I brushed the tree branch away from my face, I was towards the back with only Regina behind me; the two outcasts of the group it seemed. We were sticking next to the creek, as Hook suggested, which really was helpful, if we were thirsty we bent over and drank out of our hands. Emma was leading with Hook following her, next Mr. Gold, the Charmings, and then me and Regina were left, brining up the rear. A branch was coming up, but Emma didn't see it and crashed into it, hitting her head quite hard. Hook took a large step and came up behind her.

"Are you okay, love?"

She looked up at him, dazed, "Ya, I'm fine, I just didn't see it coming!" She laughed, "I'm so dumb sometimes!"

"You're not dumb at all, love" Hook said smiling at her.

Emma smiled at him, ignoring the compliment. David and Mary Margaret smiled at each other, giving a knowing look.

Emma moved on, and everyone followed. Mr. Gold shook his head, knowing very well what the pirate was trying.

I thought of what Emma told me the previous day, how each one of them was a fairytale character, and smiled. David did fit Prince Charming very well, as did Mary Margaret to Snow, but it was all so ironic. Plus, Regina didn't seem mean to me, so how could she be the Evil Queen. She only seemed to be broken to me, struggling internally with something so deep, that only she could save herself from. I turned to her, "Is it true you're the Evil Queen?"

Her step faltered when I bluntly asked her, but she regained composure and replied only with, "I am the Queen, but they are the one who added evil to my name."

"You don't seem very mean to me." I told her, looking up with my dark brown eyes. I slowed my pace to fall in step with her.

She looked down at me, thinking something, but refused to say. Finally, she sighed, "You've known me for, what? Two days, maybe three?" She smiled sadly, "I promised my son that I would try to become a better person, sometimes it is hard, but I am trying."

"Well, I think you are doing swell!" I said messing around, laughing.

She raised her hand and stayed silent. A purple mist began to swirl up from her palm, into a swirling sphere. I gasped and stopped walking, she however did not stop, and I had to jog to quickly catch back up with her.

"Was is that!?" I hissed, quietly.

"It's magic, dear." She clamped her hand shut and looked saddened.

I fell silent.

"Cora always said magic was dark, and no matter much good you thought you could do with it, it always came with a price." I let my eyes drop to the ground as I stepped over a root. I didn't look up when I continued, "She said the price she paid was you," I muttered.

I heard Regina intake her breath quickly, but she did not respond.

I changed my step, and quickly regained my original spot in line, leaving Regina alone to ponder over my words. Instead, I focused on trying not to trip over myself as we were walking in the woods.

"How about we set up camp here?" Emma questioned, looking around at us. "It'll be growing dark, and this is one of the better spots I've seen."

It was an open area by the stream, with bushes around to hide it, and had a nice view of the creek. The creek was very shallow for around two feet out, and then it dropped off deeply, making me want to go swimming.

"We think this looks just fine." David said offering his opinion for both him and his wife. Mr. Gold grunted his approval and that was enough for Emma, "Here, it is then! I guess I'll start setting up camp."

While Emma went to gather firewood, Mary Margaret and David went off to set snares, and Regina left to look around for her special plants. Hook and I were left staring at Gold.

"Aye, crocodile, I'll try not to skin ye t'nigh' as long as ye promise the same," Hook said winking at Mr. Gold. Gold took one look at the dirty scoundrel and turned his back to walk away, "I make no promises."

It was just Hook and I now left staring at each other awkwardly.

"Uhh, we could gather larger logs, maybe, as something to sit on so we don't have to sit on the ground if Emma actually gets the fire going." I suggested, attempting a conversation.

"Aye, mate, that sounds bloody brilliant!" Hook said giving me an approving smile. So, off we went to look for some logs. We didn't find very many that were the size we would have liked, but we did find some. I would get on one side and Hook on the other. I would use both hands to lift it while he could only use one, but neither of us minded the unbalanced weight. We worked in comfortable silence, if I was tired, he would sense it, and ask for a break, trying to help me out. I was very aware of his actions and did get irritated at first, but very quickly I saw he was as grateful as me for the occasional breaks.

