So, I feel like I should warn you guys... I tend to go on & on when I write. a lot. I'm not quite sure why, but it's important that you guys know that Regina doesn't make an actual physical appearance in the story until chapter 5 (which I am currently writing at the moment)
Oh, and another thing... This fic REALLY should not have been rated K, but that happened, so BIIIIG warning for everyone - there is swearing, and sexytimes (Kinda - if you can make sense of my writing) in the coming chapters.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story guys! :)
Song: Hurricane by MS MR
Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.
Chapter 2: Hurricane
Didn't know what this would be
But I knew I didn't see
What you thought you saw in me
I jumped the gun, so sure you'd split and run
Ready for the worst before the damage was done.
Emma understood the fear of entering a new home. The fear of not knowing whether you were going to be hit, or ignored, or treated as a pet. When she was young, she thought meeting the parents of a new foster home was the scariest part, but as she got older she grew to learn that the scariest part was the first night with the family. The first night is the night you find out who, or what, you are to them.
This is why Emma and Mary talk to every kid that they take into care. They push to establish trust because they believe its essential for the kids to know they are wanted, that they are safe, that in this home they can be who they are and be loved for it.
Walking back into the bedroom, Emma approaches Henry's bed cautiously. She didn't want to frighten him, he had just grasped the idea of them bringing him food and allowing them to touch him in the last few days and she didn't want to ruin any progress they had made, little as it may be.
Henry's eyes watched intently as she crossed the room to his bed, placing the plate of toast in front of him.
"Here you go, Bud."
He glanced from Emma to the toast and picked up the first piece. He bought it to his mouth and nibbled at a tiny piece, holding Emma's gaze in his. She moved from the bed, looking pointedly at him, "Make sure you eat it all, Breakfast is the most important meal of the day kid" she stated, giving him a wink before turning and walking towards the door once more.
Just before crossing the threshold she heard the tiniest of voices speak up behind her, "thank-you." Followed by a loud crunch of bitten toast.
Emma pushed her way through the door and into her last class of the day. She took a seat and pulled out her books. English was never her strong suit, but she was working on it. She was pulled into a conversation to her left, something about Harry Potter no doubt, by her best-friend-of-5-years Alexandra and missed the entrance of the teacher.
"Year 12."
Miss Tremaine, Head English teacher, addressed the class from the front of the room, hands on hips and nose tilted high. She was one of the best teachers in the school, as scary as she may appear. When the conversations did not cease she tried again, "YEAR 12."
Her voice carried throughout the room, the English accent ringing through clearly. All conversation stopped abruptly and Tremaine grinned at the reaction of her class, "Today is my last lesson with you lot. As you know, I am retiring," Someone let out a small cry of victory from the back of the class, sending them all into a chorus of giggles, "yeah, yeah. So brats, there's a teacher coming here all the way from Boston to take over after the two week holidays. Poor Darl' has absolutely no idea what she's in for with you lot, I do wish her the best of luck. God knows she'll need it."
Miss Tremaine had always been like this. Always dressed in long sleeved, floor length dresses, grey hair contained in a bun perched atop her head. Her perfect posture and demeanor suggested discipline and consequence, though she had the best sense of humor Emma had seen in any teacher through her 12 years of schooling.
Emma had been dreading this retirement. It was only another month until the start of the final exams and she'd been improving immensely with the tutoring Miss Tremaine had been all do happy to give during free periods. She had worried that without Miss Tremaine's tutoring; she would crash and burn her exam. And, knowing her, she would.
She had said as much to Tremaine. She assured her that she had already spoken to her replacement, who was more than happy to help out.
"Anyway my little Treasures get your books out. Just 'cause I get to do nothing with my life starting next week doesn't mean you do."
Emma leaned against the hood of her beetle, waiting for the girls to appear in the parking lot. The rusting, yellow contraption acted as her transport to school and, consequently, Mulan, Aurora and Ruby's as well. It had been a gift from Mary Margaret for her 16th birthday, albeit at the time it did not run, nor have an engine.
That year, the kids had all decided that an investment in "building engines and repairing cars for dummies" for Emma's gift was sound, and how right they were. Emma had spent every weekend she could working on her car and it had all been worth it.
Emma spots the three girls making their way across the parking lot towards her. Mulan and Aurora's eyes were glued to a popular football jock (Phillip, she though his name was)'s ass as he passed them, both donning a stupid, giddy grin. Emma glanced towards Ruby who was now walking next to a girl she had never seen before, the same grin spread across her face.
Emma quirked her brow as she regarded the new girl. She had burgundy coloured hair, pulled into a messy loose bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a sky blue, knee-length dress that highlighted the ocean blue of her eyes. The girls reached Emma's car then, Mulan and Aurora still giggling about Phillip as they slid into the backseat. Emma laughed as she followed their lead, sliding into the worn leather of the drivers seat. Emma watched Ruby hug the young girl goodbye and make her way to the passengers side door with a curious expression.
Emma started the car as Ruby buckled her seatbelt in, shooting a side-glance towards the thirteen-year-old.
"So…", Emma started as she began to drive, "who was that?"
"Huh? Oh, right." Ruby appeared flustered, "That was... Belle. Belle French."
Emma shot another glance towards Ruby, watching as red flooded her checks and neck.
"Belle, huh?"
They sat atop a garden swing hung from an apple tree, surrounded by flowers of purple, pink and yellow in full bloom. The smell of them filling the air and creating a complete scene of tranquility.
