Emma has just caught her father in bed with someone who isn't her mother. Killian's concerns about his wife's feelings towards her best friend makes him seek out advice. While in New York, Snow finds her transplants going to happening a lot sooner than she imagined!
The Nolan Farm
Having burst into her parent's bedroom, with Lily yelling and racing up the stairs behind her, the sight that greeted Emma wasn't anything like she expected.
For there, in her parents' bed, now sitting up hurriedly next to her father, was a very dishevelled Dorothy Lucas. Ruby's wife?
"What the hell's going on here?" She looked between the pair, disgust in her voice obvious. "Dad, what do you think you're doing?"
It was a stupid question, as they were both topless (and probably bottomless), Dorothy clutching the sheets to her chest as she looked around desperately to see where she'd left her top, then to Lily, who'd just entered the room behind Emma. Unbeknown to her, her bra and top were lying at the foot of the bed. And they looked as guilty as hell.
"Emma, I-"
David started to speak, caught by surprise as Emma's face morphed from shock, to anger.
"Why's she here? You're a married man for god's sake!" Lily, seeing the crumpled top on the floor, ignored Emma, moving past her before reaching down to pick it up and pass it to the other brunette, as Emma now turned to face her in turn. "Married to my mother, or had you forgotten? And why's this one wandering around your kitchen with no pants on?"
"Emma, please wait downstairs?" David finally found his voice. "I'll be down shortly."
"How could you do that? We only saw mum's ambulance off yesterday! She's your wife, goddammit!"
"No she isn't! She sent me ready-signed divorce papers. Now, go downstairs, and wait for me there. I'll get dressed and-"
"So that's it? You're just gonna give up on her? How could y-"
"EMMA!" David suddenly barked back, the first time he'd ever raised his voice to his daughter. And the first time she'd ever seen his annoyance directed at her. "You don't know the half of it, even if you think you do! Now for the last time, go downstairs and wait for me to get dressed. Or leave! Either way, get out!"
Swan House
Killian woke up to a half-empty bed. In a strange way, he'd kind of expected it?
When Emma had a problem, she ran. Sometimes it was a long jog to clear her head. Other times she ran when there was something she just couldn't face yet. And after what'd happened last night when they were together, when she'd orgasmed and yelled out someone else's name, he somehow knew she'd do anything to avoid facing him in the morning.
He knew what he'd heard. And that guilty, rabbit-in-the-headlights look on her face had only confirmed it, even though she'd tried to act innocent. As a result, he'd left the bed almost immediately, unsure what he should do. Get angry? She always went passive-aggressive when he did that, denying everything, and fighting back by arguing about some unconnected issue. Should he coldly confront her? She usually kept her distance whenever he did that. She was a notorious sulker and could easily go for days without saying a word. And she'd usually wait until he got over whatever it was, until finally, he was the one apologising, for hurting her feelings. Even when he hadn't been at fault.
But this was different. From the time he first met her, he knew relatively early on that she had a strong crush on the former mayor. Having lived for centuries, he was an excellent reader of body language, looks and expression and could easily recognise the signs. Emma even used to flirt with Ruby on occasion, so much so that he suspected they may have had a past. And when she'd accidentally spent a week in their odd little town, the attraction between Elsa, the Queen of Arendelle, and Smma had been fairly obvious. So much so he'd even teased her about her probable bisexuality on several occasions. She'd never directly denied it and he never had any problem with it as, hell, he himself had enjoyed enthusiastic encounters with men in the last centuries as a cadet and later, a pirate, especially during his long time at sea. But it was something they never discussed, and Emma would easily get embarrassed even talking about it. Though she had admitted to a few stolen kisses in the past.
But the ever-changing relationship between Henry's two mothers, was different. Different because he'd noticed a definite attraction, even though they both tried to hide it under layers of sarcasm and verbal abuse. After Locksley's death at the hands of Hades, by sacrificing his life to save her, Emma had spent a lot of time with the outlaw's grieving former lover. Although regularly squabbling as usual, everyone could see they'd become closer. And Emma often used to spend spare evenings with her at Mifflin Street, watching movies over coffee, wine and gradually, tears. Emma claimed she did it as much for Henry's benefit as Regina's, and Killian didn't mind as it used to help ground her during her difficult post-natal depression by helping her focus on someone going through a harder time than herself. Plus, he knew Henry benefitted from his mothers' less antagonistic relationship.
