Hello lovelies, here I am again with the first chapter to Untitled (I will name it at some point, I just haven't thought of something fitting just yet ;) ). A couple of things before you start reading..

First, I do have the entire story planned out-at least, the plot line, flashbacks and general ending, but I don't know how long it's going to be just yet. I do know I will name every chapter with a matching Beatles song (if I can find them :p) and that it will ALWAYS include at least one flashback, and sort of built like an actual Once Upon episode.

If I can manage that, that is ^^

Can't promise regular updates either, but I try, lovelies, I try.

Second, you may remember that our mysterious traveller from the future named herself as 'Anna'. This will stay the same, but when we're talking of Elsa's sister, it will be spelled 'Ana' with one 'n', just so you know the difference.

Third, this WILL be confusing before it becomes clear. Just so you know :D There will be some canon stuff hidden in here too.

Fourth, I absolutely refuse to call Baby Charming 'Neal', so I named him Graham in this fic-just a head's up so you don't get too confused.

And, last but not least, thank you to JustSmileBFF and DancingDoula for beta'ing this for me and listening to my rants about OUAT, Captain Swan and life in general.

Love, Annaelle

PS Thank you to all those who have read, faved, followed, reviewed and loved already! I love all of you!

Chapter One - Let It Be

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer,

Let it Be

For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer

Let it Be

—Let It Be, The Beatles

The Enchanted Forest—Some time into the future

Emma blinks confusedly as they emerge from the portal, taking in the sight of what would have been her fatherland had the Curse not been cast. Had they not been sent to Storybrooke—they might've all been alive now, if they'd never been in Storybrooke.

The thought of all those who were lost in the battle with the Ice Queen makes her heart ache and her knees almost give out—she still doesn't know how to keep going, how to survive on her own.

It hurts, and she can't, she can barely breathe without him, without them.

"Mom?"

Her head snaps up and she looks up at her son, her beautiful boy—she needs to keep him safe, she needs to keep all of them safe.

They're all she has left and she can't lose them too.

"I'm okay," she says firmly, and she almost believes it, "I'm fine."

Henry's eyes flash down to her stomach—it's barely visible, but it's there, the undeniable curve of her baby bump. She swallows thickly and shakes her head, her hand falling to cover the small bump. "The baby's fine too. Where's Dav—dad with baby Graham? We should get going."

"I'm here," David appears behind her, baby Graham cradled in his arms, "We can go—Ruby is going with us to the castle, as are most of the others. Marion took Roland and some of the Merry Men and left us."

Emma winces—she feels responsible for the rift that the Ice Queen caused between Marion and the rest of them—but nods and sighs. "I expected as much," she admits, "she blames us for Robin…" David rests his hand on her shoulder, and she nearly shatters when she realizes that despite his own pain and grief, he is still trying to make her feel better.

She hates that—she can't stand it.

She doesn't deserve to be comforted—she should have been able to stop the Ice Queen before she killed so many people. Before she destroyed the bonds of friendship and family that were holding Storybrooke's community together.

She shrugs off his hand and turns away from him, gazing at the castle before them. "Let's just go," she says evenly, "there's no use standing out here doing nothing."

No one contradicts her, but they all simply follow her as she starts walking. She rubs her belly absent-mindedly, her mind whirring as she tries to accept the enormous changes in her life—she is no longer in Storybrooke; she'll probably never even see the world she'd grown up in again; she doesn't have… she doesn't have anyone but Henry and David and baby Graham and a few of the villagers that decided to stick with them.

And this baby.

She glances down at her barely swollen belly.

She has this baby—and she's going to make sure that he or she has everything she never had; that she never got the chance to give Henry.

This baby will know its loved.

.

.

.

Storybrooke, Maine—Present day

Emma doesn't like cold.

Never has, honestly—when she was four, shortly after the Swans had given her back, there had been a very cold winter, and the all the other children in the orphanage had been delighted. Emma hadn't understood—all she could think of was how cold it was, and that everyone else had nice, warm jackets so the cold wouldn't bother them.

She didn't.

All she had was a flimsy sweater that did little to protect four-year-old Emma from the harsh elements, and she had gotten really sick over and over again that winter.

She'd hated cold ever since.

Knowing that, trudging through the woods with a girl who claims she's from the future with an icy cold headwind seemingly blowing right through her warm scarf and jacket does not help with Emma's rapidly increasing bad mood.

