More interaction with Emma and her parents – this time her father. We also get a little Regina time at the castle.

Leo's age. In my story, Leo is 8 years old, but Killian thought he was more like 6 because he is small for his age. My idea was that he was born early and Snow has been quite protective of him since he seems more fragile than Emma had seemed. He was about 4 when Emma gave birth to Henry. That may come into play in a later chapter.

Previous Chapters – AO3 and

They did not tell Emma right away why she would not be permitted to walk in the gardens that day, nor did they explain to Leo why he could only play in his room and not about the castle as he usually did. It was Leo who put up most of the fuss, complaining that he had missed things and people and wanted to play amongst the trees and see the stablehands working out the horses as they did each morning.

"If you do as mother and father say, I'll let you read to me from your favorite story book this afternoon," Emma told him as they made their way to the east wing of the palace. "You've got lessons today anyway."

Leo pouted a bit as he scooted down the hallway to Johanna's waiting arms as Emma slipped into the smallest of the three libraries in the palace. Most of the books in it were far too juvenile for her, but she was not going there to read. She settled herself at the desk closest to the window and began on her letter to Killian again, describing for him a few details of the journey back and how she missed so much about how simple life had been in the village. Her words flowed easier without sleep begging to overcome her. And she was hopeful that the words made sense to him as she read over it twice. Frowning to herself, she still didn't feel that sounded just right, but she summoned one of the birds that her mother had trained and went to tie the message to the yellow feathered animal.

"Just a moment," she said to the bird as she searched the desk drawer for a bit of twine or something to fasten the message. Finding nothing, she began to despair, as doubt preyed on the delay in her actions. In a rash decision, she pulled the blue ribbon that tied off the braid of her hair and used it instead of the more ordinary twine. Closing her eyes as if making a wish, she sent the bird with the message on its way. It might have been more sentimental than she was used to being, but for some reason she liked the idea of him with her ribbon. Maybe he might recognize it.

***AAA***

Snow felt her hands dampen the dress she was wearing, her grip on it tight and nervous as the carriage containing Regina drew closer. She had been watching from the window of the highest floor of the palace, her eyes scanning the horizon until she finally saw the familiar dark image of the carriage that had been a part of her nightmares for years. When Regina had been forcibly removed from the throne, Snow and David had agreed to certain concessions and allowances for her well-being. She was given a place to live, an allowance, and kept many of her belongings. In return, she gave up the ability to perform magic and held no formal royal functions. The midnight colored carriage was one of those belongings.

David was the one to greet the woman who had married Snow's father, though Snow had come downstairs for the occasion and stood just inside the door. The surprise that Regina was not alone was not evident on David's face as he held out a hand to greet Robin and ushered Henry and Roland off with Johanna. Making a simple comment that she was full of surprises, he got no real answer.

"Regina," Snow said as the woman crossed the threshold into the grand foyer. "I wasn't expecting you."

The woman gave a tight smile as her husband stepped around her to bow before Snow. Though it would be not out of line with protocol for Regina to be omitted from the tradition of bowing before the Queen as a former queen herself, the woman bent her knees slightly with a dip of her head in a show of respect. "I apologize for the rushed nature of this visit," she said. "We are in need of your assistance."

Snow kept a good poker face as David suggested that they might move to the sitting room to be more comfortable. "No need in standing around here like we are not all aware that this will probably be quite a conversation," he said, his hands rested at the sash about his waist as he walked into the room that was decorated in deep burgundy and blue tones. Helping his wife into a seat, he asked if the visitors might enjoy something from the kitchen and asked after Robin's preferences before turning silent and looking toward Regina for more of an explanation.

To everyone's surprise, Regina spoke directly to Snow without some of the quips and threats that had been her trademark. "My son's life is in danger because of the Dark One," she said, deciding that frankness was the key to the conversation. "I made a deal with him to be able to bring Henry into my life and now it is time to pay up."

David spoke first, his face appearing as a man having something sour. "You named your son after your father?" he asked, skeptical to the idea. "The same father you killed in an effort to cast a curse that would send us all into some purgatory for who knows how long?"

Robin showed no surprise at this news about his wife, but it was clear to her that he would ask after it later. "You know as well as I do that to cast that curse I had to crush the heart of the one I loved the most. My father was always that for me."

