Since the hiatus is upon us, I thought I'd take a shot at how I see the story continuing after the end of 3x22. Emma has found her home in Storybrooke, but no one gets a "happily ever after' here for long...here we go – Winter is coming to Storybrooke!. ;) I don't own anyone from OUAT, though I'd love to borrow them for a little bit. Lyrics are from "Winter", by Tori Amos. Rated T for some language and adult situations. Pretty much the same level you get on the show (though a few chapters verge into M territory and are labeled as such.) I hope you enjoy this story – and please do let me know what you think! - Calliean
Winter
By Caillean
….Snow can wait, I forgot my mittens
Wipe my nose, Get my new boots on
I get a little warm in my heart
When I think of winter…..
Chapter One: "Late Frost"
Emma pulled the covers back over her head to block the light streaming in from the windows. She was damned if she was going to get out of this bed before noon at the earliest. No one was in imminent danger; no curse was sweeping over Storybrooke. She'd earned this moment, hadn't she?
Just as she started to drift off again, a soft knock sounded on her bedroom door.
"Go away", she muttered into her pillow. "M'sleeping."
A few blissfully silent moments passed until she heard the knob turn and the door swing open softly.
I am getting my own place as soon as possible.
"Emma?" Mary Margaret's voice called softly from her doorway. "Are you ok?"
She threw the blankets down and sat up, glaring at her mother from behind a curtain of blonde hair. "I was trying to sleep."
"I know, but, well..." She walked into the room, carrying the sleeping young prince in her arms. "Your father and I were wondering if you wanted to talk about Regina and Marian."
"Mom." Emma pushed her hair back from her face, pulling her legs underneath her and sitting up. "Look, I know Regina is upset. I get it. I feel just horrible for what I did to her, even if I didn't mean to. I didn't sleep most of last night thinking about it. At the same time, it's her issue, not mine. Maybe it's better this way. I mean, if that's Robin's wife, then how would he have felt to know Regina was responsible for her death?" She shook her head. "I'm convinced it will be a good thing, eventually."
"Ok."
The silent support on Snow White's face was almost too much for Emma to bear.
"What else is it?"
"Well…" her mother's voice trailed off. "Hook came by earlier, I told him you were sleeping, but he seemed rather eager to talk to you. Know any reason why that is?"
Damn.
After all the confusion surrounding Marian's return the night before, Emma didn't have the energy for anything other than finding her bed. Killian had tried to pull her aside to talk but her emotional meter had already spiked above the red. She told him she'd come find him the next day and parted from him with nothing more than a sad smile. Not the best way to end a night that had started so promising with kisses under the starlight in front of Granny's.
She noticed her mother was still waiting for a response.
"I have some things I need to discuss with him about our travels. That's all."
Her eyebrows rose. "Is it?"
Emma just met her stare silently.
Mary Margaret laughed. "Emma, if you think your father and I don't know what's going on between the two of you, you're crazy." She held up a hand as her daughter's jaw dropped. "That being said, you are an adult, and you are free to your privacy. Just know that Hook is, if nothing else, bound by tradition. He will approach Charming before too long, and it's probably better you talk to your father first before he makes up his own mind what to say."
"Approach my father? What the hell? We kissed, that's it!" One of the most amazing kisses in your life, she reminded herself, but a kiss, nonetheless.
"He's going to ask permission to court you."
"What!? We do not live in the Enchanted Forest!"
"True, but you are a product of it. And he, at his core, is a man of honor." Snow laughed. "Just trust me, Emma. Ok? A discussion with your father is a walk in the park compared to most of your challenges of late."
Emma sighed, picking up a pillow and dropping her head into it for a few moments.
"Fine."
Her young son walked into the room as well.
"Mom?"
Emma looked up. "Henry! What's up, kid?" She held out her arms to him and gave him a hug.
"I was wondering if we could go look at those listings I found for places to stay?"
"Sure. Just give me a bit to get ready. Eat breakfast already?"
Henry snorted. "Ages ago."
No rest for the weary. Emma smiled.
"Ok, everyone out of my room. I'll be ready to go in 20."
Baby Neal began to wake. Mary Margaret stood up and began to rock him gently in her arms while glancing out the window. "You'll probably want to dress warm today Emma, it looks like winter is trying to hold on a bit longer this year. If I didn't know better I'd say the sky looks like snow."
Emma zipped her jacket up and wished she had brought a pair of gloves. Even for Maine, this was way too cold for late April.
"This one, mom."
