"You sure you guys need to do this" Emma had an uneasy feeling as the cruiser stopped sitting in the back she leaned forward pocking her head through the middle seat as her parents unbuckled ready to head inside.

"I'm sure; we need to know what's going on" Mary Margret looked out the car to Regina's house wondering about the secrets hidden inside.

"You think she's just going to tell you" Emma questioned

"No, but we have to try" David answered

"Ok let's go" Mary Margret opened the door stepping out of the car.

"Stay here please we just need to talk to her" David asked Emma

Emma nodded she had no desire to go inside that house it was like a castle the biggest house on the block it looked so cold and empty reminded her of all the places she had to call home but never felt like it. Mary Margret had told Emma and David about the conversation she overheard when she ran into Emily out the front of the school. Even though it was defiantly something to look into, the connection between Regina and the social worker didn't seem to be as interesting to Emma as it was to her parents. The much more pressing matter was stopping the noctis last night it took three people confirming what Rumple told them was indeed true all that mess caused by the tea did make the creature stronger and much more brazen. Unfortunately it had done much more than that. Elsa and Anna where barely speaking, Mulan ended up losing it herself feeling guilty for leaving them and becoming quite dangerous hurting to thoughs around her, not to mention how lost Killian felt facing his anger again after all these years. Emma starred out the window as her parents made their way up the path to Regina Mills house looking for answers but they wouldn't find them in there, not the answers they really wanted.

"I don't know what say" Mary Margret squeezed David's hand as they made their way up the path

"Just tell her you overheard the conversation and want answers"

"No not Regina, Emma after what happened the other day on the roof, I just, I don't know" Mary Margret said hopelessly

"It's just going to take time"

"What if she can't forgive us, I can't forgive us?"

"Everything will be ok"

"Will it, because I don't even know my own daughter she was hurting, and we didn't know?"

"You know Emma is closed off and you know it was the only choice we had, don't forget whose fault this really is" David glared forward at the door of Regina's house. He frowned realising the door was open, just a little it was strange Regina wouldn't leave her doors unlocked.

"Regina, are you home" Mary Margret called out but there was only silence. There peered inside making there way through to the front lounge.

"Something's wrong" David realised as he peered into the lounge noticing the red wine spread across the otherwise pristine white carpet and broken glass.

Emma's was day dreaming in the back of the cruiser it was surprisingly clean for a sixteen year old police car not that there have been many criminals back here. Storybrooke probably doesn't even have a crime rate at all Emma thought starring at the untouched upholstery. Emma's thoughts interrupted for a second time someone kept calling Mary Margret and they weren't taking her not answering her phone as a sign she couldn't talk right now. Rolling her eyes Emma picked up the phone showing an unknown number she answered.

"Hello"

"Emma" a surprised voice answered

"Yeah, who's this?"

"It's Emily I don't know if you remember me" she quickly regained her composure Emma could practically her sly smile threw the phone.

"I remember you"

"I've been reassigned your case I was hoping to talk to Mary Margret is she there"

"She can't talk right now; I can give her a message"

"I really need to talk to her"

"OK, just one moment" Emma got out of the car walking through the gated house up the path even though she was told to stay in the car she didn't see the harm in going inside.

"Emma why I've got you on the phone, I wanted to talk"

"Not really interested"

"I need to ask you how you're doing, if you want to stay here"

"I don't think a social worker has ever asked me that before"

"Well"

"I do"

"You don't sound so sure"

"It's complicated, but it has nothing to do with who I'm living with, ok"

"Emma I'm just looking out for you"

"Like you ever have before, why are you even still in town"

"We've got a missing girl"

"How many times do I have to say it, Lily's not here?"

"But she was here wasn't she"

Emma rolled her eyes as she walked through the open door into Regina's house surprised with what she found.

David quickly whisked around hearing someone enter he grabbed his gun thinking whatever attacked earlier was back, Emma steeped into the lounge to find a gun pointed at her.

"Emma" Mary Margret gasped

David exhaled lowering the gun quickly realising it was Emma walking through the doorway.

