Chapter 21

How to be Broken

She places her arm around Henry, holding him close, she couldn't help holding him whenever she could, reminding herself over and over again that he was safe and sound, that no one would take away the people she loved. Emma just wanted to squeeze him and never let him go.

"I'm fine Mom." He says with a sigh of irritation. "All three of you, seriously, I'm OK." There constant attention has probably been getting on his nerves. "When are we going to finish Operation Lizard and start on Operation Seahorse?" He asked.

Emma looked at Lily in question. "Operation Lizard concludes when we pick out our new home." She states in explanation. "Operation Seahorse is…"Lily trailed off as Henry stepped in.

"Killian gave me Violet's earring. I know you think she's dead, but she isn't." He insists. "I'm going to find her." He states boldly. "Mom promised me she'd help me track her once we were settled."

Emma looks at him sadly, "Henry-" She starts.

"I told her that you are the Dark One, she saved Killian. We owe her to at least try don't we?" He demands. "The Sorcerer wouldn't let the Queen just kill a teen right? That's what Killian said, maybe they moved her and she was trying to send a message or-"

She sees Lily trying to put him down gently but Emma stops her.

"Alright Henry, count me in." She says simply. "Operation Seahorse is a go." Her boy grins.

Lily looks at her, sees the familiar telltale signs of a disagreement over their son. "You're always preaching about hope, I got my miracle, my boys were alive, have hope Lilith." She teases. Lily scowls at the use of her full name, but nods in agreement all the same.

"First I'm finding us a damn house." She states plainly. "I'm so freaking tired of these stupid tents, I swear, I think one of those guys is always peaking when I change." She says bitterly, looking at her maps, biting her tongue in deep concentration.

(Killian's maps, Henry informs her, Killian had a ton of cool maps)

"These are the places I narrowed down for our next house; I'm thinking something not made out of wood?" She says with a smirk. "I have no idea how we lasted so long considering..." She snickers, gesturing to herself. Lily purposely makes her eyes flash green.

Henry bursts into chuckles at that, like always.

"Remember when you got that cold? You almost burned off Grandma's eyebrows!" He laughs. Lily leans in close.

"Want to know a secret?" She whispered. "I actually did, Grandma just used a glamour spell to make it look like I didn't." She replies. Henry howls in laughter.

It makes Emma feel slightly jealous, wondering what other silly story mother and son share. She had a handful, but not nearly enough.

"I'm going with Mom to check them out; Gina's agreed to watch out for Henry until we get back." She explains, looking back at the maps.

Emma comes closer, looking at the designated spots, they look like nice villages, none have strong allegiances for or against the Queen, as far as she's heard. Henry could have a nice home in any one of them.

"Why don't Killian and I come with you?" She suggests. It would be nice for the two of them to have an adventure that wasn't life or death. Their time walking around that village before everything went to hell was amazing; they could do with some more of that fun.

"Um…are you sure? Isn't there…something else you should be doing?" Lily asks, her voice tense, obviously beating around the bush.

"No, why?" Emma asks, turning towards her, arms crossed.

"I just…assumed." She tries, but Emma can tell there's something more, something Lily isn't saying.

"Lily…" She says. "What is it?"

Stubborn as always, she shakes her head. "Talk to your sailor." She says finally.

"Lily, do you not want me to come with you?" Emma asks.

Lily freezes, shaking her head quickly. "Of course I want you to come with me! It's been forever since we were just…Lily and Emma. But listen to me when I tell you, there is something much more important that you should be doing." She snaps. The woman sighs, taking her leave, making up some excuse about checking on her mother.

Emma shrugs, deciding that whatever has Lily in a mood shouldn't be too important. She just had to settle some unfinished business and then she could sail off with Killian, go somewhere her parents would never find her. She had her happily ever after in her grasp! Whatever Lily thinks should be occupying Emma's time probably isn't important if she can't even remember it.

But Killian also had something to tell her, something that had been holding him back from committing to loving her, maybe it was about how pale he was, why he still looked exhausted. She knows that whatever it is, they can work through it. There was nothing that was unforgiveable when someone loves you.

She just had to find Killian, tell her that they were going to help Lily, explain their plan, and all would be well. However, her sailor isn't waiting outside the tent, so she peeks inside.

The tent is empty, he'd gone in here hadn't he? She couldn't help but wonder where he'd-

Shoot. Emma says silently, patting her pocket, feeling the purple bottle still in her pocket.

Emma still had Killian's medicine. She should probably go find him and get him to take it. She exited the tent wondering which way he went.

"Looking for Killian?" Regina asked, making Emma turn at the sound of her voice. She nodded.

