Hi Everyone! Thanks for reading my story! I loved writing it I will update as much as possible once a week as the story flows. If you previously read this chapter I recommend reading it again because I changed it a lot... I took some advice and when wrote chapter 2 it just didn't flow as well as I had hoped. So I fixed it and reposted . I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'd like to own it all especially Hook ;)
Reawakening
The bells over the door jingled and she walked into chaos. There were people everywhere. She moved around the room in silence. No one noticed the little girl. They were too wrapped up in sorrow. She took her time to examine everyone there; in hopes someone would know her and help her. She knew her name but she wasn't home and she didn't know these people. Or did she?
She didn't understand. Why was everyone crying? Who are all these people and why was everyone sad? She had so many questions but she didn't have any answers. She looked around at the people all crowded in the small diner.
A friendly yet sad looking lady with gray hair stood behind the counter with tall stools that she knew twisted when you sat on them. She didn't know how she knew that. Had she been here before?
A lady with short black hair was being comforted by a man with kind blue eyes that had tears in them. He was holding a baby with blue eyes just like his the baby was crying too. She knew the man was very friendly. He had blonde hair and she could picture him holding the baby up to make him laugh. She knew he would comfort her if she was scared, but she didn't know how she knew that. She knew he also rode horses. How did she know this? She didn't know them. She knew the lady liked winter, and that she liked Snow. She knew that the lady was kind and liked animals. She imagined she liked birds best because birds were nice. She didn't know how she knew any of this.
There was another woman holding another baby yelling at a man dressed in black. This lady scared her a little. The lady was trying to be mean but was actually scared and sad. The lady had lost a friend her only friend. This lady didn't like animals.
Another lady sat nearby rocking another baby in a soothing motion. This lady was pretty too. She had long red hair and she soothed the baby easily. The girl knew that this was the baby's mom. But how did she know?
Beside the lady with red hair sat a blonde woman she had pretty eyes but her eyes held secrets and the little girl couldn't decide if they were nice or mean. She avoided looking at the blonde woman she scared her.
There was a boy that wasn't quite a boy but not quite a man. The boy made her laugh. No, she didn't know the boy but she knew he would make her laugh and she felt her heart beating faster. She loved the boy. But she didn't know the boy. She didn't know anyone here but yet they all seemed familiar in some way. She was scared.
The man in black was tall. He was hugging the boy. She moved closer without thinking to the duo that made her feel loved. She didn't know them, she couldn't love them. She knew he had eyes as blue as the ocean and he made her think of pirates for some reason but she knew pirates were not real and she knew she didn't know this man. She knew the man in black was kind even though he tried to be tough and she knew that he had been sad for a long time. He had been happy but his happiness was taken away again, and he too was crying. He had a silver hook where his hand should be. She wanted to know what happened. She took an involuntary step towards it, she wanted to feel it. Then he stood. That is when she was noticed for the first time.
The man in black stood and walked toward her and she felt her heart beat faster. She didn't know what it meant but she wanted to ask him about his hand. She wanted to ask him why everyone was sad but when he walked towards her, she felt her breath hitch and her own eyes fill with tears.
For the first time since she walked in everyone had stopped talking and they all looked at her now and she felt panic choking her. The man in black smiled. It was a sad smile but it was friendly and she knew he wouldn't hurt her. When he asked her what her name was she looked in his blue eyes and felt the panic easing. Looking in those eyes she spoke her first word since walking in the room…
"Emma. My name is Emma Swan." The loud gasp of the woman with short hair and the way the man in black cried made her cringe. She was scared and she didn't know what to do so she sank to the floor and pulled her knees to her chest and cried.
24 hours earlier -
Regina and Emma fought magic to magic against Rumpelstiltskin. The dark one having stolen the magic from each of the fairies was now aiming for more and bigger magic. He wanted Emma's magic. The magic of true love was more powerful than any magic. Emma was the product of the true love. Her parents Snow White and Prince Charming shared true love, and she had true love with Killian Jones - Hook. That true love only made her power stronger. And Gold wanted strong power.
Emma turned just as a blast of magic hit them and knocked them down. Emma looked up to see The Dark One standing over them, her head felt heavy and she couldn't move, the last thing she saw before she blacked out was Regina's magic being sucked into the dagger.
When Regina awoke she was on the ground of the barn where she and Emma had taken cover. She saw Emma lying lifelessly on the ground across the floor. And cautiously Regina left her cover to go check on her. She felt for a pulse and found one slow but it was there. She attempted to rouse the Savior but had no luck. She held her hands out and focused all her magic to heal her friend. But strangely no magic came from her hands. She looked at her palms and held them back out to attempt to heal her but once again she had no magic. She knew Gold had stolen her magic but she didn't know how and if he left the Savior here he must have her magic too. Regina didn't know what to do. She reached in her pocket and picked up her phone.