"Emma, I told you to stay in the car" David said

"Sorry what's with the freak out, is something wrong"

"Where not sure"

Emma remembered why she'd came in hearing Emily complaining in her ear she had a very low tolerance for this women and had almost reached capacity. Emma couldn't stand Emily's attempt at pretending to care, if she ever cared at all she wouldn't have just disappeared from Emma life in the first place. Emma quickly handed the phone to Mary Margret.

"It's the social worker, she wouldn't stop calling"

"Just what we need right now" Mary Margret sighed, Emma handed the phone to her.

Emma shrugged turning towards David while Mary Margret talked to Emily he was focussed on something down the hall by the kitchen.

"You find something, Emma asked"

"Yeah there's some mess in the kitchen as well, I'm sorry about" David started to apologise for jumping the gun but Emma just shrugged she wasn't even scared by it knowing he wouldn't pull the trigger.

"Its fine come on, let's find Regina"

"Right, I think she was taken by the creature"

"Or not" Emma pointed at the muddy footprints leading out the back door. "It's never left muddy footprints behind"

Regina opened her eyes she could taste something strange metallic it was blood, her blood dripping from her mouth. Regina was groggy she couldn't even remember what had happened at first until she felt the black sack being pulled off her head and she saw that women's face again. She was attacked in her home drugged by two strange women she'd never seen before they'd tied her to a chair in a dusty old shed.

"Your majesty, you're awake" the blonde haired women said.

Regina looked up at them glaring who did they think they where messing with she was about to rip their heads off but she had nothing no magic.

"Who are you?"

"Off course with all the people you've murdered we didn't expect you to remember us but after today you'll never forget us again"

"You better reconsider what you're doing before I fry you"

"How you have nothing, we've been watching, you have no magic"

Regina was silent she knew it would only be a matter of time before someone figured it out she just hoped it would take a bit longer.

"Everyone else in this town might be fine with letting you just get away with all you've done but we want Justice"

"And this is justice"

"It's as close as it's going to get we couldn't possible make up for all the lives you've ruined"

"So you've assigned yourself as the towns judge and jury, you think no one's going to find out"

"What you think someone's going to come looking for you if they've even noticed your gone they'll just assume that creature took you"

There was anger in there these but the two women just looked sad heartbroken. Regina had no idea who they where what she could have done to them they shuffled the smaller women looked out the window of what seemed to be and old garden shed checking to see they were alone. The first woman who was doing all the talking she saw Regina looking away from her she wanted the queen's attention on her and she knew how to get it. Grabbing a hammer of the bench swinging it she smashed it down on Regina's fingers. Wailing in pain, Regina was unable to keep her composure she looked them women dead in the eye not a speck of fear in her expression.

"What do you want?"

"For you to feel the same pain I do"

David dropped Emma and Mary Margret of the empty school yard most had already headed inside while David rushed off to meet up with Graham and find out who was kidnapping Storybrooke residents, the sheriff seemed excited to have a case to solve. Emma had spares, she wasn't in much of a rush her and Mary Margret slowly made their way through to the main corridor. Emma dragged her feet behind Mary Margret she wasn't looking forward to the library and researching all they where drudging up from the storybooks about the noctis was stories of terror the creature would come to a town take everyone one by one until there was nothing a ghost town there was not one tale where the creature even came close to being defeated, there was no happy ending. Emma wanted to talk but it was getting awkward after she lost it the other day infected by the tea. As usual avoiding the subject but it was gnawing at her Emma wanted to apologise or discuss what happened on the roof she could tell David and Mary Margret wanted to say something but every time they came close they would close their mouths or talk about something else.

"You ok Emma" Mary Margret asked looking back as Emma slowly trailed behind

"No" Emma answered honestly for once.

"Come on" Mary Margret sat down on the bench overlooking the oval the sat for a moment quiet.

