Chapter 28

Emma

I scanned the prominent desert. It appeared that it was at least a dozen yards to cross the deadly desert, but at least there were various shaped steppingstones that led to the forest. Beyond the deadly desert was a mountain, but that appeared to be miles away.

Killian stood on one of the large boulders and reached for my hand expectantly.

I swung my leg over the high side of our crate.

"Let's start by making our way to the woods," suggested Killian as he skimmed our surroundings. I glanced down at the rock he stood on, the one that had eyes before, but now the eyes had disappeared.

I nodded as I stepped on the boulder he was on. He took a steady, careful step to the next rock.

I said, "I think it's safe to say that we're not in Storybrooke anymore."

He took another step to the next boulder, and then the next. I gingerly held his hand as I took steps on the rocks after he did.

"Aye. It appears that it is the outskirts of a desolate place."

"Desolate? Really?" I searched each rock around us. I thought I saw a flicker of an eye on a boulder ahead of the one that my husband was about to walk on. I squeezed his hand and said, "Be careful. That one is blinking." I sighed as I looked beyond the high trees, full of green leaves. "I don't like this place."

"The forest is our best advantage. From there we're figure out how to get back home. There's got to be a way," said Killian as he eyed the steppingstone that I stepped on behind him.

I hurried to hop on the next rock just as he moved to his next boulder.

I said warily, "I hope they don't have mouths. No telling what they are. Do you think they're nice?"

He gave it an odd glance. He pointed at it. "The rocks aren't deadly, Love. But they aren't friends. Only the sand is what we should avoid right now."

"How do you know this is the deadly desert?" I asked. "You seem to know about this place."

We were about four rocks away from the shore.

He glanced back at me and then hopped to the next rock, and then another, and I copied him.

Killian took his last step to the rock by the sandy shore that turned to grass landing. He looked at me as he guided me to the last stone and swiftly jumped onto the land. I jumped after him and gripped onto his arm and put my other hand on his chest as I looked back at the dangerous, creepy sand along with its stones.

Killian reached down to pick up a stick that was in the grass and tossed it into the sand. "I don't believe that anything that turns to sand will change back." He pointed at the stick, which magically turned into sand, as if someone shaped it.

I exhaled and met Killian's gaze. I replied, "Where are we?"

He still held my hand. He replied, "I've heard stories about this place. Although I am not certain what's become of it after all these years."

I drew closer to him as we skimmed the darker woods before we walked between the towering trees, with thin trunks.

"And what stories are these? Horror tales I assume?"

Killian glanced behind us and then forward.

"There's a city beyond. One with a princess who reigns."

We wandered vigilantly deeper into the forest. I searched each tree and around them, and every once in a while, we glanced back. There seemed to be no life around us.

"I wonder if she's nice," I replied.

As we trekked further into the vast woods, I noticed red small cylinder things hanging from a couple of the trees ahead, with leaves on the tops where they hung from the bows. Almost like eggplants, but they looked like small buckets.

"What are those?" I asked as we approached one of the trees. Killian reached up to slowly pick one off of the branch.

He replied, "Lunch pails." He gestured to the top of the pale he held with his hook.

I arched an eyebrow. "A lunch pail tree? No that's not weird at all." I carefully took it from him and slowly opened the top. It had hollow places in it with wrapped up small sandwiches and pieces of apples. I traded a strange look with Killian and closed the lid. I looked at the pale's top, and noticed it had a green metal handle.

"I wonder if any of these hold rum bottles in them," replied Killian. He took my hand again. I held the pale in my other.

I said, "I'll only eat if we get hungry."

In all honesty, I did feel hungry. It was nearly sundown, which was a disadvantage of spending the night in a brand new, odd, unknown land.

Killian kept his palm on my back. I didn't return the touch of affection other than the fact that he was keeping close to me.

He said softly, "Who knows how long we may be here, Love. It may be a good idea to eat something. I, on the other hand, have this." He moved his hand to reach in his pocket and produced his rum bottle. He showed it to me. He opened the bottle, took a quick drink and then handed it to me.

I shook my head and replied quietly as I looked around at the strange, eerie new world. Something felt wrong here and uncomfortable.

I said disparagingly, "I need to stop drinking so much."

"It doesn't offend me," Killian replied. "You can't drink more than I do. But just out of curiosity, why do you drink more than usual?"

I shook my head and searched for anything that may jump out as we trudged on through the woods. "Just stressed. With protecting Hope and all of our unsolved mysteries and, everything else." I didn't want to divulge the fact that I was anxious and stressed out about not only the time portals, and a new baby and Henry and Violet getting serious in their relationship, but also Killian and me. Our marriage was not doing good, and we both knew it. That was what caused me to drink the most.

