Hello! This was a fun chapter. Many of you will be quite pleased with the ending... others might hate it for other reasons. Reminder: #OneWillDie. Hey if the writers of Ouat could do it, why can't I? lol The next chapter is almost done as well. Warning" Very little of this story will follow the show now.
Emma awakes to her alarm clock early the next morning. Bearing a plain tank top and dark jeans and heads downstairs to a bouquet of flowers sitting prettily atop the kitchen island. Chris. No, wait it can't be Chris, we're not going out, we're just friends. Plus he probably wants nothing to do with me after blowing him off the other day. Emma thinks. These must be from Graham. Mary Margaret probably put them here last night.
The said school teacher runs towards her as she prepares to drop them into the trash bin.
"No, wait don't..."
"If Graham thinks flowers are going to work on me..." The array of red and pink blossoming flowers lands carelessly in the silver can.
"Those are for me actually..." Mary Margaret says, a little offended.
"David?"
"Whale actually." The woman hangs her head.
"Oh, well then." Emma quickly thinks to what Chris told her about the Doctor going around the block with Laurel, and also the fact that he's charmed his way into every other woman's pants. The thought makes her shudder.
"Yeah, I know this is a huge mess..."
"No it's good... I guess, but what about David?"
"He went back to Kathryn."
"He lied to you?"
"Emma its ok. He's where he's supposed to be... with his wife."
"Are you okay."
"Yes, I feel a little freaked out right now, but that's because I've never had a one night stand before."
"One night stands are as far as I ever go."
"Yeah but, that's because..."
"Because I what?" Emma asks startled. Mary Margaret quickly flees behind the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in her hand. "What do I do?"
"You put up these walls Emma." The school teacher sighs. "You're afraid to open up to men. I mean, look at Graham. He's charming, handsome and clearly into you, but you're too afraid to try and get to know him a bit better."
"I..."
"Shh." Mary Margaret interrupts her, in a motherly tone. "And maybe, you're not going for Graham because of other reasons, but you still won't test that other reason."
"What..."
"Emma, you like Chris. And stop denying it. You keep admitting it and then denying afterwards. You kissed him, you were upset when he was with Laurel, and now that he's free, you're raising your walls, and pulling away from him. Chris cares for you, I can see it whenever he's around you. He's a good guy. Don't let him slip away."
Emma groans.
"I have to get to work." She says finally, dashing out the door to escape Mary Margaret's words. Though she can shut out her friends words, her own thoughts lay energetic reminding her constantly that the woman us right.
At the Nolan's residence, David finds himself sitting at the kitchen table across from his wife, eating breakfast silently.
"We could go to the park." Kathryn suggests.
"Sure." He replies absent mindedly. Still thinking about Mary Margaret, he fiddles with the flakes of his cereal, ignoring his wife.
"Why don't we go see a movie? They... David are you listening to me?"
"Sure."
"David."
The man's head snaps up.
"I... yeah... I'm sorry." He sighs.
"Maybe this is a mistake." Kathryn says, looking at her bowl.
"What do you mean?"
"You're not happy, I'm not happy. You may remember, but you're heart is not with me. Besides, we were going to split up before your accident. I felt that our marriage was over back then."
"So, we should go our separate ways?" David asks.
"What do you think?" She looks deeply into his eyes. He hesitates for a moment, feeble mind drifting back to the young schoolteacher.
"Is this what you really want?"
"It is." Kathryn answers. "And you?"
"Yeah."
At the school, Miss Blanchard watches as the Sheriff heads towards his cruiser. Staring out the window she sees a little blue bird perched atop a white oak tree. It lets out a beautiful melody before taking off into flight... to freedom. She grabs her brown leather bag and coat and heads out for a long walk.
The sky is significantly sunny, lightening up even the darkest of corners of the town. Pongo trots along side Archie, who waves kindly at Mary Margaret. Turning her head towards the shrink, the woman smiles, only to collide head on with another passerby.
"I am so sorry Chris!"
"It's alright Mary Margaret, it's not your fault that you can't get enough of me." He winks. Mary Margaret glares at him.
"I hope you don't talk like that in front of your sister." She crosses her arms.
"No, I make it a point not to have my sister near me when a beautiful lass is around." He grins.
"Are you really going to do this?"
"Do what?" Chris asks innocently.
