It was an unseasonably cool morning down at the walking tracks at the edge of the town centre. Probably because of the nonstop rain they had received in the last twenty-four hours. Still the skies were clear for a moment and Emma and Elsa took this opportunity to go for a walk as they were in serious need of a catchup.
"Ok, get it over with" Elsa said in a huff as her and Emma sat in silence on the park bench which was unusual for them.
"What" Emma said with a shrug.
"We still haven't talked about my outburst, the other day" Elsa said.
"We all have those days, it's fine" Emma replied.
Elsa sat back relieved knowing how hard it was to have this conversation with most other people in her life. The build-up of anxiety was eating away at her, but there was never a good time to bring it up. The truth was there'd never be a good time to deliver bad news such as this.
"I just need to apologise; it wasn't about you, what I said" Elsa said.
"Hey, you weren't wrong" Emma said almost laughing so giddy with herself and the sense of belonging she now had.
"It just didn't need to be delivered in that way" Elsa admitted.
"That's true it was kind of harsh" Emma said with a smirk.
"That's what friends are for" Elsa retorted.
"Dramatic cathartic emotional outbursts" Emma replied in agreement.
"Precisely" Elsa replied giggling.
They both laughed bring life to the quiet empty park, but silence followed. Emma smiled up at her friend. There was still on nagging topic Elsa was neglecting to discuss. The pair got up continuing to walk through the park staying on the path for once. They began to talk about all the usual topics of schoolwork their significant others and of course the latest drama around town. At present that had been Regina, and her new position at the Sheriff's station. Most weren't incredibly happy about it including Ruby, still believing Regina should be back in a cell. Emma couldn't blame her after what Regina had done to Peter. Which Emma then witnessed via the dreamcatcher. Emma of course told herself and anyone who would listen that she felt the same way, that she too hated Regina. There were those few who could see right through this façade, like her best friend.
"You don't have to hate her, you know" Elsa said, judging by Emma's silence she was finding the topic difficult.
"What?" Emma said feeling this topic didn't need to be discussed.
"Regina" Elsa said eyebrows raised.
"I know, but I can't help how I feel" Emma replied quickly trying to get the subject dropped.
"Is that, really how you feel" Elsa questioned.
"Off course, after what she did to Peter to everyone in this town, my parents" Emma listed off everything like she had to keep reminding herself.
"To you" Elsa added noticing Emma wasn't going to say it.
Emma was quiet thinking it over, but the image was still so raw. Why was everyone pushing her to give an answer. This required time, she just needed time. Elsa realised Emma wasn't ready to make a decision and was in clear avoidance stage.
"She is technically your step grandmother" Elsa added trying to lighten the mood.
"Ok when you say it like that, it's weird" Emma replied with a laugh.
"Yeah, but what I mean is, there's a lot of history there, it's not black and white" Elsa argued making sure Emma knew she understood how Emma could see the good could forgive Regina.
Emma didn't answer just looked at Elsa expectingly hoping she could have something to say that could distract her from this push and pull from within her soul. Emma couldn't make a decision in fact, she outright refused to. The best course forwards was to leave it, let someone make the choice for her. After all she was only fifteen.
"Why are we always talking about me, you're the one running out of school" Emma said changing the subject.
"Nice deflection" Elsa said.
There was silence for a moment as Elsa once again drummed up the courage to tell the truth. Talking to Emma was much easier than everyone else. Although the reaction from Anna was still a lot better than Elsa imagined. It was kind of frustrating everyone was being so understanding, but just like Emma she still hadn't really made a decision. What path she wanted to go down, Queen of Arendelle or high school senior in Storybroke.
"The truth is I" Elsa said but was still struggling to voice her concerns
"You don't want to go back Arendelle, be Queen" Emma spurted out.
"You know" Elsa said surprised.
"It was obvious, also Mulan told me" Emma said putting her arm around Elsa.
"That's what happens when you best friend, is friends with you girlfriend" Elsa said rolling her eyes.
"We really got to expand our friend group" Emma added.
"Speaking of how's Killian going with the whole long-lost brother might be evil thing" Elsa asked as calmly as possible.
"What the" Emma said looking at something fluffy bouncing around in the distance and taking off suddenly.
"So, I guess where still avoiding that as well then" Elsa said in a huff getting up to follow.
It had been glaringly obvious for a while but that didn't mean they had to talk about it. The truth was hard, Elsa would eventually leave they all would. Everyone in Storybrooke literally had another life in another world. People change people grow and then they leave. That's why Emma never got attached but that had all changed now. Storybrooke more importantly the people in it where home and any change to that status whether it be Elsa leaving, Killian losing hope that Liam will ever truly come home to him. Regina returning to her former status as the evil queen. Emma certainly didn't want to face any of these concerns. After she only now was able to fully welcome all these people into her life. One thing she was sure of was that her parents would always be there now. That feeling was exponentially liberating made it seem possible to one day face all these other obstacles with them at her side. Still that day was defiantly not today. Emma ran headlong after something in the distance, believing whatever it was would lead her to something good.
"Slow down" Elsa yelled chasing after Emma as they got closer to the edge of a hill. Emma had no intention of slowing down sliding down the bank into the mud.
That's when Elsa saw what Emma was chasing after. Medium sized long haired and very stuck was a small dog alone in the mud water. Fighting and struggling to get free having no idea it was hopeless that there was no way its frail legs could get it to safety. Finally looking up seeing Emma bounding towards him its eyes lit up and his tail started wagging. Emma didn't hesitate but Elsa did, grabbing Emma's jacket and pulling her back.
"Slow down" Elsa said exasperated at her friend antics.
"We have to help him" Emma replied.
"I know but we can be smart about it" Elsa added.