"Does it really matter what she named her child, David?" Snow admonished. She was known to have a weak spot when it came to children so framing the plea this way was a good first step. "You should know better than to make a deal with him Regina. What does he want of you and your son?" Snow could not be too tough on her stepmother, as she had gone to Rumpelstiltskin while pregnant with Emma, hoping to gain knowledge to defeat the curse. It was easy to stand proud and pretend that one was above magic, especially dark magic. However, when one was faced with any number of obstacles, he was always a solution to consider.

"He wants my son for some ungodly reason that I don't know," Regina said, trying hard not to lose her patience. "The only way to sleep at night will be if I beat him. That's going to take magic. Either that or it will take some great force that I don't have at my disposal."

Snow shook her head sadly. "No one has seen him years, Regina. The last person who did is no longer in this realm. I don't see how he can be that big of a threat to you." She pushed her hands together into one knot. "Is this a ploy? Something to make me give you your magical abilities back so that I might become vulnerable to you again?"

"I saw him the other night," Regina said, shaking her head. "He came to me to threaten my son. Each hour that passes brings him closer." She looked at the royal couple hopefully, but found no sympathy in their eyes. Throwing up her hands, she stood. "This was a waste of time."

Robin grabbed his wife's hand and squeezed tightly as he looked on at the Queen's passive face. "Regina did not want to make this plea to you. I'm asking you, your highness. Isn't there a way? Isn't there something that would allow her to regain her powers to fight him while still protecting yourself? Perhaps a time limit on her powers or some sort of control?" He paused. "I don't know the details of what happened, but I do know that my wife is not a cruel woman. She will not hurt you, your highness."

David scoffed at the plea. While his heart certainly went out to the former Queen and her desire to protect her son, he was not about to advise his wife to make themselves and their kingdom susceptible to damage from who he knew as a vengeful woman. "Your wife," he said, pointing his chin toward Regina, "attempted multiple times to have my wife killed. She had her branded as a fugitive and sought to separate my family. And all for what? Revenge from a secret my wife shared when she was a child! I cannot see any circumstance where we would knowingly and willingly give your wife back her magic. There are too many people to think about. There are too many people to protect from the likes of her."

Regina had never lacked the regal quality that seemed to ooze out of every poor of her being. She wore it like the crown she had lost years before. Pushing herself up to standing, she nodded to each of them, and looked to Robin. "A waste of time," she repeated. "Perhaps we can contact someone else to help us. If you think that man is going to stop at Henry, you're mistaken. He is a threat to us all. He could be creating some other evil spell that will turn us all into toads for all I know. And yet you are sitting here without doing a thing to protect yourselves or your subjects. That's not very royal behavior."

David's face reddened with anger. "I'm not about to take advice about being a royal from you," he said. "You brought your son here with a price on his head. You're the menace in this situation, essentially inviting the Dark One into our home."

"You would do the same if it was your child in danger."

"She's right," Snow said, biting her lip as she saw the flash in the woman's eyes. "Wait. I don't know that we can restore your powers, but surely we can find a way to protect your son."

Robin looked to the hopeful expression on the Queen's face. "We would be in your debt if you did," he said sincerely.

***AAA***

Killian had once described the feeling of the hours before setting sail as the greatest anticipation known to man. He had hundreds of years to fully gasp that rush of adrenaline that coursed through him at the busy nature of his men throwing lines and raising sails to meet the winds. He thrived on the sight of the skyline growing smaller. By morning he would know that feeling yet again.

He was having that same thought as he waited on one of the shops that carried many of the food supplies he would need to open after the midday meal and break were complete. That was when the bird found him. The yellow feathered and cheerful bird landed on the window sill in front of him, The paper was attached to it with a blue ribbon he recognized as the one she had worn in her hair the day they had spent together at Granny's cabin. To his surprise the bird stood there patiently as he fumbled with the knot, as it was not so easy to untie with one hand.

He tucked the satin ribbon in his pocket as he read the letter, smiling to himself that he could hear her voice in the words. For a while he forgot the responsibility of making the deals for the supplies they would need, caught up in her words and descriptions of her life. She clearly did not need him, but he could imagine himself there beside her. Then reality sunk in. The end of her letter explained how the bird would work, how to call for her and send a letter of his own. Even the instructions were laced with that self-doubt that always seemed to creep into her speech. She seemed to truly wonder if he would want to continue contact with her. Despite his own doubts of inadequacy, he felt for her and wished that he might do something to make her believe in herself.