"Flirt with every woman you come across even though your eyes are only on Emma?" That shut him up. "Just so you know, Emma's a good friend of mine. So if you hurt her, just remember I can go from schoolteacher to very protective friend in seconds."
"Why is everyone bloody threatening me? First David, now you." Chris regrets his words as soon as Mary Margaret flinches at the mention of David.
"David threatened you?" She turns to look at a red jalopy as if it were the most interesting in the world at the moment.
"Aye. He said if I hurt her it would hurt you and in turn he would hurt my face."
"Hurt me... wow, he did a pretty good job of doing that on his own."
"Are you alright Mary Margaret?"
"Yes." She faces the blue eyed man. "Look, don't give up on Emma. She likes you. She'll kill me for saying that, but she does." His heart skips a beat at those words. "And you like her too, so don't give up. She's just putting up her defenses because she doesn't want to get hurt. You just gave to breech them and give her a reason to let you in."
"We're only friends..."
"How long are you and her going to use that line. There's more to it and you know it." Mary Margaret smiles as he stands there, mouth wide open at her comments. "Look, I have to get back to the school, have a good evening Chris."
Jones: Swan?
Emma: Yeah?
Jones: What time do you want me to pick you up tonight?
Emma: You don't have to pick me up. I'll meet you at Grans
Jones: Not going to Granny's anymore.
Emma: Where are we going?
Jones: It's a surprise ;)
Emma: I don't like surprises.
Jones: ;)
Jones: So what time?
Emma: 8, the station. Graham didn't come in today so I'm working all day :(
Jones: I believe I need to stop by Humbert's room at Granny's and have a chat with him.
Emma: More like Regina's room.
Jones: ...
Emma: With Henry in the house.
Jones: :O
Emma: Exactly.
Jones: Is that why he's so shaken up? I saw him leaving Mary Margaret's classroom, pale white like a sheet.
Emma: Why would he go to her?
Jones: I asked him if he wanted to go grab a beer.
Emma: ?
Jones: He said no.
Jones: Which is a first.
Jones: He's my drinking buddy!
Jones: I need my drinking buddy :(
Emma: Why do I put up with you?
Jones: Cuz I'm the best.
Jones: So I'll pick you up at 8.
Jones: Wear something nice.
Jones: Casual but nice.
Jones: Though anything on you makes you look stunning.
Jones: It's really you that makes the clothes amazing.
Jones: Swan?
Jones: Emma?
Jones: Emma Swan?
Jones: ?
Emma: Sorry, Regina walked in... I have to get back to work. See you at 8.
Graham takes a deep breath, and lifts the metal knocker slamming it gently against the door. It opens after a few seconds as a young woman appears from behind it holding a plate with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on it.
"Sheriff?"
"Gwen?" Graham asks confused. "What are you doing in Regina's house?"
"Relax Humbert." Gwen laughs. "If I was breaking and entering you'd never know. I'm babysitting Henry. What brings you by? Our friendly neighborhood mayor is out terrorizing some poor soul."
"Actually, I'd like to talk to Henry." Graham gulps.
"Umm, okay. Come on in Graham."
He steps into the house and for once chills do not run down his spine as he does so. The small ten year old boy hops down the stairs as he does so.
"Hey Sheriff, what's up?"
"It's about your book Henry... am I in it?"
Gwen drops the plate she was holding.
"I will let you two talk." She scurries off towards the parlor, after cleaning up the mess from the floor.
Gwen decides to move close to Henry's bedroom and listen in to what Graham and Henry are saying. When the man finishes talking to the kid, she follows him out to the main entrance.
"Bloody Hell! You kissed Swan?" She finds herself barging in.
"I... I..." Graham stutters.
"She's with my brother you know." Gwen says, her protective sister mode switching on.
"She's with Chris?"
"Actually, his name is Captain Hook." She places her hands on her hips.
"What?"
"Look I know about the other life too. I remember."
"You... how?"
"I don't know."
"Who are you?" Graham starts. "In the other life I mean."
"Gwendolyn Darling. Or more commonly known as Wendy Darling."
"So... you remember..." Graham breaks the silence.
"Yeah." Gwen looks to his green eyes. "You're a huntsman." She says as if reading his thoughts.
"The huntsman. Yeah, Henry told me that much." He chuckles. "How do we know each other?"
