Chapter 9
I woke up as light streamed through the window. I moaned pulling the sheets tighter around me, I sat up quickly realising that I was in a bed and in a house. The room was an eggshell white color with not much in it aside from a dresser and a side table and some tackey paintings. I sighed rubbing my temples, my head was spinning I couldn't remember anything the last thing I remember is being held in a cell and a woman had let me go. I got up and went to the closet only to find there wasn't much there only a few dresses and a pair of black flats. Looking around the room, everything seemed so different and unfamiliar, I wasn't one to take this lightly. Something had happened, if only I could remember what. Slipping into a blue dress and the flats I walked out into the hallway and downstairs. It looked to be some sort of a hotel. A woman walked out from the back room looking at me.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"Granny's inn" The woman said, she was young probably a few years older than me but not much.
"And where might that be?" I asked.
"Oh sorry, Storybrooke Maine." She said with a soft smile. "I'm Ruby"
"Elsa."
"Pretty name."
"Thanks." I smiled "Could you help me? I'm looking for someone and I think he may be here."
"I can see what I can do, what's his name?" She asked pulling out some kind of ledger book.
"Terrence or Terry." I said walking to the counter.
"Here we are." She grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down the address. Handing it to me I looked at it letting out a sigh.
"You don't know what's happened do you?" I asked she shook her head no.
"We're all clueless as to what happened, the last thing we remember is a curse being cast that was supposed to send us back to the Enchanted Forest." I nodded thanking her before walking outside.
The town was filled with people wandering around aimlessly, Ruby had been right by saying everyone was clueless, most seemed to be familiar with the town but they still had no idea what they were doing here. I wandered for a while before finding the street Terrence lived on. The house was a one story red brick with white shutters and a white door with a small porch. I took a deep breath and walked up the sidewalk to the house. I knocked on the door and heard heavy foot steps coming towards the door. A man opened the door. It was definitely Terrence but he was older since the last time I saw him. I was unable to speak to overwhelmed with what was happening, it seemed too good to be real.
"Essie?" He breathed I smiled nodding. Grabbing me he pulled me into a hug and I could no longer hold back the tears. "It's really you?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yeah" I said looking at him.
"I can't... How are you?... Come inside." He stammered pulling me inside. I waited while he closed the door never taking my eyes off of him. He turned towards me shaking his head. Before he could say anything I grabbed his shirt in my fists and pulled him towards me kissing him hard, this wasn't our "first kiss" but after so long I felt as though we hadn't felt that spark between us.
"It's snowing, Ess" He said under my lips.
"Sorry" I said stopping the kiss.
"It's alright I don't mind." He smiled wrapping his arms around me resting his hands on my hips. "How are you here?" He asked looking me in the eyes.
"I don't know the last thing I remember is being held in the Enchanted Forest and then wandering around." I said with a sigh.
"I don't remember much either, I just can't believe you're here" He said smiling at me. I smiled softly leaning the weight of my body into him laying my head on his chest as his arms slipped around me in a warm embrace.
"Don't let me go" I said in a childish whisper.
"Never" he said kissing the top of my head softly.
We stood like that for what seemed like ages but was only a few minutes, I didn't want to let him go. There was a knock at the door and we both looked at it. Letting out a sigh I let him go he smiled.
"I'm still not letting go." He said taking my hand I smiled back walking with him towards the door.
"David, hi" Terrence said opening the door.
"Hi were just coming around to let everyone know there will be a town meeting at noon" David said glancing past Terrence to me, I smiled kindly.
"Thanks we'll be there" Terrence said David nodded and hurried down the steps. Terry shut the door and turned to me pulling me against him.
"We have three hours till the meeting." He said running his fingers slowly up and down my arm.
"What do you think happened?" I asked he shrugged.
"I kinda wonder if we didn't go back to the Enchanted Forest since that's the last thing you remember." He said leading me into the living room to an L shaped leather couch.
"Or it brought all of us here." I said looking down at the carpet.
"Does it matter? I mean at least we're together." Terrence said I nodded. "I know you miss him Es." He said pulling me closer to him.
"It's not just missing Oswin, it's missing home." I said looking at him.
"I know, I miss it too, but you know it's not safe to go back. Not with Zelena in control."
"Wouldn't that be the perfect time? She needs to be destroyed Terrence." I said bitterly.
"And you're going to do that by yourself? Come on Es, we tried to destroy her, it didn't work." He replied I stood up angry now.
"You and I both know how strong my magic is once I control it, I could give Storybrooke the blizzard of the century at a flick of the wrist." Terrence stood up and grabbed my arms in a tight grip ignoring my cold skin.
"Calm down, I never said I didn't have faith in you but you have to remember what we are dealing with here. She could kill you with a flick of her wrist. So I'm not sorry that I want to protect you, I promised your father I would if anything happened to him." I looked at him as he spoke seeing all the love and concern in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, and I do love that you always protect me." I said kissing him softly.
I leaned my back against his side letting his arm come around me running his fingers up and down my arm softly. Closing my eyes I rested my head against his shoulder glad to be in his arms once more. What I hoped this time would be forever.