Chapter Seven

Potions

Killian woke up to the sound of whimpers. He looked next to him and saw Harper tossing and turning. Another nightmare. Killian picked Harper up and set her on his lap. He began to rock back and forth, trying to soothe her.

Harper jerked awake. She crawled away from her dad. "No."

Worry filled Killian. "Harper, it's okay. It's Daddy. I'm here."

Harper shook her head. "No." She jumped off the bed and ran out of the room.

"Harper!" Killian jumped out of bed and ran after Harper. He saw her running down the stairs. He ran towards her.

She reached the front door and tried to open it, but it was locked. She let out a cry of frustration. When she turned around she barely had time to take a step before she was being picked up by Killian.

"Let go!" Harper cried. She tried to push away from Killian, but he was to strong.

"Harper, it's okay. It was just a dream," Killian tried.

Harper shook her head. "No! It's not! Mommy is gone! She's not here! I need to find her!"

Killian pulled Harper closer to him. Now he knew he couldn't keep lying to Harper. She knew the truth. Killian rubbed her back. "Shhh. Daddy's here. Daddy's here."
"But Mommy's not!" Harper yelled, pushing away from Killian again. "We have to go find her!"

"Harper," Killian said. He got Harper to stop moving. "We will find her, but you have to be rested up to do that."

"But you're not." Harper pointed to the bags under Killian's eyes. "Mommy always says that those mean that you're tired."

Killian sighed. He hadn't gotten any sleep the past few nights, not with Emma gone. He would just watch over Harper and make sure she was safe and sound. "Don't worry about me. I'm a grown up."

Harper leaned on Killian. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. "I miss Mommy."

Killian kissed her head. "I miss her too, love." Killian turned and walked upstairs.

Emma wrapped her arms around her stomach. "You are not getting my baby!"

George laughed. "I will. The light magic that it will be born with will be mine."

"Killian will find me before this baby is born," Emma said, confidently.

"You really think I'm waiting nine months to get my hands on your baby?" the former king laughed. "Oh, no. I will get the light magic from your baby before it is born. I don't need your baby, I need it's magic." With that, George laughed and walked away.

Emma looked down at her stomach and rubbed her hand over it. "I'll protect you. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

"Harper knows," Killian said. He was now standing in the Charming's living room. The kids had no school and were upstairs playing.

"Knows what?" Snow asked, bringing four cups of cocoa over to the table. She set one in front of each person: David, Killian, Regina, and herself.

"She knows that Emma… is missing." Killian whispered the last part.

Snow sighed and took a drink of her hot chocolate. "I knew should would figure it out."

"Of course she figured it out! Her mother is missing! You really thought she wasn't going to realize that?" Killian shouted.

"Killian, calm down," Regina said.

"I can't be calm!" Killian stood up. "My wife is missing!"

"Killian, we're going to find her," Snow said calmly.

Killian didn't say anything. He knew they were going to find her, but it was so hard to find hope in this, what felt like an, impossible situation. He was about ready to shout something when he heard the soft footsteps and quiet giggles of his daughter.

Harper ran over to Killian, giggles escaping her throat. "Daddy! Daddy! Save me!"

Neal ran down the stairs seconds later. "Where's Harper?" he laughed.

Killian turned around and picked up Harper. "You'll never catch her!"

Neal looked over at them. "I found you!"

Harpe laughed. "I'm to tall!"

"Uncle Killian! Put her down!" Neal said, trying to sound demanding.

Killian shook his head. "Never!" He ran around the couch, Neal running after him. After a minute, Killian set Harper down and the two children ran upstairs.

"Killian," Regina said, walking into the room. "Henry wants to know where is mother is."

Emma didn't know how to feel. She was having another baby! But King George wanted to steal its magic, killing her child in the process.

Emma just rubbed her stomach, trying to remind herself that Killian was going to find her.

"Morning, morning," King George said, walking into the room with a box in his hands. He set it down on the wooden table that sat along the wall. He turned and faced Emma. "Did you have a good sleep?"

Emma scowled at him. "I didn't sleep. I couldn't. Not when I knew my child could be taken from me before they're even born!"

"Yes, well, don't be so dramatic about it. I never had kids and I lived with it."