He folded the paper carefully and returned himself to the duties of buying the corn meal, and dried fruits that he tried to keep in stock on his ship. It took four men to carry it all back to the Jolly Roger, the bird following along at some distance. He thanked them each with a coin and disappeared to his cabin as the remnants of his crew disbursed into the duties of storing it. He'd been thinking of what to write her, hardly wanting to expose himself on paper or in person. But yet the words flowed out as he told her of setting sail in the morning and the rush going through him. He laced his descriptions with thoughts of how she might like it, knowing that the freedom of seeing the world was one of her greatest desires. And he said he hoped to see her again someday soon.

Stepping foot on deck, he whistled as she had suggested to call for the yellow bird and sent the message off without an explanation that he now carried her ribbon in his pocket to use as his own personal talisman.

***AAA***

Emma could hear the tension in her mother's voice as the woman stood in front of her and explained that Regina was downstairs. "You're hardly a child, but I wanted to protect you from her. And now it seems I have invited her into our home." Snow seemed paler than her normal fair complexion, a look of worry evident on her features.

"She's a mother now," David told Emma, his voice a bit stronger. "It seems to have done things to her, made her…"

"More human," Snow finished. "Her son. He's here and he's in danger."

Emma looked between her parents with a quizzical wonder. "Wait, I don't understand. Regina is here. Why? Her son's in danger and she comes for a visit? Is she that cold?" All of her life Emma had heard the stories that her step-grandmother had done horrible things to her family. Her mother and father could have both died at the devices of this woman, but they were playing host and hostess to her. Emma wasn't sure she could understand forgiveness like that.

"She needs our help," David said by way of explanation. "She needs us to protect her son from the Dark One."

There was an involuntary shiver that ran through Emma, a coldness she always felt whenever the man was mentioned. "Why would the Dark One…"

"We don't know all the details," David said. "Perhaps it isn't for us to know. We…we can't let a child suffer because of bickering magic. And the choice was this. We could give her back her magical powers. Or we could find another way to take on that dark magic."

Emma swallowed hard, realizing what her father wanted of her. "You want me to do it? You want me to take on the Dark One?"

Snow's eyes shone brightly with the unshed tears as she watched her daughter's crestfallen face turn angry. Their only daughter had magic because, according to the fairies and everyone else they consulted, she was the product of true love. Why their son had no similar traits, nobody could explain. She had cried and begged the fairies to remove the magic from Emma the moment they had seen evidence of it, fearing that her daughter would turn evil. Snow had never seen a good use for magic, as it always seemed to drive the bearer mad with the power of it. She did not want that fate for her daughter.

"You were given magic for a reason," David explained. "And your issues with the Dark One are already strong enough to spur you. I know you have no reason to do this for Regina. I'm asking you to consider this for that small boy. He's innocent, Emma. He's a child. Don't let something happen to him so that you might prove a point."

Emma closed her eyes to her father's pleading face. He had never done this before, never asked her to use her magic. She was not unaware of its workings, as the Blue Fairy had trained her for several years, taking a break when Emma was too distraught after the loss of her son. "I want to meet them," she said quietly. "I should at least have that chance to meet the woman and her son. Don't you think?"

"She's lying down right now," Snow explained. "Her son and stepson are in with Leo playing. I thought we might stop in to see them."

Emma followed her parents down the short corridor to her brother's room. Like hers it was spacious and comfortable. However, her room no longer had the shelves of toys or the artwork of fantasy that her brother's room had. There on the floor were her brother and she guessed her newly discovered uncles playing with the tin soldiers that her brother adored. The first to look up was a small boy with a mop of dark hair and a grin that seemed almost impish. He smiled at her easily and introduced himself to her as Roland. The other little boy was quieter with a lighter colored hair and narrow eyes that were almost hidden by his cheeks when he smiled at something Leo said. He looked to the three adults entering with some interest, his eyes stopping on Emma.

The Princess had never been one to swoon, her constitution much stronger than most. However, looking at the small face in front of her, Emma felt her knees buckle and her stomach clench. She was looking upon the face of Baelfire. She gripped her father's arm to feel something solid and real, his concerned face meeting hers as he tried to figure out why she was upset.

"Emma?"

She took two staggering steps backward before turning and bolting from the room.

***AAA***

It was David who found Emma, her skirt having torn in her escape from the palace and leaving him a clue. He approached her carefully, as one would a skittish deer. Smiling at her with soft eyes, and speaking in a concerned tone, he joined her on the bench just inside the walls of the garden.

