If this chapter post correctly I will be the happiest mofo out otherwise may have to move this party over to A03
Hope you like this chapter some chamring/Emma time coming up.
One week later
Emma groaned as she looked at the time it was almost noon but she wouldn't get out of bed, not after being up all night. Elsa was constantly giving updates or lack thereof on the situation with Mulan and Red, after agreeing to not go out looking for trouble they both snuck out again because Red heard some loud noises late last night.
Emma almost got up and went looking for pair about five times during the night but every time she was about to go, they would come through with a message saying they were ok.
Emma was mainly keeping Elsa calm, but she really just wanted to be out there with them helping. Knowing there was no way she could sneak out without waking her parents, it wasn't worth causing a whole scene if they were ok.
Emma was forced to join the waking world when her phone was vibrating somewhere in the sheets, she fiddled around for it, as it vibrated somewhere by her left leg. Finally, Emma got the phone in her grasp and smiled as she saw Killian's name on the screen.
"Hey" Emma yawned with a smile as she answered.
"Morning love, any update" Killian asked anxiously, he knew what had gone on but the whole story wasn't yet clear.
"They made it home, but not sure where they were, and why they couldn't just send through a quick haven't been sucked into oblivion text" Emma said the reality of what could have happened still causing her anxiety.
"Would have put us at ease" Killian replied.
"All I know is they saw something on the path in the west woods and followed the trail all night, we need to talk to them" Emma said frustrated.
"Yeah that's what I was thinking, we should meet up for lunch at the diner, tell Elsa, it's time for an intervention" Killian finished.
"Ok be there in fifteen" Emma said jumping out of bed.
"Still in bed swan" Killian questioned.
"Yeah didn't sleep much" Emma replied
"Same, haven't sleep at all" Killian said through a yawn.
"Killian you need to rest" Emma replied worried.
"I'm fine, I can take care of my own sleep schedule" Killian responded with a smile.
"So, adult" Emma said laughing at him also thinking himself invincible.
"I am, see you soon" Killian replied hanging up.
She slowly made her way to the bathroom, Emma kept picturing her friends out there the creature stalking them, taking them, that she should have been with them. That she should be doing more. Feeling more of an urgency now Emma cleaned up quickly grabbing whatever clean clothes she had making her way downstairs.
"Afternoon" Mary Margret smiled at Emma, she was sitting on the stool by the kitchen bench looking over some class assessments and grading them.
"Meeting Killian and the others for lunch, see you later" Emma said running out the door.
"Wait just a minute" Mary Margret frowned coming over to the door before Emma ran out.
"I'm going to be late" Emma replied her anxiety only getting worse.
"Is there something wrong?" Mary Margret frowned.
"Everything fine, promise" Emma said trying to compose herself.
Mary Margret could see right through the façade but let her go anyway, what could happen to her at Granny's diner, she could talk with her later when David was home.
Emma was sure that there would be more questions but that was a problem for later now she wanted to find out what happened last night as it wasn't clear if Red and Mulan ever got a good look at what they were chasing half the night she needed to know more.
"Ok, I've got the map, meet me out the front of the apartment" David said on the phone to someone presumably Graham. They had been working closely lately but wouldn't let Emma in on much of what was going on. There was silence for a moment as David closely listened to Graham. Emma stopped to hear the rest of the conversation.
"There was definitely something happening in the woods last night, let's just hope we don't have another missing person" David continued before hanging up he sighed as he waiting for his ride.
Another missing person, not yet but there could be Emma thought or more feared as she looked over at her father threw the windowpane.
Emma ducked down below as David turned around facing the apartment, she had an idea and it wasn't going to work if he spotted her. Thinking quickly Emma grabbed her phone from her pocket to speed dial Killian.
"Hey is something wrong? I'm at the diner" Killian asked confused.
"Change of plan" Emma replied "I'm going sneak a ride with David and Graham find out what's happening out there" Emma replied quickly her mind racing.
"Emma no just wait, I'll come with you" Killian replied concerned.
"You won't make it time, my rides here" Emma said as Graham pulled up to the curb with the truck and David got in showing him a map of where to go.
"Emma?" Killian replied frustrated.
"I'll be fine it's the middle of the day and I'm going to be with David and Graham" Emma said attempting to reassure him.
"Except they won't know your there and last time you were attacked by that thing it was daylight" Killian replied his heart already racing.
"I know, I'm sorry, I'm going, I can't sit on the sidelines when the answers are out there, while people are missing" Emma said hanging up, she ragreted it already but Emma was sick of being all talk, it was time she did something, found some answers.
Hanging up on Killian felt cold but she knew he wouldn't change his mind and it was better to ask forgiveness then argue endlessly.
Ducking so she would go unseen Emma made her way to the back of the truck stepping up to the back of the ute trying not to be seen in the rear-view mirror she positioned herself between two tin lock boxes. It wasn't comfortable but it would have to do, the breeze felt nice against her face as she starred up at the blue sky as the truck picked up speed heading through the woods.
Distracting her from daydreaming was the bumps in the road and David and Graham discussion, Emma could hear them through the back-window pane as it was open ever so slightly.
"I got a few calls this morning there was a lot of noise out there last night" Graham said
"Strange didn't hear much, I think Emma was up though" David said concerned. "Hopefully we don't have any more missing persons calls" David finished.
"Hey we don't know what happened it could be nothing" Graham said reassuringly.
"It's not that, I just wish we weren't one step behind this thing it feels like we will never catch up" David replied frustrated tone.
"We have been through worse" Graham replied with smile.
"Everything is different now" David replied frowning.
"We may not be back in the enchanted forest but this isn't exactly that unfamiliar" Graham replied slightly confused the forests here where almost identical to the ones back home and they had been living here for over a decade although without their real memories.
"No, I don't just mean being here" David replied.
"Oh, you're referring to" Graham replied forgetting for a moment.
"I didn't really think much about what it would be like when the curse broke and we'd be reunited, I just wanted to get her to safety" David continued remembering how terrified he was running from the knights he infant daughter in his hands then in a moment she was a teenager.
"I know people say they grow up fast but, in your case, it was really much to fast" Graham replied he couldn't imagine that kind of heartbreak.
"I Just need this to creature to be gone, just need her to be safe" David finished.
There was silence for a moment as the three of them where thoughtful Emma was starting to regret her decision, she already knew Killian wasn't happy with her imagine when David finds out she has stowed away in the back of the truck, what she was doing was reckless. As the ride through the forest Emma thought of the last time she was this deep in the woods. How they got lost out here it wasn't a particularly happy memory but it was the first time that she connected with Killian and it's where she found herself. Emma couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she remembered them screaming out in the woods just because they could.
"Hey you ok? Seem distracted" Graham asked David.
"Just thought I heard something" David replied giving a reassuring smile to Graham.
Emma heart was pounding but it seemed for now she had successfully stowed away for the most part. Maybe she just needed to believe in herself again she could do this, she could save people.