Author's note: Hi everybody! Okay, judging from the recaps of 'The Queen is dead' that I read this morning, my story is now officially AU.

Here is chapter five, hope you like it- remember, I like feedback.

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Emma sighed as she rubbed her forehead, trying to soothe the dull ache that had begun to throb behind her temple.

She had been so hopeful that she was getting it, after she'd lit a candle from across the room. But now, trying to move a simple paper weight across the counter top, Emma had accomplished nothing but a headache.

"Your emotions are becoming scattered now, Miss Swan," Rumple explained. "You need to focus."

"At the moment, all I can think of is the throbbing in my head," Emma said irritably.

Rumple waved his fingers and Emma's headache disappeared.

Now that was something useful.

"Can I learn to do that?" Emma asked.

"You already can," Rumple told her. "The problem is, that you can't control when it happens. So, we have to focus on influencing inanimate objects first, until you can control your power."

"Well the candle worked," Emma was getting frustrated again. "I don't understand why I can heal a stab wound but not move the paperweight."

"Perhaps we need to narrow down your trigger," Rumple suggested.

Emma wasn't following.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, magic is to do with emotion," Rumple reminded her. "So, perhaps there is a specific emotion that triggers your magic, such as anger or fear, so you need to focus on that first."

Rumple placed both hands atop his cane as he regarded the woman before him.

"What were you feeling when you shattered the vase at your house earlier?"

Emma swallowed.

"Anger," she said after a moment. "Frustration."

"Well, I doubt frustration is your trigger," Rumple said. "You were becoming rather frustrated with the paperweight, and nothing was happening."

"So, it's anger then," Emma surmised, but Rumple shook his head again.

"Anger, in itself can sometimes be a trigger," Rumple granted. "But it usually arises due to other, conflicting emotions. You were talking to your mother when the vase shattered, yes?" Rumple queried. "What about?"

Emma was beginning to wish she hadn't signed up for the lessons.

"Miss Swan, if you are going to learn to control your magic," Rumple told her, seeing her reluctance, "then you first need to figure out what triggers it. In time you will learn to use whatever spell you like no matter your emotional state, but until then," his eyes were serious again, "you will need help."

Emma sighed, "Neal." She answered sullenly. "I was telling her about how Neal left me in jail."

"Ah," Rumple understood. "And, just before the vase shattered?"

Emma took an awkward breath, avoiding the older man's eyes.

"I said that Tamara was free to have him."

"I see." Rumple's expression was thoughtful before a small smirk appeared on his face.

"What?" Emma demanded.

"I knew you wanted another chance with him," Rumple smiled.

Emma's jaw dropped.

"I can't believe you-" Emma stopped to take a breath to calm down. "He left me in jail." Emma's voice was beginning to crack. "He's moved on with his life and he's getting married. The only reason I'm willing to see him, is because of Henry. I really couldn't care less about-"

THUD!

The paperweight had flown off the counter top, narrowly missing a painting as it connected with the back wall.

Rumple smirked again.

"Well," he mused aloud. "That didn't take much. I think we've found your trigger, Miss Swan."

Emma was stunned. He'd made that dig at her on purpose?

"Yeah." She said as firmly as possible. "It's anger."

"Oh, no," Rumple told her surely. "I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier. It makes sense, after all."

"What does?"

"You are the product of true love, Miss Swan. You were able to break the curse because of your love for Henry," Rumple reminded her. "Cora couldn't even take your heart from your chest, despite having done it to many others before..."

Emma could feel her heart beating a tattoo in her chest, reminding her...

"You were able to tap into Bae's love for me in New York, that's how you were able to heal me. You had to keep your hand on his shoulder, keep the connection. And now," Rumple gestured to the paperweight. "The memories of love lost, the pain, manifests in powerful, sometimes destructive, magic. Incidentally," Rumple added curiously, "what were you thinking of when you lit the candle?"

Emma swallowed. "My parents," she whispered. "I was wondering if I'd still have been able to do magic if I'd grown up with them."

"Most certainly," Rumple nodded. "And there is your trigger, Miss Swan: Love, in all its forms, is the key to accessing your power."

At that moment, the door of the shop burst open and Snow and Henry came rushing through the door.

"We're in trouble," Snow announced, getting out her phone and dialling. "Regina saw Henry."

"What?" Emma was beginning to panic as she wrapped her arms around her son.

"She just disappeared," Snow finished as she put the phone to her ear.

Rumple gripped his cane tightly. Regina must have gone to get Cora...

Emma could see the fear building in Rumple's eyes as his mind was beginning to race.

"We'll get your dagger back, Gold," Emma told him. "We have a deal."

"Yes, we do, Miss Swan," Rumple whispered.

"David?" Snow said as her husband picked up. "Get to Gold's shop now. Regina saw Henry."

~..~..~..~..

Neal sighed with relief when he spotted the 'Welcome to Storybrooke' sign. As Storybrooke wasn't even marked on the map, he had been afraid that he wouldn't have been able to find it.

"Looks like we made it," He commented to Tamara, who looked curiously out of the window.

"So, this is where your family lives," Tamara mused. "Did you grow up here?"