Emma just shook her head. "Let me go."

King George ignored her and opened the box he brought in. He pulled a vial out that was filled with a glowing, neon-green liquid.

Emma stood up, backing into the far corner of the cage. She wrapped her arms around her stomach.

George smiled and turned towards Emma. He walked over to the cage and opened it and walked inside.

Emma lunged forward. She tried to knock the king down but he just waved his hand and Emma flew back and hit the wall of the cage.

Emma groaned and tried to stand up, but just fell back down.

King George walked over to Emma and opened the vial. "Now, let's see if this works." Emma struggled as the king forced Emma's mouth open with his magic. He poured the liquid down Emma's throat.

Emma coughed and closed her mouth. "What… what was that?"

King George frowned. "A waste of magic." He turned and stormed out of the cage. He slammed the cage door closed and locked it. He walked over to the table, grabbing another potion from the box.

"Henry, m'boy!" Killian said, pulling Henry into a hug and patting him on the back. "How are you doing?"

Henry shrugged and pulled away. "Good, just wondering why Mom wouldn't tell me where… well… Mom is."

Killian tried to keep a smile on his face, but failed.

Henry frowned. "What is it, Dad?"

"Emma is…" Killian could feel the tears start to fall.

"What's going on, Dad?" Henry asked, worry filling him.

Killian shook his head. He couldn't say it, not to Emma's son. He couldn't bare to see the crushed look on Henry's face when Killian told him that Emma was missing. "Emma… she's…"
"Henry!" Harper squealed. She ran down the stairs and jumped into Henry's arms. "You're home!"

Henry laughed and hugged Harper. "Hey, Harp. How's my favorite sister doing?"

Harper pulled back and shook her head. "I miss Mommy."

Worry filled Henry all over again. "Why? Where is she?"

"I don't know. She hasn't been home," Harper whined. "Daddy said she was working late."

Henry looked over at Killian. "Dad?"

Killian looked down. "Harper, go play."

Harper nodded and Henry set her down. Harper ran back upstairs.

Killian went and sat on the couch, Henry followed. "Henry, lad. Your mother… she's… I don't know where she is." Killian buried his face in his hands, sobs over taking him.

Henry wanted to reach out, he wanted to comfort his step dad, but he was to shocked. They didn't know? How? Where was she?

Snow went and sat next to Killian. She rubbed his back, knowing she couldn't say anything to make him feel better.

Henry stood up and started pacing the room.

"Henry, are you okay?" Regina asked.

"When did she go missing?" Henry asked, facing Regina.

"A- a few days ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Henry shouted.

Regina stepped towards Henry. "I- we… we wanted to tell you in person."

"I would've come down here sooner! I can help, Mom! I'm not a kid anymore."

"I know, I know, Henry. I just… I wanted to protect you for as long as I could." Regina walked closer.

"Does Harper know?" Henry looked at Killian.

Killian ran his hand down his face and nodded. "She figured it out. Emma hasn't been home and… Harper's been having these dreams."

That got everyone's attention.

"What are these dreams about?" Regina asked.

"I'm not exactly sure. They're about Emma though. I woke up this morning, around 2, and Harper was tossing and turning. I tried to calm her down, but I couldn't. She ran out of the room and tried to run out of the house, but the door was locked. She told me that Emma was… hurt."

Snow let out a small sob. "But is she okay? Emma?"

Killian shook his head. "I don't know. Harper's five. I can't ask her to relive her nightmares and tell me what her dreams are about."

David nodded. "We understand."

"No, you don't. How would you feel if you knew your wife was missing and hurt and your 5-year-old daughter was the only person that might have any clue about where she is?" Killian just shook his head.

"Killian, you need to get some sleep," Snow said, noticing the bags under his eyes.

Killian shook his head. "I'm fine." He stood up. "I'm taking Harper home." Before anyone could say anything, he was walking upstairs. He picked up Harper and walked downstairs.

"Do we have to go?" Harper whined, dragging out the 'have'.

Killian nodded. "Sorry, love. We gotta get home."

Harper nodded and put her coat on. "Okay."

Killian picked up Harper and kissed her cheek. "Say goodbye to Henry."

"Actually, I'm going with you guys," Henry said.

Harper smiled. "Yay!"