Emma drove through the town in the dead of night Henry secured in the passenger seat watching her curiously from the corner of his eye. Emma kept a steady gaze on the dark road ahead of her, hands tight around the wheel panic still running through her core after the madness August had tried to pull her into.
August had been frantic after revealing himself to be the little boy who found her as a baby, trying to explain it away with some jargon about a magical tree and a curse. When Emma tried to run, he had followed but tripped over an upturned root and couldn't get back up. When the blonde demanded to know what was wrong with him, he claimed he was turning to wood.
"Is that all of your stuff?" Henry suddenly asked shaking Emma out of her memories, suppressing a shiver she nodded.
"It's all I need."
The young boys eyes widened in shock realising that when Emma had asked him if he wanted to live with her, she meant leaving town straight away.
"Wait, you mean you want us to leave now?"
"Yeah," Emma replied, "I have to get you away from here, from her. She dangerous."
"But we can't go now. Stop the car, you can't leave Storybrooke. You have to break the curse!" He protested.
"No, Henry. I have to do what's best for you, isn't that what you wanted when you brought me here?"
"But the curse. You're the only chance to bring back the happy endings."
"Henry, listen…" Emma began gentle, Henry reached forward and jerked the steering wheel causing the car to jerk off to the side, "Henry! What are you doing. You could've got us killed."
"Please, please Emma. Don't make me go, everything is here. Your parents, me, your family. Emma they need you, your family needs you."
Emma watching him for a long moment, his wide brown eyes pleading. Reminding the blonde of just who his father was, once upon a time those eyes - a little older - could make her do anything if they looked at her the same way. So instead of replying, she sighed and turned the car around heading back into town and dropping her son off at the mayor's house before heading back to the shared apartment.
**Enchanted forest**
Two guards stoically escorted James to where King George sat with a vile sneer painted on his face.
"Did you really think I would let you go?" He asked, "You seemed to have had quite the adventure since then."
James rolled his eyes boredom winning over any fear he once had for this man, "Whatever your going to do with me get on with it."
"I took you in as my son," King George sat forward, linking his fingers together, "and you betrayed me. I would've given you anything you desired. The crown, the kingdom and all you had to do was marry Midas' daughter. But you insisted on following true love."
"Losing my life for love," James began, "Is a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
King George leaned back rage barely concealed on his face as he saved his hand to the guards, "As you wish."
The guards dragged the Prince away and setup the guillotine an executioner dressed in long, black robes held the rope connecting to the blade tightly awaiting orders.
"Release the blade." King George only hesitated a breath before giving the order his cold eyes swimming with a hint of regret as the blade fell, regret swiftly changed to anger when the blade dissolved into water before crashing onto the prince's neck. "What is the meaning of this?"
Regina sauntered forward with her cohorts behind her, hands already on hilts of their swords. She smiled widely at the king her hands relaxed by her sides, confidence in every step she took.
"I'm so sorry to drop in," It was clear from her tone she had no care if she interrupted something.
"Regina, what do you want?" King George sighed, one hand coming up to rest on his forehead.
"I want the man you like to pretend is your son. And in return, I'm fully prepared to give you all the ritches King Midas had promised you."
"What could you possibly want with him?" He countered causing Regina to grin.
"Oh worry not. I promise you he will suffer, far more than your little beheading."
"How?" King George stood from his seat, hurrying forward with interest.
"By using him to destroy the one he loves. I'm going to use him to destroy Snow White."
**Storybrooke**
Regina stared out her office window a mix of shock and rage gracing her features as she stared at her once beautifully blooming apple tree that was now turning rotten. She stormed out of her office o take a closer look at the mouldy apples falling from the tree branches before making her way to the only one in town whom would possibly know what was going on.
Regina made her way to her car and drove off to Gold's shop, practically foaming at the mouth due to her rage.
"Your majesty," The woman greeted pleasantly, "What can I help you with today?"
"My tree is dying, tell me why?" She demanded.
Milah shrugged before moving away from the counter and the maps she was looking at replying, "Perhaps it's your fertilizer."
"You think this is funny?" Regina continued, tailing behind the smaller woman with barred teeth. "I think this is a sign of the curse weakening. But you don't seem to care in the slightest, do you? You're just content to sit back and do whatever it is you do as all of my hard work is destroyed."
