A/N: Welcome to my Once fanfic! This story was originally written in 2016, then went untouched for ages until now. It has been rewritten with better writing, a better plot and overall a more solid fic. Anyway, hope you Oncers enjoy!
Summary: It was just another afternoon for Emma Swan, but what happens when she sees a man and woman standing in her closet who claim to be her parents? Storybrooke Maine is a cursed town where everyone is separated from their happy endings, but one recently turned ten year old girl will be able to save them all and become the savior she was born to be.
Chapter One
Emma had a weird feeling someone was watching, she had been here reading and listening to the book by her side. She just couldn't shake the sensation though, her gaze lifted upward expecting to see nothing by the closet, but she found herself staring at two adults in a forest. Green eyes widened, her mouth parted open in surprise.
She brought up her hands and removed her head phones as she said, "Uh, hi. How are you in… the closet?"
Snow and David froze for a moment, they hadn't expected her to be able to see them. Seeing her whole face, big green eyes meeting each of their gazes. Her speaking to them caught the couple even more off guard and at such a loss for words. The sound of their little girl's voice, like music to their ears. David felt like the air had been stolen from his lungs, Snow couldn't fight the sob that escaped her trembling lips.
"Emma," Snow said, just loud enough for their daughter to hear.
Emma blinked. She looked away at the door for a moment, but returned her gaze back to the adults and the forest in the closet. Was this like Narnia? How did that woman know her name?
Slowly, Emma slid off her bed, her sock covered feet landing on the wood floor. She walked closer to the door until she stood right in front of where her closet should have been, but was now occupied by a woman and man standing in a snowy forest.
"Who are you," Emma asked, she scrunched her face, "How'd you know my name? And you're in a closet. Are you from Narnia? Like from the lion, witch and wardrobe we had to read for school."
The woman with a pixie book released a breathless laugh, a water smile on her face, "I've never heard of Narnia before. We're in uh-" The woman paused to look at the man. A silent question went on between them before she looked back, "In a place called Storybrooke."
Emma folded her arms over her chest, "You ignored my other questions. I never heard of Storybrooke before. How'd you end up in my closet?"
This time the blond haired man spoke, his smile was warm, "That's magic for you Emma, it can do a lot of things."
"But I thought magic wasn't real," Emma said with a frown.
"Trust me, we wouldn't be here without it," said the man, his smile was gentle, "How else do people appear in closets? Don't tell me it was math."
Emma giggled at that, she shook her head, "Definitely not math."
Emma grinned at him, momentarily forgetting she was talking to some random man in her closet. The young blonde looked back at the woman to see tears had fallen down her face, her pale skin was flushed from the cold and she looked pained.
"Why are you crying," Emma asked, she tilted her head to the side.
The woman sniffled, her green eyes shimmered, "I'm separated from my baby girl."
Emma's shoulders slumped, "What happened to her? Is she lost?"
"Someone evil was going to hurt her," said the man, he placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, "We had to send her away so she wouldn't harmed. It was to give her, her best chance."
Emma frowned, "That's sad. At least you did something good for her, my parents just left me on the side of the road. Mrs Martin tried to hide it from me, but I found out anyway. My parents didn't want me."
"That's not true," Snow said before she could herself, "That's not true at all."
"Yeah it is, they couldn't even drop me off at a hospital," Emma said.
The woman shook her head, "No, no it isn't. Your parents wanted you more than anything else in the world. They loved you so much."
Emma raised one eyebrow, "And you know this how?"
"Emma, we're your parents," the woman said sadly, "My name is Snow White and this is your father, David or Prince Charming really."
Emma glanced at the man and woman, she couldn't even bring herself to comment on the weird name of Snow White and Prince Charming, her mind spinning at the thought of these two strangers in a snow forest in her closet being her parents. Her gaze shifted from Snow White to David unsurely, a confused look upon her face. Snow wasn't lying, at least her superpower wasn't telling her that and that power was usually right, but she still had her doubts.
Snow and David hadn't planned to tell her, they actually hadn't planned on her seeing them at all when it was decided they had to wait until the curse could break after her twenty-eighth birthday. Though that broke their hearts, they knew it was what needed to be done in order for everyone to get the happy endings they deserved and for evil to be taken down.
