Family Reunions Are Always Awkward

"ELIZABETH RUTH SWAN-JONES WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" Princess Emma Swan screamed, running down to the docks, her hair was a mess, her dress was several days old, and she looked so furious she might have set fire to the entire continent if she wanted.

Elizabeth's father, Killian, rushed over and grabbed Emma by the elbow, "They're alive, love, we can yell at Elizabeth later, but the others are worried sick."

Emma sighed, "Come," She commanded, and the three girls followed. In the throne room, were several people. Elizabeth's siblings, Henry, his wife, Liam, and Luke were standing by Snow and David, who were seated at their thrones. Melanie's parents, Robin, Regina, and even Zelena were there also. Zelena had anti-magic cuffs on, however.

"Melanie, thank god you're alright," Belle exclaimed, hugging her daughter will full might. Melanie hugged her mother back.

"You're not mad?" Melanie asked.

Belle laughed, "Are you kidding? I was running away from home when I was fourteen, you're a late bloomer."

"I didn't run away.. I wanted to come back, but-"

"Melanie, I'm just glad that you're okay," Belle told her. "You're an adult anyway. You can go wherever you want, just, please tell me next time."

Rumpelstiltskin approached his daughter, setting a hand on her shoulder. "Melanie, I'm glad nothing bad happened to you."

"Thank you, father," Melanie nodded curtly.

Meanwhile, Merida approached her family. Robin hugged his daughter, "Oh, you're alright, I was so worried, Merry."

"Yeah, no, I didn't even need to fire a single arrow, I was perfectly safe," Merida said.

Robin let go of his daughter and Regina hugged her, "You scared us."

"Sorry about that, Aunt Regina," Merida hugged her back.

Regina went to stand by Robin and Merida looked up at Zelena with questioning. Zelena awkwardly cleared her throat, "I am relieved that your adventure was successful and that you're not dead."

"Thank you, Mother," Merida replied. "As am I."

Elizabeth was looking down at her feet, "I'm sorry, Mom, Dad, I know that I should have told you but… I was…"

"You left, in the middle of the night, no note, your ship was gone, and we were so worried- a week went by, Liz, a week!" Emma exclaimed.

"I'm okay, though!"

"I know you're turning 18 in three months, but until then, you are still my baby," Emma told her. "And I am very mad at you."

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said.

Emma hugged her daughter, "Thank god nothing happened to you!" Emma then took a step back and reached up, stroking Elizabeth's face. Elizabeth was slightly taller than her mother.

Killian approached his daughter and hugged her, "You are a very reckless young lady, Elizabeth. How was the sea?"

"Seriously?" Emma asked her husband.

"We hit a storm on the way to Agrabah, but the sail back was clear." Elizabeth replied.

"Wait," Belle walked over, "Why did you three go to Agrabah?"

"I think why they left and where to is a question we all want answered," Regina agreed.

"I was listening in on your meeting the other day and I told Melanie about how the Shadowman could be stopped if that spell was used before he started creating talismans, but none of us were powerful enough to cast an entire spell on the Enchanted Forest." Elizabeth said.

"And I realized that we didn't have to, in the past, people have been able to alter the Dark Curse, if we went back in time to alter a cast of the Dark Curse, then we could protect the entire realm. Once we came back, the talismans could be destroyed by the spell, and it would also not create a paradox. The only thing we needed to get was a way to time travel," Melanie pulled the hourglass out of her satchel. "It's called the Sands of Time. I read about it when I was studying the sorcerer Jafar, he had it stored in a temple he created in Agrabah."

"They came to Sherwood Forest to tell me about it and the three of us decided to leave that night," Merida said. "We took Elizabeth's ship to Agrabah, and when we arrived, we found out that that very week, the Sultan wanted to take an expedition to Jafar's temple to get the gold. They had economic troubles. We went to join the expedition. He didn't want to let us on the expedition because we were girls, so Elizabeth challenged his best fighter to a duel."

"I won," Elizabeth added. "He found out that I was a Princess and that we had magic, and insisted that the three of us lead his expedition. We hung out with his daughter, Jasmine, until it was time for us to go to the temple. The temple had a simple protection spell, an army of skeletons that reanimated by activating a pressure plate, and a golden door that was difficult to open. We broke the protection spell, Melanie got rid of the pressure plate, Merida burned the skeletons, and I cut down the solid gold door."

"Then we returned to Agrabah, there was a party that involved feasting, dancing, fireworks, and the Sultan gave us our weight in gold to repay us for our troubles and let us keep the hourglass. The people of Agrabah gave us gifts for helping their city, and we sailed back," Merida finished.

"Before I forget, the Sultan gave me a contract that he wanted me to give you," Elizabeth told her grandparents. "Because he was so pleased with our kingdom that he wanted to set up an alliance and a system of commerce." She handed it to them.

"And now that you have the hourglass, what are you planning on doing with it?" Snow White asked.

"Go back to when you cast the Dark Curse," Melanie said. "We thought that would be the most opportune time. We would alter it, and then find a way back while in Storybrooke. We could lie that we came through in the curse, and that we didn't in the first one for whatever reason."

"Why the three of you?" David asked.

"Because we wouldn't have existed yet. No one could recognize us." Merida shrugged.

