Disclaimer: I own none of the characters as that honor and right goes to ABC, Adam and Eddie.

Note: Sorry about the delay in this chapter, but I was out of town so I wasn't around my computer much the past couple weeks. To make up for it I've put together a chapter that covers a lot of ground to help move the story along. I recalled back to August and Emma's back story together, so I hope it works and everyone enjoys the twist I threw on what you thought you knew. Enjoy the story and let me know if you want me to continue by leaving a review. If you want me to continue please leave a review and I will try and get the next chapter ready to go up as soon as I can. Remember the more reviews the more encouraged I am to get the next chapter ready ;)

CHAPTER 21: BLOOD RED WOUNDS PRESENT HEARTBREAK

Regina slammed Emma into the wall near the Queens throne and as Emma crashed to the ground she caught sight of a scroll she could only hope was the curse. As her body struggled to compensate for her injuries Emma made the decision that if this was her end that she'd go out providing one last glimmer of hope for her family and friends. She retrieved the vile from her pocket and dove for the scroll. She pulled the dropper from the bottle and held it over the scroll. As a single drop began to fall from the end of it she was lifted up and propelled into another wall where she hit head first. Consciousness abandoned her long before her body collided with the ground in a bone crushing collision.

When Emma opened her eyes she was in a bed in an unfamiliar room, but it was definitely a house from the real world. She groaned as she tried to sit up, but quickly retreated to a laying position as her head spun.

"Easy," a somewhat familiar voice spoke from the shadows. "You took a nasty knock to the head."

The figure opened the blinds over a window and Emma caught sight of her new companion and he was very familiar to her.

"Bae," Emma acknowledged bitterly.

"Hello, Emma, I've been waiting for this for a very long time," Bae replied as he sat on the bed and handed her a glass of water and a dose of Tylenol.

Emma took the pills and washed them down with the water.

"Where am I," Emma inquired.

"Nineteen ninety-two," Bae replied.

"What? No, that's not possible!"

"Oh, but it is," Bae stated.

"Wait, you said you've been waiting for me, but I'm just a teenager in this time. How could you…"

"When I came to this realm I was transported through time and space. Some bit of that magic remained with me and I have retained the ability to jump through time, but it's not without its risks," Bae stated. "I base out this time so that I can be with my family, but a couple times a year I make jumps through time to make sure the timeline is intact. A few years ago I made one of my yearly jumps and what I saw was…disturbing."

"Disturbing? How so?"

"This timeline, one that finds happy endings returned to all, had been altered and shall we just say that the future wasn't a place any of us would desire to look forward to. Every trip since then has shown a future progressively worsening."

"How had it been altered? More importantly, in a world without magic how the hell could someone alter a timeline?"

"Don't be mistaken, this realm has some magic, but it is very weak and only a handful of beings have adapted to tap into it. Even they only have basic skills and aren't entirely adept with the gift they have. In this realm there are only two people with any real magic and they are both in this very room at this moment. Since even my magic is mostly suppressed here there is only one of us with enough magic in them to make such an impact."

"Me? You're saying I've managed to screw up time?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Ever since that trip I've been waiting for you," Bae declared. "I figured somehow you had managed to tap into the rip in space and time, caused by my journey here, and knowingly or unknowingly manipulate things."

Emma was rubbing her temples to try and will away the headache consuming her head. What Bae was telling her was doing nothing but making her head hurt worse.

"So, your interest in me wasn't as much about me breaking the curse…"

"But about stopping you from permanently screwing up the timeline," Bae finished.

"You have a destiny and in order for you to do what you were born to do you must follow a certain path. You getting pregnant with Henry was always a part of the timeline, but you and August were never meant to find a happy ending so soon. He was meant to get you pregnant then ride off into the sunset, but something happened and he stayed with you."

"Wait, you haven't interfered yet?"

"Interfered? What are you talking about? I've made it very clear to you that I do not mess with the timeline."

