Summary: It was just another afternoon for Emma Swan, but what happens when she sees a man and woman standing in her closet who claim to be her parents? Storybrooke Maine is a cursed town where everyone is separated from their happy endings, but one recently turned ten year old girl will be able to save them all and become the savior she was born to be.
Chapter Twelve
Tonight was David Nolan's welcome back party and Emma was not looking forward to it. Though she was happy David was out of the hospital, she was upset that her father was technically married to someone who wasn't her mother. Sure she knew of plenty of families like that, it wouldn't have bothered her so much if her parents didn't love each other. The fact that her parents had true love and couldn't be together because of the woman downstairs soured her mood tremendously.
At least Jonas and Paige would be there tonight, so she wouldn't be the only kid. Emma looked in the mirror, studying her outfit. Regina tried to tangle her into a dress, but Emma just refused to give in. Now she was wearing black jeans, black shoes with an off white, pink if you squint, shirt that was embroidered at the top. It was dressy, but not too dressy which she liked a lot. Her hair was parted down the middle, but the peach headband she wore was hiding it.
"Emma, are you ready to go!?"
Emma glances to her cracked door with a frown. No, no she wasn't ready, but she supposed she had no choice.
"Yes," she called back. To herself she said softly, "Don't have much of choice."
David couldn't sleep. Ever since he woke up, trying to sleep never helped. He was restless, dreams kept him tossing and turning. They felt more like memories than dreams, but soon as he woke up, they faded away leaving him with lost, empty and desperate feeling. He couldn't stop thinking about the woman who saved him, the woman with short, dark hair and shining green eyes.
He couldn't stop thinking about the little girl he saw next, golden curls and a face that looked similar to the woman who saved him. As he stood off to the side at his welcome back party, he searched the crowd for either of their faces and was disappointed to find neither. However, after a minute or two more, he spotted the young girl sitting on the steps with two other children. Curiously, he made his way over to see them.
He caught the end of their conversation.
"We just have to play our cards right here," said the boy.
"Card games," David asked as he stood by the railing.
The blonde girl, Emma, said, "No, we're playing pretend."
"Is that right," David said with a smile, "What are you pretending?"
The brown haired girl said, "Fantasy land. With Princesses, fairies and knights and dragons. Sword fighting too."
"It sounds exciting," David remarked.
"You ever used a sword," asked the boy, his blue eyes narrowed.
David threw him a quizzical look. That was an interesting question to ask. "A sword? I can't say that I have. Could you guys remind me of your names?"
The boy answered, "Jonas… uh Jonas Gold."
The brown haired girl said, "Paige Milliner."
"And I'm-"
"Emma," David supplied, "I remember you from that night in the woods."
Emma looked around, then she whispered, "No one knows I was there except Ms Blanchard, the sheriff and Ruby and we have to keep it that way. Promise you won't tell?"
David frowned at that, but he nodded, "Okay. I promise. Any reason?"
"Her foster mother, Mayor Mills, wouldn't be happy," Paige told him.
David looked at Emma, "Foster mother? I thought the woman there, uh Mary Margaret was your mother- I'm sorry, it's just you too looked really alike."
David watched as Emma's eyes seemed to shimmer at his words and she shifted uncomfortable in her seat. He hadn't meant to upset her, no he just thought he was making a good observation and putting the pieces together. Since he had woken up, Mary Margaret had been the one constant and grounding thing in his ever changing world. Whoever went into the coma wasn't really there and anymore, who he was now was different.
Everything in this place felt wrong and out of sorts. The doctors simply said it was because he had been under for so long, but he just knew it had to be something more than that. Mary Margaret was this beacon to him, his anchor in this hurricane and there was Emma. This little girl who he could have sworn he had seen her before the coma, or that he was supposed to know her. A dull stabbing pain hit him for a moment.
"It's okay," Emma said uncertainly, "But yeah, Regina wouldn't be happy to know I went out there looking for you."
"Your secret is safe with me," David told her, after a moment, he asked, "Have you seen Mary Margaret or uh Ms Blanchard around?"
Emma shook her head, "No, I don't think she's here."
"She's probably still fixing that bird house outside her apartment building," Jonas said with a nod.
Paige added excitedly, "Oh yeah! She's been having a really hard time fixing it."
"Why don't you go help her with it," Emma suggested with a smile, "I bet she'd really appreciate it."
David thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, yeah I think I'll do that. You kids stay out of trouble okay?"
Jonas nodded, "You got it mate."
"Hope you find her," Emma said as he started walking away.
He looked back at her for a moment. A look in her green eyes that appeared so much like the ones belonging to the woman he was going to see, there was something in those eyes that meant something to him. In the back of his mind, he heard himself speaking.
