I don't own Once Upon a Time.


Prologue

Enchanted Forest

Hooves hit hard on the ground. A man of royal attire and urges the horse to run faster.

'I need hurry! I promise to find her again!' He furiously rode harder than ever.

"I just hope that I am not too late!"

Grumpy and his brothers looked up at the sound of hooves approaching. Too filled with grief to be surprised, he watched as first Snow's Prince Charming dismounted his horse, dressed in a fine red suit, Charming crossed the distance between them in a few quick strides.

Zenobia dressed in royal queen Egyptian clothes and shoulders covered in a lion's fur skin had watched his shoulders tense, his face crumpled with despair when he looked inside the coffin.

"You're too late," the burliest of the seven Dwarves announced gravely.

"No - no!" Charming pressed a hand to the delicate glass lid Snow rested beneath. He looked up at the Dwarves. "Open it."

Grumpy glared at the prince with a sadness Zenobia felt in her bones. "I'm sorry, she's gone."

When all the man did was stare at them helplessly, they relented. There was a loud thunk as the lid came off. Charming stepped closer and peered into the casket, eyes misted over. Behind him, Zenobia and the Dwarves watched in silence. Giving him time to grieve for his lost love - time that had been denied to her - she took a step forward.

They did allow kindly to her presence; the burly one leads her with his usual scowl. Zenobia is a royal and best friend to Snow White in their girlhood days. She regrets that she couldn't save her and protected her sister in name and reality.

Zenobia instead gazed at him blankly. She took pride as a ruler of Egypt and Africa as her kingdom she was there to do what she had been tasked with and be done with it.

"Do what you must, prince charming. Say your last goodbye." She told him.

Somehow, her voice command broke through the haze of grief. Charming tilted his head to meet her eye, expression hopelessly lost. When she nodded firmly at him, for she too wished to say her goodbye's one more time, he turned back to Snow's peaceful, serene features. Drinking her in, convinced this was his last chance, he lowered his face to hers. The instant their lips brushed.

A golden ring of light flared from the contact, followed by a soft whoosh of air that stirred the snowfall. The Dwarves all tensed at the breeze. Before they could turn an accusatory eye on her and Zenobia took offense to that. "It wasn't me!"

Charming produced a strangled noise of surprise.

He gazed in wonder as Snow's chest raised in a sudden, quick gasp of air. Her lips parted and her eyes flew open. They were clouded with sleep when they found him, but a dazed wonder soon filled them.

Then, her lips formed a heartbreaking smile when realization overtook her. "You," her voice was hoarse and whisper from disuse. She weakly raised a hand to touch his stubbled cheek and it trembled against his warm skin. "You found me."

Charming's hand dwarfed her own and he pressed her touch more firmly against him. "Did you ever doubt I would?" His touch was gentle as he helped her into a sitting position. She felt frail and small under his touch at first, but color returned to her cheeks and her eyes became more aware within moments.

Her warm smile turned mischievous and she directed attention to where she was seated. "Truthfully - the glass coffin gave me pause."

Charming smiled, tracing her features with a loving hand. "Well, you don't have to worry. I will always find you."

"Do you promise?"

He nodded once.

"I do."

"And do you, Snow White, promise to take this man to be your husband and love him for all eternity?" The bishop asked, his voice ringing throughout the packed hall.

Zenobia smiled faintly at the couple.

Only a select few were already aware that the pair had been married just a few short months before by Lancelot.

Snow's voice rang throughout the hall. "I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Zenobia watched them kiss to seal the 'official' marriage, a dull ache starting in her chest.

'I am glad one of us had our true love.'

Still, she chuckled softly when one of the other dwarves elbowed Grumpy. He grunted in response but began to clap with everyone else. The couple turned to their subjects, who still cheered loudly. The hall then became deathly silent when the doors were flung open with a resounding bang.

Regina stood in the doorway, her red lips set in a smirk. "Sorry, I'm late." She waltzed forward, relishing how the people cowered away from her. When two guards tried to charge her, she simply waved her hand and they disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"It's the queen!" Doc hissed to his princess, who scowled at the sight of her stepmother. "Run!"