"You tried to arrest me." She smirks at his appalled expression. "Well, when my brother came back from Neverland, I snuck aboard his ship. While the Queen, Regina, ordered him to fetch Rapunzel... Laurel... for her, seeing as she was occupied, I attempted to steal some of her jewels. You caught me."
"And I arrested you."
"Keyword: tried. It would be very bad form for me if I got caught. But you did... corner me."
"I did?"
"But instead of arresting me and handing me over to the bloody Queen, you let me go. And for that I am ever grateful."
Graham smiles awkwardly before clearing his throat.
"Chris is Captain Hook? How did that happen?"
Gwen groans in annoyance.
A few minutes later, he steps out of the mayor's house to find Emma leaning against the police cruiser.
"Tough day?" She asks with a smirk.
"Who told you?" Graham says, stopping in his tracks.
"Well, let's see... Chris, Mary Margaret, my son..."
"I'm fine."
"You went to a ten year old for help. If you needed to talk to someone, I'm pretty sure most people would go to Archie."
"Henry's the only one making sense." Graham crosses his arms over his chest.
"Is he? Graham, what's going on?"
"I need to find my heart." Emma's mind flutters. Is he talking about her? Is that why he kissed her? Does she feel that way for him? What about Chris? They're just friends but...
"Okay." Emma tries to smile. "So how are you going to do that?"
"I just need to follow the wolf." What! Is he still drunk?
"What? What wolf?"
"From my dreams." Graham replies, as if it's the most obvious answer in the world. "It's going to help me find my heart."
"I'm sorry." She is just so confused. "I thought we were talking metaphors. You really don't think you have a heart?"
"It's the only thing that makes sense. It explains why I can't feel anything."
"Graham, you have a heart. I can prove it." Emma takes her hand and places it on his chest, right above where his heart should lie. Both shudder slightly at the contact. Emma feels her breath hitch as his heart thumps against her finger tips. "See. It's beating. It's real."
"No." He starts shaking his head from side to side, so she grabs his hand and places it where her hand lay.
"Feel that? That's your heart."
He pulls his hand away.
"No Emma. It's the curse." He grabs her wrist, staring deeply into her green eyes. Suddenly her eyes widen, looking past his face. "What?" Graham turns around and faces the wolf from last night, from his dreams. He doesn't hesitate to follow it.
At Mary Margaret's apartment, the woman prepares to eat supper, dumping pasta into a pot of boiling hot water. A knock comes suddenly at the door, so the school teacher abandons the pot and goes to answer it. The door swings open, revealing a tall blond haired man.
"David?"
"Mary Margaret." He sighs, his eyes sad.
"What are you doing here?"
"I made a mistake." David looks sorry.
"You made that very clear last night." Mary Margaret crosses her arms over her chest.
"That was my mistake." He leans closer to her. "Now I'm making it right." He captures her mouth in a heated kiss, slamming the door close.
Emma and Graham reach the graveyard and later engage in a dispute with Regina.
Deep within the dark, someone hears the Sheriff and the Deputy march off away from an angry Mayor Mills. They stay hidden from down below, until they can hear some confirmation that the Queen herself is gone.
A single small parcel wrapped in brown wrapping paper sits atop the wooden kitchen table. Chris still has steam rolling off his shirtless torso, due to his recent cleanse in the shower, as he zips down to the second floor in a pair of crisp new dark pants. His favorite black buttoned shirt is dumped onto the table and the prosthetic is picked up from the counter and secured tightly to the man's left arm, along with the black glove attachment. No point in bring a hook along tonight, unless Swan is into that sort of thing... but he doubts it. Playing it safe, he shrugs off the thought and heads towards the stove.
Grabbing a pot from the above hooks, the man looks at his reflection. His scruffy stubble is neatly trimmed and his fresh out of the shower hair is messy and wet. He figures the hair will dry by the time he gets there and combing it will only result in ruining the messy look that makes most women fall to their knees. No. Tonight is special. Tonight he is going all out.
The blue eyed heart throb slips on his shirt, doing up the buttons steadily. A few at the top are purposely left open.
Let the show begin.
The parcel comes into his view. Raising an eyebrow he reads the note. It's a small box, plain and boring, but has the words FRAGILE scrambles across, beside the yellow sticky note.
