An abundance of footsteps and clattering of mugs awoke Emma in the early hours of the morning, but she remained still in her hammock. Unwilling to do nothing more but lay in this hurt, frustrated by the single minded pursuits of those around her and how they pulled them all apart. Laying there she let her anger fester inside her, the voice in her head yelling bitterly while she remained silent. The tension built until she abruptly jumped out of the hammock, her feet thumping onto the wooden floor.
Paying no attention to anyone's concerned looks or greetings, letting her silence speak for her as she trudged by them. The love was still there but the feeling was faint, like she was inhaling the mere scent it left behind. Marching out of the house into the rising sun Emma could feel her mothers gaze like a dark shadow looming over her. Aware of her agonised expression without even turning to look. In fact she wouldn't acknowledge it, out of spite. Letting anger fuel her every movement. Splashing water from the troth on her face bitterly, half her focus was on making sure her back was to her mother.
Emma barely felt the chill of the icy water as it dripped from her chin, exhaling deeply she stood up straight looking over to her father. Noticing his stiff stance as he focused on the strap in front of him and pulling it tightly, securing an old saddle to a large white horse. Just as she approached, so did Snow. Emma quickly diverted her stride positioning herself on the other side of the horse, stroking her hand through its mane.
"We won't need to ride; I can bring us there much faster" Snow's voice was shaky, lifting her hood over her long black hair.
"I was thinking, you and Regina can get yourselves to the castle first" David kept his eyes on the horse, his voice strained.
"Are you sure?" Snow White frowned suspiciously, as he continued to fiddle with the saddle.
"Me and Emma will ride, meet you there" David explained turning to her, he displayed his best reassuring smile which she eventually matched.
"Sure" Snow's words agreed, but her distant eyes said otherwise.
Kissing her husband on the cheek before stepping away, an act he barely acknowledged avoiding making eye contact.
"When are we leaving?" Emma asked, her eyes locked onto her fathers.
"As soon as I'm done" David replied through a deep exhale.
"You know how to reach me" Snow smiled, her eyes hopelessly longing as she hastily walked over to Emma, lifting her arms.
Emma stepped back avoiding the embrace with her mother with a clear shake of her head, before walking away hastily.
Making her way over to Regina, who stood alone on the porch shivering from the early morning air, she let out a sigh having witnessed the awkward interaction.
"You, ok?" Regina asked in a tone of concern.
"Hard to tell, everything just feels empty". Emma stated, with a small shrug, looking out into the bright green forest and snowy mountains in the distance, still in awe of the beauty of this realm.
Regina nodded as her hand went to her chest, even the usual glint of anger in her eyes was absent.
"The world, it's dull" Regina added, staring at the same grassy field as Emma, her eyes glazed over.
"I'm sorry, I tried to stop it from happening," Emma turned to face Regina with an apologetic expression.
"Emma, you have nothing to be sorry for," Regina almost chuckled.
"Right, it was 'her', "Emma paused her jaw tightened "they was another way; she didn't have to take your heart, to save me"
"She did what was necessary," Regina stated but even as she said the words Emma noticed her conflicted expression.
Emma shook her head surprised by Regina's indifference to her heart being ripped from her chest in such a vicious manner. Her mouth fell open and she looked up to her wordless.
"What?" Regina's brow furrowed.
"You are defending Snow White, are you sure you're, ok?" Emma chuckled slightly, in a manic short of way,
Regina exhaled before wrapping her arms around Emma, aching as they both felt nothing, no warmth from this embrace. The absence of that feeling caused them to step back abruptly, their eyes distant.
"No offense, but your sister sucks" Emma stated, her voice strained.
Regina's mind wandered back, her eyes distant her Emma could see her mind agonizing over all the decisions that led her here.
"If it wasn't for that thief distracting me, I could have stopped Zelena before she got to you" Regina sighed, with a pained expression.
"Who?" Emma shook her head confused for a moment.
"Just some idiot, with a bow and arrow" Regina waved her hand as if disregarding any thought of him, like she could pull him out of her mind, forgotten.
"Right" Emma nodded her head a small grin on her face "Dad mentioned there was someone at your castle, where did he go?" Emma asked, looking up at her with a playful smirk.
"It doesn't matter, I won't be seeing him again" Regina stated firmly giving her a don't push it look.
Emma shook her head sensing her abrupt attitude as a sign he left an impression, Regina rolled her eyes before making her way over to where Snow White waited impatiently. A bitterness in her eyes as they met Reginas, they stood beside each other talking quietly. After a minute Snow called something out to Emma, resembling a goodbye. In response she half-heartedly waved avoiding eye contact, before Regina and Snow disappeared in a cloud of magic.
