Mirror, Mirror

She didn't have amnesia.

She didn't have amnesia.

There was hope. She wasn't going insane. Gold would be able to fix this; he'd provide some answers. For the first time in forever, she was actually pleased to see his snivelling face.

The same couldn't be said for everyone else, who all stared at him, wearing identical expressions of shock, their mouths slightly ajar. Whatever qualms Mary Margaret had with Emma were forgotten in her her surprise. She vaguely resembled a bird with bulging eyes and an open beak. The scene would be funny if the buzz of anger wasn't still humming through Emma's veins, singing in her blood.

Even Hook got out the car with a, "Bloody crocodile. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I am here because I was invited," he spat through his teeth, without sparing a glance in Hook's direction.

For a moment Emma's heart thudded wildly in her chest as she watched them. She hadn't even considered the possibility of what would happen if Hook was reunited with his crocodile, despite the many attempts on his life back in the real Storybrooke. She half expected Hook to jump Gold right there and then. He'd wasted no time in getting his revenge in Storybrooke.

But she saw that he didn't move closer, and it was because he didn't have any desire to. She didn't have to slap on her Sheriff badge and cart him off, not just for Gold's safety, but for his too. He simply watched Gold, mirroring the shock on everyone's faces. There wasn't any anger on his face, no heat in his eyes, just a mild expression of disgust.

She tilted her head. How… strange.

"Who invited you?" David snapped.

"I did," came Belle's voice. She stepped into view, hands clasped in front of her, biting her lip sheepishly. "I thought he would be the best person to contact. He'd help us the most." Everyone opened their mouths to argue at the same time, but Belle held up a hand. "You can't deny that he's helped us in the past. We wouldn't have been able to get through half the problems we did without him."

"Yeah, but at what cost?" David said. "What's the cost this time."

"No cost." Her eyes flickered over to Gold. "He'll be on his best behaviour, I promise you. He knows what will happen if he isn't." Her last words were said with conviction and a sure nod of her head. Emma trusted her. She trusted that she would have Gold under control if he decided to step out of line.

"Now that's settled," Gold said. "Mrs. Jones has a problem. I think it's time to take this back to my shop."

"My shop," Belle said. She gave him one long look before she headed in the direction of the shop, her heels clicking on the concrete. Emma suppressed a smile.

Later, they stood around the counter in the middle of Belle's shop. Books littered the surface— Belle had been hard at work. She rushed to clear them up, flipping the pages closed, stacking them into one neat pile.

Regina and Henry were there. Emma had contacted Henry as soon as Gold had turned up, and Henry had texted Regina. Leroy was back at her parents' apartment, looking after the kids. It was a joint decision that none of the children should be savvy to tonight's events, at least not yet. Especially not with Lizzie being as fragile as she was today.

Emma waited for Gold to speak. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and she wiped her palms on her jeans. She couldn't help the feeling of elation rising through her veins. She was about to get answers. She didn't have amnesia.

Gold didn't speak. It was like he was weighing up his words. In his hands he held a huge, leather-bound spell book and he skimmed over the lines, using a finger. He hadn't aged a day, Emma realised as she watched him. He looked exactly the same.

"So you don't think I have amnesia, then?" she said, when the silence became too much to bear.

He looked up, sighed softly, and placed the book on the counter. "No, I don't. Belle has already kindly explained the situation. She said you went through a portal?"

"Yes. Cora pushed me."

"I see."

"But- but that can't be true," Mary Margaret said. Emma looked sharply over at her. She avoided her eyes. "She can't have fallen through a portal."

"And why not?" he asked.

"Because portals don't work like that. And we would know, okay. We'd know if Cora sent Emma through a portal."

"I'm afraid that's not entirely true." Gold sighed. "If Cora wanted Emma gone, she wouldn't have told you. She wouldn't want you to stop her. It's perfectly reasonable that Cora would send Emma through a portal— she was her biggest threat."

"But it still doesn't make sense," Mary Margaret said. She threw her hands up into the air. "Why would she send her here? Why would she do that?"

"I assure you, she didn't intend to."

Emma frowned. She didn't intend to? It seemed like the perfect thing to do. By sending Emma to this made up, twisted version of reality, she had not only gotten rid of Emma, but had drove her insane.

Well, not yet. But it was only a matter of time.