"Everything got screwed up, Elsa's upset and Anna, Mulan, Killian, everyone's hurting"

"They're going to be ok Emma where going to fix this"

"How can you be so optimistic" Emma said frustrated

"We've be through a lot, worse even if there's one thing I've learnt as long as you have those you love you can face anything"

"And now you're hurting too, because of me"

"It wasn't your fault"

"I know but everything I said I, I didn't mean it"

Mary Margret paused musing on that she knew what Emma meant but it was the truth it was how she felt and even though it was hard to hear. Mary Margret was glad because at least now she knew and they could move forward.

"Emma everything you said up there it was the truth it may not be what we wanted to hear and in better circumstances it could've been handled differently but it was the truth, were going to have to work this out, the three of us"

"So you're not mad, I mean I hurt you I've been kicked at of homes for less"

Mary Margret turned to Emma looking her in the she placed her hand behind Emma's head pulling her closer making sure she really heard her when she said this.

"Emma you never have to worry about that again you'll always have a home here, always"

"Ok" Emma smiled

"Ok" Mary Margret wrapped her arm around Emma and they sat for a while before heading into class.

The sun warm on Emma's back as she walked through the empty car park the days where getting longer and warmer finally, her fingertips reached killians hand and she held tight while they quietly strolled to his car it had been another long day there weren't getting any closer to answers of who was helping the creature or how to stop it.

"Ok Swan what is it" Killian asked seeing Emma's troubled expression.

I was talking to Elsa, she said her and Anna talked but I don't think she really feeling better having her feelings out, what about you where's you head at after everything"

"I starting to realise everything isn't what I thought"

"Welcome to my life"

The glare of the setting sun was right in Emma's eyes reminding her off the time they must have been in the library for hours after school finished. Elsa and Belle were still hitting the books but Emma and Killian had to bow out they weren't really the type to be able to sit still and study for too long of a period.

"You want to get some dinner" Killian's asked leaning against his car

"I do but I promised I'd be home tonight, you want to come"

"Thanks but I think I've got to get used to living aboard again, finally got her up to shape"

"That's great"

"Still some work to do but she won't sink at least"

"Even better, we can do some more work on it tomorrow where not getting anywhere with this research anyway"

"Aye, all these towns and kingdoms every story ends the same"

"I'm starting to think finding the library and all those storybooks was just the universes way of telling us to give up"

"I did find something though, a story about a town not far from where we used to make port where Liam" killian paused not sure how to end that sentence he was less sure of what happened that night then ever" then I had this dream last night like a memory I think I saw it there, it was there the whole time the darkness I just didn't see it until now"

"Hey this is good news it means Liam could still be alive"

"Except the only chance I have of seeing him again is when that thing inevitably takes me"

"There's that optimism" Emma nudged him sarcastically

"Where's a hope speech when you need one"

"At home probably, I better head off"

"You want a ride"

"It's ok I feel like a walk"

"Aye, see you tomorrow love"

Killian leaned in giving Emma a quick peck before he got into his car and Emma walked off in the other direction. It was getting warmer now the nights not so cold Emma walked through the park she could see the flowers where starting to blown. There was something else strange mud all over the path the district footprints just like the ones all over Regina's Kitchen.

"Seriously" Emma muttered

There was a rustling and then someone ran off, Emma watched the women take off down peach it seemed suspicious what was she doing she was anxious about it whatever it was her hands shaking a she walked maybe she was the same person who left the footprints in Regina's house this morning she might have something to do with the disappearance. Emma followed it didn't seem right calling anyone without anything to go one but muddy shoes. Emma just kept her distance but the women seemed unconcerned with her, whatever she was worried about it wasn't being followed they were walking for quite a while about twenty minutes, nothing happened. Emma was about to give up when the women made her way down a small dirt path into an old nursery it looked like it had been closed for a long time. Emma couldn't imagine the place ever have been open even the grass was dead nothing seemed to be alive in there but the weeds.

"Arhhhhhh" someone yelled out in pain.

Someone was alive in there and they were screaming out for help Emma quickly made her way through climbing under the broken wire fence through weeds almost taller than her trying not to slip in the mud as she quietly walked through. Emma jumped back finally seeing where the noise came from a dilapidated old shed inside where a women Emma didn't recognise and Regina tied to a chair. Emma grabbed her phone quickly dialling David's number. Completely blindsided smacked in the jaw so hard she fell to the ground it was disorientating one moment she was looking at Regina trying to dial the next her face was in the dirt. The women grabbed her pulling her up dragging her inside the shed the second women look surprised and pissed.

