Henry's search party

Hook didn't waste any time in waking the others up. Although if it wasn't for the fact that they needed to save Henry, their reactions left him with half a mind to let them get trampled over.

"Do you really want to die that badly, pirate?" Rumple had hissed at him. Hook ignored both their grumbles and pointed to where Tamara and Greg were coming from.

"There is no time for moans! Tamara and Greg are about a minute away from coming in here and tripping right over us." He whispered. "Unless you get up and move quickly they'll spot us, and believe me if Pan's involved that's not good." Hook cast a quick glance to his shadow, and thought how he would rather like it to stay there.

Just in time, Regina, Hook and Rumple dashed into some nearby bushes as Tamara and Greg were pulling Henry through where they had been lying less than a minute ago. Greg stopped them and looked around suspiciously. Hook's heart turned to ice, the others really had no idea how much trouble they'd be in if caught.

"Why have we stopped?" Tamara asked. "You know we've got to get him to Peter before sunrise." Regina stopped herself from getting up and grabbing her son. Tamara and Greg weren't powerless here. Besides, they'd already proved that they didn't need magic to beat her. But still, the terrified look on Henry's face, it was almost too much for her. They'd need to follow them and them and find out more before they struck.

Emma's search party

When Hook had said the journey was a day and a half away, he wasn't counting on it being Snow and Charming making the journey, particularly Snow. She was used to intense journeys that needed to be made quickly on foot. She certainly tripped over fewer roots and coped better with the limited sleep. Charming did his best to keep up with his wife, but the reality was he was better with a horse than on his feet.

"Root." She said matter of factly, without even looking back at her husband; he eyes were focused on the smoke from the hut that appeared to never stop. Sure enough, Charming's foot was just about to snag on the fifth root of the day, and Snow didn't really have time for it.

"How long is it until we get to the treehouse?" Charming panted. He felt he'd be a lot more use there than he was on the journey. Especially if Emma had so much as a paper cut.

"I'd say about six hours. That is if you'll focus more on where you're putting your feet than whining?" Snow answered. Charming couldn't think of a good enough reply so kept his mouth shut and did as his wife said and focused on his feet.

Snow was right. About five hours and fifty minutes later, not only was the smoke visible, the treehouse was as well. She stopped Charming and motioned for him to bend down with her. "Here's where we need a plan." She breathed into his ear. They crawled closer slowly until they saw the pit beside the lost boys' home. And sure enough, two of the boys were standing over it, swords in hand. Charming could feel the adrenalin pumping through him, they were so close. Snow had a thought and starting to rummage around in their bag as quietly as possible. Charming gave her a quizzical look. She pulled out a bag of some kind of red powder.

"Mulan used this sleeping powder to help me enter the fire room." She whispered. "I kept the leftover powder because I thought it might be useful someday. Turns out I was right to keep it." Snow took a handful out and carefully put it in Charming's hand before motioning to the guard nearest him. They both crawled around the clearing the boys had made until they were behind their guard. Snow mouthed from three to one backwards and as one they blew the powder in the guards' faces. The two boys fell simultaneously; both Snow and Charming caught their boy before they could clatter to the ground and alert the others. They quickly ran to the pit and untied the rope. Snow grinned at her husband before releasing it into the pit. They decided it was better for Snow to go first and Charming second in case any of the other lost boys saw them and started a fight. Snow's feet had barely touched the ground however when Charming came swinging in after her. She smiled at his impatience in wanting to save their daughter. Snow looked around the pit and her heart flooded with relief when she spied Emma's confused figure in the corner. She couldn't make her out properly, but she knew it was her. Snow's smile widened.

"Somebody call for a rescue?"

So, will they both be safe? Who knows… :P I know that wasn't a lot of Charming action, but tomorrow it gets all fluffy :P As always, reviews and ideas greatly appreciated ^^.