"Uh, no," Neal told her. "I was born in New Jersey, remember?"

Tamara smiled. "That's right, you were."

As they drove over the line and into town, Neal gripped the steering wheel tighter. They were now in the one place where magic existed in this world.

"Okay, Emma said that there's a Bed and Breakfast called Granny's on the main street," Neal told his fiancé. "We'll stop there and get a room first."

"Look at all this forest," Tamara marvelled at the green as they drove. "You don't see a lot of this in the city, other than Central Park."

Neal smiled. "Finding your inspiration are you?"

"Perhaps," Tamara answered.

Eventually, they made it into town, and as they drove along the main street, their eyes widened at the torn up roads and broken power lines that were still in the process of being fixed up.

"Oh, my god," Tamara breathed. "What happened here? It looks like an earthquake hit."

"You don't get earthquakes in Maine," Neal commented.

"What else could it have been?" Tamara queried.

Neal didn't want to think of it.

"There's Granny's," he pointed out as soon as he saw the sign.

As they parked the car, Tamara gazed out the window at the wooden sign hanging over the entrance way to the bed and breakfast.

"A character building," she smiled. 'You don't get many of those in New York."

Neal got their out of the car, and they headed inside.

"Hello?" Neal called out in the empty foyer.

Soon, a young woman with streaks of red through her hair came down the stairs, as an older woman entered from a different doorway that appeared to lead into a diner.

"Can I help you?" The older woman greeted.

"We'd like a room." Neal told her. "We were told Granny's was the place to go."

"Oh, absolutely." The older woman said with a smile as she made her way around the counter.

"Told by who?" The younger woman asked curiously.

"Emma Swan," Neal said, meeting the younger woman's eye.

"Well, the sheriff did stay here when she first arrived to our little town," the younger woman said as she stepped into the entrance way.

"Emma's the sheriff?" Neal was surprised. "Wow, I didn't expect that."

"Why?" Tamara asked, curiously.

"Never mind," Neal was quick to say.

"Would you like a forest view or a square view?" The older woman asked, opening a log book.

"Forest view," Tamara said quickly.

"What's wrong with the square?" Neal asked.

"Did you see the hole in the road on our way over here?" Tamara asked. "I don't want to wake up to that."

"Oh, yeah, that." The younger woman smiled breezily as she came forward. "We had an underground gas leak and it blew. The leak's been fixed but we're still working on the road."

"See?" Neal told his fiancé. "No earthquakes in Maine."

"And the power lines?" Tamara asked.

"Uh, what's the name?" The older woman asked quickly.

"Cassady. Neal Cassady." Neal was quick to help avoid Tamara's question.

"And how long will you be staying?"

"One week."

"Great." The older woman turned to select a room key. "Welcome to Storybrooke," she said as she handed it over.

"Thank you," Neal took the key, before reaching for his bag.

"Here, let me help you with those," the younger woman stepped forward. "My name's Ruby, by the way. My Granny run's this place."

"Nice to meet you, Ruby," Neal greeted. "I'm Neal, and this is my fiance, Tamara."

"Hi," Tamara smiled as she handed her suitcase over to Ruby, but held tightly to the rolled up cloth in her arms.

"So, what brings you to Storybrooke?" Ruby asked as the three of them made their way upstairs.

"I suppose you could say it's a family reunion," Neal answered slowly. "Though, technically it's already happened, we're just extending it to here."

"A family reunion?" Ruby repeated. "Are you part of Emma's family? Is that how you know her?"

"Uh, not quite." Neal answered. "It's complicated."

They soon reached their room and Ruby helped them carry their bags inside.

"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay with us," Ruby announced as the couple looked around. "If you need anything, just let me or Granny know."

"Well, do you wanna unpack?" Neal asked Tamara as Ruby left. "Or go exploring?"

"Unpacking can wait," Tamara granted. "I'm ready to find my inspiration. And you," she told him, "need to find your father."

Neal nodded. But, judging by that hole they saw in the road, Neal didn't like the idea of his fiancé walking around this place on her own. As this town had magic, and had clearly been through trouble, he didn't want her being alone.

"Where will you go?" Neal asked her as they made their way back downstairs. "I mean, you don't know this place. Is it safe to go out on your own?"

"We're from New York, Neal." Tamara told her fiancé confidently. "I'm pretty sure I can handle myself in a small town. Besides," she added as they re-entered the foyer, "I was going to head into the forest. Bound to be lots of opportunities for art in there."

"Art, you say?"

Looking up, Neal was surprised to see a human sized Reul Ghorm.

"Yes," Tamara smiled. "I love painting, and we don't get much forest in New York, so I was going to head there to find inspiration."

"Well then," Reul Ghorm greeted kindly. "You must come to our convent. It's surrounded by woodland, and I'm sure the Sisters would love to have a visitor. I'm Mother Superior." She nodded to introduce herself.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mother Superior," Neal greeted slowly. He wasn't sure if he should be glad to see the fairy who gave him that magic bean or not. Although, if the blue fairy recognised him at all, she gave no indication.

"I'm sorry, sir," Mother Superior added apologetically. "Men aren't allowed at the convent."

