Hi Everyone, I am new to Once Upon a Time fanfiction, and to the series in itself. Recently watched up to the end of season 5 and fell in love with it. Here is a little story that popped into my head as I was watching. And while I do love Emma and Killian together, I thought of another pairing that I felt could be cool to see play out. Also a storyline in here for Regina, maybe she will get a happy ending after all. Anyways I hope you enjoy the story. If you feel like offering unconstructive unnecessarily negative comments then please keep them to yourself. That being said I do love hearing reviews and comments on where people might like to see the story go. This is a fly by the seat of my pants kind of story so I am writing it one chapter at a time.
Enojy!
-E
Loneliness, that is what I felt as I walked through the streets of Storybrooke today. The curse was broken and everyone was regaining their memories, but for some reason I had not. I still only remembered the life I'd always had. The life of a nurse, who worked here at the Storybrooke hospital. I lived in a modest 3 bedroom home, that was similar to Mary Margaret's or I guess Snow White's loft. It had so much antique character, and the creaky boards reminded me of riding on an old ship, not that I had ever done that, or at least I didn't think I had. Still the sound made it feel like home, like a safe refuge from my exhausting and lonely life. I had tried dating but really the prospects in this town were slim, and even slimmer now that everyone was finding the people they belong with. What shocked me even more then my life not changing at all was that none of this even made me bat an eyelash. It felt normal to me that Snow White and Prince charming had been brought over to this world from a magical realm called the "Enchanted Forest". That my best friend, who I ended up reconnecting with when she arrived in Storybrooke, thanks to the mayor's son, was the product of their true love. None of it was shocking. It as more annoying that nothing changed for me. I had no sudden memories flash forward, and no sudden remembrance of a lost love. Maybe that was because I didn't have a love that I had lost. I was sure I was from that realm being that I felt a connection to this place, but for some reason my story never came to light in the book, and my remembrance of the realm never came either. Maybe that was from my coma years ago, or maybe I was just simply a normal girl from this world who happened to find herself in a fairy-tale town. I suppose only time would reveal my true story, that or perhaps a potion from Mr. Gold, but I'd leave the wheeling and dealing with Rumplestilskin for another day.
For now I just offered smiles to everyone as I made my way to Granny's for some dinner. I placed my order and sat on one of the bar stools waiting for it to be prepared. I had been sitting there no more then 10 minutes before I heard the ding of the bell hanging above the door signal that a new patron had entered. I turned to see a smiling Emma walk in the door. She gave me a smile before she chanted off an order to Ruby, happily touting that Henry was awake and asking if she remembered who she is.
"Sophie, there you are. I was looking for you at the hospital but I guess it's your day off." Emma said as she came to sit on the stool next to me.
"It is a very rare occasion but yes it is my day off." I said with a smile. "That's so great to hear that Henry is awake and that you've broken the town's curse. Way to go Saviour."
"Thanks, I was so scared we'd lost him. So do you remember who you were before the curse." Emma asked
"Sadly no. Maybe I am just a girl of this regular world who ended up here amongst a group of fairy-tale characters." I said with a sarcastic sigh.
"That's so weird though. Henry always said that the people in Storybrooke were always connected to the book somehow." Emma said with a puzzled expression. " Well I guess we did meet what 10 years back while you were in school, and I was in Jail."
"Yea, maybe it was just one of those coincidences. Either way we will figure it out." I said with a soft smile.
"I know you always said that memories before your accident are a bit fuzzy, but we'll figure it all out. I'll help you." Emma said with a smile.
"Thanks Em. Good to know we are still friends even now that you all famous." I said in a mocking tone.
"Hey, I'll always remember the little people that brought me here." She said back in a mock acceptance speech. "Hey I've got to get this food back to Henry, but you should come by the hospital and see him. I am sure he will be thrilled for the visit and the challenge of figuring out why your memories never came back."
"Yeah I'll stop by in a little bit. He did just flat-line from what I heard so I will leave him to his family for a bit." I said just as Granny walked out with my food in hand. I graciously accepted the food and then stood up to head out the door, but before I did I turned back to Emma. "Hey Emma, I'm really glad you finally found your family. I remember when we first met how you talked about always wanted a home. I think you've found a pretty great one in this town."
"Thanks Soph. I'm glad I found them, but I'm also glad I found you again." She said before walking up to me and enveloping me in a warm embrace. "You're the best friend I've ever had Sophie. I would never have turned things around without you."
"I feel the same way Em." I said with a sad sigh. I was truly glad I had found my friend again after all those years, but I still felt empty, lost and alone. "Now go get that grilled cheese and coco over to the kid. Tell Henry I'll swing by with breakfast in the morning before they spring him out."
"Will do!" Emma said with a wave as I walked out the door.
I headed back to my apartment to enjoy some dinner and settled in for a night with a good book. I had my own little collection of storybooks. It seemed my adoptive parents, who sadly were killed in the accident I had when I was 17, had a vast collection and I inherited it when they died. In fact the whole reason I didn't end up like Emma and in jail was basically because I lived with parents who were loaded and upon their death I inherited everything. I really didn't have to work, but I enjoyed helping people and it kept me busy. It gave me a sense of purpose and something to fill my lonely days with. I was 28 years old, the same age as Emma, and I would like to have thought that maybe even back in the enchanted forest, if it did turn out that I was from there of course, that we still would have been friends. Maybe even grown up together, but who knows. Now the life I know was work, food from Granny's and strolls through the park. Maybe I should get a dog? They make for great companions, or so Jimminy always said. Pongo was a great companion for him, but I guess he is always partial to animals since he was a cricket back in the forest. I ate my dinner, watched some TV and then called it a night. I was on shift tomorrow at the hospital and I had to be up early if I wanted to bring Henry breakfast before they sprung him from there. I decided I would make some homemade waffles and bring it all their for the whole gang I assumed would be there. Lord knows both Emma and Regina had been stressed, although now that everyone knew who Regina really was she may not be able to be so out in the open. Those were the thoughts that filled my head as I dozed off to sleep. It had been quite an interesting day off, and I was anxious to see what the next few weeks would be like as these fairy-tale people all re-learn how to live in this normal world without magic.