Turning back to the house Emma watched as the others prepared for their journey Killian packed his belongings carefully. He looked so at peace, a kind of ease he never had while roaming the halls of Storybrooke high. Ingrid and Granny in juxtaposition of this were quiet, with anxious expressions.
"Do you know if Red got our message?" Emma asked Killian as he approached, somewhat hopeful as her eyes met his.
"No, messenger bird still hasn't returned" Killian started putting his arm around Emma's shoulder, resting his head atop hers.
"I don't like this," Emma said with a defeated sigh "Separating, it's a bad idea"
Killian stepped back; his eyes focused on Emma longingly, taking in every detail of her eyes and soft smile, the sights and sounds of the world faded away. Before he leaned in, wrapping his arms around her like a comforting blanket. Emma closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, taking in as much as she could. Before they moved apart slightly, his hands gripped her forearms, not willing to let go.
"You should come with us," Killian's voice wavered, letting out a defeated sigh.
"I want to but there's no way Dad's going to let me go off without him" Emma placed her hand on his cheek gently "just focus on finding your brother and Anna" Emma paused her eyes guilty looking to where Elsa lay "save Elsa".
"But hunting the wicked witch, with the Dark One as company" Killian hand grip tighter as he said it.
"I'll be ok" Emma gave him a reassuring nod, but his concerned expression remained.
"I can't lose you" Killians words were not a desperate plea, but a promise his eyes darkened.
"You won't" Emma gave him a reassuring smile.
Reaching down he grabbed his sack of supplies swinging it over his shoulder then smiled ever so slightly, his hook piercing the cloth, working both as a sort of handle and clasp. Silent they just looked into each other's eyes for a moment, before Emma placed her hands on his cheeks, leaning on her toes she reached up and kissed him. There was a tension in their kisses now, as Emma so desperately wanted to feel their raw passion for each other. Even while in her grasp their lips parting hands stroking each other's hair, it was unreachable. Emma could only sense the echo of the love she felt, without her heart in her chest. But this numbness made them hunger for it more, moaning as they continued on for a few minutes, still good even if not quite satisfying.
Jumping onto the back of the horse, David coughed loudly, looking away from the pair purposefully, Emma rolled her eyes, stepping back from Killian. Lips curling into a smile she leaned in for one last kiss on the cheek before walking over to her father. With one hand he reached out and pulled her up onto the front of the horse.
"I love you" Emma stated her eyes longing as she looked back at Killian.
"I know," Killian said with a wink.
Galloping away Emma and David were soon deep into the forest of vibrant green leaves and ancient trees. Everyone's one track mind leading in different directions, Granny with Ingrid and Killian went towards Arendale. While Regina, Snow, David and a reluctant Emma were on a witch hunt. Staying behind to watch over Elsa were the dwarfs with Jiminy, who had a unique experience with this situation.
"Why didn't we go with Mom?" Emma asked, squirming slightly feeling a pulsating sensation from the necklace enchanted by her mother.
David coughed pausing his body tense "I have an idea something that could help Snow, we'll head in a different direction, it may take a few days" David stated guilty.
"A few days?" Emma blurted out loudly, her began to heart race her eyes longing "I didn't think it be that long"
There was silence for a moment Emma stared forwards frustrated and feeling a little stupid for not realising her father would be relentless in his pursuit to save his wife.
"You didn't say goodbye, to your mother" David tone could not hide his anxiety.
"What?" Emma blurted out in an attempt to sound confused.
"Pushing her away, it will make things worse" David's voice wavered.
Emma's eyes went wide, somewhat guilty as he thought back to the devastated expression on her mothers face when she pulled away.
"I waved," Emma scoffed with a shrug "You weren't exactly warm with her either"
"Love, that's how we'll break this curse" David's tone was firm and determined.
Emma inhaled sharply, her eyes distant as she went over the events leading them to their current predicament, but this reflection only filled her with a sense of dread.
"Why don't you tell me how to ride a horse, what's this for?" Emma asked, changing her tone, with a hint of intrigue, inspecting the various reigns her father gracefully held in his hands.
"Emma?" Davids's tone was frustrated, pleading with her to no avail.
"Seriously, can you teach me? it seems to come naturally to you" Emma's tone didn't change, stubbornly avoiding the topic.
With a tentative smile he surrendered, feeling a warmth wash over him as he let the pending crisis fade to the back of his mind.
"Spent most of my life on the back of a horse" David's eyes were distant as he reminisced.
"Did you like growing up out here?" Emma prodded, becoming genuinely curious.
"I had a good childhood for the most part, I wish you could have met your grandmother, she taught me how to ride" David explained with a smile on his face as he reminisced.
"How?" Emma asked, as her eyes went wide with her mind unable to picture herself in the world he grew up in.
