Here's the next chapter! Please don't forget to let me know what you think :)
Chapter 9
The four of them made their way over to Mr. Gold's shop, hoping they would be able to convince him to help. Regina knew he would be more than willing to assist them because he would want to keep Cora far away from Storybrooke as much as she did. Cora was dangerous, and they both knew that. Who knows what would happen if she came to their small town. Neither one of them wanted to find out.
Hanna stood with her dad as she watched Henry lay down on the bed in Mr Gold's shop. Regina was trying to make him comfortable, she even brought him his blanket from her house. Hanna thought that was very nice of her…maybe she really was trying to change. Hanna's head was a bag of mixed emotions. She was worried about Henry going back into that burning room. She knew he couldn't help going there when he slept at night, but to go there willingly made her nervous. Apparently that room was very real, and she didn't want anything bad to happen to Henry while he was in there. What if something went wrong? What if the necklace Mr. Gold gave him stopped working and he could no longer control the flames? What if that girl he saw, Aurora, wasn't there when he went in? Along with her worries, she also felt a little bit excited. Excited to find out that her mom and Emma were alive, and they had a plan to come back. They were one step closer to seeing them again. Since Jefferson's hat was destroyed, this was their only chance to bring them home. Hanna couldn't help to feel happy that Henry had found a way to communicate with them. If this all worked, she would get to see her mom again and her sister. She wasn't sure if she would ever get the chance to see them again, but now thanks to Henry and this burning room, she might.
David walked over and sat down on the bed next to Henry. "You sure you're okay to do this kid?"
"I was born to do this," Henry started, "I'm done reading about heroes. I want to be one."
"Sometimes being a hero means knowing when not to run into the flames."
"I want to do this," Henry told David.
"Henry, are you sure?" Hanna asked him. She still had this feeling that something bad might happen.
"I'll be okay," he assured her with a smile.
Hanna nodded her head and listened to her best friend. If he says he can do it, then she believed him. She trusted that he would be able to do this and tried to let all of her worries go away, but that was easier said than done.
Mr. Gold walked over and told Henry to just relax. He said all Henry needed to do was listen to his bedtime story, and the way to beat Cora would be revealed. As he waved his hand over Henry, he began to tell him about the squid ink that could be used to defeat Cora and that it was located in his jail cell. Before he even finished, Henry was fast asleep.
They all stood by watching and waiting for Henry to wake back up. It didn't seemed like it had been very long before Henry's eyes shot open, and he was breathing rapidly. Hanna knew from the way he was acting something bad happened while he was in that room. She rushed over to make sure he was okay.
"Henry! Are you alright?"
"Did you see her? Did you tell her the plan?" Mr Gold asked, not seeming to be concerned that there was definitely something wrong with Henry.
"I…I didn't get the chance. She got sucked out of there," Henry said as he winced in pain grabbing his arm. "Something's wrong."
Regina came over and pulled back the sleeve of his shirt to reveal a large burn. Much worse than the one he had gotten earlier. Everyone gasped at the sight of Henry's arm. Everyone except Mr. Gold that is. He did, however, wave his hand over Henry's arm, making the burn disappear completely. After Regina demanded to know what caused this, Mr. Gold explained that there are risks to venturing deeper into the Netherworld. He told them Henry was lucky it wasn't worse and that he would need time to recover before going back in.
Regina and David about lost it at the mention of Henry going back there. They weren't going to let anything like this happen to him again. Hanna was relieved to hear them refuse to let Henry go back into the burning room. She knew something bad was going to happen, and she didn't want Henry getting hurt even worse. She knew they needed to tell her mom and Emma the way to defeat Cora, but using Henry as a messenger wasn't going to be an option. Hanna had faith that they would find another way to get them the information they needed, she just wasn't sure how…that is until she heard her father start to speak.
"Put me under one," David said to Mr. Gold.
Hanna wasn't sure she had heard her father correctly. She missed the beginning of that conversation, but she was pretty sure she heard him tell Mr. Gold to put him under a sleeping curse. Then she definitely heard Mr. Gold tell him that he might not wake up. Hearing that sent Hanna's brain straight into panic mode. She already lost her mother and her sister, she didn't want to lose her dad too. Of course, he wouldn't physically be going anywhere, but what if he never woke up? What if Snow wasn't able to wake him up like he thought? What if she wasn't even there for him to tell her about the squid ink in Rumplestiltskin cell? What if he was doing all of this for nothing? Hanna just took a deep breath to try and calm herself down. She knew this was probably their best shot at helping her mom and Emma come home. She knew from all of the stories that Snow White and Prince Charming always found each other. No matter how hard the obstacles in front of them seemed, they always made it through. Her parents had unfailing faith in one another. They believed. Hanna was trying to have that same faith as her parents right now, but it was not easy.
