Killian has never been this nervous in his life. Not even when he used to perform in front of a crowd. His mind keeps taking him to the worst possible scenario. She is married with children. There's no way someone as bloody amazing as her is still single.
He finally arrives at the Estate. As he works up his nerve to knock on the door, he is met with an older man in a suit leaving.
"Excuse me, Sir, I'm looking for Emma Nolan," Killian said to the man.
The man annoyingly looks Killian up and down with a reptilian gleam in his eyes. "I'm not her butler, dearie. She is not here, she is out looking for her brat."
"I'm sorry for bothering you." Killian walks away, dejected.
After hanging up with Emma, Elsa asks around their old teachers and finds out they have been trying to find someone to do a solo performance at the upcoming event at the park.
Elsa quickly volunteered her friend. The Concert at Central Park, she couldn't believe it. For some time now, Elsa has tried convincing her friend to play professionally.
"Emma, when are you going to allow yourself to be happy again?"
"I am very happy. Thank you very much," Emma answers.
"You know what I mean, but to clarify, I'm talking about when everyone else goes home. You're a music teacher who doesn't play music anymore."
"I'll think about it. Okay?"
This is the push Emma needs and besides, she did call her.
After placing posters of Hope all over the park and nearby street corners, Merlin passes out fliers with the young girl's picture and inquires if anyone has seen her. He only gets people shaking their heads no as they walk by.
Merlin notices a skinny man with shaggy hair walking with a boy roughly around Hope's age and decides to approach them. "Excuse me, I was wondering if you or your son had seen this girl?"
The man looks at the flier and dismisses it with a wave of his hand.
Merlin studies the man's movements. There's something wicked about the man and sets off alarms in his head. He doesn't like the fact there is a young boy around that type of person.
As they walk away, Henry turns to Walsh. "Was that a picture of Hope?" the boy asks.
"Mind your business, you didn't see anything, okay? If you want to stay on my good side, that is," Walsh threatens the boy.
Henry knows what the words mean. Walsh will send him away and he won't have a place to sleep or food, so he nods his agreement. They walk further away in silence. The closer they get back to the theater, the thought of keeping a secret from Hope kills him. What if she can be with her family?
Walsh and Henry failed to notice Merlin had followed them at a discreet distance. He sees them go inside the theatre. Merlin makes a quick call to the police with his concerns.
Merlin looks down at his watch and returns to the park to check on Emma's progress.
A few hours later, the derelict theatre is raided by the police. The police managed to capture most of the kids, but Walsh manages to escape. Henry and Hope evade the police together, finding refuge in a church.
Hope and Henry find an empty pew to sit on in the back of the overfilled church. Hope's ears perk up when the choir begins singing. Henry puts a protective arm around her as they listen to the music.
Hope rests her head on her friend's shoulder. She wonders what they would do now. There had been so many cops and she knew if they had caught her, they would return her to her foster home. But she was on a mission to find her parents and no one was going to stop her from finding them.
The music stops and Henry nudges her to stand up. They have to find somewhere to sleep and some food would be nice. "Hope, come on, let's go. We need to go find shelter for the night. I don't think the theatre is safe anymore."
Hope nods. "Do you think anyone else got out in time?"
"I don't know. There were so many cops and everyone scattered. Maybe?"
As the kids were leaving the church, a man wearing some sort of gown blocked their exit before they could make their escape. "Hello, children," He says with a warm smile.
Hope and Henry share a look.
"It was a beautiful practice. We have a talented choir. I'm so sorry, I have failed to introduce myself. My name is Father Hopper."
"Hello," Hope says.
Henry looks between them. "I'm Henry, Hope's brother."
Father Hopper nods. "Your parents must be worried sick. I can escort you both."
"Oh, that's not necessary. They are probably outside waiting for us," Henry says quickly as he extends his hand for Hope to take.
Hope grins as she reaches for Henry's hand.
Father Hopper steps aside hesitantly.
The kids try to make a quick escape.
"I know you both came in alone. I know there are no parents."
Henry and Hope stiffen and are about to run out of there.
"Please, don't go. You are safe here. We can offer you sanctuary. At least for the night. Mother Superior has an empty cell we could offer you."
Hope pulls on Henry's hand.
"Follow me and I will escort you to her. Mother Superior will take you to your cell, but perhaps a snack before bedtime?"
At the mention of food, the kids' stomachs growl at the same time.
They follow him through some long halls. He knocks on a door and a petite woman opens the door.
