This chapter was really hard to write for me for some reason. Especially the first section. I just couldn't get into Emma's head the way I have been able to before but it will get better I promise. I think it has to do with the fact that I haven't really reunited Emma with her parents yet so it's harder to get into those emotions. . This is the last major bit of build up though - she goes home next chapter I promise!

Emma watched as the now familiar raven-haired woman walked through the forest again, her red cape billowing around her. The woman, Red she had called herself, was clearing looking for her. After recent events that much was obvious. Emma had been watching her for days against the warnings of her friends and Serafine herself. But Emma was headstrong and she would do what she wanted, everyone knew that.

This woman intrigued Emma. There was a sense of familiarity but Emma couldn't put her finger on it, She couldn't help but feel pity for the sadness she saw in the woman. She didn't understand it. How could she feel a connection to someone she didn't even know.

Finally her interest got the best of her and she moved quickly through the trees, waiting for the woman to catch up to her. Emma dropped down in Red's path, causing her to jump back in surprise.

"Oh my." Red put her hand to her chest.

"If you're a tracker shouldn't you have known I was here?" Emma asked

"You're very good." Red shrugged. "How long have you been watching me?"

"A few days." Emma shrugged.

"I thought I felt something." Red nodded. "I figured you're interest was piqued. I know you were in the castle that night."

"What?" Emma's eyebrows shot up.

"You're good dear, but not that good." Red smirked. "I picked up your scent, I knew you were near."

"My scent?" Emma asked.

"I'm a child of the moon." Red explained.

"A wolf?" Emma clarified.

"You've heard of them?" Red's comment wasn't really a question.

"We're well educated on creatures of all realms." Emma said bluntly. "We understand who everyone is; who the real monsters of the worlds are and who are just misunderstood."

"Ouch." Red was surprised by the response.

"But still." Emma looked interested. "How did you know it as me?"

"Your scent, I know it very well. It made me smile every time I caught it because it meant I was going to see my favorite little girl in the whole world." Red explained. "It has long since disappeared from every room of the castle, save your bedroom. But I picked up on it again that night in the library. I knew it had to be you."

"What do you mean my bedroom?" Emma asked guardedly.

"You really don't remember do you?" Red asked in awe.

"I have no clue what you are talking about." Emma said,

"What have they told you about your life?" Red asked.

"I was found wandering around in the woods when I was six, when my magic was manifesting. " Emma explained. "I was alone and in pain. They rescued me, gave me a safe place to go. They taught me how control my power and made me strong. They gave me a home."

"They didn't tell you about your family?" Red clarified.

"I don't have a family." Emma said simply. "At least not one in the sense you are referring to. They are my family now."

"You have a family here Emma." Red said.

"Yea, one that abandoned me." Emma said sharply.

"Abandoned you?" Red's face softened. "Is that what you've believed all these years?"

"Yes." Emma crossed her arms. "It's the truth."

"Emma." Red whispered. "Your parents didn't abandon you. They lost you and it broke them. They have been looking for you ever since. They never stopped believing for one day that you might come back to them. For ten years they've held out hope."

"What are you talking about?" Emma took a step backwards.

"Emma those people you saw me talking to in the castle?" Red stepped towards Emma. "Those are your parents. They love you so much."

"My parents didn't love me." Emma shook her head, refusing to believe Red. "They left me alone, shunned me because of my magic, because of who I am."

"You're parents were scared of your magic, that much is true." Red agreed. "But it's not because they didn't love you, they loved you so much it hurt. They were scared the believed your magic would take you from them, and they couldn't bear to even think of a life without you."

"Well it looks like it did take me from them." Emma crossed her arms.

"Yes." Red whispered. "It did. And it devastated them. They have never been the same since they lost you. I've watched them break a little more each day. They never got over the loss of their little girl. I don't think they ever will."

"Why are you so sure that I'm their daughter?" Emma asked. "You just met me the other day. How could you possibly think I was her?"

"Emma I've known you since the day you were born." Red looked at the girl fondly. "I would know you anywhere. Those eyes, that determination, that independence and strength. It may have been ten years since I last saw you, but I know who you are."

"Look I'm sorry your friends lost their daughter." Emma said. "But it's not my fault they can't let go. Maybe you should be a good friend and tell them to. It'll hurt but in the long run it will be what's best for them."

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Red said.

"And why not?" Emma asked.

"Because I already told your father I saw you." Red admitted. "He knows you've been in these woods. He's been looking for you."