Milah raised a perfectly shaped brow at the former queen, "But that's not all that's bothering you, is it? Come now, dearie. You might as well get everything off your chest now that you've started."
"I don't know what you mean." Regina hissed through her teeth.
"Henry." She stated. "Miss Swan wishes to take him away from you."
"She will have that boy over my dead body."
Milah sighed, sometimes it was difficult to get past the stubborn front Regina had. It had took months before she agreed to the help Milah offered her in the Enchanted forest.
"Regina, darling. This curse was only meant to destroy Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness, perhaps the price to keep things that way is Henry."
"Then I guess I'll just have to get rid of her." Regina shrugged, folding her arms across her chest smugly.
"Well, I'm sure you can find a rather creative way of doing that. We both know the repercussions of killing Miss Swan."
"The curse will be broken…" Smug dropped to slack jawed shock as something dawned on the former queen, "Because that's the way you made it. But why? Can't you undo it?"
"You know dearie even if I wanted to... I couldn't. As you may have seen over the last few decades magic is in a short supply around here and its dropping by the minute."
"I want to strike a new deal." Regina demanded taking a threatening step forward, "One where I can get rid of Emma Swan without shattering the curse."
Milah turned her back on her student uncaring of her needs and stated plainly, "Unfortunatly for you a deal requires two interested parties and I'm not interested."
"I'll give you anything." Regina blurted out desperately.
"I'm afraid you no longer have anything I want. But I will give you a piece of advice," She spun back around, face carefully void of all emotions, "I'd plan a trip of your own. When this town starts to wake up, they're going to be out for blood."
Regina growled under her breath, deciding it was time for a portal jumper to come into play as she stormed out of the shop.
Mary Margaret stirred her cup eyeing Emma up out of the corner of her eye as the blonde quietly stepped through the door, like an adolescent who had stayed out all night.
"I thought you had left." She stated coolly, sipping her tea with downcast eyes.
"Mary Margaret, I…" Emma started to apologise, only to be cut off sharply.
"But I couldn't tell for sure if had left because you didn't even bother to say goodbye. Do you remember when I ran off? You spent all night looking for me and what was it you said to me? You said that we have to stick together, we're like family."
"Yeah, I did say that. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left. Especially without talking to you first."
"You're right, you shouldn't have. So why, after everything did you decide to just leave?" Mary Margaret demanded, angrily slamming her cup down.
"I don't want to be the sheriff. I don't people relying on me. I don't want this, any of it."
"And what about Henry?"
"I… took him with me." Emma mumbled sheepishly, tucking her chin into her chest to avoid Mary Margaret's seething glare.
"You abducted him?" Emma shrugged suddenly feeling like she was five years old. "So you don't want people relying on you, yet you took your son? Well doesn't that sound like a stable home for him. What the hell is wrong with you, Emma?"
"I just want what's best for him!" The blonde burst, her wayward emotions that she'd been suppressing since her talk with August finally coming to the surface.
"And that's running away? Or is that what you thinks best for him because it's what you want?" Mary Margaret asked after taking a calming breath. "You're reverting, Emma. Back into the person you were when you first got here, I thought you had changed."
"You thought wrong." Emma stated, clenching her jaw tightly.
"Well regardless of what I think you have to do what's best for Henry now." Mary Margaret sighed, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"What's that?"
"I don't know Emma. You're his mother, it's your job to figure it out."
**Enchanted forest**
Snow White stood on a cliff overlooking King George's castle, the dwarves, Granny Lucas and several others stood behind her in anticipation as she scanned the castle through a telescope.
"If we're going to get Charming out then we need to get over that wall. There's a soldier stationed ever parapet." Snow mumbled, more to herself than her company.
"Then we'll need some sort of air support." Granny stated having heard the Princess clearly. Grumpy stepped forward giving a short nod.
"I know someone who can help with that." He grumbled before spinning around to face the woods just as Red stumbled out of the foliage, wiping a dribble of blood for her chin.
"Relax, guys. It's just me, Snow I found out that he is still alive." Her triumphant grin dropped as she continued, "However, the Queen is here."
"I knew she would come, I understand if you would like to turn back now. I can't stop now, not when I'm so close to finding him."
There was a ruckus from behind as her friends made their disagreement known and Snow smiled softly at the thought of having such loyal friends.
"Well then, I guess there's no time to waste." She set off in a steady march, everyone dutifully trotted behind her. Red hurried forward to Snow's side.