"But you don't know what would have happened, you could alter the timeline. Killian and I did that when we went back in time, and we had the book to go off of, you don't even have a book."

"That might not be true," Henry spoke up. "As the author, I can't control what happens, but I still record. I wrote a book Storybrooke. I could give it to them. While they would end up altering it, they would have something to go off of."

"We can do this," Elizabeth said. "Please, let us do this. We've done so much already."

"I have the spell," Belle said. "Elizabeth can cast it on the dark curse."

"And they'll need memory potions," Regina said. "I have a few bottles."

"They should take the Black Swan with them back in time," Killian said. The group agreed.

"And they should leave as soon as possible," David said. "We just found out that the Shadowman's vast army is on it's way, it may be here in a few days, or by tonight."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"You have to promise that you'll be safe," Emma told Elizabeth.

"I promise, Mom," Elizabeth promised, hugging her mother. "I love you."

"I love you too, Elizabeth." Emma replied.

Killian hugged his daughter, "You're a beautiful, talented, hard-working young woman. And I am very proud of you, and I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy," Elizabeth responded.

"Hey, Lizzy," Henry hugged his sister. "Be safe."

"Of course Henry," Elizabeth said.

"I was a bit of a stupid kid," Henry said. "So, I'm apologizing in advance for anything."

"Apology accepted," Elizabeth smiled.

"Here," Henry handed her his book, it was a thick book that looked like a novel. "There aren't any pictures."

"I'm sure all the authors had a different writing style." Elizabeth replied.

Liam hugged his sister from behind, "You're gonna kick ass."

"That's the general idea, Liam," Elizabeth answered, patting his arms that were crossed at her chest.

She knelt down and hugged Luke, her youngest brother, he was barely twelve. Luke hugged her back. He was crying, she wiped his tears, "I'll be back, Luke, you'll see."

Elizabeth walked over to her grandparents and hugged both of them, "I'll be careful."

"Thank you, Elizabeth," Snow said. "For doing this."

"You've become a terrific young woman," David agreed. "I wish Neal was could be here, but his wife could give birth any day, and he needs to stay in Arendelle."

"Well, tell Uncle Neal I love him."

Merida was saying farewell to her family, too.

"Goodbye, papa," She hugged her father, Robin hugged her back.

"Goodbye, Merry," He replied. "I love you."

"I love you too," She seconded. "Tell Roland that I love him, and hug the triplets for me. Also, lock them in the basement for me."

"Merida!" Robin exclaimed

"I'm kidding… mostly."

Zelena cackled.

Merida hugged Regina, "I'll be safe, Aunt Regina."

"I love you, Merida," Regina told her niece. "Here are the memory potions, I also have apples, red and green in there, and they aren't poisonous, wait this is the apple of discord," Regina pulled out a gold apple with greek inscripted on it and stuffed it into her dress. "And also I have a skeleton key, which will work on any building in Storybrooke, including my vault in case you need anything, I have all sorts of items in there, and uh… yeah."

"I love you too." Merida was chuckling, but she took the bag.

Merida approached Zelena who was still there, "I guess I'm doing what you couldn't," She told her mother.

"I time travelled, just not to the desired time," Zelena shrugged. "So I suppose you're right there. Be safe and all that stuff."

"I will be, Mother."

"If I say anything rude or nasty to you in the past, sorry."

"Thanks," Merida replied. "That's a lovely last message."

"What I'm trying to say is, I know that I'm not the best person," Zelena said. "And yes, I only got impregnated with you to get revenge on your aunt, but, I guess there were more benefits than I expected to having you. So, while I may be bad at it, I do want you to know that I care about your wellbeing. I grew up feeling unwanted and I just always hoped you never felt that way."

"I never did." Merida smiled. She walked away.

"Having a kid has turned you into a sap, sis," Regina said as Merida's back was turned.

"Shut up," Zelena said. "I may not be able to turn you into a monkey, but I can still punch you in the face."

Melanie was also saying farewell to her family.

"Mom, mom, I can't breathe," Melanie protested as Belle squeezed her. "Mom, please, I… can't… breathe!"

Belle finally let go, she was crying, "When I first had you, I knew that you would be the best thing that ever happened to me. I am proud to say that I was right. I love you, so much, Melanie."

"I love you too Mom," Melanie replied.

"This is the spell for Elizabeth to perform, all she has to do is fill the crystal with her magic and drop it in the cauldron."

"I'll relay the message." Melanie promised. She turned to her father. "Father… uh, goodbye."

"Melanie I'm sorry I wasn't-"

"I really need to go," Melanie said, nervously glancing at Merida and Elizabeth bored, and looking for an excuse to not have a conversation. "I'm sorry, I'll see you later, love you."

She smiled at her mother wistfully for the last time and walked off. The three girls boarded the Black Swan. They waved back at their family as they entered the water.

"Activate the hourglass," Elizabeth commanded.

Melanie and Merida held it, and their red and green magic made the sand look like rubies and emeralds. Melanie handed the hourglass to Elizabeth, who made the glass glow with her light magic, she chucked it into the water. Where it landed, a portal opened in the water. Elizabeth steered her ship into the whirlpool, "Next Stop," She exclaimed. "Twenty years ago!" The masts of the Black Swan disappeared under the water.