A/N: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, as promised, here is the next instalment. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I think you know by now.

Chapter 9: Waking Up

I love you.
The words flit across Emma's unconscious mind, barely there, little more than a whisper; the same manner in which they were delivered to her.
Killian's last words to her that he'd pressed into her skin before she was torn away from him, accompany Emma as she slowly rejoins the world of the living.

~E&K~

The blonde rubbed at her temples, trying to alleviate the dull tension behind her eyes from where her head had hit the steering wheel as the curse had hit them.

The curse.

Glancing to her left, she sees Henry still passed out with his cheek pressed to the window; in front of them is the empty road and few scattered trees, no bright orange line in sight. Using the wing-mirror to glance behind, Emma gasps as she sees the familiar, green sign.
'Entering Storybrooke'

They were back, or they'd never left; the town was still there despite the fact that Regina had said to them that it would vanish as she used her own magic and countered Pan's curse.

"Henry, wake up," she said, reaching across the centre console to gently shake her son's shoulder.
He came to, blinking at the sunlight, with a groggy groan leaving his throat.
"Mom?"
"Hey kid."
"What happened? Are we-"
"We're in Storybrooke."
Henry threw off his seat-belt and spun in his seat to look out of the rear window, where, in the distance, the top of the clock-tower could just be made out on the horizon.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I don't know kid, but I damn well intend to find out."
With that, Emma turned the key (now the ignition chose to work) put the Bug in reverse, made a three point turn and then set them accelerating back towards the town.

~E&K~

The streets were bustling with activity.
Emma and Henry watched as the citizens went about their daily routines as if Peter Pan hadn't just tried to curse them all to kingdom come.
Mr Clark was cashing a purchase at the pharmacy, Marco was fixing the sign at the shoe shop and Ruby was crouched down to change the wording on Granny's specials board.
All of them turned to look as the little yellow car chugged by, but none of them showed any hint of recognition towards its occupants.
"What the hell?" Emma muttered, taking a chance and pulling up outside of the diner, killing the engine and gesturing for Henry to join her on the sidewalk.

"Excuse me," she called to catch Ruby's attention, the leggy brunette immediately standing and approaching them with a smile on my face.
"Hi there, how can I help you?" she asked, "We don't get many visitors here in Storybrooke."
Emma glanced at her son who mouthed 'Operation Cobra' up at her, before turning his eyes back to the werewolf turned waitress.
"My names Henry," he siad, "And this is my mom Emma, we've just moved here from...um..."
"Boston," Emma filled in, "Our apartment got practically destroyed in a building fire, so we thought we'd look for somewhere where we could have a fresh start. Any chance you know where there's someplace we could get a room for a while?"
"My Granny actually owns an inn as well as this place," she jerked her thumb back towards the neon sign-posted diner, "Best grilled cheese in the state of Maine. If you come through now, I'll book you in."

The pair grabbed their belongings from the backseat of the Bug, mumbling an excuse about fire damage when their unnecessary escort commented on their general lack of possessions. Hefting it all around the side alley, Ruby signed them in and handed over a couple of room keys to Granny's apartment suite that looked over the town Square.
"Welcome to Storybrooke," the brunette chirped on her way out, "Enjoy your stay."
Emma was about to let her go, when a thought suddenly hit her, "Hey Ruby," she yelled at the retreating woman's back, so that she turned around, "Do you happen to know someone called Killian Jones?"

~E&K~

They were stood on the concrete outside of the Sheriff's Station, Henry bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet, his mother frozen stock still, refusing to move.
"Come on mom," Henry said, tugging at her hand to drag her reluctantly towards the doors, "It can't be that bad."
They'd just made it inside, when Emma really dug her heels in.
"Kid this is a bad idea, we're leaving."
"But mom we-"
"No. Now I won't say it again lets-oof!"

As Emma turned to leave, she collided with a warm and muscular barrier; a barrier that smelled extremely familiar and currently had his hand and prosthetic clamped on her hip to prevent her from falling.
"I am so sorry lass, I wasn't paying attention and didn't realise you were coming the other way. I'm-"
She could only stare as Killian bumbled on offering her apology after apology for their current circumstance that was really entirely her fault . Her eyes wandered slowly over him, from the same striking facial features, to the new modern world clothes he was wearing.
She would be damned if she couldn't keep him in these jeans once they broke this curse.
Emma was too caught up in her assessment of him to realise that her fingers had been trailing over his chest (still exposed of course) and that he was now stood in silence, staring down at her with something akin to wonder in his eyes.

"Jones is that you I hear prattling on?" a voice boomed from somewhere over Emma's shoulder, although she honestly couldn't care as she continued to gaze up at her pirate.
"What's all this then?" asked the same voice, but this time from right beside them, making Emma jump away from Killian to face the amused face of her father.
"Dave," Killian said, more high-pitched than she'd ever heard before, "I was just on my way in when I accidentally crashed into-"
"Emma Swan," she interrupted, sticking her hand out for David to shake, "And my son Henry."
"Sheriff David Nolan," her father replied, "This is my deputy, Killian Jones."
"Pleasure," he said, curling his fingers around hers and fixing those devastating blue eyes on her once again.