After a while, Regina had finished the sleeping curse, and it was almost time to put their plan into action. They didn't have any poisoned apples, so David was going to have to do this the old fashioned way by pricking his finger on the needle of a spinning wheel. Hanna watched as Henry gave David the necklace. He wanted David to be able to control the flames in the room. He gave Henry a hug in return, then turned to Hanna and gave her a reassuring smile. That smile was a promise that he was going to bring her mother and her sister home and that they would all get to be together as a family again. Hanna tried to put on a brave face as David lifted his finger and moved it closer and closer to the spinning wheel. She tried to look deep inside herself and find that belief and faith that her parents always had. Part of her knew this would work and soon everything would be alright again. The other part of her, the stronger part at the moment, began to worry. All of those thoughts jumped back into her head, the ones she tried to suppress before. They were back and she couldn't stop them.
"Wait!" she yelled just before her father had touched the needle.
David stopped and looked over at his daughter. He could see the panic in her eyes. He hadn't seen it earlier when they were discussing the plan. He figured she must have been holding it all in and using those walls of hers to keep him from seeing how she really felt. Well, those walls were down, and he could see that his little girl was truly terrified. He pulled his finger away from the needle. He wanted to make sure any fears she might have about this were put to rest before he continued.
"How do you know this is going to work?" Hanna began. "What if she isn't there? What if you don't wake up? What if…"
"Hey, hey…Hanna. Calm down."
"I…I can't," she said as she shook her head, her breathing starting to become rapid. "I…I c-can't lose you t-too."
"Listen to me," he said as kneeled down in front of her and gently held her arms.
Hanna did her best to catch her breath and really listen to what her dad had to say. She needed to hear from him that everything was going to be okay.
"I know this is going to work because I have faith," David began, "just like Henry did when he took a bite of that turnover. He believed in Emma, that she would wake him up. That's the kind of faith our family has. I have no doubt in my mind that your mother is going to be waiting for me in that burning room. She will be there. She'll find a way back. And I am going to wake up." David just looked into Hanna's eyes and hoped that this would ease all of her worries. He wanted her to trust him and know that everything was going to work out.
Hanna really listened to what David had told her. He was right. He had the same faith that Henry did when he took that bite. Hanna needed to have it to, and it was easy to find when she looked into the eyes of her father. She could feel it. Everything was going to be okay. This was going to work. Her mom was going to be in that room waiting to hear about how to defeat Cora. She was going to wake up her Prince Charming, and they would all be together again really soon. Hanna gave her father a smile, letting him know that she was okay now. "Just promise you'll come back to me Daddy," Hanna said as she wrapped her arms around him.
David was stunned for a moment. He wasn't sure he heard right. Had she just called him "Daddy?" She hadn't really called him anything since the curse had broken. He felt overjoyed. He pulled Hanna into his arms and held her tight. This was one of the happiest moments in his life. Hanna pulled back and gave her father another smile. "I will always come back to you," David told her. Hanna didn't want to let go, but she knew he needed to get to that burning room soon if he was going to get Emma and her mom back. David stood up and walked over to the spinning wheel. Hanna could feel the tears running down her cheeks as she watched him reach out for the needle once more.
They all sat and waited for David to wake back up. A lot of time had passed since he had gone under the sleeping curse. They had expected Snow to kiss him in the burning room and wake him up, but it didn't seem like it was working.
"Shouldn't he be awake by now?" Henry asked. "This is taking too long."
"They're probably just catching up," Regina told him. "He's fine."
Henry turned back to look at David, but Hanna was watching the adults in the room. She saw the look that was exchanged between Regina and Mr. Gold. They were worried. They knew it wasn't going to work. Hanna's heart sank. Her mom wasn't able to wake her dad up with a kiss in that room. Hanna realized the only way to get her dad out of the sleeping curse was for Snow to kiss him in person. Hanna knew that her mom had been waiting there for him, she could feel it. For some reason the kiss just didn't work. Her dad passed on the information about how to defeat Cora. Snow and Emma would get that squid ink and be on their way home soon. Hanna had faith in them. She believed they could do this. They always find each other. Her dad might not have woken up as soon as she thought he would, but her mom was going to find a way back to him.