Zenobia hissed at the evil queen. She still wasn't sure why they were all so afraid of Regina. The snow princess seemed to agree with her. The princess glared at her stepmother and took Charming's sword from its sheath.

"She's not a queen anymore," Snow snapped, sword pointed at Regina. "She's nothing more than an evil witch!"

Charming attempted to wrestle his sword from his wife's grasp. "No, no, no. Don't stoop to her level, there's no need." He was placated, facing Regina once he had his sword in hand. "You're wasting your time, you've already lost. And I will not let you ruin this wedding." He swore, white-knuckled grip on the sword's hilt.

Regina simply smiled serenely at their threats, eyes burning with hate. "Oh, I haven't come here to ruin anything," her upper lip curled mockingly at Charming. "On the contrary, dear, I've come to give you a gift."

"We want nothing from you-" Snow started, only for Regina to raise her voice.

"But you shall have it." A smirk twisted up Regina's lips. "My gift to you is this happy, happy day." Regina waved her hand around airily, pacing in front of the dais. "For tomorrow, my real work begins." She pointed at her step-daughter and Charming. "You made your vows, now I make mine."

"Enough of this witch!" Zenobia suddenly said and extract her nail-like claws. "Tell me, will you finally be happy and brought misery on others?" She tilted her head in mock curiosity, meeting Regina's hateful gaze head-on.

Regina sneered at Zenobia before ignoring her in favor of Snow White. "Soon, everything you love, everything all of you love," she gestured to the entire room, delighted with their obvious horror. "Will be taken from you, forever. And out of your suffering will rise my victory."

Regina stalked closer to Snow and Charming, forcing Zenobia to dig her fingers into Grumpy's arm when he made to charge the Queen. "Don't!" She hissed softly and glared back at the disgruntled dwarf. His scowl deepened, but he remained where he was.

"I shall destroy your happiness if it is the last thing I do." Regina finished loudly, a note of triumph in her voice. Message delivered, she spun on her heel and made to leave.

Rage taking hold of him, Charming refused to allow her to have the last word. "Hey!" Before she had even turned, the sword left his hand and flew through the air towards her.

No one was surprised when Regina enveloped herself in purple smoke, vanishing both her and the sword. Silence reigned throughout the hall, everyone too stunned to make a sound.

From her place beside the dais where Snow and Charming held each other tightly.

Zenobia snapped out of her stupor and orders the guards.

"Fond her! Search for the Evil Queen!"

All the guards were out and take orders to their hearts for the Evil Queen had decided to take everyone's happily ever after.


A World without Magic

Emma Swan just turned the man she was looking for to the police. Her roommate was just finishing cooking a good birthday dinner.

"Hey, Emma!"

Emma smiled briefly and answered, "Kiara. Smells good. What's for dinner?"

Out came a beautiful African American woman. Her hairs are chocolate curly with golden highlights that make a good blend of her hair. Smooth skin and kissable lips and a good hourglass body.

"Oh, I figure. Since you didn't get to eat much. You could use a good style of Australia's top-rated spaghetti carbonara." She happily answered. "And I do say, I made it easy and delicious."

Even though her night had turned crappy, she couldn't help but let a smile grace her face. Emma didn't know how she did it, but her best friend always knew how to cheer her up. She had to admit, she was also bummed out when her day wasn't going well. Kiara work at simple jobs like pet stores or animal shelters and Emma was happy for her.

"Sorry, I couldn't have a big cake for you since I am not sure if we will finish them. SO, I brought two cupcakes for both of us." Kiara whispers to Emma. "I think that pastry chef was having trouble with missus again."

Emma choked down her laughter.

Meow!

"Oh really? Cheshire, I thought you had better manners by now." Emma petted her roommate's cat. Cheshire the cat purred at Emma's touch.

"Huff, I swear I am jealous that he gave you loving affections while the only attention I receive was when I am in the kitchen to feed him."

Kiara pouted at her cat and Emma.

DING!

"Oh, it's done!" Kiara announced.

She served two plates for themselves. A good bowl salad with ranch dressing is placed on the table and served herself and Emma a side of spaghetti.

