Emma approached her locker heading into class the next day and could hear a arguing as a small crowd stood around her locker, it was Elsa and those girls from yesterday they had started to paint freak on Emma's locker when Elsa intervened that had only gotten out the first three letters and surprisingly Elsa had them running scared before Emma even got there one hand on the can of spray paint she and taken from them the other clenched ready for a fight. Making Emma feel even guiltier for freezing Elsa out so she cracked a joke as she approached to break the ice.
"Didn't know you could be so brutal, sure had them fooled" Emma said as she walked up sort of surprising Elsa who had no idea she was there.
"Emma I, ughh" Elsa started
"You better put that away before the principle catches you" Emma said
"I'm sorry" Elsa said
"Me too" Emma said smiling
The both had a small hug when ruby and Peter walked up holding hands ruby face like up when she saw them running over to join the hug.
"Hey guys" Ruby said squeezing them both tight
"Hey ruby" they both said laughing as they let go as Peter came up beside them
"Hey you guys all cool hear" Ruby said noticing the crowd of people slowly leaving
"I heard Elsa hit Anastasia in the face" Peter said smirking
"What I did not how can you already have heard about it just happened" Elsa replied
"Oh news travels fast" Peter said
"Especially when it's false apparently" Elsa said rolling her eyes
"Hey you're the one with the spray paint in your hand" Ruby retorted realising this Elsa quickly put it in her locker.
Elsa opened her locker quickly shoving the paint can inside to be rid of the evidence, as Emma looked at her newly vandalised locker.
"Don't worry Emma we will scrub it off, next time I see those girls ughh" Ruby said raising her fists.
"Don't even give them the time of day, oh before I forget I got something else to put in your locker" Emma said getting Elsa book out of her bag and handing it to her eyes lighting up when she saw it grabbing it from Emma's hands.
"Oh my god, how, what" she mumbled squishing Emma again with another hug and putting the book in her locker.
"Come on I can't get detention two days in a row let's get to class" Emma said while trying not to laugh at them
"Alright see you guys later" ruby said
"You're not coming" Emma asked
"Peter and I are playing hooky today" they said like they knew something Emma and Elsa didn't smirking they started to walk off.
"Good luck with that" Elsa said already walking off Emma following as they waved goodbye.
They were going to be late for class now so they walked rather fast but they saw everyone already leaving the room heading outside they joined the group hoping the teacher wouldn't notice they where late.
"Hey what's going on" Elsa asked the girl in front of them with long red hair.
"Mr Hopper wants us to collect samples for our assignment meant today so you know what that means" she said rather sarcastically.
"Oh I thought we could at least wait until it got warmer before we had to do this again" Elsa replied the girl agreed shrugging her shoulders she turned away Emma wasn't quite sure what that meant though.
"So where are we going" Emma asked confused as Elsa suddenly seemed annoyed by their current situation.
"Collecting samples for the biology assessment in the woods just past the school" Elsa replied sullen.
"So we basically just going on a nature walk" Emma replied unsure why that was so bad.
"Yeah it's the schools version of an excursion, there usually pretty lame I don't think we've ever left town for an excursion, now I know why Ruby and Peter bailed" Elsa rolled her eyes.
"Well chance to avoid the idiots at school and we might have some fun" Emma said as they walked through the gates out of the school down the path but she knew that there wasn't much hope in this day turning out any good.
They continued talking as the class was lead down a dirt road into the forest it was amazing green moss everywhere it was a thick forest so many big old trees Emma actually thought it was quite beautiful strolling down the path she looked up at the sky. As they continued to walk through the woods the cold wind was getting to them well Emma at least they huddled together kind of straying at the back.
"What happened yesterday how was detention, and how did you find my book" Elsa asked
"Oh yeah well I'm heading into detention and these guy crashes into me and my bag broke, so he picks it up ties it up, fixes the strap and hands it to me smirking, and walks off I didn't realise until after he was gone the book was in my bag" Emma said sort of ranting
"Weird" Elsa said thinking about it
"You wanna something weirder" Emma said looking behind them
"What" Elsa said turning to the direction of Emma's attention
"There he is" Emma said something was drawing her towards him an unfounded curiosity so she made her way over he was at the back of the class sort off lagging.