We always find each other.
However to the young girl with the same green eyes as the school teacher, he said nothing. A simple smile graced his face as he tried to hide his confusion on the memory. With that, he left the house much to the excitement of the children and the annoyance of the mayor. Why on earth David Nolan had left the building was beyond her, she hoped it wasn't to see that Snow White. The mayor walked over to the stairs and stopped when she saw Emma and her friends, their conversation halting.
"What are you three doing on the stairs," Regina asked with a raised brow.
Jonas answered her, "Hiding from everyone."
Paige added, "We're the only kids here and trying to come up with some games to play."
"No offense, but adult parties are kind of boring," Emma said leaning against the railing.
"I see," Regina said, she looked to the front door. "Do you know where Mr Nolan went?"
Emma spoke, "He was feeling a little overwhelmed with everyone here and wanted to get some air."
"I think he said he was going to walk down the street and back," Jonas said.
Regina nodded with a frown, "I see. It wouldn't be good for him to be alone now."
"I'm sure he'll be fine for a few minutes," Jonas said softly, "He's likely overwhelmed from all the people."
Emma agreed, "Yeah, I don't think I could handle this very well either. I mean I just wake up from a long dead sleep and bam, a party filled with people I don't remember. That's a lot to deal with."
Regina sighed, "I suppose you're right. It is a lot to handle. How about you guys help me set up the table for dinner?"
"Sure thing madam mayor," said Paige with a smile.
Regina grinned at them. She walked away first to go help Kathryn while the three children remained on the steps a few moments longer. Emma was tense in her seat, she hesitated to stand and when she did, her knees shook. Jonas stood beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder with a concerned look. Paige mirrored his expression. Even though she still wasn't one hundred on board with the fairytale thing, she could tell how serious and important it was to her new friend.
"You alright Ems," Paige asked.
Emma nodded, she visibly swallowed, "Not really, but it doesn't matter. We still have a mission. Operation cobra is under way."
Jonas grinned, "Right you are Swan."
The three kids raced down the stairs to help set up the table like Regina asked.
Emma knew that newcomers were all the rage in Storybrooke, she had personal experience being the subject of the town for weeks. So it was not that surprising when a new person came to town and it was all everyone wanted to talk about. Operation Cobra was not on hold per se, but it was hard. They had reached a dead end, no ways to break the curse had magically appeared much to their disappointment.
Jonas and Ava were obsessed with trying to figure out who everyone in town was, Nicolas and Paige were trying to see if they could jog anyone's memories or even their own, but no success. Emma was feeling rather defeated about the whole thing as no progress had been, no one curses were breaking and her parents still had no idea who she was.
Her dad and Kathryn, who Emma was certain was Princess Abigail, were together and seemed to be doing okay which meant bad things for her mom. Her mom still had no idea that Regina had made this whole town and took her memories. No one had their memories, not Jonas, not Rumpelstiltskin, not Archie, not anyone! There were too many coincidences for it not to be true, but with the lack of movement it was starting to make Emma think it may not be true which only made her angry.
She was angry the curse wasn't breaking fast enough, she was angry that Regina cursed entire land, she was angry her parents didn't know her, she was just so angry about everything. Currently Emma was sitting near the fence in a 'time out' of sorts. Her sour attitude lead to her getting into a fight with another student and resulting in her having to sit out at recess.
Originally she was going to stay inside, but after snapping at Ms Blanchard she had to sit and watch everyone else get to play and have fun. She did feel a little guilty for snapping at her mom, but she was just so angry and the rumors of this new person in town wasn't helping her mood. Her friends had tried to come over and cheer her up, but the teachers made them leave so she could sit in silence with her bad attitude.
"You don't look to happy," said a boy from behind her.
Emma jerked away, she glanced over her shoulder, "I'm not. Who are you?"
The boy, or teen, really replied, "A floater. Why the long face?"
"None of your business," Emma hissed, she rose to her feet with her fists ready, "Get out of here. Or I'll scream."
The teen backed away, his hands raised in surrender, "I meant no harm Emma."
Emma frowned, her fists unclenched. "I never gave you my name."
He smiled at her knowingly, "Didn't have to. You look just like your parents, Prince Charming and Snow White."
Emma's eyes widened in surprise, she whispered, "How- how do you know that? Who are you? You know about the curse?"
"In due time," he told her with a sad smile, "I am sad you don't remember me though, but I can't blame you. We were much younger then."
"Enough crap, tell me who you are," Emma said, her voice rose ever so slightly.
"I'm a friend who will help you break this curse, I promise little Swan," he told her sincerely.
