Chapter 33
Hi everybody! I hope you're all still out there and ready to read my story! I am so sorry it has been so long! My life has been super crazy lately! This chapter is a really long one though! My longest one yet! I was going to split it into 2 chapters, but I thought you all deserved a super long chapter since it's been forever since my last post! I haven't forgotten about my other story either. I will try to get a chapter up for that one ASAP! I hope you enjoy what I have written for you :)
"The only question is when?" Hook said as he looked around.
"Emma, what is it?" Hanna asked as she watched her sister stand up and stare at the tree in front of her…her mouth hanging open in shock.
"I have a pretty good idea," Emma said as she pointed to what was on the tree.
"Is that…" Hanna started to ask as she got a good look at the wanted poster on the tree.
"Bandit Snow White…yeah," Emma said with a sigh as she turned around in search of something.
Hanna watched Emma dump the contents of Hook's bag onto the ground and pick up the storybook. She opened it and began looking through the pages.
"Why are you reading that now?" Hanna asked with a roll of her eyes. She was still really annoyed with Emma and didn't understand why she was messing with the book right now.
"Cause when we were falling through I was thinking about Henry and the story we were all reading at Granny's…" Emma started to explain.
Hanna thought back to when they were at Granny's earlier today…well several years in the future according to where they were now. They were reading the story of how their parents met. The story about how Prince Charming and Snow White met and fell in love. Hanna loved hearing that story.
"So the portal brought us back to this time?" Hanna asked as she looked around…half expecting to see one of her parents stroll through the trees at any minute. Then she got a horrible thought. If there were posters of her mom all around, then the person who ordered the posters to be made in the first place would be here too…The Evil Queen. Hanna really did not want to run into that version of Regina while they were here.
"Yes," Hook said. "And alas, they don't stay open for the return trip."
"We're trapped in the past," Emma said in frustration.
"This is all your fault," Hanna said as she turned to face Emma.
"My fault?" Emma asked Hanna with a raise of her eyebrows.
"Yeah…it was your fault I was out there crying on that bench in the first place," Hanna told her.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" Emma shouted. "If this is anybody's fault it's yours. I told you to stay where you were. You're the one who got yourself sucked into the portal, and I was the one who had to save you. If you would have just listened to me, then none of this would have happened."
"First of all I don't have to listen to you. You're not the boss of me. Second of all, I wouldn't have been out on that bench if you weren't planning to take Henry back to New York."
"I should have taken Henry and left Storybrooke the instant we defeated Zelena. This is exactly the kind of thing that doesn't happen in New York," Emma told Hanna.
"Well then just go back there then! You're not going to take Henry though, Regina would never let you," Hanna said with a smirk, she knew that would hit a nerve.
Emma clenched her fists. She was trying her hardest not to completely flip out on her sister, but Hanna was making that very difficult.
Hook saw that Emma was about to say something to her sister that she would regret, so he stepped in, trying to calm them both down. "Look on the bright-side, I'm sure real estate is much more reasonable here."
"Don't!" Hanna and Emma said at the same time as they glared at the pirate…not in the mood for his jokes.
"I understand your frustration, but we've been in dire straights before. There's no need to be antsy. We have our wits. We have to just focus on being constructive," Hook said as he looked around. "So…any ideas how to get back?"
"How would I know how to get back to the future?" Emma asked him. "Who do I look like—Marty McFly?"
"Marty McWho?" Hanna asked.
"Is he some sort of wizard?" Hook asked.
Hanna rolled her eyes and shook her head. She knew he wasn't a wizard…he was probably some guy from a movie Emma watched. She was always referencing movies Hanna had never heard of before.
"He's not a wizard, Hook. He's probably…" Hanna started to say.
"A wizard!" Emma said.
"What?" Hanna asked in disbelief…was Hook actually right? There was no way.
"A wizard…maybe that's exactly what we need," Emma said as she looked at Hanna and Hook.
"Rumplestiltskin," Hanna said, realizing exactly which wizard Emma was referring to. "He could help us get back. We just have to…"
"Black Knights," Hook said as he pushed Hanna and Emma behind a tree and out of sight of the Evil Queen's henchmen.
Hanna peeked her head around the tree and watched as the knights raced past on their horses. Then she saw a big black carriage come into view. Hanna's stomach dropped. She was pretty sure she knew exactly who was in that carriage…she just hoped that she was wrong.
Hanna followed Hook and Emma as they crouched down behind a bush to get a better look. Hanna listened as the Evil Queen threatened the people of the village. She warned them what would happen if they helped the bandit Snow White. She had her black knights bring forward a prisoner. Hanna watched as the sack was removed from the prisoner's head. The prisoner was a young woman. Her hands were shackled together. Hanna shivered at the thought of what Regina was going to do to that poor woman. Part of her wanted to go help that woman. She wanted to stop Regina from hurting her…she had to. It was the right thing to do. Hearing that woman cry out for help was just too much. Hanna knew she had to do something. Apparently Emma had the same thought because she started to get up at the same time Hanna did.
"Wait, wait, wait," Hook said as he prevented Hanna and Emma from going anywhere. "What are you doing?"
"I'm helping that woman," Emma said.
"She's innocent," Hanna told him. Neither one of them could see what the problem with saving her was.
"No," Hook told them. "Messing with events could do untold damage to all of us." He continued to explain to them that whatever her fate, they can't interfere. They couldn't interfere with anything while they were all here if they wanted a chance of getting back to the world they knew.
"We need to find Rumple," Hanna said as she watched Regina get back into her carriage and ride away.
"The sooner we get out of here, the better," Emma said as she started to stand up.
"Aye. Agreed. But…" Hook said as he grabbed ahold of Emma's arm before she could leave. "There's something we need to do first."