"Then what the bloody hell did she intend to do?" Hook hissed out. Again, Emma found herself watching him, waiting for him to pounce on Gold, but no pouncing came.

"She intended to send you to a far away realm, away from everyone. Perhaps the Enchanted Forest or Oz. Either way, she wanted you gone. But something happened that she couldn't foresee."

"What was that?" Emma asked, wishing he'd just get on with it. She'd had enough cryptic comments to last her a lifetime.

"A very rare, very uncertain branch of magic happened."

Emma nodded. "She managed to create a whole new world." It was amazing, that was for sure. She wondered if everyone would feel a little pointless knowing that they weren't real.

"Wrong again," he said. He paused and they watched, waiting for his answer. He took a deep, deep breath. "She sent you to the future."

Emma's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, what?"

He smirked. "What's the matter? Was that not the answer you were looking for?"

Emma didn't know what to say. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. She shook her head. "That's not possible."

"I think you'll find it is."

She folded her arms. "So it's an alternative future, then. One of many possible futures."

"Nope."

Emma looked around helplessly at all the faces peering at her. Her parents, Regina, Henry. Finally, Hook. If all this was true… then she was actually married to him. She hadn't anticipated that.

"But that doesn't make sense," Regina said and Emma breathed out a sigh of relief. Finally, someone speaking some sense. "Portals don't go to the future. Even if they did, Emma would be in her own body. There would be two Emmas."

Gold shook his head. He was wearing that strange twisted smile. "Like I have already mentioned, Miss Mills, this is a very rare, complex magic, something only an experienced sorcerer could understand." Regina opened her mouth to argue but Gold held up a hand. Amidst all her confusion and over the sound of her beating heart, Emma was still able to think same old Gold. "No, there are not two Emmas."

"What happened then?" Hook snarled. "Get on with it."

Gold sighed like the last thing he wanted to do was give them an explanation. He braced both hands on the counter and looked around into all of their faces.

"Make no mistake, Cora had intended to send you far away. If there's one thing she doesn't like, it's people getting in her way, and you, Mrs. Jones, were certainly getting in her way." He paused. "However, at the same time you were leaving the Sheriff station, so was your future self. You happened to be in the exact same place at the exact same time, which created— let us call it an imaginary string— and instead of being taken away to a different place, you were taken to the future. Tell me, what were you doing before you saw Cora?"

"I was talking to… Hook," she said, dumbfounded.

Gold gave a humorless smile. "There we go. Hook was on your mind. You were thinking about him, so that's where the portal took you— straight to where your relationship is happy and healthy. So you swapped bodies."

"Good God," Hook breathed out. Despite herself, she looked at him. "You were right."

So were you, Emma thought with a flip of the stomach. It wasn't a lie. She was married. Hook was her husband.

"So what happens now, then?" Henry asked. He folded his arms. "I mean, obviously she can't stay here. We need to get her home. You can get her home, can't you?"

"Perhaps."

"What do you mean, "perhaps"?" Belle snapped. Emma looked over at her, eyebrows flying up. She had never heard Belle snap at him. "You said you would help, or no deal. You don't come back."

"It's not as simple as that. I don't know if there's even a way."

"Then find a way."

Gold bowed his head. "I will do my best. But I need time." His eyes flew up to Emma's face. "Maybe days, maybe weeks."

"Just get me back," she said.

He nodded. "Like I said, I'll do my best. In the meantime, I need to see if I can breakthrough to the past— or the present, in your case. There will be another Emma wandering aimlessly, wondering what on earth is going on. We need to contact her before she ruins anything."

"And how long will that take?" Emma asked.

"Maybe a day at most. I can work through the night and by tomorrow morning, I should have contact. In the meantime, I expect you to get some rest, Mrs Jones. You have a lot to sleep on."

Ten minutes later they were traipsing out the door. Emma hardly noticed she was moving. Her legs didn't feel real. None of her felt real. It was like she was walking in a daze and all she could think was I don't have amnesia.

Someone touched her arm. "Emma—" It was her mother. Her voice was soft. Tentative.

Emma whirled around and was faced with her mother's dark doe-eyes against a pale face. She felt nothing but anger.

"Save it," she said.

She marched off to the car where Hook was. Her husband. God, that was weird. She was going to have to get used to it— or not, depending on how quick Gold could get her back to the present.

I'm married to Hook. Captain Hook.