It took Emma a few moments, but then she realized exactly who he was. Every so often, an older foster boy would always end up at her home because he was the kid who found her on the side of the highway. He never stayed long, but he always tried to check in with her. For him to show up now of all places was a little more than bizarre, though she shouldn't have been that surprised.
However as she studied him, she noticed he did look a lot different from the last time she saw him. Older, his hair darker and features more defined. The last time she saw him his skin was paler and hair had a more orange tint than brown, though it was now more brown or nearly black really. However she couldn't focus on his appearance much longer because her mind went to a very unpleasant idea. If he knew who she was, then he must not be from this world. He was from the other one. If he was from the Enchanted Forest, if he was someone from the other world, then how did he get here?
Emma blinked at him, "August? You look different."
The teen, August, chuckled, "Yeah, the wonders of growing up. I can't stay long, but we need to talk-"
"You knew the whole time," Emma said in disbelief, "You knew who I was. You're from the fairy tale land aren't you? Who are you there? What's your real name?! How did you get here?!"
He frowned, a little uncertain of what to say, "Emma, I can't-"
"How did you get here? You didn't find me by accident did you? You came with me, didn't you? Tell me who you are, tell me now. Why did you come and not my parents? Give me an answer," Emma said the words flying off her tongue, her voice rising with each word.
Emma remembered in the book that both her parents were supposed to come with her, or at the very least her mother, but in the story, someone else took her place. Pinocchio had, but Emma never knew what happened to him because she just never knew him. When she saw that part of the story, she had been fueled with so much anger. All she could see was red, all she could feel was the burning of her eyes and the stabbing in her small chest.
No matter how hard she tried to calm herself down, she was angry and blamed him. Even though she knew she shouldn't have since he was just a kid at the time, she was mad and he was closer. It was his fault, he took her mother's spot. She could have had her mom with her, her mom would know who she is, they could have broken the curse together, but no. No, Pinocchio had to come through with her and then leave her alone. He never stayed with her, he always left. He may have come back, but he still left her.
"How dare you," Emma hissed at him, she shook her head, "How could you? You left me!"
"Emma, listen to me," August tried to explain, but she wouldn't let him talk.
"You took her place and then you left me alone! You left me alone," Emma shouted at him, drawing the attention of some students and the two teachers on recess duty.
August shook his head, "I never meant to and I came back-"
Emma screeched back, tears fell down her red cheeks, "Only to leave me again and again! You took their place! It's all your fault! It's your fault!"
"Emma, please," August said, but to know avail.
Emma was too far gone. Her cries echoed throughout the playground, all the students stopped their playing and the two teachers raced over to the young blonde. The fourth grader kicked and punched the fence trying to hit August, but only managing to hurt herself. The arms of Ms Blanchard wrapped around the screaming ten year old while the other teacher confronted the teenager who frantically explained he was Emma's foster brother in a number of homes.
Emma could barely pay attention to what he was saying, she needed to get out of here, she needed Ms Blanchard to let her go, she needed this to stop. Ms Blanchard held Emma tightly, not allowing the young girl to escape her embrace and flail around. Sure, she had handled some students when they had episode such as this, but seeing Emma act this way tugged at her heart more than she would have thought.
"It's all his fault," Emma screamed at him and at her mother, her vision blurred from tears, "It's all your fault! You left me! You left me alone! You did this!"
"Emma, Emma stop," Ms Blanchard said as Emma continued to squirm.
Ms Blanchard was at a loss as she pulled Emma away from the teen and into the building, though the young girl fought her with everything she had. Lately Mary Margaret had noticed something seemed off with her student, but had been unsure how to approach her on the subject when it could be nothing. However seeing Emma lash out this way made her realize there was something much deeper going with her student and she needed to know what was going on so she could help her through it. Once they were in the class room, Mary Margaret released Emma who sprinted away from her and stopped by some desk. The blonde glared at the school teacher, but there was no heat to her gaze. Without warning, Emma screamed and turned to a desk and knocked to the floor, the sound ringing in their ears.
"Emma," Mary Margaret scolded sharply, "Is that anyway to behave?"
Emma scrunched her face as she mimicked, "Is that anyway to behave?"
Mary Margaret crossed her arms over her chest, "Do not start with me young lady. What has gotten into you?"
Emma screamed, "Into me!? What's gotten into everyone else!? Everything is so, so messed up!"
"There's no need to yell," Mary Margaret told her sharply, "I'm going to give you a minute to calm down and when you're ready, we can talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about," Emma said angrily back.
"Clearly there is. Otherwise I don't think you would be acting this way," Mary Margaret told her knowingly.
