Walking through the woods the Huntsman disposed of the pirate a while ago near the palace walls, he ventured deeper into the woods he knew if Emma had gotten away she would head into here, he was walking all day with nothing to show it was getting dark and he needed to find her he didn't want Emma to spend the night by herself in another place she doesn't know. By the time it was dark he had nothing else to do he couldn't see that well and he needed to rest for a little if he was going to be walking and tracking all day tomorrow as well, his heart was heavy, it was still weird having his heart back inside him but it felt right, and he knew that he can say he loves Emma thinking about these past years watching her grow into an amazing young woman, he would be her protector, her friend and if she let him he would love her.

Finding a decent place to rest he sat down with his back against a large oak tree looking up at the sky he wished that he would find her first give him some alone time with her and keep her safe, he let his eyes drift shut and dreamed of golden hair in the sun, pale skin, and sea eyes. It must have been only a few hours his eyes shot open sensing there was something out there watching him he stood and drew his dagger

"Come out whatever you are" he called out into the darkness

"Oh well aren't you a brave one" he saw something appearing on a branch above him first a head then the rest of the body showed itself only to disappear and reappear right in front of his face, a damn cat but not just any cat he heard about this cat he was call Cheshire Cat

"What do you want Cheshire" He hissed through his teeth dagger still drawn

"Oh so you know me interesting I haven't seen you here before are you searching for someone?" he purred

"Why should I tell you?"

"Well because I am quite good at finding people in these woods you know, and I suppose you are an enemy of the Queen?" Damn how could this damn cat know that, but then again he assumed she had many enemies.

"How do you know that, I could be working for her"

"I doubt that very much and don't worry I am not a friend of hers tell me who is it you seek?" Floating right in front of him the Huntsman decided maybe he could help him find Emma

"I am searching for a young woman, she is lost and I need to find her and take her to the hatter" this made Cheshire smile

"A friend of the hatters is a friend of mine indeed okay I will help you find her and take you to the hatter but then that's the end of it" With that he vanished and the Huntsman groaned that's what I get for trusting a stupid cat

"Coming?" Cheshire was now showing him a path that leads deeper into the woods he would find Emma soon.

Emma awoke just as the sun was peaking through the trees, her body was stiff from her position last night but she managed not to fall to the ground. As soon as she hit the dirt her head snapped up hearing some twigs breaking she decided to hide behind the tree line out of sight and wait for whoever or whatever was there to pass. Sliding the dagger from her boot she took her stance and waited, as soon as she heard the leaves crunch she popped out of the tree and tackled someone holding the knife to their throat she saw this person her voice caught in her throat it was Graham, she put down the knife and just hugged him tightly still straddling him, he started to chuckle

"Good to see you remember what I taught you" Graham held onto her like she was going to disappear any minute

"I am so happy you're here" Emma was letting the tears fall down her face now he took her head and wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at her, her heart quickened and then she realized that she was still on top of him in a rather compromising position he seemed to not care glancing at her lips she knew what was coming next and she welcomed it. He leaned up and brushed his lips against hers, it was slow and passionate, she held onto the back of his neck tangling her fingers in his hair pulling away after running out of breathe he looked at her

"I just had to do that at least once" He smiled and brushed her cheek with this thumb

"Okay" was all she was able to mutter out after sitting like that for a couple seconds she heard someone clear their throat

"Well don't mind me but I do believe you need to be on your way" The Cheshire cat smiled at them

"Oh I didn't realize you had company" Emma quickly got to her feet and Graham brushed off the dirt

"Yes and if you don't mind we need to get moving before the Queens men go on their patrol" he was getting inpatient with these two

"I'm sorry I'm Emma by the way" She smiled at the cat it was so fascinating a cat that could disappear she has heard of him but it was something else to actually met him

"Very nice to meet you Emma, now follow me" putting them on another path he kept his distance ahead just in case they ran into some unwanted guests

"Are you sure you are okay" Graham looked at her chest still with the bandage on it wanting to kill the man who did that to her

"Graham I promise I am fine a lot better now that I am not alone either" She took his hand in hers and they continued on their path

"We need to contact Regina and let her know you are with me she will be worried" Emma pulled out the mirror and whispered her name soon enough it wasn't Regina that showed in the mirror but another women and Emma could only guess who it was

"You must be Emma you are quite the beauty my dear, oh I'm sorry was I not who you were expecting maybe my daughter would be with you if she wasn't so careless" Cora shifted the mirror to show a knock out Regina with her hands bound laying on some couch

"Please don't hurt her" Emma finally said

"Oh my dear I am not going to hurt my own daughter as long as you do what I say" Cora grinned at her statement

"You will come here to my place alone and I will let Regina go and also your Huntsman and father, if you do not come alone I will kill each of them in front of you" Cora's smile was evil and frightening

"You have two days" With that she was gone Emma felt the wetness in her eyes she was not going to cry, she was going to get everyone home safely even if the price was great she looked to Graham who was red he was angry Regina got herself captured and now Emma was put in danger once again this wasn't going well

"I have to go Graham" Emma looked at him bringing her hand to his cheek he closed his eyes nothing he would say could change her mind she was stubborn after all, just like Snow

"I know but we should still find the Hatter he was a prisoner in the castle he could help us" Emma nodded her head they needed to have a plan anyways so why not try to get everyone home safe, she saw sadness in his eyes though like he wasn't telling her everything but she let it go for now they needed to get to the Hatter and get Regina and Emma to safety

Regina was going through the same maze her and Jefferson used to bring back her father, it was the only short cut she knew to the Hatters house and she needed to get there soon. Traveling and avoiding being caught was tricky the guards were on alert so she assumed her mother felt someone was here. Now they needed to find them sneaking around a couple corners she was finally out of the maze and can see the trail into the woods that would lead her to Jefferson. As soon as she stepped out of the maze she felt a presence behind her, and she knew it was Cora slowly turning around to face her mother, she saw her grin

"You thought you could come here unnoticed, how stupid do you think I am, this is the second time you are stealing from me" Cora was calm and it wasn't a good sign

"I didn't steal anything from you, Mother, Father didn't belong here to be used and who says I am stealing anything this time either" Regina wasn't sure if Cora knew about Emma but she didn't want to put her in greater danger than she already was

"Oh so you haven't come to take back the girl you love so much what was her name…Emma was it?" Cora saw the shocked look on her daughters and knew Emma was everything to her

"So it is Emma how lovely I cannot wait to meet her, does she love you Regina" Cora smeared

"Yes she loves me and I love her you will not take her from me like you did father" Regina hissed

"Oh my dear you won't have anything to say about it" With a flick of her wrist Regina was out cold and she bound her wrists her guards picked her up and took her to her palace now the games where about to begin

Cliffhanger I know dont kill me yet I promise the next chapter will be worth it :)