Chapter two: Change Arrives

Regina stood in her room flipping through the pages of Henry'sbook. She paused on a page depicting theEvil QueenatSnow WhiteandPrince Charming's wedding, with Prince Charming'sswordin mid-flight toward her. When she turns the page, Regina finds that the last several pages have been ripped from the book.

She sighed in frustration. How could there even be a book like this?

Straightening her shoulders she walked over to Henry's room and entered.

"Henry." She spoke, "where are the missing pages?"

Henry shrugged, not looking at her as he gathered his things for school. "Its an old book, stuffs missing. What do you care?"

"I care because you think I'm some evil queen. And that hurts me, Henry. I'm your mother." She said, a hint of hurt in voice. She moved to touch her son's face but he moved away before she could. She withdrew her hand.

Henry shook his head, "No you're not."

Regina huffed, "Well, then, who is? That woman you brought here? I don't like what she or this book is doing to you. Thankfully both are no longer an issue."

Henry shuffled his feet, inwardly smirking.

Narrowing her eyes at him and his sudden change of body language. "What?"

Before Henry could answer, the clock tower chimed in the distance. Shocked, Regina turned her head toward the sound. Taking advantage of her surprise, Henry grabbed his backpack and rushed out of the room.

Emma sat at the counter of Grannys diner, reading the newpaper. The mayor had paid her a visit that morning and not only threatened Emma, but told her that Henry was in therapy. This was news to Emma and while she did think the whole fairytale thing was ridiculous, she didn't think the kid had mental health issues.

Suddenly, Ruby sat a cup of hot cocoa in front of her, "Here ya go."

Emma looked at the cocoa and quirked a brow, "Thanks. . .but I didn't order that."

"Yeah I know." Ruby shrugged, "Looks like you have an admirer." She nodded her head in the direction behind Emma.

Emma turned to see Graham sitting in a booth. Sharing a look with Ruby, Emma set the paper down and walked over to the sheriff.

Graham looked up at her and smiled, "Ah, so you decided to stay after all."

"You're observant." Emma noted, "That's good for a cop."

"That's good news for our tourist business, bad for our local signage." Emma gave him a look,"It's- it's a joke... because you ran over our sign..."

"Look, the cocoa was a nice gesture, and I am impressed that you guessed that I like cinnamon in my chocolate, 'cause most people don't, but I am not here to flirt, so, thank you, but no thank you." Emma told him and set the mug of cocoa on the table.

Graham shook his head, "I didn't send it."

"I did." Emma looked over to see Henry standing up by the booth behind them. And of course, Killian Jones sat in the booth with an amused smirk on his lips.

"You hear all that?" She asked.

Killian nodded, "Aye. That was eh, quite comical there Swan."

She shot him a glare, "Shut up." She turned to Henry, "And don't you have school or something?"

"Duh, I'm eleven." He responded, "Walk me."

"See you later." Killian called as she and Henry walked out of the diner.

Killian chuckled softly before standing up and slipping into the booth across from Graham. Graham was ridiculous when he tried to flirt and Killian loved to tease his best friend about it. "Nice flirting there mate, but aren't you otherwise involved with the mayor?"

The cop shot him a glare, "Yes, I suppose you're right there."

Killian frowned at his tone, "Graham-"

Graham sighed, "Look kil you're my best friend, have been for as long as I can remember. Let's not let a woman ruin that eh?"

Killian nodded and smiled, "Aye. Now buy me some breakfast, I'm starved."

"So what's the deal with you and your mom?" Emma asked Henry as they walked down the street.

"It's not about us, it's about her curse." Henry stated. "We have to break it. Luckily, I have a plan. Step one: identification. I call it, "Operation Cobra"."

"Cobra?" Emma asked in confusion, "But that has nothing to do with fairytales."

"Exactly. It'll throw the evil queen off the trail." He told her.

Wow, he's really getting into this whole fairytale thing.

"Right, so, everyone here is fairytale character, they just don't know it." Emma said.

"That's the cure. Time's been frozen.. Until you got here." He stated.

Hmm. Emma vegan to take a bite of the Apple she had been carrying. Henry noticed her movement, "Hey where'd you get that?" He asked suddenly.

"Your mom." She responded.

"Don't eat that!"He said taking the from her and throwing it over his shoulder.

"Oh, okay, um, alright." Emma stuttered in surprise before getting back on subject. "What about their pasts?"

"They don't know. It's a haze to them. Ask anyone anything and you'll see."