"Father Hopper, what can I do for you?" the woman says with a smile.
"Mother Superior, I found these kids, and they are hungry and in need of a place to sleep."
"Oh, hello children. You can call me Blue."
"Like the color?" Hope asks.
"Yes, like the color. And what should I call you?"
"My name is Hope and this is my brother Henry," Hope answers.
"Okay, follow me to the kitchen so we can get you something to eat," Blue says with a small smile on her lips.
Once in the kitchen, Mother Superior, or Blue as she prefers to be called, makes them some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with two big glasses of milk. She doesn't say a word, just observes them, and the children are happy for the quiet.
The kids eat the sandwiches hungrily. Once they finish, she takes them to the room they will be sharing.
"Goodnight, children," Blue says as she closes the door.
Once the door clicks, Henry turns to Hope. "We have to be out of here before they come to check on us. If we wait any longer, they will call the cops."
"Okay, we wake up early and make a run for it," Hope says in agreement. She was happy she was no longer alone. She wished Henry was really her brother.
After sleeping a few hours, Hope wakes up. She squeezes her eyes shut trying to fall asleep for a little longer, but the music is calling her. She pushes the blanket off and quietly leaves the room to make sure she doesn't wake up Henry.
She walks the halls as quiet as a mouse. It doesn't take her long to end up in front of a big piano. She slowly approaches it and caresses the keys.
"Do you play?" a voice from behind asks.
Hope slowly turns around to face Blue and shakes her head no.
"Do you want to try it?" Blue asks.
"Yes," Hope says without hesitation.
Blue grabs the sheet music to find something easy to play, but is startled as Hope plays a sweet melody that warms her heart.
Once Hope finishes playing her inner song, she turns to Blue with a shy smile.
"Well, darling. Aren't you full of surprises? I thought you said you didn't know how to play?" Blue says teasingly.
"I don't. I've never played the piano. I had a flute once, and played the violin. In school, I wanted to play on the piano, but I haven't seen anything as big and beautiful as this."
Blue nods. "Hope, this is an organ."
"This is an organ? I thought an organ was inside of us?" Hope says, scrunching her face.
"Well, yes that too, but this is a church organ," Blue answers. "Where did you learn that song?"
Hope shrugs. "I don't know. I just hear it all the time."
Blue nods and hands Hope the sheet music. "Can you play anything from this?"
Hope grabs the sheet and looks through the book. Without knowing, she picks the hardest song to play. After finishing playing, Hope turns to Blue. "Was that okay?"
"Hope, that was perfect. You are very talented. I believe you are what's called a prodigy." Blue sighs. "We know you and Henry are alone. Hope, the safest place for both of you is with Child Protective Services."
Hope shakes her head. "I don't wanna be sent away. We don't want to go. You don't understand, I just want to find my parents! I know they're out there somewhere. The music is what I hold on to. And I can't let go. Somewhere inside me, I know that the music in my heart came from them, and I know they always wanted me. Maybe they just got lost, but my song will help me find them."
"I understand. I truly do but being on your own, there are bad people out there. My job is to make sure that you are safe. Both you and Henry."
Hope shakes her head defiantly. "If you send us back, we will only run away again."
"There is something I can do to help you. There's this wonderful school where they would welcome you. You could play your beautiful song for them."
"What about Henry? Can he come too?" Hope asks.
"I'm sorry Hope, but I don't think so," Blue answers sincerely.
The boy in question appears. "It's okay, Hope. You should go. Maybe this will help you find your parents," Henry says with a sad smile.
Hope runs to him and hugs him tightly. "When I find my parents, I will ask them to help me find you."
Blue clears her throat. "Let me make some calls."
Once Blue is gone, Henry speaks up. "I'm sorry, Hope, but I have to go now."
Hope nods. "I will find you, and we will be a family."
Emma makes two very important calls. One to Merlin for any updates and the other to Elsa.
"Mr. Wilde, I understand. Your department's doing everything they can. Please keep me posted."
As soon as Elsa answers, she tells Emma the news about The New York Philharmonic.
"Emma, I know it's just for one night, but they want you back." Elsa waited for her friend to freak out, but got the opposite reaction.
"Elsa, I know the perfect piece. Maybe she can hear it. You know she has Killian's beautiful blue eyes. She is so perfect and I really want to find her. I used to swear I could hear her all this time. I know she was trying to reach out to me," Emma says, crying.
Elsa sighs. "I know you will find your little girl."