A/n: A huge thanks to everyone who reviewed! Most common comments made were different variations of: "Uh-oh." & "Not good."
I got a pretty good chuckle out of it, not going to lie. Anyway, read on!
Disclaimer:Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
"No, I haven't forgotten Graham. You know I haven't. But one wrong turn doesn't deserve another," Emma admonished, looking at Snow wide eyed. "You can't seriously tell me that you want to just let Regina die,"
Snow sighed, looking at Regina's unconscious form in the bed. "No, well maybe," She replied, shaking her head. "It's just… Emma, I have been fighting for so long… over half my life, now, and mostly against Regina. And I'm tired of fighting. And as terrible as it sounds, I'm tired of being the better person. A part of me, a very small, but very loud, part of me thinks that maybe if Regina dies… You're risking your life for the woman who refused you your son, for the woman who tried to prevent your very birth. You risked your life to get back here to Henry – are you really going to give up what you fought so hard for?" She asked, her tone pleading.
"I'm not giving up anything!" Emma exclaimed, looking at Snow as though she was seeing her for the first time. "I'm trying to do what's right!"
"Yeah. Look how far that's gotten us," Snow replied bitterly. "We got trapped in a different world with no memory for twenty-eight years while you were thrown into the foster system. So many good people have died in defense of what's right… The terror she causes never ends. And this, this will be her crowning glory Emma. You go looking for a cure, and you'll never find your way back, and then Regina will have gotten what she wanted all along – to be Henry's only mother."
"You make it sound like she planned this! She's dying Mary-Margaret," Emma pleaded with her to see reason.
"Is she? Cora wants her daughter back – she can't have her if she's dead. No, this is a trick," Snow murmured, her voice growing strong with certainty.
"Not to interrupt, but we are running short on time. You need to make a decision, Emma," Jefferson said, looking at her compassionately.
Emma looked at Snow, who looked back defiantly. She shook her head and turned to Jefferson. "Pack up. We leave for Wonderland in an hour."
Snow closed her eyes briefly, a few tears brimming in the corners of her eyes. She left the room, her eyes downcast, making it clear from her silence what she thought of Emma's decision. Emma swallowed but held her resolve: she knew that what she was doing was right.
"You two will meet me at my shop in an hour, then," Gold said softly, his eyes devoid of any emotion. Whatever his opinion was of Snow's new found philosophy, he didn't share it.
Jefferson and Emma took this as their cue to leave, both heading back towards the waiting room.
Gold remained behind, just for a moment. His hand ghosted lightly over her cheek, gently tracing the black webs that spread from her collarbone up her neck. He inhaled sharply and abruptly withdrew his hand, shaking his head. He'd been without magic too long, become too human since the curse. He regretted many things in his life, and this was starting to be one of them. He had corrupted Regina when she was so young, when she was vulnerable. His own blood. He would not call her his daughter – he did not raise her – but she was part of him. He had seen to that. He hobbled away slowly, looking back at her one more time; he could only think that somehow, things might have turned out differently if he had taken her from her mother as he had intended. The thought that followed, was how that may not have been any better.
Henry and Grace packed her backpack to the gills, both of them attempting to think of what they were going to need. So far, the backpack had a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, a box of matches, a first-aid kit, a notepad of paper, and pens. Henry was in the garage, looking for anything that could be useful. He rifled through drawers, careful to avoid the sharp objects, until he found what he was looking for: a Swiss army knife. His own was at home – a present from Graham, on his tenth birthday – but he couldn't go back for it. He tucked the knife into his pocket and made his way back into the house, pausing when he spotted Grace's softball bat leaning against the wall.
He stared at it, weighing the risk and if it was worth it. Wonderland would be dangerous – beyond a shadow of a doubt – and not just because of the Jabberwocks. But it was also one more thing to carry when they were meant to be traveling light. He hesitated for a moment longer, and realizing that he'd already wasted too much time, grabbed it and carried it into the house; it would have to do until he could get a sword.
"Are we really going to need that?" Grace asked him as he entered the kitchen, staring at the bat uncertainly; she shifted from left to right, concern etched into her features.
"Just in case," Henry told her cheerfully, not wanting to frighten her. Realistically, there was every chance it would have to be used. He told himself he was prepared to do whatever he need to be done to get the cure and bring it back for his mother, and to protect Grace.
"Alright, so we've got food, an umbrella, matches, first-aid kit, and… a weapon," She counted off, hesitating to name her baseball bat as weapon, before moving on. "And paper and pens. Can you think of anything else we need?" She asked, eyeing the front door nervously.
