A/N: Please enjoy. I hope you like the direction I'm going with Nikolai's character. Also, I think I quite enjoy writing protective!Graham.
Nikolai woke with a start. Sweat curled it's way around his brow, his breathing heavy. The dream, no, the nightmare had been so real. He had been so helpless as he watched Cora massacred Emma and Graham. She had laughed the entire time, as he watched his brother's heart ripped from his chest. It glowed with each beat in her hand. She had pulled the heart to her lips and whispered into it. Graham's face paled as he screamed no. Almost like he had no control over his body, Graham stood up in a robotic manner and beat Emma to death with his bare hands. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and Nikolai could only sit there tied to a tree and watch his brother commit murder. Not just any murder, he had watched his brother kill the woman that Graham loved more than anyone else. Tears had rolled down Nikolai's cheeks as Cora laughed louder as she crushed Graham's heart. His body crumpled into a lifeless bundle. Her evil eyes turned toward Nikolai, her hand reaching into his chest.
"Just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream." He chanted, louder with each word, trying to control his nearly gasping breathing.
A knock sounded on his door. His nose wrinkled, as he pulled back the blanket that had been covering his body. Emma had given him some clothing to help him fit into Storybrooke a little better. He picked up the t-shirt that he had disregarded earlier, and pulled it over his head.
"Who is it?" Nikolai called. He knew that it was still too early to be Emma, and he didn't know anyone else in town.
"Ruby. I help out Granny."
Nikolai sighed, before pulling the door open. "Sorry." Nikolai mumbled, as he ran his hand through his messy brown curls. "I – can I trust you?" Nikolai hated that he was losing his trusting side, but being in the Enchanted Forest with Graham and Emma and seeing what others were willing to do – it made him less likely to trust others.
"Yes. Sorry, I was out when Emma checked you in last night. You met my Granny though. She runs this place, and the diner next door. Me and Emma are friends, and I go way back with Emma's parents. I just, I heard some screaming and you're the only guest here. I wanted to make sure that you're alright."
Nikolai smiled softly, before pushing the door open further. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Please, come inside." He waited as Ruby nodded her head and entered his room. "Thank you. I just met Emma's parents tonight at the hospital. They're quite kind."
Ruby smiled softly, as she stood awkwardly to one side of the room. "Yeah, Snow and James, they've always been kind. Don't get me wrong, if you mess with their family or friends, they won't think twice about issuing some sort of punishment. Generally though, they are quite forgiving. I mean, Regina is still alive after all."
Nikolai's brow furrowed, "Regina. She's the Queen, correct? The one that cursed everyone to this realm?"
Ruby nodded, "Yeah, but here we call her Madam Mayor – or at least we did until Emma broke the curse. Since then she's kind of laid low." Ruby paused, eying Nikolai carefully. "It's true, isn't it?"
Nikolai smiled softly, "What would that be?"
Ruby chuckled, "You really are Graham's brother."
Nikolai nodded, "Yes, I am."
Ruby pointed to the empty spot on his bed, "Mind if I have a seat?"
Nikolai patted the spot tenderly, "Not at all."
Ruby sat down, and crossed her legs. "Snow told me that Emma won't talk about what happened over there. Will you tell me what happened?"
Nikolai stiffened slightly, before sighing. "It's not my place to say much. I wasn't over there alone. Emma will talk when she's ready, that much I've noticed. She quite stubborn. What I can say is that amongst the good stuff that happened, there was an equal amount of bad stuff that happened. Stuff that haunts me, I suppose though, that's what bad stuff does. Haunts you?"
Ruby sat completely enthralled, not only by Nikolai's story but his way of speaking. It had been twenty-eight years since she had heard anyone speak the way that everyone she knew used to. Not to mention that Nikolai looked more like Graham's twin then his younger brother. She'd be lying if she said that in the twenty-eight years that they had been cursed to this town, that she didn't have feelings for Graham. At the very least, find him attractive.
Realizing that she had been quiet for longer than what the moment really called for, Ruby smiled softly. "So, then Graham is really alive?"
Nikolai nodded. "Yes. We were very worried about him. He took that arrow to the arm for Emma. I think that he would do most anything for Emma. My brother loves her very much."
Ruby nodded, "I have a feeling that Emma feels the same. She thought she was pretty good at hiding her feelings about our former sheriff, but she wasn't. We all knew that she cared about him and vice versa."
Nikolai crossed his arms over his chest. "You knew my brother well?" When Ruby nodded in the affirmative, Nikolai smiled brightly. "I would love to hear some stories."
"Well then..." In that moment, Ruby realized that she hadn't even thought to ask him what his name was.
Nikolai held out a hand, "How very rude of me. My name is Nikolai Humbert."
Ruby accepted his hand and shook it softly. "Nice to meet you, Nikolai. How does breakfast sound?"
Nikolai nodded, "Fantastic. I'm starving."
Nikolai settled onto a bar stool as Ruby disappeared into the back. The nightmare he had was still lingering in the back of his mind, almost like it was waiting for him to close his eyes again. His thumbs put gentle pressure against his temples, rubbing slow and calculating circles.
"Is bacon and eggs alright, Nikolai?" Ruby called from the back.
Nikolai's nose scrunched up at her question. "Uh, sure, I guess." He heard her chuckle, and the musical sound brought a smile to his face. "What's so funny?"
Ruby peered around the corner for a moment, a grin on her face. "I just, I keep forgetting that you've never been here before. I don't understand how the curse brought some of us here and left other behind. That's not how it was designed, trust me on that."
