Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time or its characters. I make no profit from this fanfiction.
.-.-.-.
The bell above the door chimes as Killian steps into Granny's diner, exhaustion written all over his face. He went to every place he could think of last night, but Zelena is nowhere to be found. She must have put some sort of cloak over the place that she's staying at. Or she left town.
He internally shudders at the thought of Zelena leaving Storybrooke with Emma's memories. But he squashes the dark idea quickly. Zelena can't leave Storybrooke, she's just as cursed as everyone else. She would turn into a tree, and she wouldn't risk her freedom to do something so idiotic. There's also the looming thought that perhaps the witch destroyed Emma's memories. Killian hates that thought. If she truly did burn or break the dreamcatcher, then she would no longer have leverage over him. And everyone knows how much Zelena loves to have the upper hand against her enemies.
He looks up from the tiled floor and his stomach turns as he sees Emma's family sitting at their usual booth. Ever since last night, he hasn't felt comfortable knowing he'll have to face them sooner or later, whether or not they know about the new development regarding Emma. Maybe he can sneak back out the door before they see him.
Unfortunately, Snow chooses that moment to look up and notice his presence. She waves Killian over to the table and he hesitantly makes his way to them and sits down next to Henry.
"There you are," Snow says. She almost sounds relieved, but there's something else in her voice that he can't quite place. "We have a couple of questions to ask you."
David straightens his back and sets down the glass of water he had been drinking. "Why were you at Emma's house last night?"
Straight to the point then, Killian thinks, immediately falling into his preplanned answers that he knew he would have to say at some point. "I saw her running down the street and stopped her. I suppose something must have spooked her because she was looking a bit frazzled and I took her back home."
The two consider his explanation before respectfully accepting it as the truth. It's a good thing Emma isn't here because she would be able to sniff out his lie in a heartbeat.
"Okay, then why did she ask us who we are?" Snow asks, sounding and looking nervous.
He expected this one. In fact, he went over this question countless times in his head during the night, trying to think of a believable reason for Emma to ask such a strange question. In the end, he had to settle for the worst one, which may also turn out to be the best.
"I'm not quite sure," he says, trying to sound sincere. "After she closed the door, she didn't bring it up. You saw her wave at you through the window, right?" That earned him a few head nods. "She disregarded that too. I believe she may have been trying to fool you into letting your guards down." The words taste sour in his mouth as he speaks about his Swan like this. He hates talking about her as if she is a villain who didn't just lose her memories and is currently staying in what she doesn't know is her own house.
Apparently those were the only things that the royals wanted to ask him, so he can finally relax from the constant questions that everyone keeps asking him. First it was Emma with her unending curiosity that really started to get on his nerves, now it's her parents demanding to know things that they assume he knows. He leans back in the booth and closes his eyes.
"You okay?" Henry whispers as Snow and David have a quiet conversation of their own on the other side of the table.
"I'm fine, lad," Killian replies. "Just tired."
Henry shrugs and turns back toward his plate of pancakes, occupied with things he apparently finds more important now.
The bell rings loudly and the familiar sound of sharp heels on the linoleum floor fills the diner briefly.
"Oh, good, you're all here," Regina says as she pulls two chairs up to the table and sits in one, Robin taking the seat next to her. "I think I might know where Zelena is. Her old farmhouse. But she's probably put a cloaking spell over it to keep it hidden."
"How do we break it?" Snow asks. Regina rolls her eyes as if the answer is obvious.
"It's just a simple spell. I have something in my vault that can get past it. I can go get it later and we can all get that baby back from Zelena.
Killian sighs in relief. He isn't sure why exactly they're looking for Zelena, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that they've found a way to get to her! Getting Emma's memories back will be easier than he thought. And in the end, he'll never have to tell anyone what he did. "I'll go with you to the witch's hideout," he volunteers. "I've got nothing better to do, now do I?"
Regina looks a little skeptical for a moment before Robin smiles and pats Killian on the back. "The more the merrier, eh mate? Thanks for helping us look for her."
Killian allows himself to smile a little, but then Henry perks up.
"While you guys are getting the baby back, don't you think someone should check in on Mom? No one knows what she's planning to do and I haven't seen her for a while."
