I do not own Once Upon a Time.

More being alone.


Amelia found herself alone again, tying knots. She only allowed a protective hand on her stomach when she was sure no one was looking. Was her baby a boy or a girl? Whose eyes would it have, what about hair color? Would there be ten fingers and ten toes? Would the child be a little miracle?

Suddenly in her mind's eye, she saw a little girl with red wavy hair and deep brown eyes laughing and running through the aisles of the library. There was so much hope there. In the library, back in Storybrooke. Then the girl was picked up but none other than Neal. That addition made Amelia catch her breath. This had to be a wish, her heart's longing. Neal was dead, no ifs ands or buts about it.

A girl could dream, couldn't she? Sadly, for her whenever Amelia said or thought it, it was in joking manner. Why dream anything when nothing good ever happened for her? Like she had always said about herself countless times before: people like her didn't deserve happy endings.

"Amelia?" David's voice brought her back to reality. Reality was the place she dreaded at the moment.

"What? Do you need something?" She tried hard not to sound harsh.

"I need a sparring partner. Hook is busy at the helm and Emma isn't really speaking to me. Besides the fact putting a sword in her hands and facing me might not be a good choice right now."

Amelia shook her head. "What makes you think I'm goo with a sword? Have you ever seen me with a sword?"

"Because you can handle any weapon you touch. I'm really rusty. I need to know I can protect my family. Come on, please." David extended a hand to help her up.

"Well, who am I to say no to Prince Charming?" She remarked, standing up without his help. Amelia did take the sword from his hand and swung it a few times to get used to the weight. Gods above, when was the last time she picked up a sword? At least this sword didn't react to her touch and wouldn't read her mind.

"Ready?" David asked.

"Yeah sure. Are you ready?" She asked back. Without another word, he lunged at her. She met his blade and then pulled back to attack. He blocked and they began to circle.

Amelia felt all eyes were on them, maybe mostly her. Everyone knew Prince Charming had sword skills, but what about the bounty hunter?

She knew Killian would have yelled out pointers if he knew she would listen to him. But instead he stayed silent and just watched. He had an idea of her issues with swords.

Their blades clashed a few more times. And David spoke. "You're a little tense, you need to loosen up."

Amelia froze. Suddenly she wasn't Amelia and he wasn't David and they weren't on the deck of the Jolly Roger going to Neverland to save Henry anymore. She was Bernadette and he was James and they were in his chambers in his palace a long time ago.

Something broke free inside of her. Anger, fear and an overpowering need to protect herself. Her blows became almost frantic and lightning fast, her elbow made hard contact with his chin, causing him to stumble back. He tried to fight back. But her foot met his stomach and "James" fell to the ground. "Bernadette" stood over him, one foot on his chest, sword to his throat.

Then the fake scene in her head morphed into the deck of the Jolly Roger. She was Amelia, he was David. And there were five very shocked, very scared people staring at her. Amelia let out a breath that she wasn't aware she was keeping. There was a terrified silence on the deck, no one, not even Killian, had ever seen her like that before. She had gone into full bounty hunter mode for the first time in years.

Amelia regained her composure by blinking a few times and she dropped the sword. She saw everyone had stepped a bit closer, as if trying to help David, they seemed afraid at how Amelia would react. There was Emma who looked terrified. Regina and Gold seemed to look fascinated at her sudden and complete descent into darkness. And Killian just looked confused at what could have possibly brought up a reaction like that in her. Amelia knew full well that they all would want to know why she almost killed David.

"Why the hell did you do that? What came over you?" Mary Margret yelled; she was the first one with a voice.

"I don't want to talk about it." Amelia began to walk away. She most certainly did not want to discuss it.

"Don't you dare walk away until you explain to me why you almost killed my husband."

Amelia heard the string of the bow being pulled. Was Snow White really going to shoot her if she didn't answer? Turning her eyes skywards, Amelia gave a vague answer. "I was hired by Prince James, a long time ago. I didn't know what he had hired me for until I got there." She couldn't meet anyone's eyes. Her finger touched the scar along her hairline. "David, your brother was no prince and I learned a very important lesson that day. Ask questions beforehand."

Mary Margret lowered the arrow when she realized what Amelia meant. "Oh, Amelia…"

"Don't be, it was so long ago and he's gone now. Happy now?" Amelia didn't bother offering David a hand to stand up, she left that to his wife. She turned to walk away, her hand resting on her stomach. For once, she didn't care who saw.


I usually like her interactions with David, they get alone well. But this scene just turns everyone on its head. I think the reason she doesn't talk or interact with Mary Margaret a lot is because I am not a fan of Mary Margaret. But then again, I was never a Snow White fan, like ever. Belle all the way!

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