"He headed towards the lake with Zelena." She explained. Emma looked at her in confusion. Why would Killian be going there? And with Zelena? Regina crossed her arms in irritation.

"Do you know why?" She asked the bandit.

"Nope." She said in annoyance. "Apparently it's 'none of your business sister dear.' " She said mocking the red head's voice. "I love my sister, but lately she's been getting on my last nerve. I know she's stressed about-" She shook her head, fumbling with something in her pocket. "Doesn't matter." She said begrudgingly. Emma assumes Regina had realized exactly who she was about to vent to before walking towards the food instead.

Emma looked back at the path with wonder.

Should she follow?

She did. She just wanted to make sure he was alright. Emma didn't trust Zelena one bit, especially after that odd interaction earlier that morning.

It didn't take long before she heard his voice talking softly.

"Why Killian? What's taking so long?" It was Zelena's voice. She sounded frustrated and angry. What did she have to be angry at Killian over?

"I know, I know. I'll tell her, I promise." Killian replied quickly. "I just need a little more time." He insisted.

Did everyone but her know his secret? Why had he told her? It didn't make sense.

"I'm tired of waiting Killian. I'm tired of hiding." Emma's heart dropped, she shook her head. It wasn't what it sounded like, she'd made the mistake of jumping to conclusions before and she wouldn't now, she'd just come out and ask them, him, what was going on. That's what she would do.

She stepped form her obscured position, closer to the sound of their voice.

"I'll tell her today." Killian said, she saw him there, standing too close to her. "I promise love."

Love. He always called her love, her and her alone.

Zelena was smiling and then, she kissed him.

Her jaw dropped. Emma wanted to go over there and pull her by the hair off her Killian! What made her think that he would just-

Killian didn't push her away, he was smiling, holding her tightly, just like she held her, just wasn't possible, it wasn't-

They parted and Killian was smiling, his forehead pressed against hers. "I'll tell her the truth, that I love you. That I'm sorry for hurting her, but she isn't my true love, she isn't you."

Emma couldn't watch anymore, she couldn't take it. She ran. She ran right to Lily, tears building in her eyes.

"Emma what-" She shook her head, she couldn't talk about this, not now. "I'm guessing you know." Lily said sadly. She nodded.

"I want to leave." She said softly. "I want us all to leave." Lily looked at her in confusion.

"Leave? Why?" She asked in shock.

"I can't watch him. I can't watch this." She admitted. "Please, can we leave?" Lily still didn't look like she understood. Her eyes were narrowed, brow furrowed in confusion. How could she not understand? Killian was cheating on her. It was Emma's right to be upset!

He lied to her.

He was just like everyone else.

"Emma, you can't run away. You have to fight!" She urged. "Fight for him! You can fix this, I know you can, if anyone can fix this, it's you!" She met Lily's eyes evenly.

"Lily. Stop. You're not going to change my mind. I'm leaving. I just hoped…that you'd come with me, you Mal, Henry. Please. I need you." Lily sighed, giving a small nod, but Emma saw she was disappointed. Did she really think that Emma should fight for someone who didn't want her? It just made no sense. She was better than that.

She also thought Killian loved her so who was she to be one to see the truth? She went to their tent where they'd-

He'd slept with her while being in love with Zelena. How could he do something so terrible? Where was all that Good Form he kept preaching? She wanted to get her things and leave. She hoped she didn't see his lying face again.

"Swan something distressing has happened" He said interrupting her thoughts.

She didn't want to hear it, the excuses the reasons. None of it, especially when he pleaded with her to stay, to watch him with her, exchanging sweet words, kissing, laughing, loving each other.

And when Emma Swan was hurt, well, she reacted.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She appeared in Lily's tent, hoping Killian wouldn't chase after her here.

(or maybe that's what she wanted, Emma wasn't sure)

Lily entered momentarily, arguing with Henry over the fact that they were leaving. She could hear Lily being vague until they saw her. Henry bolted towards her.

"Why are we leaving? And why can't Killian come with us?" He insisted. "Why are we running away?" She sighed. This is why she didn't get involved with people, why she didn't let them know things about her life, because it made her feel like this.

"He just isn't Henry." She said simply, wiping away her tears. "Please don't ask any more."

He didn't. He just reached in, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I'm sorry mom." He said. "Don't be sad." She shook her head.

"I'm not Henry. Everything is going to be ok." She promised. She would make it ok. It was a wonder how much they had to pack with only having stayed a few days.