In my past, I drank a lot when I was either alone, or felt like I had no control over situations in my life. Mostly, I felt like there wasn't a way I could see that I could get my husband to believe me that I only loved him. He didn't trust me because of Neal's resurrection. I only wanted Neal's friendship and co-parenting relationship, nothing more. I wasn't truly angry about Killian possibly enjoying Lily's advances and flirting. I doubted he would even think that she was attractive, which she was still after all these years. But what bothered me was that Killian felt uncomfortable even when I went to Neal's to speak with our son.

"What's wrong, Swan?" h e asked tenderly, his hand on the small of my back as we wandered onward.

I shrugged. "I don't know, everything." I tossed my hand in the air and sighed.

"I'm sure Hope's all right. As is Henry," he said soothingly. His palm rubbed my back in attempt to comfort me.

I didn't doubt his words. I knew Henry was a protective, big brother, and I also knew Violet and the rest of our family, by now, was there with my children. Our children.

I murmured, "But will we see them again, is the question."

"Aye. We will, I feel it." His hand slid to the middle of my arm, just above my elbow. He added, "And soon, we won't be able to see anything. I reckon we ought to find a place to sleep under shelter. It's not safe to wander along in the dark."

I let out a long sigh. I didn't want to do that, but he was right. I spotted another boulder off to the left and stared at it warily, but no eyes appeared on it. "This place gives me the creeps. And this isn't normal." I lifted the lunch pail towards the boulders. There was another one ahead. "I wonder why we're here. There's got to be a reason."

"We'll find a way, we always do."

"I don't even know where we're going or which direction we should go?" I mused. "And how do we get home?"

I reached for my iPhone and turned it on, hoping it would give me a signal or anything to go on to help us. I said, "No service. Of course. Why would there be?"

I turned on my flashlight on my phone. It lit our way, since the sun was setting rather quickly.

"Knew there was a use for those things," Killian said as he looked ahead of us.

I looked beyond the trees for anything moving. I pointed to a large boulder hidden amongst towering trees. The rock had two aligned eyes that blinked at us, following us as we moved. "There. A rock. It's staring at us."

Killian ran his hand up my arm and held tightly. "There, to the right. Look."

Ahead where he suggested behind a group of tall trees and shrubs, was a damaged, run down home that looked like it had crashed. The windows were slanted as was the bottom of the tarnished home, but it was still intact. I gasped and walked forward with Killian towards it. It leaned to one side to the left, but the glass was still in the windows. It looked vacant.

I glanced back at the rock with eyes, but the eyes had disappeared. I shivered and hurried up towards the damaged home.

Killian said quietly, "It's vacant as far as I can tell." He reached out to rub one of the windows.

I peered inside. I could see furniture that had crashed, a rocking chair, a bed with the mattress on the wooden floor, bedsheets and a dresser on its side that indicated a bedroom. I stepped carefully to the next window near it. Inside I saw a sofa in the middle of the bedroom and a large dining table, but the chairs were turned over. So were a couple of kitchen items like bowls and towels. I put my iPhone light up to the window and searched carefully inside.

"It's getting dark out," Killian said as he glanced over his shoulder. "I reckon this is the best place we could sleep till dawn, and then we will move on, find a way out of the cursed place."

An alert of my phone indicated that my battery was at ten percent left. I sighed heavily. I noticed a quilt near the bed, it was checkered and homemade. "It's like Granny lived here." I slowly stood up as I walked a head a few steps. In the distance, I could hear squeaky wheels, but it had to be miles away. My heart thumped as if dropping in my chest. I parted my lips and looked up at my husband. "No…" I said softly.

This seemed like a familiar story.

He pressed his lips together and looked down at me and then ahead of us on the path where we were going. He gestured his good hand towards the path. "Are you suggesting we go on?" His eyes were full of apprehension.

I looked ahead at what looked like more rocks, but they were scattered everywhere. I heard the squeaking of something unnerving, like wheels in the distance ahead, but they were moving faster, still far off, but still moving.

"What the hell is that?" I whispered to Killian.

He took a few steps towards some bricks, which were faded. "Bloody hell." He heaved a long sigh. "I think I know where we are."

I frowned as I walked to where he was. There were faded yellow bricks everywhere, but they were scattered, like a tornado had hit them. I started walking ahead to see the beginning of the bricks of where the mess started. Killian grabbed my hand and said, "No, Love. Don't go near them."