"Where are you going" Elsa said trailing "we better not get lost"
Killian didn't notice the two heading towards him until Emma was standing at this feet.
"Hey killian is it" Emma asked "are you following me"
"Following you yes, I don't just so happen to be in this class" he answered sarcastically
"I've literally never seen you before" Elsa retorted
"I take a lot of sick days" Killian responded then he took a breath as the two of them raised their eyebrows "Look I just need to know if you remember, did you read the book and I am in this class" killian was frustrated he looked a little anxious actually.
"So it was you putting that book in my bag" Emma said
"What you took my book" Elsa said "why?"
"I thought maybe if you read it you'd remember" Killian said looking into Emma's eyes trying to see any sign of understanding
"Remember what" Emma frowned after a moment remembering flicking through the pages yesterday the picture of the bundled up baby.
"Did you even read it" killian asked calmly
"Yeah I flicked through it, what does that book have anything to do with me" Emma asked confused
"You're in it" killian said it pleadingly, Emma's eyes widened for a moment a flicker of realization he thought she was the baby from the story was he crazy.
"I'm in it, a book of fairytale's" Emma responded laughing at the thought of her life being anything like a fairytale.
"Look we can't have this talk right now not here" killian said walking off ahead out of earshot.
"He may be hot but he is kind of peculiar" Emma said Elsa nodded agreeing.
"Come on guys were going to lose the group" killian said urging them to follow
Elsa and Emma started to follow almost running to keep up with killian he seemed worried.
"Hey what's your hurry" Elsa asked
"These woods are dangerous we don't wanna get lost" Killian said turning gesturing with his hook the vastness off the forest they were in
"we'll be fine I've done this so called excursion so many times, just don't want to lose track at the….. dammit" Elsa said stopping in her tracks.
"What" Emma asked deflated
"There's fork in the road here I can't remember which way exactly" Elsa replied hesitantly
The all looked at each other for a moment but killian seemed to be really concerned of their current predicament.
"If you guys hadn't held us up" Killian mumbled looking up at the sky trying to find north however he didn't actually remember which direction town was anyway.
"Hey you're the one under question here, stealing things following Emma around" Elsa retorted.
The two continued to bicker but Emma was to busy trying to find a sign on which way to turn then listen to their argument, when she saw a grey majestic wolf starring her down from one of the paths unmoving.
"ughh guys, this way. We definitely go this way" Emma said heading towards the opposite direction of the wolf rather fast while the others followed.
"Emma what is it" Elsa said chasing after her
"A wolf, I saw a wolf" Emma yelled
"What there's no wolfs in this area" Killian said confused following closely behind
"Well I saw one so let's just go" Emma replied a little scared still running
Elsa and Killian where confused but didn't want to lose each other so they kept running.
The three of them moving quickly through the woods not paying much attention to how many left or right turns they were making just moving fast until Emma felt they were far enough away to relax. They all stopped when they reached a little river in front of them the stream trickling down the only sound other then there panting breaths.
"Great now what" Elsa said through exhales.
"I have a feeling where supposed to be here" killian said
"What you mean lost" Elsa replied
"No, sort of its ok you'll find the way" killian said looking at Emma confident
"Me the person who first stepped into these woods today" Emma frowned but she could see Elsa was worried and felt bad "I'm sorry guys, I swear I saw something" Emma apologised.
"Let's just go back the way we came" Elsa said
"Which way was that exactly" Emma replied looking around every direction looked the same.
"You know what if we get high enough I'll get a phone signal ok, I'll see what's at the top of this hill" Elsa started up the hill it wasn't very big though she probably wouldn't see much "you guys stay there I'll tell you if I get anything"
"Ok what's with you, you keep looking at me like you're expecting something miraculous to happen" Emma blurted out to a awkward Killian.