"So," Emma shivers, "Are you sure we're heading in the right direction?" She rethinks the question and sighs exasperatedly, "Scratch that, how do you even know what direction we're heading in? I thought you said you're from the Enchanted Forest." She slows to a stop and eyes Anna suspiciously—she knows Anna is trying to help, the girl hadn't been lying about that, but she'd been very evasive about everything else, including the things she knows about their future.

Anna turns and crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at Emma a little. "Look, I already told you we're looking for Elsa—her magic manifests in ice and snow. Look around," she gestures impatiently at the forest that surrounds them, "the cold and snow has been getting worse and worse—that's how I know we're heading in the right direction."

Emma really wants to retort snappily, but Anna's right, the cold has been getting worse and there are little patches of snow and ice ahead of them—they have to be close.

She really hopes they are.

She doesn't like not being a hundred percent sure that Anna will have her back, but Anna had been adamant that Killian didn't go with them, and Emma believed her enough to agree and send Killian to find King George with David and Regina.

She still only knows part of the story that brought Anna here, and she's not sure if she'll ever really know the whole story—especially if Anna succeeds in saving everyone, like she says she plans to. Emma also doesn't like knowing how uncomfortable Anna is around some of them—it only serves to make her more suspicious of the girl's motives, even though she doesn't think Anna's there to harm them in any way.

She briefly recalls their conversation, back in the loft, as she and Anna start walking again.

.

.

.

The silence in the room is deafening, and everyone stares at Anna as she fidgets nervously.

"How do we know you're not lying to us?" Snow's tone is anything but accusing, but Anna flinches anyway—something, Emma's noticed, she does more often when Snow or Killian speak to her—the poor girl can barely get a word out, and despite not knowing a damn thing about her, Emma feels bad for her.

Anna's obviously nervous and a little scared, and having everyone—and she does mean everyone, from Regina and her parents to Ruby, Granny and the dwarves—stare at her like this can't be helping. Emma exchanges a quick glance with Killian, her stomach doing a funny fluttery thing when he smiles at her and squeezes her hand.

She knows he's noticing the same thing as she is, and though they're all very curious to know who Anna is and why she's here, it's not going to help anyone if Anna's too overwhelmed to get more than two words out.

"Okay," Emma speaks up slowly, looking around the room, "Maybe we should… Anna, would it be easier to talk to me? Just me? Or someone else?"

Anna's eyes widen fractionally, and Emma can't help but study her all over again—there's still something about Anna that makes Emma feel at ease and very nervous at the same time and she hates that.

Anna's eyes drift from one to the other, and once again, Emma notices the flash of… something in her eyes as she glances at Snow and Killian—even Granny seems to make her uncomfortable.

She wonders if she's met them, in the future.

If she really is from the future, that is.

"I… I suppose," Anna finally says hesitantly, her eyes finally resting on Emma again, "I suppose I should inform you and, uh—" she swallows thickly, "David, perhaps? If that is acceptable. I am simply attempting to keep anyone from dying."

Emma's not sure about anything right now—but she believes her. She believes that Anna is honestly trying to save all their lives.

Emma glares at Grumpy when he starts to protest—loudly, of course—and offers Killian a reassuring smile as he gets to his feet reluctantly. "I suppose we should take our leave for now then." He eyes the others in the room, and surprisingly, everyone follows his lead, excusing themselves and slowly leaving the loft until only Henry, Snow, Charming, Regina and Killian are left.

Snow eyes Anna suspiciously and slowly suggests, "We'll just… Go upstairs. I could use some help moving Graham's changing table."

"But of course, milady," Killian bows smoothly, "It would be my pleasure. Come lad," he claps his hand on Henry's shoulder, "Let's go see what we can do for your grandmother."

Emma watches them leave the room—they look adorable together—and shoots Regina a warning glare before she follows Snow and the boys up the stairs. "Okay," she drawls after a short, tense silence, "So… Someone's coming to hurt us? And Elsa has something to do with it?"

Anna nods tersely, still fidgeting uncontrollably.

David and Emma exchange a look, and Emma's comforted to know that David has her back. "How do we know you're not trying to distract us so they can just kill us when we least expect it?"

Anna bites her lip and sighs, sinking onto the chair Charming had procured for her earlier. "Well," she drawls slowly, "You could ask Emma… She would be able to tell if I was lying, would she not?"

Emma narrows her eyes at the girl, suspiciously trying to discern a lie—there has to be one, right? Who would know so much about them and not try to use it against them? "How do you know about that? Actually—how do you know so much about us to begin with?"

