"I'm really sorry, but I honestly can't help you."
Henry groaned, visibly unsatisfied. "You did it once, though! And now you have you magic back. Why couldn't you just…do what you did the first time?"
The woman that the boy was addressing turned to face him, a scolding look in her eye. "What? Steal pixie dust from my boss and risk being banished again?"
Henry was taken aback by the words, his face flushing.
Tinkerbell had been busy in the library attempting to find a spell for the Blue fairy when the brunet boy arrived, and was now trying quite dutifully to get him to leave. As soon as he started asking questions about her first encounter with Regina, she knew that she was treading into dangerous territory. She didn't necessarily want to be so blunt with the boy, but the topic he insisted on discussing was one that she typically tried not to think about. After all, it was the decision that lost her her wings and turned her into a directionless vagabond for all those decades in Neverland.
Realizing that she'd been quite curt, the blonde fairy sighed and stopped searching to talk to Henry for a minute. "Look, I think I know what this is all about, and I think it's very noble that you want to help your mom—er…mom's…find love again. But I'm afraid even if I were willing to try and steal more pixie dust, there very well might not be any to steal."
Henry furrowed his brow and put his hands in his pockets, "what do you mean? The fairies still don't have any?"
Tinkerbell shrugged, a slightly bitter look in her eyes, "I wish I knew for sure, too. Blue isn't exactly an open book, despite how she likes to present herself. But, as far as I've been told, the pixie dust has been dried up for quite some time and we don't know how to get more."
Henry's gaze fell to the floor, defeated. He nodded almost imperceivably, and muttered a thanks as he turned to leave. Tinkerbell watched, pity dancing in her green eyes. Deep down, she knew that she should just let him leave and stay out of it, but unfortunately, that wasn't in her nature.
"Henry, wait!"
The boy turned and looked at the fairy with wide, expectant eyes. Tinkerbell inhaled deeply, hesitating before she spoke, and then let the words tumble from her mouth without another thought.
"Blue has a room with a locked cabinet. Everybody knows about it, but nobody has ever been brave enough to ask what's inside…" Henry's expression began to brighten at the fairy's words and Tinkerbell felt a small smile grow on her lips, "It'll have to be timed perfectly, so I can't promise when I'll be able to do it, but…I think there's a chance I might be able to sneak a peak when Blue is busy."
The boy grinned, but his eyes showed that he was concerned, "will you lose your wings again if you get caught?"
Tinkerbell shook her head, smiling sadly, "at this point, what does that matter? We aren't really even fairies anymore in this land." Henry nodded slowly, although the sentiment didn't seem to quell his worry. The blonde fairy continued, "plus I'll make extra careful not to get caught. Okay?"
"Are you sure you want to?" He inquired meaningfully, his brown eyes wide with trepidation.
Did she? No…not necessarily. But a part of her was already beginning to swell in excitement over this mission. She'd be lying if she said she'd never felt curious as to what Blue kept in that cabinet, and helping people find love? It was definitely worth the risk.
With a sure smile, Tinkerbell nodded. "Yes, I do. But right now, I need to finish work here, so go on home and I'll contact you if and when I find anything out."
Henry agreed happily, and sped from the library. The blonde fairy turned back to the books in front of her and sighed, shaking her head.
She might have just made the worst mistake of her life, but damn if it didn't feel great.
Emma walked out of Gold's shop with her head low, deep in thought. Behind her was her father, David Nolan. The two hurried to put distance between themselves and the building, turning left twice and then loading into Emma's bug. She flopped back in the seat before even starting the engine, letting out a long sigh. David fastened his seatbelt and gave his daughter a sympathetic look.
"Don't feel good about working with Gold?" he asked softly. The blonde woman snorted.
"Not too savior-like, is it?" David reached over and squeezed her shoulder, shaking his head.
"Look, I'm helping you because I believe that everything will work out. Sure we're doing some things that your mom wouldn't necessarily approve of—"
"Which is why we can never tell her," Emma interrupted bitterly.
"—But," David continued, "…I have hope that it will all be worth it in the end."
Emma rubbed her eyes before sitting up and starting the car. The clock on the dashboard lit up and suddenly the blonde woman's face filled with panic.
"Ah, damn it! I have to pick up Henry from school!"
"I thought Regina was doing that?" David inquired. Emma shook her head.
"No, no. I have pick up today, he reminded me this morning. I have to hurry, he'll think I forgot about him if I'm late again!"
"Then just drop me off at the school, I'll catch a ride home with your mother."