I gawped up at him as I looked at one of the bricks. I reached down and picked up a dirty yellow brick and held it. It was dusty. I looked slowly ahead and noticed it was like a road, of bricks, but all completely torn off the path.

Killian said warningly, "Do not being on this path, Emma." He pointed at the broken road. "I know this. It will suck you into the path and you won't be able to stop following it." He took the brick out of my hand and tossed it onto the earth.

My heart started to beat faster as I realized where we probably were. I widened my eyes and said, "Are we in Oz?"

His brow lifted upward, but I could tell that he wasn't shocked at the suggestion. He nodded once. "Aye. But this Oz is under a new ruler. A new regime."

I gawked at the faded, ruined yellow bricks. It was chaos, like it was done purposefully. I pointed at the bricks. "And this is the yellow brick road?"

He dipped his chin. His hand slipped into mine. "Aye. As I have said, this place is bewitched. It is not safe. Not since Zelena left it."

I blinked in confusion as I scanned the perilous trees and rocks. "Where are all the Munchkins?"

Killian looked at all four points around us, keeping on his guard. He nodded towards the brick road. "I don't know. That there leads to the Emerald City."

I looked towards the sky where the end of the demolished yellow brick road ended. There was a sea of green trees and the tops of city buildings, but they weren't shiny or glowing green. "Or what's left of it. I think it's probably demolished like the yellow brick road. And it's clearly under new management. Or a tornado hit it. Maybe the one that brought us."

Killian tugged me gently backwards. "It's because of the new princess who rules Oz."

"How do you know so much about this? We never talk about Oz or this new weird princess. Talk about a fixer-upper."

He led me towards the wrecked home. "And this is Dorothy's original home," said Killian so quietly that it was under his breath. "We must be cautious. I say we stay here until first light."

He held my hand diligently and came to one of the windows, the one that led us to the bedroom. He let my hand go and began to open the window, lifting it upward. He struggled and said, "Give me a hand, Love?"

"It's locked," I said evenly. I waved my hand over the window. The seal broke with the locked latch and pulled upward easily as Killian opened the window. Although the home was slanted to the left where it had crash landed, we could still enter.

He held open his palm, "Ladies first." He smiled at me.

I smirked back and said, "Least my magic works here. Not that I couldn't break into a deserted house owned by Dorothy's family anyway." I stepped inside. It smelled dirty like dust and was dark inside, but it was homey, and the flooring was sturdy wood paneling.

I turned and held Kilian's hand as he stepped inside after me.

I still clutched my lunch pail in my other hand. I skimmed the room, although I could barely see now with the light fading as night fell. I whispered, "Hopefully no one's coming back here to sleep either."

Kilian gently closed the window with a satisfying click and turned to me and peered around us as he walked towards me gingerly.

I set down my lunch pail and turned my iPhone back on as I shined the light around the house. "Least we've got a vacancy. And no rocks in here." Off to the right ahead was the living room. I whispered, "There's a sofa. Although its on its side." I pointed the light towards the kitchen. There were scattered and shattered dishes on the floor. An ice box and wooden small round tables littered the wood floor.

Killian stared at me for a moment and then gestured towards the bedroom. "I reckon we can both sleep in the bed?" He gestured with his finger at the somewhat made bed. It would fit both of us. He grabbed one of the quilts and tossed it on the bed. I found a pillow and placed it on the bed.

"My phone is dying," I said as I glared down at it. I stared at my wallpaper photo of Killian, Hope Henry and me. I lowered down onto the bed and sat on it as I admired our family smiling back at me. I felt sad and hopeless. Killian sat down next to me and leaned near to my head to see the photo. He smiled and whispered, "We will see them again. Tomorrow we will continue our journey."

"I know we will," I said fondly, but I couldn't stop feeling so helpless since we were here in a strange version of Oz. "It's just this desolate version of Oz. I'm guessing we can't find ruby slippers from the Wizard and just click our heels and appear home?" I said sarcastically.

His palm ran across the back of my shoulders back and forth in soothing strokes. I didn't respond to his touches, but I enjoyed it.

He murmured near my neck, "Well, you do know who the Wizard used to be, don't you?"

I glanced up at him as my phone switched off on its own. I exhaled, disappointed. I shoved it in my jacket pocket and looked up at him. I could only see the shine of his eyes with the nightfall light outside, there wasn't much light in here at all. Which was a good thing, I assumed.

I felt a small stab of emotions, both betrayal and mostly disappointment and a little grief mixed with sadness at that name. I grumbled, "Walsh, right? I hadn't thought about that artificial, fabricated relationship in years."

