Title: Hidden

Characters: Emma, August, Regina, Henry, Pinocchio

Summary: Archie keeps August hidden after he has been accused of being dead.

Copyright: I don't own anything.

A/N: This is my take on the Cricket Game. This may not happen but its fun to mix it up a little.

"I did not kill him."

"Are you sure?"

"Miss Swan I would know who I have killed and he is not one of them."

Regina told her. After Emma and Snow had gotten back from Fairytale Land, Emma was determined to see everyone alive, especially August. She enjoyed his friendship and the help that he had given her but somewhere deep inside she had feelings for him.

August was one of the last people she went to see if he was alive. When she opened his apartment door, her smile turned into frown. He wasn't there. She was in an empty apartment with no sign of life anymore. Immediately she thought he was killed and the person that came to her mind was Regina.

"I don't believe you." Emma looked at Regina with scolding eyes.

"You may not believe me Miss Swan but I am telling the truth."

Believe it or not but Regina was telling the truth. She did not kill August. She did not know the mysterious man well enough to kill him. Besides, the last person she killed was Daniel with magic.

"I think she's telling the truth." Henry said.

"Henry!"

Regina smiled at Henry. She didn't think he would stand up to her like that.

"Well I need proof. Prove to me that you didn't kill August."

"Sure. Follow me."

"Where are we going?"

"Archie's, he'll know that I didn't kill August."

Emma and Henry followed Regina to Archie's apartment. When they finally arrived, Regina knocked on Archie's door, hoping he was there.

"Miss Mills, how may I help you?"

Archie opened the door. He looked scared mixed with worry on his face.

"Would you please tell Miss Swan here that I didn't kill a man named August?"

Archie looked at Emma. She glared at him until he could finally give an answer. He swallowed hard before answering.

"No. No Regina did not kill a man named August."

"See, I did not kill him. Now we can leave." Regina began to walk away but Emma stopped her.

"Wait!" Emma walked up to Archie, who was sweating bullets. She looked behind his shoulder to find his room completely dark. She furrowed her eyebrows in suspicion.

"What is it mom?" Henry asked, walking up to Emma.

Emma looked back at Archie and then to Henry. She had her suspicion that maybe Archie had something to do with his death. But if she remembered that story of Pinocchio correctly, Jiminy Cricket was Pinocchio's conscious and would never do anything to harm him. Or would he?

Emma decided to take this investigation further, but without Henry. If Archie did kill August then she didn't want Henry knowing.

"Nothing, lets go."

With that, Emma, Henry, and Regina left Archie's apartment.

Archie watched until all three disappeared. He then closed his apartment door. He laid his head on the back of the door and let out a little sigh.

"Are they gone?"

Archie turned the light on to reveal a wooden man coming out behind the curtain.

"Yes, they are gone."

"Good."

"You know I can't keep you here forever Pinocchio. Your going have to face Storybrooke sometime."

"I know."

"People miss you. Your father misses you. He's been worried sick and being his good friend, I had to lie to him and you know how much I don't like to lie."

"I know Jiminy. I know. But it is not the right time."

"Okay. I'll keep you here a little longer but you have to come out of hiding whether your wooden or not."

Pinocchio nodded his head.

Archie walked up to the curtains to straighten them up.

"You know that was Emma and Henry with Regina. They miss you too."

Pinocchio was shocked that Emma even remembered him. He thought that Emma had forgotten all about him. Apparently not. A small smile came across his face. Now he was more determined to come out of hiding and show his face Storybrooke.