Henry shook his head. "I don't think so. There's an empty spice bottle in the side pocket," He said, showing her where he had placed it. "For the… Jabberwock spit," He said, swallowing the lump forming in his throat.
"Are you sure about this Henry?" She asked, wanting to make sure at least one of them was sure about this – she certainly wasn't. She had faith that Emma wouldn't just let Regina die, but she understood Henrys concern. It was hard to think clearly when someone you loved was in danger.
"Yes," Henry said firmly, his eyes igniting with newly refurbished fire.
Grace hesitated only a moment more before nodding, and slipped the backpack onto her shoulders. She didn't really want to go, but someone had to make sure the idiot didn't do something terribly heroic and foolish. "Then let's go, before your mom gets any worse."
Emma packed her suitcase quickly, but made sure to bring small creature comforts that had been denied to her during her first visit to the Enchanted Forest. A Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and a hairbrush all made the cut. She packed only one more t-shirt and some underwear, deciding to travel light. She surveyed the items in her duffle bag and thought carefully about what – if anything – else to bring.
"Emma?" Ruby called out, rapping lightly on the door; Emma jumped, not even having heard the front door open.
"Come in!" Emma invited, turning back to the task at hand. She settled on a short sleeve tank top, knowing that her black coat would serve to keep her warm if the weather turned cold.
"Snow sent me," Ruby explained as she entered, leaning against that door frame as she watched Emma pack. "She… wanted me to try and talk you out of going." She said, falling silent for a moment.
"You should have called instead; I could have saved you a trip. I'm going, Ruby. I'm not going to let Regina die – no matter what she's done – and have my son lose his mother."
Ruby held up her hands defensively. "Hey, personally, I wouldn't spit on Regina if she were on fire. She has made my life, and the lives of everyone else in this town, a living hell. I'm… done with being good just for goodness sake. But I admire that you aren't, Emma, and you have more reason that some to hate her. I know how little good it would do to talk you out of it now that you've made your mind up. It's just… you do realize that you're Henry's mother right? He doesn't need Regina,"
Emma sighed, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. None of them understood, really understood. She licked her lips after a moment, her mouth and throat suddenly feeling dry. She turned to Ruby and looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before turning back to her dresser. She knelt down and rifled through the bottom drawer, eventually pulling out a battered wooden box. She opened it and pulled out what she was looking for, a folded up piece of paper.
She handed it to Ruby, her eyes downcast, and sat on the edge of the bed. Ruby unfolded the piece of paper gingerly; it was falling apart from the many times it had been folded and opened.
"That," Emma explained, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Is the confirmation of adoption that I received the day the social worker took Henry out of my arms." She sighed and held out her hand to take it back from Ruby, who glanced at it one more time before passing it back to her. Emma folded it back up and slipped it into her back pocket. "I looked at that piece of paper every day for five years, to remind myself that I did the right thing. I was teen, Ruby, nowhere near ready to raise a child – not mentally, emotionally, or financially. I refused to put him in foster care, and would have taken custody of him if – at the last minute – the adoption order hadn't been approved. So, when I received this piece of paper, I was grateful – grateful that my son would have a good life, and go to someone who loved and wanted him and was able to care for him in the way that I couldn't."
Emma breathed a shaky breath and wiped the budding tears from the corners of her eyes. "But it was hard. I had to look at the piece of paper every day to remind myself that I did the right thing – and even knowing Regina, and all the terrible things that she's done, I still think I made the right decision. For as crazy as she is, for all the terrible things that she's done, she loves Henry – just as much as I do. Yes, I am his mother, but so is Regina – and I'm too grateful to her to just let her die because of my selfishness. I can't be selfish, Ruby, not when it affects Henry."
An image of Killian flashed in front of Emmas eyes and though her guilt grew, she remained silent. Ruby listened without comment and, when Emma was finally finished, merely nodded. She didn't agree with Emma about Reginas fate, but she could see Emmas point of view. "Alright," Ruby said at last, nodding. "Well, what are you bringing?"
Emma was grateful for the change of subject, and obligingly showed her what she was packing. Ruby approved the contents of the dufflebag, noting that Emma might consider taking more than her pistol – a sword, perhaps – and offered to keep an eye on Henry while she was gone. Emma accepted the offer and smiled in gratitude, heaving the duffle over she shoulder as she left the apartment to meet Jefferson at the pawn shop.