"What are you doing?"

"She was outside I didn't know what else to do"

Emma tried to squirm away she punched the women in the gut hard and she let go of Emma's arm but she was quick to recover much stronger when she grabbed hold again.

"Let me go, it's over more people are coming" Emma lied but not well it didn't help that talking just reminded her of the numbing jaw pain.

"I don't think so little girl" the second women smaller but crueller she came over grabbing Emma's chin she winced in pain.

"I think you're all alone"

"I'll get rid of her"

"We can't kill her, just tie her up"

"Then what"

"I don't' know, people will miss her they come looking for us"

"Dammit" the first women yelled smashing some of the junk lying around this shed to the ground dust flew everywhere woodchips and dirt filling the room making the air hard to breath in.

"What happened all you had to do was dispose of her phone"

"I did, buried it in the park the girl must have seen me"

"The park, you're a fool and your shoes are still covered in mud I'm surprised you didn't lead the whole town here"

The tied Emma to the second chair she moaned and struggled bitting one of them through the fight Regina seemed to barely notice the commotion she was so drugged up or passed out from the pain Emma noticed her hand blooded and broken.

"Little bitch" the women snarled looking at the teeth marks in her hand

"Come on we need to think of plan and wait for the queen to wake up"

Tightening the ropes just that little bit more around Emma's wrests they left locking the door behind them they made their way back to the house leaving Emma alone with Regina wondering how she had ended up here. There was barely a moment of silence before Regina lifted her head.

"What are you doing here?" Regina grunted rather annoyed at Emma's presence

"I thought you were unconscious"

"That's what I want them to think, you didn't answer my question"

"I just ended up here, I thought I could help"

"Great job, at least now someone's coming to save you"

"They were coming for you"

"Yeah I'm sure the whole town volunteered to search" Regina retorted it wasn't said with sarcasm more of a hopelessness.

"Well what did you expect?"

"Not you" Regina didn't say it with her usual venom she was sad revaluating everything she thought she had known for so long. Emma looked over seeing the marks around Regina's face she was blooded, bruised, broken.

"Let's just get out of here" Emma said after a moment ignoring Regina's advice and continuing to try squirm her way out.

"David slow down" Mary Margret laughed as he bounded up the stairs to their front door "what's the rush"

"I just want have time to see Emma before Graham and I head off to keep looking for Regina"

"Well he can wait"

"He's already been waiting apparently he found a lead in the cemetery"

"The cemetery, that doesn't sound promising"

"Nope he seems eager about this I think he's just excited to have a real case to investigate or one's that don't involve unstoppable creatures that sucked people into oblivion"

Making their way into the apartment it was much too quiet Mary Margret dropped the shopping bags in the bench she looked around now sign of Emma who would usually be lounging around the couch this time of day playing some sort of video game avoiding homework she frowned.

"Where's Emma" David asked "I thought you said she would be here by now"

"Emma make a noise please" Mary Margret called up the stairs wondering why she wasn't here but her room was empty no one else was here.

"I'll call her probably still at the library" David sighed

"Right"

Mary Margret started to unpack the groceries while David called Emma the phone just rang out reaching her voicemail. David frowned Mary Margret could see he was already getting concerned.

"It's ok we can't freak out every time she doesn't answer her phone"

"Right, I'll try again in a minute" David smiled putting the phone down he helped Mary Margret.

"Stop it your exhausting me" Regina grumbled while Emma continued to try slip out of the ropes not getting any closer to freedom.

"Oh I'm sorry, what your plan?" Emma retorted her jaw already burning with pain sending a sharp message that moving her mouth wasn't advised.

"The cavalry will come"

"That's your plan sit here and wait"

"If its one thing I can count on, your parents always being there to save the day"

"They don't know where we are, where are we? and who are those women?"