Nice and warm for everyone's days of work.

Kiara went to Cheshire a big bowl of good, grounded meat and vegetables mince for the cat.

After finishing their meals.

"Okay, present time. I had to peek in your closet and figure you need something good for your daily walks."

Emma smiled again and picked it up. Opening it, she saw a black and red leather jacket and chuckled.

Of course, her friend would get her a new jacket to add to her collection. She took out the cupcake, put a candle on it, and made a wish.

'Another year and 28th birthday to live on.'

Just as she blew the candle, there was a knock on the door.

"Um, are we expecting someone?" Emma questioned Kiara who shakes her head.

Perking up, she went to answer it, initially seeing no one there.

"Down here."

Emma looked down, seeing the boy from the bus. He looked up at her, smiling innocently as he adjusted his backpack.

"Are you Emma Swan?"

Emma looked confused and wonder whose kid is this?

"Yeah… who's asking?"

"My name's Henry Mills. I'm your son. Can I come in?"

Emma was about to answer, but Kiara's voice carried out of the apartment.

"Emma who is at the door?"

Emma had the habit of turning her head and was about to answer her. Henry took the advantage of entering their apartment.

"Hey!" Emma shouted at the kid well…son if she had the right to call them that.

Kiara stood and saw the boy coming in.

"Um, who are you?" She questioned the boy in front of her.

"I'm Henry. Emma's son."

Her mouth became agape and turned to look at Emma almost astonished, "Emma, why did you not tell me that you have a son? Aw man, that means I had to bring…." She looked at Henry, "Um how old are you?"

"I'm ten."

"Ten! Years' worth of birthdays and holiday's present for you."

Emma had to put a stop to this.

"Whoa, hey! No one is going to buy any present for this stranger's kid!" Emma let out, trying to stop the kid. "What are you doing? First off, that's trespassing, and second, I don't have a son."

"Yes, you do. 10 years ago, you gave a baby up for adoption. That was me." Henry began looking around curiously. "You got any juice?"

Emma was left speechless for a moment.

"In the fridge… I… I need a moment. Kiara I am going to borrow Cheshire for comfort." Emma took the cat and went to the couch chair to be comfortable with the cat. It was a lot of processes to have.

"Sure thing! Are you hungry? I made some dinner if you like."

It took an hour or two when Emma came back and saw Henry drinking orange juice.

"Why did you come here?" she finally asked. Emma brought the cat back to her roommate's arm.

"To get your help," Henry answered. "It's been 28 years and it's finally time for you to fulfill your destiny."

"Destiny? What are you talking about?"/What destiny is that?" Both Emma and Kiara say the same time.

"I'll explain on the way."

"On the way where?"

"My home. Storybrooke Maine. You have to come with me, everyone's counting on you."

"Storybrooke? Seriously?"

Kiara looked at her computer to see the map. "Are you sure that's where you live because I don't see it?"

"Please Mom, you have to-"

"Okay, okay, first off, I'm not your mom. I may have given birth to you, but I am nowhere near qualified to be called your mom. Second, I am not going to Storybrooke Maine. What I'm doing is calling the police."

"If you do, I'll tell them you kidnapped me."

That made Emma pauses, letting out a small sigh. Kiara looked between them mother and son.

"And they'll believe you because I'm your birth mother," she realized before giving Henry a look. "But you're not going to do that."

"You sure about that?"

Emma paused, then turned to Henry with a small smirk.

"Alright kid, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. There's not a lot I'm great at in life, but I do have one skill. Call it a superpower. I can tell when people are lying. And you kid, are."

She pulled a cellphone from her pocket and prepared to dial the non-emergency number, but Henry grabbed her hand, looking at her with a pleading expression.

"Please..." he begged. "Just come home with me."

Emma looked down at Henry, seeing the desperation in his eyes. Kiara suggested, "I say go for it. After all, unlike you, I am not comfortable with having the police here."

Emma knows that Kiara doesn't like it when some men busted into their apartment. So, she had no choice.

"Alright, kid. Let's get you back to Storybrooke."