Anna groans again, shaking her head exasperatedly. "I told you," she exclaims, "I cannot tell you—I cannot risk divulging too much. I might have already changed things for the worse simply by telling you I am from the future—I promise that I am here simply to help. I wish for all of you to find your Happy Ending, and I am here to see to it that you do. All of you." Her eyes stray towards Regina before they return to Emma, and her eyes are wide and pleading, and damn it, Emma can't find anything but sincerity in Anna's eyes.

"Fine," Emma grumbles, "Fine. So we need to find this Elsa girl before she freezes the entire town by accident? That's it?"

Anna nods, and Emma grunts, grinning at her dad. "Well, we've faced worse than that."

Before David can reply, Anna sighs and shakes her head again. "No, you have not," she declares ominously. "Elsa is not the true threat," she continues when Emma glares at her, "She is a minor threat—a distraction from a greater and more formidable foe."

"A distraction how, exactly?" Regina pipes in from where she stood hidden behind a wooden pillar, looking highly uncomfortable sitting in the same room as Emma. Anna stiffens immediately, but Emma's focus is still on Regina, and she suddenly feels really guilty for ruining her second chance with Robin—she knows Regina is mad at her.

Emma can't blame her—she's relieved she managed to convince Regina to come here at all.

Anna eyes everyone in the room nervously before shrugging and deflating. "I am not certain. I mean—" she adds quickly, "I know who it is, but I don't know where they are. I was led to believe that one of them is an old nemesis of yours and Snows," she nods towards Charming, "A father, or father in law, perhaps?"

"King George?" Charming frowns, "I thought he'd been locked up…"

"Okay, so we need to find this Elsa and King George?" Regina raises an eyebrow at Anna and rolls her eyes, "I still fail to see why we would need your help in this—we are by far capable of dealing with a mad old king and a frightened little girl."

Something flashes in Anna's deep blue eyes and Emma jumps when one of the light bulbs bursts. "No," Anna hisses, "You are not. In fact, that arrogance is what got you killed. It is not just those two—Elsa can be an ally if you are able to get to her in time and if we can take George out, she'll be working on her own and won't have any inside knowledge of you."

Emma stares at Anna warily, suddenly unsure if Anna's really as innocent in her intentions as she claims to be—Emma knows magic when she sees and feels it, and whatever burst that light bulb, it was magic.

"Calm down," David suddenly interrupts, drawing Anna's eyes to him, "we believe you. Who else is out there? If George and Elsa are not the real threat, who is?"

Anna fidgets nervously and bites her lip as she drawls, "Well… I do not know exactly who she is. But I know what to look for—when I see her, I will know." Regina snorts derisively and Anna's eyes lock back onto the Queen—Emma swears that if looks could kill, Regina would be a pile of ash on the floor.

"Okay," she shakes her head, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves—how about we find the people we actually know first? Dad, maybe you should go looking for King George…" She hesitates and offers, "Anna, maybe you can go with him, and Killian and I will go looking for Elsa."

"No," Anna shakes her head, "I will go with you to find Elsa. Hook may go with David to find George."

Emma's eyes widen a little, panic seeping through her usually calm façade—she doesn't want to go anywhere without Killian by her side; it's scary to trust him so much, but she knows he'll always have her back if they're attacked, and that's what she needs in a situation like this.

"Look, Anna," she says slowly, "No offence, but—"

Anna shakes her head and stalks forward, looking Emma straight in the eye—it is unnerving—, "No. I have to go with you, and Killian has to go with David. Please," the girl pleads, "If there was ever a time to start listening to me, this is it. Please."

There's some kind of desperation in Anna's eyes that makes Emma feel uncomfortable and sad at the same time, and she realizes that whatever will happen if Killian were to come with her to find Elsa, it scares Anna—and that scares Emma too.

"Okay," she acquiesces, "Okay, fine. Dad, you and Killian go look for George.." she hesitates for a moment and shoots Regina a wary look, "Take Regina with you—just in case."

David doesn't seem all too pleased, but nods nonetheless, standing up and offering Regina an uneasy smile. "Shall we, Regina?" He doesn't seem fazed when Regina shoots him a withering glare before stalking out the door, leaving everyone in silence for a moment. "Well," David coughs stiffly, "That went well. I'll just go get Ho—Killian… And I'll tell Snow to stay put with Henry and Graham."

Emma smiles tightly and follows him up the stairs, already mentally preparing a speech to get her pirate to comply and go with her father instead of her and Anna.

It's not going to be easy.

It never is.

.

.

.

