Author's Note: Thank you everyone who read and reviewed! And favorited and followed last chapter! I appreciate all of the feedback! I also am glad you guys think Emma is in character. Emma is a very complex character and I am trying to write her as close to season 1 Emma with a mix of 18 year old Foster child as possible. And Nouqueret thank you so much for all the info you write in your review! I was thinking the same thing, and I knew about the copyright problems, I just completely forgot until you brought that up! It really brings everything together.

Guest: Thank you for reading this story and still reading my Klaroline stories. I have been thinking about finishing In the Mouth of the Wolf, but I lost the outline I did in my Great Computer Crash of '16, so it will still be a long time coming. Thanks for reading and I take what you said into much consideration.

Thank you to: vansandelotte, PixiePaws1, Nouqueret, NecieLauren, & Guest!

Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Dreams & Realities

Killian could hear the waves knocking against the boat. The sun beat down upon his head making sweat glisten at his temple. The heat made his skin itch uncomfortably beneath the required uniform one wore if they were in King George's army. The sky was a beautiful indigo and there were seagulls circling in the distance. The crew stood around him each mourning the loss of their beloved captain.

For a few minutes he allowed himself to think that this was just a dream, but then his eyes landed on his brother's lifeless body that rested before him on the plank. And he knew this was nothing more than his own cruel reality.

His brother was dead. Gone. Lifeless.

His brother had crumpled to the ground once they had left Neverland. And now he was lain before him ready to dump overboard and live for the rest of eternity with the sea creatures.

Killian stared at Liam's body. The body that had housed his brother's spirit. The spirit that had taken care of him when no one else had.

The man who needed to be avenged.

And Killian vowed then that he would avenge his brother.

His brother was the last of his family and he would not rest until he made every last person pay for what they had done to him.

A few of the crew tipped the plank forward and the burlap material that covered his brother's body fell overboard and into the ocean with a loud splash.

As if watching someone else, Killian Jones came to as the word 'captain' was thrown at him. The words seemed to flow from his mouth without thought and as he spoke them he realized he meant them.

"...they sent us to retrieve an unthinkable poison. One that killed our dear captain. Never again…Never again…shall anyone set sail to that accursed land…Never again…fighting…serving...the king. Free men. I will be our captain…We'll take what we please. We'll take what is our's… Corrupt…immortal land. They took my brother from me and now I will take everything they've got. We sail as the Jolly Roger. Jolly Roger. Rolly Joger. Pirates. Jolly Roger. Pirates. Captain Jones…"

The scene seemed to shift and he found himself in a beautiful field. It was much too sunny and there were flowers everywhere. A large willow tree was planted in the middle of the field and in the distance he could hear a deafening silence that seemed to settle inside his very soul. Looking around he realized he didn't recognize this place, but it could've been like a hundred other fields he'd seen. Under the willow tree he saw a blonde woman staring down and picking at the flowers.

As he drew closer he realized it was the girl, Emma, but she was older and wearing a long elegant white dress with a flowered diadem on her head. He watched her stiffen as he grew closer, but she made no move toward him. He watched her for a few silent moments taking in her long blonde hair and how the white dress seemed to simultaneously cling and hang off her body. He noticed a chain around her neck, but he couldn't make out what else was on it.

For some reason he craved for her to look at him and so he took a step closer.

"Hook." She greeted without turning to him.

"Hook?" he asked confused his attention drawing away from her to the flower whose petals she was plucking off.

She looked up slowly at him a smile dancing on her lips and his chest tightened unfamiliarly.

"Should I have used, Captain?"

He frowned not knowing what she was talking about.

"Emma—?"

"Sometimes I miss it when you call me, Swan. Did you know that?" she interrupted going back to picking the petals off the flower.

"Swan, what's going on?" he asked feeling like he was missing something. He tried to ignore how unhappy it made him that she wasn't focused on him.

"Don't you know, Hook?"

"Know what?"

"It's only temporary."

"What's temporary? I don't understand." He said growing frustrated.

"It will all end soon."

"What?"

She turned fully to him a sad smile on her face. "Soon, Hook."