After he returned, through Merlin's intervention, from apparent death, Locksley had also picked up on it. And he even once commented on how Emma had always been a little stand-offish towards him, more so since he came back from the dead, unlike the way everyone else treated him in the little magical town. So, when the two women came under the effects of that wretched potion, both men could see just how easily their wives' relationship had morphed into something more.
But Emma was now free of Ingrid's potion, wasn't she? After all, he'd seen her in the dream catcher, telling Regina, in floods of tears that she loved her husband more than anyone. Regina has said much the same thing about Robin. As they sat on that bed in the Miami hotel, they appeared truly devastated by their subsequent adultery and cruelty towards their loved ones.
So why had she called her name outlike that? And then of all times? He assumed she must still have buried feelings which she was still trying to keep quiet about, for the sake of maintaining contact with Hope. But what would that mean for their future? Would she turn back into that creature who tried to kill him in front of his own daughter, once Henry's magic-blocking cuffs were removed?
He had to talk to someone who understood magic, but wasn't involved. And there was only one person he could think of.
Granny's Diner
Killian found himself in the town's main café two hours later, with the Sorcerer sat opposite, and Robin Locksley, having asked him to join them. But before he'd had a chance to speak to Merlin alone, The Sorcerer took a few minutes to bring them both up to date on recent events, Snow's predicament, and the current whereabouts of The Dark One.
"My god, poor Emma." Robin shook his head. "And poor Neal? The boy's just turned eight, and he could be about to lose his mother, after everything he's already been through?"
"It's sad Robin, but true. I'm pulling in all the favours I can, just to get her the organ transplant as quickly as possible. But yes, there's still a very real risk she won't survive long enough to receive it. If she does though, I'm planning to bring her straight back here, so I can use more magic to make sure her body doesn't reject the new organs. In some ways she's very lucky, as most people in her situation would have to wait many months or even years for a donor match. I'm leaving tonight and I plan to see her again, after I've put a few more wards up around here."
"Ah yes, Blue told me! I gather you've changed the old magical barrier on the town line? What's the difference?"
"Well basically, humans will still be able to cross over the line and back again, like you two have already, and Storybrooke will still be hidden from the outside world. But this time there'll be no risk of anyone losing their memories. However this time, non-humans will be able to leave and return, too."
Killian looked at him wide eyed. "Not sure that's such a good idea, Merlin! It's one thing seeing dwarves knocking around, but fairies turning up in Boston? An angry dragon loose in New York? People might start asking questions?"
That made Merlin laugh. "Fortunately, there's no risk of that! Oddly enough, I'll be taking Maleficent with me to New York tomorrow. She'd long believed she'd be vaporised the moment she crossed over the line, like so many non-human and mystical creatures. In reality, they'll effectively be human, and while they're away from magic they'll basically age and die, like everyone else. Oddly enough, Mal seems to rather like the idea? Being immortal may sound like a blessing, but speaking from personal experience, it's quite a curse."
"I can imagine!" The former outlaw smirked at the sorcerer. "And from what Lily told me at the Sherwood the other day, I gather you recently discovered you now have another grown-up daughter you ever even knew about? By the beautiful Maleficent herself?"
"WHAT?" Killian nearly sprayed his coffee over the pair of them. "You and the dragon? You've got to be kidding?"
"It's true." Merlin couldn't help smiling. "Yes, it came as quite the surprise to me, too! Being a seer, I can see other people's futures, but never my own or my bloodline. Mal and I were together, briefly, over twelve hundred years ago. In a very different mystical realm, where I lived in dragon form for a while, to avoid detection by certain malevolent warlocks. It's quite the tale."
Temporarily forgetting his own problems, Killian listened as Merlin explained the circumstances behind him and Mal, the former Mistress of All Evil and the dragon who'd tried to kill him, twice, coming together. How they'd met and had a brief relationship, before he left for another realm, never knowing he'd also left her pregnant. And there's Killian thinking he had history? Compared to this bloke, he was a novice. Merlin also, after prompting by Robin, went on to talk about the recent comings and goings of Belle and Ruby. But it was when he talked about Gold's European trip, that the former pirate shook his head, not believing it for one minute!
"You're seriously trying to tell me that the Crocodile won't be returning? That all his pillage, properties and loans, and whatever other hidden loot he's purloined over too many years to count; he'll just...leave behind? No, I can't see that ever happening, Merlin. Not in another thousand years, no way!"
