Notes: Big thank you for the comments and encouragement. It helps with motivation to keep writing. For those enjoying Hope and Zelena there is more of them in this chapter. Please keep posting your thoughts on this story!

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Chapter 5: Something Wicked This Way Comes

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Six a.m. came far too early for Emma's liking, though she had slept far better the prior night than she had in weeks. A quick shower and a cup of coffee really helped her motivate.

She even managed to have packed up most of her and Hope's things by the time her daughter woke up. After changing the toddler and sitting her in the high chair to enjoy breakfast, Emma was even able to finish off the remainder of her list of items to accomplish before they left town. It helped that Hope had inherited her mother's love of food. If the little girl had something to eat in front of her, Emma could often get a few things done in the mornings.

After wiping her daughter's face and cleaning off her hands, Emma picked Hope up from the high chair and settled her on her hip. Concentrating on the pile of things to be moved to the car, she bit her lip.

Here is where help would have been welcome. She could always put the toddler in the seat and come back for the items or she could leave Hope inside praying that the little girl didn't get into too much trouble, but neither option was ideal. Emma didn't like leaving her daughter out of her sight for too long or any time at all really unless someone she trusted was nearby.

Suddenly, a voice from the night before rang out in her mind. Zelena's sarcastic pompous tone was evident as she heard the wicked witch ask her again "Seriously?" Reminding Emma that she had magic.

Looking at Hope, she half smirked, half grimaced. "Think Mommy can magic these things into the bug, kid?"

As if in encouragement, the little girl smiled a cheeky grin and patted Emma's cheek affectionately. "Umma, gic."

Emma's insides warmed at her daughter's response. "I'll take that as a yes. Well, here goes nothing kid." Concentrating on the desired outcome she focused her emotions on the pile. A poof of white smoke enveloped the items.

Emma looked around the room, almost in disbelief. Her daughter squeezed happily clapping her hands together, "gic! Gic!"

Breaking into a wide grin herself, Emma twirled them around while her daughter laughed. Nuzzling Hope's neck, causing them both to laugh, she blew out a breath. "Let's hope they made it to the car."

Fortunately, they had. Emma had done another proud twirl with her little one before setting the child into her car seat and driving them to Town Hall.

Despite being on time, they were still the last to arrive. Snow was trying to wrangle her son while also attempting to advise her husband on their belongings. Zelena was off to the side watching them with an expression of both bemusement and minor disgust, until she spotted Emma and Hope.

Strolling over to the car, she magicked the toddler into her arms and blew a raspberry on the happy child's chubby cheek causing her to squeal contentedly. "You are far better company than tweedle dee and tweedle dum over there."

Emma bit her lip to keep from laughing as she popped the hood of the bug to get access to their stuff. Glancing at her parents trying to manage their load she looked down at the pile and sighed.

"Seriously?" A repeat of this morning's internal chastisement repeated itself only out loud this time. Huffing, the red head flicked her wrist and Emma and Hope's stuff disappeared in a green puff of smoke.

Emma looked at the witch in surprise and tilted her head questioningly. As if in answer, Zelena just shrugged her shoulders.

She wasn't sure if Zelena was actually being nice or if their stuff was now at the bottom of a lagoon somewhere. Watching the witch blow another raspberry on her daughter's cheek causing the baby to once again squeal in delight, she corrected the thought to "her" stuff being lost in an abyss somewhere. Hope's stuff was obviously sent where it needed to be.

"Oh, do stop it," the witch huffed, "it's all at Regina's." Rolling her eyes she continued. "Yes, yours as well."

Emma's eyebrows rose and she smirked. Before she could even say thank you, a loud crashing noise from behind them evidenced that the Charmings were still struggling with their mound of items.

Glancing back at Zelena, Emma noted that it was now the witch's turn to smirk.

"Don't push it." The redhead huffed at the blond before winking conspiratorially causing both her and Emma to start laughing. Hope quickly joined in the glee though she had no idea why they were actually laughing.