"We have a problem." She kept her tone as neutral as she could. With the terror rising up in her throat it was not easy. The voice on the phone promised to be there in five minutes and promised to come alone. The last thing Regina needed or wanted was panic. And she knew if she called certain individuals she would have nothing but frenzy on her hands.
Regina heard the sound of a vehicle and quietly stepped to the side of the barn door and watched the figure move quickly in the open field. Regina recognized the person stepping out of the vehicle. Regina opened the door and pulled the figure inside quickly before slamming it shut again.
"Regina, I'm surprised to hear from you." The blonde woman said. "I don't know why you called me," Maleficent said. Regina motioned to Emma who lay unmoving on the wood floor. "What have you done, dear?" She moved with practiced grace to the body looked down on her as she removed the cloak along the way.
"It wasn't me. I've made my peace with the savior. It was Gold. He took my power and knocked me out I woke up and this is what I saw. We are both adept with curses. I need to know what kind of curse this is and how it can be broken. Then I will call in the Charmings and their pirate mascot and Henry." The last word was spoken as almost a whisper as she looked down at the woman who had become her friend the last few years. Emma had been there for her when she needed it and Regina had lashed out at her when Robin died. She hadn't deserved it and a few days after returning from New York Emma had sought her out to apologize. Regina had known that Emma had nothing to be sorry for, that if she had been in her situation she would have done things exactly as Emma. It had been out of grief that Regina lashed out at Emma.
As for Mal, well she had taken time to get to know her daughter and actually put aside her differences with the town. She had a long way to go before gaining everyone else's trust. Regina herself was still working on the trust of the entire town. After all she cursed everyone in the town and took away their happy endings and tried her damnedest to keep it that way long after they arrived. It had worked for 28 years until Emma had arrived. Now the same woman was lying on the ground under a curse she couldn't break without magic.
" I can't help her." Mal said at length. "I don't know what type of curse it was."
"I need the damn pirate. True Love's kiss can break almost any curse it's worth a try right?"
"Only if it is true love, even then it may not work. Some curses cannot be broken by True Love."
"It's the best shot we have right now."
Regina made the calls she didn't want to and waited. Soon a truck pulled up behind a yellow bug driven by her 15 year old son. Of course Henry would be with Hook. She didn't have the time or the heat to be angry with him for breaking curfew and driving without a license. She wished he didn't have to see his mother like this. She didn't want him to see either of his mothers this way. Emma laying helplessly on the ground and Regina disheveled from the fight and with no magic. She hugged Henry when he raced up to her she felt his shock at seeing his mother in a deathlike state.
Snow White's gasp brought her attention back to the woman on the ground and the man who held her with tears in his eyes. Emma's parents should never have to see their daughter this way especially since Regina herself had poisoned Snow White many years ago with a sleeping curse disguised in an apple something she was sorry for now but couldn't take back.
"What the bloody hell happened to Emma" Hook ground out. Regina pointed towards Mal sitting near Emma's head. She rose and stepped back when Hooks gaze landed on his beloved.
"Gold attacked us and took my power. I don't know if he took Emma's too because she's unconscious. But you can fix that then we can work together with Mal's help and we can defeat Gold."
Killian Jones knelt down beside His lover's still body and lifted her head slightly without hesitation he pressed his lips to hers as soon as he did a white light shot through the barn and everyone breathed in relief. Emma opened her eyes then gasped but before she could say anything she disappeared. Hook cried out in despair "Emma!"
"What the hell just happened?" David, Emma's father asked. "Where di d she go?"
An unusual peal of laughter echoed off the walls of the barn. "Thank you for doing what I wanted. I now have the savior and the power of true love's kiss. "
"Bring Emma back, Crocodile." Killian growled.
"Oh, don't you worry about that. When I'm done with her you may have her back." The Dark One disappeared with a wave of his hand in a cloud of purple smoke.
Present day -
Killian looked around at the group gathered in Granny's diner. No wonder the small girl was cowering under a barstool they must look ready to eat her. He put on his nicest smile and bent down to the girl's level and reached out his hand and rubbed it down her hair slowly green eyes looked up and met blue eyes. Killian rocked back on his heels stunned at the sight before him. He was looking into Emma's eyes. The eyes of the woman he loved but in a tiny childlike shell.
'Hi Emma, My name is Killian, you don't have to be scared. You are safe here." He told the girl.