"Well, it happens to be true, Mr. Jones. I've spoken to Rumple several times since they left. He's already started transferring his portfolio here over into his son's name. And his grandson's. In fact, the freehold for the building you're currently sitting in is now in Henry's name. I've seen the document for myself. Rumple hardly needs what he has here. He'd already transferred plenty of assets, mainly gold spun from straw, outside this realm and into the non-magical world over decades and will be more than be able to support himself, very comfortably, for the rest of his days."
"Until he no doubt gets bored and wants his old power back?"
"It's the Dark One that seeks power, not Rumple! You, like most people around here, have never understood the link between the two. But I, and a number of others are trying to make things as comfortable and easy as possible for him to settle elsewhere. A new identity, a fresh start, for him and his young son? Granted, convincing him of the benefits of staying away from the source of his darkness, and his power, was a trial to put it mildly? We've been talking a great deal recently, and he's understood that everyone, including him, stand to benefit if he stays away. But, in the highly unlikely event the darkness draws him back here against his better judgment? Well, let's just say I've made some contingency plans?"
"Personally Merlin, I think you're being naïve. You may think you've persuaded him to stay away; but I know the crocodile all too well! And the deal must've come at quite the price? What did he ask for in return?"
"Nothing. Once again you keep forgetting, outside I'm dealing with Rumpelstiltskin, the spinner, not the Dark One. And I'll continue to do so until he crosses a magical boundary or dies of old age. Oddly enough, rather than me paying him, he paid me richly for my services. Creating identities and histories in a land without magic, doesn't come cheap, Jones!"
"So, what was your price for this…largesse?"
"A certain historical, legendary artefact. A priceless stone spoken about in magical circles for millennia. A stone that possesses the most remarkable properties. Many thought it never even existed. But it does, and it's now in my possession, courtesy of Mal, via Rumple."
Robin was always interested in valuable gems. "So, what does this 'remarkable stone' do?"
"It's known as the Verum Lapis, or 'truth stone'. Made from Lapis Lazuli, or Sapphirus as the ancient Greeks called it. And it's red, not blue, making it impossibly rare."
"Truth stone?"
"Indeed." The Sorcerer turned to look directly at Killian as he explained, as though telling him something specifically relevant to him. "It's impossible to lie or mislead in front of it, without being discovered. Would you care to see?"
"You carry this 'priceless artefact' around with you?"
"Not quite, Robin." He slowly opened his palm, face-up, on the table. And as he spoke, a four-inch long red stone, shaped like a dragon, slowly materialised in front of their eyes. "But then again, I have my own ways of ensuring its protection."
Robin and Killian looked closer at the large gem, which appeared to have a light coming out of it? And it was...throbbing?
"Remarkable. So, how's it used?"
"As the name implies, it was created to confirm truth, and in the process, reveal lies." He looked at the former thief, with a smirk. "Tell me Robin, young Killian here? Would you not agree he's one of the most handsome men you've ever met?"
"Jones?" Robin looked across at the former pirate, now one of his closest, most trusted friends. And the man in question was looking right back at him, grinning that insufferable grin that always seemed to have an effect on most of the women in town. "Certainly not! He's an ugly bastard, who could do with a decent shave!"
The stone in Merlin's hand suddenly shone red. But much, much brighter!
"It appears you're lying, Robin!" That caused Killian to instantly burst out laughing, as Robin rolled his eyes, giving him the finger in response, though even he thought it was funny. "You clearly think otherwise. Now, tell me about Regina's pregnancy? Congratulations, by the way. Are you looking forward to becoming a father once again?"
"Of course I am! I'm thrilled! I can't wait to-" But he suddenly stopped talking, distracted by the stone, which now, instead of red, had suddenly changed to a brilliant bright blue!
"You appear to be telling me the truth!"
The Nolan Farm
David found her in the living room, standing with her back to him, staring out of the large bay window overlooking the fields below. Although she'd heard him come in, she didn't turn around.
"How long have you been sleeping with her? Or is it 'them'?"
But David didn't answer, instead moving over to an armchair, sitting down. His silence irritated her.
"Well?"
"Emma, I'm not going to answer any questions until you turn around and face me? And sit down. Your choice."
