Chapter 23
The next morning I walked down the hall towards Dorothy's room. I paused in front of her door; raising my hand to knock, trying to calm my nerves, even after hours of practicing what I would say I was still shaken. I knocked quickly, wanting to get it over with. Dorothy opened the door and smiled at me, I tried to smile back but I couldn't bring myself to do so.
"Dorothy why don't we go for a walk" I suggested.
Her smile faded seeing the pain in my eyes. She nodded grabbing her sweater. We walked outside following the path towards the center of the city, people had started to rebuild their homes and clean up the plants that had grown up in the gardens and between the cracks. I didn't care if people saw me out and about, I would be leaving soon and these were my people I wasn't going to hide behind a hood.
"Do you remember the day we tried to defeat Zelena?" I asked walking towards a bench, I sat down, Dorothy sitting next to me.
"Vividly," Dorothy said looking at me.
"After you went into the crystal ball, Leo and Sawyer tried to fight Zalena, and she used magic. I tried, I tried to save them." I said, tears stinging my eyes.
"I knew something happened, when you killed Zelena and he wasn't there." She sighed. "When I was back in Kansas in those years before I came back I use to look at scarecrows and think of him. That was the only way I got through the day, we had one in our vegetable patch and I could see it from my window. It was like he was watching over me." She smiled softly and I laughed thinking of Sawyer and that big stupid grin he had.
"He never stopped thinking about you, you were the best thing to happen to him." I took her hand "I'm sorry I know you loved him." I said softly.
"That morning he told me he loved me" Dorothy said shaking her head. "Why did I have to be so stupid and let Zalena trap me, I should have been more careful." Dorothy said now in tears, laying my hand on her back I rubbed it slowly resting my chin on her shoulder holding her from behind.
"We all knew the risk we were taking that day." I sighed.
"How long have you known?" She asked.
"A lot of that is foggy in my head and I didn't even remember them getting killed till last night and I had a dream."
"How do you know it was real?" She asked quickly, standing up she turned to look at me.
"It wasn't just a dream, it was a memory, I felt everything. The pain and the fear, it was horrible and too real to be just a dream." I cried, she had no idea how guilty I felt or how much last night changed me. To remember letting that happen to your friends is a far worse pain than just losing someone close to you.
"I'm sorry, I just..." She breathed I stood up hugging her tightly.
"I know," I said softly, she pushed away looking at me.
"I think I'll come with you to Storybrooke, without him here I have no reason for staying."
I nodded smiling softly.
"I should go pack." She said I nodded as she walked past me.
I felt a small tug on the hem of my skirt and looked down, a little boy was looking up at me with big blue eyes and a dirty face.
"Are you Miss Elsa?" He asked I smiled and knelt down in front of him.
"I am, what's your name?" I asked.
"Thomas," He said proudly.
"Well it's nice to meet you Thomas" I said smiling at his big grin, he couldn't have been older than five.
"Is it true you saved us from the wicked witch?" He asked.
"It is but I had some help from my friends" I said "And my magic." I said softly like it was our own little secret.
"Are you bad too?" He asked taking a step back his eyes getting wide.
"No, I use my magic to help little boys like you."
"Really?" He asked in awe.
"Really, would you like to see?" I asked he nodded excited.
Opening my hand I made a snowflake making his eyes even bigger, I laughed turning it into a thousand little snowflakes.
"WOAH," He said completly baffled. I smiled and nodded.
"Here I'll make something for you" I twirled my hand above my other making a snow globe with the Emerald City inside. Holding it carefully I shook it making a snowstorm inside. He reached out carefully and I handed it to him.
"Thank you," He said his eyes still wide.
"Just be careful with it and put it somewhere safe" I called as he ran back towards his home. I smiled and stood up turning to go back inside as Regina walked towards me. I hurried towards her turning her so we were both headed towards the palace my arm locked with her's.
"Did you know that little boy?" She asked I shook my head smiling.
"No, but he was sweet and didn't understand how dark the World was yet." I said as we walked, thinking about the whole ordeal.
"You ready to go back?" She asked.
"I think so, Oswin is right, it will be good for me and a new adventure." I said looking at Regina.
"What's going on? You're acting like you're in a good mood but you don't look like it." Regina said as I sighed looking down at the ground.
"I just had to tell my best friend that the man she loved is dead and I had to tell my husband that his best friends are dead." I said Regina stopped moving in front of me.
"Who?"
"Leo and Sawyer, they helped Terrence get back here after his first stint in the war and he became really good friends with them. Zelena killed them both and I had completely forgotten. Dorothy and Sawyer were perfect for eachother and he was crazy about her. When they first met he was a scarecrow and she turned him into a human with a single kiss." I smiled softly. "Needless to say it doesn't make today any easier."
