Attacked

Many people have asked for a oneshot of a follow up to "Safe in my arms".

It turned out, Emma had a right to be worried. Thomas Oakland had spent his time in jail planning how he would get his own back on the little brat who cost him his freedom. He'd made sure someone always had eyes on Emma, so he knew exactly where to go searching when he got out. Some stupid town in Maine called Storybrooke…

Emma had almost forgotten that Thomas was out. It had been weeks since his release. She'd taken a half day from the station to surprise her family by making dinner for them all coming home, she knew her mom was spending the day with Neal at Ella's. She was just chopping up an onion when she heard the front door click quietly in the hall.

"Whichever one of you it is stay out of the kitchen!" She yelled, not wanting her surprise ruined.

"Do I count in that Emma?" Came a gruff voice. Emma jumped, spinning round. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him. Sure, he was definitely older now, and he had a scraggly beard where his face used to be clean shaven, but that was Thomas.

"No." Emma said under her breath. "No, you can't be here!" How had he gotten in? He chuckled, teeth displayed in a sick grin.

"Oh it wasn't easy, this little town is hard to find. But I got here in the end. I've been keeping an eye on you for a very long time, Emma. Wouldn't want you slipping away now would I?" He started to walk slowly towards her. Emma quickly reached behind her and grabbed the knife, holding it defensively in front of her.

"Don't come any closer!" She demanded, the knife shaking slightly in her hand. Thomas didn't look frightened at all.

"Oh Emma, we both know you haven't got the guts for that, don't we? You're far too weak." He spat. Emma didn't lower the knife, it was the only line of defence she had. Thomas sighed. "Have it your way then." Before Emma could react, he had knocked the knife out of her hand and had her arm twisted painfully behind her back. Emma screamed out in agony, which only prompted him to twist it more. "See, I told you. I promised you I'd come and get you. I've waited twenty five years, Emma. And you're going to feel every single one."

"There, home now little man. Did you have a nice time with Auntie Ella and Alex, huh?" Snow cooed to her little boy as she got him out of his car seat. She settled him in one arm and walked up to the door, searching for her keys in her pocket. As she did, she was aware of noise coming from inside the house. Screaming. Emma screaming. Snow immediately knew something was wrong. But before she unlocked the door she grabbed her phone from her pocket and sent her husband a text with three simple words: come home now. Snow quickly found her keys and shoved them in the lock, wrenching the door open. She dashed into the living room and set Neal in his Moses basket so she knew he was safe before following the sound of the screaming to the kitchen. What she saw made her blood boil. Emma was lying curled up in a ball on the floor, trying to defend herself from an onslaught of kicks. Snow recognised the man immediately from his picture in the paper.

"HEY!" Snow bellowed. This caused him to pause. He turned and stared angrily at Snow. "BACK AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER." Thomas' lips turned upwards into a smile. Snow had one eye on him and one on Emma. She was going to need to go to hospital- and so would Thomas when she and Charming were finished with him.

"Your daughter?" He questioned. "Honey, I think you need a little help. She's the same age as you. Now I suggest you back up and let me finish off here unless you want a beating too-"

"You lay one more finger on my daughter and it'll be the last thing you do." Snow snarled. The man seemed amused. He stepped closer to Snow.

"Alright lady, don't say I didn't warn you." He suddenly charged towards her, aiming to tackle her into the wall. He wasn't expecting Snow to be prepared, she slid to the left and let him crash headfirst into the wall. She then grabbed him by the back off the head and pulled his face down, kneeing him in the nose. Blood started to pour from his nostrils as he yelped in pain.

"That is nothing." Snow warned him. "But I'm going to wait till my husband gets here." She quickly took off the strap from her jacket and used it to tie his limbs together so he couldn't get up. "Try and move and you'll regret it." She snarled before going over to where Emma was huddled, shaking. Emma flinched when Snow touched her shoulder.

"Oh honey, what has he done to you?" Snow asked quietly. She wanted to go back over and claw his eyes out, but Emma needed her just now.

"Hurt." Emma said quietly. She wasn't half. Snow carefully pulled up her top slightly and hissed at the sight of Emma's torso, it was a complete mess.

"Snow?" Snow heard Charming call her. "What's wrong? I got your text."

"Come into the kitchen." Snow said, trying to keep her voice vaguely calm. Charming entered and saw the man lying there, nose still bleeding. He saw Snow with an obviously seriously injured Emma.

"Is he?" Charming asked, pointing at the man. Snow nodded, both their eyes sharing a burning hatred for this man. Charming left the room, and when he came back he was carrying his sword. He untied the man and forced him to his feet, pointing the sword at him. "Give me one good reason, "Charming growled "Why I shouldn't run you through with my sword for hurting my daughter time and time again?" Thomas' eyes were almost going crossed trying to look at the end of the sword. He gulped.

"Wh- where did you get that?" He stammered.

"From my castle. I am a King. And you have hurt my princess when she was innocent and defenceless." Charming shoved Thomas up against the wall and started to lay into him. Charming knew the Hell Thomas had put Emma through, and he would pay. Suddenly, Emma became unconscious.

"No no no!" Snow said, gently shaking her, but to no avail. "Charming, we have to go to hospital- now!" Charming grabbed his handcuffs from his belt and turned Thomas around, cuffing him. He pulled him unceremoniously outside and into the back of the cruiser. He made sure he locked it and then rushed back inside for Emma.

"You go get Neal, I've got her." Charming said, picking Emma up. "I'll leave you with her at the hospital while I lock him in a cell. I'll come straight back, I promise." And he meant it, he didn't want to leave Emma at all. Snow nodded, leaving to get her son. Charming kissed Emma's forehead. "Hold on baby, you're going to be alright."

It took time, but Emma did recover from her attack. Knowing that Thomas was now locked away in the depths of Storybrooke with a dwarf always on guard helping to ease her fears. Her parents hardly left her side during the whole recovery. They would hold her hand or hug her when she needed to feel safe, or even spend the whole night standing guard outside her room. It would take her time to feel completely safe again, but that was one fear she could lock away for good.