Season one Before Story Brooke

Disclaimer- If it came from Story Brooke or the Story Book it isn't mine at any time.

In the three years that had passed, Emma's blonde curls had grown down her back, and were now just very strong waves. She stood a few inches taller now, and as she ran up to August, her bluish green eyes were filled to the brim with tears.

August furrowed his brow. "What is it Emma?" He asked concerned as he flicked his long messy brown hair out of his face.

"Auggy the other kids don't like me," she sobbed.

Even though August was thirteen he didn't fit in with other teenagers and did not go to school, so he had little firsthand experience with the cruelty of children in this land. "That can't be true everyone like you." He said scooping her onto his shoulders.

"N-not them they say I'm a liar." She said sadly.

That insult seemed all too familiar to August, he quickly pushed away his old memories to focus on Emma. "Did you tell a lie?"

"I told them that I am a princess, just like you said, and they called me a liar." She looked at August to reassure her that she was in fact a princess.

"Well you are a princess Emma Ruby so what does it matter what they?" He asked.

"I want them to like me." She sobbed, "It breaks my heart." She was nothing if not caring and dramatic and she clutched her little chest, on the incorrect side for a heart.

"No your heart must not be broken. I promised I would return you intact and a man is nothing if not his word." He teased and she stopped crying.

"You are not a man, and if you are, then you are a very little one," she giggled.

"Hey! Well you are a very little princess so I guess it makes sense that we are friends." He said sliding her off his shoulders so she could run into the foster home.

He walked around to the back of the large house; she had only been there for two weeks. He climbed up the old oak tree and right into her window. August sat on the bed and waited for her to come into the room. The door swung open and she picked up where she left off. "We are best friends August but I want everyone to be my friend just like my mommy." She said sitting at his feet and taking out her homework.

"If everyone is your friend then you'll have less time to talk to them and you won't see me anymore." He said.

"Yes I will," She insisted, "I'll always see you."

"What about Neal?" He asked. Neal had been back a few times and lucky for them Emma hadn't noticed that August was now older than Neal in appearance.

"Oh I can't forget him," she grinned. Emma loved Neal and at first August was jealous but he always reminded himself that it was all part of his plan.

"Well speaking of Neal he is coming tomorrow," August had known about the visit for a while but didn't want to tell her too soon or else she would ask every day.

"Yes!" She jumped on the bed, "I can't wait." She danced around the room. "Oh Auggy stay here tonight then tomorrow when Neal comes you will be here too." She said.

"I never leave when he is here but if you want me to stay I can." In all honesty August didn't trust Neal alone with Emma ever since he pulled out that knife.

Emma was thrilled and danced around the room, once she was called don for dinner August stepped onto the roof to hide. He hoped that Neal wouldn't forget to come this time like he had before. The other boy didn't seem to care much for Emma but he knew that would change as she aged, it just had to. He sat on the roof enjoying the cool air until Emma came back in thinking he had left her.

August tapped on the window and she excitedly threw it open. "I thought you had gone away." She said smiling.

"Do I ever lie to you?" He asked.

"No," she said climbing into bed.

"Are you going to sleep?" August looked at the clock 7:21.

"You're reading me a story." She said handing him the book. He read the story of the princess snow being awoken from the curse by the kiss of true love, it was her favorite.

"She fell asleep as soon as Charming and Snow's lips touched because she was certain there would be a happy ending from that point. August read on anyway, making an excuse not to have to go yet. He didn't dare to sleep in the same room as Emma because he didn't want someone to walk in and think he had bad intentions towards such a small child.

He woke earlier than she did the next morning so that he was able to climb back into the window. Emma sat upright in bed, "Is Neal here?" She asked.

"Not yet," August told her and she looked disappointed.

"How about I go get us donuts for breakfast since Mr. and Mrs. Dowry just left." He asked already certain of the answer.

She nodded vigorously, "For Neal too."

"Of course," August said, "but you mustn't open the window for anyone but me."

"I know, I know." She said, "Not even Neal, but if it's him I'll just say my Auggy went to get us donuts."