Panic sets in and Killian immediately shoots Henry's plan down. "That's probably not a good idea," he says, hoping his voice doesn't sound shaky from the secret he's trying to cover up. "She might be doing something dangerous that could hurt you. Best to stay out of it."
"As much as I hate to say it, the pirate is right," Regina says, hoping to convince Henry to back out of going through with visiting Emma. "She's the Dark One, remember? And she has Excalibur. There's no telling what she will do now."
"Exactly! That's why one of us should find out, and she trust me the most right now," Henry retorts. "So if I went to see her, then there's a greater chance of her telling me something that can help us."
David speaks up now, after having been quietly witnessing the encounter for a few minutes. "Henry, they're right. It's just too dangerous to be visiting Emma at a time like this."
Henry crosses his arms in defeat and leans back against the booth, choosing now to block out his family and the rest of the diner. If he can just sneak away from his grandparents long enough to go to Emma's house, then he's sure that he'll obtain some useful information that will help them save her from the Darkness. Hopefully they'll go to detain Zelena, or maybe he can sneak away with some excuse about hanging out with a friend from school. Yeah, that should work.
Henry listens to bits and pieces of the conversation, not really caring about how they're organizing the day. Later he'll see his mom and she'll stop listening to the Darkness for a little while. He knows that he has that effect on her when she sees him. He's her true love, so it only makes sense that he's the one that keeps her tethered to the Light for however long he's with her.
.-.-.-.
Zelena pokes the dreamcatcher, irritated that it still won't do anything. She's been trying to alter Emma's memories for hours, but nothing works! She's used almost every spell she can conjure on this stupid dreamcatcher, yet not a single one of them was able to change any of the memories locked within the feathered object.
Truth be told, she doesn't really know exactly how to alter someone's memories that are trapped in a dreamcatcher. It should be easier than she's making it, and are ways to change memories in almost every other circumstance. Perhaps her mother had a spell for it!
Zelena sets the dreamcatcher down and smiles to herself. If anyone knew how to do this, it would have been Cora. But there is the little problem of her being dead. No matter, though. Everyone knows that Cora wrote down her spells in books, and Regina just so happens to possess all of those spell books in her vault! Now if only Zelena could figure out a way to sneak into the vault and steal the right book without leaving her daughter here alone where possible harm can come to her.
She chews the inside of her cheek as she ponders how to keep her baby protected and hidden while she sneaks into Regina's vault. She can't take her there, the heroes might be gathered there for some reason. They tend to be in weird locations all the time. But perhaps she can distract them and lead them astray while she sneaks into the vault with the baby. That way, neither of them will be in harm's way.
Zelena rolls her eyes and stands up, stretching tiredly. She's been at this all night, in between caring for her daughter, whom still needs to be named. Walking to the small bedroom with the cradle in it, she thinks of possible names for her little angel. She smiles down when she sees the newborn sleeping, stroking her tiny face lightly.
"You're beautiful, my little green bean," she whispers and sits next to the cradle. "You need a name, don't you? You also need a better room, but that can wait for now. How would you like to go on a field trip with Mommy, hm? Maybe we can think of something to call you on the way. Something perfect."
The baby opens her eyes and gurgles sleepily, lifting her hand up to curl her fist around Zelena's finger. A huge smile spreads on Zelena's face and she lifts her baby into her arms.
"Or we can pick a name now. Hm…" She looks at her daughter and snuggles her happily. "How about… Munchkin? Would you like to be called Munchkin?" She snickers playfully when the baby gives her a blank look and she knows that she can't understand her yet. "Yeah I don't like that one either. Come on, my darling. Time to go."
She sets her child down into the cradle again and lifts it from the table it rests on gently, not wanting to jostle or disturb the baby. She carries it into the living room and notices a book of paint swatches that she was looking at earlier. Going to close it, she sees a brilliant emerald color that she had earlier put a red check mark next to it.
Kelly green.
"Kelly," she mutters, repeating it louder a moment later. "Kelly!" She grabs the book and crouches next to the cradle, holding the book open so her daughter can see it. "How's this one? It's called 'Kelly'. It's my favorite shade of green. I think it would suit you perfectly." She kisses the infant on the forehead, who then looks up with a toothless grin.
Zelena lifts the cradle and sets the book down on the table, walking toward the door. "Kelly it is, then."