Emma sat down the glass of water and looked at Bae with a curious look growing across her face.

"Tell me, how bad is the future you visited?"

"The curse is never broken and after the twenty-eight year mark passes the dark magic grows to strong to be held within one small town and it begins to expand until it consumes the whole world in a cloud of darkness. All happy endings have stopped and war ravages the whole realm."

"But that's not possible. If I was with August on my twenty-eighth birthday he would have gotten me back to Storybrooke and we would have kicked Regina's ass."

"Oh August took you there, but with your altered life you weren't able to fulfill the duties of the Savior. You see the pain you have to endure and the things you have to overcome on your own make you the person Storybrooke and the whole world needs you to be."

"Why does everyone keep telling me I have to be the one to suffer so everyone else gets to be happy? I did not ask to be the savior! I don't want everyone depending on me!"

Emma slammed her fist down into the mattress in frustration.

"No one ever asks to be faced with the hardships life puts before them, but what separates a hero from a coward is how that person faces those hardships. A hero will push through an obstacle despite pain and injury while a coward will run and hide in hopes the world will just magically fix itself. The world and your family needs you to be a hero and yes I know that sucks, but that is what life has chosen to throw at you and all you can do now is deal with it and push forward."

Emma got up and started to pace the room as she tried to understand everything Bae was telling her. She needed some guidance on what to do and he was really the only person she could talk to here.

"I suppose I should be honest with you because if what you are saying is right the world may already be screwed beyond repair."

After a moment of hesitation she sat back on the bed and began to tell him about the journey she had recently been on. It took nearly a half hour for her to recount her whole story and in that time Bae had started to pace the room much as Emma had done earlier. When she was done she sat silently while he kept pacing.

"No," Bae finally spoke as he stopped pacing and faced Emma. "What made you think altering the curse was a good idea? That's probably what caused the whole epic mess I saw in the future. That and August interfering with your destiny likely caused an irreversible fracture in the timeline that couldn't be repaired. Emma, you can't allow any of this to happen."

Emma continued to sit silently as she debated what had to be done. She could find a way back to her own time and deal with the consequences of her actions or she could tell Bae how to set things back on track and fix her mistakes.

"Do you think that all of this might have happened before," Emma inquired.

Bae sighed and sat back down.

"Nothing is impossible when time travel is in play," Bae stated.

Emma ran a hand through her hair and closed her eyes for a moment while she collected her thoughts and made her decision. She opened her eyes and looked back at Bae.

"I recently found out August did something that I thought I couldn't forgive him for and now it seems as though I should be angry at myself and not him," Emma spoke. She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "I need you to do something for me," Emma declared. "I need you to get August to make me forget him."

She went about explaining to Bae what he needed to do in order to get August to leave and repair the timeline. She gave him a vile of fairy dust that she had taken from the castle and instructed him on what to do. Later that night she stood in the shadows outside her old apartment and watched as August paced outside. She knew what he was contemplating and she knew the choice he would ultimately pick. It would spiral both of their lives out of control, but she now knew it was an unfortunate necessary evil. Bae put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You did what you had to," Bae replied.

"We both did," Emma replied. "I know it wasn't easy for you to be that manipulative with August."

"I saw my father manipulate way too many people in his time as the Dark One to ever want to be like him," Bae replied. "But if manipulating August saves us all from an apocalyptic future then for this one time it is a burden I am willing to carry."

The two turned and started to walk away from the apartment.

"Now what," Emma wondered.

"You return to the place you came from and get things back on track on your end. Perhaps now your journey will lead you to ending the curse and finally getting the happy ending you and August deserve."

"I hope you will find your way to Storybrooke in the future. I'm sure we could use a hand in kicking Regina's ass."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Bae replied.

Emma stopped and looked over at Bae with a hopeful smile.

"Until we meet again?"

"Until we meet again," Bae answered.

Emma heard a howl and when she looked down she saw Red's wolf staring up at her. The wolf wandered over and brushed against her.