"Aye." He grew quiet for a moment and said, "Do you miss him ever?"

I gave him a gruesome look although I was sure he couldn't see my face clearly due to the lack of light. "Why, so you can be more jealous?"

He didn't say anything. I sensed he looked away. I felt guilty for hurting him immediately. I sighed in surrender. "I'm sorry," I said as opened up to him as I said, "No, I don't. I loved him when I was with him but after he turned into the flying monkey, those feelings were kind of over. It wasn't real anyway."

"Of course, it was, if you had feelings for him."

"I didn't marry him."

"I wonder if Walsh is still alive," mused Killian.

"Zelena may know." I paused, not recalling if he was somewhere, or if he was human. I imagined he was after Zelena's magic was diminished. I said, "I don't know what she did with her flying monkey after she became all domesticated and family."

"Did you and Walsh ever sleep together?" he asked smoothly, his tone gentle.

"Yes," I said in a dull voice. "But it doesn't matter," I replied just as softly. "I married you, not the flying monkey." I added to placate him.

I heard rustling of his pants, followed by the opening of his rum bottle. I could see him take a swig. He held it in front of me, offering me my turn.

I took it from him gently and said, "I can always count on you. I swear, your bottle's never ending."

I took a long drink, and let the instant warm, comforting sensation flood over me. I took another drink, appreciating the peace that followed it. I handed it to him. "I just might drink it all, watch out."

He took another long, steady drink. "I know you're trying to quit, but we may need this on this journey."

"I'm not complaining." I said sweetly. "I'll make an exception." I shook my head. "How do you know about the new Oz?"

He took another drink and put it in my hands. I took another huge gulp and then felt serene and comforted. All my worries faded into the night, although I was afraid of this new unorthodox Oz.

"Zelena talked about it once. Back before we started dating. When she stole Neal. Well, after she stole Neal and became a friend," Killian replied.

"What else did she say?"

"She said that there is a new princess who rules Oz. She took Zelena's place. Walsh is no longer the Wizard. But Princess Ozma is now in charge."

"Is she a good princess or a bad princess?" I asked as I bent my head back and tossed back another drink before I passed the bottle to my husband.

"She is supposed to be the ruler of peace," said Killian. "She is good. Although I am not certain if she is still on the throne. I reckon not."

"I wonder what happened." I sighed. "We should go to Oz in the morning."

I could hear Killian close his bottle. He set it on the floor with a soft thump. He sat up straight and wrapped his arm around my shoulders to hold me. I wasn't used to this familiar feeling of being held by him anymore, since it had been a while. So much had happened since the last time we had been together in that way.

He whispered in my ear, "We can follow the brick road, but not on it. Its enchanted. But there is evil here too."

"Yeah, I got that. With the Deadly Desert and the nosy rocks."

"There is an evil king here too," Killian replied in my ear. His hand rubbed my back and then my sides in slow movements. It made my body tingle and my stomach flip flop. That feeling that he caused never went away.

"Now you mention this?" I said as he pulled me closer to him until I was in his arms. "What else do you know?"

His palm rubbed my back. "It's a lot to take in. I'm allowing you to process it all."

I could feel his breath on my face. He hugged me closer to him and tugged my jacket back until he was slipping it off.

His mouth was on mine and before I knew it, he was kissing me deeply. I let him take my jacket off but didn't engage in this, except kissing him back. I returned the kiss and passionately kissed him. He groaned in response and gradually lowered me back onto the bed.

I breathed heavy as his hand ran down my chest to my stomach and the top of my jeans. I gasped as he touched me. He crawled on top of me and kissed me hungrily this time. His hand traveled up my chest and then under my shirt.

His lips moved down to my neck, which I loved it when he did this. I sighed in pleasure, wanting it to keep going, but the thought of doing this is an uncharted, dangerous land took away from the feeling of him being on me, touching me.

I lips crashed down on mine in a long, sensual kiss. I kissed him back as desire swelled inside of me, urging me to go on. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sucked on his tongue as he moaned and pulled down my pants.

I kissed him until I was out of breath and then whispered into his hair, "We shouldn't do this hear, Killian."

His lips moved down my shirt to my breasts, which I didn't have the willpower to stop. I sighed and then moaned as his tongue ran over my breasts. I felt him yank down my pants and underwear and then enter me. I gasped and said, "Killian this isn't the place."

