Chapter 2

David Nolan and Mary Margaret Blanchard walked into Gold's shop, and the first thing that caught Mary Margaret's eye was Emma sitting on the floor reading with an older boy. "Emma?" Mary Margaret said, confused. She wasn't told the name of the children that were gonna be staying with them.

Emma and August's heads both snapped up. "Miss Blanchard? What are you doing here?" Emma asked.

"Looks like I've come for you two." She said looking at August. "Hi. You must be August. I'm Emma's teacher and it looks like your new foster mother."

Emma allowed a small smile. "Really?"

Mary Margaret nodded. "But my boyfriend- sheriff Nolan- needs to ask you a few questions first, alright?"

"You have a boyfriend?" Emma asked, utterly shocked. "That's weird." She mumbled and August elbowed her. "Ow. What was that for?"

He chuckled. "Shut up. That's… rude." He turned to his soon-to-be foster mother. "Sorry." He told her.

"It's perfectly fine." She glanced at David who was talking to Gold. "Which one of you want to talk to him first?"

"I'll do it." August volunteered. He turned to Emma. "I'll be back Swannie." He kissed her head. "I love you."

Emma smiled. "I love you too Auggie." She closed her book and looked over to her teacher. "Why didn't you tell me that you were gonna be my new foster mom at school?"

"I actually didn't know until I got here tonight." She said, then noticed Emma scratching a bandage on her arm. "What happened to your arm Emma?" She asked while pulling Emma's hand from her arm, so she'd stop scratching it.

Emma shrugged. "Mr. Spencer grabbed it." She said, then noticed August walking back over.
"Your turn Em. You just gotta tell him what happened. No lying, okay?" He told her and Emma nodded, then made her way over to the sheriff.

"Hey there Emma." Sheriff Nolan said when he saw Emma approaching. "What do you have there?" He asked, referring to the book Emma had in her hands.

Emma smiled. "Miss Blanchard gave it to me." She said quietly. "I still think it's weird that she has a boyfriend." She admitted and looked up at him.

He chuckled. "I can imagine." He said. "Have a seat Emma." He told her- pointing to the chair across from his- and she obliged. "Can you tell me what happened tonight?"

"Auggie was reading to me." She started. "We didn't hear Mr. Spencer come inside or upstairs. Normally when he comes home, August tells me to pretend to sleep, he protect me, always. Mr Spencer was drunk when he came home and August tried to help him to his room, b-but he pushed Auggie and he scratched his cheek." She took a long pause.

"I can imagine that you must've been scared." Emma nodded. "What happened after that?"

She sighed. "I-I jumped off the bed and ran over to him, his face was bleeding. I was asking if he was okay, the Mr Spencer grabbed my arm. It hurt." She said, scratching around her bandage. "August got up and he took Mr Spencer's hand off my arm and punched him. He fell and August said he knocked him out." Emma kept itching at her arm. "After that August wrapped my arm up because it was bleeding."

"Okay." David said with a smile. "I'll call my buddy Graham and he can take Mr Spencer to jail." He told her.

She nodded. "Miss Blanchard said that she's our new foster mom." Emma started. "Do we go home with her now?"
"Well first, we're gonna get you and your brother to the hospital, just to make sure that you're both okay."

Emma leaned in. "On Monday, Mr Spencer hurt Auggie. His shoulder and stomach was hurt. His shoulder still hurts a lot." She whispered. "I know August doesn't like talking about when he gets hurt. So he probably didn't tell you about it." She informed him. "But I'm fine, so I don't need to see a doctor." She said matter-of-factly.

He chuckled. "I'm afraid you do Miss Emma. We just need to get you checked out, just to be sure, okay?"

XXX

"Let's take a look at your arm Emma." Dr. Whale said reaching for her bandage.

She immediately pulled back. "Well don't touch it. It'll make it hurt." She told him.

Mary Margaret- who saw the whole scene- stepped forward. "Sweetie, he has to make sure your arm is okay. Will you please let him?"

Emma sighed and let the doctor take a look. As soon as he removed the bandage, he touched it. "Ow."

"Sorry Emma. I have to get it cleaned out. If I don't, it might get infected."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I said you'd make it hurt." She mumbled. "Just… be careful, it hurts." She said.

XXX

After cleaning out Emma's arm, he went to the next room where August and David were waiting. "Hello there August." He greeted, then turned to David. "Sheriff."

