Thank you for the review, Ragsweas! But sadly I can only ask that you keep reading. (^_^)
I was going to wait a few days to post up this chapter, but the more reviews I get the more excited I am to continue the story.
So this chapter is for you Ragsweas and to those lurkers in the dark. lol
It had been a few days since the two mystery teens showed up to Storybrooke. The doctors kept Coal under their watch as he regained his strength. But they were not the only ones watching. Emma kept an eye on them as well... Well as best as she could. Good thing others offered to help.
David sat outside the room during his watch. It wasn't the first time he had taken a watch over the new comers. He had already watched over them two or three times by now. But during the first few times he tried to talk to them, guess how that went. Since his last watch David found it easier to just watch the two from afar. The girl Edith would always become very quiet and the boy, Coal would have strong yet harsh words ready for any conversation.
"Still here?" A voice asked. David turned around to find his one true love.
Mary Margret stood there with a bright smile as she knew David had been working late.
"Yeah." David smiled back. He looked back to the window to see the two gathering their things. It was almost time for them to be released from the hospital, which meant Emma would be there shortly.
David looked back the Mary Margret, "Any word from our daughter?" he asked.
Mary Margret shook her head as she looked to her phone. "But!" She exclaimed with a twist of her body, "I brought breakfast." She held such joy in her words as she walked over to the bench and took a seat. She pulled her bag in front of her and started to dig into it. Charming took a seat next to her but also looked to his own phone. "She'll be here." Snow touched his arm with a gentle hand. "When has Emma ever not kept her word?" She asked.
David nodded, "I know... It's just that..." David shook his head. Ever since they got more information on the situation, they were also running around town... Searching for the other person that showed up with the two teens. A mystery figure that just turned into mist and disappeared. After the final chapter they all thought that would be the end to them fighting. A time of peace that should be well deserved. But alas, their time of peace had come to an end it seemed.
"Maybe we're just over thinking this?" David questioned. "What if they are just travelers from the Enchanted Forest, or maybe." David let his words trail off, as did his thoughts.
Mary Margret frowned a little at this. She too had the same thoughts. She expected everyone to. "Maybe... It's nothing." She chirped. She was indeed hopeful. She watched as David turned to her with a concerned yet relaxed look on his face. He wanted to believe her and hoped that it was nothing. But something inside of him told him to be careful. To not underestimate the situation. How could you blame him? After all they had been through, one would expect that their story would somehow continue.
Meanwhile...
Emma rushed about her house searching in as many different places that she could think of. "Where are they?" she questioned herself as she looked through the couch.
"You mean these?" Killian asked as he stood by the door with Emma's keys.
"Yes." Emma rushed over and took the keys. She reached for her jacket only for Killian to stop her. "Are you sure you want to bring them here?" Killian asked.
Emma paused as she looked to Killian, "Well where else can I put them? I can't exactly throw them in jail... Or even in foster care." Her voice turned into a dull tone at the end on her words. She looked to Killian who was now not wanting to meet her eyes. She in turn tried to meet them. "What else can I do? We have no idea where they come from, no clue as to who their parents are."
Killian nodded as he finally meet her gaze. He motioned to their house. "We don't exactly have the space." He stated. Even with their new home, they were limited on rooms. Emma looked to the house slowly as she thought about this already. She shrugged as she motioned towards the couch. "I've talked it over with my mom and dad and they don't have any room either." She frowned.
Killian understood where she was coming from and frankly he was ok with her decision, but something about the two just rubbed him the wrong way. And inviting that strange feeling into their home felt like they were inviting in some kind of darkness. Something powerful... Something they had yet to fight. His gut was screaming at him to not let these kids into their home.
"Look, I'm late, but when i get back we can sit down and see what else we can do. In the meantime, we have no where else to put them." She told him.
Killian nodded and gave Emma a kiss before she left.
As she left she couldn't help but think over as to what Killian was really saying. Inviting two strangers into their home was eating at her too. Even with Henry around, she didn't like the idea, but felt like she didn't have any other choice.
When she arrived at the hospital she headed up to the room only to stop at the front desk. "What are you doing here?" She asked as she walked over to Henry. Henry turned and smiled brightly at his mom. "You should be in school." she looked around and was quick to spot Regina. Her shoulders dropped when Regina gave Emma a warm smile. "Why is Henry not in school?" Emma asked. She thought her and Regina were on the same page by now, but apparently not.
Regina smiled as she placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. "I needed a little help this morning." She told Emma.
"Help with what?" Emma asked.
Henry held up shopping bags.
"You took Henry out of school to go shopping?" Emma asked.