Kiara went to the room. "I will dress and pack few things. Taking Cheshire with us just in case."

"When we reach the cell, stay out of the light," the guard warned the three hooded figures as they descended the winding staircase. "And whatever you do, do not let him know your name."


Enchanted Forest

Snow White was cradling her barely noticeable bump while looking at Zenobia with a frown.

"I know you are doing a great job at checking up on the problems of the kingdom, but please don't go this time." She begged while grabbing her bond sister's hands. "I have a bad feeling about this, and Regina's curse is coming, and the baby will come soon. You can't miss the birth!"

Zenobia slightly frowned, but answered, "If I would. I could, but something was truly disturbing my lands. My counselors are getting antsy about not having my presence there. I need to make sure Regina doesn't try to destroy my lands."

At that moment Charming came into the room and looked from his crying pregnant wife to Queen Zenobia. He went to Snow's side and stroked her hair. "Come on Snow, you know that Zenobia just needs to reassure her people that she is still the queen and must protect her people. So, she will be here when our son is born." Snow huffed, crossed her arms, and glared at her husband.

"I told you a thousand times! It's going to be a girl! A girl!" Charming raised his hands in surrender and Zenobia laughed at the scared look on the prince's face.

"Well, now I have to make sure I come quickly as I can. I will be back before you know it." Charming nodded. Then Zenobia turned to Snow. "Now, White, I want not to get overboard with your husband here." She said with a big grin.

Snow smiled and gave a pointed look at Charming. "I'll try, but I have to make no promises. He gets on my nerves more and more each day."

Zenobia huffs and answers, "That means he is doing a better job at it."

But little did they all know that that was the last time they would see each other in a long time.

~0~

They finally came into a dimly lit room. A cell dominated the other end of the room, though the interior was too darkened to make out. The guard gestured for them to stay put halfway across the room and advanced on his own.

"Rumpelstiltskin. Rumpelstiltskin! I have a question for you!"

A trilling laugh echoed from the shadows of the cell. "No, you don't!" A thin figure nimbly leaped to the bars of the cell. The already thick air was suddenly weighed down with tension as Rumpelstiltskin appeared, face pressed against the bars. He smiled toothily when Snow White jerked back in surprise. "They do…" Despite the plain cloaks they wore to hide their identities, he knew the visitors at once. "Snow White… and Prince Charming".

He trilled in delight. "This is a party, isn't it? You insult me!" Practically vibrating with glee, Rumpelstiltskin scoffed at their pitiful attempts to hide their identities. "Step into the light and take off those ridiculous robes!"

Without giving it a thought, the heavily pregnant woman swept the hood from her head, an example her husband reluctantly followed.

"Ah," Rumpelstiltskin cooed at the sight of their pale, drawn faces. Learning of the fate Regina held in store for them and their baby had taken its toll. "That's much better."

Charming maneuvered Snow, placing her behind him protectively. Behind his back, his wife scowled irritably, while Rumpelstiltskin stared at the prince's actions patronizingly. "We've come to ask you about the- "

"Yes, yes! I know why you're here!" The Dark One waved away Charming's bluster, far preferring to get to the heart of the matter. He pressed his face against the bars until the metal dug into his scaled skin. "You want to know about the Queen's threat."

At his words, Snow White sidestepped her husband and looked Rumpelstiltskin in the eye. "Tell us what you know," she demanded of him, hand falling to cradle the swell of her stomach.

"Ooh, tense, are we?" He mocked lightly. "Fear not! For I can ease your mind. But, it's going to cost you something in return, dear Snow."

"No, this is a waste of time- " Charming once more found himself ignored by his wife and the Dark One.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, the name of your unborn child."

Charming looked alarmed, and for the first time since their arrival to the caverns."Absolutely not!" He snapped the exact moment his wife agreed with a sharp, "Deal!"

Ignoring her husband, Snow met Rumpelstiltskin's wide, excited gaze again.

"What do you know?"