"Well then you have cost him unnecessary pain." Emma said. "You shouldn't have said anything."

"I couldn't lie to him." Red shook her head. "Not about you. He deserved to know."

"I'm sorry." Emma shook her head. "I'm not who you think I am. I can't be."

"Why?" Red called. "Because it would mean you have a family that care's about you rather than a cult that's brainwashed you."

"We are not a cult." Emma whipped around angrily. "And they haven't brainwashed me. They've taken care of me. I want to be with them. They are my family, not those people who left me to die."

"They didn't…" Red argued.

"I have to go now." Emma cut in. "The people who care about me are expecting me back. They're worried about me. It was nice talking to you again."

"Em." Cat ducked under a branch. "He's out in the forest again."

"That's what now, the sixth time?" Diana asked.

"That we know of." Daniel muttered. "This is borderline creepy."

"He looks so sad." Cat sat down on the couch. "It's like someone kicked a puppy and then tossed it out in the rain."

"Oh with the dramatics." Diana rolled her eyes. "He deserves it Cat. Don't feel sorry for him. He's the one who abandoned her."

"He just doesn't strike me as the type." Cat said sadly. "He doesn't seem capable of such cruelty.

"Well you've only been spying on him so you don't really know him." Diana pointed out.

"Guys can we just stop this?" Emma cut in. "Seriously, enough."

"Sorry Em." Cat and Diana mumbled.

"I don't get why Serafine is letting you guys watch him but she won't let me." Emma shook her head.

"Because you might do something stupid like last time." Diana pointed out.

"And besides this is the man who is supposed to be your dad." Cat said.

"Oh Cat come on it's obviously her dad." Diana stood up. "They look alike."

"It could be coincidence. " Daniel suggested weekly.

Diana shot Daniel a disbelieving look. "Yea and it's a coincidence that the two of us look alike idiot."

"That's it." Emma stood up. "I'm out."

"Where are you going?" Cat jumped up.

"To talk to him." Emma called without turning around.

"This is a bad idea." Cat said nervously.

"Em, seriously?" Diana called.

"I'll be safe." Emma waved her friends off. "Those woods are well stocked and I know how to handle a sword."

"A sword." Diana looked at her friends shocked. "Are you having a psychotic breakdown?"

"Don't screw with me Di." Emma warned.

"Shit." Diana swore as Emma disappeared. "What are we going to do?"

"Following her would be a bad idea." Daniel said.

"Yea, ya think?" Diana snapped and walked back into the cabin. "She'd kill us, literally."

"So we wait for her to come back?" Cat asked.

"We are so screwed." Diana collapsed back on the couch. "Serafine is going to kill us."

"Yup." Daniel agreed.

James walked slowly through the trees. He didn't know what he was hoping to find. Red had made it pretty clear if Emma wanted to stay hidden she would. Still walking the woods gave him some form of solace. She had been in these woods. It was the only connection he had to her.

Suddenly someone jumped out in front of him, sword up. James stepped back and drew his sword, sizing up his attacker. It was a young girl with blonde hair. James's eyes widened as he recognized the person in front of him. The blonde hair, the green eyes, the heart shaped face that was the mirror image of her mothers. It was her; it was his "Emma."

"You've been looking for me." Emma said coldly. "Now you've found me. So let's see how good you are."

"You want to fight?" James was shocked.

"Does it look like I want to have a friendly conversation?" Emma glanced at her sword. "You can take it easy on me, but mark my words I won't do the same."

Emma lunged at James, catching him off guard. He barely had time to get his sword up to block her blow. She was exceptionally skilled. James himself almost had a hard time keeping up with her. She kept him on his toes as the exchanged blows. As they fought he watched her closely. The determination in her eyes mirrored those he saw so often in Snow's. Her stance and skill showed years of expert training. But her instincts, those couldn't be taught.

James was admiring her work when suddenly she caught him off guard. With a swift movement of her sword and a spin her of her body she had him pinned to the ground, foot planted firmly on his chest and sword pressed to his throat.

"Wow." James held his hands up. "You are amazing."

"I know." Emma glared. "I've been practicing for years."

"Clearly." James nodded. "May I?"

"Fine." Emma pulled her sword back.

"You have my natural talent." James said proudly.

"Excuse me?" Emma sounded appalled.

"Come on Emma." James sheathed his sword. "You and I both know no amount of training or technique can teach you instinct. And you have extraordinary instincts."

