She let out a short laugh.
"I suppose so. But I'm not letting him anywhere near you. He hurt me Henry, and I will protect you against him. I need to find an old friend of mine and once I do, I will return and we can see each other all the time. Just like we do now." I looked at her cautiously. "Henry, I promise you." She picked up her bags and kissed me on the cheek as we both walked out of her apartment and she loaded up her yellow bug. She didn't notice me sneaking out the apple turnover my mom had given her and sneak it into my backpack. Poisoned apples were rare in this world, and I might need it later.
The fall months passed and soon it was November and I had not a clue as to where to find my Emma. I had failed my father, I had failed my King, my Queen but most of all I had failed my sister. My Emma. I tried to go to the government. Say I was looking for my sister, but as we weren't blood relatives they denied my claims. I tried social media but I did it half-heartedly. Emma didn't have the kind of friends who checked up on her online. There was no way she would have had Facebook, or twitter or any other way of contacting her. I had a month and a half to get her to Storybrooke. There was no way. No. Way.
Emma Swan
Henry. That boy reminded me of August in ways that I could never have expected. Of course he was his father's son and I could see Neal in him in every move he made, but I saw August too. That made me inexplicably happy. This boy, who was not related to August by blood, had never met the guy, still somehow acted like him, spoke like him, thought like him. I missed August every day. Every single day that I was here, every day since the one he had been dragged away from me as we kicked and screamed swearing that we would find each other. He had come to visit me at jail. They asked if I wanted an August Booth to be allowed visiting hours but I had said no. I wouldn't let him see me like that. He would have been so ashamed. And if he found out that I had put a kid in the foster system, he would have been furious. I couldn't let him know. But now I found myself wishing that I had. What if he was angry with me for not letting him see me? What if I would never find him again? What if the last time I would see my friend would be a time filled with tears, screams and broken promises?
Henry Mills
I walked into Emma's apartment and I knew something was wrong.
"Hey Emma, everything okay? You sounded strange over the walkie."
"No, I'm okay it's just, yesterday when I tried to take you away, you were right." She sighed. "I can't take you out of Storybrooke. But I can't stay either."
"What?" My mom was leaving me. Again.
"I have to go." She whispered. "I spoke to Regina, we made a deal. I can still see you and Henry I swear I will come back but there's someone I need to go find. I promise you Henry. I swear to you that I will come back that I will find you just like it says in your book but this person has been missing for a very long time and I owe it to him to go and find him." I was silent for a moment.
"Is it my father?" I asked. She smiled but there were tears in her eyes.
"No Henry, it's not your father."
"Good, because something good is happening with you and Killian and having my dad around would completely mess things up." She let out a short laugh.
"I suppose so. But I'm not letting him anywhere near you. He hurt me Henry, and I will protect you against him. I need to find an old friend of mine and once I do, I will return and we can see each other all the time. Just like we do now." I looked at her cautiously. "Henry, I promise you." She picked up her bags and kissed me on the cheek as we both walked out of her apartment and she loaded up her yellow bug. She didn't notice me sneaking out the apple turnover my mom had given her and sneak it into my backpack. Poisoned apples were rare in this world, and I might need it later.
Chapter 18
Neal Cassidy
Every damn day I thought about her. I had screwed up. I had made the biggest mistake in my life. I had let the love of my life go. More specifically I had snuck out on her and tricked her into thinking that I had never loved her at all. Every day I woke up, packed my bags and went to work. I swore to myself that when I got home I would get in my car and go find her. But every day convinced me further that she must hate me and that seeing me would just hurt her further. I just wanted to get her to her family. That was all I wanted. Okay fine, maybe a small little part of me wanted to run from my papa too, but I really did want to get Emma home to her family. And me, I would just keep her from her destiny. I was the old man in a twenty something body and Emma, Emma was filled with light and love and a youth that I could never exude.