"Ooh," Rumple murmured faintly, face threatening to split with glee. "The Queen has created a powerful curse, and it's coming. Soon, you'll all be in prison, just like me." His expression and tone darkened, sending prickles of alarm down all their spines. "For your prison, all of our prisons will be time. For the time will stop, and we will be trapped someplace horrible, where everything we hold dear, everything we love, will be ripped from us."

So focused on Rumpelstiltskin's words. "While we suffer, for all eternity, the Queen celebrates," Rumpelstiltskin waved a hand, voice high with hysteria. "Victory, at last! No more happy endings."

"What can we do?" Snow White asked at once, equal parts wary and determined.

"We can't do anything."

She moved closer despite Charming's hand on her arm. "Who can?"

"That little thing growing inside your belly."

Hand splayed wide, Rumpelstiltskin reached down to brush his fingers against the princess' protruding belly. Before the tips of his fingers could make contact, Charming reacted violently. Unsheathing the dagger at his hip, he brought the pommel down on the Dark One's hand.

"Next time, I cut it off," Charming promised harshly, eyes daring Rumpelstiltskin to try it again.

The scaled man made a noise of protest in his throat and snatched his hand back through the bars. Tsking faintly, he glared sullenly at the prince. "The infant is our only hope. You must get the child to safety," he muttered, attention returned to Snow White. "Get the child to safety and on its… twenty-eighth birthday, the child will return." The madness returned, all traces of sanity extinguished like a candle. "The child will find you, and the final battle will begin!"

Scowling at the cackling madman, Charming wrapped an arm around Snow's shoulders. Lilith watched them, swallowing back bile at Snow's stricken expression. Charming felt the same, though was far better at hiding his emotions behind anger.

"I've heard enough. We're leaving," Charming announced gruffly, gently steering his wife away from the cage. She numbly allowed herself to be led, mind racing over the implications of what the Dark One had revealed. Rumple's deranged amusement turned to indignant rage.

"Hey! You! We made a deal!" Rumpelstiltskin shouted angrily, jumping against the bars that kept him caged. Snow White stopped at his enraged yelling, spine ramrod straight. Charming followed her example, though only Snow White turned back to look at the being. "I want her name! We had a deal; I need her name! H-h-her name!"

"Her?" Charming repeated, turning to sneer at the Dark One. "It's a boy."

"Missy," Rumple cooed, ignoring Charming completely. "Missy, you know I'm right. Tell me her name."

Sensing Snow's hesitation overtaken by a sudden surge of confidence; Snow White turned to face the Dark One head-on.

"Emma."

The Dark One felt relief in his face. "Emma."


Storybrooke

Kiara looked around the town and somehow, she likes it.

It is simple really.

A place to live in a family home and enjoy every little thing here. She watched in the back seat and patted her cat.

"Wow, I now see why Henry wants to leave. I would so trade his place just to live here." Kiara commented to her cat.

Meow.

She had to wait for Emma to finish with what she needs to do with her discussion with Henry's mom.

Emma just got out of the Mayor's house after dropping off her son, the one she gave up so long ago. Her mind was buzzing.

"So, I am going to say, that is it?" Kiara suggested.

"Yeah," Emma answered.

Emma knew that her friend wasn't being sarcastic; she just was trying to get all the facts after Emma explained hurriedly the events of the night.

"Her mom seems nice," Emma says to Kiara.

"If nice is a good category of every mother, then this world would be more peaceful."

"Look, Henry is back with his mom as he should…Why is Cheshire back on the seat?"

Cheshire meowing and seems to be pawing on something. Kiara reaches in the back and gently moved her cat.

"Oh, your son is a little bastard." Kiara comments on Emma's son who outsmarted them.

She saw Henry's book in the passenger seat and brought it back up with her.

"Really, Henry?" Emma complained at Henry's need to keep her in town. It is so ridiculous.

"Oh, come on Emma! Look it wouldn't hurt to bring this book to him tomorrow morning. I think this means a lot to Henry. At least think about it for a minute." Kiara knows that sometimes children just want to know their parents like anybody in the world.

Emma was about to reply when she saw a wolf on the road. Emma and Kiara screamed at the sight of the wolf and swerved to avoid it hitting the City sign.

The car was flipped over as Emma and Kiara were unconscious.

