Family Torn Apart

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: This is the sequel to "Boston". Let's find out what happened at the end of that story and how the family will be reunited. (August/Emma, Charming family, Hook, Jefferson… and who knows who else…)

I'm terribly indecisive so I deleted "Neverland" and decided to make one single story from it and the one I planned to write about August and Emma's daughter. I hope this way it'll be clearer and I won't be the only one who actually knows what's happening.

And just because I have to get it out of my system: I so terribly miss the August/Emma moments on the show. That said…

For those who are curious… Enjoy!


From "Boston":

"What the hell is that?" Emma asked.

"What you don't believe in – magic," August answered already on his way after his daughter. "You stay with the boys." And with that he disappeared into the darkness.

Emma walked up to the car looking worriedly into the direction her daughter and husband disappeared and watched with concern as the purple light grew at an alarming speed.

"What's happening?" Billy asked, rolling down the window and looking out at her mother while Benji kept on sleeping peacefully.

"Nothing," Emma gave the boys a reassuring smile. "There must be some campers out there," she explained as the purple light lit up the woods.

The last thing Emma saw was Billy's worried look and Benji's peaceful expression then everything went black.


Chapter 1: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Twenty-eight years ago

When the little girl opened her eyes, she found herself staring up at the dark night sky. She remained lying on the ground stiff as a rod, her heart thumping like crazy.

She was scared.

"Mommy?" she called out in a tiny voice. "Daddy?"

No answer came as she waited, her eyes nervously darting around in the dark, only seeing the black silhouettes of tall trees.

She was in a forest.

Then she remembered...

They'd been driving through a forest when her mom stopped the car and got out. Her dad said that she needed air not to fall asleep. She wanted to get out, too, but her dad told her to wait till he talked to her mom. She'd never been good at waiting, however, and she saw a curious light in the woods, too, so she got out anyway.

"Mommy? Daddy?" she tried again weakly before her lips quivered and tears began to run down the ivory skin of her face. "I'm sorry," she almost whimpered. She knew that she should have been a good girl and done what her dad told her to do. She wouldn't be lost then.

With trembling arms, she pushed herself up into a sitting position and took a shaky breath. She listened to the noises of the forest that was difficult to hear through her still hammering heart then she reached up with a hand to wipe her eyes. Slowly she stood and – remembering that her mom always brushes of the dirt from her clothes and out of her hair after she was playing, rolling around on the ground – she automatically proceeded to do just that. She'd just finished pulling out some dried leaves from among her red locks when an unexpected sound made her jump and turn around.

Green eyes wide with fear met a pair of glazed blue and the little girl involuntarily took a couple of steps back. The man with the long coat and the strange scarf standing now in front of her made her unsure as of what to do. But then a smile appeared on his face and this alone made the little girl's heart beat a little bit slower.

He looked like a nice man.

"Where's my Mommy and Daddy," she ventured to ask. "And Billy and Benji?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," the man spoke up.

"You don't know?"

"I have a good guess," the man shared which made the little girl frown suspiciously. For a little longer they just stood in silence facing the other then the little girl made a couple of steps towards a huge tree and, keeping her eyes on the stranger, she settled down by its trunk, pulling her knees under her chin.

"What are you doing?" the man inquired, keeping his position.

"Waiting for my parents."

This answer made the man sigh and slowly he made his way to the little girl. Her green eyes followed his every move until she was staring up at him with curious eyes.

"I'm afraid your parents can't come to get you," the man told her in a gentle, sympathetic tone, squatting down next to her.

"Why?" The question left her lips like a whimper.

"I'm not sure," the man started in a low voice. He himself seemed troubled by this turn of the events. "Something happened that shouldn't have," he said anger seeping into his voice. "They couldn't cross the town line."

"Why?"

"No idea," he muttered mostly to himself. "This was the right time. She should be here," he pressed not understanding the situation. In spite of his low voice, his tone was sharp and it made the little girl tear up again. "She'll come back," he finally stated with a nod then refocused on the little girl in front of him, noticing for the first time that she was silently crying. "Oh, Sweetie," he hushed, wiping away her tears. "Don't worry, they'll come back," he told her, collecting her into his arms. Franny clung to him. "She has to come back."

"But when will they come back?" the little girl asked still clinging to him.

"Soon, Sweetie, soon," he whispered reassuringly then added in a voice the girl couldn't hear, "Just another twenty-eight years." His eyes darkened with the mixed emotion of anger and sadness but he was quick to force a smile on his face as he gently let the girl go and looked at her. "But don't you worry. I'll take good care of you until then, all right?"

The little girl nodded a little uncertainly.

"Good," the man nodded. "What's your name, Sweetie?" he smiled, smoothing down her tousled hair.

"Frances May Booth… Franny."

"Nice to meet you – May," he took her little hand into his and shook it. "I'm Jefferson."

TBC

That's it for now. Thanks for reading!