"It doesn't mean it came from you." Emma sheathed her own sword.

James shook his head, smiling at his daughter's stubbornness. "You are so much like her."

"Like who?" Emma raised an eyebrow.

"Your mother." James elaborated. "When you were young you were soft and sweet, always trying to help others. You had this little spark that lit up everyone's life. You had my stubbornness. Still do clearly. But now, you have such a strength about you. Your years alone, running, hiding, whatever you've been doing. They've made you just like her."

"I'm nothing like her." Emma shook her head.

"You don't even know her." James pointed out.

"Hold on." Emma darted behind a tree and came out with a bow and arrow. She shot it into a tree at something James couldn't see. There was a yelp as someone dropped onto the ground.

"Seriously?" Emma glared at the intruder. "Daniel what the hell?"

"I was just looking out for you." Daniel shrugged.

"I don't need you looking out for me." Emma crossed her arms.

"Yea that much is obvious." Daniel eyed the bow and arrow. "You almost killed me."

"I never miss." Emma tilted her head. "You know that."

"Yea." Daniel shifted uncomfortably. "So…"

"Go." Emma ordered.

"Right." Daniel nodded. "Sorry." Daniel held up an apologetic hand at James and ran off.

"Where did you get that?" James looked at the bow, clearly confused.

"I have these woods stocked. I know them like the back of my hands. I may not live in this realm but my friends and I visit here often. We know your woods better than you or the rest of your pampered court." Emma shrugged.

James shook his head, laughing. "What?" Emma narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing." James said. "It's just that your mother spent years in this forest, hiding, learning how to fight, making it her home."

"Really?" Emma tried to fight her intrigue.

"Yes." James said carefully. "Running from her stepmother. She hid out here and made her life as a thief trying to raise money to escape the kingdom."

"A princess was a thief?" Emma raised her eyebrow.

"Indeed." James nodded. "It's how we met. She attempted to steal from me."

"Well I frequently date my muggers as well." Emma said sarcastically.

James laughed, amazed at how much his daughter was like his wife. "I see your sassiness grew with you."

Emma tried to hide the smirk on her face. "I don't know how you are all so sure I'm your Emma."

James sighed. "Emma I would recognize you anywhere. You may have grown up but I still see my little girl. Those eyes of yours, they are the same ones that would sparkle every time you laughed, that would plead with me to let you do something your mother wouldn't allow, that made me cave every time."

"Eyes can be the same on a lot of people?" Emma shrugged but her resolve was weakening.

"Emma you are the mirror image of your mother." James sighed. "Except for your hair and your height, those you got from me, but I feel like I'm looking at her. That's not a coincidence"

"I can't." Emma held up her hands and paced away. "I'm sorry but I just can't. This can't be real. I… I can't do this."

"Why not?" James asked.

"Because this isn't real." Emma stated simply. "I don't have a family, certainly not one that loves me."

"Emma." James gently touched his daughter's shoulder. "I know this is hard for you to believe, that you're scared to accept this. But you have a family. You have parents that love you so much. We miss you more than anything Ems and we just want you to come home. We just want our little girl back."

"No." Emma pulled away. "This is insane. Madame wouldn't lie to me."

"Are you sure about that?" James asked carefully. Emma stood silently. She couldn't answer him. "Why don't you give it a chance? Just for a little bit. If you don't believe it's real, if you're not happy and you want to leave you can. Just try Emma."

Emma sized James up not speaking for a while. She couldn't understand why his case was so compelling to her. It was as if part of her wanted to please him, she couldn't understand why. Emma took a deep breath, letting her head fall. She looked up at James skeptically before finally sighing. "I'd have to get Madame's permission first."

"You don't have your freedom?" James asked.

"It's not like we're hostages." Emma explained. "But we're in her care. You understand, you can't just allow your charges to run off whenever they want." Emma saw a sadness in James's eyes and realized that he was the one who was supposed to be responsible for her safety, not Serafine. She continued quickly, feeling unnerved by his sadness. "She's reasonable. I'll explain to her and I'm sure she'll give me the time I need."

"So you'll come?" James asked hesitantly.

It pulled at Emma's heart to see the desperate hope in his eyes. "Ok, but I have a stipulation."

"Whatever you want." James couldn't hide his excitement.

"I know you have a rule against magic in this kingdom…" Emma started.

"Yes." James nodded. "That rule has cost us so much, but your mother and I were going to revoke that ten years ago when your magic manifested. Your magic has already cost us so much time with you, I won't let it take any more time from us."