A cough from Henry, broke her from her reverie as he tilted his head pointedly towards David.
"Oh right," she stammered, "We've actually just moved here, and I was wondering if you were hiring."
David looked at her with disbelief, "How long have you been in town?"
"About twenty minutes."
"And you're here asking for a job?"
"You'd be really stupid not to hire her," Henry piped up, ignoring the admonishing look from his mother for the interuption, "Mom used to catch bad guys all the time when we lived in Boston."
"You're a bailbonds person?" Killian queried.
"Bailbonds-Oh um yes."
She was so used to having to correct people, she hadn't realised he'd addressed her with the proper title.

Killian let out a low whistle, turning towards David, "I'd hire her mate. How many businesses here can claim they have a fully fledged bounty hunter on their side. Plus the Queen won't mind she's always complaining about how we never get any paper work done, an extra set of hands can't hurt."
"Who's the Queen," Henry asked, already knowing the answer.
"Regina Mills," Killian replied, "Mayor of Storybrooke, technically our boss but really more of a good friend."
Emma coughed to cover her choked laughter at the realisation that Prince Charming and Captain Hook were 'good friends' with the Evil Queen.
David gave her an odd look but continued, "I'm sure you have the qualifications Miss Swan, but-"
"Oh come one Dave; I know what this is about," said Killian with a smirk, "Hiring a woman won't take away any of our time together, you'll still be my number one girl."
Henry lost it at this, bursting into a fit of laughter as his grandfather glared and tried to get Jones into a headlock.
"You're such an ass," he muttered, "Very well Emma, I suppose we can make you and addition to the team."

Henry whooped and then followed Killian down the hallway, but not before the pirate had tossed her a quick wink over his shoulder.
Despite his earlier blundering, he was clearly still his smooth, debonair self underneath.
Turning back to David, she caught him rolling his eyes at his deputy's antics.
"Hasn't been with a woman for as long as I've known him that one," he says as they trail the others down the hall, "Most of the women in town would have him if he went for it, and probably some of the men too, but, for all the time he spends at the Rabbit Hole, he never brings anyone home."
It was strange to hear her father talk about the man he'd punched in the face about three weeks ago with an obvious deep-rooted affection; this new persona her pirate possessed, intrigued Emma to know end.
"You're telling me that that," she said gesturing to where Killian was leaning against a desk with his hand rested on his belt, chatting to Henry as if his life was a
photo-shoot, "Doesn't have some woman every other night?"
"He flirts sure," David shrugged, leading them into his (what was actually her, but he didn't know that yet) office, "I'm pretty sure it's just second nature to him, but he's like a freakin' monk, keeps telling me he'll know her when he sees her, and until then, he's happy with the family he's got."
"His family?" Emma asked, confused seeing as she knew that his only brother was long gone and that his father was out of the picture centuries ago.
"Me and my wife Mary-Margaret; Regina to a certain extent and then Granny has a habit of taking in strays and so he's like a second grandchild to her after Ruby."

"Sounds like a hell of a man," she said somewhat wistfully as David handed over her new badge.
"The best I know. Welcome aboard Deputy Swan."

~E&K~

Having procured herself a position at the station, Emma was (reluctantly) taken away from the two other important men in her life, to head down to the school to get Henry administrated. They walked in silence as Emma tried to analyse her interaction with Killian and David.
There had been no hint of recognition from either of them, which she was expecting, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt. Her fathers caring mannerisms and the feeling of being wrapped in her Captain's arms had been so devastatingly comforting, although neither of them could know, the effect that it was having on her.

With her badge attached to her belt, she'd vacated David's office with directions (that she didn't need) to lead them towards the school. Her son had still been wrapped up in conversation, but he clearly only had half of the Deputy's focus when she re-entered the room.
He'd smiled at her from over Henry's head, the same devilish grin that he always wore, the one that pulled on her heartstrings and made her want to kiss it off his stupidly attractive face. Her son seemed to realise he'd lost the full attention of his audience, but with a glance behind him to where his mother was stood, he huffed out a breath and muttered 'typical' to himself. How her eleven year old, who had spent maybe a day and half with herself and Killian, was calling their interactions typical was a bit shocking to Emma; but remembering their heartfelt and very public goodbye a few hours ago, she guessed she couldn't be that surprised.

She was keeping half an eye on Henry as they walked, and the rest of her attention was spent identifying the citizens around them.
This curse was different, she realised in many ways, Storybrooke had an air of brightness to it that hadn't been around with the original, the people had retained their good relationships with their real friends and family as they would have with their memories in place; but then that was the main issue. They treated each other like they did when the town wasn't cursed, when they were still the people from the Enchanted Forest, so nothing seemed abnormal to them. Everything around them pointed to a happy life in a small town where everyone was friendly and there were no villains to ruin their , all in all, would make it infinitely more difficult to prove that none of this was right. Part of her felt selfish for wanting to take that away from them, she was the Savior, she was supposed to provide happy endings not toss people back into a world of magic and monsters.
But she missed her family; her mom, her dad, they would want to know her. Regina deserved to remember that she had a son whom she raised for ten years. Killian should know that the woman he loved was still here, that she was fighting for him, and that she could see herself falling in love with him too.

