Chapter Twenty-One

"Coffee?"

Emma nodded, and Snow poured her a mug and handed it to her. "Sugar, no cream, right?"

Emma nodded again. She was exhausted. She'd been tired enough yesterday, after all that magic practice, and then she'd had to go and stay up until three A.M. having a snowball fight with Bae. Who, by the way, had left right when she'd come downstairs at nine A.M.-sleeping in wasn't in Emma's nature-"to go on a walk." Emma wondered if he was still upset about what had happened when Will had caught them yesterday.

Will. The thought made Emma a little sad, thinking how hurt he'd been yesterday. But was he really that jealous? She'd only known Baelfire for a day. Clearly they couldn't be romantically involved. Besides, did Will really have a right to be jealous at all? They'd never really discussed their relationship. He'd made it clear he had feelings for Emma, and she knew she had feelings for him too, but were they in a relationship?

Ugh. Boys.

"So, how was your walk yesterday?" Snow asked, grinning at her over her own mug of coffee.

Panic struck Emma. "I . . . I don't know what you're talking about."

Snow raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, okay," Emma said. "I went out with Bae. Neither of us could sleep, and he asked if I wanted to go on a walk, and I said yes, and we did."

"At two A.M.?" At least she didn't look upset. If anything, Snow looked somewhat amused.

"Yes. Is there something wrong with that?"

"Nothing at all," Snow said. "Just . . . be careful, okay? I know Regina's gone, and I know that we can trust pretty much everyone here, but I know there are still some people who were on her side. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I will be," Emma promised. "Who do you mean?"

Snow hesitated. "I shouldn't say."

"Do you mean Rumpel?"

Snow's eyes widened, and she brought her coffee cup to her lips. "Maybe," she said cryptically.

"Morning, Snow." Charming entered the kitchen. He walked over to Snow and kissed her briefly, then pecked Emma on the forehead. "Morning, Em."

"Morning," they both said.

"So, how was your walk last night?" Charming grinned, pouring his own cup of coffee.

Emma lowered her head to the counter and groaned.

"What?" Charming laughed. "Did you really think we wouldn't notice you left in the middle of the night? With a boy?"

"We're friends," Emma insisted. "I was showing him around town."

"At two A.M.?" Charming looked just as amused as Snow had been.

"No comment."

"Does Will know he's staying with us?" Snow asked curiously.

"Uh . . ." Emma paused. "Yeah. He does."

"And he's all right with that?" Charming asked.

"Of course he is," Emma said, trying to sound sure of it. "It's not like I'm going to date Bae. It's not like I'm dating Will. Why do I keep getting roped into this conversation with you two? You're not supposed to talk about that stuff with your parents."

"Why not?" Snow asked innocently.

"Because . . . because it's just . . ." Emma struggled to find the words to explain. "It's just weird, okay? Can we talk about something else?"

"All right," Charming said. "How about breakfast. Eggs?"

"Actually, I have to meet someone," Emma said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Will," she elaborated. "I have to meet Will."

"Ah, more magic lessons?" Snow asked. "Is he helping you?"

"A lot, actually," Emma said. "He seems to know a lot about magic. But he can only use it in Neverland." At least, that was his explanation to her. "Otherwise, we'd probably be back in the Enchanted Forest by now."

"Don't give up hope, Emma," Snow said. "Take your time, okay? As long as we're together, right?"

"Right," Emma nodded, though she could tell her mother didn't totally mean that. She wanted to get back to the Enchanted Forest just as much as the rest of the town. And Emma knew that while she might eventually be able to control her magic well enough to make those magic beans, it wouldn't be quick. She would need at least a month.

"Well, I'll see you later," Emma said, this time remembering to collect her jacket. "Lunch at Granny's?"

"See you then. Good luck," Charming called as she headed outside.

It was only slightly warmer than the previous day, and probably because the sun was shining now. Well, that was a good sign, at least. Emma did want help from Will, but that wasn't the only reason she was going to his house. She wanted to make things right, assure him that last night really had been nothing more than a little fun. Though, she might not call it fun to Will. Sticking to nothing was probably best.

She knocked four times, but there was no answer. And she knew he never slept in. So she went to the only other place he could be: the abandoned playground by the dock.

Sure enough, Will was sitting atop the rickety old thing, reading his book. His feet dangled off the edge, and he seemed surprised to see Emma approaching him.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he said, closing the book.

"What part are you reading?" Emma asked.

"Not an important one," he said.

"Look, Will-"

"You don't have to explain anything," he said. "I don't own you, you know. You're free to do as you please."

"Obviously," Emma said, a little shortly, "But you seemed upset."

"I don't really have the right to be, do I?" He cracked a humorless smile. "I'm not your boyfriend."

"Would you . . . like to be?" Emma practically cringed. She'd never done this before, and she had no idea how to go about asking a boy out.

Will raised an eyebrow. "I was worried you wouldn't want to be my girlfriend."

"And what would make you think that?" Emma squinted up at him in the bright sunlight.

"Well, for one thing, your father disapproves," he said.

"Doesn't that just make it more romantic?" She teased.

"I've done bad things, Emma. I'm not a hero. If you could read a storybook about me . . . well, you wouldn't like it much."

"Well, I don't know what you were like in the past," she said. "But I like what I know about you now, okay? So stop worrying about the person you used to be and start realizing that you've changed."

"Don't tell me what to do," he said, but this time he was genuinely smiling.

Emma climbed up the playground and hoisted herself up next to him, where he swung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. He was freezing, but it didn't bother her.

"You never answered me," she said quietly.

"Did you really have to ask?"

Emma found herself grinning at that. "So I can call you my boyfriend now?"

"It would be an honor to be associated with you in such a way, Emma Swan."

"You talk weird sometimes."

"But you like it."

Emma craned her neck up to kiss him. "Yeah, I do."

The sound of footsteps pounding on the sidewalk not too far away made them both glance up, and Emma instinctively straightened up so she wasn't leaning so much into Will. She didn't know why; it wasn't like their relationship was a secret.

Soon, Baelfire came into view. He was running again, like the first time they'd met him, the same wild look in his eyes. He stopped short at the edge of the playground.

"I found it," he panted.

"Found what?" Emma asked. He didn't seem bothered by the sight of her and Will. Good. Although, she thought, why should he? They'd only met yesterday.

"The magic bean," he said, out of breath. "In . . . in Rumpel's shop. I found it."

Emma exchanged a glance with Will. Will leaped off of the ledge, and extended a hand up for Emma to take as she jumped down, too. She didn't, but the gesture was nice.

Will took a few steps closer to Bae. "Let me see it."

"Don't trust me, Pan?" Bae narrowed his eyes at him. Will's own eyes widened considerably. "Did you really think I was that stupid as to not remember you?" Bae said. "At first, sure, I was distracted, so I didn't acknowledge it. But I know you. And now I have the power over you, not the other way around."

"Bae, please-"

"I didn't come to tell you," Bae said. "I came to tell Emma."

"Baelfire," Will said, this time more firmly, "What happened in Neverland was a long time ago, all right? And I'm sorry."

"I'm not," Bae said. "And when Emma and I bring everyone in town back to the Enchanted Forest, you'll be stuck here."

What do you guys think of Bae as the bad guy/Pan as the good one? Personally I've always liked Will/Emma better than Swanfire, so I think that's where this fic is headed . . .