She watched him as they packed up; Mal had a surprising amount of ingredients, all of which had to be labeled before poofing or they might exploud or something. Just as they finished, she spotted Lily talking with Killian. Somehow seeing her friend take his side when all she needed was her support right now irked her.

Lily was her friend.

"We're ready!" She called. Lily looked over towards her, saying a few final words to her s- to him, before returning to her. She whipped her eyes before storming ahead.

"Come on Emma, if we're running away then we may as well get on with it." She snapped, grabbing Henry's hand.

Emma didn't bother to try and decode why she was angry now. Lily would get over it, he always did. She was just too tired.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lily however, didn't get over it, not after they traveled to each of the three villages, scoped them out, found one they all liked. Not after they built them a stone house and linked a new concealment spell over the place, tighter and more intricate than the last.

If she spoke to Emma, it was bitterly, disappointed. It got worse when Lily got letters from Regina. Whatever the two were talking about, it always seemed to get Lily angry at her.

It just made no sense to her. Did Lily really want her to forgive a man who was cheating on her? Who did not love her? What was the point of that?

"Why are you acting so cruel Lily?" She asked suddenly, finally reaching her breaking point. Mal had taken Henry out for some shopping. The two seemed to sense that something was amiss between them more than just their usual squabbles, always going out of their way to get away before they started. "I thought we made some sort of peace before? I thought-"

Lily's eyes flared. "Well you thought wrong. I just- I just can't believe you!" She seethed "You've made a lot of messed up choices since I've known you but this? How could you- How could you leave behind the man that you love?" She demanded.

"Killian? You're really defending him?" She snapped back. "Of course you'd take his side!" She snapped.

"Hell yeah I'm taking his side, he shouldn't have lied to you, sure, but he didn't deserve to just be left behind! He was so scared of your reaction, and instead of figuring something out, instead of fixing things-" She urged. "You ran away. Like you always do!"

Emma surged forward. "You're damn right I ran away!" She snapped. "But what right do you have to judge me? Have you ever been in love? Do you know what it's like to feel this way? Like someone ripped out your heart and shattered it?" She demanded. "And then they put it back and now I'm walking around with these jagged pieces everywhere!" She screamed, the ground shook as her magic surged uncontrollably.

"You're right." Lily whispered, eyes widened suddenly. Emma raised her hand to her cheek, feeling furious tears streaming down, Emma wondered when they'd started. "I've never been in love." She whispered. "But I do know what love is, I feel it in my chest every day. What you two have, its real, I just don't know why you can't fight for it."

"Because he doesn't love me. He proved it when he didn't just tell me the truth, I can't forgive him for this!" She roared angrily.

"For lying?" Lily asked in disbelief. It was only partly that, only partly the fact that he couldn't just tell her that while she was in a comma, or possibly before that, he'd fallen head over heels in love with the red head queen of the merry men. If he'd told her, she'd understand, she'd let him go, just like she'd tried to do when she mistakenly thought he was fated to be with Anna.

But that's not what he did. No, he'd lied let her build up these ideas in her head, a cabin like this one, maybe on an island with a boat, ship. His ship. Somewhere that Snow could never find them. They'd go on sailing trips often get supplies, she imagined so much for them…

"For making me fall in love, for believing in a happy ending just to rip it away." She said sadly. "Villains don't get happy endings, and he should have just left me to believe that! He shouldn't have made me think otherwise just to rip it away!" She crumbled onto one of the chairs in Lily's new house, head in her hands.

She couldn't get the image of them kissing, Killian and Zelena, it was disturbing, twisted, wicked.

"Emma." Lily said eyes fading, hand on her shoulder, then moving towards her face. "Look at me." She did.

"You deserve a happy ending." She said softly. "I'm sorry I was upset at you, you were right, I should have comforted you." Lily began. "I was jealous, I'm always a little jealous of you, you know that." She said with a chuckle. "You found love, not once, not twice, but three times, the first gave you Henry and now you had Killian, I just couldn't understand how you could walk away from it a second time." Her friend enveloped her into a hug. "As much as this hurts, the one thing I know without a shadow of a doubt is that a man isn't your happy ending." She insisted. "Family, family is your happy ending."

She smiled, before it faded and she found herself sobbing uncontrollably into Lily's shoulder as she soothed her.

"Lily?" She asked, parting, rubbing her eyes. "Can you help me with something?"

The brunette nodded. "Of course. Best friends forever remember?" She teased light heartedly.

"I remember." Emma said softly, a thought sudden;y occurring to her. Family. "How much do you know about lineage testing magic?"

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"Princess Leia!" exclaimed a voice.

She'd been in town two days, biding her time, just waiting.

