I do not own Once Upon a Time.

Ok, so this chapter has a lot of little bonding scenes between Amelia and certain people. We have Hunter/Thief, Hunter/ Scarlet, Hunter/Cobra, Hunter/Marian (not sure there's a special name for her), and Hunter Captain. Thank you again to AdorkableAlyssa for the amazing reviews. Like I said, insert evil giggle, just not yet but VERY SOON.

For someone who lived in a town where time stood still for twenty-eight years, three days went by in the blink of an eye. There wasn't nearly enough time to form a real army. They were just going to make do what they had. At least Storybrooke had a decent number of heroes, warriors even who had seen battle.

Emma had sent a message to Elsa. The ice powered queen came to Storybrooke with Anna and Kristoff.

Storybrooke had once been a very sleepy town where nothing ever happened and now it was turned into a battle zone. And that was before the opposing army showed up. They had precious amount of time.

Amelia stood in the middle of the street, just watching the organized chaos. Those who couldn't fight were heading to Regina's vault. The mayor had graciously provided it as a safe place. Amelia lent her magic along with Emma, Elsa and even Gold to keep the vault's walls protected all of the fighting.

Everyone who could fight had weapons and were going to the town hall, which had been transformed into command central. Granny's had been the first choice, but that building was associated with success. Besides, the town hall was bigger.

There were so many people willingly to fight, to fight and possibly die for her. Amelia should be grateful at the show of support but no, she felt guilty that she was leading them to their deaths. There was no way around that fact. The Cauldron Born were undefeatable.

She sat herself down on a bench not really looking at anything. Neal found her and sat next to her, taking her into his arms. "You're a million miles away." His own attitude changed from earlier. They had their shared moment of desperation and anger, now they had to focus full heart and soul on the task at hand.

"I'm somewhere safe, with you and everyone else. Neal, you know we aren't going to win this, right?" She barely had a voice. "There's still so much we planned together…" She choked back a sob.

Neal remained quiet, his hand slid down to hers and tightened around her ring. They were supposed to get married, have kids and live happily ever after. Why was life so unfair?

"I know." He still had hope but no matter what he said, it wasn't going to change her mind or the situation. So he tried to be as positive as he could be. "Then let's take down as many of those creatures as we can."

Amelia finally looked at him and touched his cheek. She was wearing a tiny smile. "What did I do to deserve you? You're so good to me and you understand me…" She choked back another sob. She couldn't lose it, not now. She had to save face for the troops.

Neal understood and pulled her to her feet, his lips found hers. It was frantic and desperate, like they wouldn't get another chance.

"I'm going to check on everyone. Take a moment. Then we have work to do." He pulled back but placed a tiny gentle kiss on her forehead.

Amelia watched him walk off. She took her few minutes; it wasn't nearly as long as she wanted or needed. But it was all she had. She was being selfish with whatever moment she took for herself.

She stood up and began walking to the town hall. But a voice stopped her.

"You got room in this rag tag army for a jack of all trades?" Will Scarlet stood behind Amelia.

"Can you fight?" She asked, she knew he had once been a Merry Man. Beyond that, she had no idea how he was in a battle.

"Not as well as Prince Charming or Captain Hook, but I am scrappy. I can handle myself." He told her.

"So the thief does have some honor." Amelia remarked, there was a hint of a laugh in her voice.

"Of course, when it comes to friends." Will sounded so serious.

"We're friends?"

"I helped you and I'm helping you again. Don't worry, I'm not looking for anything in return." He added, squeezing her shoulder.

She looked hard at Will. "I never thought I would have this many people on my side, much less people I avoided back in the Enchanted Forest." He fell in step with her on the way to the town hall. "Did you know that Maleficent and Lily are fighting for me, in dragon form?"

"Going to be a sight to remember." Will smiled.

A slight to remember, maybe not. Amelia anyone on their side was going to be able to remember this day. "Definitely a sight alright." She said.

"People are rallying around you to take down the Horned King. You are very brave…"

"Or very stupid."

"Same thing. But I know something about you, you never go down without a fight."

Yes, what Will Scarlet said was true, but there might be more going on in her head.

Amelia Hunter finally entered the town hall. It was organized chaos. People everywhere, weapons everywhere. She looked around, trying to smile and be positive when people looked at her. Then she saw someone who did not belong in the middle of a battle.

"Henry Daniel Mills what are you doing here!?" Yes, she used his full name. "You should be in the vault safe! Do your parents know you are here?!" Amelia did not need Emma or Regina mad at her right now.

Henry stood up straight and looked at her. "I want to fight!"

"No, I need you to be safe. Go back to the vault now. Do I make myself clear?" Henry said nothing, only stared back. Amelia's shoulders dropped, defeated. "There's no chance you're going to stay behind, is there?"

"No chance. You need all the help you can get."

"Gods above, you are stubborn like your parents." Then Amelia finally really looked at Henry. He was a far cry from the little boy she watched Peter Pan with. He was young man who was descended from heroes and now wanted to be one. "Come here." She pulled him into a tight hug. "You have to be careful, remember everything you learned. You have to be safe, stick with someone and have their back. I will see you when this is all over." She kissed his forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too Mom."

Amelia choked back emotion. She lived for the moments he called her mom.

Amelia sat in a corner, restringing her bow, or at least she was attempting to. Her fingers were so clumsy.

