Take me further down the forbidden path
*disclaimer* I do not own the show Once Upon A Time or it's characters. Sorry if there are typos or errors.
So I hope I have made the last chapter as good as you hoped. I did get a review. So happy you guys are reading. Although this chapter i do have to apologize again i do have a good excuse. So much has been going on moving, living with my fiance, one cat passed away and one got hurt recently, and my fiancé's dog keep chewing things up when no one is home. The worst excuse though is so many lovely writers out there I keep getting caught up read instead of working on my own. Though let's not say that's really a bad thing. It kept the juice's flowing.
Sooo on to the chapter at hand hopefully all ideas are still functional while writing them down.
It took Emma a total of two days to get cleared by Dr. Whale and Regina. They simply could not tell that she was in fact fine and able to go home. No matter how much she whined, which she did, her tests kept coming back low and so she was expected to stay. Once she was home again though everything was different Mal was gone, Regina having set her up a place to stay, Henry was pissed though not at just his moms. Seems as though Snow or Charming had revealed to him what his mother's had done to Snow. Seeing the act as strangely not normal for Emma he demanded to know what was done to cause her to do something like that. Unfortunately this lead to him being very upset at both his parents for their actions as well as his grandparents for their past actions. Henry could understand why his mom lost it and he could get how his other mom was tempted but no one had stopped.
Despite the issue of being upset was still an issue they were all beginning to pack for their leave. Mal would have to hold the fort on her own and make sure no one tried to ruin the town, the mayors home, or anything related to ruining their lives while they were away. Mal took the job very seriously as she knew she would have her daughter back soon enough. The first day gone nothing spectacular happened seeing as no one knew the exact day they would be gone. Everyone knew they were going and once Snow had taken her place as temporary mayor all seemed to be pleased. Charming the raised Shepard boy/groomed prince had himself caught between doing his normal job and trying to take the sheriff position from Mal as if he deserved it. Granted the witch had to give him credit for having enough courage to continue his pursuit once he had walked into the sheriff office and found her waiting by the phone.
In the end she bared her fangs at him and growled out the only reward he would receive for trying to force her out of the position she was trusted with. Mal worked then traveled home briefly to eat and shower. She spent anytime she had at the station so she might not miss the call from her friends with news of her daughter.
The call Malificent was waiting for finally came two days later durning the middle of filling out a pile of paperwork. Snow whom had more back bone than her husband demanded she keep up so Emma wouldn't be piled up upon her return. With a sigh of relief she picked up the phone happy for an excuse to stop. The words were blurry so she was quick to look away. Right away her confusion showed on her face as she heard Emma's voice on the other end.
"Sheriff department how can i help you." Mal greeted.
"Yeah Mal listen there something i gotta tell.." over the top of her though came a second unfamiliar voice.
"Hi my name is Starla I'll be serving you today can I get you a drink." There was silence from Emma and as Mal waited for her to say something to either of them she felt a pang in her chest. If it was from Emma's words or from the voice she heard she didn't know.
"Uh.. Let me call you back. What did you say your name was?" she heard and them the call was over. Mal sighed not sure what to make of it. Thankfully someone else called not long after making her to busy to think about it.
Two days earlier:
"Miss swan!" Regina exclaimed as Emma pealed into the first place she came a crossed upon leaving town. Looking over Emma grinned sheepishly at Regina whom was giving her the death glare whilst holding the 'oh shit bar'. She hasn't meant to scare Regina just in her sudden realization of this little run down dinner meant to her she wanted to see it once more. It was not really that important at the one time she visited this place as a kid but August brought her here to give her a life. Since learning of the town and her birth home she had been meaning to go back. There was a calendar on the side of the wall that told her this was where the poor younger boy August had made up his name. She wanted to now share this with henry so he could see where she really being living. Regina although disapprove all the filth she let the two indulge a moment and then dragged them back on course.
This time they didn't stop until they made it to Lilly page's last known address. It took them until dinner to find the place and neither one wanted to disturb Lilly so late just in case they perhaps even had the wrong person. So they set up in a hotel and ordered carry out before they arrived. That night Henry slept on the bed and the two shared a small couch until midnight. They only crawled into bed with henry after spending there down time talking. Emma shared limitless tales of her time in the real world and Regina scoffed only to share on her occasional trouble maker days. The three snuggled close to sleep. The morning found Emma on the floor and Regina lightly snoring hanging halfway off the edge of the bed. This would not have been so confusing if Regina could remember how she got to the foot of the bed.
Emma groaned as her back ached. As she moved she felt what seemed to be a bruise forming on her ribs. Taking a peek she winced at the sight causing Regina to quickly face her. They both eyed the mark and sighed upon realizing Henry had caused both scenarios. chuckled mentioning jokingly that he was much like his mother.
