Author's note: SO sorry for the long wait. Had the worst case of writer's block. Hopefully I'll be back to fairly regular updates from now on.

Chapter 15

Never before has she felt more alone. She lies on her bed for most of the day, depression weighing her down like a bunch of sandbags. A far cry from her former self. She was staring morosely at the ceiling, unconsciously rubbing her flat stomach, as if expecting to feel Emma there. Now that Emma was gone (she couldn't bring herself to say the word dead, even if it was true), she was completely alone.

Even Charming has seemingly abandoned her, though of course that isn't true. In true prince fashion, he spends most of his day helping people, directing teams to fix the castle and find food. When she first found out he was working with Regina, she'd been severely disturbed. In fact, she'd gone after the former Evil Queen with a wicked sharp sword. It had taken several large, burly men to hold her back while Charming and Red explained that Regina was in fact not evil anymore. That she had shown signs of redemption. And Snow cannot argue with the fact that they do work remarkably well together.

She can't really blame him for doing what she's failed to do. She knows how selfish she's being, with everyone suffering. She is a leader. A symbol of hope. And she's letting everyone down by just lying here. Everyone else has surely lost family members and they're probably twice as productive as she is. But Snow cannot bring herself to get up, to stop moping. She might as well be dead. She wishes she was dead. What else does she have to live for?

The weird thing is, after the initial hysteria wore off, the more she lay here and stared at the ceiling, the more this feeling began to spread. This feeling that Emma's somewhere out there. Hurt and needing her mother. But most certainly not dead.


Even before his grandfather threw him that look, Henry knew immediately what he had to do: hide the fact that Storybrooke was not your average town. He races around, unlocking doors and turning on lights. Thankfully, he'd thought to grab the skeleton key that Gold, as the owner of the town, possessed. Although the lights can't make up for the obvious lack of people in town, Henry figures that it's better than nothing.

The most important thing is to open up Granny's since that's where the family will be staying. He closes doors, trying to make it look as though people are staying there. He watches from the window as Gold concludes his tour, leading the road trip family towards the inn.

That's his cue to leave. Hopping down from his perch on the counter, Henry sneaks out the back door just as the family and Gold come through.

It's getting dark out, and Henry shivers as he hugs his sweater close, walking down the quiet streets. More than once, he wishes that he wasn't alone.

He unlocks the door to the cold apartment, wincing at the loud bang of the door as it closes behind him. Usually, it's barely noticeable, but in the absence of his family, it's quite jarring. Setting down his backpack, he opens the cupboard and reaches for the box of cereal he's been eating out of. He stops short as he finds it empty.

His stomach growls loudly as he puts the box down, reality setting in. It's late, he's hungry, and the apartment's devoid of food. Well, not exactly. There is food in the fridge, but it needs to be cooked. Which is something he doesn't know how to do.

But maybe it's always time for a first try? Suddenly determined, Henry roots around until he finds a box of pasta. There are instructions on the back. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Fifteen minutes later, he is nursing several burned fingers. There is hot water splashed all over the ground and pasta scattered on the counter. Resigned, Henry heads to bed. He'll just have to raid the grocery store tomorrow.


The boy, who will lead you to your son. He will be your undoing.

Gold jolts awake in a cold sweat, heart pounding. The covers are tangled around him. A dream. It was just a dream.

More accurately, a memory. As clearly as if it had been yesterday, Gold recalls every bit about that day. The crunch of the forest floor beneath his shoes. The absence of pain from his leg. The casual way he'd shrugged and stated that he'd just kill said boy. Anyone who gets in the way of Rumplestilskin is just asking to be taken down.

His undoing. Also known as his grandson. Someone who, under any normal circumstances, he'd be unable to kill.

But this is no ordinary situation. He and Henry are the only people in town. Gold smiles slowly as he begins to formulate a plan.


The first thing Henry hears is the phone. He stumbles sleepily out of bed and grabs it.

"Hello?" He mumbles.

"Hey, Henry." Says the voice on the other line. "It's your grandpa."

"Um, hi." He says confusedly. "I-is there something wrong?" Never in his life has Gold called him, unless there was some sort of emergency. And since when did Gold refer to himself as his grandfather?"Do you need any more help?"

"Oh, no. Nothing like that." Gold replies. "I was just about to make some food and thought of you. You must be terribly lonely in that apartment of yours."

Henry scratches his head. "Uh, sure?"

"So why don't you join me for breakfast?"

Author's note: Ooohhh what do you think will happen?