"Why is the Queen doing this? I mean of get that she's cruel and all but why target you."
"It's simple really," Snow sighed, "I destroyed her happiness and now she wants to ruin mine."
Red remained silent not knowing any words of comfort for her friend, that was usually Belle's territory but she had returned home due to a decline in her health that Snow and Red weren't able to help with especially with being on the run. The small army quickly outlined a plan to storm the castle and save Charming and Red took off into the woods shifting form as soon as she was encased in the shadows of the trees.
Everyone waited with bated breath for the she wolf's signalling howl which pierced the silent night after almost five minutes. Snow sighed in relief, knowing she had taken down the worst of the guards.
"Thank you, Red." She whispered, even though the girl wouldn't hear her, "Okay, now."
Sneezy released a flaming arrow into the sky, a signal that would be seen by their allies hidden above the clouds.
"Let's move out," Grumpy ordered before muttering, "God I miss Stealthy." as he and his brethren thundered through the woods and into the courtyard. They seven dwarves were followed by a small buzzing of faeries wings as Blue and her fairies followed after them with sacks of dust.
As the guards were being distracted Snow made her way to the dungeons with quick and silent feet. She found her Prince in a cell unharmed.
"Charming…" She called with a smile rushing over to his cell after grabbing the keys.
"Snow, wait…" Charming tried to get her attention but Snow was to relieved that he was there to hear him. She unlocked the cell door and stepped inside to hug him only to be met with a mirror, one of the Queens mirrors.
"No… no, no, no." She mumbled, choking back her tears, "I'm supposed to be rescuing you."
Charming huffed a small laugh and explained gently, "The Queen took me to her palace. Have faith Snow, we will be together again."
He suddenly vanished in a cloud of purple smoke and his place stood Snow's stepmother.
"Oh god, I just had to stop you." Regina said snidely, "I have no interest in cleaning tongue marks off my mirror."
"Let him go Regina. Your fight is with me."
"My thoughts exactly, dear." Her grin fell into a pursed sneer, "I call for a parley, just me and you. No one else needs to get hurt, I want to meet where it all began."
Regina vanished leaving Snow to stare back k at herself in the reflective glass, she knew exactly what Regina meant. It was time to face her mistake and finally apologise.
**Storybrooke**
Henry lightly knocked on Augusts room door, he waited as there was a thump and heavy footsteps.
"Just a second." August called through the door, Henry rocked back on the balls of his feet understanding that having a wooden leg out make moving around difficult.
"August, you gotta help me," He cried as soon as the door was opened, "Emma wants to leave town, maybe forever."
"Wait, hold up a second."
Henry pushed his way into the room breathing heavily as he fought off his rushing emotions.
"Y-you were going to make her believe. You have to."
"Henry," August spoke softly, limping after the young boy, "I'm sorry but I failed. I tried to show her but she didn't want to see it. At first it was just my legs but now it's spreading."
August rigidly moved the sleeve of his leather jacket back to show off his completely wooden arm. Henry carefully ran his finger along the smooth surface.
"I… I was right. About everything." He whispered softly.
"You're a smart kid."
"And you're Pinocchio!"
"What gave me away?" He chuckled lightly tugging the leather back down as Henry gave him a confused look.
"But why are you turning back to wood? In the story… you should be real."
"I haven't exactly been a good boy, Henry." August sighed leaning back in his chair. "I went back on our deal and now I'm paying the consequences. If the curse doesn't break then this won't stop."
"We need to show Emma!" Henry decided, grabbing August's hand to pull him up. "Once we show her your turning back into a puppet she'll have to believe and then the curse will break."
"No, kid." August replied shaking his head sadly. "I tried that. She doesn't want to see it, so she doesn't. I'm getting tired, it's hard ride and walk. Pretty soon it's going to be hard to breathe."
"So everyone is giving up." Henry stated sadly and August gave him a shallow shrug.
"I'm sorry kid, really but I'm out of Operation Cobra. It's up to you."
Unknown to both August and Henry, Emma was downstairs in the diner grasping at straws for a way to keep Henry. Archie sat across from her with sorrowful eyes.
"Emma, I'm truly sorry but I'm afraid you don't have a custody case here."
"Even after everything she has done?" She asked in disbelief. Archie shrugged helplessly.
"Things that you can't prove. Let me ask you, with this war between you two… who's really getting hurt here?"