"Might wanna check out his shoulder and abdomen." David told the doctor and glanced at August- who had a shocked expression on his face. David smirked. "Emma sold you out."

August rolled his eyes. "I love her, but she's got a big mouth."

"Okay August." Dr. Whale said interrupting their conversation. "How badly has your shoulder been bothering you? It looks painful." August shrugged, but immediately regretted it and winced in pain. "That's what I thought." The doctor said. "It's dislocated, looks like it's been like this for a few days."

After relocating August's shoulder, the doctor palpated his abdomen to be sure there wasn't any internal bleeding- thankfully there wasn't, only a cracked rib or 2- then he left the room.

"So, uh, are you and Emma biologically related or-"

August shook his head. "I found her." He didn't really wanna say this part, but they're bound to find out sooner or later. "I found her on the side of the road. I've always felt the need to protect her, like it's my… job."

"Well, you're a good brother. She told me that you protect her."

August smiled. "I always try."

XXX

The four of them made their way into Mary Margaret's loft. "It's small, but there are two bedrooms- side by side- upstairs."

"Thank you… err… uh," August wasn't really sure what to call her. "Miss Blanchard."

Mary Margaret chuckled. "You can both call me Mary Margaret." She looked over at Emma. "Outside of school- of course."

"Mare. I'm gonna head home. You good here? Or do you need me to stay a while?" He asked, unsure.

Mary Margaret smiled at her boyfriend. "I think I've got it under control David. Thanks." She kissed him. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

After David left, Emma and August were headed up to bed. "Goodnight Mary Margaret." August said.

"G'night Mary Margaret."

Mary Margaret smiled. "Goodnight kids. You know where my room is. If you need anything, just come wake me, alright?"

"Alright." They both answered in unison. The two made there way up the stairs and August followed Emma into one of the rooms. "You know, I think we might just be able to finish this book tonight. Maybe."

"Really? I'm really tired though. What if I fall asleep?" She asked.

He smiled. "Then we'll finish it in the morning. No school remember, it's saturday. I don't really know what we're doing tomorrow, but I'm sure we'll have time to read. If we don't finish, that is."

"Okay." She said with a yawn.

Mary Margaret went up the stairs to see if the kids got to bed alright and smiled to herself when she heard August reading to Emma.

"The dark one told the prophecy of a 10-year old breaking the dark curse. The royal couple began to walk away. "We made a deal!" He screamed. "I want her name! I need her name!" The queen was the first to turn around." He read softly, seeing that she was falling asleep, before he could continue reading, he heard soft snores. He closed the book. "Goodnight Swannie." He whispered and kissed her forehead. "I love you." August left the room and closed Emma's door. He was headed to his room when he saw Mary Margaret standing there with a smile on his face. "Hey." He whispered.

"You're a good brother, you know."

August smiled. "I do my best. I just wish I could've stopped him from hurting her. Kept her safe." He admitted running his right hand over his face.

Mary Margaret smiled warmly at him. "August, she has a bruise on her arm, you have 2 broken ribs and dislocated your shoulder, I'd say you're doing a pretty great job at keeping her safe. She looks up to you, you know. She talks about her awesome big brother at school all the time."

August smiled. "Goodnight Mary Margaret." She nodded at him and went downstairs, while August made his way into his new bedroom and went to sleep.

XXX

August woke up to his sister. "Auggie. Wake up." She shook him. "Come on August. You said you'd read to me."

"Now?" She nodded and he groaned and sat up. Emma smiled and handed him the book. "The royal couple began to walk away. "We made a deal!" He screamed. "I want her name! I need her name!" The queen was the first to turn around. "Emma." The queen said. "Her name is Emma." The royal couple left the dungeon where the dark one was being held."

"Woah..." Emma said. "You don't think… keep reading!" She demanded.

August chuckled and turned the page. "Months later the queen was about to give birth to her baby girl, and gepetto had finished the wardrobe, but he couldn't notify the king and queen just yet. "Pinocchio, my boy. It's time, you must go now." Gepetto told his son. "Papa, no." The 7-year old cried. "Don't make me go. I don't wanna leave you papa." He told his father. Gepetto shed a few tears. "I know son, but you must. We will meet again. You and baby Emma will save us in 10 years." He told his son. Pinocchio shook his head. "Why do I have to go? Can't I just stay with you in the curse?" Gepetto shook his head. "You can't, my boy. I'm unsure that you'll come over with the curse." The boy nodded and climbed into the wardrobe. "I love you papa." The young boy said. "I love you too." Gepetto said and shut the door to the wardrobe. The entire thing shook, then stopped. Gepetto opened the wardrobe and his son was gone."