"Hi," She whispered as she looked up at him, green eyes wide in fear. He held out a hand to her and cautiously she placed hers in it. He ran his thumb over her knuckles soothingly and helped her to her feet. She smiled up at him as he lifted her to a bar stool.
"I bet you are hungry." She nodded and he looked at Granny who was already sliding a plate with a Grilled Cheese sandwich and onion rings piled high, on it and Emma smiled at her and a dimple in her left cheek popped out and Killian felt his breath catch in his throat. He loved that dimple how many times had he kissed it?
"You're pretty. " Emma said to him. And for the first time in 24 hours Killian laughed.
"Now you've done it." Henry chuckled. He looked at the little girl, this is his mom. "This tiny child was the woman who gave him life? This is so messed up…" He thought silently.
Emma ate her onion rings one at a time by slipping her fingers through them like a ring. She twisted around on her stool. She felt more comfortable now. She had food in front of her and it was delicious she picked up a triangle of sandwich and bit into it then turned to the group. Suddenly she realized that she was still with the sad people and turned on her chair and looked at the man named Killian. "Why are you all sad?" She asked him.
"Well princess," He began "We all lost someone very special today."
"Oh, I can help you find him. "
"I'm sure you can." He replied.
She smiled at him her dimple winking at him from her cheek. "What happened to your hand?" She reached out and ran a tiny finger along the curve of his hook. She liked how shiny it was. When she looked at it she could see a distorted picture of herself in it.
The action was such a reminder of Emma that he almost cried. As his eyes were full of unshed tears he looked at the little girl and his smile faltered when he replied. "A crocodile stole it a long time ago." Emma nodded reverently eyes wide as saucers.
Regina walked over to the girl, "This is getting us nowhere. Miss Swan, where did you come from?" She asked. When Emma just looked at her she spoke again in an annoyed tone, "How did you get to Storybrooke?" Regina's question grew louder with each word and Emma visibly shrank back on her stool. "This is getting us nowhere!' she shouted. Emma began to cry softly. Killian glared at Regina then reached out to comfort the young girl.
David handed Neal off to Snow and walked to Emma who was crying silent tears and looking at Regina with fear. David had something hidden behind his back and pulled it out with a flourish it was the stuffed bunny they kept in the stroller for Neal. He held it out to Emma and she took it with a shy smile then hugged it to her chest.
"Hi Emma, do you like bunnies?" He asked the little girl.
Emma nodded then whispered," I like kitties."
David pretended to think it over before reaching for the bunny. "Maybe I should take the bunny back. We wouldn't want him to think you don't like him because he's not a kitty." Emma hugged the bunny tighter.
"I like this bunny. Is he for me?" She asked big eyes full of hope. David felt his own tear up he too knew that Emma had grown up in the system and didn't have many things of her own. He had never asked her if she had toys of her own. Suddenly he felt very ashamed of himself and he couldn't resist reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He took the bunny from her and made it dance and sing then the bunny said, "Hi Emma I'm bunny but you can give me a better name later. I'm from the forest I like to eat carrots. Do you like carrots too?"
Emma giggled and it was music to both Killian and David's ears. The corner of his eyes crinkled when he smiled and Emma liked it. "I like carrots." She told the bunny. David made the bunny ask where she had come from and this time Emma's smile grew wider and she said "Outside."
Killian sat next to Henry in a booth, the small child version of his girlfriend lay sleeping on the seat across the table from him. Her new bunny tucked tightly in her arms.
"What are we going to do with her?" Regina asked. "If I had my powers I could zap her back to herself. What if she isn't even human?"
"Regina!" Snow chastised. "She's a little girl. She's my little girl."
"I know your motherly instincts tell you that but we don't even know how long she'll be a little girl. What are you going to do raise her all over again?"
"Well, what else do you want to do lock her in a tower like a secret? I won't do that to her. Besides maybe being around the people she knows will help."
"Maybe, "Regina said.
"Won't she suspect something is wrong when no one around her ages? "Henry spoke up at last.
Regina looked at Henry. "You know you were the one to bring her to Storybrooke the first time. You showed her the book and made her believe, it was because of you that she broke the first curse."
"Yeah, when she kissed me goodbye at the hospital, after you killed me." Henry stated with a smile that told everyone he hadn't let her live that mistake down over the last few years.
She gave him a tight smile and spoke again, "Beyond the point. And when you came back from New York and it was the storybook that gave you back your memories." Regina said excitedly" The answer is in the storybook. You study the storybook and I'll study the savior. "She stepped towards the savior and waved her hands to take them away but nothing happened, "Damn Gold." She cursed remembering she had no magic.