However now that she had seen them...there was no turning back. David decided that anything they could give Emma, whether it be hope or answer any questions she had, they would do it. She needed this, he needed this and so did his wife whether she could admit it or not.
"That," Emma started, her brow furrowed, "That can't be true."
"It is Emma, it's true," said David with an earnest look in his eyes.
Emma blinked in response, she shook her head, "Prove it. What was I found in?"
Snow answered without, "A white knitted blanket with 'Emma' embroidered in purple on the side."
In hindsight Emma knew it could have been public knowledge since she had made the newspaper when she was found apparently. However they knew her name before she introduced herself, plus her blanket was hidden in her bag under her bed. Her superpower told her they were telling the truth, it was crazy, but she had to believe them. They were somehow in her closet and if this was some crazy dream, then so be it. She needed to ask another question to be sure.
"Where's my birthmark," Emma asked.
David answered, "Your upper right arm, just below your shoulder. It looks like a swan."
Emma looked down at her arm where the birthmark was to make sure it was hidden, it was. She blamed the mark for being one of the reasons why she liked the Ugly Duckling story so much along with the fact that August read it when he visited her.
"Okay, so you're my parents," Emma said slowly, "You said you sent your daughter away because she was in danger. Am I in danger?"
"You're safe right now," David told her, "Wherever you are, you are safe from the person who wants to hurt you."
"Are you in danger," Emma asked, worry washed over her.
Snow shook her head, "No sweetheart, we aren't in danger."
Emma's superpower went off, this woman who was her mother was lying about that. They were in trouble, she wondered if they risked getting in trouble to see her. Maybe they were here to get her. However before she could comment, her 'father' spoke.
"We don't have much time left Emma," David said, his tone lowered, "We are so, so sorry we had to send you away. It was the only way to keep you safe from harm."
Emma pouted, "The only way? What about now, can't you get me now?"
Snow's heart broke into a million pieces at her daughters words, she got onto her knees, "I wish we could get you now. We're trapped here and when this door closes… we'll forget all over again."
"Forget, what do you mean forget," Emma questioned, she moved closer until she hit the barrier, "No, don't forget me. Let me come with you, or you come here. We can be a family, if you want me."
"There is nothing else we want more than to be with you Emma, absolutely nothing," David said, tears filled his eyes, "But we can't get to you."
"There's so much we have to tell you, but we don't enough time. We never wanted to leave you Emma," Snow said barely holding back her tears, through trembling lips she went on,"We love you baby, momma and papa love you so much."
Emma's power told her the words were true and she felt her eyes burning. All her life she had wanted to believe her parents loved her and wanted her. Here they were saying everything she wanted to hear, but they couldn't stay? They couldn't take her with them? Why not? No, they had to stay.
Snow saw the tears building in her daughter's eyes, she pushed her hand through the barrier to cup Emma's right cheek. Her daughter flinched slightly, but then relaxed after a moment when she realized there was no bad intent. That flinch sent a spark of concern and anger through Snow. Had someone hurt her daughter that this contact could be deemed as a threat?
"Then take, take me with you," Emma hiccuped sadly trying not to cry.
David kneeled beside his wife, he pushed his hand through the barrier as he said, "It's too dangerous. You have to stay where you are. When the time is right, you'll find us."
Emma took David's hand, she squeezed it, "Don't go. Why can't you stay here?"
Snow explained, "We're trapped by a curse."
"A curse," Emma asked with a frown, "You're cursed?"
A few minutes ago she was certain magic wasn't real, but her doubts come in and it seemed more likely that there was a such thing as magic. There was no other explanation for how these two people could be in her closet. Emma's mind wandered back to her mother's name. If her mother's name was Snow White, then that meant the villain of her story was still out there.
"The Evil Queen trapped us here," Snow told her.
"Evil Queen? Like from Snow White and the Seven dwarves," Emma said confused, "But she was defeated and Snow White lived happily ever after with Prince Charming at the end of the movie."
David grinned sorrowfully, "I wish we could tell you the whole story princess, but we have to go now."
"No," Emma argued, "No, stay. Tell me what to do."
Emma's hand tightened on David's and her free hand went to grab her mother's which was still cupping her cheek. The affection was weird and she wasn't used to it, but she didn't want to lose it now. She had dreamed of meeting her parents for as long as she could remember, this was never how she planned to meet them or what she would have said to them. Anything they had said was not something she could have imagined, though at one point she convinced herself that her parents were spies and had to leave her to protect her. This wasn't so different.