"I don't know their names" Regina realised feeling guilty she had hurt these people she didn't even know who they were "look it doesn't matter let's just get out of here"

"Don't you have magic?"

There was silence Regina didn't know what to say it was working she had tried everything she could think of it just wasn't the same anymore.

"You don't have magic do you" Emma realised she was expecting to be relieved at this news but given their current situation it wasn't a positive.

"You need to calm down"

"I think you're a little to calm do you even care if we get out of here"

Regina didn't say anything because she didn't really have an answer for anything anymore she wanted to hate Emma but she didn't really. Regina didn't want revenge she didn't know what she wanted after all what happens to villain after the story ends her part in the story was over she just didn't care anymore. Emma could hear the mud splatter as the women approached the shed; they pulled the chain coming off the door the hinges squeaking as there captures entered the shed her heart raced.

"Look what we found"

She held of a file it wasn't particularly thick or colourful it didn't really interest her at all but Regina's face fell and she looked over at Emma anxious.

"Where did you get that?"

"Your car you know with secrets like this you really need to destroy the evidence"

"Why do you have my car?"

"You think we carried you here, not everyone got a mansion and a nice car in this whole new world"

"You think I care about what's in that file about any of this"

"I know you do, not about us but you care about someone or you wouldn't have kept this" she grabbed the file pulling out a children's drawing it was a picture of a girl and a women playing none of this alarmed Emma it was really just confusing.

"What's going on?" Emma asked

"Confused, so was I but then I realised they only reason to keep some child's scribbles is if you love them, maybe you should look at the artist's name"

Holding the drawing right in from of Emma's face she could see it now her handwriting was terrible but Emma recognised it in yellow crayon Emma swan.

"I don't understand, why does Regina have some picture I drew as a kid"

"Because she wanted to adopt you"

"What, but I never meet Regina until I came here"

"Not according to these reports she visited you on twelve separate occasions"

"I never adopted her she doesn't even remember it was twelve years ago, I didn't remember her, I never realised" Regina was mumbling her sentence trailing off she couldn't look at Emma ever since Emily handed her the file she just hoped no one would find out the truth.

"You know it's hard to get revenge on someone who doesn't care about anything, what are the chances the evil Queen would have wanted a child you don't seem to have a maternal bone in your body, and the one child you come across is the saviour must have been fate" she pulled a gun from her back cocking she aimed for Emma's head.

"Please you'd be doing me a favour" Regina rolled her eyes

"What are doing, you said you didn't want to kill her" the second grubber women stepped forward scared.

"People change their minds"

"This isn't you, you're not a killer" the women pleaded but she didn't move she wasn't going to do anything to save Emma much too scared to stop her accomplice from doing the unthinkable.

"Wait don't I have a family, don't do this" Emma pleaded

"Can't even save yourself, saviour" the women mocked

"You want revenge for whatever I did to you take it out on me, she is nothing to me" Regina yelled

"Whatever you did that's so sincere, you know I can sympathize with you I wanted to be a mother once it's all I wanted, I had my whole life figured out until my wedding day when you ripped my loves heart out and crushed it, and why because you where having a bad day, well it looks I'm myself a really bad day" the women spat there was no turning back now she was going to do it and no one could stop her Emma try one last time to break free from the ropes and Regina was fighting now to but it was useless

"I guess motherhood wasn't in the cards for us" she spoke solemnly her finger twitching about to pull the trigger.

There was a loud crack, Regina was sure she had pulled the trigger she froze looking over at Emma terrified but she was fine. The little bit of light the shined through the gaps in the timber was gone the room completely dark.

"What the" the women hesitated pulling back the gun the room filled with darkness the shadow appearing behind there captures, who turned shocked it happened instantaneously grabbing both women quickly. Emma blinked and they were gone sucked into the darkness leaving Emma and Regina helpless still tied to chairs moment away from being taken.

"Where's the hero's when you need them" Regina grumbled the noctis grew closer to Emma knowing it had them cornered the creature wasn't in a rush anymore.

"Back off" Emma yelled she pushed back with her feet a last-ditch effort she feel back unfortunately the chair was quite sturdy and didn't break as planned now all she had was a sharp pain in her jaw and back.

