Hi! This is a sequel to my previous story: s/8656479/1/# (A Child Born of True Love) Which is about Emma discovering her magic powers within herself and how she.. and those around her.. deal with it.

It would probably make sense to read that one first :)

This picks up a few days after the other one ends... and continues to explore the effects of magic on Emma while on the search for a certain someone's son. Enjoy!

"Kidnapping, Miss Swan! That is what this is!" Regina's voice crackled through the cell phone, which Emma held lazily up to her ear while stifling a yawn. "Don't think I won't contact the authorities!"

Emma sighed, "Madam Mayor, perhaps you have forgotten that even though I am not currently in Storybrooke, I am still the authorities there. Also you handed Henry over to the care of David, he hasn't technically been in your care for weeks."

"Yes, to David not to...," there was a pause on the phone and what almost sounded like a contained sob, "At least I knew where he was, that he was safe! Who knows where you are taking him and what you are up to and..."

This conversation was really starting to bore Emma. Really? Like she was really going to put Henry in danger. She cut off Regina before she got anymore worked up. "Listen, Henry is doing great! I've already let you talk to him multiple times and he's happy and taken care of. Plus, you know I wouldn't put him in danger-"

Now it was Regina's turn to cut her off, "Intentionally, no! But accidentally?! Miss Swan, your magic! It's very powerful and new to you and-"

"I'm in control of it!" Emma snapped harshly and rather uncharacteristically. "I'm in complete control of it, and I'm sorry if you, Regina, are not!" She loudly snapped into the phone before quickly clicking to end the call.

Emma paused a moment breathing heavy and looking at the phone in her hand. A small wave of guilt hit her gently. Her words to Regina were uncalled for and unfair, she knew that. But it just irritated her, she had been feeling more confident then ever these last few days on the road. She had a firm grasp on her ability and what it made her capable of. And, yes, it irritated her that anyone would doubt her. For once in her life she totally believed in herself, why couldn't everyone else? It was bad enough that Gold, Rumpelstilskin, whatever his name was, had been giving her warning looks these past days. A few times even snapping at her for using her magic, "You'll have some seriously awkward conversations if someone see's you," he had warned her, his voice low and tense. "Oh please," had been her response as she took hold of Henry's take away cup of hot coco to re-warm it up with a familiar purple glow as her hand grasped the cup. Henry raised his eye brows and looked cautiously at Gold before taking the cup back from Emma. Henry was understandably wary of Emma's magic, but after many conversations about it, she had managed to convince him that she was not Regina. She was Emma, and she was free from the dark corruption that Regina suffered from. Therefore, her magic was also free from corruption, nothing to fear. It flowed freely and with a practiced control in her and from her and around her, only doing and helping for good. Henry eventually seemed at ease, yet still, the looks from Gold.

Mr. Gold, or Rumpelstilskin, but mostly it was only Belle who called him that, had been getting progressively crankier as they drove further from Storybrooke. Even cranky for himself. Emma figured it was the combined realization that he had no magic outside of the boundaries of Storybrooke and he had to go back to walking with a cane, or actually a large stick that Henry had found for him at a wooded rest stop they had stopped at. And then also the realization that perhaps finding his son would be harder then he initially realized. It was a very big world outside of Storybrooke, Maine.

"Well, I guess you told her." A voice interrupted her thoughts, Emma was leaning against her yellow bug in the mostly empty parking lot of the motel. Still holding her phone in her hand, zoned out and starring at it. She shook herself lightly to look up and see Gold, standing there looking like a living
oxymoron in his perfectly pressed suit (Seriously! Still with the suits after days in the car...) and his knotted old tree branch walking stick in his hand. He looked a strange combination of old world and new world.

"Uh,... Yeah, Regina." Emma sighed putting her phone back in her pocket. "I was.. harsh. But she just doesn't trust me... Probably never will."

"Aye." Gold nodded in agreement. Emma turned an eyebrow on him, and for a minute thought about saying more but then sighed once more and pushed herself off the car to a full standing position.

"Time to hit the road?" Emma suggested while stretching her arms to the sky, thinking of the prospect of yet again cramming into the small yellow bug.

"Actually, Miss Swan... Perhaps we could have a word first." His tone was serious. Emma couldn't help but feel an immediate weight upon her shoulders, this man use to have a sense of humor once, right? But lately he was all caution and doom and gloom.

"Yeeeeah," Emma crossed her arms and eyed him warily, "Okay lay it on me, oh Dark One of complaints, what's the issue now? You don't like my driving style? Henry's constant travel games of I Spy getting to you? You're unsatisfied with the radio stations in this particular area? You'd like me to take you to the local cane store and get you a real big boy cane?" She sarcastically gestured at his knotted stick to which he finally responded.

"No, actually I quite like my stick," quietly almost as if he addressed the stick itself. Then he cleared his throat and eyed Emma again, "No, Miss Swan, I have no complaints," he looked irritated at the accusation that all he did was complain. "Only, a word of caution,"

"Nooo..." Emma gasped in mock surprise. "From you?"

"Your attitude, Miss Swan!" He raised his voice dangerously. "Which you are demonstrating so charminglyat the moment. This devil may care confidence that you lazily throw about," He spoke with disdain as he tossed his hand in the air "You practice your magic with little caution and too much ease. All magic comes with a-"

"A price, I know! Seriously how many times are we going to have this conversation? I know-"

"No! I do not think you do know!" He snapped and gripped his stick a bit firmer. "All magic comes with a price and you are not paying enough attention to what it may cost you." His voice low again with what was becoming his familiar tone of dark caution.

Emma sighed heavily and tossed her hands out to her sides as if gesturing to the entirety of the sparse parking lot, "And what is it going to cost me?" Her voice was tired but her question was genuine this time, no sarcasm.

"Well, for me the cost was my son." Gold's voice was dry and had a threatening hint to it, "and for you?" He paused and raised his eyebrows at Emma while shaking his head unknowingly. "Use caution Miss Swan, or you may find that you indeed fulfill Regina's fears."

Emma dug her heels in the ground and swallowed hard. "I'm in control of it." Her voice steady but smaller and more childish now, "You've seen my progress yourself, I can contain and control it."

"The more you use it, the more opportunities it has to use you."

"You talk about magic like it's this thing that is separate from you. And maybe for you, it is. After all, you have no access to it outside of Storybrooke but I still do. Maybe because it isn't something separate for me, but a part of me, an essential part of me..." Emma thoughtfully said all this while putting her hand over her heart. "You fear I underestimate the power and price of magic, but how can I when it IS me? You think I don't know myself? I have it all under control-"

"You use that word a lot, Miss Swan, 'control.' Just don't confuse control with obsession."

At this Emma finally groaned and rolled her eyes, what was up with this sudden high and mighty act he had going on? "Why should I even listen to you? It's not like you are the shining example for magic usage!"

"Exactly," his voice was tired sounding as he started to turn to head back into the motel where Belle was somewhere inside reading the morning newspaper with a chatty Henry by her side.

"Shall I fetch the others so we can head out again?" He called a bit louder over his shoulder as he hobbled back inside, but it wasn't exactly a question.

Emma shrugged and nodded dumbly at the back of his head, ...this man had a way of saying things that got under her skin.