"So... for decades, people have been walking around, in a haze, not aging, with screwed up memories, stuck in a cursed town that kept them oblivious."

"I knew you'd get it!"He said as they began nearing his school. "That's why we needyou, you're the only one who can stop her Curse."

"Because I'm the daughter of snow white and Prince charming?" Emma checked.

"Yes!" He was happy she was finally getting it. "And right now,wehave the advantage. My mom doesn't know that." He unziped his backpack."I took out the end,"He takes out the pages from his book and handed them to Emma."the part with you in it."

Emma looked at a page containing an illustration of Prince Charming placing baby Emma in thewardrobe, the name "Emma" clearly visibly on the baby blanket. Emma swallowed at the sight of the familiar blanket.

"See?" Henry urged. "Your momisSnow White!"

Emma looked up from the pages and sighed, "Kid. . ."

"Look,I know the hero never believes at first, if they did, it wouldn't be a very good story. If you need proof, take them, read them. But whatever you do,don'tlet her see these pages. They're dangerous. If she finds out who you are... then it would be bad." As they finally arrived at the school, Emma stopped walking while Henry kept going. "I gotta go but I'll find you later and we can get started. I knew you'd believe me!" Henry said with a wide grin before running towards his school.

"I never said I did!" She called after him.

"Why else would you be here?" He yelled back before turning and running towards the school.

As he ran, he passed Mary Margaret who was walking towards Emma.

"It's nice to see him smile again." She told Emma, stopping in front of her.

"I didn't do anything."

"You stayed." Mary Margaret said. "So, does the mayor know you're still in town?"

Emma snorted, "Oh she knows alright. What's her deal anyway? She's not a great people person, how did she get elected?"

"She's been Mayor as long as I can remember."

Emma tilted her head slightly, Henry's words from earlier danced at the front of her brain.

It's a haze to them. Ask anyone anything and you'll see.

"No one's ever been brave enough to run against her." Mary Margaret continued. "She inspires quite a bit of.. well, fear. I'm afraid I only made that worse by giving Henry that book and now he thinks she's the Evil Queen."

"And what about the wanna be deputy?"Emma asked curiously, "The Jones guy. He seems pretty close to Henry."

The teacher smiled, "Killian has known Henry all of Henry's life. He works down at the docs but spends a lot of time with Sheriff Graham. Those two are practically brothers." She chuckled. "Easy a bit easy on the eyes too." She added, smiling slyly.

Emma snorted, "A bit infuriating is the better description." She mumbled before shaking her head and crossing her arms. "Who does Henry think you are? In his book."

The raven haired woman chuckled at the not so subtle change of subject, "Its silly. . ."

Emma shrugged, "I just got five minutes of silly. Lay it on ne."

"He thinks I'm Snow white."

That made Emma pause. That would make Mary Margaret her mother, according to Henry.

"Who does he think you are?" Mary Margaret asked curiously.

"Oh uh, I'm not in the book." She lied before quickly changing the subject once again. She seemed to be good at that. "Can I ask you a favor? Regina mentioned the kid's in therapy; do you know where I can find the doctor?"

"Sheriff." Graham said as he answered the phone to the police station. "Ah, hello Archie." He paused and raised a brow. "What- oh uh, okay. I'll check it out." He hung up the phone.

"Trouble?" Killian asked leaning against the door to the shreriff office.

"Archie has just informed me that Miss Swan has stolen Henry's files." Graham replied.

Killian snorted in disbelief but paused when he saw the seriousness on Grahams face. "You're serious?"

Graham nodded and stood, grabbing his coat. "Afraid so, mate."

Killian crossed his arms, "I don't believe that."

Graham shrugged, "Neither do I, kil. Let's go."

Both men left and headed straight for Granny's.

"Hey there... if you're concerned about the "Do Not Disturb" signs, don't worry; I've left them alone." Emma said when she opened the door to her room and saw both Graham and Killian standing there. "Uh oh, This looks official."

"Afraid so love." Killian said with a sigh. Emma noted that he didn't seem all too happy to be there.

"Were here about Dr. Archibald Hopper. He mentioned you got into a bit of a row with him earlier?" Graham asked and Emma saw Killian roll his eyes.

Emma looked unimpressed, "Um, no."

"I'm shocked, too, given your shy, delicate sensibilities." Emma gave him a look. Graham continued, "He says you demanded to see Henry's files and when he refused you came back and stole them."