Somehow they managed to get everyone and the Charming's belongings through the portal when it appeared.

Emma had only a few minutes of amusement before realizing that Zelena's hands were full with Hope and Snow was wrangling her little brother. That left her to help her dad with the copious amount of luggage and she didn't trust her magic quite enough to poof it to Regina's castle as Zelena had done.

The one plus of the chaos was that it prevented a grilling by her mother at Hook's absence. She got off easy with a brief explanation, telling her parents that he had decided to take the time while she was away to head out to sea with his crew on an adventure. Her mother had responded with a distracted "that's nice dear," while chasing after Neal, but her father had eyed her a bit longer, as though gauging her emotional state. She had smiled at him in reassurance and he took it, though he did squeeze her arm as if to remind her he was there for her. It made her eyes tear and she had immediately turned back to helping with the bags.

By the time they got to the other side of the portal and the waiting coaches were loaded to the brim, Emma collapsed in the seat next to Zelena. She glared at the witch, who ignored her and continued to entertain Hope.

"I still don't get why she likes you so much." Emma snorted watching the pair. Zelena was conjuring silly little creatures in her hand who would stomp around dramatically to Hope's enjoyment until the toddler laughingly smooshed them into what looked like small piles of melted marshmallows. After a long pause they would begin to re-inflate into something else and the game would begin anew.

"Well, the little poppet is half evil. Pirate DNA you know." Glancing at the older blond, she tilted her head. "Or perhaps a larger percentage? You're not nearly as intolerable as the other heroes. Maybe there's still a bit of evil floating around in there as well." Trailing off she went back to her game with Hope.

Emma rolled her eyes, then laid her head back and gazed out the window. The castle was swiftly approaching, reminding Emma that she had something to discuss with the matriarch. A weird feeling settled in her stomach at the thought of seeing Regina.

Ignoring the feeling, she turned to Zelena with a realization. "You know magic?" The thought popping out of her mouth before she could stop it.

"Master of the obvious now?" The witch scoffed in response.

"What I meant was," Emma reigned in the surge of annoyance, at both herself and the redhead, "that I have a question for you about magic. At least I think it's magic related."

Pushing forward when she saw the witch's mouth begin to form what would obviously be a wisecrack, she continued. "I've noticed a few people, they kind of have been getting lost in their thoughts or something. It's been happening more frequently, and when it does happen, I swear I see something in their eyes that isn't meant to be there, but it's so fast I just don't…"

Lost in thought Emma almost missed the change in Zelena's attitude. The witch had turned in her seat in order to gave Emma her full attention. "Can you tell me specific examples?"

Emma nodded and then shared the details of her encounters with Hook and Snow.

Zelena's eyes darted around as she was thinking over what Emma had shared, "this thing in their eyes, that you think you see, can you describe it?"

Emma struggled to do so. "It's almost like it glows and there are these colors swirling around their irises. It's never there very long though."

"What colors?" Zelena frowned.

Emma closed her eyes, focusing on the memories, "…red and …blue."

"You need to tell Regina." Zelena's expression was hard to read. For a moment it looked almost as if she might have been about to share more with the blond, but then she looked away out the window.

"That's it?" Emma pushed. "No theories or whatever?"

Ignoring her, Zelena raised Hope up to allow the toddler to stand on her legs and look out the window, "Oh, look poppet we've arrived."

The hustle of getting them all unloaded and into the castle was a blur. Fortunately, Emma didn't have to move the bags inside as the staff handled all of that. While still awkward, in past conversations Regina had explained they were paid for their work, so Emma chose to think of it as a ridiculously fancy hotel.

Finally relaxing enough to look around at the room they had been led into, Emma sighed deeply. She went to sit, but was stopped by a cough. Turning around she spotted the group of them at the door as if they were getting ready to leave again.

"Emma?" Snow questioned.

"Um, yeah?" The blond quirked an eyebrow up.

"Don't you want to… freshen up?" Her father asked gently.

