"Hold it steady" Emma instructed Killian as they attempted to tap there twentieth or so power pole with a flyer.
Killian stuck his hook right through the top centre of the paper holding it in place while Emma finished with the tape. The wind fluttering around making the task extremely difficult, but it was good to have help. On the flyer was an image a blown up as big as Emma could get it of Lily with contact details for anyone who had seen her below.
"You think someone will call?" Killian asked wondering if Lily even had a phone.
"No, but at least she knows someone is looking" Emma replied.
Killian smiled at Emma realising what she was trying to do. The same thing he did for her when Emma first got to Storybroke, give her hope. Killian was thoughtful, remembering the kind of places he used to hide out in when he was avoiding authorities. Staying away from anyone that would offer help in fear, they would turn on him as well.
"Have you tried someplace more off the beaten path" Killian asked wondering if the centre of town was the best option.
"I have been advised, not to wander" Emma replied wondering when the tracking device would be inserted at this rate.
"I can take a look around" Killian replied.
Emma smiled she was asking for favours, but Killian was always willing to offer assistance something that still made her heart race, just looking at him. Being with him but she didn't want to take up anymore of his time then she already was.
"No all your free time should be spent with Liam" Emma responded trying to reassure him with a smile.
Killian went silent at the mention of Liam's name and they continued down the street posting the missing person pictures. However, the message boards and utility poles of Storybrooke were littered with similar notices making Emma feel more and more hopeless. Lily may just be another face lost in the crowd like Emma always has been. Forgotten nobody having the time or resources required to really provide any notable assistance or change in her life. Emma reached for Kilian's hand and held it as they walked through the streets back to the loft.
Killian's thought were elsewhere, the truth is as much as he wanted to spend every moment he could with Liam, he had been distant. Understandably his time in the dark void had affected Liam more than the others as it was decades rather than hours. It was starting to feel like he was avoiding Killian and the communication between them was a lot harder than it used to be.
"Well, I think we almost covered every free bit of real estate there was left" Killian said.
"There are still so many others, trying to find each other" Emma said glumly paying more attention to the abundance of missing persons flyers around Storybroke.
"We'll help them, everyone's already did a good job cleaning up after the storm" Killian replied as the dwarfs went by with wheelbarrows full of debris that was being cleared away.
"When did this become the norm?" Emma said as they whistled passed them.
"This was always the norm, just took you a while to believe it" Killian replied with a smirk.
"When I first arrived, everyone wasn't exactly themselves" Emma said back referring to the fact no one knew who they were.
"I have, never been anything but myself around you" Killian replied humbly smiling.
"I know" Emma replied with a smile " And you a certainly nothing like the stories I grew up with" Emma finished looking him up and down.
"Oh really" Killian replied with a smirk.
"I definitely would have known something was up, if you had a perm" Emma answered with a slight giggle.
"A PERM" Killian replied alarmed and confused at the idea sliding his hand through his scruffy hair.
"You didn't need one to reach me, I think I believed the moment we meet; I was just too scared to admit it" Emma replied looking up at him longingly.
"And now" Killian asked curious.
"I'm still terrified, of losing you" Emma admitted remembering as she looked down at the flyer of Lily how much she had already lost, people she never imagined losing.
"Don't worry love, I'm not going anywhere" Killian replied leaning in close to Emma trying to reassure her but how could he, having no idea what fate had in store.
Emma took Killian's hand and they continued to walk down the street their hands entwined smiling up at each other as they discussed the early days of their relationship. That instant connection they had from the moment they crossed paths. Both lost just like many more now found wandering around Storybroke after the creature was destroyed. Making busy work for Sheriff Graham and once again bringing up the fact that many would like to go back to the world they came from. Whether that be the enchanted forest or the many other lands the creature seemed to have visited. The truth was nobody had any idea if the land they came from was still there. One thing they could count on was the belief, that anything lost can be found.
Emma starred down at the pavement as they both slowly made their way down the street until Emma felt Killian's hand tense up. Looking up to see what caused this reaction. Regina was walking right towards them and wasn't slowing down, now they were just meters apart. However, Emma didn't find herself at all concerned she was eager to clear the air and know where she stood with Regina after everything that happened.
"Emma we should go" Killian said gesturing to head in the opposite direction.
"No, I need to do this" Emma replied not moving an inch.
"I just need to talk" Regina said as she got closer.
"Ok well, I'm listening" Emma replied after everything Regina did Emma had to give her a chance.