"Fine!" She huffed, rolled her eyes and finally turned, unnerved by the fact he sounded an awful lot calmer than she'd expected, given the circumstances. Her father was always the calmer one of her parents, rarely ruffled. But after this, she expected at least a bit of guilt. Glancing up at him, she finally sat opposite.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"I just caught you in bed with a naked woman! And another one in the kitchen wearing one of your shirts, and not much else? Did you share your bed with her, too?"
"Whether I did or not Emma, is none of your business! I'm now single and unattached. As are Dorothy and Lily." He had a harder look in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. Probably partly caused by being let down so badly by the woman he'd loved. "I neither answer to you, nor anyone else for that matter! Is that clear?"
"Crystal!"
She stared down at the coffee table, simmering. But she realised she'd get nowhere by arguing with him, and yes, technically, he was right. He was single now, and so was her mother. But this? Maybe she should try a different tack?
"You do know Lily Page and I have a past? She once told me, to my face, she was going to come here and murder the pair of you for what you did to her! She had a wall in her flat showing where you were and how she was going to do it! She's Mal's daughter, for Christ's sake! And a dragon! And now she's here, in this house? What the hell were you thinking?"
"I'm more than aware of who she is, and was. Your mother and I did her a great injustice to her mother, and she paid heavily for it. But she's now completely different from the girl you once knew. For a start, her father has recently removed the darkness, your darkness, that was wrongly put inside her all those years ago. It's changed Lilith completely."
"And you seriously believe – wait- her father? But she's an orphan! Who?"
"Merlin. He didn't even know she was his, until recently. It appears he and Maleficent have history. It's a long story, but from what I gather, she was brought back here by ambulance because she only had weeks to live. He's removed her lung cancer; and her darkness along with it."
Merlin's her dad? Emma's jaw dropped in sheer disbelief. What else had she missed? Merlin and the dragon? She wanted to find out more but there were bigger problems. And she was getting nowhere. And he clearly didn't seem to be acting in the least bit guilty.
"So, does that mean it's definitely all over between you and mum? After forty years of marriage, and everything you meant to each other? Henry told me you'd watched that dream catcher and saw everything that'd happened. You do realise it was all the fault of that potion, don't you? Mum wasn't in control! She'd never do anything like that normally!"
"Of course I do, I saw it all. I now know that it wasn't really her acting so abominably."
"Exactly! So why are you giving up on her now? She might have divorced you, but we both know her mind wasn't in the right place when she signed those papers? She'd do anything to take it back. You can appeal to a judge, and tell them just that! You can probably get it reversed."
"It's not just about that the divorce, Emma. Our problems came from her not being honest with me right from the very start. The day I caught them both upstairs…" He didn't want to go into the details, not with his own daughter. But from the wincing look on Emma's face, it was clear she'd already guessed what he'd seen. "She told me things about them before I knew her, and why she'd hidden things from me. Important things. I'm not sure I could ever trust her again, after that. I'm sorry Emma, but that's how I feel."
She shook her head. "Yeah, she told me something about that, too. But people hold things back from their loved ones, dad! Especially when it comes to their past. I held stuff about my life from Neal, and Killian. And I know as a fact Neal held a lot of stuff from me. That's life! Mum said that if what she once had with Ruby had ever come to light, it would've brought so much shame on the royal family, and the Court, that her dad would've been forced by them to banish her. That's why she didn't tell you. I get why you're angry, but c'mon dad, see sense?"
Although David didn't say anything, she could see he was mulling it over. Was there any possibility she could somehow salvage something from what everyone thought was the best marriage ever? "She might not even live long enough to come back here, but don't you think it's at least worth trying? If not for your sake, how about Neal's?" And mine?
"I don't hate your mother, Emma. I'm just not sure we can ever be together again, in the way we were? Things have changed. Permanently. That connection we had, that 'true love' that resulted in you and your brother having magic, was broken the moment Merlin took our split heart, her split heart, and replicated it, to save her life. He warned me it might. I already told her I forgave her for what happened recently, but…" He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know."
"Dad, you already know what Regina and I did to Robin and Killian, don't you? I didn't just cheat on the man I love, I tried to kill him in front of Hope! Yet somehow, he's managed to find it in his heart to forgive me. Look, I know it's not my place to tell you what to do, but can't you at least just…try and talk to her? At least go and see her? She's lying in a hospital bed hundreds of miles away, dying! And when I last spoke to her, it sounded like she wants it to happen! That's how guilty she feels. Please? If not for her, do it for me and Neal? We're all she's got!"