"The truth is your not here by coincidence Emma, your here to save us all, break the curse bring back the happy endings" Killian announced smiling
"You still talking about the fairytale's right ughh you know this might be cute if you where ten but it's kind of annoying really" Emma said shaking her head
"I know it's hard to but you need to start believing, and you don't find me annoying" he answered smirking.
"Ok I'll humor you if everyone's a fairytale's character who are you" Emma asked
"Captain Hook at your service" Killian responded giving a little bow his hook hanging out
Emma wanted to make joke about perms and mustaches but came up empty maybe this had something to do with his missing hand so she asked about more.
"Ok then who is Elsa" Emma asked mostly out of curiosity
"A princess she has special gifts very powerful she just doesn't remember" Killian answered looking up at Elsa
"Why do you remember who you are and no one else does" Emma asked trying to find holes in his story
"I got myself a memory potion so I could not forget I traded my home for it, so I could find you" Killian said more serious now starring straight into Emma's eyes.
Emma once again was silenced by Killian's response he sounded so sincere he was either being truthful or he was crazy see eventually broke eye contact though, however at this point she couldn't help herself and asked the question she really wanted the answer too.
"so then who is Miss Blanchard" Emma tried to ask all nonchalant but Killian knew.
"I don't think you're ready for that answer yet Swan" Killian replied sadly
"What's that supposed to mean" Emma replied a little angrier then she intended.
"Hey guys I see something" Elsa said from up the hill holding her phone in the air.
They both looked up and Killian started to make his way up the hill Emma followed still unsure if Killian was infuriating or interesting or both. They got to the top and Elsa was pointing out into the distance at a little house.
"Maybe someone's out there, or a phone at least" Elsa said
"Didn't Mr Hopper say no one lived out here?" Emma replied confused
"Well I guess he was wrong" Elsa said "Unless where all imagining this, maybe it's one of Killians fairytales" Elsa said mockingly
"You'd want hope not, from what I can tell this doesn't look good" Killian replied seriousness to his tone ignoring Elsa's joke.
"Well someone's home and baking I can smell gingerbread from here" Elsa said
"No wait this is a bad idea, something's up" killian new this story all too well and new it involved a certain someone they didn't want to mess with the both looked at him confused "come on kids lost in the woods a gingerbread house sound familiar.
"Seriously killian give it a rest" Emma said walking off with Elsa towards the house.
"It's too bad we didn't leave a trail of breadcrumbs then" Elsa said smiling happy to have a way out of this mess, however Killian new that things where only going to get worse from here he had a feeling it was for the best though, maybe whatever happens it might be enough to get Emma to believe.
They walked in silence for a while through the thick forest the sun making its way across the sky, the house was much further than first thought apparently. Emma didn't exactly feel as bad as she imagined in their current situation. Lost in the woods it felt free maybe if she just kept walking she wouldn't have to face everyone in that school and what happened in her past again. Lost in thought Emma tripped on a tree root but before she fell, killian grabbed her arm pulling her back upright.
"Thanks" she said awkwardly as he gave her a quick smile looking at the ground
"I kind of got lost in thought it so nice out here" Emma said
"Lost" killian said his eyebrows rose.
"Free" Emma responded looking up at the clear blue sky killian thought about it for a moment looking around trying to see the forest as Emma was a place of adventure free from people trying to control you or judge you.
"You know it does remind me of when I was younger me and my brother would sneak off to shore and run through the forest just being kids for a while" killian trailed off
"Shore" asked confused
"My father was a sailor me and my brother sort of grew up aboard a ship, when we had the time, we could just sit and look out to the horizon it's the only time I felt free" Killian said solemnly
"You say it like you where a prisoner" Emma joked killian returned with a smile but there was pain in his eyes as if there was more truth to it.