"Do we seriously have to wear these clothes?" Hanna asked as she looked down at the dress she was wearing. It wasn't unlike the ones she use to have to wear when she lived here. This particular dress was far less fancy than the ones she wore, but still just as uncomfortable.
"We can't have anyone noticing you. The smallest changes could have dire consequences for the future," Hook explained.
Hanna just let out a moan as she slumped her shoulders.
"We have to blend in, so just come on," Emma said as she and Hook led the way down the path towards The Dark One's castle.
Hanna just rolled her eyes and followed behind. Not even a few minutes had passed when they heard the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels coming down the path.
"What if it's Regina again?" Hanna asked as her eyes focused on the direction from which the noise came.
"This could be the Queen again," Hook said, agreeing with Hanna.
They all moved off of the path and hid in the trees waiting to see who it might be. Hanna noticed the knights were not the same black knights Regina had with her earlier. So, they avoided having to see the Evil Queen again, which was a relief. She just listened to get some idea of who this might be.
"Worry not! It's but a fallen tree," the man said.
"Is that…" Emma started to ask.
"Your father," Hook said. "We should go."
Hanna just watched her father in amazement. Seeing him here like this was really weird. She had seen him in this attire before when they lived here for that year, of course, but this was different. This was like watching a movie of what she and Henry had read in the storybook hundreds of times. She felt Emma tap her shoulder. Hanna looked over at her sister, who gave her a grin and pointed to the tree above them. Hanna looked up to see someone perched in the tree, watching the Prince and his knights examine the fallen tree. This wasn't just someone, though, this was her mom…it was Snow White! This was just like what happened in the story. As Hanna was marveling at the scene all around her, she heard a branch crack right next to her and the next thing she knew her mom was looking down at them with a confused look on her face before falling to the ground below. Hanna had to cover her mouth to stop herself from letting out a scream. Was her mom okay? Hanna let out a sigh of relief when she watched a very disgruntled Snow White get up and run off. Hanna looked up. The road had been cleared and her father and his knights continued on their journey.
"What did you do?" Hanna exclaimed as she looked over at Emma.
"I didn't mean to…" Emma told Hanna.
"What just happened?" Hook asked, confused by Hanna's anger and Emma's look of guilt.
"You know that thing about small changes having consequences?" Emma said as she looked up at the pirate.
"Uh-huh," Hook answered.
"What about big changes?" Emma asked.
"Why what did we do?" Hook asked, still confused about what exactly the issue was.
"Not 'we'…Emma," Hanna said as she pointed to her sister. "She just ruined everything."
"That bandit was Snow White. This was the moment our parents first met." Emma told Hook, trying to ignore Hanna's comments.
"And now because of you they didn't," Hanna told her.
"Hanna I get it okay…it's my fault. Let's just fix this," Emma said as she stormed off down the path towards Rumple's castle. He would be able to help.
Rumple must have known they were coming because he appeared before them just as they came into view of his castle. He wasn't there for more than a few seconds before he started choking the life out of Hook…he was trying to kill him. Emma was eventually able to convince him that they were from the future by telling him about Balefire and telling him that he does succeed in finding him, but that they've changed things. After hearing that, he stopped trying to kill Hook, but he still wasn't fully convinced. To prove it to him, Emma pulled out Henry's storybook again to show him, but the pages were blank. The pictures and words were all gone. Everything that was suppose to happen after Snow and Charming met had vanished. The future was a blank slate. Anything could happen. This wasn't good.
"We need to get mom to steal that ring," Hanna said.
"It's the only way to get their story back on track," Emma added.
"Well you're in luck. There's a ball at King Midas' castle tonight. The ring will be there," Rumplestiltskin told them.
"Now we just need to get Snow there," Emma said.
"But we don't even know where she is," Hanna said with a sigh.
"Allow me," Rumple said as he showed them Snow White in his crystal ball.
She was with Blackbeard, trying to secure passage on a ship, but he turned her down. Hook said he knew of a ship's captain who could help.
Before they left, Rumplestiltskin told them that he would figure out a way to get them back to the future…he said they had to fix the other problems themselves.
"So, we're going to go find Captain Hook…like the one from the past. Emma's going distract him and then you," Hanna said as she looked over at Hook, "are going to get my mom to steal the ring?"
"Aye," Hook answered.
"Then what am I gonna to do?" Hanna asked.
They decided that it would be best for Hanna to go with Hook to his ship, while Emma tried to distract the Hook from the past. Emma didn't want her little sister in the tavern watching her flirt with the pirate.
"Are you sure he's going to be able to get her?" Hanna asked Hook as they waited in the Captain's chambers of his ship. Hook had instructed Smee, who questioned Hanna's presence on the ship, but was quickly silenced by Hook, to fetch Snow White for him and bring her down here. They happened to get lucky and spotted Snow walking past the ship just as they boarded.
"Aye, he'll have her here any minute now," Hook said just as the door opened and in walked the bandit princess.
Hook then continued to explain to Snow that he knew she wanted passage from this land and he would give it to her…if she could procure a particular wedding ring. He explained whose ring it was and where she could find it.
"So, I get the ring and you give me a ride on your ship?" Snow asked.
"Aye," Hook answered with a nod of his head.
"Who's the girl?" Snow asked as her eyes flashed towards Hanna.
"She's none of your concern. Now, can you get the ring or not," Hook asked.
"I can get the ring," Snow said with determination and she got up to leave.
Hanna watched as her mom got up to exit the room. They made eye contact and Hanna wanted nothing more than to run over and give her mom a hug. She really missed her. She knew she had just seen her a few hours ago, but it seemed like it had been forever. Being in the past and seeing her parents like this was really amazing, but for some reason it only made Hanna miss them more. She knew she had to stay put though, Snow White would find it odd that some random little girl showed her affection like that.