That morning despite the protective urges Regina had they choose to leave henry in the care of the hotel daycare while they sought out Lilly. They were glad they did once the arrived at the awful looking apartment building. Making their way in carefully due to all the lose floor boards and steps all the way up to the suspected apartment. Knocking on the door seemed to surprise one loitering creep and he none so gently bared the bad news to them.
"Lilly? Hmm oh yeah she did live here. I thought she was caught up in some nasty stuff you know." he said when they mentioned who they were looking for. Emma felt rather curious about this statement. His phrasing if anything. She knew it was very likely that Lily may in fact have been in rougher crowds growing up.
"Was?" Emma asked first. "Into things like what?" she followed up. The guy looked down the way at the two and with unfiltered thoughts spoke.
"Oh you know she died. Probably of drugs or maybe she was into worse stuff." the man kept on unaware of Emma's building rage. She stumbled at his words of lily's death and Regina went to reach to catch her but didn't need to as she caught herself. The action of Emma's only registered to the rambling man or even Regina once Emma's fist struck his jaw. He finally shut up about her once friend.
Well in fact he had been biding his goodbye the precise moment he'd been hit but of that Emma didn't care. Regina was quite glad Henry was not there to see this side of his mother. Both women had trusted the boy in the hotel's care and come here to find a dead end. Even Regina was more than a little frustrated about this situation and the news.
Now Emma was being restrained by her surprisingly strong lover. The petite women dug her heels down good enabling the man to gather himself and get away. The fool didn't not waste the kind gesture. After long enough Regina gave her arms rest and let the raged women lose. She flew into the crossing wall by momentum alone and this caused her to pause in her actions. She groaned and looked at Regina. Tears shaking before falling from her eyes. Only Regina could see her like this at times and now only she could help her.
"Emma," soft fingertips brushed over her cheeks. Regina then caught her chin. "Dear listen to me we must get up an keep strong. This friend, Mal's daughter, its time to let her go." Regina knows how long Emma must have looked back on her life and felt torn for this girl. Mal will be broken by it too. That would have to be handled carefully.
Handling Emma turned into an ordeal in itself. Though they had gotten along before now of course there was not a very obvious way to Regina how to calm Emma. Even once they had collected Henry and checked out she refused to calm down. The drive back though normally Regina could remain calm was having a hard time doing so while worring about not only her safety but Henry's as well.
"Emma will you slow down! Please! You are scaring Henry." Henry may have been scared but he tried not to show it. He could only think and feel. His mothers, both his mothers, were radiating intense energy levels. Suddenly the tire closest to him burst. Mentally he cursed because like what the hell was that. There was no more tension in the air at least not of the same kind. Emma had instantly slowed the car and put it in park. Her growl of frustration making him shrink in guilt although he hadn't done anything. His subconscious mind felt or knew differently.
"Ugh! I swear to go if one more thing goes wrong today I'll-" Emma starts ranting only to be cut of by the somehow calm and collected brunette climbing out of the car.
You'll what Miss Swan? Nothing.. You'll do nothing or have you forgotten Henry is with us." Regina upon regaining Emma's attention she clasped her hands. "How about you go get us food in the dinner thats just up the way and well go across from it and grab a tire. We'll come back after we eat." Emma remained silent but eventually nodded and looked over the car pull to the side of the road as they all began their walk up the road.
It was only a mile but even Emma was glad to blow off some steam that way. The group split at the dinner Henry went with Regina to help get the car a new tire. Emma walked in the dinner letting the cool air hit her. For a few minutes Emma sat alone thoughts swirling as she did. She picked up the menu gazed over it absent mindedly before closing it slowing and pulling out her phone. She looked at the time and knew Malificent would be at the station. 'I should be the one to tell her' she thought. Regina would hate hurting her friend and might even feel somewhat responsible enough to feel the need to tell her together but Emma wouldn't let her take blame in this. So Emma quickly dialed the station and gulped once Mal had picked up.
"Sheriff department how can i help you." Mal greeted.
"Yeah Mal listen there something i gotta tell.." just beside her a familar brunette came into sight. The moment she looked up an saw it wasn't Regina but her waitress she silenced the words about to come out of her mouth.
"Hi my name is Starla I'll be serving you today can I get you a drink." There was silence for a long moment and Emma could tell by the breathing through the phone Mal was getting anxious. This voice though had left her speechless. It was that once familiar friend whom she was looking for. She looked much different and older of course but i had to be her. 'what was her name?' Emma asked herself before making the decision to call Malificent back.
"Uh.. Let me call you back. What did you say your name was?" it was most likely not the answer Mal had been hoping for but Emma had to hang up.
"Starla." Emma asked as if double checking what she said. 'Starla' hummed and nodded but she didn't believe it. Her lie detector was going off.
"Right..it's just you look like someone important I use to know and I'm looking for." The urgency in Emma's voice causes the brunette to give an expression that not only supports Emma's lie detector but also reveals the woman curiosity.
