So two updates back to back. Unheard of in my line of life, but there you have it. Read, Review, Be Merry, and Enjoy!

Reckoning

Chapter 3

Snow paced back and forth at Regina's place. They had just tried calling Emma for the fifth time, but just like the four other times the call went straight to voicemail, "Why is she not answering?" Snow growled out as Regina pressed the button to hang out the phone.

"Well they just showed the funeral, maybe she is still taking sympathies from people?" Regina asked, "Like that is what you are supposed to do at a funeral."

"Or she clearly does not have her phone on her." Killian suggested, "We do not really know if that is her or not." He pointed to Henry's laptop where he had uploaded the picture from Robin's phone.

Everyone raised their eyebrows at the pirate and re-looked at the picture, "Unless Emma has a twin I did not know about, and I would know since my wife handed me our daughter to save from the Dark Curse, then that is Emma." David stated as he leaned over Henry's shoulder to look at the painting again, "There really is no other person that could be."

The doorbell rang as they stared at the laptop, Henry pushed his chair back and went to answer the door while they continued to argue the authenticity of the portrait and Emma's likeliness, "Violet?"

"Hey, you were supposed to meet me at the ice cream shop." She said smiling.

Henry felt sick to his stomach, "Crud! I am so sorry, something came up with my mom and I spaced. I am so sorry." He said quickly apologizing profusely.

"It is ok. Your mom you say? Is she ok?" Violet asked with genuine concern as she grabbed his hand.

Before Henry could answer, he heard the phone ring once and multiple exclamations from the living room; then he heard a loud yell, "Why are you blowing my freaking phone up?! I told you all that I would call you!"

"Mom." He gasped and without thinking pulled a surprised Violet inside the house and into the living room.

"Yea well you said you would call love when you got there; but you texted. What is that about?" Killian asked with a bit of attitude.

"Mom!" Henry called as he ran back in with Violet in tow.

"What am I on? Speaker or something?" Emma's voice carried through the room as Regina had phone lying on the table with the speaker part up.

"Yes Emma you are. So care to explain your connections to the so-called most notorious underground crime family?" Regina asked her arms crossed and eyebrow raised.

"How the hell do you know about that?"

David stepped forward, "We saw the news at Granny's. They did a report that some guy named Vance passed away."

"And we saw a painted picture of the family with you up front." Robin explained, "I took a picture of the TV is it you?"

There was no response, "Emma?" Snow called as she stepped closer to the phone.

"I am here," Emma responded slowly, "you said you saw this on the news?"

"Yes, they mentioned a spokesperson from the family; but what does it matter?" David asked.

"It matters. Trust me." Just then there was movement and someone spoke to Emma. Then they heard Emma respond, "Dillo Michael sarò proprio lì."

"Mom what language was that?" Henry asked as he stepped closer to the phone.

"Italian. Trust me I will tell you everything, but now is not the time." As if sensing an argument, "No listen, I cannot be on the phone long. Just know that I am…going undercover." Emma said hesitantly.

"Undercover?" Violet whispered to Henry who had stiffened beside her.

"Who is that with you guys?" Emma asked having heard an unknown voice. There was more shouting that could be heard, "Gesù Cristo! Lo sarò lì in un momento!" They heard her yell back to some unknown person on the other line.

"It's Violet Ms. Emma," Violet answered slowly unsure if she should have spoken.

"Oh well sorry we couldn't talk under more appropriate circumstances." Emma said as a way of greeting.

Snow and David shook themselves and Snow responded, "Emma what did you mean about going undercover?"

"Just as it sounds Mary-Margret." Snow winced at the usage of her cursed name as Emma continued her explanation, "Undercover. Adjective. Of a person or their activities involved in or involving secret work within a community or organization, especially for the purposes of police investigation or espionage."

"I think we know what undercover means." Robin said seeing that Regina's face was turning red and Snow was starting to fume.

"It just sounded like there was a wee bit of confusion and you all needed clarification." Emma retorted.

Killian placed a hand on David's shoulder preventing him from speaking, "Look Emma we are just confused on why you?" He said slowly trying to get back into her good graces.

"That is not of your concern. My business is my own. Do not ask me about my business." Emma stated, but sighed internally as she feels like she just quoted the Godfather. Damn that Michael Corleone.

"We are asking because this affects more than just us, your family," Regina snarled out into the phone, "You are the freaking Savior. The be-all end all of so-called happy endings. So whatever fu-" she looked behind her to see Violet standing there awkwardly and Henry with a slight open mouthed look. Coughing she started to rephrase her statement, "Whatever screwed up thing is going on, it is really our business."

There was silence on the other end, "Emma?" David called out.