"Oh, of course," Neal granted. "That's okay I...have other people to see."

"I would love to come." Tamara answered before turning to her fiancé. "Feel assured now, Neal? How much trouble could I get into at a convent?"

Neal nodded in agreement. Besides, if Reul Ghorm's presence was anything to go by, the 'Sisters' that she spoke of would be the other fairies. And in an isolated convent, Tamara should be well away from any trouble happening in the town.

"Great idea," Neal granted. "I'll see you later then. Got your phone?"

"Always," Tamara smiled as she kissed him goodbye. "See you later."

As Tamara left in Mother Superior's blue car, Neal dialled his own phone.

"Neal?"

"Hey Emma. I'm at Granny's now, and-"

"Get to Mr Gold's pawn shop right now." Emma told him. "Regina knows we're back."

"Where is it?" Neal asked, feeling his chest tighten.

"Just keep following the main street," Emma told him. "You'll see the sign."

"On my way." Neal hung up and headed for his car.

~..~..~..~..

"Neal's coming." Emma told the room as she hung up.

"My dad's here?" Henry asked excitedly.

Emma realised that she couldn't let her son stay in the open, but she didn't want him to be out of reach of their family's protection.

"Henry, you should go into the back room," she told her son. "You're the one Regina wants, and it's best if she doesn't see you here."

"But I can help," Henry insisted, not wanting to be left out.

"You can help by staying out of the way," Rumple told him firmly, and reluctantly, Henry moved into the office.

The shop door burst open and David rushed in.

"What's happened?" He demanded.

"Regina saw Henry and disappeared, presumably to get Cora," Snow summarised. "And now, we are waiting for Gold's son to turn up."

"Shouldn't we leave?" David suggested.

"And go where, may I ask?" Rumple put forward. "My shop has a wide range of magical objects as well as weapons, so it's one of the safest places to be."

"I have a weapon," David unsheathed the sword that hung from his side. He'd lost his gun in their earlier confrontation with Cora, and it felt good to hold his blade again.

"What about us?" Snow asked.

"I can protect my family with magic, I've done it before," Emma said.

"In that case, I do have a couple of other swords in stock," Rumple waved a hand, and Emma picked up one of the swords that appeared on the counter top.

"Got any bows?" Snow asked hopefully.

"No, sorry, dear."

The door opened again and Neal burst in to the room.

"Papa?" He queried, casting his eyes around the room. "What's happened?"

"Bae," Rumple smiled.

"Cora's got the dagger and Regina saw Henry," Emma explained. "So prepare for a visit soon."

"You're Gold's son?" David asked as Neal came forward.

"Yep,' Neal confirmed and, spotting a sword lying on the countertop, he picked it up.

"You should get out of here, Papa," Neal told his father. "If Cora sees you, she'll control you. We can protect you."

"Do you know how to use that thing?" David asked Neal sceptically.

Stepping back, Neal twirled the sword expertly around his body a few times.

"I think I'll be fine," he assured. "Two hundred years of duelling pirates will do that."

"Go out the back, Papa," Neal told his father again. "Cora cannot see you. She'll control you."

"I think she actually means to kill me," Rumple said quietly.

"Not gonna happen," Emma said firmly.

"Of course not, Miss Swan," Rumple told her. "We have a deal, after all."

"Wait, you made another deal with him?" Neal demanded.

"Not now, Neal." Emma said as Rumple moved carefully into the back room.

"So," Snow put forward to Neal. "You're Henry's father?"

"Uh, yeah." Neal answered awkwardly. "And you are?"

"Neal this is my mother, Snow White, and my father, Prince Charming." Emma quickly did the introductions.

"You can call us Mary-Margret and David," Snow told him.

Neal nodded slowly. This was certainly an interesting family reunion.

"You found your parents, Emma," he smiled.

"My family's good at finding people," Emma told him.

Suddenly, the ground moved beneath their feet, knocking everyone of balance. The lights hanging above their heads swayed, causing shadows to lunge out into the store before retreating back behind the objects they'd been hiding behind.

"What was that?" Emma asked.

"It's them," David proclaimed. "They're here."

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Author's note: What did you think of my theory of how Emma's magic works? Could you follow it okay?

After reading the recaps of QID, I would like to say 'well done' to charmedpiper who called that Neal and Emma would use Hook's ship to get back to Storybrooke. I hadn't thought of that until I read the review, and I really liked it, but then realised that I couldn't put it in the story...Oh well!

New Belle Theory!: Has anyone read the interview quotes from the Paleyfest in LA? Eddy says that things are going to get 'a lot more interesting for Mr. Gold' and Emilie De Ravin says that 'Lacey is the opposite of Belle.' As Episode 19 is titled 'Lacey', I'm assuming that Lacey is Belle's cursed name, and that Episode 19 is a Belle/Lacey centered episode. Also, I saw a video of Emilie at the paleyfest, and when she asked what would Gold have to do to win back Belle, she said 'lots and lots of jewellery.' At first, I thought she was just joking, but after learning that Lacey is Belle's opposite, perhaps her cursed self is a very shallow character?

Stay tuned for my next chapter- this will be where the character death will feature.