Unknown Bonds Continued (Part 2)
Note: if combined with 1st story then ignore chapters 14-15 would be later in time
Chapter 1: Return
It had only been a few weeks since Britney left the orphanage but she was back again. Annie wondered what Britney was doing at Sunshine so she called the "new parents" but they didn't seem to even remember meeting the young girl. This surprised Annie but she let it go figuring that maybe they just changed their mind about having Britney so the returned her to the orphanage. Britney looked fine and didn't appear to be hurt or care in the least she just asked, "Where's Emma…ma?" Saddened Annie told her, "Britney why don't you go upstairs to bed. It is getting late." Because she didn't know what to tell the poor girl. Annie knew Emma cared about the young girl and Britney had been through something that she had yet to figure out.
Upstairs Britney didn't see Emma but it was pretty dark so she just did what Annie had said and got ready for bed. Everything was still the same at Sunshine so it didn't take long. All of her stuff was right where it was when she left before. She was supposed to take it with her but told Emma to just keep it for her because she would be fine and wanted her to have it.
Morning came quickly and Britney was awakened by Christina, "Hey munchkin. What are you doing back here?" Of course Britney couldn't explain why she was there so she just shrugged and asked, "Where's Emma…ma?" Liz had wondered over and figured what the hell it's not like she won't find out so she told Britney, "Emma is gone. She took off like a week ago." Christina nudged her mumbling, "Elizabeth." Holding her feelings in Britney looked at her feet as she asked, "Is she gonna come back?" looking at her with nothing but sympathy cause she missed Emma too, Christina said, "we don't know" getting up to go Britney asked, "where did she go?" Christina repeated, "We don't know." Walking away Britney mumbled, "We should get ready for breakfast" and disappeared around the corner.
Chapter 2: Errors in Judgment
Britney wanted to find Emma after she ran off but naturally this didn't go so easily and Britney ended up in Storybrooke. Fortunately she recognized her surroundings in town but she didn't know what time period she was in so she tried to quietly sneak around without being noticed. The quietest place in town was down by the harbor or so she thought. Ursula was fighting with Hook when she arrived at the dock. After Ursula threw Hook in the water, she ran up and pushed her into the water too; screaming "No" before realizing that she should hide. When Ursula didn't find anyone she left thinking maybe it was just her imagination or guilt because she couldn't blame Hook for their past.
Alone again Britney ran back to the dock to help Hook but was too late. Ariel had shoved him back up towards the pier before seeing Britney. Uncertain about the child Ariel stayed quiet but Hook thanked her. Unable to contain her dislike Ariel scoffed, "Thank you seriously. You left Eric stranded so you could keep your precious ship..." Ashamed Hook tried to defend his actions, "I am sorry about that. I am I never meant to hurt you or Ursula. Especially Emma. But I am trying to help. Thank you for saving me. I am sorry about Eric but I am sure he's fine?" but before he finished Britney cut in, "He is fine. You will be with him soon. He isn't far." Noting the child with them Hook shut up and couldn't figure out who she was, where she was from or what he was supposed to do. Something about her felt … well he didn't know entirely but before he could respond she jumped into the water with Ariel. "What do you mean? Where is he now?" "Not…just… well… its… why don't I…uh…maybe go?" Hook wanted to stop her but both of them had just gone so he returned to fixing the problem at hand.
Chapter 3: Dark Misfortune
Rumplestiltskin is on his own after losing his allies. Sure everyone knew he was back in town and had sided with Ursula, Cruella, and Maleficent to take down the heroes. He wanted to change his story so that he didn't end up as sad Mr. Gold; he wanted to be heroic as Rumplestiltskin with a loving family. After Hook help reunite Ursula with her father, Poseidon and they returned her singing voice, Ursula gave Hook the information he needed to help Emma and her family. Rumplestiltskin still hated Hook even though Hook had turned a cornered a corner so to speak; Hook was no longer trying to enact revenge on Rumplestiltskin because Hook was in love with Emma and building a life with her as Killian Jones, the man he was before Rumplestiltskin sliced off his hand. Shortly after they lost Ursula, Cruella had become desperate and kidnapped Henry. This had even come close to making Emma go dark. Believing her son was in peril danger Emma used her magic to shove Cruella away from her Henry, but Cruella went over the edge of the cliff plummeting to her death.
Maleficent even abandoned Rumplestiltskin and the Charmings had all but destroyed her daughter, Lily. Out of fear of the unknown potential for their daughter Emma, the Charmings were tricked into using magic to transfer Emma's potential for darkness into a "vessel" that was Lily's egg as she was being hatched before Lily in her dragon egg was transported into another realm without magic. Rumplestiltskin had told Maleficent that her daughter was alive after what happened the Charmings and what did she asked Emma to find her daughter and makes nice and friendly with the Charmings. At least Lily seemed to be upset with the Charmings about what happened to her. To Rumplestiltskin's amusement, Emma knew the truth and was upset about it.
Emma was down at the dock with Killian talking about her parents' choice and her past with Lily. All of it bothered Emma and she didn't know what to do about it. Killian said, "It's alright to be upset with your parents but don't let it consume you. They were only trying to protect you because they love you." Which Emma knew but she just could brush it off, "I know that but they could have, should have done it differently. Lily was just a baby too. And my parents are supposed to be the good guys. The heroes…" but Emma didn't get to finish because she was cut off by a young girl, "Emma…ma, heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They don't always make the best decision but they try to do what is right for them and those that they love. Heroes are human too. And they make mistakes. But everyone is supposed to learn from them and grow as individuals."
Killian smiled at the girl, Britney, remembering her vaguely from his last time on the dock with the child, "She is right. Your parents were only doing what they felt was right without all of the information. Because they loved….love you and want what is best for you. No they may not have done right by Lily but they are trying to make up for it. And that is what we should take from it. That you can rise above your mistakes, your past and learn from it because we can't change it…." But with the look he was getting he continued, "well you could but not easily and you could risk everything and everyone you care about." Turning red because she knew it was true and time travel was not a game to play, the girl nodded in agreement, "you should forgive you family. Family is important and they are who love you no matter what you do wrong."
Knowing that they were right and wanting to forgive her parents Emma started heading back towards town with Killian and the young girl that she couldn't figure out. The trio were stopped dead in their tracks when a David and Snow came running towards them with Maleficent and a dragon Lily in toe. Lily was angry and attacking her parents. When Snow fell to the ground hitting her head David tried to protect her, even Maleficent tried to stop Lily but they didn't have the best of luck. Emma with Killian by her side ran to her parents to protect them and stop Lily but Lily just blew fire at her and growled. Acknowledging the truth and forgiving her parents Emma insisted Lily stop, but it only slowed her down.
So Britney demanded Lily's attention along with everyone else within the vicinity and explained, "Lily. Stop you will hurt someone. Someone you love and care about. Anger is not the answer. Revenge may seem like a great idea now but it won't make everything better. You need to do that yourself. You need to stop. Grand… Snow and David didn't mean to hurt you. They didn't know what would happen or truly understand they consequences but they do now and they are sorry." Noting that Lily had frozen in her place and was calming down, David agreed with the sentiment and apologized for any and all harm he and Snow had caused. Snow even added that they wanted to make up for it and wanted to help her with anything they could after apologizing too. Maleficent seemed to agree that this was best and Lily turned back into human form in a puff of smoke, "ok, ok. I … wait … where's the girl." With that everyone looked for Britney but they didn't know anything about her so Killian noted that she just vanished earlier and they came to the conclusion that "the girl must have just left on her own."