Emma sped off, nonverbally accepting David's offer. Luckily, they made it there only a couple minutes after the end of class.
Kids passed by all around, the much lesser-known children of famous fairytale characters. Emma took a moment to consider the fact that she was technically younger than these kids—they'd already been school age when she was just born. It was a bizarre thought, and one that she wasn't eager to entertain at that precise moment. Tucking away her musings, the blonde woman scanned the landscape of children to try and find her son.
Ten minutes passed with no sign of Henry. Emma had gotten out of her car after the wave of kids went by to try and find him, but he was nowhere in sight. She was alone now, as David had already gone inside to find Snow, and worry was starting to set in. She got back into the car seat and pulled her key from the ignition, deciding to go inside the school and look for her son. It was just then, as she started to walk towards the front door, that she heard a quite familiar voice call out behind her.
"Miss Swan, what on Earth are you doing here?"
Regina.
Emma turned on heel and found herself only ten feet away from her son's adopted mother. Her hair was styled in its typical fashion, with the ends curled out, and she wore a navy pants suit as per usual. Her expression was one of genuine confusion, and Emma stopped walking to let her catch up.
"It's my day to get Henry," she responded factually, eliciting a groan from the brunette.
"I knew it! I knew it was your day but I just had to second guess myself," Emma was surprised by how much Regina was beating herself up over the mistake, and quickly put a hand on her back.
"Hey, it's fine. We're both adjusting to this whole joint custody thing." Regina seemed to relax a bit against Emma's touch before she put her hand back in her pocket. The two looked at the school, which now seemed nearly-deserted. "Henry didn't come out with his class, so I think he might have stayed back with Mary Margret."
The brunette nodded, and began to walk towards the building in silence. Emma watched her, noticing that he head was bowed and her shoulders were turned inward slightly. Was she really so embarrassed about messing up the date?
Just as Regina was reaching for the doorknob, the door swung open and the familiar faces of Snow and Charming appeared before them. The black-haired woman's eyes widened and she stepped back in surprise.
"R-Regina! Emma!" she looked from one to the other, "what are you two doing here?"
Emma made eye contact with David for a split second before looking away. Her brow furrowed in confusion at her mother's question.
"We're here to pick Henry up from school," Regina responded slowly, eyes slightly narrowed, "but he wasn't outside waiting?"
Now it was Mary Margret's turn to look confused. "But…" she began, a slow look of serious concern creeping over her face, "he left early. He said he wasn't feeling well, and that one of you was going to pick him up."
All four stood in silence for a second as realization dawned on them at once. At that moment, everybody turned and ran to their respective cars.
Mary Margret and David got out first, speeding off towards their apartment. Emma and Regina both seemed to be headed in the same direction, which was to Regina's house. Buildings zipped by on the left and right, but Emma paid them no mind. Her eyes were trained on only what was dead ahead, which, at the moment, was the bumper of Regina's car. The two automobiles pulled into the driveway of the brunette's home, and both women jumped out to go look inside.
"Henry?" Emma called out first, looking up the staircase. Regina hurried into the kitchen but found nothing. The two women searched the whole house, all for naught. Henry simply wasn't there.
At once, Emma and Regina exited the house and headed towards their cars. The blonde woman unlocked her door and climbed inside, preparing to start the ignition when she noticed that she'd left her phone in the passenger seat. Deciding to check it before she sped off in some aimless direction, she found three missed calls and a text from David saying that Henry was safe at her apartment.
The news blew relief through Emma's entire body, and she let out an exhausted sigh. Suddenly realizing that Regina was about to back out of the driveway, the blonde woman hopped out of her seat and signaled for the other to stop.
"Henry's fine!" She called out.
Regina put her car in park and turned it off, climbing out with an expression of agitation and relief. "Where is he?" She asked in a weary tone.
"My apartment," the blonde explained, and Regina rolled her eyes in submission. She turned and began to walk back to her house, key still in hand. Right before she reached the door, she turned and spoke to Emma.
"Want to come in for a drink?" She offered.
Emma rocked on her feet, "It's only 3:30."
Regina snorted, "and?"
Letting out a low chuckle, Emma conceded and hurried to catch up with the other woman.
It had been a long day.
How's that for a quick update?
And finally some SwanQueen interaction! 3
Obviously, there's a lot of stuff brewing in the background, but right now getting those two together is the biggest priority!
Let me know how you like my story if you want! I appreciate all reviews!
Thank You!