"You have a brother does he go to our school" Emma asked
"No ah... I haven't seen him in years" Killian paused looking away "I get it this feels free like all the problems back in whatever direction we came from don't exist, for a while" killian responded almost laughing at the end remembering how lost they where, as the continued to make their way through a forest getting thicker and thicker with trees and bushes Elsa was only a few steps ahead and they could barley se her.
"Sometime so just wanna scream" Emma said looking up at killian
"So scream" killian said smiling raising one eyebrow.
Emma eyes widened looking at him for not the first time like he was crazy but she was smiling still she couldn't help it he always had a smile or grin on his face it was like an automatic reaction every time Emma looked at him.
"What better opportunity then right now, I mean shouldn't we be screaming for help anyway" killian responded.
"We probably should" Emma answered but she wasn't buying it giving him a scrutinized look.
"ok then on three" killina said, the both counted down together side eying each other as they did they got to one and both let out a howling scream they heads up to the sky arms opened like wings and it did feel good great actually Emma thought they screamed for a good ten seconds when Elsa turned around frowning at them.
"What are you guys doing" she looked a little worried for a moment but went quickly to annoyed she wasn't enjoying this little adventure as much as them, they both looked at each other and laughed as Emma caught up to Elsa. The three of them walked a little while longer when Elsa suddenly stopped.
"Well that's promising" Elsa said looking a dilapidated sign reading keep out there where a few more, less encouraging ones ahead.
"Come on, we got keep moving it's getting dark " killian said he was worried but they all knew they didn't have much choice so they kept walking. Elsa in front they continued forward a little slower now looking at their surroundings more they were getting close now and could see the top of the house over the trees. Out of nowhere with no sound or warning a shovel came out from the trees smacking Elsa clean on the back of her head, knocking Elsa out, she immediately fell to the ground Emma and killian quickly responded ready to defend when they saw a women in old rags here messy blonde curls almost covering her face holding the shovel, Emma quickly knelt down next to Elsa.
"ELSA are you ok" Emma yelled but she was barely conscious.
Killian faced the women pausing for a moment she however had no pause and raised the shovel once more but killian was quick to react the shovel coming down meeting with his hook he struggled for a moment and pushed it out of the way with a loud clang and the shovel fell to the ground, Emma looked up as Killian backed away.
"Watch out" Emma yelled as the women grabbed her shotgun killian quickly retreated grabbing Emma's arm but they couldn't leave Elsa killian bent down picking her up turning to run when Emma noticed something about the women her eyes where white, she was blind not sure where to shot it must have been there noise that got her to find them. Emma pulled on Killian's jacket nudging at him to look he frowned but soon realised what she meant, so they both froze in place trying to not make any sound Emma carefully bent down and picking up a rock throwing it off to the other side of the blind women trying to get her attention elsewhere as the gun was almost pointed at her head. it was very tense moment Emma wasn't sure what to do but she seemed you have taking the women's attention from them for now. Killian gestured with his head for them to back up so very slowly the both lifted one leg their eyes squarely on the blind women with the gun now heading to the right while they backed up Emma heart was racing like a humming bird she reached out to hold Killian's Hook as his arms held Elsa.
"I can smell you" the women said and with that she turned her gun facing squarely at Killian's head Emma panicked how did she know, but it was too late to react killian started to run as the blind women pulled back the trigger Emma closed her eyes holding tighter to Killian's Hook and then boom it was the loudest noise Emma had heard louder than the all sirens and the yelling at her last foster home she opened her eyes. There was a big ball of smoke clouding her view she was still clasping onto killian and he was still standing not a scratch on him the old lady on the other hand was lying on the ground unconscious. The gun had blown up in her hands remarkably and they were ok they were going to be ok Emma went over to check on the women now lying in the dirt, as killian lay Elsa down trying to get her to wake.
"She's still breathing, just knocked her out" Emma gasped out over by the blind women "are you ok" Emma asked
"Aye" he said like he was shocked not by the women's condition but by Emma he was staring at her his eyes wide and smiled.
