A/N: Hello all! I have to say, you have left me speechless. I was honestly not expecting anyone to read this, it being my first story and all, but you have! Thank you so much! I hope that you all enjoy this next chapter, because I know I did. Again, I don't own any of these characters, and some of the lines have been taken from Anastasia or Once Upon a Time. Hopefully, I'll have another chapter for you next weekend. Cheers, and take care!
CHAPTER 2
"SHOVE OFF, MAKE way," Grumpy growled, pushing and elbowing his way through the crowded bar. He was going to kill that boy for making him leave their nice warm rooms, especially if he ended up hauling Killian's drunken ass into the nearest horse trough. Finally, he spotted a mop of dark hair and darker leather, and began making his way towards the bar.
He had to stop and blink when he reached Killian, because the boy was most definitely not drunk. There was also a distinct lack of pretty women draped over him. Grunting in approval, Grumpy plunked down in the stool next to the brooding Killian.
"Nice to see you sober, brother." A contemplative mumble was his only response. "Does this mean we can get back to work?"
"Aye, work!" Killian's head popped up off his arms, a devilish grin splitting his face. "The biggest job this realm has ever seen." Grumpy scowled.
"You don't mean…"
"Ah, but I do mean!" Killian winked.
"You swore you'd never." Grumpy's voice was an accusation, and Killian dropped his grin for a split second before it was settled firmly back in place.
"I swore a lot of things, mate. People change." His voice had turned dark, and he gestured to the bartender. "This is it for us, Grumpy. Just think! No more forging papers, no more stolen goods, no more highway robbery. We'll be set for life, mate! But you're free to leave if you haven't the stomach."
"Yeah, right." Grumpy scoffed, taking one of the glasses offered. He downed the thing in one shot, wincing as the rum burned its way through his insides. "As if you could do a thing without me, brother."
"Excellent." Killian downed his own drink, then pushed away from the bar. "I've made arrangements with a lovely gentleman to use his theatre for auditions. Surely some lass in this hellhole will want an out, and look like her. Not that it really matters. Come, Grumpy! We've an early morning ahead!"
"And an even longer journey." Grumpy muttered as he followed his only friend out of the bar.
THE SNOW WAS falling heavily, and Emma wrapped her coat closer to her body. She didn't have much else to do; the orphanage director was still rattling off instructions, glad to finally be rid of her problem charge.
"Now, I got you a job in the fish factory. You go straight down this path until you hit the fork in the road. Go left."
Fish. Emma thought. What else? She began examining her fingers, curious to see how long it would be before they turned blue.
"Are you listening?" The harsh voice broke through Emma's ponderings, and she sighed.
"I'm listening, Director." Apparently she wasn't convincing enough, because the Director rolled her eyes.
"You've been a thorn in my side since you got here, Miss Swan. Too old to be adopted, too bad mannered to get an apprenticeship, too closed off to have any friends."
Emma winced. That was a low blow.
"For the last twelve years, I've fed you, I've clothed you, I've-"
"Kept a roof over my head." Emma interrupted. She'd heard this spiel many times before. The Director fumed.
"How is it you don't have a clue as to who you were before you came to us, but you can remember all that?"
Emma bit down her initial response, Because you've reminded me of that fact every day I've been here, and instead protested the second half of her statement.
"I do have a clue!" She pulled out her necklace, turning it over to expose the engraving on its back.
"Oh, that." The Director rolled her eyes. "We will always find you. So, you want to find the people who gave you this necklace?" Emma nodded eagerly. "Miss Swan, it's time for you to grow up and take your place in life. In life and in line. And be grateful too." With those words, the Director marched back into the Orphanage grounds, and slammed the gate behind her. Emma poked her tongue out at the retreating woman before setting off down the path.
Being an orphan does have some benefits, she thought as she trudged through thick snow. I don't have to haul around any suitcases.
It didn't take long for her to get to the fork in the road, the one leading to the small fishing town. The Maritime Kingdom was full of those towns, and Emma knew that once you've seen one, you've seen them all. She shook her head, remembering the last time she'd been to town, and how it had ended. No need to drudge up bad memories.
"Be grateful." She muttered darkly. "What for? A lousy job? That stupid orphanage? Freezing my butt off in the snow? Yeah, right. I'm just grateful to get away!" Emma paused her grumbling to stare up at the sign post. There were three planks of wood marking the three directions; Orphanage, Fishing Village, and Royal City. "Go left, she says. Well I know what's left. I'll be Emma the orphan forever. But if I go right… Oh, get a grip, Emma. What would you even do? Walk all over the kingdom, see if anyone lost a baby around 18 years ago?"
Emma shuffled her feet, swaying left and right as her mind warred with her heart.
"Send me a sign!" She finally cried, throwing her arms up in defeat. "A hint! Anything!"
A small woof startled her, and she fell backwards into a snowbank. The small form of a scraggly puppy took this opportunity to dive onto Emma's chest, licking her face with gusto.
"Whoa, there!" She laughed, holding the squirming pup at arm's length. He had scruffy brown fur, turning coppery in places, with floppy ears and large paws. Definitely a puppy. "Where did you come from?"
The puppy refused to reply, instead wriggling out of her grasp to pull on her scarf. One quick tug, and the long strip of fabric pulled out of her pocket. The pup darted away from her grasping hands, over a snowbank and down the path a ways.
"Give that back, you little thief!" She called, chasing after her scarf. The dog paused, wriggling its behind in the air, before darting between her legs and past the sign pole.
"Oh, great." Emma sighed. "A dog wants me to go to the Royal City." The puppy only stared at her, until her mind caught up. "Oh! A sign!"
If dogs could roll their eyes, that's what Emma would say that the puppy did. He dropped her scarf and sat, calling a truce.
"Alright, I can take a hint." She scooped up her scarf and peered down at the pup. "You coming with me? It'll be a long road, and I'm not some lord who can feed you steak and mince." The dog barked in response. "I'll take that as a yes, then. If you're staying, I'll need something to call you."
Emma bent down to pick up the puppy, noticing that he was in fact a male. She stared into his eyes, and he stared back.
"How about… Henry." Henry's tail began wagging, and he woofed once more before licking Emma's nose.
"Perfect." She dropped Henry, and set off down the path to the Royal City.