Regina shook her head, "No." She stated flatly. "I picked him up before he got on the bus."
Emma placed her face in her hands as she tried to wrap her mind around this. She removed her hands and brushed her hair from her face, "So if you went shopping, then why are you here?"
"Mom said that she needed help with picking out clothes for the new comers." Henry tried to explain.
"The town is already buzzing about them." Regina started. "And with what they were wearing when they got here,"
"They'll stick out like sore thumbs." Emma finished her sentence.
"Exactly." Regina reached down and picked up a few more bags that were waiting by her feet. "The last thing we need is for them to stand out." Regina stated as she motioned for Henry to follow her.
As Regina headed off Henry watched his birth mother try to wrap her mind around this. They had been through many adventures together. All in which they over came and saved the day. He could see his family stressing out over something so small and placed a hand on Emma's shoulder. "It'll be fine." He reassured her.
Emma looked to Henry and forced a light smile. "I hope you're right kid." She watched as Henry headed off to catch up with Regina. She took a moment and a breath before following them.
"There you are." David got up from his seat quickly as he saw the three approach the room.
Emma sighed, "Yeah, sorry I'm late I couldn't find my keys." She honestly stated.
David looked to Regina and Henry and then to the bags. "What's all this?" he asked.
Regina lifted up one of the bags, "Gifts." She smiled before walking past them and right into the room. All eyes watched her as she went in.
They watched as she walked right in, fearless as to how the teens would react. The girl Edith had her eyes glued to Regina while the boy Coal glanced over his shoulder out the window, back at the others.
Regina placed the bags onto the foot of the bed and started to speak. Coal's attention snapped back to Regina at this point. No one in the hallway could hear what they were saying, but watched as Edith took a step closer to Regina and the bags. She looked inside and reached in pulling out all kinds of clothing. Coal watched his sister and Regina from where he stood, not making a move towards Regina or the bags.
Emma twisted her lips a bit as she thought. She then suddenly reached out and took the remaining bags from Henry. "Stay here." she told them as she walked into the room. She almost froze when the room looked to her as she entered. Regina was all smiles while Edith held no expression and Coal... Well he looked a bit angered for some reason.
Emma forced a smile as she placed the bags next to the others.
Edith looked over at the new bags and cautiously looked into them. "They won't bite." Regina moved to the bags and started to pull out clothes.
Emma took a step back letting Edith step closer to the clothes. Her eyes drifted over to Coal who seemed to be giving her a death stare.
"This is cute." Edith smiled as she picked up a top. "It's so different." She added as she turned to Coal.
Regina laughed a little, "It's upside down." She told her.
Edith blinked as she looked to the shirt and turned it right side up. She gasped at it, "I love it even more." She placed it to her chest and turned to show Coal.
Coal looked from Edith to Regina, "What's wrong with what we have on?" He asked.
Regina's smile slowly slipped away as she locked eyes with Coal. "I'm not sure if you notice, but people dress differently around here." She told him. "Better to fit in, then to stick out." She told him.
Coal clenched his jaw as he thought about her words.
"Maaaayyybbbbeeee... this one?" Edith picked up another shirt and turned quickly to show Coal. Regina and Emma could tell the girl was trying to side with Regina and the new clothes. Or maybe she was trying to keep her brother from getting mad. Either way it worked.
"The first one looked better." He stated to Edith. Edith smiled brightly as she turned back to the clothes.
His eyes shifted back to Regina. Emma noticed the tension between the two. Like two villains trying to stare down the other.
"So you'll be staying at my place, for now." Emma placed her hands on the back part of her hips.
"Don't be silly." Regina quickly added.
Emma looked to Regina confused, "I'm sorry what?"
Regina looked to Emma and motioned to Edith and Coal, "I've seen your home, and you don't have the room." She sounded as if Emma knew this. Well, Emma did know this, but didn't know where Regina was going with it.
"They'll stay at my place." Regina smiled as Edith opened a box and found a pair of shoes, but she failed to see the excitement that most girls saw in shoes and looked back to Regina. "Stay at your place?" She asked.
Regina smiled to Edith, "Why not?" she asked as if it were even a question to be answering.
"Regina." Emma started.
"Look." Regina stopped Emma, "I've seen your home many of times. It's cute and cozy, but too small to have more than one guest." Regina looked back to Coal and Edith. "I, on the other hand, have a big house." She felt her voice pitch at the end of her words. She slowly turned to Emma and gave her a serious look, "I'm sure I can handle them." She had that look in her eyes. The one where she knew Regina had something up her sleeves.
Emma turned to Edith and Coal, "Why don't you both get changed." She told them. "Regina... a word?" Emma left the room quickly.