The next thing they knew Emma was coming into the room. She wasn't suppose to be here. She was suppose to be occupying the other Hook at the tavern.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked.
"I could ask the same of you. I thought I told you to keep him occupied," Hook replied.
"I stalled as long as I could. I thought you'd be gone by now. I'll try to keep him above deck so you can get out…" Emma started to say when they heard Hook coming down the stairs.
Hanna and Hook quickly ducked down so they were out of sight of the Captain Hook who was descending the stairs. Things would surely not bode well if he saw a clone of himself in his Captain's chambers. They quietly walked towards the exit as Emma kept the past Hook distracted with her lips. Hanna tried really hard not to watch her sister make-out with the stupid pirate…it was really grossing her out.
They finally made it off of the ship without any more mishaps…well except for the fact that Hook punched his past self in the face, knocking him out cold. He didn't particularly like watching Emma make out with this other version of himself. When Hanna and Emma started to freak out on him for doing that, he explained that he would just blame the rum anyway…nothing to worry about.
The trio made their way to King Midas' castle. They knew Snow would sneak in tonight to steal the ring. Hanna just hoped her dad would somehow know her mom was the one who stole it, find her, capture her in the net, and continue their story just like it happened before. That was a lot of pieces in a very complicated puzzle that had to be put together though. What if something went wrong? What if things didn't go exactly as they hoped? Anything could go wrong in there. Hanna was going crazy not knowing what was going on inside that castle.
"Are we really just suppose to sit out here and wait?" Hanna asked, not being able to take it anymore.
"Hanna's right," Emma said as she looked over at Hook. "I don't like just leaving things to chance."
"You know I feel exactly the same way," said a voice from behind.
Emma and Hanna jumped at the sound of his voice. They knew exactly who it was though…they turned to see Rumplestiltskin standing there with a mischievous grin on his face. Hanna watched as he held up an invitation to the ball. He wanted them to go inside and make sure things happened just as they were suppose to.
"Do I get to come too?" Hanna asked, not sure if Emma would let her come in or not. She liked Hanna to stay behind and out of the action a lot, which was really annoying.
"I'm not gonna leave you out here alone," Emma said as she went to take the invitation from Rumple. "Let's go."
"Not like that," Rumple said as he stopped them from heading to the castle. With a wave of his hand, he transformed their outfits into ones more fitting for a royal ball. "The savior can't come this far and not play princess for a day."
"But, we're not suppose to stick out," Emma said as she looked down at her dress
"Yeah, what if someone remembers us in the future?" Hanna asked as she looked down at her own dress…which was pink. Why pink? Hanna had worn enough pink dresses to last her a lifetime in that year she lived here. For some reason, everyone thought pink was a good color for her and pretty much every other dress she had was pink. Hanna just shook her head…that didn't matter right now. They had more important things to worry about.
Rumple assured them that no one would remember them in the future. He held up a mirror to reveal the other part of their transformations. Not only had he given them clothes fitting for a party such as this, but he also changed their appearance. When they looked in the mirror, they didn't look like themselves at all. He had transformed them into totally new people. Now, they had nothing to worry about, and they all made their way into the castle.
"Greetings. I am King Midas, father of the bride," said the king who greeted them as they walked in the castle. "Who to I have the honor of welcoming in my home?"
"I am…I'm Prince…uh…" Hook started to say.
Crap, Hanna thought. She didn't think of a name. Why didn't she think of a different name. She heard Emma introduce Hook as Prince Charles and herself as Princess Leia…Hanna waited for Emma to come up with some sort of name for her too, but she didn't.
"And who is this?" King Midas asked as he looked down at Hanna.
"My sister…Princess uh…" Emma had run out of names and looked down at Hanna for help.
Hanna didn't know what to say She racked her brain quickly to think of other princesses she knew….
"Peach, Princess Peach," Hanna said quickly before she could stop herself. Wow, that was really stupid, Hanna thought to herself. It was the name of that princess from Henry's video games. She wore a pink dress too, and it was the first thing Hanna could think of. Hanna looked up at King Midas…there was no way he was going to buy that.
"An honor to have you in my home," King Midas said as he bowed his head and stood aside to allow them into the ballroom.
"Princess Peach? Really?" Emma whispered with a grin as she looked down at Hanna.
"What?" Hanna asked as she shrugged her shoulders and glared up at her sister. "It was the first thing that popped into my head. You said Leia. How's that any better?"
"Uh…Leia is way better than Peach," Emma said with a laugh.
"Whatever," Hanna said with a roll of her eyes as she walked ahead of Emma and Hook. Emma was right…Leia was a way better cover than Peach, but Hanna wasn't going to admit that to Emma.
Hanna stood off to the side as Emma and Hook danced with the others. Emma wasn't too bad of a dancer actually. Hanna looked around the room and spotted her father standing on the other side. He was standing next to a grumpy looking woman…it was Kathryn. Well, Princess Abigail here. It was weird seeing her dad standing with her instead of her mom. Hanna then watched her dad leave the room and just as he left, the doors to the ballroom burst open and in walked the Evil Queen.
Before Hanna could even process who had just walked in, Hook and Emma were by her side…their dance cut short by the queen's entrance.
"Where's Charming?" Emma asked as she looked around for him.
"He just left a few…" Hanna started to whisper back before one of Midas' guards came in and informed the King that the bandit Snow White had been spotted in the castle.
Hanna looked up at Emma. They had to go find her and make sure everything went as planned…that she didn't get caught by one of Regina's men.