"I'm already planning on taking your brother to see her on Tuesday, as I promised." David gave her a sad smile, reaching out to take her hand. She finally relented, placing hers in it as she felt her eyes start to well up. "You can come with us, if you like?"
"I'd love to, but technically I'm still under house arrest and on Tuesday I'm up before Judge Roberts. Hank Morgan thinks he'll probably let me go with a warning, because Killian and Henry are speaking for me. Even Robin's made a statement defending me, even after I attacked him, saying I wasn't mentally responsible. So who knows? It's always possible he'll rule against me anyway. If he does, I'm screwed."
"Frank Roberts is a decent man, even if he is a bit long in the tooth. I'm sure he'll see sense. Still, all being well you could always come to New York straight after and join us? Bring Hope along, too? I'm sure your mother would appreciate seeing her." Maybe for the last time? "How's Killian treating you after…well, everything that's happened?"
"Er...it's complicated."
Granny's Diner
"So they were cursed?"
The Sorcerer, now standing in the centre of the town diner with Henry beside him, had just explained to his audience everything they'd learnt about the events of the last month. About Ingrid's cottage, and everything they'd discovered. And as he spoke, the proprietor of the café sat on her stool by the counter, listening. He finally asked if they had any questions.
"Ain't you been listening, Sleepy?" Grumpy's eyes bulged, glaring back at him. "What did the guy just say? Couldn't you stay awake long enough to listen? It wasn't a curse, it was a potion! A nasty one!"
"It's quite alright, Leroy." Merlin raised a hand to calm the grouchy dwarf. "No, Mr. Clark, as I explained to everyone just now, Regina and Emma, just like Snow and Ruby, were acting under the influence of a very strong but faulty potion left behind by a malevolent witch. It manipulated their minds into doing things they would never normally do, some rather destructive, hurting a number of their loved ones in the process. They weren't in control."
"You can say that again!" Nova, one of the fairies, sat close to Grumpy, placing her hand over his to help calm him. "So, what happens now? Some of us saw Henry put those cuffs on them, binding their magic. What happens when they come off? Is there a chance they'll go weird again?"
"I'm not taking them yet!" Henry spoke up, seeing the various nods around the room. "At least not until Robin and Killian both say it's okay. But I don't think it'll be a problem either way. My grandmother and Ruby didn't have magic, and after the potion wore off, they seemed to regret everything that happened. Just like my mums do now."
"Yeah, we heard!" Keith Nottingham spoke up from the back. "Snow tried to top herself, didn't she? Wrecking her insides too, by all accounts?"
His brutal summary earnt angry glares from many in the room, not least from Henry, who wanted to punch the guy. But Merlin spoke up again.
"She's currently awaiting a transplant in a hospital in New York, with all the latest facilities, and we're doing all we can for her. But now do you see? Everyone knew about Snow's absolute devotion to David, like his to her, before all this happened. Could you normally imagine that woman, that symbol of hope in your old land, giving up hope and doing such as thing? Destroying everything she'd ever held dear? No. She regretted hurting her prince so much, she was willing to end her own life."
"But what about my Belle?" Said another voice from a corner. "Why's she even caught up in this? Last thing I heard, she'd been thrown over the town line by that bastard husband of hers, along with Ruby Lucas! Why? Where the hell is she?"
Henry looked over to see Moe French, the querulous old florist looking back at them. Had nobody told him yet?
"Ah. Mr. French. Perhaps we could have a few minutes alone?"
Atlantic City, New Jersey – later that afternoon
"So, you're telling me my ex-husband is never taking my son back to Storybrooke, ever again? To his home? Merlin, where the hell does that leave me? I'm his mother, dammit! You promised me! HE promised me! He swore if I didn't contest the terms of the divorce, he'd make sure I had equal access to my son!"
"Belle, I-"
"This isn't good enough, Merlin! You promised me! And I'll do everything in my power to-"
"BELLE!" Even the voice on the other end of the connection was getting frustrated. "PLEASE? Just shut up and listen, okay?"
She seethed. "This had better be good!"
Without any further interruption, he explained how Rumple, under his new alias, Angus Gold, would not be returning with their son to the fairy-tale Maine town, so that The Dark One could be curtailed, if not vanquished, forever. No magic, no dagger. No dagger, No Dark One. Instead, he would return and forge a career for himself with an international law firm, so there wouldn't be any more questions on his past.