The car ride home was mostly silent. Emma could hardly look at him, not with the new found knowledge pumping through her brain. She could feel the electricity pulsating all over. She ran her hands against the denim of her jeans.

When they came to a stop outside her parents apartment, Emma asked Hook to get Lizzie, quietly adding that she wasn't sure she could face her parents again. Not just yet. He didn't even hesitate.

When he returned with Lizzie, she felt a wave of guilt, so strong, it made her feel nauseous. Lizzie's face was serious, her eyes big and sad. Emma tried to look into those eyes, but Lizzie didn't look at her. She just curled up in the back seat. The shame almost consumed her. She would have never treated Henry the way she had treated Lizzie.

When they got into the house— the house that somehow felt different now that she knew the truth— Lizzie flew across the hall. She was halfway up the stairs when Emma said, "Kid, come here."

Lizzie's steps were reluctant but she dragged herself over in front of Emma. Emma took her hands and knelt down so she matched her height. She looked up into her big sad, and— with another wave of shame— tearful eyes.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Lizzie shook her head. Emma sighed. She was hoping the kid would be honest with her and make this as painless as possible.

"Lizzie, I'm sorry." She was surprised by how easy it was to get the words out.

"Why?" She asked, voice small.

"I haven't been… great recently. I should have listened to you when you tried to tell me what was wrong, but I didn't." She glanced up to see Hook stood near the kitchen table, watching them. She moved her eyes back to Lizzie. "I'm so sorry I made you feel like you couldn't talk to me."

"I just don't know what's going on with you and daddy."

Emma watched as those great big eyes welled, blinked, and the tears dripped down her face. She released Lizzie's hands to catch the tears with her fingertips. Something encased itself around Emma's heart, making it heavy, making it weigh down her chest.

"Me and daddy are fine," Emma said. "I promise you. Something has been going on, but it's because of me, not because of him. He's been helping me."

"Have you been sad?"

Emma shook her head. "Not exactly. Just not myself. Daddy's been helping me feel better."

"Do you feel better now?" Her voice was a mumble.

Emma mustered her best smile. She was surprised to feel her own tears on her cheek. "Much."

"And you're not gonna fight anymore?"

She shook her head. "No, not anymore. Everything is going to be okay."

"You promise?"

Emma took her hands again. "I promise." She gave a gentle squeeze. "Now how about you go and wash and get in your pyjamas? And when you come down, we can make hot cocoa with cinnamon and cookies."

Lizzie's eyes flew to the clock. "But it's past 10. I should be in bed."

"Why don't we stay up later tonight?" Emma squeezed her hands softly.

Lizzie bit her lip and nodded. A small smile curled her lips. She nodded again and Emma released her hands, watching as she ran off up the stairs, her curls bouncing behind her. Slowly but surely, Emma's chest began to untighten. She returned to her feet and locked eyes with Hook from across the room.

"That was good of you, Swan." He spoke softly. He didn't move. It seemed like he was putting as much distance between them as possible. That's when Emma realised what she had to say.

"Look, I'm sorry," she said. Again, she was surprised how easy the words came. Sure, her hands were on her hips and she wasn't looking at him, but it was a start. "For what I… did." She was referring to the other night when she'd tried to seduce him, but it could have been anything. It could have been all the questions she asked him, or the way she had brushed Lizzie and her feelings under the carpet. "It wasn't right."

He took a step forward. His face was half in the shadows, and she couldn't quite make out his expression. She watched as he took slow steps, moving carefully until he was right in front of her and she could make out his face. It was sombre. There was shame in his eyes— she recognised it because it was the same shame reflected in her own.

"It is I who is sorry," he half-whispered. Unlike Emma, he didn't avoid her eyes but looked right into them. Sincere. "I didn't believe you. You told me— you told me so many times— but I still didn't believe you. After all we've been through— after—" He shook his head. "I listened to your parents, when I should have been listening to you."

"You couldn't know." She had surprised herself again. Why wasn't she accepting his apology with a curt nod? She should move on now and go back to ignoring him. That's the way it should be until Gold found a way to return her to the real— present— Storybrooke.

"I should have known."

"How could you?"

"I should have listened."

"It's not as easy as that."