Regina looked at Maleficent who held up her hands in defense. "Don't look at me. I'm with The Charming's. If I had the chance to start over with My Lily that they have with Emma then I'd go for it too." She smiled at Snow, "If all I had was a day to show Lily how much I cared. I would take it without hesitation because having our babies know that someone loved them even for a day would make a whole lot of difference." Mal touched Snow's hand briefly before walking out the door.
"We're taking our daughter home. Henry can see if the storybook helps." Snow looked at David and he looked at her then reached down to take Emma into his arms to carry her home she woke with a scream and cringed away from him. Killian knew that look. He had seen it too many times from himself and from Emma It was a lasting side effect from the Dark One. He pushed his way past David and leaned down and looked at Emma.
"Emma, Luv, You need to wake up. You are safe. Think about kitties and bunnies and wake up and look around. You're very safe here." Killian spoke lightly but directly to her. She looked at him and shook off the remaining sleep.
"I don't like Monkeys. " Emma stated sleepily. He chuckled it was going to be interesting having a pint sized Emma around, who spoke without caution.
" Aye luv, I'm not very fond of them myself."
"Am I going home with you? Do you have a home?"
"I have a ship and a house but the house belongs to … a friend and I don't know if I want to be there without her. You are going to go home with David and Mary Margaret and the baby"
"Can I see your ship sometime?"
"Aye luv, I think that would be fine. " With a smile he held his hand out to her and she took it then he pulled her out of the booth into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight trusting hug. He squeezed his eyes shut against the tears that threatened. While it might be fun to have the pint sized version, he missed his Emma. He was worried about her. Would he ever see her again? He couldn't stop the tears that fell from his eyes.
Emma reached up to his face and pressed a tiny finger against a tear that fell from his eye and looked at him. Her green eyes looking into his and Killian abruptly shoved the child into her father's arms and stormed out of the diner.
Charming found Killian on the deck of his ship a few hours later. He sat on a step knees bent his, chin resting on his laced fingers, eyes focused on an unknown source straight ahead. A full bottle of Rum sat at his feet. David sat down beside him and sighed. It was such a screwed up situation, he missed Emma the sassy rebellious woman who had just been letting her walls down to let everyone in and accept who she is. The man sitting next to him was to thank for bringing his daughter back to them on more than one occasion. This man loved his daughter. He loved her. Just simply accepted her and pushed her to accept herself. He owed this man so much more than he could ever give and thought the day would come that he would hand over his greatest treasure. His daughter, He knew they pirate and his daughter shared true love and had been waiting for the day he would give his daughter's hand in marriage to this man. But now things were all screwed up, they had been through a lot but this was something new.
"I don't know how to help you." David said after a long moment.
"She's still in there, "Killian said. "Our Emma, she's trapped inside the mind and body of that little girl. The nightmare it's from the Dark One's curse. She had the nightmares since her name was etched onto that bloody dagger. "
"What like she is our Emma but she's just hidden behind a wall of childhood?"
"I don't know Mate." Killian said. "I just know that she reacted as a child the same way she did as an adult with the nightmares." He shook his head and picked up the rum bottle. "She's a child she shouldn't be having nightmares about being the dark one!" Killian roared heaving the rum bottle at the nearest hard surface as it shattered he sank to his knees and cried, his whole body shaking.
David stood where he had been sitting his own eyes full of tears and he had one sliding down his cheek. "We'll get her back I promise," was all he could say.
It had been agreed that the best thing for little Emma was to send her home with David and Mary Margaret. In the past few weeks Emma had lost that hollow scared look in her eyes. She was effectively spoiled by almost every member of the town, and had been Mary Margaret's joy. At five years of age Emma had charm oozing out of every pore and had David tripping over himself to keep her happy. As happy as he was to see his little girl he couldn't help but miss the other Emma. Henry read to her almost every night before bed from the storybook in hopes something would trigger her memories.
Long hours were put in trying to find a way to break the curse. After a particularly long day Regina let out a shout of thought. "Hah! Why didn't I think of this before, I know what we need to help us out."
"What?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Not what but who, someone we didn't think of before." Regina said with a shake of her head.
"What should we do today Emma?" Mary Margaret asked the girl, as she finished putting her pale blonde hair in a ponytail. "Do you want to go to the park? Or go shopping for a new dress?"
"Can we go see Killian? I want to give him my bunny. I think he would like him; my bunny will make him happy. He's so sad."
"Sure … we can go see Killian." Mary Margaret wasn't really sure if this was a good idea. The pirate captain had kept his distance from them since the first day in the diner. Mary Margaret knew it was because of Emma. Maybe it was time he dealt with his feelings.