"A career as a lawyer? At his age, with no history?" Then she realised who she was talking to. "Don't tell me, you faked him one of those, too?" Her voice heavily laden with sarcasm.
"As I've done for both you, and Ruby. Except the stakes are so much higher for everyone if he forfeits!"
"So, what do I do now? Just wait another month till they get back? Then yet another, while he decides where the hell this supposed 'legal practise', is going to be base? And where he'll live? If it's New York, where Gideon told me they'll heading, what am I supposed to do if I'm stuck in Portland? That's three hundred miles away, Merlin! A six-hour drive! Seven, from Storybrooke!"
"Please have patience, Belle. We'll find a way to make this work. The legal practice is already established so he's joining them as a partner. He doesn't need to actually live in New York. He could even even closer to Portland. There're many divorced couples these days, who manage larger distances. Take Robin Locksley, for example? With his daughter partly based in Calif-"
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT ROBIN & ZELENA!" She bellowed at the laptop. "Gideon's my son! And I need to see him regularly, not just when it suits my ex-husband!"
"Please calm yourself, Belle. It'll all become a lot clearer when you return to Portland, and I'll make sure either Henry or I will meet you there. You could even go back to live in Storybrooke, if you prefer? As Rumple will not be returning there, you'll be quite safe if you do. Perhaps Ruby would prefer to go back, too? Her grandmother was asking after her. How is Atlantic City, by the way? I've heard from some it's fun, but rather…sleazy?"
The change of subject threw her completely! "Erm, yeah. It's not my cup of tea either, but Ruby likes it. We're staying in a hotel here for the night, but leave tomorrow." Then something occurred to her. She never told him about Atlantic City? And her son only knew about Rhode Island? "How do you know where I am? I don't remember telling you? And I certainly didn't tell Gideon!"
He grinned back at the screen. "I'm the Sorcerer. I have methods."
"So - you've been following me? Tracking us?"
"Not quite. But being who I am, I do have my own ways of acquiring information as and when I need it. I know you've been travelling south on a yacht with Ruby and a rather handsome young couple. It does sound rather exciting, and I'd love to visit Cuba myself one day . Are you still planning to fly back in a month or so, or remain with your new…friends?"
Her jaw dropped. From the expression on his face, and the way he'd said it, was almost like he also knew what they'd been doing on the yacht, too?
"Erm, yes, but I still don't see how-"
"Belle, you have to trust me on this!" He interrupted her again. "The issue at stake's so much bigger than either you, me or Rumple. If The Dark One's forced, by his host's deliberate action, to stay away from any magical lands for the rest of his days, the darkest embodiment of evil ever to infect the planet for an aeon will be rendered powerless! And in turn that will save thousands of lives in the future! So, I want to ensure Rumple has a happier life for whatever remains of it. That in turn will allow Gideon to have a happier life. And you could be a part of that!"
"With Rumple? Not a chance in hell! He'll never forgive me after what I've done."
"You're right, he won't. But Gideon has! And away from the power of The Dark One, his father will be much easier to agree terms with for sharing your son's upbringing. You all stand to benefit."
~oOo~
She ended the web call twenty minutes later. And as she looked up at the reflection in the vanity mirror above the desk, she barely recognised the figure staring back at her.
For the suntanned woman now facing her, hair swept back and bunched, dressed in a pale-blue crop top which showed off most of her flat, toned stomach, summer shorts and glasses sitting on the top of her head, was a very different woman from the one who'd been thrown over the Storybrooke town line. She'd changed. And not just in appearance.
Up until a week ago, she'd never even been intimate with any man other than Rumple. Then four years ago she'd made that terrible mistake, when she got far too drunk on a night out with some of the Storybrooke women. Later on, back in her flat, she'd committed adultery with the waitress. It'd been wrong, and she'd suffered guilt for weeks after. But not enough guilt to not go on to repeat the illicit, high-risk experience on a regular basis, for the next four years, ultimately destroying everything she held dear.