The box is carefully slipped under Chris's left arm, once he manages to get into his prized jacket. It's lightweight and small, it's contents rattle slightly as he exits the house and heads towards his Mercedes.
The graveyard leaves the air cool and dead around the mayor. Though she knows that this is reality and that those sort of things don't exist here in Storybrooke, the woman still feels uncomfortable in this dark and gloomy place. She enters her father, Henry Mills the first's mausoleum and sets a blood red rose on top of the coffin.
"Ow!" Emma winces at the rubbing alcohol being dabbed oh so carefully onto her forehead, where a small cut lies just above her eyebrow.
"Sorry." Graham says, like he actually means it. Like he actually cares.
He stares into her eyes lovingly. His smile so genuine, so true. Graham is definitely a great man.
She smiles back. Because he chose her. He defied Regina, a woman who everyone feared in the town.
His lips draw closer to hers, as he leans in, green eyes pleading for her to come closer. In that instant, Emma forgets everything as she closes the gap in between them, warmth spreading within her at the contact of their lips. Emma's tongue slips into his mouth and caresses his as he deepens the kiss, and Emma kindly accepts, trailing her hand along the side of his cheek.
Regina pushes her father's coffin aside, revealing a set of stone stairs leading to a secret hide away.
Chris steps out of his car, running his hands into his hair before picking up some items resting on the seat. He closes the door accidentally dropping the items to the hard pavement.
"Bloody Hell!" He curses, retrieving them.
Suddenly Graham jerks back, his eyes wide open and alarmed.
"Graham?" She asks worried.
"I... I remember." He smiles. Emma simply smiles back, even though he sounds crazy. He could said he was Batman at that moment, and Emma would have still shrugged it off, because, right now she just wants him to kiss her. And he does.
Like a hungry wolf, he moves to attack her once again with kisses. But stops suddenly clutching his chest.
The mayor journey's down her lair, only to hear some shuffling within.
"Who's there?" She calls out. She nearly faints when the figure steps out from the shadows. She wasn't expecting them to be here.
"Graham!" Emma calls, her heart racing. He stops for amount and lets out a light laugh.
"It's okay. I'm fine Emma."
"Are you sure?" She asks, stroking the side of his face worried.
"Yes." He smiles. "I'm okay, because of you." She doesn't know what that is supposed to mean, bit it's sweet and he kisses her again, breaking her of her thoughts.
"Sorry to interrupt." A voice cracks. Emma and Graham part to see Chris standing in the doorway. His lips pressed into a fine line as he swallows hard. Chris. Oh my God. I completely forgot! Emma mentally freaks. He looks sad and angry, as his blue orbs dart from her to Graham. Under his right arm lies a box and three beautiful pink roses, with stems wrapped together with a royal blue ribbon. Oh crap.
"Oh, no Chris, it's fine." Graham says smiling awkwardly. Emma has her head down staring at her nails trying to avoid Chris's. "Did you want something."
"Yes, I have plans with Miss Swan tonight, or did you forget lass?" Chris offers a fake grin. Don't freak out Jones. Keep Calm. He thinks to himself. She's not yours... yet.
"No I didn't... I just lost track of time." Emma says gulping. He looks back at her, hurt, then looks to Graham.
"I also have a package for you." Chris says, handing the Sheriff the small parcel. Don't punch him... no matter how much you want to...
"Thanks, what is it?" Graham asks looking at the box. He's completely unaware of the pain in his friend's face.
"I've no bloody clue." Chris says shrugging his shoulders. He turns back to Emma who is awkwardly fixing her hair. He takes a loud gulp again and hands her the flowers. "I... umm... I got you these."
"Oh, they're beautiful." She smiles taking them. Flowers? Oh my God! What does this mean? "Thank you." Graham perks up a bit at the sight of the flowers, cocking his head to one side. She's with my brother, you know. Crap.
"Ready to go?"
"Umm, yeah." She smiles lightly. "Let me just get my coat." She turns to get her red jacket from the coat rack at the back.
"Well, then, I guess I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow." Graham says whole heartedly.
"Umm, yeah." Emma's head is still down. She quickly saunters off in the direction of the door, putting the sleeves of hr jacket on as she does so. Chris simply nods and turns around to follow the blonde.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Regina bellows. "This is private property!"
The person standing before her laughs raising a dark brown eyebrow.