We were on our way back from carrying the sixth log when we saw Emma back at camp, she was setting the firewood up in a teepee type manner. Hook and I set the log down in the semi circle line we had mentally made around the fire, and he took off like a lion stalking his prey towards her. I shook my head, poor, poor Emma, didn't even know what was coming her way. I turned my back deciding I could still try and carry a log by myself with what little energy I had left. I did, however, hear Hook say, "Need any help, love?"

I was returning with a smaller sized log when I walked into the clearing of camp. I had taken three steps more when I looked up to see Emma backed up against a tree with Hook in front of her, hand riding up her shirt. She was breathing heavily and leaned eagerly into him. He smiled at her and bent his head. Their lips met and each gave in to their hunger. Hook pulled his hand out from her shirt and caressed her face gently. She pulled away from him and looked up at him, leaning her head into his hand. He took a small step back, giving her room, "What is it, lo-"

I dropped the log and it spilt open causing a louder ruckus then any of us would have liked. Emma jumped and slipped quickly away from Hook, turning bright red in the face. Hook just stood there, dumbfounded. I stared at the both of them, my mouth hanging open. Slowly, ever so slowly, I began to feel a smirk spread across my face. I began to make childish kissy sounds, and Emma turned even redder, if that was possible. I laughed and shook my head, which lightened the mood, and Emma returned to the unfinished fire, but not before stealing a look at Hook. I bent over and picked up the split log, carrying it quickly next to the rest of the seats. Standing, I heard David and Mary Margaret coming back, she was laughing so loud, Emma and Hook both stopped to wait for her. They came into camp with David looking a little irritated, squirrels hung over his shoulder.

Mary Margaret wasted no time in telling us what was so interesting, "So we were out setting snares, obviously, but as we were walking back I told David to watch out for the ones we just set, and he said," she paused, making her voice gruff, "I know what I'm doing, Snow, I'm Prin-" she switched back into her own voice, smile spread wide, looking at David, "he couldn't even finish his sentence before he stepped into the one he set, and was swiped off his feet!" She was laughing hysterically again, and we all chuckled quietly, while David looked like he wanted to go drown in the creek. "You should have seen his face," she added, twisting hers into a mockery of what his must have looked like.

"Snow-" David began, begging her to stop.

"Oh what's a matter, Charming? Not so big and bad anymore?" She said quietly, wrapping her arms around his midsection. He smiled and shook his head at her.

It was night time, the owls were calling to each other, and lightning bugs were lighting up our little camp. We all were gathered around Emma's small fire, eager for it's warmth. Emma was on my right and Mary Margaret and David were to my left. The three of them kept the conversation going, telling stories of the past. Some sad, some happy. Mary Margaret leaned heavily into her prince, while everyone else, was slightly huddled around themselves to keep warm. We were all clearly tired, but no one wanted to make the first move to sleep. Eventually, though, Emma admitted that she was going to go to sleep, and all the others quickly followed in pursuit. We all moved the logs aside, so we could sleep by the fire. It was the first night I ever slept under the stars, and it was beautiful. The sky was clear, and each star shown brightly, each sending a twinkling message to the next star. I sighed, I wondered if Cora was watching from somewhere up there, watching over Regina, wanting a second chance. I closed my eyes and thought about my own mother. What did she look like? Did she have dark hair like me and brown eyes? Or did I get those genes from my father? Did she have long hair like me? Or short? I wondered if I acted like her. I grew saddened by the feeling of being unwanted, unloved. I struggled with the question that each adopted child did, why wasn't I good enough? If I could just see her once, and talk to her for a short period, then she could answer my questions. But the chances of that happening, were slim. This world was big, and apparently there were more worlds, according to Emma, so if she didn't want to be found, it wouldn't be hard to hide. But someday, maybe our paths will cross, just maybe. I opened my eyes again, staring up into the big sky. Maybe she was doing the same somewhere else, looking at the same star I was. A shooting star streaked across the sky, and I made a wish to see my mother someday. And so I fell asleep, with that little strand of hope. After all, isn't hope the best magic a person could have? An unwavering, unforgotten, undying hope.

Authors Note(please read):

What do you all think of me adding in the lines that characters actually said in the show? Good, or too cheesy?

Also, would you rather see HookedQueen happen, or CaptainSwan? I can play both, but Hook will choose one(;

And how was the scene with Hook and Emma, I was very hesitant on writing it; too much? or not enough?

Thoughts?/Questions?/Comments/? - drop a review :) THANK YOU!