Day 5 continued...

By the afternoon the guys had found the barrels in the barn as well as Zelena's necklace that Emma had hidden. Regina put the pieces of Rothbart's plan together and started making one of her own. In the meantime her mom and Odette sat with her near the lake while reading the rest of Odile's diary and one of Rothbart's. Her mom said it was because she enjoyed the fresh air but Emma knew it was to keep her company, and she appreciated.

"Here's another reference to her mother's flowers. I guess she means these since Rothbart grows them in his greenhouse." Odette commented as Emma watched her point to a phrase in the diary. "I never thought she could care for anyone but herself but it's obvious she still loves and misses her mother. I wonder if that's why she is the way she is."

What Odette said made sense and she almost felt sorry for Odile in a way. She figured her mom would probably echo her thoughts but she didn't reply at all. She was intently staring at the flower chain she'd made from the little star flowers.

"Snow, are you alright?" Odette asked her and Emma was thankful she did. Not being able to communicate with words was really trying her patience.

"David, what did we do with the flowers once we got to the magic barrier?" Snow asked as if she never heard Odette's question.

"We took Emma's beanie but we just left the flowers since we couldn't use them anymore." He shrugged. "Why? Do you think we need them? There's plenty more in the greenhouse."

"That's just it. Why grow them in a greenhouse? They grow perfectly fine out here and this is a completely different environment. I want to check it out." She told them.

Her mom made some good points but she didn't really see the relevance. On the other hand though, Emma knew almost nothing about flowers while her mom's fairytale identity would probably be Mother Nature if she weren't already Snow White. So even if she didn't understand she hoped she had uncovered something.

The group headed toward the greenhouse and Emma followed them to the other side of the lake. But she splashed her wing in frustration when she still couldn't leave. How many more hours until sunset? She was ready to scream or go mad at this point and wasn't sure if she'd make it.

"Don't worry, Mom. Sunset is only about three hours away or maybe a little less. I'm still not the best at telling time by the sun." Henry tried to encourage her.

She reached out and brushed her feathers over his arm to show her appreciation. Even though three hours felt like forever, her son's smile made her feel like she could get through this. And after the others returned with their discovery there was hardly a single dull moment.

The flowers that grew wildly by the lake and the ones in the greenhouse were in fact different. Apparent they looked exactly the same but when held up together there was one slight difference. The wild ones had pointed petals, resembling stars. And the greenhouse ones were rounded. But it wasn't the shape that mattered; it was what was inside them.

The rounded flowers that Rothbart grew were poisonous when ingested by animals, specifically birds. It suddenly made sense why Rothbart trapped her on the lake after she became a swan instead of returning her to the greenhouse this morning like she expected. And also why he was so mad after she and the Children of Lir ransacked the place. Not only did they destroy the flowers he kept in memory of his wife, they also could have died from it. Thankfully they didn't decide to have a snack after their bit of pillaging.

Shortly after that discovery, Zelena arrived with another staff. It was the key they had been waiting for and the first thing she did with it was destroy her necklace. Apparently she had been angry with Rothbart from the get-go because he cheated her in the past. But that couldn't have been anything compared to the look she had when she found the necklace he'd stolen.

At least one problem was solved and they no longer had to worry about Rothbart absorbing all the magic. Odette wanted them to use it to summon Derek's heart but they didn't want to tip their hand just yet. Regina hadn't worked out all the kinks in her plan yet but the element of surprise would be crucial.

"I agree that we shouldn't let Rothbart know that I brought another staff too soon. But are we really just gonna sit here until he comes back? He could be gone for hours or days." Zelena questioned them as Odette went back to the cottage, disappointed that they couldn't save Derek yet. "And am I the only one that doesn't trust Rothbart's little helper?"

"She's not his helper; she's his prisoner, just like Emma." Snow corrected her in Odette's defense and Emma would have been right there with her if she could.

"Zelena, are you going to suspect everyone we come across while we're here?" Regina asked her impatiently. "I know you don't like Odette, hence why you handed her over to Rothbart in the first place. And that you're still bitter about that broken deal. But why don't you help me instead of constantly pointing fingers."