.-.-.-.
Emma crawls through the attic, digging through the boxes. She shakes a medium-sized box and discovers that it makes a lot of small clattering noises. Curiosity takes over and she opens the box, seeing dozens of jigsaw puzzles inside. She smiles gleefully and pulls out one that has a picture of a castle and forest on it. She's not sure why she's drawn to that one, but something about it makes her feel safe.
After going through a few more boxes, she finds office supplies in one. It makes her question what kind of person lives here. They must be really boring, she thinks, rolling her eyes at the thought of someone owning all of this trash. She sees a small notepad and a thick red marker and pulls them out.
Flipping open the notepad, she uncaps the marker and writes her name on the paper.
Emma.
Pride flows through her at the thought of that being her name and no one else's. As far as she knows, at least. And she supposes she doesn't really know anyone but Killian. Oh well, it's still her name and she likes it. She turns the page and writes her last name too.
Swan.
"Emma Swan," she says, self-importance flooding her veins.
She tucks the marker and notepad into the pocket on her hoodie and grabs the puzzle, making her way down the pull-out ladder and back into the upstairs hallway. A faint knock sounds from downstairs and she pauses, waiting for more noise.
"Hello?" She asks the empty house. Silence is the only thing that greets her, so she shrugs and puts the ladder back into the ceiling. There aren't many empty places to build the puzzle upstairs so she decides to venture downstairs and put it together on the table or the living room floor. Either one will work.
As she reaches the bottom of the staircase, she hears the knock again, louder this time. It's coming from the door so she looks directly at it, waiting for Killian to walk in at any second. But he doesn't.
She doesn't understand why the person outside won't just come inside, so she reaches out and turns the doorknob. It won't open, which she quickly discovers bothers her to no end. She rattles the doorknob furiously and mutters angrily under her breath. Is it stuck? Why won't it open?
The door suddenly swings open and she takes a step back, shocked to see a young teenage boy who is about her height and is looking at her with eyes as wide as hers.
.-.-.-.
Henry stands on the front porch, trying to get a look inside the house through the windows. Strangely, though, all of the curtains are pulled closed tightly. When he visited his mom the other day, he could easily peek into the house because the windows by the door were uncovered. But now it looks like they've been covered up with blackout curtains.
The young teenager knocks once on the door, hoping that maybe Emma will open it this time. He is beginning to think that she isn't even home.
Then he hears it.
A quiet, but very distinguishable sound of footsteps descending a staircase and getting louder. This revives Henry's attempts to get his mom's attention. He knocks on the door again, mentally begging her to let him in so he can talk to her. The noise from inside halts and he wonders if she's poofed herself away. The door knob suddenly juggles, calmly at first, then stops. It begins to shake wildly as a couple of thuds and mutters come from inside the house.
Henry raises an eyebrow in uncertainty. Is she trying to open the door? He reaches his hand out and turns the door knob. The door opens smoothly and he doesn't understand why it didn't open from the inside. If Emma's blood magic still worked, then she should have been able to open it too, right?
He looks up and sees a very nervous Emma staring at him with wide eyes. She doesn't look like she did when he last saw her, and he isn't sure what made her change, well – everything.
Her white hair is hanging loosely around her shoulders and her makeup has been removes from her face. She wears a black hoodies and grey sweatpants. But what really unnerves Henry is her eyes.
They're focused on him but they hold no recognition. She's looking at him like he's a stranger and he doesn't understand why. He takes a tentative step toward her and she moves back. He tries to get closer again, but she distances herself further.
"Mom?" Henry asks, making sure it's actually her he's looking at right now.
"Uh, no, I'm Emma," she replies, narrowing her eyes and gesturing toward herself as if the answer is obvious. "Who are you?"
The question catches him off-guard and the teenager sharply intakes a breath of air. Did something happen to her? He steps closer once again and this time she doesn't retreat from him.
"What are you talking about?" Henry is beginning to worry about his mother by her current behavior. "You know who I am."
Emma gasps and covers her mouth with her hands, shaking her head a few times. She almost looks like she has just received the worst news anyone can ever hear and he doesn't understand what brought about the sudden melodramatics. "I do?" She asks, giving her son a once-over. "I'm sorry. You don't look familiar to me. Should I remember you?"