"I'm sorry," Regina said giving me a soft hug I nodded.
"Come on we need to get back to Storybrooke." I said walking with her towards the palace.
By late morning we all had bags packed and were ready to leave, I wasn't bringing much but a few dresses and some books. I stood in the courtyard watching Toto run around chasing a squirrel. I smiled and Dorothy looked at me both of us laughing at the small terrier.
"I'm gonna miss this place, but at least we don't have a balloon to leave this time." Dorothy said with a smile looking at me.
"It was an accident," I replied in all seriousness.
"Sure it was," She smiled I rolled my eyes looking as Terrence and Regina walked towards us.
"We all ready to go?" Terrence asked grabbing his own duffle bag.
"Are you walking with us?" I asked Oswin he smiled and nodded.
Reaching the Gate I stopped turning to look back at OZ, Osians wandered around with no idea that I was leaving, I smiled remembering all the times I had walked through those gates and the very first time I ever laid eyes on the city. Now I was leaving but today I wasn't sad, I didn't cry, in fact I smiled because I knew that OZ was the best thing to have happened to me. Turning back to the others I hurried out the gate letting it close behind me. Terrence looked at me and I smiled softly wanting him to know I was alright. We all walked to the corner and I looked down at Aly's ring on my hand along with my new wedding band.
"Where would be a good place to open the portal?" Terrence asked we all looked around wanting it to be away from the woods and any of the town.
"That way looks good." A voice said behind us.
"What was that?" Regina asked.
"I know that vo…." Dorothy started.
"But so does that way." Dorothy turned and we followed her gaze to a poll where a scarecrow was perched.
I knew it was him the moment I saw him, that grin on his face and the love in his eyes.
"Sawyer, help me get him down," Dorothy cried running up to him, Terrence ran up and helped her. Sawyer's knee's buckled and he fell forward, my heart stopped thinking he would fall but Terrence caught him and helped him down.
"Thanks," Sawyer breathed, Terrence nodded stepping back so they could get out of the corn.
Dorothy threw his arms around him holding him tightly.
"I thought you were dead," She cried as Terrence came to stand by me. I smiled grabbing his hand while I watched Dorothy and Sawyer.
"No, after you disappeared into the crystal ball Leo and I tried to fight Zalena but she… He didn't make it and I was hurt pretty badly."
"I saw you though, you were dead, you both were." I said in confusion.
"I know; if I had an answer I would tell you but I don't. When I came around I was a scarecrow and back up on this damn pole." He said looking at the pole.
"It's over now," Dorothy said resting her finger under his chin softly making him look at her. "I love you, scarecrow." She said quietly, their kiss was short but soon a wave washed over us. Looking at them I saw Sawyer back as a man unchanged in the last thirty years.
"Where are you all going?" He asked looking at us.
"A town called Storybrooke," I said smiling at him, he chuckled and came over lifting me up to hug me tightly.
"Hey that's my wife you're getting cheeky with." Terrence said Sawyer looked at us both before hugging Terrence.
"About time, Leo and I were wondering when you would." Sawyer smiled.
"Sawyer this is my mom Regina, she helped us to kill Zalena." I said looking at Regina who smiled at Sawyer.
"I can see where Essie get's her beauty." Sawyer said glancing at me.
"It's good to meet my daughters friends… Though we should really get going." Regina said, she was right the sun was already high in the sky.
"Of course, there is an open field not far from here where you can easily open a portal." Sawyer said taking Dorothy's hand.
"Are you coming with us?" Dorothy asked, I could hear the hopefulness in her voice as she spoke.
"I'll go anywhere with you." He replied making her smile.
"Come on let's get moving," Terrence said as he and I started walking.
We continued till we reached an open field away from everything where I could open the portal. I looked down at the ring then up at Oswin who was looking at me.
"Sure you won't come? You would like it there." I knew his answer but I still asked.
Without saying anything he placed his hand on my shoulder and pulled me against him. Closing my eyes I inhaled deeply wanting to remember his scent.
"I love you Essie." He whispered into my ear softly.
"I love you too" I said holding back the tears that wanted to fall. Finally letting go I smiled at him, leaning in I kissed his cheek softly.
"There's no place like home" I smiled he chuckled nodding slowly.
"You ready?" Terrence asked, I nodded.
"Take care of her Terrence." Oswin said shaking his hand.
"Will do" Terrence smiled.
"It was good to meet you Regina" Oswin said looking at her.
"Yeah, thank you for raising my daughter." Regina said, I glanced at her smiling softly.
"Of course, I don't know if I would be the man I am without her." I felt my heart break at his words.
Oswin finished with his goodbyes and stepped back away from us.