"Wait." Emma stopped her brother from reading. "Pinocchio went through the wardrobe?"

August nodded. "He did indeed."

Emma was jaw dropped. "Okay… Okay, keep reading."

"Meanwhile in Snow and David's chambers a baby was being born. Snow White was holding princess Emma and David was kissing the young princess' head. Then realization fit Snow. "The wardrobe." She whispered. "It only takes one." The couple exchanged a glance. "Then our plan has failed. At least we're together." The king said, rubbing his wife's back. "No." She said. "You have to take her. Take the baby to the wardrobe." She said, in tears. "Are you out of your mind?" He asked her. "No. It's the only way. You have to save her." The queen insisted. "No, no, no. You don't know what you're saying." Snow shook her head. "No, I do." She insisted. "We have to believe that she'll come back for us." Both royals were in tears. "We have to give her, her best chance." Snow continued. David gave Snow a silent agreement by kissing his daughters forehead. "Goodbye Emma." Snow whispered and David took his daughter, then kissed his wife. He went to the door and grabbed his sword, sending one last glance to his wife. He went to the nursery- where the wardrobe lied- and fought off anyone that got in his way. Leaving Snow White sobbing for her newfound loss. Meanwhile David was fighting off guards, protecting his daughter. He eventually got to the nursery. He placed Emma inside with one last kiss to her forehead. "Find us." He said and closed the wardrobe. Seconds later, black knights came rushing into the nursery, David fought them off, until one of them stabbed him, causing him to fall to the ground. The knight made his way over to the wardrobe and opened it. Even in David's mortally injured condition, he smiled to himself. His daughter escaped the curse. Then his eyes drifted closed." August turned the page.

"No." Emma whispered to herself.

August ignored her and went back to reading. "Snow White made her way to the nursery, even in her condition. She saw her husband lying lifeless on the ground. "No." She whispered. "No, no, no, no, no." She cried and tried shaking him awake. "No, no. Please? Please come back to me." She begged. Then the Evil Queen came walking in. "Oh don't worry dear. In a few moments, you won't even remember you knew him. Let alone loved him." She told her step-daughter."Why did you do this Regina?" Snow questioned, with her husband lying on her lap. The Evil Queen crouched down. "Because, this is my happy ending." Snow couldn't help but roll her eyes. Then the knights came in. "The child Regina questioned." The knight shook his head. "Gone. She was in the wardrobe, then she was gone." He answered. Regina was angry, she turned to Snow. "Where is she?!" She demanded. Snow smiled. "She got away." Snow realized. "You're going to lose, I know that now. Good will always win." She leaned down and kissed her husband, saving him. Regina rolled her eyes. "Let's see about that." She began laughing as the purple smoke infiltrated the castle. "Where are we going?" Snow asked. "Somewhere horrible… Absolutely horrible. A place where the only happy ending… will be mine." She answered, with far too much joy in her voice. And just like that they were all engulfed in the purple smoke." August shut the book. "The end."

"What?! No way. Books don't just end like that!" She took the book from her brother. "Where's the rest of it?"

August smirked. "Maybe it's still playing itself out."

Emma thought for a moment. "Do you think… maybe I can be baby Emma?" She asked. "But what about Pinocchio? He was sent by his dad."

"I think anything's possible. I also think that if that boy came through, he'd have to change his name. No one would believe him if he said his name was Pinocchio." He told Emma. "He'd have to think fast. Maybe he'd go off of the town that him and baby Emma landed in. Seeing as how they landed in Augusta, he'd maybe go with the name..."

"August." Emma breathed out. "You're Pinocchio." She whispered.

He shrugged. "I will neither confirm nor deny that statement." He said with a knowing smirk. "But I'll start with saying that I was seven when I found you. Pinocchio- ironically- was seven when he was sent through the wardrobe." He laughed at her shocked expression. "Let's go find some breakfast." Emma nodded and they made their way down the stairs.

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