With hindsight, it'd been stupid and selfish. But then again, maybe Ruby was right? In Portland, she'd said that once you'd had sex with other women, it was something you'd find hard to give up. And, once she'd experienced it with another woman entirely, Olivia, only days ago, she realised Ruby was probably right. Maybe she's been in denial most of her life? But as she'd questioned her sexuality, she'd also gone on to have sex with Olivia's boyfriend. And that had also been wonderful. Jerard was a completely different lover to Rumple. Younger, more responsive. And much more…enthusiastic? He brought a fiery passion to bed, and it was so good she knew in her heart she was almost certainly bisexual. But it didn't stop there. From that first night together on board, when all four of them had slept together, despite her initial guilt, they'd gone on do the same thing every morning, and every night, since sailing. It was like a drug. In every pairing and every combination. They'd coupled, tripled and quadrupled. And it had been wonderful. And with each new experience came a little less guilt. Though once she'd spoken to Merlin, having been reminded of why she was in this situation, it came back again to haunt her, and her self-loathing resurfaced. Frankly, she now felt cheap.
It was very different for Ruby. Even after having left her libidinous wolf side back in Storybrooke, the former shapeshifter still found it much easier to separate love from sex. That's probably why she'd found it so easy to repeatedly cheat on Dorothy before she was finally discovered. Each time, Ruby had felt incredible guilt for hurting the Hero of Oz, the woman she'd claimed was her one and only True Love. But not enough to stop repeatedly cheating on her with Belle, and others. Belle knew full well Ruby wasn't in love with her. What was the term she'd used? Fuck buddies? Was that what Belle had become? A fuck buddy to three wanton travellers, with no inhibitions or commitments? She imagined how her mother must be looking down on her now, ashamed. And her father, her only living relative, besides Gideon? The former king hated Rumpelstiltskin with a passion; but she imagined even after him, he would be thoroughly ashamed of her current lifestyle.
Her gloomy thoughts were interrupted by an excited Ruby walking into the hotel bedroom.
"I've just spoken to Granny!"
"Sorry…what?"
"Merlin gave her my letter, and she texted me. I just rang her."
"Oh. Is that good, or bad?"
"Well at least we're talking! She didn't have time to say much, because she was busy working. But she knew about the potion. I'm going to talk to her tonight. I want you on the call with me?"
"What? No way! If she knows about you and me, after what we did to Dorothy, she'll…. well, I don't want to imagine what an angry old wolf could do to me, quite frankly."
Swan House
It was just after two in the afternoon when Emma finally pulled up outside the Nantucket style house overlooking the bay that he'd moved into three years ago. She was dreading having to face him. Again. An hour earlier, she'd left her father's farm after getting his message.
She'd just spent all morning with David. More time than they'd spent together in ages. And it'd been uncomfortable realising her father was now not only single, but had also developed a sex life that didn't include her mother. Plus an unapologetic attitude, neither denying nor confirming what he'd been doing with Ruby's ex and Lily, her former orphanage friend. And he seemed more...content? But facing him after catching him in bed with Dorothy Lucas was still nowhere near as uncomfortable as having to face Killian. But as she looked at the text, she knew there was little choice.
'Killian: You can't avoid me forever. Come home Swan. Hope's asking for you.'
After all the recent promises. After everything she'd put him through over the last month (even though it was unwittingly), she now had to feel bad all over again. Just for blurting out the wrong name in bed? Even if she couldn't explain it. Judging by the look on his face last night, he'd heard it all right! Should she just deny it? Should she stay silent, get angry with him, or get defensive? None were attractive options. No, this time, she had to face the music.
Stepping inside, the house seemed eerily quiet. Until a voice rang out from the back.
"IN THE LIVING ROOM, SWAN!"
Putting her keys down in the bowl, she took her time, and checked herself in the mirror before walking in to face him. She found him lying back on the sofa, with his feet on the coffee table, holding something dark red in his hand, studying it.
"Hi."
"Hello again, Emma." His voice seemed noticeably cooler. "Did you have a good run this morning? I saw you left here just after five?" He didn't bother looking up as he spoke. "That's nine hours ago. Long time for a run, don't you think? Where did you wind up?"
"Um…I took the long way around the bay and ended up at the farm. I was there most of the morning, talking to dad. I didn't go into town. Or Granny's for, um, obvious reasons?" She looked around and saw the room looked much tidier than usual. "Where's Hope? You said she was asking for me?"
Sorry, I lied. She's over at the Boyd's house, probably playing with their young lass. I said I'll collect her later, as you and I need to talk. Alone."
She noticed the red thing that he was holding between his fingers, some sort of shaped stone, had changed colour, and now seemed to be glowing bright blue? And the blue light seemed to be pulsing?
