The Fifth Year
"Her magic grows stronger every day, and now it seems that Neal also has magic. They need to learn to control it!" Snow shouts at her husband.
"And who's going to teach them? Regina? Rumplestitleskin?" David replies, his voice level with Snow's. "There's no one we trust enough to do it!" At this, Snow White sits down heavily in an armchair, taking a deep breath.
"It's just—I'm—I'm pregnant David," she says. David's solemn expression changes to an overjoyed one in a second.
"Another child! Snow that's great!" David cries, reaching down to embrace his wife. She laughs and hugs him tightly. He lets go, and his hand makes its way down to her still flat stomach.
"David, I'm worried. What if this child has magic too? What if none of them learn to control it? Or what if they do learn to control it and end up having magic fights or something when they're older?" The words tumble out of Snow's mouth before she can stop them, and David chuckles.
"Darling, I don't think we have much to worry about. Emma seems to be in control of her magic, and Neal is only a year old. By the time he comes of an age where his magic is getting out of hand, Emma will be experienced enough to help him," David points out, grasping his wife's hand. "Everything will be fine." Snow sighs, squeezing his hand in return.
"I hope you're right."
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Emma chased the silvery butterfly down the garden paths, following it around corners, and under trellises, until she runs into Killian, literally, very nearly knocking them both into the fish pond.
"Careful!" Killian exclaims, grabbing Emma by the shoulders to steady her, and himself, his bad leg straining with the effort. "I still haven't got full strength back Princess."
"Sorry Killian," Emma pouts, looking up at the boy through her lashes. At almost eight years old, the boy towers over her. That, along with his eyes, which have seen too much during their short time on earth, make him look much older than he is. But he isn't the only one who's grown up during his year at the castle. Emma, at five years old, stands almost as tall as Killian was when he first arrived. Her golden locks reach below her shoulders, and no longer curl into childish ringlets. Her sword fighting has improved immensely, as has her horseback riding, and her skill at bow and arrow.
"It's okay, just watch out," Killian replies, returning his eyes to the pond, utterly fascinated. Emma on the other hand, was not interested in the fish. She was mesmerized by the boy in front of her, though she didn't know why. She felt safe around him, a feeling she otherwise only felt when she was in the company of her parents. It puzzled the young girl, but it didn't matter much to her. She watched as Killian sighed a content sigh, and looked up to meet her eyes.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
"Well it's almost time for lunch, let's have a picnic!" Emma replied enthusiastically. And that they did. They went into the kitchen to grab lunch, and a blanket, before venturing out to Emma's favorite, and Killian's soon to be favorite, tree. It was an oak, with low hanging branches good for climbing, and providing shade. They spread the blanket out and sat down to eat. When the food was finished, they lay down on the blanket, side by side, and looked up at the sky through the tree branches.
"What's it like to fly?" Emma wondered aloud, watching the clouds float by above them. She turned to Killian. "Do you know?" He chuckled.
"Well, I'd imagine that you feel light, like you haven't got a care in the world. The wind would be blowing your hair back, and knowing you, you'd be whooping and hollering, swooping back and forth and doing loops. You'd be free." Killian replied, reaching for Emma's hand, as if to hold her down to earth, or maybe so if she took off flying, she wouldn't leave him behind.
"I want to fly away," Emma said. "I want to fly away from the castle and I want to take you with me. We could see the world. We could be free!" Killian chuckled, looking at the girl next to him, his gaze full of adoration.
"Someday Emma," he responded.
"You promise Killian?" she questioned.
"I promise."
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In the Dungeon
Regina watched the children through the looking glass. She threw her head back and laughed maniacally.
"He promises," she mocked. "We'll see about that."
Authors Note: Sorry it's so short; it's kind of a filler chapter before the real action happens. Warning! The curse will be cast in the next few chapters! Please, let me know what you think!