"Swan—? "

Suddenly Killian jerked awake fumbling around and trying to untwist the blankets from his legs and waist. He reached over to turn his lamp on and the room was flooded with brightness, he took several deep calming breaths. The clock on the bedside table read 9 am, much too early to be awake when he had closed the night before.

He leaned against the backboard of the bed and tried to make sense of what he'd just dreamt. Realizing with surprise that he was covered in sweat he wiped his brow and tried to calm his racing heartbeat. As much as he tried to hold on to the dream, though, it seemed to slip away like cupping water with his hands.

The memory of the dream was rapidly fading, no matter how much he wanted to remember what had happened.

For some reason it was vital that he remember what he'd dreamt.

He remembered that there was a blonde…did he know the blonde? And his brother was featured. There was also…water? But…but what else? What had he dreamed?

Finally, as his breathing became controled he slid back down under his blankets and attempted to go back to sleep. A nagging sensation prickled at the back of his mind, but he ignored it when he couldn't figure out what it could be about.

He made a mental note to not eat again before bed. That had to be it.

After all it was only a dream.

Nothing to worry about.

Emma was hungry. The bone deep hunger that rattled her deep inside. A hunger that made her remember that she hadn't eaten a real meal in days. A hunger that she'd gotten used to after living in one of her homes when she was in elementary school. That's when she'd started stealing food.

She would be so hungry. Her stomach hurt so much, all she could do was curl in a ball and wait for it to stop. Or for her to find some food.

Now, was almost the same, except she wasn't eating because of her own stubbornness and wanting to save her money.

She wanted to find a job before eating, especially when her living situation was very temporary.

Living on some stranger's houseboat was not ideal.

Walking through town Emma came to a stop in front of Granny's diner. She hesitated her mind involuntarily doing the math to determine how much money she still had. As she made up her mind that she should probably eat something, at least something small, her stomach made a loud growling noise.

"Sounds like you're hungry." A voice said behind her.

Emma turned around to face the woman who had run into her the day before.

Pixie Haircut.

"Maybe." Emma said non-committedly.

The woman smiled softly at her, "My breakfast date cancelled on me, would you want to have breakfast together? I could really do with some company."

Emma frowned scrutinizing this woman to figure out what her end game was.

Why would she want to eat with her? Did she look that desperate for company? Or…or that lonely?

The woman shifted before her nervously, "I didn't catch your name yesterday. I'm Mary Margaret."

"Is this place good?" Emma asked in way of answering.

Mary Margaret smiled sheepishly, "It's one of two places to eat in town. And the other one isn't open, so yes, it is."

Emma nodded and looked back up at the building.

"So what do you say? Breakfast?"

Emma shrugged, "sure. I guess."

Mary Margaret nodded and led her up the path and toward the restaurant. Emma watched her wearily wondering why this woman was suddenly taking an interest in her.

Maybe it was because she had run into her yesterday? But it wasn't really that big of a deal. Did she know that Emma was homeless and could really do with a hot meal? But she had taken extra care with her appearance this morning in case she did run into someone she knew. So…what was it? Why was this woman randomly helping her when Emma had nothing to give?

"Have you eaten here, yet?" Mary Margaret asked going toward the last empty booth.

"No." Emma said shortly sliding into the seat opposite her.

Mary Margaret gave her a somewhat strained smile before the brunette girl Emma had met in the alleyway the night before came over.

Emma watched them interact with one another greeting each other like old friends, which they probably were. She felt suddenly envious of the ease they had with one another and not for the first time in her life did she wish that she had someone like that.

"…so embarrassing. He's definitely not getting an invitation back." Ruby finished.

Mary Margaret giggled shyly as the other woman finished her story, her cheeks flushed from the topic.

Emma smirked enjoying the other woman's discomfort with the conversation. Emma watched Mary Margaret try to find something to settle her eye's on missing Ruby's attention rest on her.

"Hey, Emma." Ruby greeted giving her a smile.

Emma nodded back trying to stamp down the little ball of warmth that had settled in her chest because of Ruby's acknowledgement.