"We'll take care of this. Just stay here and blend in with the crowd," Emma told Hanna. She didn't want Hanna getting caught up with the black knights if they ran into some while they were upstairs.
"No, I don't want…" Hanna started to argue back.
"We don't have time for this. Just do it," Emma warned before turning and running towards the stairs with Hook.
Hanna was not about to stay here. She didn't have to listen to Emma. She waited a few seconds to give them enough time to get upstairs before going up herself.
"She did it! She must have stolen the ring," Hanna said as she came out onto the balcony with Emma and Hook and watched her mom climb down the castle wall.
"Damn it, Hanna. I told you to stay downstairs," Emma said as she turned towards her sister.
Hanna just shrugged her shoulders and continued to watch her mom escape. She looked up when she heard a voice from above.
"You can't hide from me! Wherever you are I will find you!" Charming shouted from the window.
"Look!" Hanna said with a smile as she pointed up towards her dad. She loved watching more of their story unfold right before her eyes. That was exactly what he said to her when she stole his ring in the book.
Hanna took a peek at her sister and noticed the smile on her face as she looked up at their father. She seemed to be enjoying watching their parents as much as Hanna was.
"Mission accomplished. Now all we have to do…" Hanna started to say before she was pushed to the ground. It was a black knight. He had a bow and was aiming at Snow. Before Hanna could even panic, Emma had it taken care of. She pushed the knight to the ground causing his arrow to miss. Hanna closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief, but when she opened them again, she saw it lying there on the floor…the ring. Her dad's ring. The one her mom was suppose to steal.
"Emma," Hanna said as she held up the ring to show her.
"The ring," Emma said in a panic as she took it from Hanna. We've got to get it to Snow."
"Let's go," Hanna said as she started to head back downstairs.
"You're not going anywhere," said one of the queen's black knights as he grabbed onto Hanna's arm. Hanna looked up and saw Emma trying to get to her, but another knight was blocking her path. Hanna tried to pull away, but she couldn't get out of his grip. She couldn't let herself get captured and taken to the Evil Queen…she just couldn't.
"I've got this. You two go," Hook said as he took out the black knights, giving Emma and Hanna freedom to leave and get the ring back to Snow.
"That's why you need to listen to me," Emma told Hanna as they ran down the stairs.
"Why?" Hanna asked.
"You almost got us captured. If you would have just stayed downstairs that wouldn't have happened."
"That wasn't my fault. And besides, you're not the boss of me. I don't have to listen to you," Hanna told Emma.
That was it. Emma was done. She grabbed a hold of Hanna's arm to stop her.
"What are you doing? We have to get out of here," Hanna said as she pulled away.
"Listen to me," Emma said as she held onto Hanna's shoulders and stared her down. "While we are here I am the boss of you. I understand that you're mad at me, but while we're here you will just have to get over it and do what I tell you. Got it?"
"But I…" Hanna started to say. She knew Emma was right, but she didn't want to admit it.
"Hanna," Emma said with a raise of her eyebrows.
Hanna looked up at her sister…who was giving her an expression that reminded her more of their mom. Emma must have gotten that "mom" look down pat from that year she spent with Henry.
"Okay," Hanna said in defeat.
"Good. Let's go," Emma said and they continued down the hallway.
"Wait," Emma said as she put her arm out to stop Hanna. They were getting close to the ballroom now. "Slow down. Just walk. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
Hanna nodded her head and did what Emma said.
"There she is! She helped the bandit escape!" said one of the black knights as he ran into the room.
Hanna jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Stay here. Wait for Hook," Emma whispered to Hanna as she pushed her aside into the crowd and ran off towards the exit.
Hanna didn't know what the heck Emma was doing. It all happened so fast. One minute she was being pushed into the crowd and the next she watched her sister being surrounded by black knights with Regina walking towards her. This wasn't going to be good. Hanna almost started to run towards Emma. She wanted to do something to help her, but she stopped herself. She remembered what Emma told her…to wait for Hook. Hook. Where was he? Was he okay? He saved her from the black knights upstairs. Did he make it away from them? She looked around and finally found him. He was walking towards her. Hanna was relieved to see him. She turned around to find Emma and saw her being taken away by black knights.
Hanna waited until they got outside before she started to panic.
"This is bad. Really bad," Hanna said as she paced back and forth, trying to come up with a plan. She felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Calm down, love. We'll fix this," Hook assured her.
"I can't…I can't breathe," Hanna said as she pulled at her dress. Why was it so tight? Where was her other dress? It was much more comfortable. "Get this thing off of me! I want my other dress," Hanna said in a panic.
"Just relax…I don't know where your other one is," Hook told her.
"But I can't breathe in this one," Hanna said as she gasped for air.
"You can breathe just fine. You just need to calm down. Take deep breaths. In…out…." Hook continued to tell her.
Hanna listened to the pirate. She did what he said and started to feel better. She could breathe normally again. Her dress wasn't so tight anymore. Hanna was finally calming down.
"Better?" Hook asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Hanna said as she nodded her head.
"Right, let's get a plan together then, shall we?"
Hanna nodded her head and thought for a moment. They were in a pretty bad situation. Emma was taken away by the Evil Queen and the ring was with her. They had to find a way to fix this. They had to rescue Emma and get their parents' story back on track. Their parents…maybe they could help.
"My mom and dad! We can find them, and they can help us rescue Emma!" Hanna said.
"Well your father is back at the castle, and who knows where your mother will go once she discovers she's dropped the ring," Hook pointed out. He wasn't sure how they were going to get them to help.
"Well my dad doesn't know that my mom dropped the ring. He thinks she still has it, so he's going to still try to capture her to get it back," Hanna said.