"I am helping!" The wicked sister yelled. "Just look at those diaries. There are pages missing and I bet she ripped them out while she 'helped' Snow."

"Why would Odette do such a thing? Odile could have done it herself to keep it from her father." Her mom pointed out.

"Oh, can you please stop being so naïve for two bloody seconds!" Zelena cried out.

"Hey, watch it, Zelena." Her dad warned her and took a step towards her.

Luckily Regina and Killian stepped in before it could go any further. And even though Emma agreed with her mom and wondered why Odette would rip pages out of the diary, she knew that people don't always measure up to the bar you held them to. Killian learned that lesson in the Underworld and she hated to be the one to break it to him. She didn't want to be right again but part of her had to agree with Zelena as well.

"That woman can't do anything without causing some sort of outburst, can she, love?" Killian asked her quietly in both a joking and serious way as the person in question walked over to the barn to get away from them. "And I already know what you're thinking. You want a look at those diaries for yourself. But unfortunately you won't be yourself for another hour and a half so you want me to do it for you."

He either knew her too well or she was way too obvious with her body language or something, even as a swan. And both, was the most likely answer.

"And I gladly will." He continued. "But if things turn out to be a repeat of what happened with Hades' story, just know that this time I won't doubt you, Emma. I don't want to think of Odette doing such a thing but you and your safety mean more than any friendship or alliance, as it should have been with Liam. But I won't make the same mistake twice. If our suspicions are right, I won't let anything cloud my judgment or anyone else's."

Emma appreciated his words, even though she didn't really need them, because it only made her love him more for still saying it. His judgement was clouded in the Underworld but she couldn't blame him for that. It was his brother and he was in denial. Just like she was in denial and lashed out at her parents when she learned about Lily. She knew he trusted her just as she trusted him. In the beginning it took her a while to do so, but that only made it stronger now.

She watched as Killian went to her mom and asked for the diaries. Then he surprised her by coming back, taking his shoes off, rolling up his pants, and sitting there with his feet in the water so he could be a little closer to her. He also surprised her by reading the diary aloud so she could feel included and not completely left out of things. He was really good at the small things and that made a big difference to her.

"Bloody hell," He whispered quickly after switching to Rothbart's diary instead of Odile's. "Remember how you're mother said the flowers Rothbart grew were poisonous? Well, Odile's constant mention of them made me curious about what her father thought of them. And apparently that's how he killed the original family of swans. He used the magic so his wife's favorite flower would grow in a patch just like the others. The swans ate them and died.

"The greenhouse is both a memorial to his wife and to the revenge he got. He blames the swans for his wife's death not the illness that took her. And using those flowers is a lot like how I intended to use my hook to kill the Crocodile. With the exception that Rothbart actually succeeded and I didn't, thanks to you."

For a moment she was worried that he would go down the path of thinking he was just as bad as Rothbart. But the small smile she saw told her that he knew the truth. That he was a better man now despite his long life filled with past misdeeds. He had started to see that in the Underworld and she was proud he didn't fall back just like she did her best not to put her armor back on.

He continued to read on, sometimes stopping to voice an opinion or theory and she also made mental notes of things to mention once she was human again. It really did help to pass the time and allow them to get to know their enemies better. There was a reason why reading a diary was an invasion of privacy and they discovered a few little things that could be used to their advantage later.

Before she knew it the sun was setting. But something was different this time. The last rays of sunlight disappeared and then came the burst of white light, but something just felt…wrong.

CS

Killian POV

"That woman can't do anything without causing some sort of outburst, can she, love?" Killian commented as Zelena walked away.

But even though she wasn't the best at working as a team, he was still grateful for what she had done. She came through for them with the staff and used it to destroy her old necklace. Regina had figured out Rothbart's plan and if he had succeeded the status quo would no longer be in Emma's favor. He was a pirate and knew what happened to people that weren't useful. Despite the situation they were in he knew Rothbart couldn't hurt Emma and the necklace being destroyed lifted some worry off of his shoulders.

Another thing that lifted a weight off his shoulders was something that surprised him. He always enjoyed reading but he hated sitting around and waiting for the enemy to make the move or letting other people make the plans. But he was content where he was. Reading the diaries helped Emma feel included and her presence was a help to him. Even though they couldn't have a normal conversation, she was still there and that gave him comfort. He could still talk and open himself up to her though.