For a brief moment she let herself hope that maybe she would be able to have some friends in this place, maybe it wouldn't be like every other time she had come to a new town/city/family/house.

Maybe this place will be different.

"We meet again."

Emma looked toward the voice and the little ball of warmth crushed inside her chest as her eyes landed on the woman from yesterday – Regina, Ruby had called her.

Or maybe not.

"So you're…Emma." The woman said coming to stand beside Ruby, the look of distaste even more evident on her face than yesterday.

Emma shrugged looking at Ruby and Mary Margaret who were both avoiding looking at her.

Emma's stomach squeezed tightly in anger as she recognized the looks on both of their faces.

When she would get in trouble at one of her Foster homes – and that was often – the other kids would get that look on their face as their Foster parents would yell at her.

The look that said 'I don't know you' while the parents blamed, yelled, and hit her even if she didn't do anything wrong.

She knew this woman – Regina – wasn't going to slap her, but the fact that Mary Margaret and Ruby who had been so nice to her early on were not standing up for her stung more than she'd admit.

"What's your last name?" Regina asked curiously.

Emma cleared her throat becoming more and more aware that the occupants of the diner were all staring at her.

"What's yours?" Emma asked hearing a collective gasp around the room.

"How old are you?" Regina demanded to know.

Emma raised an eyebrow the words falling from her mouth before she could stop them, "how old are you?"

Regina made a huffing sound and Emma watched her grit her teeth.

"You're very rude, young lady."

"I've been told."

"By whom? Your parents?"

Emma frowned wondering what exactly it was that this woman was fishing for.

Was she trying to see if she could send her back into the system or something? She seemed to be trying to find out if she had parents, or really anyone in her life. Maybe she wanted to yell at them too.

"Have I done something wrong?" Emma asked leaning back into the booth and lifting her chin in defiance.

Regina scowled, "not yet."

Emma smiled slightly and looked over at Mary Margaret who was staring at her now in awe.

"Then I'd like to get back to my breakfast if you don't mind. I'm very hungry." Emma said turning away from Regina.

Out of the corner of her eye Emma saw Regina scowl, turn, walk back toward the counter, and demand her coffee.

When she had left the diner the room collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why doesn't she like me?" Emma blurted out as Ruby left after they gave their orders.

Mary Margaret shrugged and sipped at her coffee muttering, "beats me, but she doesn't like me either and I've never figured out why. If she hates you it just means you're normal."

Emma watched as Mary Margaret slapped a hand over her mouth and gave Emma an apologetic look.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have said that. Regina, is our Mayor and she deserves respect." Mary Margaret said automatically.

Emma raised an eyebrow at her and sipped the orange juice Ruby had placed in front of her.

"So your name is Emma?" Mary Margaret asked by way of changing the subject.

Emma glanced at her and then back down at the glass in front of her.

"Yeah, it is."

There was a short pause and Mary Margaret cleared her throat.

"It's a pretty name."

"Thanks."

"So tell me about yourself?" Mary Margaret asked attempting to make conversation.

Emma shrugged disinclined to talk about herself. It was bad enough that people knew her real name. When she had made this plan she was planning on changing her name, and now she had no choice.

"Where are you from?"

Emma sighed, "Boston, I guess. I'm not sure entirely. I've been in the system, since I could remember."

Mary Margaret frowned and Emma felt that familiar buzz of discomfort in her stomach when she brought up her family.

"What— "

"I'm looking for a job, do you know if anyone's hiring?" Emma asked wanting to avoid talking anymore about her family.

Mary Margaret's eyebrows puckered together as she thought and then with an apologetic look she answered.

"I'm sorry, but I don't. I'd advise you talk to Mr. Gold, though. He knows everything that goes on around this town." Mary Margaret responded sheepishly.

Emma nodded tucking that piece of advice in the back of her brain as Ruby appeared with their plates. She thankfully dug into the first hot meal she'd had, since arriving in Storybrooke.

And it was even better than she'd hoped.

(A/n: What do you think? Please review! More soon! next chapter we have Gold and more CS!)