A lot happens in a week, especially in Story Brooke. Normally Norah passed her time with stories Henry had told her, but this week had just seemed to go by slowly. It didn't help that Mother Superior had grounded her, or that most of her time that she usually spent with her friend Casey had turned into just dodging the Mayor and the Sheriff at all costs. Which meant avoiding Henry also but that was before she had found something interesting, and she needed Henry's help.
"Henry" Norah said walking behind him on the way to the bus. "Hey Norah" Henry turned and waited on her. "I need your help with something" She quietly said pulling him aside. "Operation Cobra stuff" she whispered before walking further away from the other students.
"What do you need help with?"
"Last night while everyone was asleep, I went back into Mother Superiors office. I found something, a journal. It wasn't there before." She pulled it out of her bag, and showed it to Henry.
"Well what does it say?" he asked hoping that the journal could give a clue about the curse.
"I don't know, I haven't read it yet" she tugged on the the leather strap under the lock. "Looks like I need a key" she said handing the book to him. Henry turned it upside down then on its side looking it over. "Let me try." he said pulling the same strap with no luck."Maybe it has something to do with the curse." He said handing the book back to Norah.
"Is there anything in your book that has something to do with a journal?"
"I don't have it with me. I'll check." Henry paused. I know who can help, but you have to trust me. Meet me at the sheriff's office in an hour. I have to go and get my book from Emma."
"Emma? Henry, I don't know if that's a good idea. None of the adults in this town seem to want to help me." she said lowly.
"She will, she promised." He smiled. Emma never broke a promise, and Henry was sure Emma would know what to do. Maybe this journal would be exactly what Emma needed to see.
"Emma!" Henry rushed through the doors, Norah slowly followed behind him, but stopped at the door.
Emma heard him from inside the office and jumped from her seat."Henry, what are you doing? If your mom finds out you're here she will kill me." She said stopping him before he bumped into something.
"She won't." He said catching his breath. "Norah really needs your help." He turned and motioned her to come inside the room
Emma took a deep breath and put her hands on her hips. " Kid, I promised to help Norah, but you have to give me time."
"Something else has come up." Norah said quietly. She stood behind Henry, hoping the sheriff wouldn't notice her to much.
"Please tell me you didn't actually burn down the town hall." she said to Norah.
"No, just forget it. See Henry, I told you it wouldn't work." She said turning around to leave. Henry should have listened to her instead of trying to get Emma involved. Curse or not, she didn't care. The adults in Story Brooke were never going to help her.
Henry stepped closer "Emma, you promised." He whispered to her.
Emma sighed. She did promise, and maybe Henry was right. Maybe she was the only one who could help. "Alright, what do you need help with?"
Norah stopped then turned back to Emma. "I found this journal, in a shoe box with my name on it. I... I think maybe it could be a clue or something" she said stepping closer.
"Have you read it?"
"No, I didn't know if I should or not and Henry said that you would know what to do." she said quietly. Norah gave the book to Emma. "I can't get open anyway, it needs a key."
"Maybe it's just jammed" Emma said pulling the leather strap from the lock. When she did the lock untightened and the book opened. "See, it wasnt so hard." she smiled handing the journal back to Norah. Norah could tell from Henry's face he was ecstatic. They both had tried pulling the strap the same way Emma had and neither could open it. "Well are you going to read it? You will never find out what is in there if you don't read it. So have a seat" she said pulling out a chair for Norah to sit in. "Read it, Henry and I will wait until you're finished."
Norah opened the book. "Okay, here it goes."
"My Dearest baby girl. If you are reading this journal, you have come across a part of me that no longer exists. I had such hopes for our family to be together; however my mother ruined that. When she found out I was pregnant with you; she made me hide my pregnancy. When you were born you were taken away before I even held you. My wish for you is your life will be filled with the joy that has been taken from me. "
"That's where it ends. The rest has been ripped out." Norah said closing the journal.
"That must have been your mom writing you that letter. It makes sense now" He smiled to Norah. Then turned back around to Emma. "Emma, can you help her?"
"I don't know. I mean this doesn't prove anything." The only thing it proves is that she is crazy for telling Henry she would help.
"She's right. It could have fell when I was putting the boxes away. This could belong to anyone."
"But it didn't." Henry said to Norah then turned back to Emma. Henry was determined to help Norah find her happy ending, and in doing so he hoped that Emma would finally believe. "You promised."
"I'll do my best. I just don't know where I can start." Emma said watching Norah doodle on a paper. "Wait, I have an idea. Norah, could I borrow that book for a little while?"
"I guess so." She mumbled lowly handing the book to Emma. "What are going to do with it?"
"I have an idea, a friend back in Boston. He may be able to help." She said then turned to Henry. "This letter may not even mean anything, so neither of you need to get your hopes up just yet." she said remembering what Regina had told her about Norah's parents.
"Actual cop work cool." Norah smiled. "Oh no." she said glancing at the clock, I have to go, it's almost 3. I'll see you guys later." She said running out of the room.
The Enchanted forest:
The Queen paced her floor angry; yet again Snow White had survived another attempt to kill her. Of course her Prince Charming was by her side. Regina had thought of everything but no matter what she had done. Snow just wouldn't die. Disgusted Regina closed her mirror. "I want to see nothing more today." Regina turned to the sounds of her guards coming down the hall. Dragging a small figure with them. "What is this?" The Queen's eyes narrowed to the young girl hoisted between two guards. "We caught her stealing your majesty. She was in your bed chambers." One of the guards said handing her a necklace. "Stealing from me?" Regina waved her hand. "Be gone. Leave her here." Excusing the guards then turned to the girl. "Why were you stealing from me? Are you poor?" Why would anyone other than Snow White be stupid enough to steal from the queen? "I wasn't stealing." She defended. "I came to get what is mine." she stated as a matter of fact.
"Yours?" Regina chuckled "This necklace is not yours." Regina held the necklace up, caressing the jewels. "It's not the necklace, the red ruby in the middle is mine and I will have it." The girl stomped her foot at the Queen. Regina looked the girl in the eyes sharply but softened them. "You're tenacious, I like that. Tell me young one. How old are you and what is your name?" "My name is Gem, and I am 11" "Old enough to know better, but too young to execute." The Queen gave a smirk walking towards her. Gem's throat tightened gulping at the Queen's words. "Please, I just need the ruby. It's very important." She begged, hoping she could just reason with the Queen.
"What is so important about this ruby?" She snapped.
"I'm looking for my family, and the fairies told me it would help me find her."
Regina chuckled harshly. "Fairies? Why would you trust anything those little creatures say?"
"They raised me, I was abandoned by a magical tree and when I was found I had that necklace around my neck, but when all the enchanted trees were destroyed it disappeared."
The Queen smiled "Really? Such a sad story, such a young girl to be traveling alone." She said lowly cupping Gems chin into her hand. "Yet brave enough to face the Evil Queen." She let go of her and walked away. "Very well, you may have it." Regina waved her hand moving the necklace from her hand to Gem's.
Gem smiled "Thank you, so much. I will leave and never return I promise."
"Unh unh not so fast." The queen walked closer to Gem waving her finger in her face. "You broke into my castle, and tried stealing from me. Are the fairies responsible for putting that into your head?"
"No, they warned me not come; I ran away." Gem's voice softened.
"You should have listened to them." she said bitterly. "Guards. Take this thief away until I decide what to do with her."
"Where are you taking me?" Gem struggled to get away from the guards holding her by her shoulders.
"You will stay here in the castle. I will decide what to do with you in a few days." Regina waved her hand into the air taking the necklace from Gem. "Take her away."
... Well? :) R&R please!