He stopped and then moved out of me. He leaned over me and kissed my lips lovingly. His breaths were shaky. "We haven't done this in so long, Love. We need to be closer together. I'm bloody tired of us drifting apart. I won't allow that to happen anymore." He said passionately as he kissed me forcefully, but his lips moved gently against mine. I opened my mouth and let him kiss me for a while. I ran my fingers through his hair and relished in the feeling of him against me again. I had missed it, but it was all the wrong in some ways.

His hand rubbed my stomach and then down my leg until his fingers ran down my thigh and then inside of it.

I broke our kiss and murmured against his lips, "Killian. I get what you're saying. But this isn't exactly a good place to…make noise like this. It's scary here and dangerous."

I reached up to smooth his cheek and then ran my fingertips through the loose hairs hanging over his forehead. His hand cradled my cheek. He whispered, "And we could die tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes and let out a soft breath, fighting a smile. "God, you're good." I shook my head. "You tell that to the past conquests in your life?"

He softly chuckled. Then we fell silent. He rolled to the side right against me so that he could drape his arm around me. I curled up next to him and moved my leg over his thigh. I placed my palm on his chest and put my palm on his chest.

He exhaled and after a few moments of silence, he said under his breath, "I want to be with you like this. I miss you so much. You have no idea how afraid I have been when you started to say that you thought we should take a break."

"I didn't technically say that," I interjected evenly.

"Aye, well, I know you haven't been happy with me."

I felt like he had punched me in the stomach. I swallowed that back, realizing it was true. I let out a short breath and said, "I am happy."

He didn't reply. His hand grazed on my side, up and down.

I said solemnly, "I just want to get back home. To our children."

"But is that all you want?" he asked.

The longer I thought about his words the more I understood what he was saying. I felt like my heart was punctured. I said gently, "Killian. I do want you."

"It truly hurt when you said that we are drifting apart," he said heavily. I could hear the turmoil in his words.

I rubbed his chest with both hands. "It is true though. You know it."

He sighed. His hand traveled to my back and he massaged the back of my shoulders. "I'm trying get closer to you. Not just like this." His hand swept down to the middle of my back, lingering just at the top of my bottom. Just the sensation of his fingers near that spot made my skin tingle.

Killian kissed me gently. "I am determined to work this out. You said you wanted to do just that. You could even spend time near Neal, I don't hold it against you any longer. I decided that you can do whatever you wish. As long as we don't drift apart any longer."

I frowned in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

I felt his lips on my forehead. "It means…whatever you want it to. That I won't be controlling. Or jealous. I just want you to be mine, even if you talk to Neal or even go to his bloody house, Henry or not, I just rather you be in this marriage as much as I am."

I felt like I couldn't breathe. His words stole my heart away and left me breathless. Was he saying that I could do literally whatever I wanted? Even be in love with Neal? Not that I was, because I wasn't. But I wanted to have communication with Neal, and especially because of Henry. I was thrilled that Neal was alive. I cared for him, but not in a way that would want me to actually be intimate with him. I gathered that my husband meant I could do just that. Although I didn't desire Neal in any way, even if Killian surrendered that. I knew deeply too that Killian didn't want to share me, but that wouldn't happen. I also knew that Killian was willing to do anything to save our marriage. I didn't care to ask Killian to elaborate because it didn't matter.

I ran my fingertips across his cheek and said lovingly, "You don't mean that. And its not necessary to say that anyway. Although I appreciate that freedom, you know I'm not into that. And I meant it when I said that I only want you."

"I'll do anything to keep you and be close to me again. I trust you. I just worry of losing you sometimes."

I smiled and kissed him ever so slowly and moved my tongue in his mouth until we were kissing ravenously. His hands moved slowly down my breasts and unbuttoned my jeans. I smoothed his chest as I kissed him harder and moved my fingers down to his trousers and unbuttoned them. He rolled on me as we wrapped our arms around each other. His mouth kissed down the slope of my neck and I closed my eyes and just got lost in the feeling of being this close to him again. I kissed his hair on his head as he moved into me and kept from making any noise as we made love.

He was right, we could die here tomorrow in Oz, and I didn't want to die while holding anything back from him. I was tired of regrets.

As we laid there in a blissful calm, with my head in the crook of Killian's arm and my head on his chest, feeling at peace for once in several days, Killian began to hum a slow, lullaby like song.

I smirked and rubbed his chest with my palm as I looked up at him and murmured, "What are you singing?"

He started to sing softly to me as he stroked my hair with his only hand,

"Birds maybe singing in my eyes today, Sweet flowers blossom when I smile. But my soul is stormy, and my heart blows sild, my sweetheart rides a ship on the sea…"

Henry

Hope wailed and cried. The tornado's winds didn't touch Mom's home, but Hope sensed something was wrong because she broke into scared sobs right away.