As I slept that night I had unsettling dreams, dreams of crashing waves, fierce winds blowing on cotton sails, and I could almost feel the rocking of the bow of a great ship. In the dream I also remember a man. A dark haired man, whose face I could not clearly see, but it would seem he was very handsome. His voice held a smooth, sexy accent and tone. The way he said love made my heart flutter and my knees go weak. Something about his demeanor said that he did that to plenty of women, but something felt unique to me, unique to us…wait us? Why did it feel like I knew this dream man, like he held some kind of power over my heart? That would be an internal discussion for another night. I had these dreams often, but they always felt like that, just dreams, but something about tonight's dream felt so real. Like it was almost a memory. I was enjoying being swept off my feet at the high see's by someone everyone kept referring to as Cap'n, all was jovial, all was well. Then suddenly something caused me to awake with a start. A woman appeared and ripped the captains heart out right in front of me. I don't know what happened next, all I could remember was this woman with dark auburn hair, appearing in a cloud of magic smoke and ripping out his heart.
"Well that was interesting." I said as I wiped the beads of sweat off my forehead and turned to look over at my alarm clock. I was awoke 10 minutes before the clock went off, that happens way too often to me. Oh well no point in going back to sleep now. I decided I might as well hope in the shower and throw on my scrubs.
Once I was dressed and ready I headed down to the kitchen and began cooking up some breakfast. I decided I would be a decent person and drop some breakfast off at Regina's house since it was on my way to the hospital anyways. I wasn't close to Regina by any means, but from what I could remember she was a good mayor to this town, and she was still Henry's mother. And despite her being an evil queen Henry still turned out to be a great kid, with a huge heart. Almost losing him had to be incredibly difficult, especially since it was her fault that she almost lost him in the first place. I shook away the shiver that crept across my spine at the thought of a mother nearly killing her son and quickly packed up the food into a small container for Regina and then the rest for the Charming's, Emma and Henry. As I pulled up to the Mayor's mansion I felt a weird sensation in my heart. I had been here many of times and thought nothing of it, but today something felt weird. Today I felt an emotional connection, but I could not understand why. I brushed that sensation off too, chalking it up to emotions running high throughout the town. I cautiously walked towards the front door careful to watch for any booby-traps that may have been laid out to deter angry townspeople from attacking her. I softly knocked on the door and waited for Regina to answer.
"I don't want to see any..body. Sophie, what on earth are you doing here?" Regina asked.
"I figured you could use a home cooked breakfast. I mean after everything you've been through almost losing Henry and all. I just thought I would show you that not everybody is out to get you in this town." I said with a smile.
"Thank you, would you like to come in? I'd rather not stay out front too much, I am sure the entire town is plotting their revenge as we speak." Regina said with a sad smile.
"Sorry I can't stay, I am actually just on my way to the hospital for my shift. I just wanted to drop this off before I headed there." I said with a smile.
"Oh of course. What wait shift? You're stilling going to work? Don't you remember whoever you were over in the enchanted forest?" Regina asked clearly confused.
"Actually no I don't. Maybe I'm not even from there I guess." I said with a smile. "When the curse broke, nothing changed for me. I just stayed the same. I did have an accident years ago that always left me a little fuzzy memory wise so maybe it's just that kicking in."
"Maybe. Well thank-you for the waffles. They smell divine and if you see Henry, can you…can you tell him I love him, and that I am sorry." She said as tears began to fill her eyes.
"Of course. Take care of yourself Regina." I said with a smile.
"You too Sophie, and I hope whatever memories you have hiding in that head of yours surface soon." Regina said with a smile before I walked back to my car and headed into town.
I made my way into the hospital carrying the breakfast spread and offering pleasant smiles to everyone I passed along the way. When I arrived outside of Henry's hospital room I smiled at the beautiful family picture that I saw before me. This was what family was, loving people so completely when you barely even know them. Just having that connection with people, that only a family has, it was something I had longed for, for many years. Even though I had clearly grown up with parents, I still had that feeling of loneliness. I could never explain it, but it was always there. I decided I should probably stop being creepy watching them and should enter the room.
"Good morning, I brought a yay Henry is alive and the curse is broken breakfast for you all." I said with a bright smile. "Good to see you up and about again kid."
"You too Sophie. So tell me do you remember who you were back in the enchanted forest?" Henry asked enthusiastically. He was clearly excited to hear my story.
"Sorry kid, no enchanted forest memories for me." I said with a sad smile. "It's all good. Maybe someday they will come to me, or maybe I am just a random ordinary person that ended up living in a magical town."
"That's not right though. Everyone in this town is in someway connected to the book and the enchanted forest." Henry said confused.
"Henry's right. Emma and I were sent here outside of the curse so our memories wouldn't necessarily be effected, but everyone living in this town or who could get to it are connected to the book and the enchanted forest." August said equally confused.
"Well maybe that can be the next operation you all work on then. Anyways I am off to work. Enjoy the breakfast and again Henry I'm glad to have you back kid." I said with a smile. As I walked away I got the smallest feeling of hope that maybe I was truly connected to this place and these people. If August was right then I had to be connected somehow. The question we would have to answer would be how and I was filled with a new determination to find that answer.