A/N: Dear readers, I hope you all enjoy my story! It was inspired by this video: watch?v=QIQQmzf9IYc. You all need to check it out, it's absolutely amazing! I thank you for reading my story, and please enjoy!

Emma pouted as Killian pulled the hood of her cloak over her blonde curls.

"I don't understand why I have to wear this disguise." She said grumpily. "It's not like I'm hiding from anyone."

"No, you're not." Killian agreed. "However, the king and queen have made it quite clear for when you're about in public. If you were recognized by any of the locals, who knows what would happen."Emma sighed and ran her hands down the cloak.

"It's just a precaution love." Killian reminded her.

"Still, I shouldn't need one. I'm old enough to take care of things myself." Emma straightened and headed onto the path.

Killian smiled. "Oh I know, Swan." Emma grinned at the nickname he had given her when she was small. She always had found herself near the ponds surrounding the castle, bringing a small loaf of bread to break off and feed the family of swans that lived near. It was there she had met Killian and Liam, two lost brothers seeking shelter. She had invited them to go back to the castle with her, assuring them the king and queen would be nothing but kind. And alas, her words rang true, her parents allowing them to stay in the small huts near the docks, later assigning them jobs to the Royal Navy.

Emma and Killian walked along the path for a ways. "What is the news you've been dying to share with me, lass?" Killian asked, remembering how excited Emma was when she told him they needed to take a walk later; she had discovered the most interesting news.

Emma perked at the mention. "Have you ever heard of the wizard, Rumplestiltskin?"

Killian looked at her, furrowing his brow. "What of him?"

"There's word that he's trying to enact a curse. A curse that could take him to any realm he wishes." Emma smiled widely, but it quickly turned into a frown when she saw Killian's face. "What?"

Killian paused before answering. "It's just, why are you always searching for a way off this land?"

Emma scoffed. "I'm not always searching. It just... interests me. The fact there could be other worlds out there. Doesn't it interest you?"

"For the record, not particularly no." Killian ran a hand through his hair.

Emma's mouth fell open. "But you're constantly exploring new things, especially with your ship! How is this any different?"

Killian exhaled sharply and looked up at the sky. "The difference is the element of magic involved in something like this. Who knows what could happen, like if something goes wrong. People could get hurt."

"Not if they know how to control it." Emma pointed out. "Magic is only scary if you don't understand it."

Killian stopped walking and grabbed Emma's arm, pulling her to a stop as well. "There's something deeper than the reason you're giving me, Swan. Lately, portals and realms are all you've been talking about. What's going on?"

Emma huffed and looked him in the eyes. "I don't have to talk to you about this." She pulled away from his touch and continued along the path.

"So now you're not going to tell me anything?" Killian shouted after her. Emma didn't answer, only continued down the path at a far faster pace than before.

Four loud knocks came from the front door one bright Saturday morning at the Swan household as Emma and her son, Henry, sat down for breakfast. Startled, they both looked up from their breakfast.

"Someone coming over?" Henry asked her, a confused expression etched across his face. He continued to cut away at his pancakes.

"No..." Emma answered, an even more confused look displayed on hers. "Stay here while I see who it is." She warned. Emma hurried down the hallway and unlocked the door, becoming speechless when she saw who was on the other side.

"Swan." Killian breathed, a smile forming across his lips. Relief shone through his eyes. Emma's eyes widened as she looked at him with utter shock, with her mouth agape.

"Killian." She whispered. "What are you doing here?" She asked after she could find her voice.

"I need your help. Something terrible has happened. Your family is in trouble." He spoke as quickly as he could, as if he were afraid she might slam the door in his face, which she was honestly considering.

"What are you talking about? How'd you even find me? How'd you get here in the first place?" She asked, still incredulous this man she hadn't seen in ten years was now standing at her doorstep.

Killian waved his hand as if to wave away her questions. "Not important. What's important is that I need you to come with me. Now."

At his directions, Emma took a step back and held the door close to her body, ready to close it at a moment's notice. "I-I can't. I'm sorry."

Despair flashed across Killian's face for a moment. "What are you saying Swan?" He reached for her hand and she took another step back. "This is your life I'm talking about."

"That was my life. Not anymore. I can't drop everything and go with you, I'm sorry." With that she closed the door, locked it, and pressed her back against the frame. Her heart was beating fast and the new information she'd retained was racing through her brain. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before returning to Henry.

"Who was that? Someone important?" Henry asked as she took her seat, shaking her head to erase what she'd heard and to enjoy breakfast with her son.

"No, no one especially important." She smiled reassuringly, glancing at the hallway before picking up her fork. A pinch of worry coursed through her body as she-hard as she tried not to- thought of Killian standing outside the apartment. Her unanswered questions resurfaced and she craved the responses. Regret surged through her at closing the door in his face, but she couldn't trouble herself with his requests. She'd sworn off that life ten years ago.

Another A/N:

Again, I thank you all for reading and if you enjoyed, please leave a comment! It would be much appreciated. Also, if you'd like, my tumblr username is Every-Villain-Has-A-Story, so if you'd like, go ahead and check it out! There will be a few more chapters to this story, not sure how many.

Thanks for reading and have a fabulous day!