Emma looked up from the listing in the paper to the building before her. "Chef Louis'?"
"Yeah, it used to be a fancy French restaurant, but it's been closed for a while now." Henry pointed to the second story. "That's the apartment above it, the whole second floor. There's a great view of the water. You could have your coffee in the morning and watch the sea."
She turned a suspicious look on her son. "Why would I want to watch the sea?"
"Because it's nice? Look, just give it a shot, ok? It's really cool on the inside. A lot like our place in New York."
Emma narrowed her eyes. "You've looked at this place on your own, haven't you?"
"Well, not on my own, really."
"Who went with you?"
"Oh, just Dr. Hopper. Grandma and Grandpa. Regina. Mr. Gold. And…it doesn't matter, Mom, let's take a look at it!"
How much do I want to bet that a certain pirate with blue eyes even saw this place before me?
"Well, we'll have to call the real estate company to get the keys…"
Henry reached into his pocket. "I have a set here."
"What?"
He looked down. "Mr. Gold said it was fine for me to take them, and if you wanted to lease it, to just let him know afterwards and he'd complete the paperwork. He said no one else would be interested in it for now."
Of course he'd make sure of that. If his grandson wanted it…..
Emma sighed. "Henry. You can't just make decisions like this without me. I know I've been busy but there are a lot of things going on at once. Who knows if we can even afford it? Actually, never mind, if your grandfather gave you the keys, we can afford it. Come on."
They walked to the stairs leading up alongside the building to the apartment.
Henry was right. The apartment was breathtaking. It took up the entire top floor of the building, with two bedrooms, a small office, and a large open kitchen, dining, and living area. There was even a balcony that stretched across the length of the living room on either side of a massive fireplace. The veranda windows all reflected back the glint of the ocean waves.
"It's gorgeous." She looked around. "And, surprisingly furnished."
Henry blushed. "Mr. Gold said it was intended as a model property and he has no use for the stuff inside, so if we wanted to keep it…"
Isn't it a strange coincidence that it is almost exactly how I would decorate? Emma thought. I'm not sure if this is Gold's doing or Henry's. Great, I have two of them playing fairy godmother now.
She just smiled, beaten for now, and walked into the master bedroom. Not surprised, she found it exactly as she would have decorated it had she been involved. A set of double doors led off the bedroom to a balcony that overlooked a quiet stretch of beach. She opened the door and stepped out. Just big enough for two, she could imagine herself and Henry sipping hot cocoa and watching the sea birds fly by. Or, perhaps a glass of wine by herself or with…she squinted, spying a figure walking along the beach.
….wait, was that?
"Hook." She muttered under her breath. She'd know that leather coat anywhere. Turning back inside Emma called to her son.
"Henry, can you wait up here a minute? I need to run downstairs for a second to make a call."
"Sure mom, I'll just explore a bit."
You'll explore what's on the brand new flat screen television that just happens to be there.
Emma left the apartment and walked out across the sand to intercept Hook.
"Hey."
"Swan." He smiled then looked past her back to the apartment. "So the boy finally got you to look at the accommodations he chose?"
"It seems I'm the last person in Storybrooke to know we'd be living there."
"So you'll be taking it, then?"
Emma shrugged. "How can I say no to Henry? He needs something to call his own here. I'm not exactly comfortable knowing Gold holds the lease, but I guess owns most of this damn place, so there's that. "
"Aye, there's that."
"Killian, what are you doing here?"
He laughed. "Believe it or not, lass, I'm not after following you about. I come out here often enough. It's quiet and I miss the sea. Helps to clear my mind out here." He turned and looked out over the waves. "I'd say a storm was brewing, though. The air itself feels strange."
"I know, it's almost like winter is starting all over again."
Hook turned back to her and stepped a bit closer. "All the more reason to stay warm." Emma smiled as he leaned in for a kiss.
She placed a finger on his lips, stalling him. "Mmm. Tempting, but I've got to get back to Henry, he'll want to know we're taking the apartment."
Hook captured her gaze with a solemn one of his own. "We'll have to talk eventually, love."
A rueful look passed across her face. "I know. And we will. But, for now," she reached up and pulled him close for a quick, soft kiss, "for now, let's head up and see what my son has gotten up to."
He looked as if he was going to say something else, but Emma had already turned away and was walking back up the beach. "As you wish," he muttered as he followed her. "But this is far from over."
No, she thought, it's all just beginning.
I do hope you are on board for this journey with me! Please leave a review if you get a chance to tell me what you think so far!