Chapter 5

"Hey! Granny sent me over to talk to you. Are you okay?" Ruby asked, finding her friend sitting alone at a table in the back, her head buried in her arms as she leaned over the table.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I still have a few more minutes of my break left," she said, resting her head back down on her arm.

"I know. I'm not here to bust you for being late. I'm here to make sure you're alright," Ruby said, sitting across from her friend.

"I'm fine," she said, secretly wishing Ruby would leave her alone so she could take a power nap for the remainder of her break.

"You're not," Ruby said, reaching across the table to touch her arm.

There goes my nap, she thought to herself as she lifted her head, looking at her friend. "I'm just tired, that's all," she said.

"Of course you're tired. You work seven days a week now," Ruby said.

She sighed. "I need the money."

"What good is money if you collapse from exhaustion?" Ruby asked, her voice full of concern for her friend.

"I…" she started to say, trying to find an excuse, her face falling when she realized she had none. "...I don't know," she said, defeated.

"Listen, let me talk to Granny. I'm sure she'll understand that you're exhausted and you need to leave early tonight. I bet I can convince Ana to come in a little early to relieve you."

"No, it's okay. I can make it a few more hours," she said, trying to stand up.

"No, you can't. You're exhausted. You're killing yourself,." Ruby said, pushing her back in the booth.

"Stay here, I'll be right back," Ruby said, pulling her phone out of her pocket, heading to the kitchen to talk to her grandmother. She came back a few minutes later, sliding back into the booth across from her.

"Granny says to get the hell out of here. Ana is on her way now."

"It's okay, really. I'm fine," she said, lifting her head again.

"No, you're not. Go to the beach. Write in your journal. Go for a swim or something. Do whatever you want, just as long as you don't do it here. I'll cover for you with Killian if he calls, that way you don't have to rush home," Ruby said. "And that's a direct order from Granny. Even I can't help you if you defy a direct order from that woman." Ruby laughed, slapping her hand and sliding out of the booth to attend to a customer seated at the counter.

She sat in the booth for a few more minutes until she mustered up the energy to leave. Ruby was right; she was exhausted. She had been picking up shifts at the diner on her days off, trying to save as much money as possible. She didn't know why she was saving her money like that. Maybe she wanted to have a little safety net in case something happened. She grabbed her bag from behind the counter and waved goodbye to Ruby as she left. She made her way right to the beach, kicking off her shoes, smiling as her bare feet hit the warm sand. She sat down in the sand further in than she used to, pulling out her journal and pen, flipping to the next blank page.

Dear inanimate bestie.

I am so tired. Exhausted beyond belief. I am so tired that Granny sent me home from work to rest. I wouldn't be surprised if she does it to me again tomorrow. She's right…I am killing myself working so much. And it's true, I do need the money, but it's more than that. It's Killian. He's smothering me. I thought it would get better once we went back to work at the docks, but it hasn't. In fact, it's getting worse. He wants to know where I am every moment of every day. At least if I'm at work he leaves me alone. He even texts Ruby to make sure I'm still there. It's starting to get to me. And everytime I go to the beach and go swimming, he throws a hissy fit and screams at me like I'm a child.

I just don't understand why he acts like that when I go to the beach. He just doesn't understand. I can only ever truly feel whole when I'm in the water, or when I sit near the ocean. I am only truly happy when I'm in the water. You would think he would want me to be happy. Instead, he tries to keep me away from my happy place.

She stopped writing for a moment, yawning so deeply, her eyes feeling so heavy. She knew she should go home and go to sleep, but she couldn't pull herself away from the beach.

I also don't understand why I haven't had any new memories in months. Why is this taking so long? I feel like I'm drowning here and all I want is a breath of fresh air. I don't know how much more I can take of not knowing who I really am.

She stopped writing as the tears began to fall from her face. She didn't even know she was crying until she saw one splash against the page, smearing the ink underneath it. She closed her notebook and tossed it on top of her bag, noticing the sun was beginning to set. She laid down on the sand, staring up at the sky, watching the colors slowly change.