Regina seemed surprised at Emma's response now finding herself unsure of what to say. There was an awkward silence as she tried to find the words to explain everything. It was difficult to describe somehow even though it wasn't too long ago Regina wanted nothing more than to have Emma gone from her life. Now it seemed she was the only good thing in it and all the animosity was just her fear pushing away the chance at letting herself care. Not wanting to open the floodgates and feel everything again. All the lives she ruined, all the people she murdered it was all too much to bear.
"Get on with it then" Killian said not understanding why Emma was giving Regina the time of day.
"I need your help" Regina replied with a glare towards Killian.
"With what exactly, do you need our help with?" Emma replied confused.
"Somethings wrong with the curse" Regina blurted out.
"Well, yeah it's broken" Emma replied confused.
"I know but the town is still here and the barrier around it that hides Storybrooke, protects us it's breaking down" Regina said getting frustrated, this wasn't going as planned.
"How can we help with that?" Emma asked getting angry noticing the look of disdain she was giving Killian.
"Your magic can fix it" Regina said like it was obvious.
"Why can't you?" Emma said frowning wondering why she couldn't take care of this herself.
Regina shied away not giving an answer because the truth was, she had tried and failed at that very task. Repeatedly and not without consequences to herself she was feeling very weak standing before them. Regina knew with the barrier down more outsiders would come and it would become impossible to overpower them. They would want the same thing Emily came for and more. While Regina hesitated to answer an object flew across the street hitting Regina smack in the side of the face.
"Get out of here" A teenage boy yelled laughing as the egg smeared across Regina's hair dripping down onto the ground. Probably one of the kids bullied by the former principle.
Regina turned her anger overwhelming her as usual she raised her hand sending the boy flying back and smacking into the brick wall behind him. Ready to end his life right there almost like a reflux, but he was just an angry kid looking for some way to make him feel better. Just like Regina had been her whole life.
"We can't help you" Emma replied hopeless looking at Regina as her eyes were filled with hate.
"No wait, Emma please" Regina said realising her mistake by letting her anger take over she was pushing the only chance she had at a connection with another person away.
"How can we after the people you've hurt, or still planning on hurting" Emma yelled back.
"I would never hurt you, not again" Regina said frustrated.
"Look I don't what's going on with you, but I don't really even remember anything from back then" Emma admitted finding it hard to see past all the pain Regina had caused.
"I know, but Emma" Regina started to plead as the memories where still so raw for her so real the only good thing she had to hold onto.
"All I know is you devoted your life to ruin other people's happiness, including mine and…" Emma said trailing off to choke up to finish the sentence. Thinking back on the conversation she had with Mary Margaret just yesterday.
"Your mother" Regina said finishing Emma's thought realising if she wanted to be a part of Emma's life in anyway, she had a long road ahead.
"Emma come on. let's go" Killian said noticing a crowd was starting to form knowing this wasn't a good place to be if the mob finally decided to stop pulling their punches with Regina. The Sheriff having no cause of what to do in this type of situation was making for a tense atmosphere.
Emma nodded at Killian not looking for a fight either turning to walk in the opposite direction with Killian by her side leaving Regina alone to her suffering. The cold egg dripping of her face feeling powerless and without direction.
"You got a lot of nerve coming here" Granny said coming straight for them axe in hand noticing the boy getting flung across the street she had to intervene.
"You people thought I was going to hide" Regina replied standing up slightly straighter trying to hold her stance.
"Thought you'd at least have the common sense to run" Jefferson yelled as someone held him back from running over.
"There's nowhere to go" Regina replied completely defeated. Like she had tried. And failed.
"So, it's true" Marco's voice rang out echoing everyone's fears, that this new world and life was all they had. There were no options left but to pick up the remains of there former life and keep going.
"Yeah, when I ripped us all from that world it left most of it in ruins your homes, your families I tore it all down" Regina yelled looking upon them all smiling as she did, trying to elicit a response.
"So, what do you want now, come on" Regina bellowed almost egging them on to throw another punch or string her up. Regina could see the hurt on their faces but what angered her most was that they were able to rise above it, take their loved ones and walk away. Something she had never been able to do her grief always overwhelmed her like a title wave.
"Nothing from you" Granny said turning and walking away.
With those words said aloud finally making clear the crowd went from angry to sad losing their gumption not seeing the point. They had already lost so much, and they had realised something Regina never could not see until now. It would not make them feel better or change the circumstances of their lives if they killed Regina now. So, without any push from the Sheriff to stop the impending riot. They all walked away leaving Regina alone on the sidewalk. Hoping for a final battle always imaging it would end that way. But the only fight that was happening was inside of her.
NOTES: Thanks for reviews, next chapter snowing get a whole new perspective