Chapter 1

"I'm so glad you're back, love. David was really starting to get on my nerves and he's not a great person to watch Netflix with," Hook glances at David from across Granny's.

After the siege and rescue of Emma from the whacky dream world the Evil Queen trapped her in, everyone gathered at Granny's for a celebratory dinner. Not like Emma was surprised. Having been put through a lot to get back home, all Emma wants to do is go home and sleep. Her stomach has been feeling weird for a week or two. Maybe it was the portal she went through. Some people get sea sick, but apparently Emma gets portal sick.

She places her hand on her stomach as Mary Margaret comes walking towards her carrying Neal. He lets out a happy shriek, reaching out towards Hook. Emma raises an eyebrow at that surprising turn in events. She glances at Hook, wondering how he feels about holding her baby brother. He hasn't exactly been around babies much.

"I-" Mary Margaret hands Neal to Hook despite his hesitation. It's just like how he was with Ashley's baby, but he turned out to be a natural. It seems like the babies of Storybrooke are drawn to Captain Hook.

Emma grabs her little brother's hand, thankful to be back in her old life. Her real life. Princess Emma wasn't her best look. Especially because nothing was the same. The scars that she has is who makes her who she is. She isn't some princess who wears frilly dresses and has maids serve her dinner. That's not the kind of lifestyle she ever had or imagined of having. Of course had the curse not happened, that would have been her actual life. However, she's happy with the life she's had the past almost thirty-two years. It's what makes her who she is.

"How does it feel to be back?" her mom asks her.

Emma shrugs, giving Neal's hand a quick kiss. "Like a dream. Everything in that world was weird, and I'm happy to be home."

"So being a princess wasn't how you thought it would be?" David joins the conversation.

Soon everyone is gathered around Emma waiting for her to them all about her adventures as Princess Emma. There are multiple questions being hurled her way and her head starts to spin. She grabs out to hold onto the counter beside her. Hook starts to reach towards her, but realizes he still has Neal in his arms. Thankfully Henry is there to steady her.

"Are you okay, Mom?" Henry asks.

"Love?" Hook hands Neal back to Mary Margaret, grabbing ahold of Emma's hand. It has started to shake like when she has her visions.

She grasps Hook's hand. "I'm okay. Just overwhelmed. A lot happened."

Regina bursts through the front door suddenly with Robin Hood in tow. A glass drops from somewhere within the diner at the sight of him. Hook looks up with a confused face. Zelena glances up from where she sits feeding baby Robyn.

"Bloody hell," Hook mutters.

"What-How?" Zelena asks in disbelief.

Emma shifts so she's leaning against the counter. Her mom looks towards her in surprise.

Regina walks him over to the crowd where people begin to embrace him. "It's complicated…"

"That's putting it lightly. He's not the same Robin, is he?" Zelena asks.

Regina shakes her head. "Like I said, it's complicated."

Baby Robyn starts wailing when wish realm Robin goes near her. Zelena backs away from him. Then Belle and Rumple are running into the diner with panicked faces. Belle's face is white and there are tears in her eyes.

"Our son-" Belle breaths out. "Gideon is here."

Emma's eyebrow arches. When she left, Belle had given her son to Mother Superior. He was supposed to be somewhere far away from Storybrooke. Then again, she didn't expect to see Rumple and her together. They weren't exactly on the best terms when she left.

"Your son?"

Belle faces Emma, face paling even more. "Our s-son is here for you, Emma."

"What do you mean?" she lets go of Hook's hand. "He's a baby."

Rumple steps in. "The black fairy took him and used an aging spell to age him quite some years."

Emma presses him. "What do you consider quite some time?"

Belle and Rumple exchange looks. "About twenty or so," Rumple says.

"What does he want?" Hook asks, crossing his arms against his chest.

"He wants to…" Belle's voice catches in her throat. "He's here to kill Emma."

Emma steps back from Belle, hitting the counter behind her. Hook puts his hand to his forehead, stepping to Emma for support. She shakes away from his grasp, running out the front door. The rings of her name being shouted resonates through the night sky. Emma puts a hand against her face, the cool air hitting her as she stares into a blackened abyss. The sound of the wind whistling through the night sky. A tear slips from her eyes.

A lone figure looms under the street light a few feet from her. Emma retracts the gun she keeps in her belt out in front of her. "Whoever you are, show yourself."

A young man, ten or so years younger than her, comes into view. He has the same eyes as Belle. Her hands click the bullet into place. She starts walking toward the figure, but he's gone. Emma lets out every cuss word she's ever heard.

She doubles over in pain, resisting the urge to throw up in the middle of the street. Standing back up, she turns around and sees someone in her peripheral vision. She hoists her gun in front of her at the figure. "Don't move," she threatens.

The figure holds their hands up. They step into the lights and Emma lowers her gun when she sees Hook standing before her. She lets the gun drop from her hands as he gathers her into a tight hug. She rests her head against his shoulder, eyes darting around the street for the figure with Belle's eyes. Someone is out there waiting to murder. And not just anyone, the Dark One's son who's magically aged over twenty years in a few hours.

"It's okay, Swan." He slides his hand down her arm. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. Ever."

"It's not that simple," she whispers more to herself than anyone.

David comes running out of Granny's too with his gun pointed into the darkness. "I heard some screaming. Well, more like I heard a few words not suitable for Henry and the children inside."

He notices Emma and Hook holding onto each other and smiles at them. Hook releases Emma, slapping David on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Put that thing away before someone gets hurt."

"Says the man with a hook as a hand," David retorts.

Emma watches the two men exchange quips with an amused smile on her face. "Seems like you two got close while I was gone. Do I see a bromance forming?"

David rolls his eyes at his daughter while Hook glares back at Emma. She raises her hands in innocent. "Hey, just stating what I'm hearing."

"Come on, Swan," Hook holds his hand out for her to take. "Let's go grab some grilled cheese and onion rings."

"Please. No offense, Dad, but castle food just wasn't for me," Emma laughs as she follows her boyfriend into the diner.