Emma didn't say anything back. Instead, the young girl walked or really stomped over to her desk and took a seat. Neither of them spoke, only the sound of Emma's hiccups and the air conditioning filled the silence of the classroom. Time continued on, recess would be over soon and then it would be time for lunch, Emma would likely eat her lunch in here due to her little display. When the lunch bell did ring, Emma didn't reach for her lunchbox when prompted, claiming she wasn't hungry. Mary Margaret didn't push her on it. More time passed until lunch was halfway over, that was when Emma finally spoke.
"Do you have kids?"
Mary Margaret frowned at the question, the answer was no, but she didn't want to say that for some reason, "My students are my kids."
"I mean like your own kid," Emma said hoarsely, "Birth or adopted."
Mary Margaret shook her head, "No. I do want some, one day. Why, why do you ask?"
Emma leaned over, she reached into her backpack and pulled a white knitted blanket. It was the most beautiful blanket Mary Margaret had ever seen, she wasn't sure why she thought so, only that it was so precious. The young blonde rose to her feet, blanket in her hands as she walked over to the school teacher.
"My parents gave me this," Emma said staring at the blanket, "It's all I have of them. They left me alone."
"Oh Emma, I'm sure they wanted the best for you, to give you your best chance," Mary Margaret started, taking the young girl's hand.
Emma nodded sadly, "I think so too, I wanted to find them. And I did. But they, they-"
Emma choked on her words as she stared at the blanket. Her mother was right in front of her, her mother should know, her mother was here. The anger that her mother had no idea who was she returned, but the sadness was overwhelming and tearing her apart. Mary Margaret saw Emma beginning to spiral, she pulled her student into her arms and hugged her as tight as she could. Emma just stood there, her tears soaking into the school teacher's sweater. So softly, the young girl mumbled something Mary Margaret couldn't hear, but before she could question it, her own eyes became misty and her vision blurred. These images, flashes that were to vivid to be dreams entered her mind until she knew her own name. Snow White.
"Emma," Mary Margaret said in awe and surprise, "Oh Emma."
Emma tilted her head up to look at her school teacher who wore an expression the ten year old couldn't quite make out. It was kind of sad, but it was also really happy. Though Emma had no idea why Ms Blanchard looked like this, unless…
"Ms Blanchard," Emma asked with a sniffle.
Mary Margaret got on one knee as she shook her head, "No. That's not my name."
Emma frowned, "Snow White?"
Mary Margaret put her hands on Emma's cheeks, "A different name to you."
"Mom," Emma said with a trembling lip.
"My beautiful baby," Snow White said, wiping EMma's tears with her thumbs, " You found us."
"You remember me," Emma said in disbelief.
SNow White nodded, "I do."
Emma threw her arms around Snow's neck, the older woman responded instantly and held her daughter close. She took a deep breath, trying to ingrain this feeling into her already fading memory. Oh her baby was here and her baby was hurting, this curse was hurting her. Snow felt anger form in her, this curse was causing her daughter so much pain and her outburst made so much more sense. The magic in the curse was gripping Snow's mind, but she fought it with everything she had, she couldn't forget, she couldn't forget again. Soon the curse would take it's hold of her again and she would forget, she hated it and wished she could fight it, but the magic was strong. The curse was breaking, there was still a chance, a real chance that she would remember and be able to take her daughter home.
Snow kissed Emma's hair, "I've got you. I've got you."
Emma squeezed her mother tighter, "I don't want you to let go."
"I don't want to either," Snow told her, she broke the hug and looked into her daughter's eyes, "Listen to me sweetheart, I don't have long. The curse, I can already feel it's hold coming back."
"No, no don't go," Emma whimpered holding her mother's hands.
Snow kissed Emma's hands, "I wish I didn't have to. The curse is breaking, keep going. I know it's hard and I wish it didn't have to be you, but fate chose you. It chose you and I know, this curse will break and good will win and we will be a family, like we're supposed to be."
"It's hard," Emma whispered sadly.
"I know baby," Snow said with tears falling down her cheeks, "It will be hard, but you are not alone. I am still in here and when this curse breaks, nothing will keep me away. Keep pushing and never give up hope."
Snow kissed Emma's forward before pulling her daughter back into her arms. And in those few moments, Snow White faded away and Mary Margaret returned back in her place with a mild headache. The school teacher blinked in surprise, she blacked out for a minute it felt like, but she brushed that off and focused on the child in her arms. The bell rang breaking their hug.
"How are you feeling Emma," Ms Blanchard asked softly.
Emma stared at her school teacher, she gave her a weak smile, "Hopeful."