Emma's mind returned to the moment she was in and she tried to force her eyes open, but her body was near the point of failing her completely and consciousness was coming and going. She could only hear and see snippets as her body desperately fought to stay conscious. The last thing she heard was a wall shaking howl and the last thing she felt was familiar hands lift her. Knowing she was no longer alone her body completely shut down and she put her life in the hands of those who had come to her rescue.

David was able to defend himself against the dagger and his confidence grew slightly as he was able to disarm Regina, then she pulled a gun on him and any hope he'd obtained plummeted away.

"No one beats me," Regina screamed.

David was now backed into a wall and he had nowhere to run or hide that would protect him from the bullets in her gun. Regina began to pull back on the trigger and David closed his eyes to prepare for what was about to impact his body. He heard the fire of the bullet and he felt an impact with his body, but it wasn't the impact he had expected. He felt someone collide into him and tackle him to the ground. He heard Regina scream then nothing but the pounding of his own racing heart.

"Get up," Jacob ordered as he tugged on David's coat.

David got to his feet and looked over at Jacob with a confused look. He grew even more confused when he saw Regina unconscious on the ground with Granny standing over her and an unfamiliar man at her side.

"Thanks for the assist, Bae," Jacob commented.

"Don't thank me, Granny's the one who nailed Regina," Bae replied.

"No one hurts my granddaughter and gets away with it, not even the mayor," Granny declared.

"How…," David began.

"Bae here found Granny at the diner and conveyed Emma's message that Ruby had caught Regina in the act of running that car into the Sherriff's station in an attempt to kill the sheriff and in return Regina had shot her," Jacob interrupted to keep David from making Granny suspicious.

"I couldn't stop Granny from going after Regina once she spotted her trying to silence you as well," Bae added.

"Just wait until everyone hears about this. She'll be lucky to still be in one piece when the Sheriff returns from Boston," Granny snarled.

"Boston," David questioned.

"Yeah, you know where Emma took Ruby after you helped them stabilize her. It was a good choice on Emma's part since it is easier to protect her outside of Regina's area of control. She contacted the feds and they sent Special Agent Bae here to keep the peace and investigate Regina. Emma will return with Ruby once the doctors release her for travel."

"Someone should have told the rest of us what was going on," Granny scolded. "Regina has been spreading lies about Sheriff Swan kidnapping Henry and Ruby. I just knew in my heart that didn't sound right."

"I'm sorry about the deception," David replied as he finally caught onto the cover story his comrades had constructed. "I helped Emma leave town with Ruby and then I had to make sure Mary Margaret and Henry got to safety to protect them from Regina which didn't leave me any time to tell anyone what had happened. Emma knew she needed more evidence against Regina to ensure a conviction, so she asked that Jacob and I aid Agent Bae. I guess Regina caught on to my involvement. I greatly appreciate you coming to my assistance Granny."

"Anything for the man who helped my granddaughter," Granny replied and gave David a hug.

"I should get the mayor medical treatment then find a place to secure her while the investigation continues," Bae stated. "Sheriff Swan and I both thank all of you for your assistance in this matter. Mr. Noland if you would care to contact the others and let them know it is safe to return to town I will notify Sheriff Swan of these recent developments and get Granny an update Ruby."

"Certainly," David replied.

David looked around as people began to gather in the town square and a smile crossed his face. His plan may have not gone as he had planned, but in the end with the aid of his friends and a stranger named Bae everything had worked out. Regina would be exposed as the tyrant she is and Emma's job would be that much easier when she found her way home.

Jacob guided David out of the town square and back to the car.

"What exactly just happened," David asked once they were back at the car.

"You just got your ass saved," Jacob replied. "You're lucky Bae decided this was the time to join in on the fight or we'd both be screwed right about now."

"Bae, he's in Henry book, he's…"

"The son of the Dark One."

"How do you know him," David inquired as he got in the car.