Violet scooped up Hope in her arms and gazed at me with fear in her eyes as she cradled my sister to her chest. "What do we do?" she asked me, panicking.

I grabbed my phone and dialed David. When he picked up and said, "Hello, Henry?" I immediately said, "Mom's been swept away with Hook. They're gone. A Tornado descended out of nowhere and picked them up. Tell everyone."

Watching My Mom and Hook disappear in a real tornado wasn't a normal thing here in Storybrooke, so clearly something was still after them.

"Swept away?" David asked in a worried tone. "What happened?"

I paced back and forth as I stared out at the front window. I didn't want to open the door yet. I glanced back at my girlfriend. She cradled Hope closer to her neck and kissed her forehead. Hope continued to fuss as she looked around the living room.

I said to my Grandpa, "A tornado literally touched down and purposefully took Mom and Hook. It didn't travel or wipe away the house or anything. Even her car is still here."

Grandpa replied, "All right, stay there. Keep Hope close to you. Be right there."

I tapped the End button and pushed my phone in my back pocket. Hope cried harder, and no matter how much Violet bounced her and soothed her, she wasn't appeased.

Violet shushed her comfortingly and paced around to the sofa and then sat back down.

I sat next to her and faced her. "David is coming over with Mary Margaret."

"Your Mom and Stepdad just got back. Why is it always them that these things happen to?" Her face fell, concern in her eyes as she looked down at Hope. I grabbed the baby bottle on the coffee table and gave it to Violet. She took it thankfully and put it in Hope's mouth who sucked it for a moment and then whimpered again as if remembering that she wanted something else. Her big blue eyes wandered to me and then around the ceiling.

Violet said in her kind voice, "She must want her Mother. Or Dad." She kept bouncing her gently in her arms. Hope whined again and started to cry again.

I smirked at my girlfriend and leaned over to kiss her softly. "I love you. This is one of the reasons why. You care about my family so much."

She grinned, looking even more beautiful as she gazed at me and then back down at Hope, who was still uncomfortable.

Violet's gorgeous eyes were so bright. She looked into my eyes and replied in a heavenly tone, "I love you too. I still can't believe you said that to me last night for the first time." She was still smiling as she ticked her eyes to me and then down to my sister.

I reached down and caressed Hope's head. She moved her head up to look at me and then sobbed harder. I sighed and then smiled down at her. "You want me to take her?" I asked with my palms out.

Violet placed her in my arms. I gathered her to my neck and kissed her forehead. Her cries didn't cease. I patted her back and said, "Last time she was like this, it was because she wanted Mom."

Violet scooted closer to me and put her hand on my arm in a loving way. I looked into her eyes, feeling that wave of intense love for her again and leaned in to kiss her again. We kissed for a few seconds and then I blushed and looked away. She giggled silently as if overcome with deep feelings of mirth and deep feelings for me.

Violet said, "I hope your Mom and Killian are okay. Hope is probably just scared. Babies sense when something is wrong."

She reached out with her hand to smooth Hope's hair. Hope looked at her and stopped crying.

I blinked in surprise. "She likes you," I said. I kissed Hope's cheek and handed her carefully to my girlfriend.

Violet cooed at Hope and said sweetly in a singsong voice the lyrics to Birds and Ships, "The birds are singing in your eyes this day. Sweet flowers blossom in your smile. The wind and sun are in the words you say. Where might your lonesome lover be? Birds may be singing in my eyes today. Sweet flowers blossom when I smile."

Hope completely stopped crying as she gazed up at Violet, who smiled down at her.

"Wow," I said in awe. I was sure my mouth was hanging open. "How'd you do that?"

She shrugged shyly as if shy somehow by my awestruck comment. "Modest much?" I teased with a flirtacious look at her. "You sing so beautiful."

"Awe thank you. I love babies. Maybe your Mom sings to her," said Violet as she stared at me adoringly.

She rocked Hope back and forth.

"You have a gift," I appraised.

She smiled at me brilliantly and averted her eyes down to Hope. "I think I do. The song, it just came to me, popped in my head. But this gift works with horses. Not that Hope's an animal. Singing always soothes babies."

I felt suddenly sad and scared for my Mom and Hook too.

"I bet Mom misses her and is worried. But at least she has Hook. I know he'll take care of her. He's good at that."

Her smile fell and she looked at me with shining eyes. "I love your parents. I love this family. Something I don't have other than my overly protective Dad." She forced a reassuring smile, but it was strangled as it fell off her face.

