Chapter 24
Sorry it's been so long since I have updated this story but I tried to make this chapter extra long to make up for it! If you read my once upon a one shot story then you know that I have had off and on medical issues that have been difficult to deal with and basically has wiped out all my energy but things are starting to take a positive turn and hopefully I'll be able to start writing more regularly!
As a warning on this chapter there will be mentions of child abuse so please be aware. We'll be talking about what happened to Emma at the house of the foster brother that she ran into on her way to the beach...
Killian and Emma shared a look of panic before turning back to their daughter. When they found her on the beach she wasn't harmed in any way physically and they hadn't noticed anyone hanging around that would have known of their presence. What could have happened? They figured that if one of Stult's men had gotten a hold of Emma they would have done more than threaten her.
"Zoe, what happened on your way to the beach?" Emma asked gently
"Do you remember the boy who approached us at the mall?" Zoe asked
"Yes" Emma said remembering the horrible fear that had consumed her that day in the parking garage.
"Well, I wasn't paying attention where I was going and I ran into someone and...well it was him" Zoe admitted. She knew that this was going to cause Killian and Emma to worry even more about her. They were trying to keep her identity a secret and they weren't going to like that this person was close to figuring out where she lived.
"Zoe..." Emma felt at a loss.
"What happened when you ran into him love?" Killian asked. He knew they had to get the whole story to understand what was causing the nightmare she had just had
"He grabbed my arm when he realized who I was. I tried to get away but he didn't let go. I finally screamed at him and told him I wasn't Elizabeth and used all my adrenalin to get away and that's when I ran to the beach" Zoe said as a few tears streamed down her face
"What happened next?" Emma asked, hoping that that was the end.
"He kept yelling after me but I just kept running. I didn't see what he did or where he went, I just ran until I couldn't hear him anymore"
"You did the right thing lass. I'm sorry that happened" Killian said gently stroking her hair. He wasn't sure how much physical contact she would be okay with in this moment.
"Is that what your nightmare was about? Him chasing you?" Emma asked
Zoe nodded her head yes and then no. It was a combination of things really.
"Who was chasing you in your dream if it wasn't him?" Emma gently prodded. She knew this was difficult from Zoe to tell them
"It was the man from that night, he was chasing me. But it wasn't just that. The boy who I ran into, when I was at his house, his dad...his dad used to beat me and he..HE JUST WATCHED!" She said as she finally let the tears fall and let her walls come crashing down. Emma finally took Zoe into her arms and cradled her head as Zoe sobbed. Emma and Killian shared a look of total loss. They had never had a chance to talk to Zoe about her past. They knew she had been through some difficult times but nothing like this.
Emma and Killian didn't leave Zoe's side and she ended up falling asleep on Emma's chest as she held her. They tucked her in and shut the light off before closing the door. Zoe was completely exhausted from all of the emotional strain of the day as were Killian and Emma. They went out into the living room where Emma was immediately embraced by her mother while David led Killian to the couch. They had heard the sobs but didn't want to overstep. They knew that this needed to be a moment between them and Zoe.
Mary and Emma joined David and Killian on the couch. Emma laid her head on her mothers shoulder finding comfort from her own mother. "What are we gonna do?" Emma said threw her own tears that were now staining her face
"You're going to be there for Zoe when she needs you most, both of you" Mary said stroking her daughters hair and giving her son-in-law a small smile while her husband squeezed his shoulder for emphasis. "And we're going to be with you both the whole way threw this" David added looking between the two. He felt so bad that he didn't have the words to give them to take away the pain they were feeling but he also knew that they would grow from this and become a stronger family.
They all sat in silence letting everything sink in as they tried to process everything that Zoe had told them. Killian had half a mind to go out and find this boy and tear into him. How could he just watch as Emma was beaten by a grown adult. Then again, he was just a little boy himself at the time and wouldn't have been able to intervene. It was a catch twenty two situation where one child was going to get hurt either way. He just hated that Zoe was the one who got hurt, not just physically but emotionally. She had to have felt betrayed by him not even trying to intervene and save her.
Emma laid against her mother feeling her gentle touch and thinking about how Zoe lacked that during those times. She wondered if anyone took care of her when that horrible man was done beating the crap out of her like she was a punching bag or if she was left to take care of her own wounds that he so haphazardly inflicted. Her blood boiled as she thought about her poor little girl being even smaller then she is now getting hurt by a grown man. It was all so wrong.
Mary Margret eventually moved Emma to lean on Killian while she got up and made everyone some coffee as she knew none of them would be sleeping tonight. Emma and Killian would want to be there if Zoe were to wake up and need them and David and Mary in turn would need to take care of them. They were glad that they had decided to come and prep Zoe in person so that they could be there for Killian and Emma during this time. They were a family first and foremost.
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Zoe slept peacefully through the night. Emma had fallen asleep next to her while Killian feel asleep on the floor. Mary and David had taken up residence on the couch in case they needed to get them anything. Their sleep was very light and therefore not restful. The minute that Zoe woke up and shifted in the bed both Emma and Killian were awake.
"Mom? Dad? What are you doing in here? Why do I feel so stuffed up?" She said followed by a sneeze. Killian reached up to the night stand and handed her a Kleenex.
"Do you remember what happened last night?" Emma asked cautiously while gently rubbing Zoe's back.
"I remember we were talking about Andy showing up on my way to the beach and then...I guess I fell asleep crying?" She asked a bit imbarassed
"Hey" Emma said placing a gentle hand on her face and moving away a stray piece of her hair "You have nothing to be embarrassed about, you have had a lot to deal with lately and it was bound to come out eventually" Emma said comforting her
"Aye lass, our job is to be here for you, you're not alone anymore" Killian said taking her hand. They then heard a knock on the door followed by the entrance of Mary and David caring in a tray full of coffee mugs and and a full pot of coffee.