Henry and Hanna sat in the back of the shop with David. They took turns reading the storybook to him. They read him his stories. The stories of Snow White and Prince Charming. They figured those would be the stories he would want to hear. The ones that would comfort him the most. The kids were there with David alone. Regina had come back a little while ago to tell them that she and Mr. Gold were going to go prepare for Emma and Mary Margaret's return. She said they may need some help getting through the portal. Henry was surprised to hear that Regina was willing to help them. He was really happy that she was changing and trying to do the right thing. Hanna was glad too. She had faith that her mom and Emma were going to come back, but she was still a little worried. Now that they had the Evil Queen and Rumplestiltskin on their side though, there was no doubt in her mind her mom and Emma were going to make it back safely. They were two of the most powerful people in Storybrooke and having them on their team definitely was a good thing.
Hanna and Henry were happily reading to David when someone came bursting into the shop. They looked up to see Ruby and the dwarves trailing behind her. The looks on their faces told Henry and Hanna that something was wrong, and they were afraid to hear what had happened.
"Where are they?" Ruby asked the kids. "Regina and Mr. Gold, where are they?" She sounded very angry.
"What's going on?" Hanna asked.
"The magic has been drained from the mines," Ruby told her.
"They stole it?" Hanna asked in disbelief.
"They came in after our shift and took everything," Grumpy said.
"If they're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, that means my mom…she lied to me," Henry said looking defeated. He had really believed she was trying to change…that she was going to help Emma and Mary Margaret get home, but she wasn't. Henry, with a determined look on his face continued, "We have to find them. We need to stop them. We need to help Emma and Mary Margaret."
Ruby was able to track down their scent pretty quick. They ran through the woods for a while until they finally came upon them. They were by the well. Hanna figured that must be where her mom and Emma were going to come through. Regina and Mr. Gold did something to the well though. There was some sort of green flashing light coming from it. Hanna didn't know what the green light meant, but she had a feeling that it wasn't going to help her mom and sister at all.
"Mom?" Henry said as he walked towards Regina. "You're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret are you?"
"I'm helping you," she told him. "We can't let Cora through."
Ruby tried to run forward and stop whatever was coming from the well, but she was blasted back by Mr. Gold and knocked out.
"Emma and Mary Margaret will come through," Henry said trying to convince Regina.
"No, it will be Cora," Mr. Gold said
"No it won't!" Hanna yelled back at him. She was way past angry. She knew it would be her mom and Emma coming through that portal. She just knew it. It wasn't going to be Cora.
"Good always defeats evil," Henry started to tell his mother. "You should know that better than anyone."
"My mother will destroy everything I love…including you….I can't let that happen."
Henry wasn't listening to anything Regina was telling him. He was determined to get Emma and Mary Margaret through that portal. He started to run past Regina, but she held him back. He struggled against her trying to get free, but she wouldn't let him go.
Hanna tried to run over to the well after Henry's failed attempt. She wasn't sure what she was going to do, but she had to do something. She barely made it three steps before she felt her legs freeze in place right where they were. She couldn't move them. She tried to keep running, but it was like her feet were glued to the ground. Hanna looked around, slightly confused as to what had happened.
"Sorry dearie," Mr. Gold said. "Can't let you do that."
It was no use. Her feet wouldn't budge. Hanna didn't know what else to do. She turned to Regina and begged her to stop the spell they had put on the well. "Please! Let them come through. You're going to kill them. You have to stop it. Please!" Hanna felt the tears welling up in her eyes. This wasn't working either. Regina didn't even bother to look at her, let alone listen to what she was saying.
"Emma and Mary Margaret are going to come through," Henry said as he looked at Regina with pleading eyes. "You said you wanted to change? Prove it! You want me to have faith in you? Then have faith in me." When he finished, Henry continued to look into his mother's eyes. He hoped that he could convince her to do the right thing. When Regina released him and walked over to the well, he knew he had gotten through to her. He felt relieved.
Hanna watched as Regina walked over to the well. She reached her hands out over the opening. It looked like Regina was absorbing the spell, making it go away. Hanna was shocked that Henry was actually able to get through to her. Once the spell was gone, they all waited for the pair to come up out of the well. The seconds ticked by, but no one was coming. Hanna felt her heart sink. Were they too late? Did Regina not remove the spell in time? "No," Hanna said as she shook her head and began to cry. Her mom had to come back. Her dad needed her to wake him up. Hanna needed her too. She needed to make up for pushing her mom away. She wanted another chance. She wanted to see her sister. They had really gotten close over the last several months and she really missed her. This can't be happening, Hanna thought. They were suppose to come back to me. Hanna continued to cry, thinking that she was never going to see them ever again, when she heard a noise come from the well. She looked up to see Emma climbing out of it.
