Grandparents- Part 2

A few people asked for a oneshot of Emma meeting Ruth as well as Leopald and Eva. To avoid picking one suggestion over any other I just made up my own. :)

Emma ran as fast as her legs would allow in the direction of the forest. She just wanted to go home. She still had one problem to solve, she had to be in the centre of the forest, and she had no way to know where that was. She was going to have to ask someone. She had passed the nearest village ages ago. But fortunately for Emma she could see a cottage in front of her with someone out front with her back to Emma feeding chickens. Despite the burning in her lungs Emma forced herself to keep running. She was so close.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me." Emma panted. The woman stopped feeding the birds, stood up straight, and turned to face Emma. Emma nearly fainted. How? How could this happen twice in one day?! There was again no mistaking it, this was her other grandmother, Ruth.

"Of course dear, how can I help?" Emma shook her head trying to clear it. She had to remind herself that Ruth wasn't going to recognise her. Despite her mouth feeling dry as sandpaper, Emma forced herself to speak.

"I need to find my way to the centre of the forest. Do you know the way?" She asked. Ruth smiled.

"You want to speak to the fairies, don't you?" She asked knowingly. Emma stayed silent, not knowing how much she should say. "Don't worry, you aren't the first and you won't be the last to pass through here seeking their help." Ruth pointed to a path into the forest. "If you follow that path it will lead you straight to the centre. But you're quite early. If you leave now you'll be sitting in that cold forest until nightfall." Come, you can stay for a while in my cottage with me.

"Oh I wouldn't want to intrude." Emma said reluctantly. She wasn't sure she could keep up being fake for too long with the kind woman.

"Nonsense, I insist. My son is sleeping and my husband is out talking to our landlord." As if on cue, Emma heard a shrill English voice in the near distance.

"I'm getting tired of this shepherd! Get me my money by the end of the week or say goodbye to your precious farm!" Ruth grimaced, embarrassed.

"Bo Peep can be quite a strict landlord. Not to worry. My husband is going to market tomorrow to sell some wool from our sheep. I'm sure we'll get our money for her there." Ruth said hopefully. Emma could see where her father got his hopeful spirit from. "Anyway, you must have traveled far. I'll put some tea on." Before Emma could offer to do it herself Ruth was up placing the tea pot over the fireplace. "So, where have you journeyed from, if you don't mind me asking?" Ruth asked. Emma tried to keep her cool, she had to remember and not give too much away.

"I just came from the Enchanted Forest today. I'm from a kingdom called Maine. I'm hoping the fairies can help me return there."

"Ah, a very long journey then." Ruth said as she poured the tea into two wooden cups and handed one to Emma who smiled gratefully. Ruth was just so kind. Emma was sure she would have made a wonderful nana.

Over the next hour or so Emma answered Ruth's questions as best she could. It was hard maintaining a fake life. Then they heard a baby crying from the bedroom. Emma realised that was her dad crying. This situation was too strange.

"Well that would be my son reminding us that you have some fairies to meet. Well it's been lovely getting to know you...I haven't even heard your name!" Emma smiled, what harm could it do now?

"My name is Emma." She told her. Ruth smiled.

"Emma, lovely name. If my son had been a daughter that is what we were going to call him." Ruth said. Emma gave a surprised smile. So that's where her name came from. "Anyway, go, you don't want to miss them." Emma couldn't resist, she pulled Ruth into a hug knowing she'd never get to do it in her own time. Ruth jumped slightly in shock, but placed a kind hand on the girl's back.

"Thank you for your kindness Ruth."

"Wait, I didn't tell you my name?" Ruth asked. Emma bit her lip, she'd said too much. She pulled out of the hug and gave an apologetic smile before running out of the cottage and towards the forest. Towards home.

Emma eventually found herself in the centre of the forest. The suspicious spotlight the moon created seemed to be the clue.

"Um, hello?" Emma called out. "Fairies? I need your help!" There was a small poof and a golden sparkle.

"Oh drat!" Came a squeaky voice. "I didn't mean to drop that!" Emma could see a little fairy hovering above her. The fairy turned and saw Emma.

"Oh well." She said. "Hi there. My name is Nova and I've been sent to help you. What can I do for you?" Emma's eyes widened as she realised this was Sister Astrid in her world. Far too strange!

"I wish to go back to the land without magic." Emma said. "Please." Nova grimaced.

"Well that'll be tricky, but I think I can do that." Emma smiled, relieved. This was finally over. It was time to go home.