"If this person was so important why do you not know her now." Emma could hear the bite in the woman's words and couldn't help but to go all in.
"Because I messed up Lily. I was young an didn't know the whole truth. I do now though and I'm here to help you return to your mother." Lily let her jaw drop and her hand holding her note pad loosen making her arms go slack. It took more than a minute for Lily to get control of herself. She stuttered a replied that was a poor attempt at denying the truth.
"How did you find me?" she questioned placing her hands, notebook included, down on the table. "I mean you wanted nothing to do with me an I started using a new name a few years ago."
"I kept tabs when I was a bounty hunter. I didn't believe you about being connected back then but i do now" The two shared a smile while reminiscing at how fast they bonded. Their thoughts were ended as the manager remaindered 'Starla' that she was under his hawk like eyes and he would have no free time conversing with customers. It was then too that Emma noticed Regina entering the dinner her gazed fixed on the two women who seemed oddly to close for strangers.
"Regina Henry come here. Its her!" she made a point to reveal enough without saying her name to loud. She waved them over where Emma began whispering to Regina more that her name is Starla at the moment but she was most certainly the Lily they were looking for. Regina gasped and found her insecurities and jealousy had vanished at this information.
"Look um i need to get back to work i can make a quick note of what you want but uh can we speak more later.. Before my boss kills me." Lily said looking so apologetic that she had to go. The three quickly let her go and rather than getting some drinks and small things they decided to stay for more that way they could fill there time until she got off from work.
As the other three talked about the situation since Henry had some questions. Regina and Emma both explained that there were times when maybe you make a mistake in life and it still follows you everyday or maybe Lily just wanted to start over and a new name was her only way. Regardless it was rather lucky or fate as Henry would say that Lily had decided to stay closer to Maine closer to where she last lived and closer to Storybrooke instead of ending up across the US or worse .. Dead.
A coincidence it was not though. The four soon shared an learned all there was to be told. A man named 'The Sorcerer' was forced to tell david and snow that the spell he performed was the only way and also forced him to send Lily away. He felt so bad that once he was free f the control he came to her an explained everything. Plans to fix everything as well as who she truly was and where she was really from.
This information gave her motivation after Emma forbid her from coming back around. She knew from 'The Sorcerer' that Emma would break the curse one day. She had motivation to keep on living despite the pieces laid out for her. The paths blocked and molded because of her start in life. She fought years of darkness inside her that had considerably gotten better in the number of times she had crossed paths with Emma.
"I am so glad you've come now that the curse is broken. Although I am more glad to see you've made off better in life than what was planned for us."
"Me too but the curse isn't fully broken and we'd like to keep it that way."
"Really? Are you sure you're the daughter of Snow and Prince charming?" Lily asks jokingly.
"By blood yes we are sure though my family is right here. Oh and Ingrid but she is back at Storybrooke." Emma stated as if that made complete sense to her once friend.
"..." then it clicked like An old light that took a few tries to get it on. "I'm sorry totally didn't mean to imply they are the parents that raised you... Obviously they are not." Lilly takes in Emma's slightly less peeved expression and quickly moves on. "The point is now you know and we can all go back. I'm willing to try putting my opinions of what transpired between myself and the Charmings if necessary only to be by my true mothers side again."
"We wouldn't blame you but just so you know its already been made a point as of recently that their actions were inexcusable." Emma states all though leaving out the obvious that the three already knew. Now was not the time to one allow Lily to learn of such choices Emma has made now was it wanted to reopen this news for Henry. Neither woman wanted to face his grudging looks again any time soon.
Once they had made it to the the point of the return trip it was to late to call back home and they were to busy helping Lily set up her cover story. 'Starla' had kept to herself. Never told anyone where she grew up or what life she lived. She fed nothing to anyone so telling her boss that her mother needed her although it was abrupt was believable. No one could question her just because she never spoke about family back home.
The four worked on Lily's belongings which reminded Regina of Emma's. limited small things practical already packed in boxes. Everything was ready in less than an hour and soon enough the the four drove in separate cars al the way to Storybrooke. Henry was asleep from the long day and Emma held Regina's hand over the gear shift as she looked lovingly at her from across the driver seat.
Surely all would be much better back home once they returned and the only person they would need to worry about was Gold. Once Mal has her daughter back the Charmings would be safe. Not that Emma, Regina, even Henry (if he was being totally honest) cared.
Reviews please!
It has taken me 5 months almost 6 to get here. For that I am so sorry but so much to work through and so much to do in my life. I do have a wonderful program I'm working on now though that lets me pull up my writing where ever I am. Very convenient.
So I do hope to do better this next post. For nowww I peaceful ending to this chapter and next one I do have some chaos brewing just inside town. Let's hope Malificent the fierce dragon can handle the path set before her now. Prove her place and as our family returns become one of Emma's trusted deputies. If she doesn't drown in the plots reaching their boil point first.