"What needed to be done." Gwen Jones.
"What. Did. You. Do." The mayor snaps. Gwen just smirks in reply. Pushing the girl to the side, Regina rushes to the back where a golden vault of boxes with crosses carved into them lies. A faint red glow appears from behind the crosses on almost every box except for one.
"Oh please your Majesty." Gwen says. "Let's just cut the crap already."
"Excuse me?" The mayor whips around, trying to act appalled.
"Who are you putting on the show for?" Gwen asks. "I know."
"You know." It's more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah!" The girl snaps. "The question is why? Why do I remember when everyone else doesn't?"
"Why should I answer you?"
"Because we both know what's going to happen tonight." She raises her head high. "And if I'm going to go, I'll do it on my terms."
"Oh you're definitely going to go alright."
Graham walks back to his office and places the brown parcel on his desk. FRAGILE is scribbled across the top of it. He rips the brown paper off and opens the cardboard box underneath. Inside lies a white sheet of paper.
Graham.
Be careful with this box, hopeful its still intact when you get it, but seeing as you're reading this, it probably is. Inside lies something you should cherish and protect. It's a gift. From me to you. So take care of it. Think if this as me repaying a favor, one that I hope you will soon remember.
-Gwen, or as you know me, Wendy.
P.s Have faith, help the savior believe. Don't push her to. And take care of that idiot friend of yours too. And don't come between them. My brother deserves a happy ending
Wendy. He remembers and her brother. Captain Hook. Oh shit. His best friend is Captain Hook. A dangerous mad pirate, who's hanging around Emma... his Emma.
He places the paper aside on his desk and takes out a sturdy wooden box from inside. Something within it is glowing red. Graham bites his lip as he carefully opens it. His heart races at the sight.
Well, his heart can't be racing, because he's staring right at it, large red and glowing. He carefully picks it up. The Evil Queen had once ripped it out of his chest, taking his emotions abd life from him. Now, he is going to put it back where it belongs. With him.
"So, Swan..." Chris begins. Emma continues to walk towards his car but then stops to face him.
"Yeah?"
"That was quite the lip lock you had over there." He says with a grin. "Do you make out with all the men of this town?" Oh God! He isn't going to let that go, is he?
"Chris, I..." she stops at the sight of angry stare. His electryfying blue eyes are now dark and stormy, but he's still hot as ever. His hair is messy and wild, inviting her to run her hands through it. His shirt is unbuttoned just enough to give her a peak at his chest hair. Of course atop the hair is a gold cross and sword pendant. Stop staring! Stop feeling guilty. We're only friends. "Why do you care?"
"Oh, I don't." He says low and dangerously. "I'm just curious as to why my two friends have to go behind my back about their relationship."
"Relationship? We're not going behind your back!"
"Please Swan! Don't bloody lie to my face! Admit you two are together."
"I am not with Graham!"
"Good!" He growls
"What..." But before Emma can say anything, Chris moves forward, pushing her against his car, his right hand firmly behind her neck, as his mouth crashes into hers, taking her into a deep passionate kiss. This kiss isn't like the one she shared with Graham. That one was soft and sweet. It isn't like the kiss she and Chris had in the car. No. This was pure lust being released from a cage. A volcano of passion finally erupting.
His tongue intertwines with his as Emma starts to respond to the kiss. Her hand drops the roses to the ground and she wraps both arms around his neck. Her fingers frantically run through his hair, which she can tell is still wet. Lazy bastard.
She whimpers against him as he starts to pull away, slowing the kiss down, turning into a few simple pecks, until he finally wrenches himself from her grasp. He backs off like nothing happened and opens his car door to get into his driver seat.
She still stands against the car panting, confused as ever.
"Well, are you coming love?" He laughs. "Or did I knock the sense out of you?" Her jaw drops as she just stares at him without making a sound. "So, I've apparently rendered you speechless as well."
She finally catches her breath and gets into the passenger seat, still in shock.
He still grins as he puts the key in the ignition.
Cocky bastard.
Muahaha. Love Triangles.. gotta love them. SO, Emma is an emotional mess. To be clear, she likes both of them... Graham just made the first move. #OneWillDie.. sorry Wendy. Who did you guys think would go? How will Graham react to Chris... uhh... Captain Hook being his competition? Who will Emma choose? Find out next time :)
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