"Still here, but I cannot be on the phone any longer. Look I agree ok? But right now, I cannot tell you anything more. I am going undercover in a dangerous crime syndicate; there is a man there that owes the family a crap tone of cash. I owe a debate to these people, I took an oath on padre's death bed to help honor and protect the family. I intend to do so, now that is really all I can say at the moment. I do not know when I will be back, but I will try and keep in touch."

"Mom wait-"

"Henry please I have to go. I love you all, I will try to keep in touch but for now this will be the last you hear of me. Love you."

"Emma!" The adults yelled as Henry yelled again, "MOM!" There was a click and a buzzing noise from the phone.

There was silence in the room as they looked at the phone on the table, "Henry?" Violet softly questioned as she slowly approached him.

"She is gone." He muttered, "There is no telling if she will be back."

"She will." Killian said sadly as he picked up the phone to disconnect the call. Handing it back to Regina, he continued, "It is just a matter of when." They tried to take his words to heart, but none of them were really feeling hopeful.

One Year Later-

It was pitch dark out as a black Lincoln town car tore through the street. A man in the backseat was groaning significantly, "Stay with me Michael." Emma said as she pushed the car to go faster.

"It hurts." He groaned out and began to pant and gasp with each bump in the road, "Can't you drive around these freaking potholes?! God where the hell are we going?"

"Somewhere safe." Emma said as she glances behind to the back seat. He was in really bad shape, so was she but she was running on adrenaline as she shifted the car and stepped on the gas pedal so that it was all the way to the floor.

Looking forward again she sees that they are so close to safety, but she hoped they would make it through the line as she started to mutter the spell quickly under her breath, "What are you saying?" Michael demanded.

"Don't worry about it. Just trust me!" Emma yelled as she snapped at him. Then she resumed her muttering.

Against the high-beams she saw a faint glimmer and the car wined in protest. Looking at the speedometer she knew that the car was at its limit. Closing her eyes she muttered the spell once more and prayed that it worked. There was a bright flash and Emma as if cold water was being dumped on her. Opening her eyes she saw the sign 'Welcome to Storybrooke', "What the hell was that?"

"Nothing just an oncoming truck. We are going to be ok."

"Not all of us," Michael whispered but continued to groan in pain, "what about Noel and Lucas?"

Emma kept quiet as she sped through town. She passed her house and the quiet streets, not slowing the car down once. Options passed through her mind and she knew they couldn't go to the hospital, and her house was not an option either. That left the Jolly Roger, Regina's, or her parents' house. Making a spilt second decision, she hooked a hard right, "Hold on."

Michael grunted in pain, "Not funny Emma."

Coming to the docks she allowed the car to slow until it came to a stop. Turning the car off, she said, "Be right back. I am going to see if I can get us some help."

"Wait." Struggling to sit up, he yelped in pain. Emma opened the door on the rear drivers side and he grabbed her hand, "Can you trust anyone here?"

"Yes we are safe." For now, Emma thought.

As if reading her mind, he said, "No hospitals. Not even if I lose curiousness. Understand? Then we will discuss what to tell them."

"Understood." Running over to the ship she boards it and looks behind her to the car. Seeing that it was safe she call out, "KILLIAN!" No response, "KILLIAN!" Still nothing.

Damn it…she really did not want to go to her parents' house, but there was no other option. She was going to need help. Running back to the car, she slams the rear door shut and jumps into the driver seat and re-starts the car, "New plan."

"What happened to your boyfriend?"

"Not home." Emma said throwing the car in reverse and then throwing it in drive she heads towards the loft.

Once she reached the loft, she turned the car off and pulled Michael out, "Easy Emma."

Emma could feel the dislocated shoulder and the other substantial injuries. While she knew how to heal them, she did not know if it would heal properly without the right equipment…and she couldn't have the right equipment if she wanted magic to be kept a secret, "I am sorry, but we are going with plan B."

Helping him over to the stairs, they slowly climbed them. Then reaching the door, she began knocking frantically. Looking at Michael she saw his eyes starting to roll in their sockets, his adrenaline finally wearing off, "Mike? Stay with me. Come on…" Knocking again, she finally heard movement and the door opened revealing her tired father, "Hey David."

David blinked a few times to get his vision cleared and when it did, he gasped at the sight of his daughter in a torn dress, with cuts and bruises all over her, and then to the young man leaning on her, "Emma what-?"

"No time to explain. I need help. Its life and death here and I need help now."

A/N:

So again, here are the translations as they appeared in the chapter. Again please take note of the fact that I used Google Translator. If it is wrong, please blame Google and not me.

1 Tell Michael I will be right there.

2 Jesus Christ! I will be there in a moment!