"Emma" Regina yelled looking over at her she couldn't see her anymore the noctis blocking her. Regina's anxiety surged as she continued to struggle with the ropes that tied her hands she felt them burning against the rope then suddenly her hands where the things burning the ropes a fire ball surged out a quick burst was enough to free her.

"I did it" Regina exclaimed her happiness short lived realising Emma was moment away from being taken. Regina stood in front of the monster ready to fight but once again her surge of magic was short lived and nothing happened she was defenceless.

"Run" Emma yelled at her wondering what she was waiting for.

Regina walked through the veil of darkness standing in between Emma and the noctis feeling terrified she did it anyway jumped right in front the noctis with nothing no weapon no way of fending off the creature off, it tried to pull her in but it couldn't.

It disappeared through the cracks like someone had pulled a ripcord attached to its back gone in an instant. Regina was stunned standing there dumbfounded for a moment wondering what caused the creatures retreat the light shined through once again brightening the old shed.

"A little help" Emma called out from behind still struggling on the ground

"I'm coming" Regina turned untying her, Regina gently sat Emma up looking at her jaw swelling up for a moment Regina felt something small and maybe unnoticeable to most a little flicker deep down inside her heart as she looked over at Emma just happy she was ok.

"You saved me"

"It was the decent thing to do" Regina sarcastically replied repeating the words Emma had said to her months ago when she saved her in the mines she quickly looked away untying Emma from the chair and helping her up.

Mary Margret was pacing it was getting late she looked outside at the setting sun with every moment ticking by her heart sunk lower and David had already called Elsa who said Emma wasn't at the library so David was trying Killian now the phone seemed to be ringing forever like time had stopped again but finally he answered.

"Killian are you with Emma, Elsa said you left with her"

There was silence David's face not giving much away Mary Margret looked at him intensely waiting for a response.

"Ok, no she's not here, and she hasn't been answering her phone"

"David what's going on" Mary Margret said impatiently as David listened to what Killian had to say.

"She not with him" David shook his head

"Ok lets us know if you find her" David hung up

"Ok crossing over into panic mode now" Mary Margret walked over to her husband visibly shaking

"I know" David squeezed her hand started making his way out the door

"Where are we going?"

"Graham showed me how to track a phone Emma has the app we should be able to locate her"

"Let's go" Mary Margret quickly followed David out the door.

Emma walked of through the house maybe there was a phone inside they could get some help even if she had no idea where she was remembering walking down peach and then losing track after that. Regina slowly followed behind she could hear a vibrating a strange sound coming from the behind her Emma's phone was sitting on the window seal at least they didn't have to look for it any longer.

"Hello" Regina answered

"Regina, what, where's Emma"

"She fine, just looking for her phone actually, lucky I found it"

"Can you put her on the phone please?"

"She can't really talk right now"

"Regina"

"You sound just like you did when you where a teenager"

"This isn't a game, if you hurt her"

"You'll what; you don't even know where we are"

Regina walked through the house found Emma in the kitchen looking around the room for her phone.

"You found it, ahhhh" Emma mumbled before her jaw reminded her of the pain she was in.

"Don't talk Emma" Regina huffed opening the freezer door she found some frozen peas grabbing the bag she placed it on Emma's check. Emma frowned but she held the peas in place it was already dulling the pain.

"What's going on" Mary Margret barked through the phone hearing Regina mention Emma.

"Everything's fine relax"

Emma looked at Regina puzzled her expression made it clear she was asking who was on the phone.

"It's your parents"

Emma grimaced realising they'd probably be mad at her seen as the last thing she said to Mary Margret was see you at home before she went off on her own not a good decision Emma couldn't help herself when it came getting into a sticking situation these days.

"Regina why can't Emma come to the phone"

"She can she just can't talk, jaws a bit swollen"

"What happened" Mary Margret said it with finality to let Regina know she should get to the point soon.

"Emma showed up here I was being held by to deranged women then we made our escape, just not before she got punched in the jaw"

"Oh Emma, where on our way"

"On your way"

"We tracked the phone almost there"

"Ok" Regina laughed hanging up she look over at Emma who was very stuck in her head she didn't even notice Regina starring.