They stared at each other. Something passed between them. The air was thick with electricity. Emma knew she should have taken a step back but she didn't. She couldn't. She kept her eyes on his, watching the way they crinkled at the corners when he gave a sad, soft smile. So unlike a villain.

God, she wished she didn't feel like this. She didn't know how to feel. One thing she was sure about. She would never have married him if she thought he wasn't a changed man. Which led her to the second thing she was starting to be sure about.

He had definitely changed.

Emma didn't realise the full truth of how much he'd grown as a person until the next day, when Belle woke them up at seven in the morning with a constant knocking on the door.

Hook got there first. She had only just peeked out the door when she felt him whip past her, a breeze following him with a quick, "I'll get it." He nipped down the stairs and to the front door. Emma watched him go. She padded, barefoot, to the landing where she had a full view of the front door, pulling her dressing gown tightly around her.

"Finally!" Belle said. "I thought you'd never answer! You have to come quick. It's Rumple— he's managed to get a connection to Storybrooke, but you have to hurry now. It won't last for long. I'll look after Lizzie - Go!"

…

After a scuffle of tugging clothes on and brushing teeth, Emma and Hook managed to get to Gold's shop. They didn't bother knocking, the bell would be enough to alert Gold.

He was stood in front of a giant mirror, which he must have pulled from the back room, murmuring things, moving his dagger over it. If Emma wasn't so excited, she would have been creeped out. The Sheriff's station was reflected in it and Emma could make out the desk with the computer on, a couple of empty coffee cups, and an empty cell.

"Is that—" she began.

"Your Storybrooke, yes," he murmured. "I'm trying to contact you— her— the other Emma. I saw her pass through here once, but it's a weak connection. She must not have noticed. The connection is stronger now."

"What happens now, then?" Hook asked.

"It's a waiting game."

All three of them kept their eyes fixed on the mirror, waiting for something to happen.

"I thought we were supposed to come as quickly as possible?" Emma asked, hands on her hip.

"You were. I didn't want to ruin our chances of getting through."

For a while, nothing happened and Emma found herself wondering why she was faced with an empty cell. Shouldn't Hook— the normal Hook— be there? Where was he? Had he managed to escape already? Unless her older self let him out… If she believed him to be her husband, she might have. She might not have realised he was evil. Who knows what evil things he could be out there doing, or what information he could have passed onto Cora. Maybe it was Cora who broke him out.

Another while of waiting. Emma found a chair to collapse into after her legs started to ache from standing in the same position. She leant her arm on the counter, cheek in her hands as she watched.

Half an hour passed. Her eyes drifted out of focus as she watched the mirror.

Then, came the unmistakeable sound of whistling. Emma sat up in her seat. Out the corner of her eye, she could see Hook inch closer, his eyes fixed on the mirror. Even Gold seemed to hold his breath in anticipation.

Then David walked into view and Emma was struck by how young he seemed. She'd gotten used to seeing the older version of him, the one with lines around his face. This David seemed so… she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

David crossed the room and picked up the empty coffee cups from the desk. He threw them into the trash. He turned to leave the room but he'd only just reached the door when he paused in his footing and turned, looking directly at the mirror.

Emma let out a silent gasp. She could feel the tension coming in waves off Hook as he took a step forward, eyes on the mirror.

David too took slow steps towards the mirror, eyes narrowed, lines appearing around his eyes. Emma held her breath. There was a pause.

One.

Two.

"Looking good, my man," David said. It took a second for the words to catch up and for Emma to realise he was talking to himself.

He swiped a strand of hair back into place, gave himself one last smile and disappeared out the room.

"Enchanted glass," Gold murmured. "No one can see us unless we want to be seen."

"So when Emma—" Hook began, but his words were cut off by a figure walking into the room.

Herself. Emma. She was younger, with smooth skin untouched by age and hair curling halfway down her back. The sight of her sent Emma's heart pounding— she was so used to looking at her older self in the mirror, she forgot this is what she looked like.

"Emma," Hook breathed. He directed a sharp look at Gold. "She can't see us?"

"Not yet. Call her."

"What?"

"You heard me, pirate. Call her to you. Let her know we're there."

Emma turned to Hook and found him staring back at her. He was waiting for her permission. She gave one quick nod, well aware of how strange things were about to get.

He braced his hands on the desk, almost for support.

"Emma," he said.