She could hear the waves crashing into the shore. She had to focus to hear it, but it was definitely there. The unmistakable sound of the waves crashing against the shore. She focused her exhausted brain even more and she could feel the water against her skin, softly caressing her worn out body. She wasn't alone, she realized, when she felt soft hands against her arms. Whoever it was, they were struggling. Struggling to pull her across the sand and away from the water. The struggling continued for a few more minutes, until she could no longer feel the water against her legs, instead feeling the person collapse in the sand next to her for a moment. She tried to turn and look at the person who pulled her up onto the beach, but her eyes wouldn't open.

A moment later, she felt soft hands around her neck, securing something in place. She could feel the object fall against her chest. It was small, almost weightless and fastened around her neck with a thick piece of twine. It was somehow familiar. Very familiar. She tried to look down at the object that had been tied around her neck, managing to open her eyes for a split second.

She saw a figure laying next to her in the sand, but her eyes were too unfocused to see their face. All she could see was the outline of their body before her eyes closed once again against her will. She felt the person move around her again, shifting to the other side of her body, moving her right arm into their lap. A minute later, she felt a sharp pain in her right forearm. She wanted to move her arm away but something told her to keep perfectly still. Something deep inside her trusted the person hurting her arm. Somehow, she knew what they were doing was in her best interest. She turned her head and tried to force her eyes open again as she felt moisture drip off her arm.

Before she could open her eyes, the figure moved, placing her injured arm gently onto her stomach, protecting the new wound from the sand. She searched for the person, only to find them laying next to her left side once again; this time, she could feel their body pressed against her side, their soft hand within her own, their fingers laced together. They felt like a puzzle piece, as if they were made to fit together. She felt something slip off her finger, a ring she didn't even know she had been wearing until it was gone. She tried to protest the removal of the jewelry, but she couldn't pick up her head. She felt the figure shift even closer until their face was right against her ear. She could hear crying. Who was crying? Was she crying? Suddenly, a voice rang inside her head, a voice that wasn't her own. She knew in an instant the voice belonged to the person curled up next to her. Three simple words were uttered into her ear, in between sobs. "Don't forget me..." they whispered. There was no doubt in her mind that the person with her was a woman. Her eyes sprang open when she heard those words. Her vision was still blurred so she could just make out her outline, catching a glimpse of her long brown hair, wet from the ocean. She tried to reach out for the other woman…

She shot up instantly, struggling to breathe, her heart pounding harder than it has ever in her life, convincing her that she was surely having a heart attack. It took her a second to figure out where she was, the cool ocean breeze calming her down, reminding her of her current location. The last thing she remembered was staring up at the sky, watching as the sky slowly turned colors during the sunset, and now the sky was completely dark, the full moon illuminating the sand around her. She must have fallen asleep, but she didn't know when or how long she had been sleeping for.

Her chest heaved as she tried to slow her pounding heart when she felt a set of eyes on her, an oddly familiar pair of eyes staring at her from a few yards away. The mysterious woman she had seen at the beach a handful of times was staring at her. She was so close this time that she could see the concerned look on her beautiful face. She smiled at the woman to let her know she was alright, causing the woman to return the small smile. Their eyes met for another couple of moments as her heartbeat slowed and her breathing returned to normal. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming need to be back in the water, and without thinking she jumped up and took off her clothes, not caring that the woman would see her completely naked. Something deep inside trusted this woman, even though she had never spoken even a single word to her.

She ran full force into the water, diving under a wave the first chance she got. She dove as deep as she could until she felt the pressure against her chest. She tried to push past the pain until her lungs burned and her chest felt like it was going to collapse against the weight. She surfaced quickly, her lungs gasping for air as soon as her head broke the surface. She took a deep breath, allowing her body to sink under the water again, her mind racing as she stared out at the empty ocean.

She heard her voice. The woman who gave her the shell necklace and carved her name into her arm so she wouldn't forget it. The woman who saved her. She heard her voice.