"Right, if we wait here and follow your father when he leave the castle to do so, then…"
"He'll lead us right to her," Hanna said with excitement. They had a plan and Hanna knew it was going to work.
Hanna and Hook followed Charming when he left the castle very early the next morning. They followed him and watched him set his trap…the trap in which Snow White had just gotten herself caught.
"I don't have your ring," Hanna heard her mom say from up in the net.
"And why should I believe you?" Charming replied.
"You should. She's telling the truth, mate," Hook said as he and Hanna came out from behind the bush.
Hanna noticed the confused looks her parents were giving them.
"Prince Charles," Hook said as he introduced himself. "And this is Princess…" he started to say.
Hanna knew he couldn't remember. "Peach," Hanna said as she rolled her eyes at the name she had given herself.
"Snow White doesn't have your ring, but my princess does," Hook told them.
"We need your help to get her back," Hanna said.
"Where is she?" Charming asked her.
"Well you see…that's the problem," Hanna said as she looked up at her dad. He wasn't looking back at her with his usually loving eyes. His expression was serious. He was determined to get that ring back. "The Evil Queen took her to her castle. Please, she's my sister. You have to help us."
"Actually that's not a problem at all," Snow said from up in the net. "I know it well. It use to be mine. I can get us in there, but not from up here."
Snow was cut down from the tree, and they were all riding to the queen's castle with the horse and wagon Hook had swiped from villager near by.
"So…how'd your sister get caught up with that evil witch anyway?" Snow asked Hanna as they rode along.
Her mom's tone was different too. Lacking the same love her dad's eyes were when he looked at her. Hanna didn't think she liked being around her parents when they didn't know who she was. It was weird. It's not like they were being mean or anything. They were just different. They weren't her mom and dad right now.
"It was my fault," Hanna said as she let her head fall.
"I'm sure that's not true," Charming told her as he reached out his hand to comfort her.
"But it was," Hanna said as she looked up at him. "I didn't listen to her and if I had…" Hanna could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She felt so guilty. She had been so angry with Emma and had been fighting with her ever since she got back to town from New York. Hanna knew she had her reasons, but she went about everything all wrong. She shouldn't have yelled at her as much as she did. Emma was her sister…the only one she has. Hanna didn't know what she would do if they didn't get to her in time. They just had to save her. There wasn't another option. Hanna couldn't live with herself if something happened to Emma.
"Hey…don't cry" Snow said as she put her arm around Hanna. "We'll save her. I promise."
"You can't promise that," Hanna said as she shook her head.
"Yes I can and I do. Your sister is going to be fine," Snow said with a smile as she wiped a tear from Hanna's cheek.
Hanna just smiled back and nodded her head. She leaned into her mom wrapped her arms around her. She felt Snow stiffen up at her sudden embrace. Hanna quickly sat back after realizing what she had done. This wasn't her mom…well not yet anyway. Hanna didn't want to freak her out. She just couldn't help it. The way Snow reassured her and gave her that warm smile, just like she had done for Hanna a million times before, made Hanna feel like she was really with her mom in that moment.
"Sorry," Hanna said as she winced.
"It's alright. Here, why don't you lay your head down and get some sleep," Snow said as she patted her lap. "It'll be awhile before we get to the castle and you look like you could use some rest."
"Okay," Hanna said as laid her head down. Hanna felt her eyes start to close as Snow gently ran her fingers through her hair.
Once they got close to the queen's castle, they stopped to set up camp. Snow went off to get help, and they waited for her to return. It felt like she was taking forever to get back. Hanna almost asked Snow if she could go with her, but thought better of it. Hanna didn't want to push it. Snow didn't really even know who she was.
Finally, they heard someone coming through the trees. Snow wasn't the one to come through the trees though…it was Red! Hanna smiled when she saw her old friend come into view. She quickly wiped the smile off of her face…she kept forgetting that everyone here had no idea who she was.
Red told them the plan, and they were off. They were headed into some underground tunnel that was connected to the castle. That's where Regina kept her prisoners. That's where Emma was, and they were going to get her out of there. Hanna wasn't sure how, but they made it into the tunnel without too many mishaps. They did come across a few black knights, but nothing Red, Hook, and Charming couldn't handle. They were getting closer. Hanna could feel it. They made it around the next corner, and there was Emma! She had an escape plan of her own apparently. There was some other woman with her, but Hanna didn't pay attention. She was so happy to see her sister alive and well.
"Emma!" Hanna exclaimed as she ran into her sister full force and wrapped her arms around her.
"Hey Han," Emma said as she returned her sister's embrace.
"Swan? What the hell are you doing? Your depriving me of a dashing rescue," Hook complained.
"Sorry. The only one who saves me is me," Emma said with a grin.
Then Emma looked down at Hanna, who was still holding her tightly. "Han, you can let go now. I'm fine. Really," Emma assured her with a smile.
"Oh. Sorry," Hanna said as she sheepishly backed away.
"You guys have a way out of here?" Emma asked after giving the ring back to Charming.
"Follow me," Red told them. "Snow told me where to meet her.
They ran through the Queen's castle to where they were to meet Snow. It was all very familiar to Hanna. She recognized which hallway they were in and she was pretty sure she knew where they were headed. Her thoughts were proven correct when they stopped in front of the big window that looked over the courtyard.
"What it is?" Hanna asked as she came up behind Hook who was gazing down to the scene below them.
"Did you find Snow?" Emma asked.
"I'm afraid so," Hook said, his voice full of despair.
Hanna went beside the pirate and saw what was happening. Hanna saw her mom…she was tied to a stake. There was a sack over her head and her arms were above her. Standing in front of her was Regina. She had an evil smirk on her face and a fire ball in her hand. Hanna didn't know what to do, but her mom was about to be burned alive and Hanna had to do something.