"You saw something in that boy that scares you," he said, prodding her gently. "Is that it?"

Emma's eyes were closed, her head against the stone wall that blocked off the gardens and legs crossed in front of her. "He looks as Baelfire looks with those eyes. It was too much. I'm sorry. I probably frightened the lot of them by running that way."

"Children are more resilient than most would think," David said gently. "I'm afraid your mother and I didn't consider the consequences of you seeing the boys. Henry, the boy's name is Henry. He's about the age your son would be if he hadn't…"

Emma could hear the pain and anguish in her father's voice as he said the word son. Despite the years that had passed, her father never mentioned Baelfire or what had transpired. Telling him of her condition and Baelfire's disappearance remained one of the hardest things she had ever done. She had feared that she had disappointed him, caused him to view her differently. "Yes, he is," she said sadly. "I know it shouldn't bother me. But with all this talk of the Dark One and seeing someone who looked as I imagine Baelfire would have looked at that age was distressing."

"Emma, you're human. And what happened those years ago hurt you. I'd be worried if you weren't reacting to this in some way." He pulled her into his side, rocking her a bit. "If this is too much for you, you don't have to do it. We'll send Regina on her way with the rest of them."

She was quiet, taking in the sound of his breathing. It was a soothing sound to her, the softness of it when he had held her as he went over documents he had to sign and maps he had to study. She could remember being a toddler and falling asleep on his shoulder as he read some book. The lights low enough not to disturb her, he usually only needed a single candle. "I should want to help," she said. "It's what a queen would do."

He sighed sadly, his arm tighter around his daughter. "You are setting yourself to some high standards. I admire you for it, but I'm not going to blame you if you change your mind. You are my daughter, Emma. And that love I have for you goes beyond whatever the purpose or use of your magic is for us and this kingdom. Say the word and I will..."

Emma smiled up at her father. "You can't send her or her children away any more than you could send me or Leo. I must do this. I must find a way to beat him."

***AAA***

Emma entered the dining hall of the palace with careful steps as she saw the woman who had been the queen before her mother. For all the stories she had been told, she half expected the woman to have hoofs and horns rather than look beautifully regal and calm. Stopping in front of the woman who Emma knew she could technically call grandmother, she curtsied out of civility and respect.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Emma said formally as stopped in front of Robin next.

Emma took her seat at her father's right side and her mother at his left as they sat across the table from Regina and Robin. David waited until after the servants had brought the meal and then again for a few more moments until they had dispersed after he had dismissed them. Alone in the room, he fastened each of the doors and looked to Emma once more with a question if she was sure.

"I want to do this," Emma told her father. "I will take on the Dark One."

Snow was quiet as Regina spoke first. "I don't think that's a good idea. I haven't dealt in magic in many years, but you have to realize you are going up against the most powerful of them all. Just because you're born with magic and there are twinkly lights when you make things happen doesn't mean you are prepared to take this man on in any shape or form."

Emma sat up a little straighter. "I'm hardly an amateur. I've been practicing and working on spells since childhood. I've had wonderful teachers."

It was clear to the Princess that Regina was not on board with the idea that Emma could do this. Perhaps it was her desire to have her magic back or her lack of knowledge of Emma's abilities. "And if it was with the Blue Fairy then you probably are very good at parlor tricks, but we're talking dark magic here. And that is not something that we can treat lightly. My mother was an expert at it, but even she was taught by the Dark One."

"There must be someone who can work with Emma to fight this dark magic," Snow said, surprising her daughter with support of the idea. Snow had, on more than one occasion, been resistant to the idea of her daughter harnessing or learning more about these abilities.

The former queen scoffed as her husband and the others listened with rapt attention. "It's not that simple," she said. "Very few people ever attempted to work dark magic. Those who have specialize. They learn to turn into dragons or control animals. They control minds of people or try to bring back the dead. It isn't a wide range unless you are like the Dark One himself. He is a master of all forms."

As a man of action, David was clearly losing patience with the conversation. "I don't see the point of this discussion of magic until we know exactly where the Dark One is right now. Other than him appearing to you, nobody has seen him. So that's the first step. We must find him."

***AAA***

Emma stepped into her bed chambers with dread, finding the room cold and dark. All the talk of her magic and powers had become a burdensome topic that made her skin practically itch. She had never considered herself to be powerful, as most of her magic came from emotions she was unable to tap and control. It was not something she had truly tried to control or even fully understood. Regina had been right, her training was more in line with simple tricks and spells that made life easier or more fun. She could conjure up simple things, move objects with a bit of concentration, and other nonsensical things that did little more than entertain her brother and annoy her parents.