I reached over to caress her shoulder and smoothed her long dark hair too affectionately. We were to where we were physically comfortable with each other now. She leaned into my touch and gazed dotingly into my eyes. She shook her head. "I'm just really worried about Emma and Hook."

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled my face near hers and kissed her softly. Hope was still entranced by Violet and kept staring at her in amazement.

Violet said, "You know, I still can't believe that Hope's Dad is Captain Hook. I mean, at least she was born with two hands." She chuckled lightly and I joined in. I nodded and laughed. I stopped when I realized we had no idea where my Mom and Stepdad were.

Just then someone knocked on the front door. I hopped over the couch and raced to the door and unlocked it before I opened it. I opened it and My Dad gave me a once over and sighed in relief. "Henry. Thank God." He walked dutifully inside, followed by Snow and David and Regina, my other Mom.

Dad gave me a hug, followed by Snow and David.

Snow smiled at Violet and the baby. She faced me and said, "We asked Zelena over. She's on her way. She knows a lot about tornados."

Regina rolled her eyes at Zelena as she pranced inside, followed by…Lily? I know I looked perplexed when I saw my Mom's ex best friend walk inside. I swear, I did a double take at her entering the door.

Lily sighed and looked around at everyone and said, "I just wanted to help find Emma."

Regina gave a cocked eyebrow at Lily. "That's certainly impressive of you. You actually care about her?"

"Actually yeah," Lily said and frowned at her then looked at Hope and her eyes softened. She walked towards my sister and smiled at Violet and said to Hope, "Hey there. You sure look like your Mom." My Dad lingered by Lily almost in a way that made me wonder if they liked each other. She noticed him and smiled up at him. Neal touched her elbow, but it was enough for me to notice the gesture.

Neal said, "Didn't think you guys would mind extra help."

"If that's what you want to call it," Regina said with a cross of her arms.

"I'm here to help. I think you all need me on this little adventure." Zelena said stood in the room like she owned the place. "Oh, I know tornadoes. Someone sent it. Henry, what color was the tornado?"

I shrugged and faced Zelena. "Uh, I guess grey, black, purple-ish. Didn't really notice. It took a wooden crate too. But not the Bug."

Zelena pointed at me in a sophisticated way as if we were on to something. "Indeed. Someone in the land of Oz called for the tornado. To take Emma and Hook."

David folded his arms and turned to Zelena, interested. "Who would do this that's in Oz?"

Zelena said, "Not certain, but I do know that the King there is not kind. Furthermore, Oz has been taken over."

Regina walked towards Zelena and replied, "By Princess Ozma, yes, I know that. And the King and she don't get along. It's not a good place anymore to be since you left."

I asked, "What happened to Princess Ozma?"

Zelena looked at me and said, "Why, nothing good. The new ruler now is not Ozma. It is now Princess Mombi. She's wicked. Trying to be like me, I dare say."

Regina gave Zelena a strange look. She waved her hand in the air, "Mombi is a freak. Never happy with her appearance, always wanting to look more beautiful than any other girl in the land."

Zelena nodded with her chin lifted. "Well, she's taken Ozma and hidden her in the mirrors. And if Emma and Hook are there like I think they are, Mombi has a band of minions that work for her. But there is also a King there. He rules over the rest of Oz, but Mombi and He are fighting for power. This King took all his emeralds back and hid them in his mountains. Across the Deadly Desert."

I raised my brows at the story. "That's a new story. Who would have taken my Mom and Hook?"

Regina put her hands on her hips and made eye contact with everyone in the room. "Mombi might have. She is a very powerful witch. She's turned everyone in Oz to stone. But Ozma is hidden. She is alive, so it could have been her. She is part fairy, part human."

Snow said in a rush, looking panicked, "You think Princess Mombi wants my daughter?"

Zelena replied, "It is possible. She is obsessed with beauty. But also, power. She keeps Ozma alive for that reason but hasn't unleashed Ozma out of the mirrors. But Ozma is trapped and would tell all of the citizens of Oz what she has done."

David said, "So how can we get there to help my daughter and son in law?"

Regina gave David a funny look. I wasn't sure if it was the question or mentioning Hook as son in law.

Regina replied, "Ozma can only communicate through mirrors, so I can help there. She may not talk to me though. She is powerful too, but my guess she isn't a fan of me or Zelena." She flicked her wrist in the air at Zelena, who rolled her eyes back at Regina.