Nikolai shrugged his shoulders, "I don't fully understand it either. There were whispers that those of us that were left behind had something to do with Cora."
Ruby gasped, it had been many years since she had heard that name. Though she had never actually met the woman herself, the stories that Snow had shared with her were enough to know that the woman was worse than Regina had ever thought to be. "Cora was there with you?"
Nikolai sighed, his head leaning heavily against his hand. "Yeah. She tried to rule those left behind, but a few warriors that ran the survivor's camp, led a rebellion against her. Took her by surprise and locked her up in the dungeon under the camp."
Ruby shook her head, as she flipped both eggs and the bacon. Something didn't sit right with her. Cora wasn't one to be taken by surprise. She was far too powerful. Of course Ruby knew that all magic and power had it's limits. That's why Rumpelstiltskin had controlled so many people's future. It was the only way he could gain extra power, the power of control over others. However, Cora could see an attack coming. At least that was what she had gained from Snow's stories.
"Are you sure that she was really in that dungeon?"
Nikolai stood up and walked toward the back. He leaned his shoulder against the door jam with his arms crossed over his chest. "No. I didn't really spend much time at the survivor's camp. The warriors that ran the camp were a little intense for my taste. I never actually saw her, but then again I was lucky enough to not see the inside of the dungeon. I just heard the stories from other survivor's. I don't really know much about Cora, so to me it seemed plausible."
Ruby heard something in his voice, like he wasn't being completely honest with her. "You're – not working for her, are you?"
Nikolai's eyes widened at Ruby's accusation. "Cora? No. I'm pretty sure that she's dead."
Ruby's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"
Nikolai sighed, as his foot kicked at an imaginary clump of dirt. Ruby bit back a chuckle, having seen Graham do the exact same thing once or twice in the past. "I've said too much. I really don't want to lose Emma's trust. I've gathered that she doesn't trust easily, and I'd hate to lose something that she doesn't seem to give out easily."
Ruby smiled, "That's sweet, Nikolai, but Emma won't care. Like you said, she'll eventually discuss what went on over there, and when she does I'll just pretend to be surprised."
Nikolai stared at Ruby for a moment, and she could see the inner battle raging inside of him. Reaching forward, she placed her hand on his arm. "Hey. I promise you, Emma won't be angry with you. If she is, I'll just tell her that I forced you to tell me. She knows how pushy I can be." Ruby finished with a wink.
Sighing, Nikolai nodded, "Alright. We got to Lake Nostros. I knew that it was the only way for Graham and Emma to both return, but Cora beat us there. She flung Graham against a tree, and went on about how she was going to use Emma to her advantage. Emma started to lash out at Cora, and Cora got angry. She started to advance toward Emma, and I tried to take her by surprise but she flung me so hard that my head bounced off the ground. I couldn't get back up, but I could hear everything they said. Cora was planning to do something horrible to Emma, she was going to take something from her.."
Ruby gasped, her hand fluttering to her mouth. "Emma's heart?"
Nikolai nodded, "Yeah. I couldn't see what happened next, but somehow Emma removed Cora's heart, and Graham squeezed it into dust. Cora disappeared. Graham and Emma both said she was dead and that we didn't have to worry about her anymore."
Ruby sighed softly. She could tell by the way that Nikolai's face was contorted, that what he was saying was the truth, but Ruby couldn't believe that it would be that easy to kill Cora.
"What do you mean, you can't find him?" Graham asked, a look of worry on his face as he peered around the room. It was almost like he expected Nikolai to just pop up out of nowhere and yell 'gotcha'
"He wasn't in his room, Graham. I don't know how else to explain it." Emma answered softly, as she rubbed her hand against his arm, trying to get him to calm down.
"You don't sound very upset, Emma. Why don't you sound upset? Nikolai doesn't know anyone here. He's never been to this realm, Emma. What if something happened to him?" His eyes widened slightly, "What if Regina found him?"
Emma groaned, "Graham, I really think you're working yourself up over nothing. Regina is pretty powerful, and an evil bitch, I'll give you that. I just don't think she has the means to figure out that Nikolai is your brother that quickly. Maybe he stopped off at the diner for some food and forgot to leave a note."
Graham's mouth bobbed open to protest Emma's perfect defense, when footsteps and voices could be heard in the hallway. Everyone's head turned toward the door as Nikolai walked in laughing with Ruby on his heels. Emma and her family broke out in huge knowing smiles, at the look on both, Nikolai and Ruby's faces.
"Oh, wow, I – uh – wasn't expecting so many people." Nikolai stammered, as he stared at Emma with his brow creased before taking in the very angry look on his brother's face. "Is something wrong?"
"You knew that Emma was coming to pick you up, and you didn't think to leave a note?" Graham asked, sternly.
"I – uh – no? Look, I just, I woke up early this morning and Ruby offered to make me breakfast. I was starving, so I said yes. It just didn't dawn on me to leave a note. I'm sorry."
Emma's smile faltered only slightly, as she pulled on Henry's unbandaged arm and nodded at her parents. "Well, speaking of food, we need to go get some breakfast. Plus, I'm sure Graham has plenty more to say about your disappearing act. So, we're going to go, but we'll be back later." Emma sent a wink in Graham's direction, before moving toward the door. "Good luck," she whispered to Nikolai, before mouthing 'nice' at Ruby.
The four of them exited the room, and as they started their journey toward the front of the hospital, they could hear Graham questioning Nikolai, loudly.