Neither Snow nor David ever wanted to see this panicked and torn up expression on their baby's face ever again. Why did a curse have to keep them apart? Why did they have to sacrifice their life with her for everyone else? It was so completely unfair to all of them to suffer for this. Doubt crept into Snow, maybe one of them could stay with her?
One of them could go through and stay with her until it was time for the curse to break. However Snow felt that was selfish, to get her happiness back and risk the chance of everyone else's. Not to mention when Regina, who clearly remembered the past, found out one of them was gone would likely go after them. It would put her daughter in danger. She choked back a sob.
"Please don't go," Emma whispered sniffling sadly.
Snow couldn't take it. She moved through the barrier and pulled her daughter in a hug, Emma latched on tightly. The feeling of being safe and loved was not one Emma was familiar with, but she felt in such a strong wave when her mother hugged her. Tears freely fell down her face as she felt her father wrap arms around her, with one hand cradling her head.
Emma closed her eyes, she inhaled deeply and tried to memorize the scent and feeling of being in her parents arms. Something that had never ever happened before.
"We love you Emma. Never ever forget that,"said her mother as she pulled away.
"Live your life Emma, we have to go now, but it won't be forever," her father told her, "We will meet again. I promise you."
Though it took everything they had, they let go Emma and she watched helplessly as they moved back through the barrier where their bottom halves still resides in the snowy forest. When they were back through the barrier, Emma pressed her hands against the barrier.
The expression on her face was heart wrenching and filled with determination, "I'll find you! I promise, I'll find you."
"We can't wait until then," said her mother barely containing her tears.
Emma cried as the door closed, "I love you!"
There was a bright light forcing Emma to step back and closer her eyes. When she opened them again, the light gone, she saw her closet filled with hand me downs and someone else stuff there. A soft cry escaped her lips as she fell to her knees with a harsh thud. Emma stared at her hands as she cried until she buried her face them, she could barely smell the forest as sobbed.
On the other side of Maine in a snowy forest, Snow practically wailed into Charming's chest because of the ache in her soul. David could only hold her tightly, rubbing her back as she cried for the loss of their baby girl. Already ten years old and they still had a full eighteen more years to wait. David hoped that Emma seeing them would make a difference, so that she knows she is never alone and her parents love her. When all of this was over, they were going to make the Evil Queen pay for this. She was going to pay.
Emma could barely sleep that night. Her mind was still replaying the conversation she had with her parents, her real parents.
The Evil Queen trapped us here.
Not only were they alive, but they were trapped by a magic curse because of the Evil Queen. The black haired woman was named Snow White and she was cursed by the Evil Queen which had to make her father Prince Charming. That was ridiculous, she knew it was and part of her wondered if she was becoming so desperate to explain why her parents left her that she imagined the whole thing. But something was off about it, there was no way she could have imagined that.
We are so, so sorry we had to send you away.
It was true then. Her parents did send her away, but it was because she was in danger. Someone was going to hurt her, the Evil Queen and they needed her to be safe. It wasn't because they didn't want her, it was because they wanted to give her, her best chance. Even though Emma didn't think this was her best chance, part of her kind of understood it.
when this door closes… we'll forget all over again.
Emma didn't understand what the curse was, but her mother said when the door closed that they would forget. She didn't say what exactly she would forget, but Emma assumes it meant her and everything else. That really hurt, that they would forget her. Although she didn't know much about magic, she had a feeling it was strong and could do just about anything. Even making her parents forget they had a baby.
We love you baby, momma and papa love you so much.
Emma sniffed at that thought. It had been a long time since anyone said that they loved her and meant it. Her superpower told her everything, minus the danger they were in, was true. And that was made it scary. They did love her and they did want her, but now they were apart again with no way to do anything. Emma gripped her baby blanket tightly in her fists, she remembered the name of the place they were trapped in without memories. It was called Storybrooke. Though she had never heard of that, she was going to find it and get her parents back.
A week later.
Emma woke up early Saturday morning. Her mind was spinning, in her backpack was not any of her school supplies she would need for Monday. Nope, she had her few clothes, baby blanket, a tape recorder along with a map and two granola bars. The plan was simple, she would walk to the real bus stop, find Storybrooke then her parents.