"Milady Belle." She responded with a smile, taking her hand that was emphasized with the large diamond that made the woman quite proud. "Lovely to see you again."

The brunette smiled and nodded, "I'm so sorry with how the night ended, The Dark One ruining all of our fun." She pouted. Emma held her polite smile.

"Those things can't be helped. I meant to return sooner, but my mother requested my presence home for a short bit." She explained.

"Alderaan correct?" Belle asked, smile widening a fraction. "I can't seem to find it in any of my maps." She mentioned carelessly.

Emma chuckled. "It's not usually on maps." She supplied. "Too small." Emma looked at the boy in Belle's company. He grinned. "Is that the birthday boy?" She asked.

Belle's eyes brightened as she picked up the boy. He looked over at Emma now that he was facing her.

"Youw Henwy's auntie!" He exclaimed. "Did you find his Mama?" Emma nodded.

"I did." She said softly.

"I'd be lost without my Mama, Daddy says that family is everything." He stated quickly. The boy seemed to have a boundless energy. He turned to Belle. "Can I go down now?" He asked. "You pwomised me cake!" He insisted.

"I will, I just have to run a quick errand sweetie." She said tapping his nose, making the blonde haired boy giggle.

"I can take him." Emma said suddenly, trying not to seem too hopeful. Belle looked at her, her smile wavering uncertainly.

"Please Mama! Pwetty please with lots and lots of chocolate on top?" The boy insisted, bouncing in place, hopeful green eyes.

Eyes that seemed to be capable of breaking anyone's will.

"Ok Sweetie, but stay close to Leia here alright?" He nodded squealing with delight before grabbing her hand. It was soft just like Henry's was at this age. He had that same chin as he did.

The boy chatted endlessly about anything from his favorite horses, to food to new things happening in his home.

"Mama's lady Clowinda left." He explained. "She's Mama's favowite but she's not sad." Emma snickered at his matter of fact-ness of his words. "She says that she's off having fun!"

Emma nodded. Emma remembered the woman, Clorinda, she'd been at the party, hanging off Belles every word, not that she was surprised.

(It was a common occurrence of ladies in waiting.)

"That's kind of your mother." She said with a grin, patting his gold locks. Emma couldn't help but compare the shade to her own.

"She got a pwesent too and it wasn't even her biwthday! Can I get a pwesent when it's not my biwth day?" Neal asked. Emma nodded as they arrived, buying him whichever one he'd like.

"Cupcake!" The boy squealed.

"Are you sure?" Emma asked. "Not one of the larger-" The boy shook his head.

"Cupcake!"

She bought him the cupcake, watching him messily eat it until his entire face was covered in yellow frosting. He giggled.

"Clowinda says that little things awe impowtant." He said with a knowing nod. "Like her present, it was teeny tiny!" She took a handkerchief, trying to clean him up as he tried to demonstrate with his hand.

"What was it?" She asked innocently. Emma didn't want to stop talking to the boy that was possibly her brother. She wanted to hear him laugh that same way her father did those few times she heard it.

"Six-leaf clovers." Emma stopped abruptly at his words.

A six leaf clover? Why would a lady in waiting get something like that? That was powerful magic. It gave her a bad feeling. If this was her little brother, than she wanted to make sure he wasn't in any danger, and despite her own dark magic, she didn't want him anywhere near anyone who used Oz magic, it was nearly as bad as Wonderland magic.

"Who gave her the present Neal?" She said softly.

"Papa."

Hopefully this chapter makes a bit of sense. It's hard sometimes to see if what makes sense in my head makes sense on paper. Let me know if clarification is needed.

I received a lot of reviews for that last chapter, which always makes me happy. Reviews keep me motivated.

On a side note, Freeing the Witch and The Purple Fairy were added to a Community, I just noticed now. I just find that funny.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but The Purple Fairy will have 27 chapters and an Epilogue.

So Guest Reviews:

Anna: Sorry, not a dream. Just a necessary evil to get certain things to happen, certain discoveries to be made, etc. Neal will be important just nothing so direct as of now, but that is a pretty cute idea. I love Zelena too. I dropped massive hints this chapter. I'm looking forward to your speculating about it.

andria: Yeah, Emma might not know the same truth as I made it look.

Guest-who-mentioned-Lacy: You're close-ish (its not a dream though.)

Guest-who-loves-to-speculate: I absolutely love reading readers' speculation, it makes my day. I'm glad my little hint in my note got you curious. It means exactly what it sounds like, I won't make anything official until I get right to the end of this story. (Sorry, its not a dream)

I tend to give obvious nicknames to guests to distinguish them for when they read my replies.

Don't forget to review!

~Luna