At least someone took pity on her. Robin came over and took the bow from her hands.

"Thanks." Amelia said quietly. The two of them had not been on good terms since Amelia's first magical performance. Was him helping her finally a step in the right direction? Amelia could only say sorry so many times. He didn't answer, barely looked at her. "Still not talking to me?"

"You kept me in the dark about your powers. Bernadette, you are like a sister to me. With Derek gone, it's my job to keep an eye on you, make sure you don't do anything too stupid. I can't do that if you don't tell me the important things. Yes, we were in different realms for years, but when we were reunited and then had all that time here in Storybrooke, you could have pulled me aside and told me. Do you have any idea how powerless I feel? It's like I don't even know you anymore. You're from another realm, that you have magic and you worked for the most terrifying sorcerer in all the realms." He took a breath to calm himself down. "But I care about you, so here I am, by your side, ready to fight because it's the right thing to do." Robin Hood finally said his piece, now everything was on the table.

Amelia bit back tears. There were very few people who had known her before her fall, few people who understood her, she should have thought more about them and considered their reaction to her backstory. "Robin, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have kept you in the dark about my magic and Prydain. It wasn't that I didn't want to tell you, I just didn't want to remember that part of my past. It only brought pain."

"Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad…"

"I know that now."

"Now, please never ever forget it. I've got your back, Bernadette, no matter what."

"Thank you." Amelia couldn't control herself her actions as she threw herself into Robin's arms. He held her tight for a few minutes.

"I don't know what I would do is something were to happen to you." He whispered. "Come on; let's go send these monsters back to Hell where they belong." He let go and smiled.

Amelia gave him a half smile and bit her tongue against the words that threatened to come out of her mouth.

Amelia looked around the room at their rag tag army of only a few dozens. Was it enough to defeat the Horned King's army? Of course not, but would they at least make an impact? That remained to be seen.

She pulled herself away to a side room. She needed to be alone, to gather her weapons and her thoughts. She was terrified, right down to her bones. And rightfully so, this was the feared Horned King who had Dyrnwyn. He had the power to take over entire worlds.

She didn't make it out into the hallway before someone stopped her. "Amelia, are you alright?" A hand closed about her arm.

"No, I am not. I am far from alright." Amelia saw Marian standing there looking very worried. "Marian, you shouldn't be here. You should be in the caves with Roland."

"Roland is being taken care of by Ashley. I need to be here with you. You are my best friend."

"Marian…" Amelia choked on her words. "I don't want you to fight for me."

"Too bad." Marian squeezed Amelia's hand and left the hallway.

Amelia finally walked into another rom and shut the door behind her. She slid to the floor and tried to calm her breathing. Her vison went fuzzy and she suddenly broke out into a cold sweat. Was this a panic attack? She wasn't sure how long she sat there. Then she felt something cold on her forehead and her vision began to clear.

Killian was kneeling down in front of her. Well, that was a sight she was expecting to see anytime soon. She had really gone below the belt with the heartless comment about his brother. She didn't deserve him to be on her side, fighting for her.

"I'm shocked you're here, Killian." She whispered.

He knew that she meant after the comment she made. "People make bad choices if they're mad or scared or stressed. You are all three. Besides, I would always forgive you." Killian removed his hook from her forehead. "It's unlike you to shy away from a fight, lass." He said.

"Like you said, I'm scared. I don't want people to fight for me. This is my fight. It's all because of me, no one else."

Killian heaved a sigh. "This is bigger than you." He offered her a hand up. She accepted it.

"I don't want anyone to die for me." She finally met his eyes. "Killian, that includes you."

Suddenly they were shy and awkward, unsure of what to say or do. Amelia looked so scared, small and helpless. It almost broke Killian's heart to see her like this. He had seen her through so much pain, nightmares from the past, losing Neal, the miscarriage, but nothing and he meant nothing, compared to this.

Killian suddenly forgot everything, who he was at the moment, who she was and his mind went back to their relationship and how close they had been. He wrapped his arms around her. Amelia didn't fight, she tucked her head under his chin.

They stayed like that for a few minutes; a knock at the door pulled them apart. At least the hug had done a tiny bit of good. Amelia looked a little more in control now.

Will stood at the door. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" He asked, slightly uncomfortable.

Amelia wiped some unexpected tears from her eyes. "No, we are fine. What's going on outside."

"Bernadette, the army is here." Will went back to her original name. "Only they don't look dead. I though you said they were dead."

"What?" Amelia was confused and ran out of the back room and towards a window that faced the town. Robin handed her the telescope when she came up beside him. Amelia took a long hard look and a relived smile grew on her face. "That's because they're not dead." Amelia handed the telescope back to Robin and walked out the door to greet Storybrooke's newest visitors.

Backup is here!

I really wasn't sure why I was writing all those bonding moments besides the fact those characters are super important to Amelia. I thought she and Killian needed a moment, they used to be so close and I wanted to go back to that, even just for a tiny moment.

FYI- I did realize why I was writing those scenes.

So the army consists of: Amelia, Neal, Michael, Helen, Jordan, Aiden, Nathan, Gold, Belle, Robin, Marian, Regina, Henry, Emma, Killian, David, Mary Margaret, all seven dwarves, Jefferson, Ruby, Granny, all the Merry Men, Will, Smee, Maleficent, Lily, Blue, Tink, all the fairies, Tim, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff plus a few others

Reviews?