"Fair enough." Emma nodded.

"Obviously we can't allow you to harm anyone." James said cautiously.

"That's not what magic is about." Emma shook her head. "I can't blame you for your misconceptions, you don't know anything about it. We're not all what you think. There's another thing though. Madame won't allow me to come alone. She worries about me. She'll want someone here with me to watch me."

"You want me to allow you to bring your friend." James said knowingly.

"He looks out for me." Emma explained. "He always has."

James sighed knowing he had to agree. He had no bargaining chips. "All right, but he's not allowed in your room after hours."

"Ew." Emma shook her head. She looked at James skeptically for a second. "I'll see you tomorrow. Mid afternoon exactly, same place."

"Would you allow me to escort you back to wherever you are going?" James asked.

"Oh there's no need, Daniel is waiting a little down the way." Emma motioned behind her. "But thank you."

"How did you know he is waiting?" James inquired.

"Because I know him." Emma said with humor in her voice. "Plus you can tell by the fact that the animals have moved out to the sides and behind you, but not behind me, that there is an individual close by."

"Wow, you really are quite skilled." James shook his head. "Just like your Aunt Red."

"I'm pretty good at knowing where individuals are so as to move undetected when I want to." Emma explained. "May I give you a piece of advice?"

"Yes?" James raised an eyebrow.

"I know moving undetected probably isn't a priority, being the king and all these are your woods. But if you want to move more swiftly, especially in fights, that cloak probably isn't the best idea." Emma suggested. "Don't get me wrong, it looks very nice and all, but it's a hindrance."

"Oh." James glanced at his cloak. "Well I guess you have a point, never know when I might be ambushed by a surly blonde with a penchant for fighting." He smiled at Emma. "I wear it as an identifier to any thieves who might be foolish enough to reside in these woods."

"It identifies you as mark." Emma pointed out, surprised the king hadn't thought of this before. "It tells them who you are and that you have a lot to steal. Thieves aren't bound be any sense of loyalty to a king."

"I think I can handle thieves well enough on my own thank you." James said. "Not much gets by me."

"Really?" Emma pulled a flask out from her vest and held it up for James to see. It bore his royal crest. "So I assume you noticed when I slipped this from you?"

"What?" James felt his pockets and then looked back up at the blonde. "When?"

"When you weren't paying attention." Emma opened the flask and inhaled. After being satisfied that it wasn't bad she took a drink. "You have excellent taste in mead."

"They let you drink?" James's eyes widened. "As young ladies?"

"We weren't exactly sent to finishing school." Emma laughed. "And of course we do. It's traditional after a hunt or a successful victory. Plus it really takes the edge of when your head is hurting and believe me, right now my head hurts."

"That's just not…" James shook his head. "Proper I guess."

Emma closed the flask and tossed it back to James. "Oh I think you'll soon discover if I indeed am your Emma that I wasn't raised to be the proper princess you probably expected me to be." She slung the bow over her shoulder. "Well I best get going. I need to time to convince Madame and collect my things. Until tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." James nodded and watched as Emma disappeared into the woods. If he didn't have dirt all over him as proof that he had been in a fight he almost wouldn't believe what had just happened. His first interaction with his daughter in ten years certainly wasn't what he had expected it to be. She was different than he had imagined her. No longer the sweet and proper princess whose wonder and innocence to the world endeared those around her, she had become a strong and independent young woman slightly jaded by her experiences. But as different as she was, there was still something so familiar about her. James knew that no matter how far their lives had taken them apart, part of his little Emma still resided in that girl.

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far - it really motivates me to work harder on this on since it is currently secondary to my main story By Faith Alone - the more love this story gets, the more attention it gets.

Debbie93: Thank you for your kind words or encouragement

Swany: I hope you liked this little James/Emma interaction - it's a little angsty but I have a feeling James won't let his little girl stay estranged for long ;)

Elena Mason: Thank you I wanted to make a complete separation from her old life so that's why I changed the name

Piccicca: Oh there will be angst and a lot of it. Not only does Emma not remember, when she does remember (if you'll look back to chapter 2) there is something big that they have to deal with. If anyone has any clues as to what that might be - I indicated who the issue was with not what it was exactly

Guest: The woman who took Emma - Serafine - is not Regina or Cora - Regina will show up but Serafine has other motivations - all will be revealed in time

Any questions - just ask - i'd be happy to answer.