Here it is! Chapter 5. I'm glad that I actually have Chrimstas/Winter holidays right now because it means I can update pretty much every day. I hope I'll still be able to do that by the time I go back to Uni! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy, and please remember to review!

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT.

Chapter 5: Old Friends

Emma's instinct was telling her that something was going to happen. She didn't know what, she didn't know when, she didn't know at who's hand. But she knew. And to be honest, it scared her a little. It also made her feel exhausted, mainly because she'd just gotten Henry back from Neverland and she'd really like to have a full night of sleep at some point. Because Hook's ridiculously blue eyes had haunted her dreams last night as well, but in less enjoyable fashion. She'd dreamt that she'd seen him together with Tinkerbell, and it had killed her inside. Worse still, even Neal had shown up in the dream, and apparently they were about to go on a double date. How sick and twisted was that?

The problem was that Emma needed someone to talk to. Sure, she could talk to her mother, but all that understanding would just drive Emma crazy to the point where she couldn't take it anymore. She could talk to Ruby, but Ruby, even though she was a sweetheart, was a flirt and would tell Emma to just go for the man that excited her the most by just looking at her. There was Belle, but Belle was too busy with Mr. Gold, and to be honest, she didn't really want to have to hear all about that either. So she was left to ponder her strange and incoherent feelings, just the way she was used to.

The doorbell snapped her out of her trance and she quickly stood up to answer it. She wasn't expecting anyone, Emma thought to herself, and as she wondered who it could possibly be, she opened the door, stood and stared for a while, until she gasped in surprise at the person that was standing there.

"Anna?!"

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Anna looked exactly the way Emma remembered her; long, messy brown hair, bright green eyes that always had that expression of curiousity in them, and a stance that could make you fear even looking at her unless you actually knew her. Emma was so surprised to see this woman; the only girl she'd ever truly felt connected with during her childhood; her foster sister. It had been years since they'd seen each other; 12, in fact, and Emma could actually feel tears stinging her eyes as they looked at each other.

"Hey, Swan, it's been a long time. I didn't… I didn't know if I should come by, but I finally found out where you lived and I figured I could at least try to keep my promise."

Emma laughed nervously, and suddenly the two were hugging. They had been each other's life-lines for 2 years, until they got seperated the day they decided to run away from their foster home together. Emma was immensely glad to see her old friend, but at the same time she was nervous about explaining the whole situation. How was she supposed to explain that the only reason this town was here was because of magic, the only reason Anna could have found her now was because the curse had been broken, a curse that Emma herself had broken. And how was she supposed to explain her family, with her son who she'd given up at birth and parents who were just as old as she was? Suddenly snapping back into reality, Emma quickly let go, and she could see the confused expression in Anna's eyes.

"Can I at least come in? So we can catch up?" Anna actually sounded a little nervous, and Emma didn't blame her. She could feel the nerves too. It was weird finally seeing someone you used to be so close to after having missed them for so long.

"Yeah, of course! Sorry, I was just – I was just surprised to see you."

Emma stepped back to let Anna through the doorway, and watched as her friend took in the loft.

"Nice place you've got here." Anna said, looking at the pictures on the bookshelves. "These your roommates?" She asked, pointing at a picture of Snow and Charming.

Emma chuckled, mostly to herself, but didn't really know how to answer the question. "Yes, I guess you could say they are my roommates." Emma laughed again, and Anna looked at her quizzically. Moving on to the next picture, one of Emma and Henry together at Granny's, she asked: "And I'm guessing this is your kid?"

Emma smiled proudly, and walked over to take the picture out of Anna's hand. "Yeah, that's my son. Henry." They smiled at each other, as Emma set the picture back on the shelf.

"Can I get you something to drink, or to eat? To be honest, I'm not sure what I can offer you. But I can make a mean cocoa."

"Water is fine. Listen, Emma, I just want to get straight to it. I'm sorry about what happened. That night. I didn't know we would get split up and I certainly didn't know I'd end up getting caught by the cops because that drunk old man actually came to his senses for once and called them. I'm sorry I didn't try to get in touch with you it's just – you got away, as far as I knew, and I didn't want to risk that for you. I'm sorry."

Emma, shocked by the abrupt apology, shook her head, choosing her next words carefully. "It's okay. I understand why you did it. I'm just glad you kept your promise now and came to find me when you were finally free."

Anna snorted, rather unnatractively. "Yeah, sorry that took so long, by the way."

Emma smiled at herself. A silence fell over the kitchen, as both women contemplated the situation they were in right now. It was a comfortable silence though, one they were used to having when they were younger and didn't really want to talk about the stuff they were going through but knew they were there for each other anyways.

Anna broke the silence first. "I got your letter, by the way. The one you sent from Boston. I just – never got around to replying to it. But I take it that, Neal? That guy you were talking about, I take it he's Henry's father,' she glanced back at the picture quickly, 'Are you guys still together?"

Emma looked back up from the steaming cup of cocoa she was stirring for herself. "No, we're not together. Not anymore at least. At least, I don't think so. I mean no, we're, we're not together, I guess its…complicated."

"Okay, well that's not the decisive answer you usually get when you broke up a long time ago. Wait a minute, is he here too? Does he know about Henry? Has anything…happened?"

"Just like the old days, huh? Still boy-crazy are we?" Emma laughed, and Anna smirked back at her.

"No, not as much as I used to be, thank you. It's just that the way you stammered that answer makes me think there's something going on there. If there isn't, I believe you. If there is, then I say let me meet him and make up my own mind about him." Anna smiled a devilish smile, and Emma got a little worried.

"There's no need to meet him right away…besides, you know, there are more, you know, guys here. He's not alone in this town."

"There's a second guy?! Well, Emma, I never expected that from you. From myself, sure, but not from you. What's his name?"

Emma looked taken aback, but tried to recover as quickly as possible. "There is no second guy! I don't know what you're on about." Emma realized that if she was going to take Anna into town, if she was indeed intending to stay for a while, she was going to have to tell her the truth eventually. About the people in this town. She just hoped she could take it. Emma flinched, remembering her own disbelief about the situation the first time she'd been told about it.

"Well, Swan, I do believe you've made me extremely curious about your current homestead. I'll be staying for a while – at least, if that's okay with you?" Anna looked up at her nervously. Emma sighed, knowing that she would never turn down the opportunity to have her long lost friend by her side again.

"Of course that's okay. We'll set you up at Granny's hotel. It's just, before you we go, I'm going to have to tell you something, and I'm not sure you're going to believe it."

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I know there isn't a lot of Hook/Emma/Neal interaction in this chapter, and I'm sorry about that! But I needed to introduce this new OC and I didn't want to rush it too much. You'll find out more about Emma and Anna's relationship later in the story. Next chapter will be more of our lovely Killian, I promise!