"You did it Swan" he said
"Me I didn't do anything, just dam good luck" Emma replied
At that Emma heard something coming from the house they were closer than they thought Emma could see it now just through the trees she grabbed the keys of the old lady's pocket ready to make her way over.
"Swan what you are doing" Killian gasped out after her
"Stay here with Elsa I'll check the house" Emma said taking off
"What no" Killian raised his eyebrows
"I'll be right back I hear something" Emma said already disappearing in the trees.
"Swan no" killian yelled out but Emma had already taken off killian was about learn something new about Emma Swan she never listens. Emma ran as fast as she could over to the house it was very dilapidated and smelt like sugar cane Emma could see some of it on the front lawn if you could call it that it was covered in more bushes then the rest of forest but as she got closer she could definitely hear someone no, two people yelling for help.
"Hello is someone out there" a boy's voice said
Emma went closer to the noise it was coming from around the back there was an entrance to the basement there a huge door with a chain and lock around it she fiddled around with the keys as fast as she could trying the first one an rusted little thing much to small there was one a little bigger she grabbed that one and it quickly opened the lock Emma pulled at the chains undoing them and the voices had stopped as she entered the basement.
"Hello is someone there" Emma said quietly coughing as it was extremely dusty down there and dark she saw a switch by the far wall trying to make her way over without tripping over anything on the floor she turned it and the lights came on and that when she saw them her foster parents kids she recognized them immediately from their photos around the house. When they saw here their eyes widened with concern and fear.
"You got to get out of her shell get you" the girl yelled she was chained to wall with a metal lock around her leg so was her brother they looked extremely undernourished and covered in dirt.
"No its ok I'll get you out of here" Emma almost yelled quickly making her way over to them
"But the witch" the boy said flinching away from Emma he had a look in his eyes one Emma could recognise the kind of mistrust you develop towards anything new in case you could get hurt again.
"She's knocked out, come on we don't have much time please trust me" Emma more calmly now holding her hand out to the boy. He nodded his head slowly as Emma got closer looking for the key that might unlock these chains and free the children.
"That one" the girl pointed at the small rusty one Emma nodded and unlocked them both it was hard barely enough light to see Emma anxiety making her hand shake as she tried to undo the children's shackles, but they hesitated to move fee from there chains but unsure as what to do Emma had been feeling the same way recently, So Emma reached out her hand the girl hoping she would take it. After a moment she grabbed it getting to her feet followed by the boy holding his sister hand the three of the made there way to the stairs in a line, when they heard a voice and footsteps. Emma's heart starting racing again she came to a halt unsure what to do if the women came back what if she had another gun when she heard a familiar voice.
"Emma, are you alright?" killian said desperately, Emma was so relieved she forgot where she was.
"Emma" killian said again worried
"Yeah sorry coming up, and I found some friends" she replied making her way out of the basement with the children following closely.
They reached the top and killian was standing there with Elsa leaning on him one arm around his shoulder relived to see Emma emerge from the dark. Also shocked to see the two kids in tow before Emma could explain they heard a car engine and flashing red blue lights as a Jeep pulled up out of nowhere.
"I found them, I found them" he yelled into the car radio
He bounded out of the car a handsome sheriff ready for answers he noticed the two children standing behind Emma they shrunk next to her as he approached.
"It's ok, his here to help" Emma reassured them
"Omg what happened, you found them" Sherriff Graham gasped
"I'm not really sure there was this crazy lady with a gun and we were lost and then we found them" Emma blurred out
"Actually Emma found them" killian explained
They sheriff was to shocked and confused to understand but they had to get out of there so they all got in the car and explained the whole story, another car showed up and picked up the blind women they all went back into town the kids sat in the front with sheriff Graham while Elsa Emma and killian in the back it took a while dodging tress slowly making their way to a dirt road for the rest of the way they didn't realise how far they must of walked it was dark but the time they got back to town. All three were exhausted squished in the back killian in the middle Elsa barely conscious leaning on killian still.