There was no answer. She didn't even look in their direction. She was too busy going through a few papers on the desk, humming to herself. Now there was an odd sight. Emma never hummed to herself. She never looked so… happy.

"Try again," Gold demanded.

Killian gave him a look before gazing into the mirror once more.

"Emma," he tried again.

That did something. Emma whipped her head around, forehead puckering. She was searching for the sound.

"Emma, it's me. It's Killian."

"Killian?" she said softly.

Her eyes roamed every inch of the room, looking for where his voice could be coming from. Finally, they rested on the mirror. She rushed forward.

"Are you coming from here?"

"Yes!"

Her face broke out into a smile, tears filling her eyes. "I can't see you. Why can't I see you?"

"I don't know, love," Hook said gently before snapping to Gold. "Fix it."

Gold held up his dagger and muttered some incantation over the glass that Emma didn't care for, or didn't listen to. She was too busy watching herself in the mirror, seeing her eyes wander frantically over. And then, her eyes locked on Hook.

There was a pause. A breath. It was excruciating. And then:

"I can see you," she said. "Killian, I can see you."

The desperation in the other Emma's voice made her recoil. She hated seeing herself so pathetic. That was until she heard the same desperation in Killian's voice when he said, "I can see you too. Bloody hell, Emma. How did this happen?"

"I don't know. I don't know what happened. I just woke up and found myself lying on the floor— and everything was the same but different. You were in a cell. It didn't take me long to work out I'd gone to the past, especially when I spotted Cora across the street. You should have seen her expression. She looked like she was gonna flay me." Emma was just thinking she'd never heard herself talk as much in her life when her own eyes fell on her. "Holy crap. That's me."

"Yes," Gold said. "This is you from the past. You swapped bodies."

"What the hell are you doing back in town?" Other Emma snarled.

"I, believe it or not Mrs. Jones, am helping."

"It's true," Hook said. "He's helping. Don't worry, Belle with banish him straight back out of town if he causes any trouble."

"Good."

"But right now," Gold continued between gritted teeth. "You need me, whether you'd like to admit it or not. Only I have the explanations, and magic, you need. Without me, you'll be stuck."

"Okay, I'll bite. What the hell happened?"

Emma listened as Gold filled other Emma in on how she ended up through a portal, about the very particular brand of magic created, and how they still somehow managed to swap bodies. Other Emma listened intently, nodding along, frowning in concentration.

Emma couldn't keep her eyes off herself. She was stunned by her own green eyes, her own animated face. It was different than looking in a mirror.

"Great. So how do I get back?"

"Alas, I am unsure," Gold said. "I have theories, of course, but I always have theories. There is only one way to know for sure and that is to test them all out, which is what I plan to do. Sit tight, Mrs. Jones. You might be there months."

"Months?" Other Emma said. "You're kidding, right?"

"Unfortunately not. The amount of magic we're using to reach you is indescribable. It will take a lot more to bring you back."

"So I'm stuck?" Both Emmas said at the same time. They looked at each other, identical expressions of surprise on their faces.

"No, love... Loves," Killian said, frowning, looking between them. "Just marooned."

"And that's so much better?" The other Emma said. It took Emma a second to realise that the other Emma was teasing. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, her eyes directly on Hook's. "How am I supposed to stay here for months without you?"

Without you.

"Don't worry. As I take it, there's a dashing rapscallion version of me somewhere in that town, and he is in need of saving."

"I saw him earlier," she said. "I don't think he likes me very much."

"I wouldn't be so sure. You've held his heart longer than you know."

"Oh my God," Emma said before she could stop herself.

She brought her hands up to her face. They felt ice cold against her warm skin. Was she blushing? Even this casual flirting felt a little too intimate. It was even worse that she was watching herself flirt. Everyone turned to her.

"And what about you?" Hook asked the other Emma, his eyes darting to Emma. "How long have I held your heart?"

Other Emma surveyed her, watching her with one eyebrow raised. Her lips curled into a slow, knowing smile and Emma hated it. Being figured out by herself was worse than being figured out by anyone else. She felt betrayed.

But other Emma didn't answer Hook's question. She merely continued to watch Emma, surveying her as if she was x-raying her.

"This must be really weird for you," she finally said.

"You have no idea."

"Which is why," Gold began, again through his teeth. "We need to work out a plan, as quickly as we can. I need to be able to contact you when I have new information. We need to make a date."