"I know," Emma sighed, "Henry. But isn't it a good thing he's spending time with me? I mean I'm his mother."
"You are." Archie agreed, "But so is Regina. Look, a court will come in and see how he's been since you've arrived."
"And he's been happier than before, right?"
Archie's hands tightened around his cup momentarily as he mulled over the nicest way to start.
"Of course, he's happy with you but objectively speaking. He's skipped school, stolen a credit card, he's run off and put himself in danger repeatedly. So in the eyes of the law-"
"What about your eyes?" Emma asked desperately. "What do you think as his shrink?"
"Awhile ago I told you to engage in his fantasies and…" Archie heaved a heavy sigh before continuing, "Perhaps I was wrong, he seems to have only retreated further into it."
"So you think he's better off with Regina?" Emma concluded.
"No, no that's not what I said."
"Do you think she'd ever hurt him?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"No." The answer was immediate, "I mean everyone else sure but never him. Look whether she was right of wrong all her actions have been defensive. I'm not judging either of you but your presence has sort of woken a sleeping dragon."
"Tell me honestly. Do you think he's better off her?"
"It's not a matter of being better off Emma. This war needs to end, if the two of you want to be in his life."
Emma nodded slumping in her seat, a whirlwind of emotions churning through her. She was conflicted but knew that what she did in the end could be for selfish reasons, she had to what was best for Henry and right now that was her leaving Storybrooke.
Everything after that happened so quickly Emma still felt vertigo when thinking about it. She had set off to the Mayor's house and made a deal with her about getting to see her son, even if she was leaving town.
She had gone back to Mary Margaret's apartment and packed her things and then Henry had shown up, a lot sooner than Emma had anticipated.
"Hey is everything okay? You sounded strange over the walkie." He asked when she opened the door to let him in.
"Oh, um… don't worry about it, I'm okay. Look, what I did yesterday was wrong. I can't take you out of Storybrooke but… Henry, I can't stay here either." Emma crouched down so she could look into Henry's warm brown eyes filled with confusion.
"What?"
"I have to go." She stated clearing the emotion from her throat roughly.
"Go? You mean your leaving Storybrooke?"
"Yeah, but don't worry. I spoke with Regina and we agreed that I can still see you. It just won't be every day."
"No. No! You can't trust her!" Henry shouted shaking his head while pulling away.
"I have to, it's my only choice right now. It's what's best for you, I can't fight her. Every time I do someone else gets hurt."
"You're just scared," Henry whispered sadly, "All heroes get like this, it's just the low moment before you fight back and win."
"Henry, this not a story!" She snapped but the anger was lost, "This is reality which means you can't run away or skip school and you can't… believe in curses."
"You… you really don't believe?" Henry asked, his heart thundering in his chest as Emma, his saviour, hesitated.
"I... Look this is just how it's gotta be right now, okay? I made a deal and even used my superpower. She's telling the truth, I promise she's going to take really good care of you."
"Yes," Henry agreed, "but she wants you dead."
"Come on, Henry!" Emma cried in exasperation but Henry spoke over her adamantly.
"You're the only one who can stop her."
"Stop her from what? All she had ever done is fight for you and it got out of hand. I'm sorry."
Henry sniffed launching himself into the blondes arms and holding her tightly wishing she understood how much he didn't want her to leave. Emma held on just as tight until Henry pulled back eyeing something over her shoulder.
"Where did you get that?" Emma looked over to the table and turnover Regina had given her sitting innocently on a cooling rack.
"Oh, Regina gave it to me."
"It's apple!" Henry gasped after giving the pastry a cautious sniff. "You can't eat that, it's poison!"
"What?"
"Don't you see? It was all a trick to get you to eat that and get rid of the saviour."
"Henry, come on. Why would she do that when I just told her I'm going to go?"
"Because you're a threat to the curse as long as you're alive."
"You have got to stop thinking like that, Henry." Emma sighed moving toward the table.
"It's the truth!"
"Look if it makes you feel better. I'll prove to you it's not poison." She made to grab the pastry but Henry swooped in and snatched it away from her fingertips, running across the room. "Henry… what are you doing?"
"I'm sorry it had to come to this Emma. You may not believe in the curse or me but I believe in you." He bit into the turnover and nothing happened. Emma spoke after a brief pause.
"You want some ice cream with that?" She asked with a small laugh, "Then we can go back to..."