Regina looked to Coal and then to Edith, 'Red seems more your color." She told the young girl as she handed her a shirt before following Emma into the hall way.
"What was that?" Emma demanded.
Regina felt taken back by Emma's tone of voice. "The truth." She told her.
Emma crossed her arms over her chest. "My house is not small." She told her.
"No, it's not small." Regina confirmed. "But Henry lives there." Regina's voice got serious as did the look in her eyes. "We both know something is up with those two. Something that we have no idea about." Regina told her. "Not only do I have enough room, but I also have magic." She told her.
Emma took in a deep breath before releasing it, "And from what you told me, you said that they have magic too." She motioned to the room.
Regina made sure her eyes locked with Emma's before speaking again, "True, but think of it this way. If they try to run, my magic will stop them, if not it will let me know if they try to leave... Or if anyone tries to contact them." She was referring to the person that disappeared when the two arrived. "We haven't found any clues as to who or what arrived with them."
Emma shook her head lightly, "And they wont talk about it either." She glanced back to the room and then back to her parents and Henry. The three were too far away to hear what her and Regina were talking about, but they could tell it was something serious. "What if that other person comes and attacks these kids... You, nor I want to see Henry get caught in the middle of it." Regina waited for Emma to look back at her.
Regina was right. If that third person was bad news... "Fine." Emma stated as she looked back to Regina.
"Well then... Lets just hope it's not as serious as we think it is." Regina looked back to the room and saw Edith step out from the bathroom completely changed into her new clothes. She looked happy as she beckoned for her brother's approval. She spun and around and motioned to her shirt and jeans. She even pulled at her shoes.
Coal looked far from amused and shook his head at her.
After some time Emma, Regina and David waited for the Edith and Coal to follow them out of the room. Mary Margret took Henry back home seeing as he missed most of the day of school. Regina was going to take Edith and Coal back to her place while David and Emma would escort her and the two teens there. They weren't surprised when they noticed the time. It was almost two in the afternoon. While Edith was quick to change, Coal on the other hand took his sweet time.
Finally they were leaving the hospital and heading towards Regina's.
Edith and Coal road in the back seat of Regina's car while David drove his truck and Emma road with him.
"Maybe we're over thinking it." David broke the silence in the car.
Emma looked over quickly. "How so?" She asked. Curious as to what he was thinking.
"After all we've been through, we seem jumpy." David kept his eyes on the road and Regina's car as Emma turned her attention to the world around them. "We defeated everything the world has thrown our way. Finally we get some kind of peace and we jump thinking that it's some kind of dark force trying to destroy us... Or kill us..." David sighed. "They're just kids. They could just be scared and alone... In a world they have no knowledge of." David tried to place himself in Coal and Edith's position. "If I were them... I would act the same way." he turned to Emma.
Emma huffed as she looked back to David. "We can't be too careful." She told him.
"Can we?" David asked in a serious tone.
Emma gave her father half a smile, "Maybe... LOOK OUT!" Emma pinned herself to her seat as a figure appeared in the middle of the road in front of Regina's car. Regina swerved and so did David. Both vehicles came to a screeching halt.
"You ok?" David asked quickly turning to Emma.
Emma caught her breath and nodded, "I think so." She told him.
They both looked to the figure still standing in the middle of the road.
By the body frame and the clothing, you could tell it was a woman. She had long black wavy hair that reached half way down her back, her clothing was all black and had light green patterns and stitching upon it. Her long black cloak flowed behind her as the hood was draw over her head. But what made Emma and David worry more... Was that she was wearing a white mask over her face. You could only see her bright green eyes as she turned her head towards Regina's car.
Regina got out of her car and narrowed her eyes at the figure.
Both Emma and David jumped out of David's truck. "Regina wait!" Emma called out.
Emma rushed to Regina's side as she started to make her way to the figure.
David went to join them but saw the back door to Regina's car start to open. He shut it quickly before it opened half way. He looked through the window at Coal and Edith. "Stay in the car." He told them as he took his stance right there.
Regina stopped when she was ten to fifteen feet away from the figure. "Who are you?" She demanded.
The figure tilted her head and twisted her hands out in front of her.
Emma felt her heart race in her chest as she took her stand next to Regina. "Looks like we really didn't worry for nothing." Emma stated.
Read, review, comment. (^_^)
I love reading reviews just as much as I love writing. Sorry if there are any grammar errors. I have a small problem while writing. I start getting into just telling the story that grammar flies out the window. lol
As for where the story is at, who is this masked mystery figure? What does Coal and Edith have to do with anything? Why can't there just be peace and quiet?
Find out in the chapters to come. (^_^)