David held on loosely placing the reins into Emma's hands with his still there to guide "Just like this, I would sit up front, and she'd make sure I moved with the horse, seeing the world through its eyes".
Only using slight tugs on the reins and small kick of his heel he was able to communicate with the majestic white horse with ease.
"Don't worry, I was scared too" David encouraged feeling her hands were curled in a tight fist.
Emma beamed a wide smile in her mind, picturing her father as a boy doing the same, her hands pulled back gripping tightly at the reins, feeling a warmth in her chest. The horse huffed, taking off a little too fast up the incline ahead. This resulted in a slight wobble but her father's steadying arm was there and Emma loosened her grip slowing the horse.
"There, you got it" David smiled proudly patting her back.
"How do you even know where we are, with no map or GPS?" Emma looked around at the surroundings, but there wasn't much to see. Not one distinct landmark amongst the trees and rocks.
"Out here in the forest, we rely on the sun, the stars to guide us". David looked up his tone of reminiscence.
"Wow that was so corny dad" Emma teased, with a smile on her face.
Suddenly Emma's vision blurred slightly; she wasn't looking into the forest but the white walls of Storybrooke hospital. David was in front of her in a hospital gown, his eyes lost and desperate but he smiled at her like she was the sun. Mary Margaret hovered just behind her with longing eyes just like her fathers. This Emma, had only just found them and she smothered her feelings, frowning at him.
"Do you remember?" Emma stated bluntly, after a minute of waiting for one of them to speak.
"No, I haven't been able to remember anything about my life, I couldn't even find a single mention of you" David sighed frustrated with himself.
"Probably didn't even know about me" Emma's jaw clenched, folding her arms over her chest.
Although her tone was trying to project an I don't care attitude, her eyes revealed the opposite as she looked into his. The anger she had held onto all her life was washed away by his adoring smile. Emma hadn't anticipated she would be met with such kindness and it only brought out her defences, anticipating the rejection.
"You don't have to be hostile, I know why you didn't come by sooner... you were scared" David looked up at her with an understanding smile.
Emma's lip quivered; she inhaled sharply seeing the understanding in his expression, no sense of disappointment. In fact he had the exact kind of unwavering love in his eyes, that she had already given up on ever finding.
"I'm scared too," he admitted with a small sigh.
"Really" she smiled seeing the honesty in his expression, she took a half a step towards him.
A rush of adrenaline gave her the sensation of falling but she snapped back to the present and tugged the reins forcefully, halting the horses.
"Ugh, I feel dizzy" David gasped, his heart racing.
But a loving feeling washed over Emma and David, like the invisible string binding them together just became a reinforced steel bridge, the love and trust increasing instantaneously.
"What was that, I just saw, Storybrooke?" Emma stuttered confused, blinking as she tried to re orientate herself.
"You too" David's voice heightened, his hand gripped onto Emma's shoulder but he had regained memories before.
Emma was quiet for a moment before it sunk in her mouth gaped open, slowly processing what this meant.
"We can get them back, the missing hours, we can get them back!" Emma yelled as her heart raced.
"What, Emma? what aren't you telling me?" David's voice became stern.
Shame washed over her and she closed her eyes tightly, only now seeing the true price of turning back the hourglass.
"We lost that moment, the price of the time loop, I didn't think we could get it back, but somehow.." Emma mumbled quietly before trailing off.
"That hour was erased" David gasped out horrified to have lost such a significant moment.
"I didn't think it mattered, it wasn't the moment we met, I think it was worse, we lost the moment we connected" Emma voice broke her shoulders slumped leaning onto her father.
"And now, we got it back" He kissed the top of her head, relief outweighing his frustration.
"Right" Emma stated as her eyes went wide aware this wasn't the only hour she traded.
"What's wrong, it's ok, I can feel our bond is stronger" David reassured her.
There was a silence as Emma breathed in and out again her soul focus was just that, for a moment. In and out. In and out. But her heart continued to race, as if her need for oxygen had no relevance to the rapid beating.
"Emma?" David said her name like a question once again pleading for her to explain his body tense.
"Mom, I lost an hour with her too" Emma finally choked out.
"That explains it" David scoffed, somewhat relieved by this news.
"What do you mean?" Emma groaned with a frown.
"You two don't usually last so long, with the silent treatment" David couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"Well, she's usually around more" Emma retorted, glaring into the forest ahead.
"Emma, your mother" He stalled trying to find the right words "Just wants to keep you safe"
"I don't want to talk about it" Emma's voice became hoarse and cold as her anger surged.
The locket around her neck felt ice cold, almost burning her causing Emma to roll her shoulders slightly, trying to shake off her presence. Nothing like the soft nurturing one she had come to know, she felt a grief for the mother she had lost to the darkness.