Emma's voice disappeared as she watched Henry's eyes roll into the back of his head and his legs collapse under him. Her lungs seized as the air rushed out of them and the walls August had cracked a few days ago finally crashed down.
The blonde was vaguely aware of her screaming for Henry to open his eyes, she half remembered calling the hospital for an ambulance and the ride over. Most of what was said was blur as Emma couldn't shake away the buzzing in her head or the blood rushing through her ears.
**Enchanted forest**
Prince Charming angrily smashed a rock against the heavy lock on his cell door, he had been forced to watch the altercation between the Queen and Snow White. He had watched helpless as his love had bitten into the poisoned apple and collapsed.
"I will find you Snow. I will always find you." He mumbled, finally falling to his knees in despair. Two guards entered the dungeons stoically.
"That'll be hard to do without your head. Get up the Queen looks forward to your execution."
He slumps against the guards as the pulled him out of the cell without missing a beat Charming attacked the guards, incapacitating them easily before fleeing down the hallway. He ran as quickly as he could while keeping his step light, a guard stepped out in front of him and a second one rounded the corner cutting off his back exit.
The first guard raised his bow and arrow shooting the guard that stood behind Charming before removing his helmet.
"You must hurry. Follow me, I can get you out of here." The guard then took off down the hallway not looking back to see if he was being followed. "I have done what I can to stall the Queen but you need to find Snow White. I have your weapons and some provisions."
The huntsman handed Charming his sword and a satchel before pointing out an almost hidden path in the forest they had been led to.
The Queen watched Charming escape through her magic mirror and with gritted teeth she waved her hand, capturing the Prince in a portal that sent him into the infinite forest. She watched in amusement for a few minutes as the Prince ran around in circles, getting more and more lost.
**Storybrooke**
Emma followed the gurney Henry was being wheeled through the hospital on attempting to get through it Whale exactly what happened but he either wasn't listening or not believing her.
"Look I told you he took a bite of this and then he just collapsed." She said for the one hundredth time gesturing to the baggie the held the turnover. "So why don't you do your job and run th r tests for arsenic or bleach or whatever could have done this."
Whale shone his torch in Henry's mouth looking back to Emma in confusion. She glared in response.
"The boy is showing no symptoms that indicates any neurotoxins. So whatever's going on, it has nothing to do with the pastry."
"What else could it be?" She asked her voice a little above a pained whisper, Whale had no answer.
"All I can say is that we need to stabilize him right now, if you can tell me anything else you remember. The smallest detail?"
"I've told you everything," Emma growled through clenched teeth, "So why don't you do something?"
She brushed past the doctor as he confined speaking to her but Emma was more focused on the contents of Henry's backpack that he dumped onto an unoccupied bed. Finding nothing out of the ordinary she ran a hand through her already mussed up curls.
"It's like magic." She whispered to herself grabbing Henry's book hoping for an answer, only to be assaulted with a flood of memories and emotions foreign to her yet familiar.
Regina frantically stormed into the hospital asking where Henry was, Emma grabbed her by the lapels of her blazer and shoved the Mayor into a storage room.
"You did this!" She snarled, pinning Regina to the wall. "That apple turnover you gave me? He ate it and now he's sick… because of you."
All emotions fell from Regina's face replaced by fear and guilt.
"That was meant for you..." She whimpered her mind spiralling, she had never wanted this to happen. It's the reason she made so many deals with Rumplestiltskin in the first place.
"It's all true, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"I was leaving, why couldn't you just leave it be?" Emma demanded her anger palpable in the air between them.
"Because as long as you're alive Henry will never be mine."
"He's never going to be anyone's unless you fix this. Wake him up!"
Regina shook her head in despair, "I can't. I used the last of my magic for the apple. It was supposed to put you to sleep."
Emma let go of Regina the air in her lungs leaving her once more as the words hit her like a truck.
"So what will it do to him?"
"I-I… I don't know. Magic is unpredictable in this land. He could very well die if we don't act soon."
"What do we do?"
"We need help. Someone who has a vast knowledge on this… on magic."
"You mean Gold?" Emma asked immediately, the woman was always hinting at being on one of their sides but Emma was never sure who's.
"Her friends call her Milah. Her enemies, Rumplestiltskin."
So season 1 is almost finished... I hope you guys are still enjoying the story so far despite the sporadic update.