Disclaimer: Since I haven't said it recently, I don't own any of once upon a time characters, only my original characters.
Also, I realized there's so much I forgot about until I rewatched the series. If something doesn't line up with the episodes...well, it isn't supposed to be completely different. Just an added story. Let me know what you think so far in the reviews.
Elizabeth strode through the town, hoping to make it across to the forest without being seen. But wishes only come true in fairy tales.
"Elizabeth!"
She slowed her pace and stopped when he heard the Saviour's voice. She turned but didn't face her completely.
"Hey, Henry told me he arranged for you and Killian to meet up." Emma stepped in front of her and examined her face. "By the look of it, I take it it didn't go too well."
"That...that is a grand understatement, Miss Swan."
She folded her arms across her chest. "Well, do you want to talk about it?"
Elizabeth finally met her gaze. That very intimidating, intense gaze. "There is nothing to talk about. He doesn't remember me."
"Wait, what? I mean, I know he's old-"
"I meant so little-"
"Now hold on, I don't think that's true," Emma offered.
"No? I went missing. He returned to port, said so himself when I spoke to him, after I went missing. Or kidnapped. Or whatever happened to me. And Milah? I understand she was killed in front of him, but he spent centuries planning his revenge. Stopped time to avenge her. His first love. I knew him before he even had any honour in the Navy, before he met Milah." She closed her eyes, knowing she was making no sense and was blurting out her feelings. Some things just couldn't be helped.
Emma's face opened with understanding. "Then whenever he forgot you, it was back then. Back before he met her."
"Before he made it back to port. Which means whether I get closure or not, he has no memories of where I may have gone or who took me." Her voice and spirit were resigned. "Perhaps it doesn't matter. I suppose all I can do is find a way back to the Enchanted Forest. You wouldn't happen to have a way back?"
"Are you sure that's what you really want?"
"Something, or someone, pulled me from his life and his memories. It's better to simply leave it at that and move forward."
Emma looked around and gave a shake of her head. "Maybe. Maybe that led to me meeting him, him being here. But you're here now too. Why did you wake up, and why now?"
Elizabeth smiled sadly. "That's why you're a hero, and I'm a supporting character. I don't go on adventures. I don't go after the villains or answer questions. I'm someone meant to be a….a passing ship in the night. Besides, if I were to try to restore his memories for my sake, well that's just bad form."
Elizabeth put her weight against the dough beneath her hands, kneading it expertly. When she heard boots on the wooden floor in the doorway to the kitchen, she wiped a loose strand of her brown hair back with her flour covered wrist. A quick glance up caused her to give him a double take. She gave out a small laugh before returning to her work.
"You can walk on your own today, I see."
Killian held back a laugh and put a knuckle on the doorpost. "I came to apologize."
"For entering my private kitchen? If you want fresh bread, you can buy it in the store front."
"Your father let me back."
"Of course he did."
"I made a fool of myself last night, and I wanted to beg your pardon, Miss Warren."
She stopped and looked up at him, and those bright blue eyes. Elizabeth rested her hands on her hips and let out a sigh. "How are you feeling?"
"I've learned to work through the morning after consequences," he admitted with a smile. "My brother, Liam, told me where I could find you. He sends his apologies as well."
"Perhaps I should apologize for proposing without his consent," she teased. When he laughed she wiped her hands clean on her apron. "I wanted to thank you." She continued when she saw the confusion on his face. "Maybe it wasn't intentional, but I saw you keep a man's hand from me in the tavern."
He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish grin. "Grabbing a woman without her consent, and in the company of another no less, is just bad form."
"I appreciate it nonetheless."
He stepped into the kitchen, but only took two steps. He kept his distance. "I apologize for being so forward, but you didn't seem all too comfortable in the tavern. Being around drunk men seemed to hit a sore spot with you."
"I don't enjoy being in situations which could put me at a disadvantage."
Killian nodded and raised an eyebrow with a tilt of his head. "Then, if you don't mind my asking, love, why were you there in the first place?"
She thought for a moment, having asked herself the same question. She had never set foot in the building after dark. Of course, she had made deliveries for the tavern, bringing them fresh bread in the morning. But when there was general carousing? Never.
"Something told me I should be there last night." Elizabeth laughed when she heard her words. "I sound daft. But after dinner…I simply walked there as though I did it every night. And I just sat there."
"Then I spoiled your evening."
She smiled. "It was certainly interesting. But, perhaps it was fate."
He took two more steps into the warm kitchen. "You believe in such things?"
"We live in a world where magic can make the impossible, possible. Why not fate?" She turned back to her counter and placed a few loaves of bread into a cloth bag. She handed it to Killian. "For the crew. You can't go back empty handed. I've heard the stories of Captain Silver."
Killian took the bag with a nod and he turned to go. He stopped at the door. "We won't be in his service forever." He turned back to her, his eyes glowing with determination. "My brother, he dreams of us joining the King's Navy."
"And your dreams?"
He thought for a moment. "To make my brother proud. To be the brother he deserves. To live a life of meaning for my family."
"Well, I look forward to seeing your transformation, Captain Killian Jones."
Killian grinned and held up the bag in thanks. "I think I rather like the sound of that."
Emma stepped in front of Elizabeth as she tried to continue on. "Okay, here's the thing. If he doesn't remember you, doesn't he deserve to know if something happened to him too? Obviously you were in his life and were taken away not just physically...but it's like you never existed. He deserves to know why, and who did it."
"Until I came here, it wasn't an issue."
"No, but think about it. It means someone brought you here. Either to ruin his life and what he has now, no offense, or to help him remember something he needs to know about his past."
Elizabeth nodded. "Then you find out. You're the Saviour, and a hero. Isn't that what you do?"
"That doesn't mean you can't do it, too. I wasn't always a hero. Neither was Killian."
She looked at the determination on the woman's face and sighed. "I'll think on it."
But she had already made up her mind. And she knew Emma would use her superpower to determine that, too. She was finally allowed to step around Emma and continue through the town. After a few moments she felt a shiver travel through her body and she looked across the street.
The man the town called Mr. Gold stood with his cane in his hands, staring at her with a small knowing smile. She stopped and met his gaze. When he nodded, Elizabeth pulled her hood up over her head and kept going. Yes. She would need a way out of this town. And soon.
