Here's the chapter, as promised! Planning on posting the next in a week, and keep that up. One chapter a week. Giving me time to work on the chapters and making them as good as possible! Advice for improvement is always welcome! Hope you enjoy! x


"Why can't I ever come? I want to help!"

"You are seventeen, Hope! Seventeen!"

"I'm no child anymore, mom!"

"Yes, Hope, technically you are."

"You were already pregnant at my age."

"Hope, careful. I swear to god you don't want to keep this fight going. Cause I'm just as stubborn as you, and when it comes to your safety I can assure you, you won't win."

The look her mother gave her would have made even the bravest of warriors cave, but having seen it at least a million times before, Hope only silently mirrored her mother.

"Killian?" Emma didn't let go of her daughter's gaze as she called out to her husband, observing from the living room couch. Reluctantly, Killian arose from the couch and strode to their sides. He hated when they fought, both as fiery as the other, often resulting in him having to solve their argument. In turn, for himself, resulting in him either getting a cold shoulder from his daughter for however she felt appropriate, or having to sleep on the couch for as long as his wife deemed appropriate. However, in this argument, he knew any amount of cold shoulder would be worth it. His children's safety was and would always be the main priority.

Hope broke the staring contest with her mother to lay her soft puppy eyes on him. Something he usually couldn't resist, and she knew it. But in this case, nothing could make him change his mind.

"Daddy?"

Emma sighed loudly by his side, recognizing their daughter's antics. Killian could basically feel her gaze burning at the side of his head. He gave her a comforting look before sighing and turning to Hope fully, ready for her tantrum.

"We love you more than anything, cygnet, you know that. You are no child anymore, no matter how much I sometimes wishes for it. But yet, you are only seventeen, my darling, and we cannot loose you. When you turn twenty you can join our fights. That's the exact terms that have been set for your brother's, and the same terms we have set for you. You know this. Therefore you are going to watch Julia and Ruthie, just as we planned—"

She stormed out of the front door before he could continue.


From distance she watched her parents and her big brother (yet so young here) walking down the streets, Henry walking a couple steps before the couple. Faintly she heard her father say something to Henry, the boy laughing lightly before looking at Emma and laughing even harder. She smiled weakly at Killian smiling sheepishly at her mother, recognizing her father's reaction to the look.

They turn a corner and then they're gone. Hope turn around and makes her way to the beach. The way is familiar, yet different. Her favorite childhood climbing tree is not yet tall enough to cast a shadow over the little playground. There's actually still green color on the bench by the pond. The old cannery still smells horribly of old fish, the smell not gentle in any time. She smiles as the Jolly Roger bobs peacefully by the docks. The little familiarity from home comforting her slightly. She settles in the little fishing hut she once fled to after a fight with her mother when she was younger, curling in herself and thinking about her family as she made her mind succumb to her exhaustion.

Nightmares wrenches her awake more than once during the night. She wakes shaking and panting, forcing herself back to sleep each time until the first rays of the morning sunshine shines through the huts timber.

Tired, hungry, and a formed plan in mind, Hope made her way back to the diner to be there already at opening. Heat and a soft seat was highly necessary after a night in a fishing hut.

"Oh Sweetheart, what happened to you?" Granny called when Hope stepped threw the door. For a second she almost thought the old lady knew who she was, before looking down and noticing the mess that was herself. There was mud on her pants and hoodie, she had third day makeup on her face and she didn't even want to imagine what her hair looked like. Yep, she was a complete mess alright, just to talk about her outsides.

"Um, something happened to my mom and I had a fight with my brother, so I slept outside tonight."

Technically it wasn't a lie. She just left some things out. But she needed something to say.

"Oh, sweet girl. It rained tonight, you can get sick! Go home to your family, they must be worried sick for you," Granny told her. She shook her head, this wasn't what was supposed to happen. She needed to get things done, not be banished from the diner. Frantically she tried to come up with an answer that would make Granny leave her alone, and not question her.

"Um, no I can't. Well, I have to solve something first," she nervously told the grey lady. She snorted lightly before filling a cup of coffee and handing it to Hope.

"You sound like the Charmings. If there's anything to solve, they're your people to talk to. Get what you have to done, you're just a child yet, kid. World's a dangerous place, honey," and at that Granny left her to her own thoughts.

She didn't know how long she sat sipping on the coffee, almost falling asleep a couple times. Each time asking herself if Granny maybe gave her the decaf she knows always gets leftover.

Turning around to leave, she was shocked when something hot suddenly attacked her torso, a surprised yell accompanying it. It took her more than a few second to register the burning heat of the coffee spilt on her blouse, too busy staring into the eyes she'd seen the light leave forever just days before. Emma apologized profusely before reaching for the napkins, not noticing the very familiar features of the girl before.


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