"What? No, he gave them to me."

"Alas, he's telling a different tale. May I check your room? Or must I get a search warrant?"

Emma opened the door wider, walking over to her bed and gesturing to the files spread on it. "This what ya looking for?"

Graham walked over and picked up the files while Killian leaned against the door frame.

The sheriff glanced at the papers and sighed, "Well, you're very accommodating. But, I'm afraid, Miss Swan, you're under arrest. Again."

"Graham." Killian protested as Graham began to handcuff the blonde.

Emma went along, choosing not to resist. "You know I'm being set up, right?"

"Yes." Killian grumbled under his breath.

"And whom, may I ask, is setting you up?" Graham inquired.

"Regina." Both Emma and Killian said at the same time.

After getting over the initial surprise of Mary Margaret bailing her out, Emma set out to find a chainsaw. When she was finally able to get her hands on one, she headed straight to the mayor's house.

Regina sat working at her desk when she suddenly heard a chainsaw coming from outside. She stood and looked out the window at her apple tree to see Emma sawing off a branch. Enraged, Regina rushed out to her backyard.

"What the he'll do you think you're doing?" Regina yelled in anger.

"Picking apples." The blonde responded as she dropped the chainsaw on the ground.

Unable to believe what she just witnessed she said, "Are you out of your mind?"

"No,youare if you think a shoddy frame job's enough to scare me off. You're gonna have to do better than that. If you come after me one more time, I'm coming back for the rest of this tree. Because, sister, you have noideawhatIam capable of." Emma said as she started walking away."Your move."

Glaring at her booted car, Emma sighed and ran a hand through her hair. This just keeps getting better and better.

When her phone rang, she inwardly groaned as she pulled it out of her pocket. "Yeah?"

"Ms. Swan," the mayor started over the phone. "I'd be happy to continue demonstrating my power, but in my writing I'm guessing your resolve to stay is only growing?"

Oh yeah. "You have no idea." Emma grumbled.

"Well then. I think it's time we made peace. Why don't you drive over to my office." Emma slams her car door."Or walk. . .whatever suits you."

Emma hung up and rolled her eyes, beginning her walk to the mayor's office.

Killian sat in his office at the docs filling out paperwork for a lease on a boat. He hated doing desk work, he'd rather be out on the water in open fresh air, but alas, the paperwork paid the bills.

He suddenly heard the sound of footsteps running towards the door to the office and before he knew it, the door burst open. Henry stood there breathing heavily and with tears in his eyes. The sight had immediately shook Killian out of his initial shock.

"Henry?" He started, standing up and walking over to the boy.

The boy hugged him tightly, tears streaming down his cheeks. "She thinks I'm crazy." He cried.

Killian knelt down and Henry wrapped his arms around his neck.

"I though she believed me." He said.

"Who? Who called you crazy?" Killian asked softly. Seeing Henry cry like this was breaking Killians heart. I swear if Regina was the one to cause this. . .

"Emma."

That threw Killian off. Emma? Somehow he didn't quite believe that Swan would just tell Henry she thought he was crazy. No, something else must've happened.

Killian held the boy for a few more moment until he started to calm down. "You wanna tell me what happened?"

Henry sniffed and nodded, his eyes puffy from crying. "Can I sit in your chair?"

Killian chuckled, "Of course, boss man." He ruffled Henry's brown hair, causing a small smile to appear on the boys face. He had always thought of Killian as a father-figure to him.

Sitting up in Killians big leather chair, Henry held his book tightly. He was silent for a moment before telling Killian everything that happened. By the time he was finished, he had tears in his eyes again.

Killian, on his part, had a bunch of questions but he would question Swan later. Right now, he had an eleven year old boy to comfort.

"Lad, look at me." Killian directed and Henry did so, "You are not crazy." He said earnestly. "Now I know for a fact that Emma doesnt think that either."

"But-" Henry started.

"-Ah." Killian cut him off, "let me finish. Now, there are a lot of things that could have happened. A lot of things you could have heard. But I know, that she does not think you are crazy."

"How do you know that?" Henry asked.

Killian smirked, "She's a bit of an open book, you could say."

Henry looked down, "I just thought she believed me."

Killian sighed, "Some people just don't know how to believe, Henry. It's-its a difficult thing to do sometimes."

Killian looked at the time, "Its almost time for your session with Archie." He noted, "How about I walk you and we can get some ice cream when you get done, hm?"

