"So let me get this straight, you used a magic bean to create a portal that we all fell through to arrive here, the wonderful land of Oz?" Emma was pacing back and forth while Hook was seated on a nearby rock watching her with the slightest grin and Henry stood nearby looking in every possible direction like a lost owl.
"Well, yes. But we didn't really land where I planned, it's still a good three day trek from here to the witches castle. If we start now we can probably make it to the edge of the woods by sunset..." Hook squinted towards the bright sun.
Emma rubbed her head with her hands, trying to follow what he was saying, "Wait, are you saying you expect us to walk with you for three days?!"
"Well, not the entire three days, no! We'll make camp at night to sleep... But we should take turns staying up, the witches flying monkeys are all around..." He looked suspiciously at the sky.
"Whoa, whoa whoa. Hold up! We are not going on an insane camping trip with a mentally unstable pirate, we," she motioned toward Henry, "We are going back to New York."
Emma took hold of Henry's shoulder and looked defiantly at the pirate.
"Uh Mom?" Henry continued to look around like an owl, "I don't think there are any subway stops around here... Or cabs."
"Smart lad!" Hook grinned, "and sadly he is right. If you want to get back to your land of New York, you will have to come with me to defeat the wicked witch, because once the good witch is free she is the only one capable of sending you,.. Uh, sending you home. Wherever that might be..." He mumbled that last part, but Emma didn't notice.
Emma just stood there trying to comprehend anything. It was Henry who spoke instead.
"So we are here to defeat the wicked witch because she kidnapped the good witch?"
"Yes my boy, but also because she has kidnapped your grandparents and our world needs them." He sighed.
Henry blinked, "My grandparents? Snow White and Prince Charming? The stories in that book are true?"
"Henry..." Emma shook her head, this was getting out of control.
"Ah! See? I knew you were a smart lad! Now if you could just get your mother over here to believe.."
"Believe?! I'll tell you what I believe," Emma interjected, "I believe that I'm having the weirdest dream ever and any minute I'll wake up and this will be over."
Just then a loud screeching filled the air and a dark shadow swooped down over them. Emma looked up to see - a monkey? A monkey wearing clothes and sporting wings? The monkey screeched again, the most blood curdling sound. Then swooped down and right before her eyes scooped up Henry with large hairy arms, it's eyes shined bright red. Henry yelled in shock and started kicking his legs frantically. Without a second thought Emma reached for her gun and aimed and fired at the monkey. Henry fell back on to the grass and a painful chocked out screech came once more from the monkey as he crumpled to the ground. Emma ran and grabbed Henry to look him over for injuries, but he just seemed more shocked then anything. She looked over at Hook who had pulled out a dagger to slit the monkeys throat. Emma instinctively covered Henry's eyes at the sight, but Henry pushed he aside staring at the now dead flying monkey with wide eyes.
"Good shot, Miss Swan. Are you a believer now?" He raised his eye brows dryly at her as he kicked the monkey corpse under a nearby bush to hide it.
"Uh,.." Emma stammered, "so which way do we go to get to this good witch?"
"West!" The pirate grinned and returned his dagger to inside his coat. "Follow me."
Henry coughed and dusted himself off, "Shouldn't we follow a yellow brick road or something?"
"No lad, this isn't a sweet fairy tale. Plus nothing says, hello! Here we are! Like following a bloody road. We are going off road for this journey."
And with that, they were off. Trekking towards the woods in the distance.
Emma's heart was beating a million miles an hour. Her blood rushing in her ears. Her stomach sinking, no! No! Cried every fiber of her being. "Henry! Henry!" She shook his limp body and tears stung her eyes. Then she felt a strong hand on her shoulder, "Emma. Shhh, Emma."
Suddenly Emma sat up in the dark, looking wildly around her. A nightmare. It was all a nightmare, she started to relax but then she realized the strong hand on her shoulder belonged to Hook and they were outside by a fire.
"Henry!" She gasped, "Henry! His heart!"
"No love, Henry is fine. He's safe." Hook quietly whispered and squeezed her shoulder. He nodded his head towards the sleeping boy not far off by the camp fire.
Emma gasped and tried to calm herself down, "I had a terrible nightmare. Henry was dying. It was horrible I watched him pull out his own heart... Then he gave it to ..." Emma trailed off.
"Emma, that - that wasn't a nightmare. That was a memory! Henry did almost die, Pan captured him and convinced him to give him his heart. Told him it would save magic. Do you remember? Do you remember Neverland?" Hook's voice was soft but intense. But Emma just blearily blinked her eyes at him.
"Neverland? Henry was captured?" Emma's voice was small, she felt like a child who had just had grown up politics explained to them. She shook her head.
"Oh Emma," Hook sigh and leaned forward placing his forehead against hers, as if somehow he could transfer memories to her, "I need you to remember. I need you. I have thought of you everyday... Please .. Remember."
Emma wasn't sure what it was, the fear and confusion of her dream, the sleepiness that still surrounded her, the darkness, the nearby glow of the fire, Hook's hot breathe on her neck. Whatever it was, she found her hands reaching around him, hesitantly. Slowly pulling him in, hands reaching for his face, his hair. His breathe on her skin, her lips. Then her lips on his, his arms instantly going around her, pulling her in. He had waited so long. Emma felt conflicted, but ignored the part of herself that screamed no, and gave in to the part of her that just felt like it needed this. A part of her that strangely felt like she's been here before, and was happy to return. Was it possible? Had she been here before? Were her dreams really memories? Everything felt like a dream. Their kiss deepened until finally Emma pulled away and she just stared back at Hook's face. He looked so sad and hopeful all at the same time. He ran his fingers over her cheek, "Emma," he whispered.
"You,.. You.., helped..." Emma mumbled in confusion.
Hook's eyes widened, "I helped? What?"
"David." Emma suddenly whispered, and then startled herself and sat up straight almost looking almarmed. "You helped David?" She looked at him, she sounded more confused than anything else.
"I helped David in Neverland," Hook grabbed on to her shoulder, "Emma do you remember?!" He whispered excitedly.
"I don't know..." Emma shook her head and stared at the darkness around them then back at Hook, "Who is David?"
Hook's face fell a bit, "your father, love."
"Oh," her voice small. "It's like, not real. A far away dream from a distant life..." She sounded sleepy.
Hook sighed, "Go back to sleep, I'll wake you when it's your turn to stand guard."
Emma just nodded and laid back down. Hook sat and watched her, a small happy smile playing on his lips. There was hope.
The next morning, Emma awoke to a tin pail being dropped in front of her.
"Huh?", she sat up, "what's this?"
"Breakfast. Eat up, you'll need your strength for the woods."
Emma eyed the pail suspiciously, then looked over and saw Henry sitting contently with a similar pail, drinking orange juice and eating a muffin that he had apparently gotten from inside. Emma opened her own to find similar contents.
"Where did you get these?" Emma looked around bewildered at the pirate.
Hook motioned over to a grouping of bushes not far off, "breakfast bushes." He shrugged.
"Breakfast bushes?!"
"Welcome to Oz, love."