The Pied Piper of Storybrooke
Disclaimer: I don't not own any of these characters. The future mysterious piper will be mine. I'm just using them to have a little fun. No profits. Ever.
Chapter 1: I Miss Henry
Somewhere in the Enchanted Forest
"I miss Henry." It took a lot for Emma to say those words out loud, but she had her head in her mother's lap, and holy shit Mary Margaret is her mother, and that snow white hand was stroking through blonde curls and Emma was staring into the endless, hypnotic flames of the fire and she had never felt so vulnerable, so much like a little girl. The words almost took her by surprise. Emma doesn't get introspective. She doesn't dwell on her emotions. She observes, she sizes up, she acts, sometimes impulsively, but purely on instinct. She never allows herself to hope for love, but ever since that moment in Snow White's palace, standing in her own nursery, wrapped in her mother's arms, a spark of hope ignited. And now all she can think about is Henry.
A tear fell onto Mary Margaret's jean-clad leg and Emma bit her lip to hold in the sob.
"I know," was all Mary Margaret… no… Snow White said, "I know you do, Sweetheart. We'll get back to him, I promise." Snow made eye contact with Mulan across the campfire. Mulan's expression gave nothing away as she returned her focus to sliding the whetstone against her blade.
Eventually, the rhythmic *shink* *shink* *shink* of steel against stone lulled Emma to sleep and Snow laid her gently on her bedroll, kissed her on her forehead and lay down for a restless few hours before her watch.
Storybrooke
"I miss Henry." Regina Mills knew she must be losing her mind when she started talking to herself. Well, actually she was talking to her mirror. But, what good is it, talking to her mirror, when Sidney is out there, somewhere, plotting her demise with all the other torch-bearing villagers going through the motions until they figure out what to do with her.
A tear slipped down her cheek but was angrily wiped away before it could fall to her pristine bedroom carpet.
It was that moment that her doorbell rang.
She almost didn't answer it. Flashes of a dream skirted her memory. A dream with torches and pitchforks and a rotten apple. A dream where Henry's contempt is fully grown and Emma Swan leads the pack. But Emma isn't here and the citizens of Storybrooke have abandoned their torches and pitchforks at the savior's behest. She won't hide away in her tower chamber waiting for them to come for her. Instead she squared her shoulders, sized up her appearance, took a sustaining breath and donned the regal mask she had spent many years and countless spells perfecting.
She answered the door.
"Prince Charming, to what do I owe this honor?" The venom in her voice was unmistakable.
"We need your help"
"Is that right? And what, Charming, makes you think I would lift a finger to help you?"
"Henry's in trouble."
Regina's mask faltered, only for a moment before she rebuilt it, squared her shoulders and stepped through her front door. "Lead the way, Your Highness."
A/N: I can't promise regular updates. My life is crazy until late November. But I will update as often as I am able. Future updates will be longer. This is just a taste, to get some feedback and see if I'm on the right track.