This new memory created more questions than it answered, the most important one being, who was she? Who was the woman who saved her, and why did she abandon her on the beach? Why didn't she stay with her?

She stayed underwater as long as she could until her lungs demanded oxygen, forcing her up to the surface once again. The first thing she saw when her head popped out of the water was the face of the mysterious woman from the beach, floating just a few feet away. The woman was so close that, if she wanted to, she could reach out and touch her. Her eyes were locked onto her face, and there was a sadness in them mixed with fear. She was scared, no doubt afraid for her wellbeing. Clearly, she had seen her run into the water and not surface for a long time, causing her to panic and dive in after her. She didn't know this woman and already she seemed to care more about her than Killian did, who would have most likely let her drown before jumping in to save her. She gave the woman a shy smile and a small wave, letting her know she was alright, before swimming back to shore, still not caring that the mysterious woman could see her naked. She looked over and saw a small pile of clothes where the woman had been sitting. Something inside her became excited when she realized the other woman was naked in the water as well.

She checked her phone and realized it was far later than she had anticipated. She packed up her things and got dressed quickly, knowing she needed to get home before Killian suspected anything. She took an extra few moments while putting her shoes back on to look over and make sure the woman had made it out of the water safely. She was relieved to find that the woman was already dressed and back on the shore, her eyes fixed on her once more. She gave her one last wave before she departed, hearing her phone chime in her bag. She already knew it was Killian wondering where she was.

"Why is it that everytime you're late, it's because you were at that damn beach swimming in that freaking ocean," Killian said when she walked in, her long braid still dripping from her emergency swim, her clothes slightly wet. "I have it on good authority to close that damn beach. Maybe that'll finally keep you away." He laughed to himself at her expense.

"Not tonight, Killian. I'm not in the mood," she said, tossing her bag in the corner with her sneakers and making her way toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. I'm exhausted."

"Wait! What about dinner?" Killian yelled.

"Figure it out on your own for once," she yelled, slamming the bathroom door behind her. She could hear Killian screaming at her through the closed door, ignoring the angry words that spilled out of his mouth.

She turned on the shower to drown out his screaming. The sweet voice whispering, "Don't forget me" rang in her ears as the warm water washed over her. The voice in her head made her feel so calm. Made her feel so happy. Made her feel a way that Killian had never done. The voice made her feel so loved in a way she never had before. She didn't realize she had started crying until a deep sob escaped her throat and echoed off the walls in the small shower. Who was she? Where did she come from? Where did she go? Why did she leave her stranded on the beach? Did she know what happened to her? All these questions ran through her mind as she pulled apart her braid and washed her hair, making sure to leave the conditioner in her long blonde hair a little longer.

She finally stepped out when the water ran cold, indicating an empty hot water heater. She dried off and sighed heavily when she realized she had forgotten to grab clean clothes before locking herself in the bathroom to take a shower. She wrapped a towel around her body and left the room, rushing toward the bedroom and slamming the door behind her, ignoring the continued rants from an angry Killian. She quickly got dressed and brushed out her hair, tossing her wet towel in the hamper instead of returning it to the bathroom. She knew she would have to do laundry in the morning to prevent mildew from forming on all the dirty clothes, but she didn't care. She would rather do laundry than deal with Killian again. She curled up in bed and pulled the pillow over her head to drown out his voice, trying to conjure up the sound of the woman's voice to calm her to sleep.

"Don't forget me," the woman whispered, deep sobs escaping from her lips. The woman shifted again, this time her face inches away from hers. "I love you so much," she cried, before she pressed her lips against hers. The woman's lips were soft and warm, and her kiss was so full of love it made her heart swell. The woman cried deeply as she pressed their foreheads together for a moment. Then suddenly, the woman was gone…

She woke up crying. She could feel her heart shattering inside her chest and she couldn't stop herself from weeping. She loved her. Whoever the woman was, she loved her. She could feel the woman's deep sorrow as she prepared to leave her on the beach. She didn't know who she was, but she missed her. She missed her so much it felt like there was a hole in her heart. How could you miss someone who you've never met? Or at least don't remember meeting?