When they finally pulled of the dirt road there where red and blue lights and a crowd of people waiting to great them, Emma really wasn't in the mood to tell the story again and let sheriff Graham take care of it Killian led Elsa over to an ambulance her aunt waiting for her and a few more police cars scattered around no one could believe they had found the kids it was remarkable. Emma's foster parents were waiting for her so she took the children over to them one in each hand through the crowd. As soon as they saw their parents, Grace took off.
"Mamma Papa" she yelled bounding towards them they stopped in their tracks not believing their own eyes as their daughter ran into their arms they crumpled to the ground it took only a moment longer for the boy to get it to sink in and he ran over to them Emma standing there alone smiled tears in her eyes watching the family reunion. After a moment Emma walked away gathering herself going over to the ambulance they were still getting Elsa settled in. Killian was waiting for her the police where asking him a lot of questions.
"So where did you find the kids" one of the deputies asked
"I don't know Emma found them" Killian said pointing to Emma as she got into earshot
"Oh Emma are you ok" Miss Blanchard said hugging Emma her arms wrapped around her Emma hesitated not expecting the hug but it was exactly what she needed and the tears broke through again exhaustion getting the better of her and she embraced the hug.
"Excuse me we have just a few questions about what happened" the deputy said
"She found us that's what happened" they boys voice came from behind with the rest of the newly reunited family with him.
"Emma you're a hero" Josie said through sobs.
"And you said nothing exciting ever happens to you" Elsa laughed from the ambulance Emma grinned at that she was just hoping nothing exciting would happen but it didn't turn out so bad having a little excitement, the way everyone was looking at her right now, not with embarrassment or anger but happiness an pride Emma had never felt this way before.
After not getting much sleep the night before with all the chaos most of the night spent at the hospital where the kids and Elsa where checked in and it was insisted upon by her foster parents Miss Blanchard and about half the town the Emma get a check up as well, so Emma with killian sat in a hospital bed almost all night next to Elsa getting something to eat and a few of their cuts and bruises looked at for the days antics, until they were all sent home with a clean bill of health the kids keep overnight while Emma went home with Michael her foster father.
Emma still had energy for school somehow even though she was told she could stay home but really she knew she couldn't wait to see killian again and the rest of the gang.
By the time first period ending news spread around the school of everything that happened last night and Emma had her class mates not only talking to her but excited to see her coming up to say hello asking about happened Emma for the most part enjoying it. As she made her way to her locker still with red paint on it from yesterday but there was one extra E at the end now, so it clearly spelt Free Emma had a big wide smile on her face looking at it one guess as to who was behind this she made her way outside to the table where her friends where waiting Elsa, ruby, Peter and killian.
"So breaking into Elsa locker again" Emma said to killian as she approached referring to the spray paint he must have sprung from her locker to write his message.
"I don't know what you're talking about Swan" he replied smirking
"Sure" Elsa said rolling her eyes mumbling something about investing in a better lock
Emma sat by her friends as they ate there lunch chatting away all the details of last night ruby and Peter now regretting wagging and missing all the fun, Elsa rolled her eyes explaining how a concussion is no fun, also people thought they were missing as well they got in trouble Granny sure wasn't happy.
"So what's on the agenda today, any more missing persons cases you'd like to solve" Peter said smirking at Emma
"Hopefully it will be quiet around here from now on" Emma replied slouching back into the bench exhausted looking up to the sky feeling free maybe she would be sticking around in Storybrooke for a while.
Epilogue
It was quiet in the west wing of the hospital the crowd and noise that came with last night long gone and the business of small town medicine went on.
Regina Mills went unnoticed as she made her way down the hall to the blind women's bedside thinking she was asleep she frowned pursing her lips.
"Now what are we going to do about this" Regina said to herself after a few minutes she turned out if the room wondering what kind of problems this was going to make for her when she heard a muffled grown.
"It seems the happy ends are coming back what are you going to do now your majesty" she said grinning, region simply walked out of the room as if she hadn't said anything on the surface she looked calm but her mind was racing thinking of ways to rid the town of its newest resident.