Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any unrecognizable characters and dialogue.
"Evie." Painted lips set against gleaming white teeth twisted into a sharp version of a maternal smile, Cora gazed at her granddaughter. "It's so good to see you again, little love."
She made to step forward, arms opening as if to enfold Evie into her arms. She paused, smile cracking when Evie stepped away, hands held up to ward off her grandmother. "Grandmama," Evie returned evenly, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Being confronted with her homicidal grandmother after emotionally unburdening herself to Mary Margaret. "I'd say the same but, given that you're threatening my family, well…"
Cora's smile never wavered, but her eyes narrowed at Evie's cheek. "Oh, don't be like that Evie. After all, we're family, aren't we dear?"
"Are we?" Evie asked guardedly, arms crossed as if to ward the older woman off. "Because last I checked, you and mother weren't exactly getting along."
Cora's eye twitched at the reminder of her banishment at the hands of her own daughter. Having made mistakes with her daughter, though she still maintained everything had been done was with Regina's best interests at heart, she found she didn't want to repeat those mistakes with Evie. It also didn't hurt, that when they made it to Storybrooke, having Evie on their side would do wonders to get her daughter back.
"That's all in the past, little love." Hands folded primly before her, Cora prattled on as Evie felt her jaw drop. "Close your mouth dear, it's very unbecoming. Now, as I was saying, I want to make amends and be a family again." Her smile became sharp again. "And I'd love to meet my grandson, little Henry. How sweet that your mother named him after your grandfather."
The idea of Cora being anywhere near Henry made Evie go cold all over. "Is it?" Keeping her voice even, her gaze slid to where Hook stood off to the side. "And where does he factor into all of this?"
Returning her slight sneer with a black look, Harry's father cocked his head. "Well, the sooner we get to this Storybrooke, the sooner I get my revenge on the crocodile."
"And Harry?" Evie challenged, irritated beyond belief that all he was concerned about was getting revenge on Rumpelstiltskin. "What about your son?"
His gaze hardened. "Don't speak of things that don't involve you, wench." Unaware of the sharp look Cora flashed him, he continued. "You can stand there and pretend to be as self-righteous as you please, but I know the truth. You are no better than your mother, stealing hearts and wreaking havoc on innocents-" He stopped, good hand rising to claw at his throat.
Head snapping to her grandmother, Evie watched the older woman calmly cut off Hook's air supply. "That's quite enough, captain." Cora scolded him lightly, though a dark rage smoldered behind her carefully crafted smile. "I'll thank you to not say such things of my precious granddaughter in my hearing."
Watching Hook fall to his knees, Evie took a step toward Cora. "Grandmama, let him go." She purposefully chose the title she dimly remembered lisping as a toddler. "He's not worth it."
Arching a brow, Cora broke into a wide, pleased smile. "Sweet enough to kill - my daughter taught you well, little love." Lowering her hand, she released the pressure, allowing Hook to gasp in ragged lungfuls of much needed air. "Now, let us be on our way."
Swallowing when Cora offered her hand, Evie took it with the greatest care. There was no telling what could set her grandmama off, and she wasn't about to play with fire if she could help it. As it was, she had little chance of escaping on her own, and could only hope Mary Margaret and Emma found them soon. Until then, she'd try and learn all she could about Cora's plans for Storybrooke, refusing to let the woman next to her tear apart their family more than she already had.
Rising on shaky knees, Hook glared at the backs of the dark-haired pair. Evie's interference meant little to him - Cora wouldn't rid herself of him until he was no longer useful - and he silently plotted revenge on behalf of his son even as he stumbled after them.
"Why would she take Evie?" Emma demanded, having descended from the beanstalk to find her mother nearly frantic with worry. Even Mulan and Aurora were on edge with the abduction of the youngest member of the group. "As a bargaining chip?"
"Not for us." Mary Margaret told her, stalking with a controlled sort of fury that Emma couldn't help but be impressed by. "For Regina. If Cora succeeds in getting to Storybrooke, I wouldn't put it past her to use Evie's safety to keep Regina in line."
Looking sickened at the thought, Emma stared. "She'd use her own granddaughter like that?"
"Cora doesn't have her heart, Emma." Mary Margaret informed her quietly, her own face ashen at the thought of her baby sister in any danger. "There's no telling what she's capable of doing if it gets her what she wants."
"Which is why we're going to save your sister." Mulan assured her quietly. "No harm will come to her, I promise."
Nodding gravely in thanks, Mary Margaret turned to other, equally important matters. "What matters now is making contact with the others back in Storybrooke. We need to warn them about what's coming."
It was hard to push aside the worry that had taken hold of her since Cora had appeared in their little camp, grabbing hold of Evie and whisking them both away before any of them could so much as blink. But, having learned long ago how to harden her heart, to see the bigger picture, Mary Margaret forced herself to focus on making contact with Storybrooke.
Besides, she reminded herself grimly, Evie can handle herself.
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