Cheshire is miraculously alive and unharmed. He walked up to his owner.

Cheshire meowed and licked Kiara to wake her up. Poor kitty, the wolf was closing in and hissed at the mutt.

Cheshire roared at the white wolf and lead it away from the women.

The wolf gave a great chase to the cat. Cheshire saw the dumpster and jumped on it to climb in the water vent.

Cheshire continues climbing up than normal walk straight till he fallen down. He screamed as he slides down like a slide.

CLACK!

PLOP!

Cheshire the cat landed on the red dusty pillow. He coughed and sneezed cutely.

"Meow?"

The cat looked around curiously as he saw bizarre things in this store. It is creepy looking, and Cheshire is not comfortable in this place.

"What's this?" A man's voice caused Cheshire to tense up. He grabbed him by the neck. Cheshire loudly yowled and hissed trying to swipe him with his claws. He made sure the cat was arm's length apart from him.

"You seemed new around here. And based on your collar and name you belong to someone from the outside world." He holds him in his arms and calms him down. Cheshire relaxes a bit and purrs from his touch.

"My, my. This will be more exciting tomorrow. How about we have nice milk together? Hmm."

The next morning found Emma in a jail cell. She looked around confused. After a short conversation with Marco and Leroy, the sheriff made his appearance.

"The Mayor's drinks are strong," he said looking at Emma with an amused look.

"I wasn't drunk. A wolf was sitting in the middle of the road." She answered without batting an eyelash.

"A wolf? Right. Anyway, you have you and your friend are very lucky to be alive right now." He told her. Emma closed her eyes and brought her head up.

"Wait, where Kiara?" Emma is worried.

"Relax, she is checking herself in the hospital. Seems to take damage hard with her arm and getting her head stitches, but she's fine." Graham told Emma.

Regina burst into the station like a madwoman.

"Henry's run away again, Graham. We have to… " she trailed off, too distracted by the other woman's presence. "What is she doing here?"

"Do you know where Henry is?" Regina demanded Emma to answer her.

"Honey, I haven't seen him since I dropped him at your house," Emma drawled with a roll of her eyes. She was tired and stiff from sleeping in the cell and irritable from the memories the iron cage dredged up. "And, I have a pretty good alibi."

Emma gestured lazily at the cell around her, lips curving into a small smirk at the thunderous expression on the dark-haired mayor's face. While still unable to prove the other woman had spiked her cider, the blonde was dead-set on making Regina pay for what she had done and had no qualms making her squirm angrily.

"Yes, well, the school called this morning and said he didn't turn up to his first-period class. Where's the other one?" Regina bit back acidly, eyes staring daggers at the jailed blonde.

Graham answered her, "She is at the hospital right now and pretty sure she has an alibi too."

Emma rested her forearms against the bars. "Did you try his friends?"

"He doesn't really have any," Regina answered her. "He's a bit of a loner, actually."

"Every kid has friends," Emma deadpanned, not believing a word that came out of their mouths. "Did you check his computer? If he's close to someone, he'd be emailing them."

"And you know this how?" Regina demanded, a finely arched brow threatening to disappear into her hairline.

"Finding people is what I do," Emma shared with a smug expression, ignoring the disbelieving stares she received from Graham and Lillian. "He's an idea: how about you guys let me out, and I'll help you find him."

Graham didn't react at first, waiting for Regina to give him a jerky nod of approval before he approached the cell, keys in hand. As he unlocked the door, allowing the blonde to stroll out with an exaggerated huff, Regina followed her.

Emma went to check on his computer was found something that is involved with Henry's teacher, Mary Margaret Blanchard.

But she does not know where Henry is as well, and he even took her credit card.

A clever kid he is.

Emma convinced her son to go back home to Regina, but something is making her stay.

She went to the hospital and came to pick up Kiara.

"Finally! Get me outta here." Kiara gave Emma a crushing hug. Kiara never likes Hospitals at all so, yeah, she is cray cray sometimes, but Emma loves her.

She had to wear a right Wrist-Hand PlastiCast as Dr. Whale suggest three months to heal.