Elsa put her hand out in front of them freezing the water and creating a safe walkway to the dog. Emma smiled quickly making her way across the ice trusting that it would hold her weight. Kneeling beside the dog she was able to pull it up out of danger. Surprisingly though there was no collar or sign of the dogs family. It's mood had greatly improved as soon as the legs where free and it ran across the ice to safety of the bank running in circles.
"I think he's a stray" Emma said looking over to him knowingly.
"Not anymore" Elsa said smiling looking at the look on Emma face.
"What you'll think he'll come home with us" Emma replied surprised.
Just as Emma said that the dog took off up the hill and out of sight. They pair quickly raced after him further into the park. Surprisingly, he was already coming back towards them with large stick and he placed it at Emma's feet expectantly.
"Good boy" Emma said surprised to see he hadn't run away.
Emma grabbed the stick throwing it across the field and he took off chasing after it. A giddy laugh escaped Emma's lips as the long-haired dog came charging back once more. It was the first time she'd ever done that, and she always wondered how it would feel. Now that she had she wondered what took her so long. Eventually leaving the park the pair closely followed by their furry friend, slowly walked home. Trying to decide on the dogs name by calling out random possibilities and seeing if the muddy pooch reacted.
"Bongo" Elsa called out.
"Bongo no one has ever named their dog bongo" Emma replied with a laugh.
"I don't know I think he turned his head a little" Elsa replied.
"Your names not bongo, isn't it buddy" Emma said.
Then the dog turned around coming back over to them it's tail wagging a wide smile on his face. Emma and Elsa both knelt to pat the dog happily excited to discover a name for the pouch but still no explanation as to how it got there or if it had a home already.
"Is that your name, buddy" Emma said and again the dog had a look of recognition on it's face.
They stopped there for a moment so excited they had found a new member of the family. They were so happy in fact they didn't realise where they were standing right around the corner from the pawn shop. Behind a chain link fence mostly out of site from any passers-by two men were stuck in a heated discussion.
"What have you done" Mr Gold moaned but it wasn't angry more like mourning.
"Less then you deserve" Liam spat back his voice was cold and callus.
A low growl rose from buddy's mouth as he stopped in front of Emma and Elsa looking over to the alleyway. The stance was protective, but it wouldn't do them any good against a dark one. Only alert Mr Gold and Liam of their presence.
"No, no shush boy" Emma said bending down holding onto the scruffy muddy locks before he took off.
It seemed however that they hadn't heard them and continued with their argument without pause. Emma and Elsa couldn't help it, they perked their ears up. Wanting to know why Liam was meeting with Mr Gold in a dark alley.
"Everything I've done, I just wanted to find him" Mr Gold said hopeless.
"I know and he is better off without you, just like I will be better off, now I've gotten my revenge" Liam replied bitter. "I can move on, have my happy ending"
There was silence for a moment Elsa and Emma shared a confused glance having no idea what either man was referring to. Then they heard a low chuckle from Mr Gold as he realised something about Liam.
"Careful dearie, the darkness is harder to leave behind then you think" Mr gold replied.
Liam was breathing heavy like he was trying to keep something at bay, his hands clenched. Mr Gold let out a small laugh before calmly walking away back to his shop. Liam slipped through a gap in the fence his eyes dark, darker than they've ever been. Emma and Elsa realised he was coming right towards them. They were terrified unsure if they would be dealing with Killians long lost brother or whatever he became in the dark. However, in the few seconds he took to get down the alley his demeanour changed. Liam had a warm smile as he approached, like he had completely forgotten intense conversation that had just taken place in the alley. It was extremely off-putting, Elsa and Emma instinctively backed away. Their hearts sunk realising that something was very wrong with Liam.
"Hello" Liam said
Not oblivious to the fact Emma and Elsa felt uncomfortable he just didn't care. Liam bent down reaching out to pet the pouch. Buddy quickly recoiled back over towards Emma, then a low growl surfaced in buddy's throat.
"Friendly" Liam said sarcastically.
Then without another world or bothering to explain what he was doing with Mr Gold, he calmly walked away. Leaving the pair in the street, now knowing they could not avoid this issue any longer. They needed to talk to Killian, Elsa looked up to Emma her expression said it all. We need to find Killian now before something tragic happens.
"It's ok I'm meeting him later" Emma explained referring to Killian they were supposed to go on a nice date, but they may have to change plans.
"What are you going to do with buddy here" Elsa asked.
"I'm taking him home" Emma replied with a smile knowing at least one good thing happened today.
Elsa just patted Emma on the shoulder not wanting to be apart of that fiasco. Laughing as both Emma and the dog where completely covered head to toe in mud. They parted ways and Emma headed up to the loft only pausing in the doorway for a moment, before walking up the stairs leaving a trail of mud as they went. Buddy stayed calm happily wagging his tail beside Emma.
"Be a good boy and you might be able to stay" Emma explained to the dog before opening the door.
Emma then opened the door only a creek, but his little nose slipped in pushing the door all the way open. Bounding through the entrance surprising both David and Mary Margaret seeing this mud coated hairball run rampant around there home. Quickly the dog ran through the kitchen splattering mud all over the white cupboards. David dropped the bowl of pasta he was carrying, and it shattered onto the floor. David Looked over at Emma for explanation as she stood still in the doorway. Then the pouch made its way across to the couch making sure to scrape mud along the side. Finishing off with a good shake that spattered mud all over Mary Margaret's white coat.
"Can we keep him" Emma asked pleadingly.
NOTES: Hey this ones a bit late sorry, last week was busy but now I'm back in lockdown and writing more then ever, should be weekly updates from now on. Next chapter Liam finds Emma and with gaps in his memory they have to work together in a race to find Killian.