"So," Emma drawls after walking in silence for another few minutes, "You have magic?"

She doesn't miss the way Anna stiffens for a split-second, her eyes nervously seeking out Emma's, before she nods curtly. "Aye. I was born with it—I was lucky to have someone to help me learn how to control it as I grew up."

She turns to Emma and offers her a sad smile, "I am aware you did not have this—and if I remember correctly, neither did Elsa. That is why she is unleashing her magic like this. It is linked to her stronger emotions, like fear and love… I imagine she is quite frightened by now, having awoken in a new, unfamiliar world."

It makes a lot of sense, when she puts it like that, and Emma shrugs. "I guess that makes sense. I mean, mine's unpredictable too. It gets stronger when I—" she cuts off abruptly, eyes wide and startled as they break through the trees onto a clearing, where several large snow monsters—really, snow monsters too? Couldn't the girl just go with adorable little Olaf? Emma wouldn't mind that snow man so much—are waiting for them, growling and hissing threateningly.

"No," Anna grabs Emma's hand as she moves to draw her gun, "No, don't. They are no threat—they will not harm us unless we harm them."

Emma gapes at Anna incredulously, shaking off the girl's hand, "Seriously?"

"Aye," Anna glares, "Now be silent." She turns back towards the snow monsters and tentatively calls out, "Elsa? Elsa, I know you are there. Please—we're not here to harm you, we're here to help. You're looking for your sister, yes? I believe I know where I can find her, but please… Please, Elsa, come out."

Emma stares at her, sincerely doubting Anna's sanity for a moment, before the snow men suddenly part, revealing a tall, pale, beautiful woman in a sparkling blue dress, with eyes bluer than the skies on a cold, clear winter day.

Holy shit.

She even looks like the woman from the movie.

Emma almost chuckles—after getting almost every other fairy tale character wrong, they finally managed to get one right with this one.

"You know my sister?" The woman—who must be Elsa—says shakily, though Emma can see that she is attempting to sound strong and intimidating.

Anna steps forward hesitantly, eyeing the large snow men on either side of her before she replies, "No—but I know of her. I am not from here, so I do not know precisely where she is, but—" she turns around and beckons Emma quickly, "This is Emma. She is the Sheriff, and she can help you find your sister."

She nearly protests—she's the Saviour, she has more on her mind than looking for some girl wayward sister—but then she catches the pleading look on Anna's face and sighs, deciding to play along, for now. Anna had made it very clear that having Elsa on their side would only help their cause, and Emma supposes that's more important than whether or not she has time to look for Elsa's sister.

"Yeah," Emma gives Elsa tense smile—holy shit, she can't believe she's actually talking to her; she remembers watching the movie in New York with Henry—and takes a few steps forward. "I can—I'm good at finding people. Do you, uh—"

She glances at the large snow men, "—you think you could get your bodyguards to stand down?"

For a split-second, it looks like Elsa will agree—like they will get out of this scot-free—but then a loud bang startles them all, and the snow and cold wind pick up around them, the ground beneath Emma's feet shaking as it freezes completely.

"Shit," Emma curses as she slips, grabbing onto the nearest tree to hold herself up.

She glances at Anna, who seems remarkably put together, but terrified at the same time as she tries to reason with Elsa, whose hands are raised defensively as the snow monsters surround them.

"No," Elsa hisses, "No, you bring Ana to me—" Emma almost misses the way her eyes flit over to her before she's suddenly encased in ice, trapped in a cocoon of thick, impenetrable ice and shit, she curses to herself as the impact and consequences of her imprisonment hit her.

"Hey!" She yells, pounding her fists on one of the walls, "Let me out! Anna! Elsa!"

She can't hear anything, and the icy cold of the walls is starting to creep through her clothes, making her shiver—she doesn't know what's going on out there, and this is why she wanted Killian to come with her damnit.

She's cold and scared and her magic won't work and she has no idea when they're coming for her—if they're coming for her.

For all she knows, Anna was working with Elsa all along.

Emma rubs her hands over her arms in a desperate attempt to stay warm, trying not to get discouraged by the numbness that is already spreading from her fingers and toes. Killian and her dad will come for her—that's what her family does.

At least… She pounds her fist on the thick ice one more time before giving up… She hopes they will.

She has to believe in them—in their love for her. As hard as it may be to believe, she knows that her parents and her son and her pirate love her and she needs to trust that love.

She needs to believe in it.

She needs to know she is loved—however unfeasible it still seems in her own eyes.

She is loved.