Henry blinks in shock before throwing his arms up in the air to get his point across. "Yes! Of course you should, I'm your son!"
She is taken aback, not expecting such a response. A huge smile breaks out on her face as her excitement becomes apparent. "I have a son?" She squeaks out, her words overflowing with joy. "I'm a mother? Who's your father? Am I married to him?"
Henry stares at her with wide eyes, finally catching onto what is wrong with her. He reaches his hand out to touch her arm, to be certain she's real. He has to know if this is actually happening.
Emma sees his fingers approaching her arm and she meets him halfway, locking her fingers with his eagerly.
"What happened to you?" Henry asks, scared; to hear the answer. "Did someone steal your memories?"
Emma cocks her head in wonder at that. "Steal my memories? How would anyone do that?"
"With magic."
She shakes her head rapidly, almost like a child, he notices. "No, I don't know anyone with magic. Hey what's your name?"
He swallows the lump in his throat, tears gathering in his eyes. She wipes away his tears quickly, trying to be motherly but not really knowing how. She leans forward and gives him a tight hug.
"What's wrong, kid?" His heart squeezes painfully at the pet name. She doesn't even know him, yet she still calls him the same thing that she always does.
"It's Henry."
She smiles and pats his back gently. "I like it. Did I name you?"
He shakes his head. "No."
"So your father named you, then. Where is he? I want to see him."
So she doesn't remember Dad. What does she remember? He looks down at his feet and a jigsaw puzzle box that has been discarded on the floor by the staircase. He decides that it's a bit too soon for her to know that she gave him up for adoption and that Neal is dead. "Do you remember anything from before you came to this house?"
She smiles sadly and shakes her head. "Nope. I know my name is Emma, but that's only because Killian told me so."
That certainly catches Henry's attention. "Killian? You mean Hook?"
"Hook? No, he said his name is Killian. But he does have a metal hook where one of his hands should be. Do you know him?"
Henry stops breathing briefly as he processes the new information. Hook told Mom what her name is. That means he knows she's missing her memories. What's going on? Maybe I should take her back to Grandma and Grandpa's place. They'll know what to do. "Hey, Mom, do you want to go visit someone?"
"Who?"
"Grandma and Grandpa. They're your parents."
She lets go of him and bounces up and down excitedly. "I have parents too? I want to see them!"
Henry grabs her hand and pulls her toward the door. "Okay, then let's go to their place right now," he coerces her toward the door before she stops him by stubbornly halting in her tracks.
"I should leave a note for Killian or something. He might get worried if I'm gone when he comes back."
"Oh, uh, don't worry about it! I already called him, he's fine with it," Henry says, hoping she'll believe his lie.
She looks down at him skeptically, not believing a single word he says. The weird alarm inside of her starts blaring and somehow she just knows that he is being untruthful with her. "That's not true. I'm going to leave a note for him." She grabs a marker and a notepad from the large pocket in her hoodie and scribbles a few words on it, setting the note down on the table in the dining room. "There, now he'll know I'm with you!"
"Okay, that's great mom, let's go," Henry complains impatiently from the door, waiting for her to follow him so he can figure out what happened to her as soon as he can."
"Lead the way," she says, following him out the door into the chilly autumn air. She hasn't been outside since the other night, when everything was a confusing blur and she thought that Killian was her enemy. The curtains have been closed since then and she hasn't been able to get a good look at the outside world. Until now.
Emma breathes in the fresh air and grins from ear to ear at her son, still feeling giddy at the word that makes her a parent. She hopes she's a good mother and that she's always been there for Henry, because it seems like he's always been there for her.
She looks up at the cloudy sky and silently prays that Killian won't be mad at her for leaving without his permission.
.-.-.-.
A/N: Wowza, the support I keep receiving from all of you guys is amazing! Thank you so much for reading and following/favoriting this fanfic! I'm not sure how long this will be, but it's moving quicker than I originally planned it to. Please leave a review, I really enjoy them and they fuel my writing battery! Thank you so much! I have had serious issues posting this chapter, and this is actually my 5th attempt trying to get it to work, so I hope it posts without the Error Page popping up again. Thank you all for being patient with me.
-Ivory Faye