"So, let me see if I understand this. You want me to go to Wonderland, slay a Jabberwock and retrieve its saliva, and somehow find a way back here before your daughter dies. And, supposing I survive all of that, you will then give me Rumplestiltskins dagger," He clarified, his lip curling in distaste. This entire deal reeked of betrayal.
"Quite. And, as a show of good faith, I will even let Emma Swan live – provided she doesn't get in my way, of course," Cora said, smiling benevolently.
Hook tensed slightly at the mention of Emma, but openly appeared puzzled. "And I would care about what happens to her, why?" He asked, feigning disinterest; as it was, he'd already decided to heed her fathers warning and stay away from both the blonde and her child.
Cora laughed. "Dear Hook, do you take me for a fool?" She questioned, her tone still light but laced with venom. "Your quarters are in shambles, for one thing, and news of your… tryst is already public knowledge among the townsfolk."
"It was just a tryst, nothing more," Killian replied dismissively, shaking his head. "The lass is none of my concern."
"Isn't she?" Cora asked, her smile sharp.
It was as Cora smiled at him that Killian really became aware that there was more going on than he knew about. He frowned. "Not to my knowledge, though now I suspect there is something else I am unaware of?"
"The bracers, Hook, the ones I enchanted so that you and I could climb the beanstalk together?"
"What of them?" He asked, his eyes wandering to the bracer that was still on his wrist; he simply hadn't gotten around to taking it off yet.
"That may not have been the only thing they were enchanted to do," Cora said, her red lips spread into a wide smile.
A chill traveled instantly down his spine. "What did you do?" He asked, his voice low and serious.
"The thing is, dear Captain, I always have a contingency plan. I anticipated the possibility that you would betray me – you are a pirate, after all – and took a little insurance. The bracers were also enchanted with a…well, a spell that incites physical dependency. One bracer contains and maintains the spell, while the other incites the affects. Your bracer contains the spell – the one Miss Swan has in her possession renders her susceptible to the affects," She explained simply, pulling the pins out of her hair and setting them on an end table.
"Which are?" He questioned through gritted teeth.
"Well, should Miss Swan be separated from you by a distance of one league for longer than twelve hours, she will die. It had been intended for you, to keep you from running off with the bean, but it seems fortune smiled on you and Miss Swan ended up with the cursed bracer."
By Killians reckoning it had been about three hours since Emma had left his cabin, and while the town wasn't altogether large, it was still large enough to put her life in danger. He resisted the urge
"She will also be traveling to Wonderland, as I understand it," Cora added, smoothing her skirts. "It seems she harbors some kind of guilt or sense of gratitude towards my daughter, and has decided to do the right thing and help her by retrieving the cure." Cora spat mockingly, her lips pressed together in a thin line. "Work with her to retrieve the cure, or don't – just keep her out of my way. You'll receive the dagger and Miss Swans life as payment. Deal, Captain?" She asked him, crossing her ankles primly; Killian knew that there wasn't really a choice, and that the question was merely a courtesy. She would find other ways to make him dance to her tune if he didn't accept this deal.
"Of course," He said smoothly, verbally accepting the deal. He highly doubted that Cora would keep her end of the bargain, but playing along would buy him time. "Now, how am I to get there? To the best of my knowledge, there are no magic beans left to our disposal."
Cora stood and folded her hands, and gave him a curious smile. "Tell me Captain, in all your travels, have you ever heard of a Wonder-Rabbit?"
"No," He said, and gestured his arms. "I have a ship made of enchanted wood."
"Well, travel via the hole of a Wonder-Rabbit is… quite different."
"I see. And, tell me," He said, stepping closer to her. "Just how did the hole of a 'Wonder-Rabbit', which I can only presume comes from Wonderland – bloody imaginative name, that – get here in Storybrooke?" He asked, his eyes gleaming with knowledge; it was a question that didn't really need answering, but he felt that Cora needed reminding that he wasn't just a pretty face.
Cora merely smiled.
A/n: Sorry this took so long everyone! Life has been crazy since I've been home. And I'm sorry this is so short. Another chapter should be along shortly (fingers crossed!), certainly within a week. I lost all the story notes I had for this story, so I need to take some time to re-organize the few notes (from various scraps of paper) that I have and fill in everything else. Next chapter is going to be a very, very big chapter! We get our first look at Wonderland from three different points of view, an interlude by Snow and Charming, and the meat of the story.
Please leave a review and let me know what you think!