Henry smiled and hopped out of the chair. He hugged Killian again, "Thanks Killian."

Killians heart warmed, "No problem lad."

Emma walked down the hallway towards Archie's office, stopping in her tracks when she saw Killian sitting outside. Of course he's here.

"What are you doing here, Jones." She asked.

Killian looked at her in surprise. "Could ask you the same thing."

"I uh, I need to talk to Henry." She told him.

"Ah, yes. The lad was quite upset earlier when he came to see me." Killian told her, standing up and crossing his arms.

"He went to you?" Emma quirked a brow.

"Well, I'd like to think Henry and I are close friends."

"Friends with an eleven year old?"

"Tell me Swan, is there a point you are trying to make here?"

God he was infuriating. She just wanted to slap that stupid smirk off his face, maybe punch it off. She didn't care. "No. I just wanna talk to Henry."

"What did happen today?" Killian asked, " He came to my office crying his eyes out."

That made Emma's heart squeeze. "Regina tricked me." She growled before telling the handsome British man everything. By the time she was done with her side of the story, Killian was well and truly pissed with the mayor as well.

"Bloody woman." He growled, "How could she do that to her own son?"

Emma shook her head, "I don't know, but right now I need to talk to Henry." She said before opening the office door and walking in.

"Miss Swan." Archie started, "Look, I can explain. The Mayor forced me-"

Emma interrupted him, "I know. Don't worry about it. I get it."She turned to address Henry, "Henry, I'm sorry."

Henry shook his head, "I don't wanna talk to you."

"Miss Swan, if she knew that you were here. . ." Archie warned.

"To hell with her." Emma said angrily.

"Here here!" Killian said from the doorway.

Emma shot him a look before sitting on the couch next to Henry. "Henry, there is one simple reason I stayed here—you. I wanted to get to knowyou."

"You think I'm crazy." Henry said.

"No, I think the Curse is crazy. And it is." Emma sighed, "But that doesn't mean that it isn't true. It is a lot to ask anyone to believe in, but there are a lot of crazy things in this world. So, what do I know? Maybe it is true."

Henry looked confused, "But you told my mom-

"-What she needed to hear. What I do know... is that if the Curse is real, the only way to break it is by tricking the Evil Queen... into thinking that we are nonbelievers. 'Cause, that way, she's not on to us. Is that what Operation Cobra was all about? Throwing her off the trail?"

Operation Cobra? Killian thought to himself. Henry had mention that before when Mary Margaret was bailing Emma out but when questioned about it, Henry would give in. Well, he'd just have to ask Emma about it at a later time.

"That brilliant!" Henry said in amazement.

"I read the pages, and Henry, you're right—the are dangerous. There is only one way to make sure that she never sees them."She took the pages and placed them into the fireplace, burning them."Now we have the advantage."

Henry hugged her, "I knew you were here to help me!"

Emma pulled back from the embrace and smiled at him, "That's right kid, I am. And noting is gonna stop that."

Henry hugged her again and Killian smiled at the sight.

After a few more seconds, Henry pulled away and looked over at Killian. "Can we get ice cream now?"He asked.

Killian chuckled at looked at Emma, "What do ya say, eh Swan?"

Emma smiled and looked at Henry, "Yeah why not?" She stood up and glanced over at Killian, "You're paying."

Killian smirked, "Of course."

Archie watched the trio leave with a large smile on his face. That. . .that right there, was what Henry really needed. He didn't need someone to believe his little curse. He needed someone to believe in him. And from where Archie was standing, it looked like Henry was finally getting that.

Naomi flipped through the channels on the tv as she sat on the hotel bed. Unfortunately, she was currently in Thailand so everything was in Thai. Of course, she knew some of the language since she and her father had been in the country for almost a month, but she still preferred English.

She sighed and clicked off the tv.

She wondered what her brother was doing. She wondered if he was anything like her. We're they identical? Did he have green eyes and blond hair like her? Did he know about the curse? Did he even know about her? Was he happy?

She frowned at the last question. Was he? Her dad had told her that the evil queen adopted him. Was he safe? Naomi felt worried. Maybe she should try to convince August to take her to storybrooke. She wanted, no, needed to meet her brother.

She nodded to herself, she would give it s few more days and then she would convince her dad to take her to storybrooke.

They had a lot to do.

So that's the second episode re-write! Let me know what y'all think!

Naomi is definitely concerned and will be making her move soon!

Thanks for reading! Reviews and suggestions are always welcome!