I can still remember the day I found out. We were headed towards Tallahassee. We had sold the watches, save the one on Emma's wrist and we were driving that adorable yellow bug to Florida. We stopped for gas and I paid for lunch with real money. It had brought one of those adorable innocent smiles to Emma's face and then we walked to our car. Along the way she dropped her purse. I tried to catch it before it fell but it never reached my hand. It was sucked back into Emma's and she laughed out loud, her slight drunkenness no noticing what was amiss. She didn't catch it. She had shot a bright green light out of her fingertips and called the bag back into them. She had just done magic. The next morning Emma couldn't remember that ever happening and I started digging into Emma's past. No recorded birth parents, she just showed up on the side of a highway as an infant. There was nothing with her past, no missing child reports. In fact there were no hospital records that matched with Emma's birth from the area she was found. And then there was that story. A boy who had been in the foster care system with her, who had been the boy who found her on that highway, the story he told her every single night. It was true. There was a boy out there who knew the truth and he had told Emma and she hadn't believed him. The curse, Rumpelstiltskin, everything. Emma was the child of Snow White and Prince Charming and my father would be with them when Emma found them. I knew 28 was still 10 years off, but I couldn't be there when it happened and if I stuck around now I would never be able to leave. We got to Tallahassee and I told Emma I had to get some air. I hitched a ride and ended up in Canada. I never checked in on her, it wasn't like there had been a plan of any sort. I had no way of finding her and besides, I left her the bug and all the money, everything. She was smart. She would be just fine.
But now, today. It was all different. I hadn't talked myself out of it. I was going to find my Emma. And I had found the place she would be. Storybrooke, Maine. A town that existed yet didn't, a town filled with mystery and intrigue. I knew how to track magic and after a few weeks hunting I had known where it would be. Emma would be 28 this year. That meant that she would be there. And I would too. Come what may.
Every damn day I thought about her. I had screwed up. I had made the biggest mistake in my life. I had let the love of my life go. More specifically I had snuck out on her and tricked her into thinking that I had never loved her at all. Every day I woke up, packed my bags and went to work. I swore to myself that when I got home I would get in my car and go find her. But every day convinced me further that she must hate me and that seeing me would just hurt her further. I just wanted to get her to her family. That was all I wanted. Okay fine, maybe a small little part of me wanted to run from my papa too, but I really did want to get Emma home to her family. And me, I would just keep her from her destiny. I was the old man in a twenty something body and Emma, Emma was filled with light and love and a youth that I could never exude.
I can still remember the day I found out. We were headed towards Tallahassee. We had sold the watches, save the one on Emma's wrist and we were driving that adorable yellow bug to Florida. We stopped for gas and I paid for lunch with real money. It had brought one of those adorable innocent smiles to Emma's face and then we walked to our car. Along the way she dropped her purse. I tried to catch it before it fell but it never reached my hand. It was sucked back into Emma's and she laughed out loud, her slight drunkenness no noticing what was amiss. She didn't catch it. She had shot a bright green light out of her fingertips and called the bag back into them. She had just done magic. The next morning Emma couldn't remember that ever happening and I started digging into Emma's past. No recorded birth parents, she just showed up on the side of a highway as an infant. There was nothing with her past, no missing child reports. In fact there were no hospital records that matched with Emma's birth from the area she was found. And then there was that story. A boy who had been in the foster care system with her, who had been the boy who found her on that highway, the story he told her every single night. It was true. There was a boy out there who knew the truth and he had told Emma and she hadn't believed him. The curse, Rumpelstiltskin, everything. Emma was the child of Snow White and Prince Charming and my father would be with them when Emma found them. I knew 28 was still 10 years off, but I couldn't be there when it happened and if I stuck around now I would never be able to leave. We got to Tallahassee and I told Emma I had to get some air. I hitched a ride and ended up in Canada. I never checked in on her, it wasn't like there had been a plan of any sort. I had no way of finding her and besides, I left her the bug and all the money, everything. She was smart. She would be just fine.
But now, today. It was all different. I hadn't talked myself out of it. I was going to find my Emma. And I had found the place she would be. Storybrooke, Maine. A town that existed yet didn't, a town filled with mystery and intrigue. I knew how to track magic and after a few weeks hunting I had known where it would be. Emma would be 28 this year. That meant that she would be there. And I would too. Come what may.