I know a lot of you wanted to see Gideon again, so he's coming back into play real soon. I had to set up how within this chapter. Hope you all enjoy (ps still haven't edited my works, so hope it's not a mess!). -Mads
"Emma!" Belle runs into the police station with a book tucked under her arm.
Emma gets up from her chair where David and her are looking at the crime reports for the day. So far, one of the dwarves has managed to crash into someone's fence and Will Scarlet is walking around town drunk. Again.
"What's up?" Emma crosses her arms over her chest. Ever since Belle's child became a murderous man child, Emma has kept her distance from both Belle and Rumple. With her expecting a baby, it isn't safe. She has to protect her and Killian's unborn child at all costs. It's the first time she's let herself think about the man out to murder her.
Belle splays the book out on the table. "Gideon…" her voice shakes as she speaks. "May be her to enact the curse of all curses and that's why he needs to kill you."
David walks over to them, concern etched across his face. "What's the curse?"
"I don't know exactly. I've been reading this book of curses and I found one where it would banish us back to the Enchanted Forest with no memories of one another-"
"So like every other curse ever to be enacted," Emma chimes in.
Belle nods. "But with a twist. The book's page is torn out where it explains what makes this curse different than others. Which means my son must have the pages."
"We need to get those pages," Emma says. "Where would we be able to find him?"
David turns to Emma. "You're not thinking of finding him yourself? Emma, he wants to kill you!"
Emma calmly explains to her dad. "Exactly. My fate is to die already, so it's not putting me in any more danger than I already am. This way, I'll be able to stop him from cursing-"
"No way!" David roars. "The baby. Emma, Hook can't lose you and the baby. I forbid you from going."
"I was thinking of speeding up my pregnancy so the baby would be safe. Dad, I won't let this monster destroy everyone. I have to stop him."
Belle steps in between the father and daughter. "I agree with David, Emma. It's too dangerous for you as is speeding up your pregnancy. Rumple needs to find his son and we need to stop him. Not you."
Emma contemplates what Belle says, but she doesn't trust Rumple. He's never done anything for anyone but himself. She's not putting the town's safety in his hands. Especially the way he's been acting with the Evil Queen around. Who knows what he really has up his sleeve.
"I need to go somewhere," Emma grabs her leather jacket.
David grabs her by the arm. "Where are you going?"
"To get coffee and a go on a walk. I need to clear my head, and I can't do that here. I promise not to go after Gideon. Just please cover the station for the rest of the night," she tells her dad.
"Okay," he relents. She can see the conflict in his eyes, but they both know Emma will do what she wants. She always has when it comes to danger and her family. It's what being the Savior means; she has a duty to protect the ones she loves even if it means getting hurt herself.
Walking outside, Emma is struck by the coolness of the air. It's only 5 and she told Hook she would be home after 7. She has time to grab some coffee and go a walk. Except her walk will be to someone's house that she knows will help her. Someone who has enough wickedness in her heart to get the job done. Someone nobody in the town is trusting any longer. Zelena will have the answers. She's sure of it.
Clutching onto her decaf coffee, Emma stares up at Zelena's house. She hasn't been her since the day she saved Hook from drowning. The day she risked her magic for the man she thought she had hated. Turns out she didn't hate him nearly as much as she thought she did.
Emma has her hand up to knock on the door, but the door is whisked open as she's about to knock. Zelena is dressed in some green monstrosity holding baby Robyn. Emma smiles down at the baby, but her smile vanishes when she realizes she may never get to hold her and Hook's baby. Her sadness is replaces with determination as she walks into Zelena's house without waiting for an invitation.
"What's up with the Charmings always walking into my house uninvited?" she sneers. "So, Savior, what brings you here?"
Emma faces Zelena. "Let's be blunt right now. We don't like each other so there's no use in pretending that we do. But I need help and I need the help of someone who still may have some wickedness in her. And I know you do."
Zelena places Robyn in her crib in the living room. She gestures for Emma to follow her into the kitchen where she begins to steam a pot of tea on the oven. Emma sits down, waiting for Zelena to say something.
"I know you do," Emma shifts in her seat. "Because I still feel some of that darkness I had when I was the Dark One. It's hard to let go of."
"Save it," Zelena snaps. "I don't want your pity. What is it that you want from me?"
Emma's phone begins to vibrate. She looks at her screen to see Hook calling her. She texts him back, letting him know she'll be home by 7 like she promised. Then for good measure, she tells him Granny's grilled cheese and onion rings will be included upon her arrival home. Shutting off her phone, she stuffs it into her pocket.
"Gideon-Belle and Gold's son- wants to kill me."
Zelena sits back in her chair with a wicked laugh. "Seems like the Dark One's son isn't a fan of the former Dark One."
"Let's not drag who hates who in this town because you're on the top of the kill list in Storybrooke," Emma snaps back. "I need you to find Gideon and bring him back to me. My magic's been acting up, so it's hard to summon."
"I'm sorry," she laughs. "You want me to put myself in danger for you?"
Emma never thought about her safety. Not to mention her child's safety, but she knows Zelena is strong enough to hold her own against Gideon. Then again, she doesn't really know how powerful Gideon is. But her bets are pretty damn strong. Strong enough to defeat Emma.
"Not for me," Emma emphasizes. "For the town."
"What has this town ever done for me?" she quips.
Emma groans internally; she knew this would be difficult, but she didn't think it'd be this difficult. "If not for the town, then for your daughter. Gideon plans to enact a curse. A curse that will destroy everyone. Including yourself and your daughter."
She watches as Zelena's face changed from uncaring to caring. "I-I need time."
"Okay," Emma can understand that. "Come to me whenever, but it has to be in private. My parents or Hook can't know about this."
"Believe it or not Emma, I don't make it a point to talk to the Charmings or your one-handed pirate boyfriend."
Emma rolls her eyes, letting herself out of the house. She stuffs her hands in her pockets and heads to Grannys to pick up the dinner she promised Killian. As soon as she arrives home though, her stomach flips. She hates lying to Hook, especially because he can read her so well.
"I'm home!" she calls out when she walks into the foyer.
Hook walks out from the kitchen with his flask in hand. He looks upset. "Hey, love."
"You okay?" she follows him into the kitchen, setting the bag of food onto the kitchen counter. Hook hasn't drunk since the night he found out Emma was pregnant.
"Fine, love," he manages a small smile. "I just want to know why you think it's a good idea to fight Gideon yourself."
She knew David would tell Hook. "David should have never said anything."
"Why? Were you going to tell me yourself?" he asks.
She hasn't thought about whether or not she would tell Hook about her plan to defeat Gideon herself. More than David, she knew he wouldn't approve of her doing it. He would much rather go in her place with just his sword and hook to defeat a powerful Dark One. Hook would always sacrifice himself for Emma. And now Emma and their child.
"I-" she stutters but Hook walks away before she can finish.
"Just, don't," he tells her. "I need to be alone for a while, Swan."
Watching his retreating back, she slumps into her chair. She puts her face in her hands, wishing she was able to live a normal life with the man she loved while expecting a child. Could she really raise a child in this madness? When Henry and her lived in New York, everything was normal. They were safe. There were no threats of murderous Dark Ones vying to murder her to enact a curse. The worse thing that happened was getting rained on without an umbrella.
Putting her jacket back on, she walks into the night without looking back.