Other Emma nodded. "Okay."

"This time in two weeks I need you to be by this mirror, whatever the cost. Do not let anyone else get next to this mirror. Make sure you are alone— other people knowing might… complicate things. Do you understand me?"

"I understand."

"I'll leave you to have a… moment alone then. Everyone deserves their privacy. Let me know when you're done."

Without another word, or a glance in their direction, he turned and headed out the door. Emma heard the sound of the bell signifying his exit before she whipped her head back around to other Emma. Her focus was on Hook, and he was looking— no gazing— back at her, slowly inching closer to the mirror. Emma wondered if she should quietly make her exit, but at the same time, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the exchange in front of her.

"You look so young," Hook said. "It reminds of when we first met."

When we met? When they met Hook was a villain, for God's sake. She chained him to a tree and she would have gladly left him to rot if he hadn't promised to help them.

"Trust me, I've got nothing on you. You haven't worn that coat for years. I forgot what you looked like in it."

"I doubt I could wear it these days. It's too heavy for me."

"We might have to put that to the test when I get back."

Emma didn't know whether to gag, laugh, or run from the room. Hook must have sensed her discomfort for he looked at her, a small, apologetic smile on his face. When he turned back to the other Emma, his face was soft.

"Alas, I don't know when that will be. Or if it will be."

"Hey, don't talk like that. We've found answers to problems that didn't have any answers before, we can do it again. I'll see what I can do my end. I won't mess with anything, don't worry, but I can't sit here and do nothing. I might raid Gold's bookshelves— it's still his shop here. I'd ask Regina, but she's working for Cora. I kinda forgot she worked with Cora for a while."

"We all have our demons."

"You more than others, it seems. I forgot how much everyone changed."

Hook's eyes flickered over to Emma again, before going back to other Emma. He lowered his voice. "Not everyone can accept that."

Other Emma's eyes crossed the room to where Emma stood, the same x-raying feeling going through her.

"Hook?" she asked. "Can Emma and I have a moment?"

"Sure thing, love."

They both watched as he disappeared into the back of the shop, the curtain flapping closed behind him.

"You don't believe he's changed?" Other Emma asked as soon as he was gone.

She set her jaw. "No." The lie was almost impossible to get out.

Other Emma smiled. "You're lying."

"No, I—"

"Don't think you can trick me. I'm you, just better and smarter. I have years on you. But more importantly, I've opened my heart up to love."

Emma scoffed. "I have all the love I need."

Her eyes were sad. "No you don't. But you will."

Emma said nothing. She just stared at this other, strange version of her, with sullen eyes and folded arms. A battle stance. She hadn't realised she'd need her armour up against herself most of all, but this woman knew every part of her. She knew every inch of her heart.

"He's not the man you think he is," she said, softly. "I mean, you're already beginning to realise it, but it's true. He's loyal and he's kind. He's protected me— us— when no-one else has. He's gone to the end of the world for us, and he would do it again. I've been to hell for him."

She wanted to tell her that she didn't care for her stupid metaphors, but she kept her mouth closed. When had she started speaking in metaphors? She knew she was just being defensive— a typical Emma feeling, but she couldn't stop it. For some reason, she couldn't be civil to herself.

When the connection started to go bad, Hook returned to the room to say his farewells. Emma asked about Lizzie— begged to see her— but Hook told her they couldn't do that. He explained that he hadn't told her the truth, and maybe it was best not to.

"You're right," other Emma said. "For now, at least. We'll tell her eventually, but she's so young."

When it was time to say their goodbyes, Emma looked directly at Emma and said, "Don't worry. We'll have swapped back in no time. In the meantime, try to go easy on him."

"I will."

"I don't want you to go," Hook said. If he was any closer to the mirror, he'd had gone through it. He touched the rim, but that was the closest he could get.

"We'll speak soon. Give Lizzie a hug from me." Just when Emma thought that would be the end of that, "I love you."

Hearing the words from her own mouth directed at Captain Hook should have been enough to put her on edge, but that wasn't what sent a jolt straight to her stomach. It was his words.

"I love you too, Emma."

She cursed her superpower more than anything else that day because she knew, when the words left their mouths, they meant it. And it terrified her.

The connection ended.

Thank you for reading! I reeeeeeeeeeeally enjoyed writing this chapter. It was so much fun. Let me know what you think?