Lily was facing us, leaning against the back of the sofa. She said, "Hey, I'll do anything to help Emma. She forgave me. And I owe her big time. I know someone who is a dragon, and my Mom is pretty powerful. If we can just get there."

My Dad stood right next to her and smiled softly at her, who looked back at him with a small smile. I told Lily, "Thank you. Means a lot."

Snow said, "Violet, how'd you get her to sleep? You're an amazing babysitter."

I gawked at my girlfriend who was still holding Hope who was fast asleep. "I sang a song to her. A soothing one. I like music."

I added proudly, "She fits into the family. If Hope likes her than anyone would fall in love with her voice."

Regina stared at me and then looked at Violet as if she wasn't sure what to think. She arched an eyebrow and said, "If we can channel a tornado here to take us there to Oz, then perhaps we can help Emma and…." She made a face like she ate something rotten.

I raised my eyebrow, "Killian."

"Right. Hook." Said Regina reluctantly.

"He's my father now," I said. My Dad looked at me, so I gave him a reassuring smile. "By marriage. And Mom loves him. So, if we can take Lily's dragon mother to Oz to find Emma and Hook, that would do it."

Zelena interjected, "Right. Well, Princess Mombi has her Wheelers everywhere lurking about. They are vicious creatures. The Nome King is no better. He has eyes everywhere."

"So do I get to go?" I asked. "Or what about Violet and Hope?"

Mary Margaret said to me, "You and Violet should stay here with Hope. Emma would want that. For you guys to be safe."

I said sarcastically, "Yes. Because it is safe here in Storybrooke."

"It's not safe anywhere," Regina said. "But I agree with Snow. Meanwhile, it's time to conjure a tornado."

Lily stood to her feet and said, "I'll pay a visit to my Mom. I think she would help Emma. She likes Emma." She and my Dad started walking towards the door. He stopped by me and put his hand on my shoulder.

I asked, "Are you going?"

"No, I'm staying here with you two." He looked at Hope and smiled fondly at her, almost in a way of regret. Hope was still asleep.

Violet said, "I'm afraid to put her down. After what happened."

I smiled at her and nodded. "It's the middle of the night anyway. We can sleep by Hope in the same room. Dad, there's a spare room you can take. We can stay in my room, uh, I mean, Violet you can sleep in my parent's room. There's a baby crib in there." I quickly looked at my Dad to see if he caught onto my slip, but he didn't react. He patted my shoulder and said, "That's okay. Love is love. Cherish it. Don't let it slip away." He had a twinge of sadness in his eyes, but he concealed it with a smile at me.

I asked him, "Are you dating Lily? Mom's friend?" I raised my brows at him.

He smirked and shrugged. "Couple dates yes. We'll see. She's turned over a leaf you know. I like her."

I pressed my lips together and said, "Good for you. But are you in love with my Mom still?" I whispered.

Violet was pretending not to listen. She stared at Hope, still admiring her. She would be a great other one day. I trusted her. Not that she would tell anyone what she overheard. I told her everything though. I told her how twisted our family tree was as well as the relationships in our family.

Neal let out a shaky sigh. "Always. But She's always loved Hook." He lifted a shoulder and looked away as if to say oh well. "I even saw it in Neverland before she knew. I never stood a chance. So, if you want someone." He side glanced at Violet, "Don't let them go. Don't wait. I was stupid to let her go. Even if for the greater good." He patted my shoulder and sadly sauntered towards the stairs.

I smiled endearingly at Violet who beamed back at me. I followed my Dad and said in a soft tone, "Dad. I know you haven't given up."

He gave me a stumped look as he faced me with questions in his eyes. He drew his head back, "She's married. I'm too late. What do you mean?" He scoffed lightly as if blowing it off.

"I know you still love her," I said without judgment.

"Well, that may be. I think she loves me too. But at least I've got Lily in my life. I'm just happy for you, son." He glanced back at Violet and said, "I won't judge you if you won't judge me. I can't help it, but I just want her to be happy." He managed a smile, but I knew he rather be with my Mom.

"Not judging you," I replied.

Playlist for Chapter 27 & Chapter 28 –

Zombie – Bad Wolves

Black Cat Bone – Sophie Zelmani

Start of Something Good – Daughtry

Before It's Too Late – Goo Goo Dolls

Far Away - Nickelback

Whatever It Takes – Lifehouse

Hemorrhage – Fuel

Here By Me – 3 Doors Down

If You Can Only See – Tonic

Does It Really Matter – Theory of a Deadman

Torn to Pieces- Pop Evil

Birds and Ships – Billy Bragg & Wilco & Natalie Merchant