"We have to get down there before it's too late," Emma said in a panic.
"I don't think we can," Charming said with a sigh.
"No…no! We have to do something. I'm going," Hanna said with determination. She knew a short cut to get down there. Her mom had shown her once before. Hanna was pretty sure she could find it again. She didn't know if she would make it in time, but she had to try.
"Hanna, no. You are not going down there," Emma said as she grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Emma, let me go. Please, let me go. I have to get down there," Hanna begged as she pulled at Emma's arm, trying to loosen her grip.
"Hanna you can't…"
"I have to get down there. We have to stop Regina. Please, Emma. Please!" Hanna pleaded as tears started streaming down her face.
"Hanna, there's nothing we can do," Emma told her.
"Emma! Come on! We have to hurry!" Hanna said in a panic as she continued to pull at Emma's arm. Hanna didn't know why Emma wouldn't listen to her.
"Hanna stop it!" Emma shouted as she grabbed onto both of Hanna's arms and gave her a little shake. "We can't save her. There's nothing we can do. She's gone. She…She's…." Emma couldn't hold it in anymore. She let go of Hanna and covered her face as she started to cry.
"Emma…" Hanna had never seen Emma cry like this before. There really was nothing they could do. Emma would have been down there in a heart beat if she thought she could have done something…Hanna knew that. There was no hope. She was gone…just like that. Their mom was gone.
Hanna sunk to the ground and just stared ahead in shock. She couldn't wrap her head around all of this. This couldn't be happening. Hanna dropped her head into her hands as the tears continued to fall from her eyes.
"I think we'd better go."
Hanna looked up to see her father looking down at her. He didn't even realize that he had just lost his true love. He never even got the chance to fall in love with her and now he never would.
"I don't want to….I can't," Hanna said as she shook her head. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay right where she was and pretend that none of this happened. Hanna thought if she left it would make this all seem more real.
"Come on," Charming said as he reached down and scooped the distraught little girl up into his arms.
"No…no," Hanna said as she tried to push away from him.
"Shhh, it'll be okay," Charming told her.
"But she's gone. She's gone," Hanna said as she stopped fighting and began to relax in the familiar arms of her father. She allowed herself to be comforted by him…even if he didn't know who she really was.
Hanna opened her eyes and looked around. They were back at camp. Hanna wasn't sure how long she had been asleep. She didn't care though. It hadn't been long enough for her to forget what happened at the queen's castle. Hanna sat up and look around for the one person who could understand what she was going through.
Hanna walked over to Emma, who had her arms outstretched ready to embrace her little sister. Neither one said a word to the other. Each knew what the other needed. Hanna just leaned into her sister and sat, replaying those last moments in her head, trying to figure out what they could have done differently.
"After my brother passed, all I could do was relive that final, terrible moment. Don't do that to yourselves," Hook told them. "All we can do in times like these is try to live in the here and now."
"Here and now. I'm still here…we're both still here," Emma said.
"How is that possible? We saw her die," Hanna said as she sat up and looked at Emma.
"Which means we never would have been born," Emma said as she and Hanna were coming to the same realization.
"Maybe she's….still alive!" Hanna exclaimed as she stood up and looked around the forest trying to figure out what they should do next.
"If Snow is out there we have to find her!" Emma said as she stood up next to her sister.
Hanna thought and thought. There was a bug flying around. Hanna swatted at it…the stupid thing was distracting her. When it landed on Emma, Hook grabbed a stick to destroy the pest.
"Wait! Don't harm that thing," Charming warned. "Snow told me what her dust would do to the Queen. She said it would turn her into a form that was easily squashed—a bug."
"You think she turned herself into that?" Emma asked.
"Yeah it's her," Charming said as he got a good look at the bug on his finger. "We just need to find a way to bring her back."
Everyone got really close to get a look at the bug, who continued to buzz very loudly.
"She's saying something," Emma pointed out.
"Wonderful, anyone fluent in bug?" Hook asked sarcastically.
"She's calling for me," said a voice from behind.
"Blue!" Emma and Hanna exclaimed at the same time.
"That's right," the fairy said. "And you two are?"
"Leia," Emma told her.
Hanna just kept quiet and looked down, trying to act shy. She didn't feel like saying her name again.
"No, that's not it," Blue said with a laugh. "But your secrets can be yours. I sense it's better that way."
"Can you bring Snow back?" Red asked.
"Dark magic did this to her. Light magic can undo it," Blue assured them and with a wave of her wand the small bug was transformed back into Snow White.
"You're alive!" Emma exclaimed as she ran up to Snow, giving her a hug.
"It would appear so. Thank you," Snow said as she looked at her…confused by this display of affection.
Hanna could see the look on Emma's face…she was hurt. Hanna couldn't blame Emma for doing what she did. Hanna was about to do the same thing, but Emma beat her to it. Hanna went up to her sister and wrapped her arms around her…now it was Hanna's turn to comfort her.
"Let's just get home and everything will be back to normal," Hanna said as she looked up at Emma.
Emma just nodded her head in agreement.
Luckily, their parents seemed to be warming up to each other, and it seemed that everything was back on track. Except for one other little problem. They had to figure out what to do with Emma's little friend she brought with her from Regina's dungeon. Emma did the right thing saving her…the only problem was she was meant to die. That was her fate. They couldn't just let her go. They decided that they would just bring her back with them. However, when they tried to explain this to her, she refused. She just wanted to get back to her family. So, Emma did what she thought was best…she knocked her out with a giant stick and they would take her back them anyways.
"What happened to her?" Charming asked as he came upon their knocked out victim.
"Oh, uh…she's resting," Hanna lied quickly.
"What's up?" Emma asked.