Emma had cried when she first realized that not everyone had these powers. She had curled up into a ball and begged her parents to take this away from her. They had been powerless to do so, telling her that it was a special gift but one she must use sparingly. When the powers she had began to show in unusual ways, they had called in the fairies to help train her. Even with those women helping her, Emma knew that she was different. Nobody wants to be different at a young age when fitting in with a crowd is a key to happiness. It was hard enough to feel normal when the weight of a crown and a kingdom where upon you, but magic made it worse.

Running her fingers along the cool marble of the table beside her bed, she thought to her father's words about responsibility and that she was his daughter first. That might be, but what kind of woman is she if she can't find the compassion to protect a child. She knew then that she wanted to do something, anything she could to help. Her father was right in that they needed to find the Dark One, as that would tell them how best to proceed. Her mother was a phenomenal tracker, as were Red and Granny. She knew her mother was writing to the grandmother and granddaughter for their assistance now. And Emma considered her options too. She could write to Elsa, who as far as Emma knew, was the only other royal to currently have magical abilities. The two young women had bonded over that as children and found themselves discussing the reactions of others and the attributes of such powers over lengthy letters they exchanged.

Emma dashed off a quick letter to her friend, expressing trepidation at the idea of being the sole source of magic against the Dark One. She knew that her friend had faced her own share of foes, though none as menacing as Rumpelstiltskin. Elsa's powers were natural, but they had been honed and trained by an aunt who possessed similar ones.

As Emma sat with her blanket over her shoulders and her eyes drooping shut, the Princess heard a pecking at her window. The sound was a familiar one and for a moment she wondered if Elsa might already be answering, though that seemed impossible given the lack time elapsing. She carefully opened the window to find the yellow bird she had sent to Killian hopping onto the sill and dropping down so that she might untie the note around it.

Though the pressures of the day were weighing on her heavily and her bed called to her as a beacon of respite in the turmoil, Emma uncurled the note and dropped onto the chaise as she had seen her mother do every time the King had been away and sent word back that he was okay. She grinned at the old fashioned penmanship that put even her more flowery writing to shame with grand flourishes.

Dearest Emma,

I received your letter this morning and am pleased to know you have returned home and are well. You surely have much to plan for in the days to come so I did not expect to hear from you so soon, though it warms my heart to know that you thought of me so quickly.

Emma's fingers trailed over the inked words on the page, smiling at his comments.

My crew and I will be shipping out in a few hours. With the hope of favorable winds, we shall return within the month with a few plans to move inland. Your good thoughts would be most appreciated as we endeavor to make a most harsh journey at that time. While I have kept a sole focus on my vengeance toward the man who took so much from me, the time to extract it is growing near. I shall not drone on about the details of this revenge, but know that it has always been in my destiny.

In happier themes, I spoke to the Lucas women this afternoon before returning to my ship to write to you. They are both well and anxiously await word from your family. It seems that they are among your most ardent of supporters, but I'm sure that you already knew that. I count myself among that list, Emma. If you are ever in need of me, all you must do is ask.

Emma bit her lip, reading the rest of his words that spoke of wishing they had more time together and how he had come to look forward to their daily walks and chats. Though she wasn't sure that she could say the same thing to him, she was quite fond of them as well. The next day seemed somewhat empty without the promise of his arrival.

I should conclude this letter, as there is much to be done in preparation for our sail. The stars will shine brightly soon with no clouds to mute their glow. Thankfully they will guide me along my way and back again. I hope someday they will guide me back to see you once more.

She could see outside the window she had left open, the cool night air sweeping in and making her grateful for her blanket. From her seat she could see the stars that peppered the sky over the darkened forest and gardens below, offering a comforting thought that he was seeing those same stars too. She knew that was such a typical thing to say and think, but her mind had gone there quickly. She only hoped she would not be in the garden picking daisy petals to better know his mind. That would be too much.

The voice inside her nagged at her mind to write to him to tell him of the search for the Dark One. It was no doubt just as perilous a quest as he was to begin, but she felt vaguely protective of him. He should come to no harm in assisting her, but still the thought that he might be of some help was playing about her like a child taunting her with a toy. She would not do it, she swore to herself. She would not endanger him so that she might see him again.