When he read of Rothbart's revenge he felt like he could have written some of the things himself. There was a time when he would've thought he was just like Rothbart despite trying to be a better man. But death, three years in the Underworld, and a second chance at life had changed his perspective. He very well could have been like Rothbart if he had gotten his revenge. He knew what it was like to be the Dark One, how hateful and power-hungry he was. But Emma pulled him back from the darkness and with her he didn't need his revenge. He truly was a better man because of her.

He was grateful for every second with her, even as a swan. But he still counted down until sundown and caught her in his arms the moment she was herself again.

"Are you alright, love?" He asked as he pulled back just enough to see her face.

Seeing her as a swan one moment and then human again with a white burst of light was nothing like he had ever seen before. And this time he was the one that needed some assurance she was real.

"I am now that I'm me again, and that you're here." She replied and leaned in to kiss him and he eagerly met her half way. Or at least he would have if it weren't for the bloody interruption.

"Emma!" Her father called out and ran towards them with his wife and Henry following closely behind.

He couldn't begrudge them since this was their first time seeing Emma in nearly two weeks. But he just wished he had two seconds more before they discovered she was human.

"Mom, that was amazing!" Henry said with excitement and gave her a hug after Killian stepped back to give her a moment with her family.

"That's one way of putting it, but thanks, kid." Emma replied as she moved from her son to her parents. "Now, what can I do? I've been sitting on that lake all day and I need to do something."

"I know something you can do." Zelena showed up and announced. "Find your friend. Odette is missing. Convenient isn't it? If you ask me she's gone off to rat us all out to Rothbart."

"Are you sure?" David asked her.

"Of course I'm sure." She spat out defensively. "I wanted to follow her since you all need proof that she's up to something. Problem was I never found her. The only place I haven't checked is the surrounding woods but without magic I can't search it alone."

"Well, good thing we have plenty of experience with search parties. Why don't you, me, Emma and Hook search the woods? We can take the north while they search the south. In the meantime, Henry can continue to help Regina and Snow can finish with the diaries." David suggested and everyone, even Zelena, was in agreement.

"Doesn't this seem familiar, love?" He asked as he and Emma began their trek through the woods.

"You mean when we were headed through here last night? Let's hope this isn't a repeat. None of us need Rothbart to show up right now and lock us up again." She stated with determination in her voice to not be deterred from her present task.

"Actually, I was thinking of our time in the woods after falling through the time portal." He told her with and linked his hand with hers as they continued to walk. He understood her eagerness to finally be doing something. But he wanted to enjoy the moment alone that they had. And he was determined to make her let go a bit so she could enjoy it as well. "Despite how messed up things were, it allowed us to grow closer together. Now here we are, walking together in the woods, hoping to make things right again, and with a chance to grow back together after so much time apart. Too much time really."

"Yeah, way too much time." She sighed and squeezed his hand.

In the past such a gesture showed her love or encouragement. But at the present moment he couldn't help but feel she was being distant. That her being close to him was just for show, to hide something that was bothering her. And come to think of it she had been distant towards Henry as well.

He hoped it was just the situation taking a toll on her, she had just returned to her human state and he could understand if it took her a while to adjust and get her bearings. Deep down he knew it was more than that though. For once she wasn't an open book, as if a wall had suddenly come between them. Something had obviously changed since last night but he didn't have a bloody clue as to what that change was, only that it occurred when while she was a swan.

So something is obviously up with Emma, Odette is missing, so are some diary pages, and Zelena is suspicious of Odette. I gave you a lot to chew on in this chapter but at least you know what's so significant about the flower. I'm slowly checking things like that off my list and trying my best to give answers. Also, I thought I mentioned this earlier but I didn't. Emma had been gone for about a week when Killian arrived in Storybrooke. So at this point she's been at the lake for a week and five days. More answers are coming next chapter and we're getting close to a showdown with Rothbart. I'm working on it now and I'm trying really hard to get it right. And thank you for all your reviews! It always amazes me. Keep it up and I'll do my best to keep up the good work you all enjoy.