"You like Killian?" She asked casually as she helped Emma tie her new sneakers. They were red as Emma had announced her favorite color was red. Her favorite place to be was the docks where she hoped to see Killian.
"Uh-huh, He's so pretty." Emma stated with a grin.
"He is that." Mary Margaret said and Emma looked at her over her shoulder in surprise. "Let's not tell David I said that..." She added quickly. Emma giggled.
Mary Margaret, Emma and Neal strolled up to the docks. Emma was practically bouncing out of her shoes and Marry Margaret felt apprehensive about allowing her to see Killian. She wasn't sure what to expect.
As they stopped next to the large pirate ship, Mary Margaret looked down in surprise as Emma slipped her little hand in hers and backed up behind Mary Margaret. She glanced down at the little girl in alarm. Kneeling down beside Emma she asked "What's wrong, honey?"
Emma shook her head and said" I feel sad. I want to go home. I want to go to my home." Before Mary Margaret could say anything Killian came out on deck and Emma gasped and ran right to him and launched herself into the arms she knew would catch her.
Killian barely had time to acknowledge the woman and child that stood on the dock when a tiny blonde cannon ball hit him. The way she had launched herself at him caused him to lose his balance and fall to one knee holding her as she cried on his shoulder. He glanced up at Mary Margaret and she shrugged worry etched onto her face as she looked at her daughter.
He carefully pulled Emma back and brushed the hair off that was sticking to her face. She looked at him with her green eyes so full of misery and tears that he was helpless. He kissed her forehead and held her close while she cried herself out.
As her crying stopped she stepped back and rubbed her eyes and looked at him.
"There now Luv, feel better?" Killian asked gently.
Emma nodded then looked around seeing the empty baby stroller but no Mary Margaret or Neal she stiffened a bit. "Where's my Mary Margaret?"
Killian pointed to the bench on the docks where Mary Margaret sat with the baby in her lap. "Why were you crying?"
"I don't know I was just sad. I wanted to go home. To my home, "She said sadly.
"Where is your home?"
"I don't have one." Emma stated sadly." But I dream about one. It's a big blue house with bunnies in the yard. "She sighed then looked around her, "We're on your ship!" She began to bounce excitedly in her shoes and looked around.
"Aye that we are, luv," He smiled as Mary Margaret rejoined them on deck. Emma raced around the ship's deck climbing on crates to see over the side and she rushed up and ran her hands reverently along the ships large wooden wheel. She looked up at the crow's nest and watched the sails ripple she wanted to go out to sea on it and look for mermaids and dolphins to swim with.
"Have you ever seen a mermaid?" She asked.
"Aye, they are vile creatures -those mermaids," He said and chuckled when she scrunched up her face at him. She really was cute and her cheerfulness was beginning to grow on him. She noticed his sword and scabbard lying on a crate on and she gasped.
"Do you know how to use a sword? Can you teach me?"
"Sure Luv," Killian caught Mary Margaret's eye and lifted a finger to scratch behind his ear, "Uhh when you're a bit older perhaps." Emma frowned.
"Do you miss her?" Emma said as she sat in the side of the ship and stared out at the water.
"Miss who, Luv?" Killian asked.
"Your friend, "Emma replied. "The one you can't find."
"Yes, I do very much."
Emma jumped down nimbly and rushed off the where she had dropped her bunny; it was the one that David had given her the very first day. She rushed back to Killian and curled her finger at him, He bent down and she brushed her tiny lips across his cheek then handed him the bunny
"This is my bunny; he has kept me happy since I came here. I have my David and Mary Margaret they're kind like a Mommy and Daddy and they buy me clothes and new shoes." She held her foot up precariously balancing on one foot to show him. Killian reached out to steady her automatically his hand grabbing her arm." Neal is like a baby brother, he sleeps and poops a lot "She emphasized the last word to get her point across. I have Henry too he is like my Uncle or my big brother-I don't know what he is – but he's neat he reads to me." She sent him a hundred watt smile and he felt a tiny hammer trying to put a crack in his fragile heart.
Emma stroked the bunny's fur. She really liked her bunny, but she had other toys now. She felt that the bunny had made her happy and she wanted him to make Killian happy. "I want you to have my bunny to make you happy. He made me happy when I was sad right after I came here. He'll keep you happy till you find your friend. "Such a simple gesture from a child that meant the world to him, she wanted him happy even if it meant giving up the one thing she held most dear.
Feeling his eyes tear up again Killian choked out "I will make it my job to keep your bunny safe until you need him again."
Emma smiled and kissed her bunny goodbye and left with a teary eyed Mary Margaret who shot Killian a look of complete understanding, he knew this wasn't easy for any of them.