Signing Henry up for school took no time at all. The receptionist was still incredibly friendly and said that he could start tomorrow in Mrs Nolan's class. The mention of her mother, sent Emma's heart beat racing slightly, but it was lesson time and they weren't able to catch a glimpse of her. Instead Henry lead her back into town towards Granny's so that they could discuss their plan to move forward. On their way, they stopped at the pharmacy to grab some snacks and a newspaper; there was no way of knowing how long it would take to break this curse, and, if they were in it for the long haul, making the inn a permanent residence was not a good idea. Henry had always been on at her about getting a place of her own in Storybrooke, she couldn't very well live with her parents for the rest of her life, especially with their fondness for making tacos. The real-estate market wasn't exactly flourishing, but there were enough properties around that they should be able to find something suitable.

Before Neverland and Peter Pan and flying ships and pirate's who made her heart skip a beat; Emma had been unsure of where she truly belonged. The idea of leaving everyone behind when the curse came start a new life without them had torn her apart, and now, particularly with her father looking at her but not seeing who she truly was, she had never missed them more. Storybrooke was her home and she was determined to do what a clever Huntsman had once told her. Emma Swan was going to put down some roots, permanent ones this time. She was going to figure things out, look into maybe finding a house, break this curse and live happily ever after.
Sounds simple enough, apart from the whole issue of convincing everyone in town that their lives were all a lie and that she was here to use magic to rescue them.

Sinking down into one of the plush armchairs in their newly acquired room, Emma ran a hand through her hair, suddenly feeling incredibly tired as Henry pulled open a bag of gummy worms to snack on. She didn't have it in her to scold him about eating a tonne of sweets so close to lunch time.
"So Operation Cobra Part 2," he mumbled through a mouthful of the treats.
"I guess so kid, at least I'm already convinced this time."
He nodded, slowly stuffing more worms into his mouth and then pulling over one of the complimentary note pads and pens, and writing furiously upon it.
"What are you doing kid?"
"Making a list of where the Nevengers are and what they're doing."
"The who?"
"The Nevengers; you know everyone who rescued me from Neverland, it's what I've been calling you all. So Grandma and Grandpa are still married and have their old jobs but with a promotion in Grandpa's case. My other Mom is still the Mayor, but is nice and friends with them all; and Captain Jones is Grandpa's deputy."
"That just leaves Neal and we should probably try and keep an eye out for Belle as well," said Emma.

They had their list, they knew their mission, but how to proceed.
The two of them knew nothing about what happened, in all rights they shouldn't even be there, no one should. Something had changed when the Bug stalled, something altered the magic to keep everyone in Storybrooke but with things reset into cursed mode with a nicer twist.
Emma sighed heavily and cracked open the can of coke that they'd picked up, suddenly needing the sugar rush that it would hopefully provide.
"I think we should tell Killian."
She very nearly spat her mouthful of coke across the room as Henry spoke, the surprise sending the bubbles into her nose and leaving her choking, struggling for breath.
"What?" she hacked, "Why?"
Her son simply shrugged, "Cursed Killian obviously still has a thing for you, so I bet if you asked really nicely and did that eyelash thing you do around him, he'd help us out with trying to figure out what was going on."

Emma blushed furiously, "What eyelash thing?"
"They get all fluttery and you look at him through them."
"I do not!"
"You totally do; it's okay though because he does the looking down, almost blushing thing whenever you smile at him."
"You're way to perceptive for your age kid," she muttered, taking another pull of her drink. "I think before we get anyone else involved, we should do a bit of sloothing ourselves, try and find your Mom and maybe Neal, check in on them before going any further."
"Fair enough. Operation Cobra Part 2, is ago."

~E&K~

The Enchanted Forest

Zelena shrieked and stomped her feet as she realised that the teenage sorcerer's curse had failed and that the people of Storybrooke were still safe out of her reach in Maine.
One of her minions chattered beside her as he came into land, and with a lazy swirl of her hand, the green smoke encompassed him so that he was once again a man.
"Walsh my pretty," she crooned, "What did you find out?"
"No one knows why the curse failed, the clouds were gathering and people have fled in this direction, but no one from the other realm has landed anywhere."
The Wicked Witch stormed across her sisters room to the balcony, clutching the rail and looking out over the forest.
"Well if they won't come to us, we better go to them," she hissed, turning back towards the man behind her, "I have another job for you. Take the others and find me a wand imbued with dark magic."
"But I-"
"Do not argue with me!"
"Yes Mistress."

Another cloud of smoke engulfed Walsh, so that he once again reverted to his enchanted form.
"Fly my pretties, fly!" Zelena screamed as dozens of winged monkeys took off from their perches atop the castle.
"Be seeing you soon sis," the Witch muttered, before parading away, her laugh left echoing behind her.

A/N: Another slight cliffhanger, I know I'm terrible. So everyone is cursed...again, story of their lives right? I'm still pretty much in the zone and have a solid idea of some of the events, but it's probably going to be a bit longer between updates this time. Until then...
Stay beautiful my pretties!