"Being as no one got a lot of sleep, we figured we would all be needing a little bit of this" Mary said as She sat the tray on Zoe's dresser.
"I agree, coffee is always necessary but especially after yesterday" Emma said moving toward her mother
"One thing you should know Zoe is that Emma has an unhealthy obsession with coffee" David said shaking his head at his daughter who had her hands wrapped around the mug and was smelling it like it held the very answers to life it's self
"it is not unhealthy!" Emma argued "I am well aware of my addition and embrace it whole heartedly!"
"That would explain why we have two full cupboards dedicated to coffee mugs" Killian chimed in taking the cup being offered to him by Mary
"I'm with Emma, I can't live without coffee" Zoe said having the same glazed over look that Emma had when she took her cup from David.
"What am I going to do with you two?" Killian asked shaking his head
"After everything that had happened the night before, this felt good, to be together as a family and just have playful banter with no heaviness. They allowed the moment to continue and David and Mary shared a few stories of Emma's teenage years which made Zoe laugh. Killian added in a few stories of his adolescence as well to balance things out and make sure his wife didn't feel singled out. Eventually they all moved from Zoe's room to the kitchen where Mary and David made a breakfast of pancakes and eggs for everyone.
"This family really likes pancakes doesn't it?" Zoe asked as she took a bite of her chocolate chip pancakes.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked swallowing her last bite
"We've had pancakes at least once a week since I've lived here" Zoe said "It's just not normal"
"Well who said we were normal lass" Killian said ruffling her hair
"It just so happens that Pancakes are Emma's favorite breakfast food" Mary added as she brought over a pitcher of orange juice for the group
"One time, after Killian and I had moved in together, my dad came over and made so many pancakes we were eating them every morning for two weeks" Emma chimed in sending her dad a sly smile
"Can't a father provide for his daughter?" David said in defense"
"Yea, but if it hadn't been for Killian I would have been eating pancakes for at least a month!"
"What really happened his charming was feeling sad because Emma had moved out and he was afraid he wasn't going to see her as much anymore" Mary said giving her husband and daughter a look. She always thought it was funny how they would both try and defend their actions that really had underlying meanings.
"I just like spending time with my daughter is all" Charming said effectively ending the conversation. They shared more small tack around the table as the stack of pancakes was slowly devoured one at a time. Once that was done Killian and David volunteered to clean up while the girls went and got ready for the day. Today was David and Mary's last day in Florida so they had to make sure that Zoe was ready for her testimony that was in just a few short days but they also didn't want to have a repeat of the night before.
"Killian,"
"I know...I know we have to talk about it"
"I'm sorry, I really am. I promise though that I'll let you and Emma lead into it, I won't let a repeat of last night happen, I know that was hard on you and Emma but more immortally it was hard on Zoe."
"Thanks you mate. I just don't know if she is going to be able to handle this" He said honestly looking at his father in law. The look on Zoe's face kept flashing in his mind thinking about having to have her talk about what happened. But then again, maybe because she got it out last night, she would feel better about it today.
"She can. She is a strong girl and she has a strong family that is standing with her, you all will get through this and we can finally put this all behind us" Charming said putting a strong hand on Killian's shoulder. Killian nodded before they went back to cleaning up the last bits of breakfast and following the girls example in getting ready for the day.
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Emma knocked on Zoe's door and gently opened it to peek her head in "Mind if I come in?"
"Yea, I'm just finishing up doing my hair"
"May I?" Emma asked reaching out for the brush. Zoe shrugged but gave her the brush
"My mom used to always brush my hair before I went to bed. it helped me relax and fall asleep better"
"I bet that was nice" Zoe said allowing Emma to continue to brush her hair
"It was. Its as also the times when I would get to process all that had happened that day with my mom. I would talk while she brushed my hair till it was silky soft"
"I guess you're wanting me to talk?" Zoe said giving Emma a half smile in the mirror
"If you want. I never want you to share more than you're comfortable with. Killian and I will only be apart of your life in the ways that you want us to be"
"I know. I really do want to let you guys in it's just...there is a lot that I have tried to forget" Zoe said a bit sad
"And that's okay, you don't have to tell us anything that you are uncomfortable with. But know this, whatever you choose to tell us, it won't change how much we love you" Emma said stopping the brushing and turning Zoe to look at her. She really wanted to make sure that Zoe understood that.
"I know mom, I love you guys too" Zoe said. Emma immediately wrapped her arms around Zoe and held her close. This was the first time that Zoe had ever said I love you to her and it made her want to melt. She already loved her so much but to hear that she loved her back, it validated all the pain and all the hurt the they had walked through with her. She knew they would make it now. Zoe reciprocated the hug for the first time and leaned into the embrace. She really did love Emma and Killian and she finally felt safe for the first time. They held each other for a few minutes before breaking the hold and Emma returned to bursting Zoe's hair.
"We have to talk about the trial today right?" Zoe said in a small voice
"Yes, but your dad and I will be there the whole time. We know this is hard but we also know that you're a fighter and we will fight with you to the very end" Emma said as she completed the braid she had put in Zoe's hair
"I know mom. I can do this" Zoe said determined. She knew that this was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done, tell her story and then have people ask her questions about it but being able to see her parents on the other side of the camera and not have to face that man in person was making it doable. Emma gave Zoe's shoulders a squeeze before they exited her room to meet up with everyone else. Zoe took a deep breath and looked at her father and grandparents before announcing "Let's do this"