"When he first landed in our realm as a child my family took him in. It's good he's arrived now, because in a fight he's one you want on your side. His presence here may also help us get Mr. Gold on our side."

"Is he a real agent," David wondered.

"I have no idea, we didn't have much time to catch up while we were trying to save your ass."

"Yeah, about that…thank you."

"As James you would have won that confrontation without even breaking a sweat, but as David you're still under the curse. Stop pushing the boundaries of your capabilities or next time we may not make it to you in time."

"So the cover story, did they really buy that?"

"Well we're not the ones on our way to a makeshift jail, so I'd say they did. We'll know if Bae has to protect Regina from a lynch mob."

"Why are we protecting her at all? Let the people lynch her up and end this curse," David stated.

"It doesn't work that way," Jacob replied.

As they drove out of town the two men were so involved in talking to one another that they didn't realize a car followed them out of downtown and was now tailing them.

At the castle James and Snow grew increasingly nervous as the book settled. Jacob nervously turned to the end of the book and with a reaction the others couldn't decipher he began to read.

"And while the battle did not go as the Savior had desired she lived to fight another day and hope lived on," Jacob read.

Snow let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. James wrapped his arms around his wife and hugged her close. Relief washed over everyone in the room.

Back at the cabin Mary Margaret held Henry close as they sat on the couch and watched the book while Jefferson sat with Red. It had finally settled down after nearly a half hour of glowing and shaking, but none of them had worked up the nerve to check it yet.

"Well, someone has to check it," Jefferson pointed out.

Mary Margaret looked down at Henry who was looking up at her then she looked over at Jefferson who was also looking at her.

"Oh fine, I guess I'll do it," Mary Margaret grumbled as she got up and cautiously approached the book.

She opened it and started to flip through the book checking various stories for any changes. She finally flipped to the end and was shocked to see the once removed final pages back and additional pages beyond.

"Henry, I believe you may want to see this," Mary Margaret urged.

Henry jumped off the couch and ran over to her. He got up in the chair and started to flip through the new pages with a big smile growing across his face.

"Mom's alright," Henry yelled. "She's okay!"

Mary Margaret couldn't help but feel a bit of her worry fade away. Now if she could just learn David's fate in town and have both Emma and August back with them then she could finally start to feel some hope of that happy ending Henry was promising them they would find at the end of this whole crazy journey.

Emma awoke on the cold forest ground with August's jacket wrapped around her and a fire crackling beside her. She groaned as she tried to sit up, but she was promptly pushed back down by Red.

"Don't move too much," Red spoke softly. "You were hurt badly in your fight with the Queen."

"What…what happened," Emma questioned.

"August was able to drag you out while I distracted the Queen," Red informed her. "Trying that on your own was reckless and stupid."

"Yeah, I'm aware," Emma replied. "The curse?"

"You got a drop off, but it missed the scroll and I wasn't able to get the scroll and guard Augusts' exit with you, so we had to leave it behind unaltered."

"Thank god," Emma sighed and closed her eyes in relief.

"You seem…relieved. Did I miss something," Red wondered.

"You have no idea," Emma mumbled.

August ran through the trees with two full canteens of water. He slid to a stop when he saw Emma was awake.

"Emma," August spoke softly as he sat beside her. "How are you?"

Emma looked at August with different eyes now and she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him like she hadn't seen him in years. She buried her face in his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Emma mumbled into his shirt. "I'm sorry…"

August, stunned from Emma's sudden embrace, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," August replied. He looked to his mom to see if she knew what Emma was apologizing for, but the only answer he got was an uncertain shrug.

Bae sat in a chair across from Regina's bed and watched the unconscious woman. He had secured her with handcuffs, but he didn't trust that to be enough to stop her from escaping. He heard the door to the room open, but he didn't have to look up to know who had secured passage past the guards he'd posted at the door.

"Hello father," Bae spoke with bitterness in his voice.