The map she stole from Richard didn't have Storybrooke on it, so she hoped that she could find it on the maps there. She gripped her bag tightly, this wouldn't be the first time she had run away, but she was anxious about the idea of getting to her parents and them not knowing her. What if it had all been a dream? What if now she was being absolutely crazy to run away to fake town? Emma shook her head as she headed towards the bus stop. It was real, it was definitely real.
Her name was Emma Swan, and she could do anything and find anything even if it was crazy or impossible. Tightening her grip on her backpack, she started walking and staying mostly out of sight until she found the bus stop. A grin spread across her face, maybe this trip would be easy. She took a seat and waited for the bus to arrive, while she sat there she took out one of her granola bars and ate.
The foster parent at the group home did give each kid lunch money, but she would need that for the bus fare. Plus the money she swiped from the woman's purse to get her at least across the state, or well she hoped. There was still a chance it all wasn't real, but she had to stay strong. Her parents were in trouble and she was going to make sure they got out of trouble.
The bus came and she climbed on without an issue, much to her relief. No one questioned her about why someone as young as her was traveling alone, but to be in the safe side she did sit closer to a woman to make it look like she wasn't alone. After an hour, she made it to the bus station and quickly ran off the bus to find a map. When she did, she immediately looked for Storybrooke.
"Okay, let's see," she said softly to herself, "Storybrooke, Storybrooke where are you?"
After a few moments, she spotted it on the map much to her surprise, relief and excitement. It wasn't terribly far away from here, but she wasn't sure if she would have enough money for the trip since it was a charter bus and that cost more. It also looked like the bus station was still a bit away from the town, she would likely have to walk the rest of the way. Emma groaned slightly at the idea, but she could make it, she had walked much further before. Emma checked the time, the next bus was leaving at 8:15, she had fifteen minutes left to get on it.
Emma ran through the crowd towards stop A where the bus would be. She waited at the back of the line, her heart pounding as she made it closer to the inspector who was taking tickets. Panic was starting to settle in, she didn't have a ticket and probably not enough to get in. Emma bit her lip, she couldn't get this close and not make it, there had to be something she could. Her eyes lit up, she could pickpocket someone. There were still plenty of people between her and the guy reading tickets, she could circle around and accidentally bump into someone while getting their ticket.
It had to work, she practiced for ages on Sammy and she said she was getting better. Emma steeled herself and two circles around staying hidden in the passing crowd. Taking it directly out of someone's hands would not go well, but she needed to see where it was. One man had it sticking out of his briefcase and a woman had the corner of it out of her purse.
One of them would be her targets. She swallowed thickly and rushed through the people over to them, then she hit the man's briefcase falling to the ground and effectively forcing the man to lose his hold on the bag. Definitely made the right choice by going for him. She took the ticket without anyone noticing.
"Oh my gosh, are you alright," he asked as he kneeled beside her and the open mess of his case.
Emma nodded, "Yeah, yeah I'm okay. Sorry I ran into you."
"It's quite alright, I'm glad you aren't hurt," he told her honestly.
Emma grinned, she stood up shakily, "Thanks. Bye now."
She hurriedly walked away before he realized his ticket was gone and hid behind a couple with too many bags. Silently Emma waited. She watched slightly curiosity to see what would happen when the man realized his ticket was lost. So far he just looked frustrated and shook his head, saying he was certain he had it. The ticket guy didn't let him on, so the briefcase guy left likely to get a new ticket. Emma bit back a smile as she looked down at her ticket, no name on it to show it wasn't hers and it matched this bus. She was golden.
The ticket inspector took it without a problem and she hastily made her way on board to the middle row where no one else was really sitting. Once everyone was on and the bus doors closed, she leaned back in her seat and pulled out her tape recorder. She had a few hours to wait before she arrived to the station closest to Storybrooke. She guessed she would be there around one.
She looked out the window and whispered, "Don't worry mom and dad, I'm coming."
The snow had come really early this year, usually it didn't show up until the end of November. This year though, it came in the middle of October. It wasn't awful, but it was a bit weird. Today was her tenth birthday and while most people would be excited by that, she was just okay with it. After all, no one else ever really wanted to celebrate with her. Though one foster mom had given her a card and her social worker always gave her something sweet. Emma sighed, hopefully she could figure out a plan when she reached the town.