Alike last time, people milled around the two women, caught in their own world of conversation. A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair weaved gracefully through the crowds of people, a tray containing a single martini balanced perfectly on her palm. Emma watched as the blonde surveyed the room, blue eyes roaming over the guests, seemingly searching for one in particular. Her eyes flashed as they found their target and she began to move once again, picking up her speed as she approached the woman.
Emma predicted what happened before the man even began to move.
A man dressed in an expensive suit began his turn just as the blonde walked within his reach, his shoulder making direct contact with the tray, knocking its contents off-balance. Emma winced, expecting the crash and splatter of glass that was sure to follow the collision, but it never came. The blonde woman, eyes filled with a look of utter concentration, stared intently at the martini glass now suspended mid-air. Emma watched in complete awe as the glass moved on its own accord, contents seeping back inside the glass and returned to the tray. The blonde grasped the tray, a look of complete nonchalance on her face, as she continued her journey towards the intended guest, the entire exchange lasting under 2 seconds. Emma's jaw comically slackened as she glanced around the room, it seemed no one had noticed the near miss other than her.
She felt warmth of light shoot from her hand to her heart and abruptly turned to face her partner. Green eyes met chocolate brown as a re-assuring smile filled the latter's face. Emma glanced down to their entwined hands, the source of the light, resting on the white wood of the swing and once again met her brunette's eyes. She took in the woman, dressed in a light blue summer dress ending just above her knees. She really was breathtaking. Her shoulder-length dark hair was perfectly styled and her lips once again painted a deep red.
Emma remembered the melodious laugh that had graced her ears upon their last meeting, and found herself consequently wishing for it once more.
As soon as she recognized these thoughts, a bright light began to build just behind the brunettes figure. Emma could feel herself slipping away, so she acted quickly.
"Hi."
Hi? Hi. She had said Hi.
As if sensing the blonde's frustration with herself, the brunette threw her head back in laughter, it's sound once again filling the entirety of the silence. As the remnants of the laughter faded, the light grew almost blindingly bright, causing Emma to shield her eyes. Emma felt herself being almost tangibly pulled from the scene, hearing one single world as she was met with complete darkness.
"Hello."
Emma awoke in her bed once again accompanied by Charlotte tucked tightly underneath her chin, curled into her side. A glance towards the window situated at the end of the room told her it was very early morning, the sun not having yet risen. The deep, even breaths emitted from the 6 year old suggesting she was still fast asleep. For that, Emma was grateful.
It was the second time in just as many days that the mysterious brunette had appeared in her dreams. Emma had an innate sense of knowledge of this woman, although she would swear she had never once seen, nor met, her before. Although the dreams were entirely welcomed, giving Emma a much-needed break from the nightmares that usually plagued her slumber, they were very disorientating. Not that Emma hadn't had dreams of kissing girls before, Hell, she'd dreamt of doing a lot more than that with girls, but these were different. Everything that occurred in the dreams had felt real, not like recalling a vivid dream but rather a memory. That is what had Emma so intrigued.
To be honest, she didn't give the events of the dream a second thought. After all, the whole tray incident only confirmed that what she experienced was a dream, right? Emma had her doubts. Hell, she had doubts about her doubts. She couldn't quite explain why she couldn't let go of the Brunette, or why she has plagued her thoughts since the night before, but she honestly didn't mind; it was nice having someone to think of as entirely hers.
A chill set over Emma, and she reached down to grasp the duvet cover, having being crumpled underneath her feet throughout the night. Careful not to wake the young girl, Emma shimmed the duvet up her body until it reached just under her chin and snuggled her body underneath it. The sweet, floral scent of it igniting a fire of realization for the blonde.
Of course.
The flowers from the dream had smelt the same. Suddenly Emma felt silly. There was no way the brunette was a real person. Dreams are from deep within one's subconscious, there was no way in the world Emma could ever know a woman like that and not remember her. Dreams were just that; Dreams. Just alike before, when Emma had awoken with wet hair. They were the explanation for the seemingly random settings of the two dreams thus far, she was sure of it. Emma was so caught up in the new realization that she didn't feel the small figure beside her begin to stir.
Emma was pulled from her thoughts as Charlotte began to mumble incoherently, and pushing at her side. For these two, this was a common procedure. Just as the girl's mumblings became coherent No's and Stop's, Emma wrapped her arms around her encasing her in a very tight grip.
"Shh, Charlie. It's okay. Shhhh"
Emma mumbled soft reassurances into the child's ear, as she once again became still, her breathing evening out as she fell again into uninterrupted slumber. Emma sighed deeply and pulled the little girl further into her chest, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. This is why she stayed. She stayed because of the little girl that was now snuggled perfectly into her side. She couldn't, and wouldn't, imagine the young girl with anyone else. No one else new how to soothe away the nightmares that plagued both the girls' minds. Mary had tried on countless occasions, often waking to Emma's unconscious screams and pleas upon her first few months of living with her.
As the sun began to rise, setting the room into a golden glow, Emma couldn't help but let her thoughts drift once again to her brunette partner from her dreams. Why had she not seemed surprised when the blonde waitress had stopped the impending spill with the mere force of her mind? As she drifted to sleep she could only hope to revisit her newly founded brunette themed escape, where she would ask for herself. After all, why not indulge the fantasy while it lasted?
Welcome to the inner workings of my mind
So dark and fowl I can't disguise, can't disguise
Nights like this I become afraid
Of the darkness in my heart
Hurricane.