"Emma did the sheriff found Cheshire?" Kiara questioned Emma.

"No, I think he ran off," Emma stops when Kiara looked like she wants to cry. She loves that cat. 'But I'm sure he'll come back when he's ready."

"Really?"

"Really," Emma confirmed it.

"Okay."


Enchanted Forest

A scream was heard in the night. Snow White was in labor and the Queen's curse was on its way.

"I can't have the baby now. She is not here yet." She yelled with tears running down her face.

"Snow… I know you wanted Zenobia here but…" Charming couldn't finish his sentence. For the last six months, everyone in the kingdom has been looking for queen Zenobia. But no one had seen her since her arrival in her country to investigate a problem.

There was a war and fire all over her beloved Pride land.

The villagers said that was betrayed by her trusted advisors and one night they heard a boy scream. The boy was terrified, and he could only say that "The Lioness is no more". From that day on, Queen Zenobia is dead and was never seen again in the Enchanted Forest.


The owner argues with her granddaughter.

"'Scuse me?" Emma said, raising her voice so the pair could hear her, looking exceedingly uncomfortable by the situation she'd inadvertently walked into. "We'd like a room."

For a heartbeat, two women stared at the blonde as if she'd asked for a miracle. Half-afraid that the clearly discomfited stranger would retract her offer, Granny sprang into action.

"Really?" She demanded, eyes practically sparkling at the novelty of having an actual guest and not a resident at all.

"Would you like a forest view or a square view?" Heaving the ledger out from beneath the desk, she continued, "Normally, there's an upgrade fee for the square but, as the rents do, I'll wave it."

"Square is fine." Emma managed to reply.

"Now, what's the name?" Granny asked, pen poised over the ledger. Ruby was eyeing Emma like a fresh piece of meat, hoping she could learn a juicy tidbit from the stranger before anyone else did.

"Swan. Emma Swan. And this is Kiara Robinson."

While they were facing the reception desk a voice came from behind them all of a sudden. "Emma. What a lovely name." Emma turned around suddenly and so did Kiara, but the latter also threw a slap at the person that had just spoken.

SLAP!

The man groaned and press his cheek with his hand. Emma, Granny, and her granddaughter look at the man in shock.

Kiara cringed at the sight and fumbled to make an apology. "I'm so sorry! It was a reflex. I didn't know you were behind us and you spoke so suddenly that I acted on instinct. I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Kiara started speaking quickly without catching a breath, while she was trying to see the damage she had done to the man.

"What have you done? Don't you know who I am? Do I have to…" The man stopped speaking when he laid his eyes on Kiara.

And the woman was about to ask a question when she heard a familiar sound.

Meow! She felt something rubbing on her legs. Cheshire is happy to see his owner.

"Oh, Cheshire! You found me!" Kiara used her good arm to hold her beloved pet.

"Again, I'm so sorry!" She turned the man kept staring at her with wonder. "Ugh! I can't apologize enough! I'm sorry for the slap. Um... I hope you won't sue me? Hehe." She said smiling sheepishly at the man that still hadn't uttered another word.

Granny then got out a roll of money and handed it to the man. "Here's all of it". At those words the man snapped out of the trance he was in and took the money. He turned to Emma then and looked at her intently.

"Enjoy your stay. Emma." Then he turned to Kiara with a smile on his face. "And you are…?"

"Kiara. Kiara Robinson." She said while rubbing her cat to remain calm. "Thank you for finding him."

"No problem darling. I have to say, you made quite the first impression." He took her hand, placed a kiss on her wound one knuckles, turned around, and left the Inn.

Emma and Kiara looked at each other in surprise. "Who was that?" Asked Emma. The granddaughter looked out the window and answered.

" Mr. Gold. He owns this place."

"The Inn?" But Granny shook her head and replied.

"The town." She shook her head again and got back on topic. "So, how long will you two stay?" Emma looked at Kiara and she just shrugged her shoulders as she was more focused on the happiness of Cheshire in her arms.

"A week. Just one week." And while they made their way to the room, neither of them noticed that the clock, which had never moved, had started to work again.


Reviews are welcome.

Zenobia