After nearly three years, I thought I'd come back and see if I can continue this AU. I want it to be completed.
Because it's been three years since I've dealt with this story or these characters I'm not sure whether I've managed to fully get back into the story/characters minds convincingly or whether I've ballsed it up completely. The reason I left fanfic in the dust was that I hit a big block and with the stress of trying to complete my degree, I took it as a sign to stop.
This chapter is kind of rushed, so I apologise for any mistakes or lack of description/setting. I just wanted it done. And if things seem like they are trying to rework themselves out, it's because they are.
Being so far ahead in canon and having the characters I watch now so far developed compared to where this lines up with meant a re-think of the plot and how I want the characters to develop. ( And a lot of confusion).
I hope it doesn't disappoint too much.
This is what I want to call a 'bridging' chapter between the old story, long forgotten and the new train of thought I've had coming back and almost completely alternate storyline to canon that is starting to blossom.
Originally this was to be the last chapter but coming back I realised that there wasn't enough movement in the characters for it to be solved that quickly (and I lost the part draft of the final chapters in the changing of computers and clean-outs ) so now I guess there's more to come!
Happy reading!
Emma could feel the map burning a hole through her pocket. She needed to figure out a place to hide it and fast. She drove without really thinking but somehow wasn't surprised when she pulled up on the edge of the woods near the Toll Bridge. It was a good place as any.
She rummaged in the back of the bug for something to put the map in to keep it from getting damaged. She and Imogen didn't know what it was for but knowing that Cora and Hook wanted it was enough incentive she needed to hide it. She spotted a Pringles can hiding under the front seat. She was constantly telling Henry to take his rubbish with him, but today she was glad he'd slacked off. It would be perfect.
Emma walked Pringles in hand to the bridge. The shrubbery would provide the perfect cover. She dented the can a bit and rolled it in dirt, attempting to make it look as old and forgotten as possible. Finally she dug a small hole and hid it in the greenery. She took a step back to observe her work and found that it was invisible. Satisfied, she started back for her car.
Now to find Imogen and see if she had any luck with getting information from Hook. They were to meet out the back of Granny's. Emma leaned against the car watching for any sign of the girl.
A cloud of purple appeared blocking her way to the back street and quickly faded to reveal Regina and Cora.
Emma moved a hand to the gun in its holster, "Cora," she managed to put some surprise into her voice. As far as Cora knew Emma knew nothing about her arrival in Storybrooke
"No need to act surprised," Cora said, the gleam of amusement in her eyes. "Where's the map?"
If they were here... "Imogen?"
Regina smiled, "Oh, she'll probably be making nice with her brother by now. It was very easy to get her to tell us you had the map."
Emma recognised the technique of planting doubt in one's mind and tried to fight it. She was smarter than their mind tricks.
"Funny how she appears, so eager to help, suddenly," Cora cooed. Emma pulled the gun but Cora was faster. With magic, she ripped the gun from Emma's hand and threw it away. "You've been played Emma".
Emma tried to push away the creeping doubt but Cora made some sound points. She'd never seen Imogen until a few days ago and all she knew was what Imogen had told her. She was a pirate, Hook's sister, everything could have been a lie. But…
"The map, Swan." Regina ordered pulling Emma from her thoughts. "I don't want to have to make you tell me."
Killian and Imogen could see no sign of Emma's bug near the docks. He turned to his sister. "Did she say where she was going?"
Imogen shook her head, furiously looking around for any sign of Emma.
"Come on. Think," he urged. He tried to convince himself that his concern was for losing the only lead to the Crocodiles Dagger and it almost worked.
Imogen turned to him, her blue eyes flaring. "I don't bloody well know where she was taking the map. We were-."
Without a word, Killian started walking off towards the town. He would turn this town upside down until he found... the map. The map was what he wanted. The dagger was what he needed. Swan was a distraction. A hindrance.
Behind him Imogen rushed up repeating his name. He could tell how frustrated and worried she was by the way she put more emphasis on the 'kill' in his name. Even as a toddler she would say Killian like killing him was exactly what she wanted to do.
"Would you stop, please!" She grabbed his arm. "Listen, I don't know where she was taking the map but we were going to meet later."
"Where?" He growled.
"Granny's."
It was all he needed. He started to run.
"Regina, if you do this, it will break Henry's heart." It was the truth and Emma hoped Regina would understand how her mother was manipulating her.
The burning hate on Regina's face reduced the last of Emma's hope to ashes. "This is your fault. I will get my son back and you, you cannot stop me."
Emma knew in that moment that the threat wasn't about taking Henry from Emma. It was a promise to get rid of her. For good.
"And the map? How is that going to help you with Henry?" Emma asked calmly though inside she was anything but.
"It the only way for my daughter be happy again," Cora says, her voice soft and almost loving.
"Is it a map to Disneyland? Because you can find one of those online."
"Enough!" Cora raised her hand.
A sudden tightness started around Emma's throat. She grasped the invisible force away trying, uselessly, to pull it away. Cora's fingers curled more and Emma's throat closed further. She couldn't breathe.
A gunshot sounded and Emma's throat opened again. The slam of air back in her lungs had her coughing. She looked up.
Cora's attention was now on a blue-eyed pirate pointing a gun at her, and his sword welding sister next to him. Hook looked ready to rip apart the two women.
Noise of approach reached Emma. "This isn't over," Regina promised as her and Cora disappeared.
Hook lowered the gun. "Ok, Swan?"
She could only nod in response before Imogen had her in a tight hug. "Bloody witches! I thought we were too late".
Emma smiled, "right on time, actually". Emma's eyes met Hook's and he smiled, amused.
"Imogen, the poor lass doesn't need to be strangled twice today".
The girl let go, "oh sorry Emma. I... well... I'm just glad you're ok."
Emma had to admit for all her quirks, the younger Jones was charming and sweet. And not for the first time did she wonder about the full story of the siblings. Her gaze averted to the older Jones. He flipped the gun around and walked towards Emma.
"Yours, I believe." He held it out to her.
As she took it, her fingers grazed against his. Warm, rough. Her heart beat hard against her chest. Though, she didn't agree with his mission, she understood why he did what he did, and how he thought it was right. Much of his brokenness and loneliness reflected herself before she Henry found her. Not for the first time, she wondered about Milah and how long he'd been trying to avenge her death. She knew she understood Hook more than even his sister did.
Against all better judgement, she looked up. Oh god. She could get lost in those eyes. "Emma," he breathed, almost an apology on his lips.
Two syllables and she knew- he still planned to go after Gold. As long as he wanted revenge, they would be against each other. Despite, whatever connection they had, they were on different sides.
Neither of them spoke when Hook released the gun and walked away.
Emma barely had time to register what had happened before Ruby and Granny came outside and her thoughts were pulled back to Regina and Cora and the very wanted map under the toll bridge.