"Your parents are on their way, I guess I'll go" Regina awkwardly started to leave

Emma held her hands up realising Regina was saying she stopped daydreaming for a moment she held up the file Emma couldn't speak the words but it was obvious what she was asking.

"Oh that"

Regina squirmed a little she felt embarrassed with everything she didn't want Emma to know it was easier if she was just seen as a villain this was more complicated.

"When I cast the dark curse I thought I'd finally be happy, but after years went by I was just alone, so I wanted to adopt, that's when I meet Emily I believe you know her, set up lots of visits" Regina paused she hadn't ever looked back on that time it was hard " but they were making it so hard wouldn't even let me foster the girl I was visiting I started to catch on that something more was going on but I let it go after they told me the girl didn't want to be adopted anyway"

Emma frowned but she barely remembering it so many people had come and gone never wanting her there's no way she ever turned down a chance at family.

"It wasn't until I got handed this file a few weeks ago, I realised it was you, out of all kids in the state I find the saviour when they told me you didn't want to be adopted I just" Regina shrugged "forgot about it"

Emma started mumbling but her jaw had swollen enough for the words to become incoherent she wanted her to know she never told them Regina couldn't adopt her.

"It's not important now that my secrets out I can tell you something more pressing, that women Emily she not a social worker I don't know if she ever really was or if she was also working for another cause, not sure what there up to but I'm not going to let it go on much longer, this is my town"

The cruiser pulled up out the front barely stopping before it made its way right through the front porch the tires skidded in the dirt.

"Emma" David yelled bounding out of the car

The wire door squeaked as they made their way through to them in the kitchen Emma looking dumbfounded at the information it couldn't be she'd known Emily for so long she'd worked her case for most of Emma's life it didn't make any sense.

David ran over to Emma relieved to see her standing by the sink the bag of peas still pressed against her check.

"You ok" Mary Margret asked

Emma nodded David came closer looking at her jaw he could see it wasn't broken but very sore.

"Emma what were you thinking going off alone" David frowned

Emma couldn't talk she wasn't thinking really she just assumed there would be no harm in just fallowing and calling for help it just didn't go as planned shrugging at her father who shook his head he gave her a hug.

"Sorry ughh" Emma mumbled, holding on tight she finally let herself feeling safe in her father's arms.

"That's my cue" Regina walked away feeling way to vulnerable right now to be around all these people her hand throbbing from the pain cuts across her face she knew how pathetic she would look to them and it was clear she didn't have magic.

"Where did they go?" Mary Margret asked

"Who" Regina was confused for a moment hoping just to leave already

"The people that took you and Emma, where are they?"

"That creature showed up just in time it took them before they could" Regina wasn't sure if she was the right person to tell this story. David and Mary Margret looked relieved Emma was ok they had that look in their eyes frustrations both seemed ready to rip someone's head off and with the guilty party already taken care of it seemed a waste of energy to bring up the fact one off them was about to blow Emma's head off.

"What, what where they doing" David asked

"Mostly just digging up the past, Emma can fill you in on the rest" Regina walked off but Emma wanted to talk to her let her know the whole story passing David towards Mary Margret who put her arm out to stop her.

"Emma just let her go" Mary Margret was Stern not wanting anymore trouble she turned and looked at Emma her face swollen her eye bruised as well a tear swelled up in Mary Margret's eye.

"I'm so sorry Emma"

Emma frowned why was she apologizing this was Emma's fault if any of theirs, still unable to voice her words Emma shook her head rapping her arms around Mary Margret.

"Let's get you home" David sighed

the three of them made there way out of the dilapidated building Emma still with the frozen please to her face one thing was still bothering her with no light to scare the creature away what made it retreat when Regina jumped in front of it.

NOTES: ok really late but life is crazy, plus not sure how to redeem the evil queen but hope you like where this is going

NEXT CHAPTER: quick teaser school dance captain swan, charming family bit of fun before story arc gets to its dramatic end

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