"Have either of you seen Snow?" he asked. "She went to the stream, but she hasn't…" he continued to say as he got a panicked look on his face and felt his pockets for something. "The ring! She took it!"
"Really?" Emma asked.
"Do you know where she might be headed?" Hanna asked, trying to hide the smirk on her face. She knew exactly where her mom was going. The story was playing out just as it was suppose to.
"The Troll Bridge," Charming said as he grabbed his sack and ran in that direction.
"Uh…you guys. This isn't good," Hanna said as she came to a realization. "Mom was only able to defeat the trolls because she had the…"
"Dust," Emma said as her eyes widened with shock. "We have to go."
"Bloody hell," Hook said with a roll of his eyes.
The three of them ran quickly to the bridge. They arrived only to find that Snow and Charming didn't need any help at all. They defeated the trolls all on their own. They all crouched behind a bush and watched the scene before them. Hanna watched her mom snatch the ring from her father's hand and place it on her own finger. She watched the look her dad gave her as she held out her hand to admire the ring. She watched the look her mom had on her face when she saw the ring on her finger and the look they both gave each other. True love. It was their parents' true love and that love was blossoming right in front of them.
"Emma, what's wrong?" Hanna asked when she looked over to see her sister crying.
"It's okay, Swan. Not everyone gets the chance to watch their parents fall in love," Hook told her.
Hanna looked up at Hook with a smile. He gave her a wink in return. Hanna thought maybe she was starting to like this pirate after all.
"They're heading away from each other," Hook said.
Hanna could detect the worry in his tone. "No, it's okay," she said to reassure him. "It's how it happened the first time."
"Yeah, it took awhile for our parents to accept their feelings," Emma said with a grin.
"Must run in the family," Hook said.
"Emma, the book. Are the stories back?" Hanna asked.
Emma retrieved the book from Hook's bag. As Emma opened the book, the pictures started to reappear.
"Look. We did it," Emma said with relief.
"Emma…can we go home now?" Hanna asked her sister, knowing their work here was done. Their parents were back on track, the pages in the book proved that. Everything will be as it should.
"Yeah Han. Let's go," Emma said as she put her arm around her sister. They made their way back to Rumple's castle. He promised to find a way for them to get back to the future. Now it was time to make good on that promise.
When they arrived, he informed them that he was not able to do it. He couldn't open the portal. Apparently the wand he was going to use to reopen the portal had to be used by someone who has already gone through the portal before.
"Emma you can do it. You have magic," Hanna said as she looked over at her sister.
"No, I don't," Emma said as she looked at the wand in her hands.
"Emma. What…" Hanna started to say before they were suddenly transported somewhere.
Hanna looked around. They were in some sort of room. There didn't seem to be any way out. Where had Rumple sent them? Hanna glanced down and noticed she was in her normal Storybrooke clothes again, which was a relief. She was tired of that dress. But they were in a bad situation and Emma was the only one who could get them out of this.
"Emma, come on. Just use that wand and get us out of here. You can do it," Hanna told her sister.
"Hanna. I can't. I don't have my magic anymore," Emma said.
"What do you mean?" Hanna asked, very confused. She was using it back in Storybrooke. She was getting lessons from Regina. She had used it against Zelena to save Henry. What had Hanna missed?
"It was Zelena. She took it," Emma explained.
"What? How?"
"It's a long story," Emma sighed, not wanting to tell Hanna just exactly how Zelena had managed to take her magic.
"Swan. When Zelena died all of her spells were undone. Your powers should be restored," Hook told her.
"Yeah Em. Just try!" Hanna said, trying to encourage her sister.
"Believe me, if I could make this work, I would. You think I'm faking it?" Emma said, getting defensive.
"Emma I…" Hanna started to say before Hook interrupted her.
"I think not having magic makes it a hell of a lot easier for you to run back to New York and pretend to be somebody else. But listen to me, Swan. You're not. It's time to stop running," Hook told her angrily.
Hanna couldn't help but grin. The pirate was really giving it to her. It was what Emma needed to hear though. Hanna would never have a bad thought about Hook again if he could convince Emma to stay in Storybrooke.
"You don't think I know that? Yes. I run away. That's how I've always survived. But believe me, I want this to work. I want to go back. I want to stop running," Emma told him.
"Really Emma?" Hanna asked.
"What's changed your mind?" Hook asked her.
"Watching my mother die. Thinking she was dead…you saw what happened. I was so relieved when she was okay. And I hugged her…and you know what I saw in her eyes? Nothing. She didn't know who I was. I had saved her, and I lost her too. And that's what I've been doing to her since I met her. It's got to stop. When Henry brought me to Storybrooke, he told me I was the savior. I didn't see what he was really doing. He was not bringing me back to break a curse. He was bringing me home," Emma said as tears started falling down her face.
Hanna wiped the tears from her own eyes. "Emma, does that mean you're not going back to New York?" Hanna asked.
"No Han. I'm not going back," Emma said as she gave her sister a smile.
Emma had really come around. She saw Storybrooke as home now. Hanna couldn't have been happier.
"Neal was right you know. You don't have a home until you just miss it. Being with my parents these last few days, but not really being with them…I've never missed them more.
Hanna nodded her head…she knew exactly how Emma was feeling. Being around them, but not seeing the love in their eyes she was so use to seeing was one of the hardest things Hanna had ever endured. Hanna didn't always appreciate the unwavering love her parents had for her, but now she would do anything to see that love in their eyes again. She would do anything to see her mom and dad again.
"Storybrooke…it's my home," Emma said as she looked down at Hanna with a smile.
Hanna gave her sister a smile in return, but for more than one reason.
"Emma, look down."
It was the wand. It was glowing. Emma did it! She got the wand to work!