"Huh?" Emma was honestly perplexed but she still noticed Zelena hiding her face behind Hope as she snickered.

"What your father means is that, you should go change," Snow paused and Emma just stared at her as though lost.

"Change what?"

Groaning in exasperation, Zelena snapped. "Your clothes!"

"Why would I change my clothes?" Emma looked down at herself. They were clean, she put them on this morning. She didn't remember spilling anything on her self. Had she stepped in something? She spun around trying to look at her backside.

"What they're trying to graciously imply," a familiar voice came from behind causing Emma's cheeks to warm, "is that you might want to dress in something that fits more with the style of the kingdom. Not that your leather jacket isn't a … unique choice in any realm."

"Regina," Emma's eyes snapped to the brunette who had entered the room with her usual grace and flair. The giant warm smile gracing her features was a happy surprise though.

"Your Majesty," Emma heard her parents echo each other from behind. She barely kept herself from rolling her eyes, but still caught the knowing and amused expression Regina sent her way as their eyes locked far too briefly.

"No need for that," the Queen waived her hand dismissing the formalities.

"Good, glad we got that out of the way," Zelena scoffed, "as we all know I won't be addressing you in that manner." Sweeping across the room, she leaned in to give Regina a one armed hug.

The toddler in her arms realizing her beloved auntie was in reach squealed and dove for the queen, heedless of propriety. "Regina!"

"Oh, hello, my little love." Regina embraced Hope, setting a soft kiss on her temple, before settling her on her hip. Emma's heart melted a little even before her daughter cuddled into the amply displayed bosom. The blond quickly looked away.

"Traitor," Zelena teased affectionately tucking a stray hair on Hope's head behind her ears. "Well guess that frees me up to, what was it you said," gazing behind her at the Charmings, "oh yes, freshen up."

Waving her hand up the front of her, green magic billowed up from the floor covering the witch briefly. Upon dissipating, she was now attired in a beautiful green gown, displaying even more cleavage than her sister. "Glad that's sorted." Zelena shot Emma a competitive smirk. "Did you need to go freshen up somewhere?"

Emma grit her teeth and shot back a glare. She would love to try and magic herself a new outfit, but she wasn't quite confident enough to do it, and the last thing she needed was to end up naked in front of her parents, Zelena, and Regina. The last thought made her swallow hard. Trying to transfer the focus off of her, she moved toward Regina as she replied, "I suppose I should at least change Hope."

"I'd be happy to get this poppet sorted." The witch gestured at Hope who was playing with Regina's necklace as the brunette placed affectionate kisses on her temple. "Magically, of course," she smirked again at the blonde.

"No, that's not necessary," Emma replied to the witch as she leaned toward Regina to take Hope, whispering so that only the brunette would hear, "I'd rather not have my daughter dressed like an LOL doll."

Regina snorted and covered her snicker behind a fake cough. She smiled and caught Emma's eye.

Emma was glad Regina caught the had ended up discussing the toys when Maleficent had inquired about them to Regina. Apparently, Lily adored the things and had started a collection. Momma dragon had wanted to acquire more as a gift for her daughter. The series of text messages exchanged between Regina and Emma over the dolls had brought them both hours of enjoyment.

"Why don't you all take a few moments to catch your breath and get more comfortable. We will be in the garden when you return." Turning, the queen took her sister's arm gently and led her toward the gardens.

Zelena shot a look over her shoulder at the blonde, and Emma heard a whisper next to her ear even though the red head's mouth never moved. "If you practiced your magic this could be you right now."

Emma's face flushed red and she was so glad Regina wasn't looking at her at that moment. The wicked witch winked at the blond before turning and laughing, hopefully at something Regina shared and not at Emma (though the blond couldn't be sure).

Turning toward her parents, Emma snuggled her face into Hope's neck in hopes of hiding her embarrassment as she followed them out of the room.

"I simply don't know what to make of Zelena sometimes," Snow commented, shaking her head. Emma just grunted in response.