"What's that you're holding?"
"Something I borrowed from The Sorcerer. It's one of his most valuable possessions, apparently. Quite remarkable." He placed the stone on the coffee table, just in front of him, sitting up as the blue light dimmed and it reverted to a dull stone. Emma looked closer. It appeared to be shaped like some sort of dragon? "How's David and his boy? Have they heard anything from Snow, or the hospital they took her to?"
"Not yet." Once again the stone suddenly flickered its blue light, before starting to dim again. "He's planning on taking Neal to see her on Tuesday and stay the night, maybe two, somewhere near." Again, the blue light brightened. Was it responding to her voice? "He asked me to join them. Maybe even you and I going down there, and taking Hope to see her?" It was! It was responding to the sound of her voice. Because when she stopped speaking, so did the light. "But I've got to be in Court first thing tomorrow, so I said I wasn't sure..." That blue light kept pulsing. "Killian, what the hell is that thing?"
"It's called the 'Verum Lapis', or 'Truth Stone'? It's ancient and made by a goddess, Aletheia, apparently. At least, according to Merlin. It's rather intriguing. It differentiates fact from fiction with stunning accuracy. Let me demonstrate?" Emma shrugged her shoulders. "When we had sex last night, did you or did you not call out 'Regina' when you peaked?"
"WHAT?" She responded without thinking. "No, of course not! Why would you think-" But the stone's light instantly changed from blue to bright red!
"Seems you're lying, Swan!" He looked up, glaring at her. "So, let's try again, shall we? And this time, the truth? Or would you rather run away, yet again?"
Mount Sinai Medical Centre, New York
"Ah good, I see you're awake, Miss Blanchard?" The young medic stepped into the treatment room, looking up at the monitors and drips that were currently keeping her alive, after checking his notes. "I'll just prep you for your next treatment, then we'll get you changed."
Snow had just woken from one of her many irregular sleeps, feeling as exhausted and washed out as she did before and after her last four-year kidney filtering. It happened just after she'd arrived, following a painful eight-hour ambulance ride from Storybrooke. She'd arrived feeling tired, in pain and already so incredibly lonely. And frankly, the former symbol of love and hope felt like she just wanted the Grim Reaper to finally take her. It'd be a mercy. Yet the eager young man staring back at her, a picture of health, vitality and annoyingly raw enthusiasm, seemed desperate to help.
"What's the point..." She looked at the name badge. "…Edgar? I'm going to be dead soon enough, anyway. Why not save the treatments and drugs for someone who could use them?"
"Come now Mary-Margaret, let's have none of that? Don't give up hope?" Snow winced at his unknowingly poor choice of words. Hope, when there was so little of it. "Besides, we're expecting Professor Sage in a couple of hours. It's not often we get medical royalty coming in to supervise, let alone actually operate on a transplant patient? I'm amazed you managed to get him here. I'm guessing you must be very well connected, very rich, or very…important."
"What are you talking about?" Snow looked at him as though he'd gone insane. "I don't know any 'Professor Sage'? And what do you mean, operate? I only came in yesterday, and I was told I could be waiting weeks, or even months, before I even got an organ matc!. What's going on?"
"You're serious, right?" It was his turn to look at her as though she'd lost her mind. "Professor Sir Merlyn Sage? Surgeon Royal and senior physician to Her Majesty the Queen of England and other nobs over there? Your specialist? Probably the finest surgeon alive, according to my books, and you've never heard of him?"
Snow looked at him blankly, shaking her head. "Should I?"
"Wow! You must move in exalted circles, Miss Blanchard?" Edgar looked back down at the notes on the tablet, having no idea he was talking to Snow White, the heir and rightful Queen of Misthaven. "Sir Merlyn himself is going to be carrying out your kidney transplant today, and the liver straight after that. He's bringing in two top surgeons from outside, apparently? And I gather they're also going to be using some new 'wonder drugs' to help stop your body fighting the new organs!"
Her mind was whirring. It was a lot to take in. "Sir Merlin, you say?" It couldn't be him, could it?
"As I said, he's kinda surgical royalty in the medical profession?" He looked down at his notes again. "Now then, I really need to prep you for surgery for around eight tomorrow morning. Is there anyone you'd like me to call, so they can be here when you wake up?"
"Thanks, but I'd rather call them myself. Edgar, could you get me a phone?"
~oOo~