"I'd say you've got your magic back," Hook told her. "Now, shall we go?"
Emma held up her wand and was able to get the portal to open. Hook picked up their prisoner and jumped through first.
"Go on Hanna, I'll be right behind you," Emma told her.
Hanna did what her sister said and jumped through the portal behind Hook.
Hanna felt herself fall to the ground and when she looked around she was back in the barn. The one that was in Storybrooke. Emma did it. She brought them home.
"Do me a favor and fill her in before she freaks out," Emma said to Hook in regards to their friend they brought back from the past.
"I think we have some people we need to see," Emma said as reached out for Hanna's hand.
Hanna nodded her head and held onto Emma's outstretched hand. They both made their way back to Granny's where their family was waiting.
"Emma, wait," Hanna said as she stopped right as they reached Main Street.
"What is it?" Emma asked as she looked down at Hanna.
"I"m sorry for the way I've been treating you lately. I should have listened to you while we were in the Enchanted Forest…well even before really, then we never would have gotten sucked into that portal. I know you were just trying to do what was best for me. I was just so mad at you for wanting to take Henry and go back to New York. I…"
"Hanna stop. You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing," Emma said as she knelt down and looked up at her little sister. "I should never have planned on leaving all of you and going back to New York. I was wrong. You had every right to be pissed at me," Emma said with a roll of her eyes.
Hanna just grinned "Yeah you're right I did."
"Well do you forgive me?" Emma asked with a laugh.
"Yeah…as long as you forgive me," Hanna told her.
"I guess we're even then," Emma said with a smile as she pulled her sister in for a hug. "Now, let's get ourselves to Granny's shall we?"
"Yes," Hanna said with a nod of her head. "Wait, I just have one question…Marty Mc…Whoever isn't really a wizard is he?" Hanna asked. She had to make sure she was right. It had been bugging her ever since Hook asked the question back in the Enchanted Forest. Hanna had to make sure she was right and that this person wasn't really a wizard.
"No, he's not a wizard," Emma said with a laugh. "He's just from a movie."
"Ahh, I knew it!' Hanna said triumphantly.
"You've seriously never heard of Back to the Future?" Emma asked Hanna.
"Uh…no. How many times do I have remind you? I grew up in a town that repeated the same day over and over again. Then I lived in the Enchanted Forest for a year…my movie knowledge is pretty limited."
"Well at least we have you all caught up on Harry Potter. Once we get home we're totally watching the Back to the Future movies," Emma told her.
"There's more than one?" Hanna asked.
"Uh…yeah," Emma said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Can we go now?" Emma asked…she was starting to get impatient.
"Yeah, come on. I'll race you," Hanna said as she took off for the diner.
"Oh you're so on," Emma said as she took off running too.
"Ugh, no fair," Hanna complained when Emma beat her to the front gate at Granny's. "You have longer legs."
"Don't be a sore loser," Emma said as she nudged Hanna's arm before walking towards the diner.
Hanna just rolled her eyes and followed Emma into the diner. Everyone was still here just like they had left them. Hanna and Emma ran straight towards their parents.
"Emma. Hanna," Snow said with relief as she and Charming wrapped their arms around their girls.
"Emma, you weren't answering your cell. We were worried," Charming said.
"We're fine," Hanna said as she stood back and looked up at her mom and dad. And there it was…the love in their eyes. The love that she had been missing when she was with them in the past. That love was here now and Hanna never wanted to lose it again.
"And we're home," Emma told them.
"Do you mean that you're not leaving?" Snow asked.
"No. I'm not going anywhere," Emma said with a smile. "This is where I belong. This is where my family is. Mom…Dad, I missed you," Emma said as she leaned into their embrace once more.
Hanna just stood back and let Emma have this moment with their parents. She couldn't help the tears that fell down her face. Emma had finally done it. She had finally fully accepted that they were her parents and that Storybrooke was her home.
"Did I hear that right? We're staying?" Henry asked excitedly as he came up next to Hanna.
"Henry!" Hanna exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around her best friend. "I missed you so much!"
"What? I just saw you," Henry said with a laugh. "What's going on?"
"Oh you just wait till you hear what happened to us," Hanna said with a raise of her eyebrows.
"Wait you're Princess Leia?" Snow asked as she looked over at Emma.
"Nice alias," Henry said with a laugh.
"Hey you think that's funny, ask Hanna which alias she chose," Emma said with a smirk as she nodded towards her sister.
"No, please don't," Hanna said as she buried her face into her dad's shirt.
"Well you had to have been Peach then, right?" David asked as he remembered back to his encounter with Princess Leia and Prince Charles. He wasn't so sure what was so funny.
"Princess Peach?" Henry asked as he laughed so hard he practically fell out of the booth.
"Ugh, yes," Hanna said as she rolled her eyes. "We had just been playing your video game thing and she was the only other princess I could think of."
"That is awesome," Henry told her.
"Well, there you go. You two are officially one of us," Charming said with a laugh.
"Fairytale princesses at last," Snow added with a smile.
"And as my first princess-y request…I would like to know the name of the baby," Emma said.
"Yeah! We demand that you reveal the name, right now," Hanna added. She had been waiting forever to find out her little brother's name.
"Right, then. Ready?" David asked Snow, who nodded her head…she was ready.
Hanna could hardly wait to hear what the name was. She sat and listened to her dad's speech until her mom finally revealed the name.
"People of Storybrooke, it is our great joy to introduce you to our son…Prince Neal."
"It is so nice to meet you Neal," Emma said as she reached out to hold her little brother's hand.
"We're your big sisters you know," Hanna said as she reached out to hold onto his other tiny hand. "We're gonna look out for you always. I promise."