"Mom!" Henry exclaimed as he ran towards Emma.
"Henry," Emma said with a smile as she wrapped him up in a hug.
Hanna wanted to run over to Emma too, but she couldn't move. Her feet were still stuck to the ground. She pulled and pulled, but it was no use. She looked up just in time to see Mary Margaret pull herself up out of the well too. Her heart began to race. She was so excited to see her. She had to get to her. Hanna tried once more and finally felt her feet become free from the ground. She wasn't sure if the spell had finally worn off or if Mr. Gold had seen her desperate attempt to get to her mother and removed the spell himself. She didn't care though. All she cared about was the woman standing a few feet in front of her. Hanna ran as fast as she could. "Mom!" she yelled as she threw herself into her mother's arms. Tears were streaming down her face. Her mom was back. She was home. She was safe.
"Hanna," Snow said as if she couldn't believe she was actually holding her daughter again and that she had actually called her mom. She held on tight to her little girl, never wanting to let her go. They stood there, just holding onto each other. Tears of joy falling from their eyes. It had been a long journey in the Enchanted Forest, and Snow couldn't be happier to be back.
Snow pulled Hanna back to look at her. She smiled down at her and as she was wiping the tears from her little girls eyes she gasped. "Where's your Daddy?" Snow asked Hanna almost in a panic. She had forgotten for a second that Charming was under a sleeping curse. She needed to wake him…now! She didn't want him to have to be in that burning room any longer.
Hanna's eyes widen. She had forgotten for a second too. "Mr. Gold's shop, come on!" Hanna said as she grabbed her mom's hand and began to run.
The all went into the shop. Snow leading the pack. Eager to be by her husband's side. She found where her prince was laying. He looked so peaceful, but she knew he was suffering in the burning room. She leaned down to give him the kiss that would awaken him from that horrible place. As she placed her lips on his, a burst of light shined through the room.
David took a big breath in and opened his eyes "You did it," he said to his wife.
"Did you ever doubt I would?" Snow asked with a smile.
"No," he said right before pulling her in for a passionate kiss. The kiss lasted for a few seconds before he pulled back and added, "though the burning red room did give me pause."
Snow just laughed and pulled her husband in for another kiss.
Hanna noticed Emma turn away after that last kiss between her parents. Hanna just smiled and ran up to her sister wrapping her arms around her for a hug. She had missed her so much.
"Hey Han," Emma said as she returned her sister's hug. She had missed Hanna too.
"I'm so glad you're back," Hanna said as she looked up and gave Emma a smile.
"Me too, Han. Me too," Emma said with a laugh. "You have no idea."
Emma said she needed to go talk to Mr. Gold for a minute, but that they would have plenty of time to catch up later. Hanna wasn't sure what Emma would need to discuss with Mr. Gold, but she just nodded her head and let her sister go. Hanna looked around for Henry and saw him talking to Regina. He was thanking her for what she had done. He had told Emma and Mary Margaret at the well that she had saved them. They were all grateful to her for that. Hanna thought that it was technically Regina's fault that they needed saving in the first place since she played a role in casting the spell on the portal, but she was also glad that Regina had chosen to do the right thing in the end. That's all that really mattered anyway. Emma and her mom were home, and they did have Regina to thank for that. Hanna smiled as she watched Henry hugging Regina. She really did want Regina to change and to become a better person for Henry.
Hanna looked back towards her parents. Apparently they were done kissing now. She ran right up to her father. She wrapped her arms tight around him.
David smiled and hugged his little girl back. "I told you I would come back to you," he whispered as he placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"I know," Hanna said as she smiled up at him.
Emma walked over. She still hadn't greeted her father since he had woken up. Snow smiled as she grabbed Emma's hand. Emma gave her a smile in return.
"It looks like we all have some catching up to do," David said as he looked at his girls.
Hanna just looked over at her mother. They definitely had a lot of catching up to do. Hanna just smiled because this time she was ready. She was ready to talk to her. Maybe she wouldn't feel completely comfortable all of the time, but she was in a much better place since the last time she'd seen her.
"How about dinner at Granny's on me," Ruby suggested.
Everyone agreed. They could all use a nice hot meal after everything they had been through.
"Hey, kid. You hungry?" Emma asked Henry.
Henry looked up at Regina and told her that he would see her later. He made his way over to Emma, and they all left to make their way over to Granny's.