She looked at the clock and decided to get up for the day. She knew she wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, not with the way her heart hurt, and if she left the house shortly, she would be able to make it to the beach and watch the sunrise before she headed to work. She needed to be someplace she felt safe as she processed her last memory. She got ready quickly, forgoing her usual thermos of coffee to ensure she made it to the beach in time for the sunrise. She would stop for coffee at Granny's on her way to the docks.

She left the house quietly, tiptoeing around the bedroom to ensure she didn't wake Killian, and made her way through the empty streets of Storybrooke toward the familiar beach. The sky had begun to brighten slightly when she arrived, kicking her sneakers off the moment the pavement turned into sand. She was shocked to find that she wasn't alone on the beach. Even in the early morning hours, the mysterious woman was still there, sitting in the exact same spot that she had been when she left a few hours earlier. She took a deep breath to steady her suddenly pounding heart, and started walking toward the woman. The woman looked up as she approached, and she noticed her beautiful brown eyes were slightly red. Had she been crying as well?

"Hey. Do you mind if I join you for a little?" she asked, looking down at the woman. She noticed there were dried tears streaking down her cheeks. She had definitely been crying.

"Uhh…su-sure," the woman stuttered.

"Thanks." She plopped down in the sand next to her. "Are you alright?" she asked, feeling the sudden need to check on the woman.

"Yes." The woman wiped her face with her sand covered hand. "Are you alright?" the woman asked, looking at her with kind eyes.

"Yeah. Thanks for umm…for checking on me earlier. I really appreciate it," she said. The woman smiled in response.

"Don't mention it," she said, her face turning slightly red.

"I'm Eleanore, by the way. Eleanore Swan," she said, offering her hand out to the woman.

"Oh…El…Eleanore," the woman said, her face in shock. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thanks. Most people call me Elle. Or Swan." Eleanore laughed.

The woman smiled. "I think I prefer Eleanore."

"And you are?" Eleanore asked, her hand still extended toward the woman.

"Oh sorry. Yes, I'm Re…Gina. Gina Mills," she answered, shaking Eleanore's hand.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Gina Mills," Eleanore said as they continued to shake, neither one wanting to let go just yet.

"Likewise, Eleanore Swan." They sat in silence for a while, both watching the sunrise over the ocean together until the sun was completely over the horizon. Suddenly, Eleanore began to feel an aura of nervousness radiate from Gina. She didn't know why, or what suddenly caused the woman to become so nervous, but she could definitely feel it emanate from the woman next to her. She took that as her cue to leave.

"Thanks for letting me sit with you. I didn't realize how much I didn't want to be alone until I saw you still sitting here," Eleanore said, pulling Gina's attention from the horizon.

"It was my pleasure." Gina smiled.

"I have to get going," Eleanore said, grabbing her bag.

"Oh," Gina said, disappointment in her voice.

"Yeah. I'm off to work," Eleanore said, disappointed as well. "The early bird catches the most fish." She laughed.

Gina chuckled. "I suppose you're right."

"It's nice meeting you, Gina. I hope I run into you again sometime," Eleanore said, standing, grabbing her bag and sneakers on her way up. "Take care of yourself, Gina. And thanks again," she added.

"The pleasure is all mine." Gina smiled. "Have a good day. I hope to see you again as well," Gina added. Eleanore smiled and turned to walk away. She could feel Gina's eyes on her as she walked toward the exit.

Her mind was in a fog for the rest of the day, the sound of the faceless woman's voice whispering her words of love into Eleanore's ear played on a loop. She sat on the edge of her boat and stared out into the open ocean as her mind wandered. Occasionally, a vision of her new friend Gina flashed by, causing her to smile. She had the most unproductive day in years.

A/N: Well, it's about time they meet! Waiting this long was killing me. I'm not cut out for writing slow-burns lol.

Also, what? Eleanore Swan? Who's Eleanore Swan? Keep reading to find out!