He sighed and climbed out the window on the way to the donut shop. Emma sat down and began to play with her little Snow white doll. Suddenly there was a tap at the window and she looked up to see a woman. The woman had short, dark hair and an evil grin. "Princess let me in." She called.

The woman looked familiar and Emma's eyes went to her story book it was just like the picture that August had drawn, of the evil queen. Emma got up and ran to the closet where she hid, hoping August would come back to save her. With a loud bang the window flew inward and she cried. The woman was in the room now. She walked toward the closet. "Princess, come out come out where ever you are." She called.

Finally she pulled back the curtain that concealed the closet. "Hello Princess." She smiled evily once more.

"August save me!" She screamed.

"That meek boy? He couldn't save anyone princess." The evil Queen cackled.

"He will save me and my Auggy is brave." Emma still sobbed.

The last thing she remembered was a plume of smoke and the Queen's evil laugh.

August arrived a little too late, the window was blown in and there was glass covering the floor. He immediately began to search for Emma and saw her lying on the bed. "Emma Wake up," he begged shaking her with tears in his eyes. She didn't awaken but he could still hear her breathing.

Neal stepped through the window. "What's wrong August?" Neal asked his tone light and teasing.

August didn't look up he just held Emma in his arms and silently wiped away his tears. "Is she dead Auggy? Hey at least you don't have to watch her anymore." Neal said and August turned in an instant.

His eyes were full of tears and Neal knew that he shouldn't have said that. "How could you say that?" August asked, "She is just a child. Baelfire she is six years old." August held her.

"August let me see her; I know you have been thinking it too." He said reaching for the girl.

August laid Emma on the bed and motioned to Neal. Neal stood over her then he leaned down and pressed his lips lightly to hers, waiting for her to stir. She didn't move and he pulled back with a sorrow filled expression on his face. "August I'm sorry I know what you thought but it isn't me. I don't even believe in true love."

Neal left and August was alone with Emma once more. He looked down and thought that if he just looked at her and didn't think too much she could be asleep. Just today she was saying that she wanted to be just like her mother and here she was sleeping from the very same curse. "Emma listen to me I will fix this, I won't give up. I will take you to Story Brooke Bae's dad can fix you. I will do anything Emma. Don't be afraid okay? You are going to be all right, I promise." He still held Emma and he leaned down and lightly kissed her on her hairline before standing to collect her belongs for the trip.

"Auggy where is my donut?" She asked.

He turned around and ran to hug her but the whole time there was a feeling as if he had been punched in the stomach. "Auggy?" She asked confused.

"One second Emma." He said stepping out of the window, "NEAL!"

Neal turned around startled, "Emma woke up." He said.

Neal came back and played with Emma under August's watchful eye. August fixed the window before the family returned home. Finally Neal had to leave and he called August onto the roof with him.

"So are you going to tell me what happened or should I just assume that I am correct." Neal asked.

"You are," August didn't want to be having this conversation.

"What are they going to say when you go back and announce that you fell in love with their princess?" Neal said.

August looked down and shrugged.

"You are a common person she is a princess, you aren't even really a person, you are a puppet. A puppet that is only good at lying. She deserves so much better than you." Neal said.

"I know," August answered, "they won't have to know."

"You are going to ask her to keep that kind of secret?" Neal asked.

"No," August said, "she doesn't need to know either."

"Good choice." Neal said then he left.

August felt his pocket, inside there was a locket, a present for Emma. When he pulled it out it was glowing, the magic of true love's kiss. When holding it he felt safe and instantly he realized that it would break any curse. This could undo any magic and save Neal. August decided he couldn't tell him yet, he would wait until Emma was twelve then they would be more likely to fall in. August knew that Emma had to fall in love with someone else, anyone else. Telling Emma about the kiss would force her to fall in love with him and he wanted her to have a choice. August realized that the girl who he was thinking about falling in love was six years old. He pushed the thought away, Emma wasn't just some kid she was his best friend. He thought about her years from now at twenty, when he was twenty seven and realized that the difference wouldn't seem like much then. He then forced himself to picture her with Bae that was the way it had to be.

Next time on Once Upon a Wooden Swan- Will Emma fall for Bae? Will August be able to protect her next time?