Chapter Text
Regina paced her office nervously waiting for any sign about what had happened to Emma. It had been nearly 48 hours since the Saviour and Captain guyliner had disappeared and left no trail behind. Shortly after Zelena died, Charming noticed that Emma had suddenly vanished and set out a search party for her. Nothing came up though. “Mom we will find them,” Henry said as he watched his mother pace back and forth in her tiny-ish office.
“We don’t even know what happened to them Henry, Emma could be in danger!” Regina snapped, not at Henry though.
“I know mom and trust me I am just as worried as yo-”
“I am not worried about either of them, but I know how much it would hurt you to lose Miss Swan,” Regina cut him off. It was mostly true, but there was some form of a lie there. Henry opened his mouth but was stopped short when the door opened. “What the hell are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” Regina asked, stepping in front of Henry defensively.
“I’m not here for a fight sis, I know what happened to Emma and the Pirate,” Zelena said. “I can take you to where they will be very shortly,” she added. Regina eyes her wearily.
“How do I know this isn’t some trick?” The former Queen questioned.
“I deserve that, but I will explain what happened and then maybe it will be enough for you,” Zelena said. Walking over to the couch, she took a seat and crossed her legs. “The Dark one came into the station to kill me, and when he did it opened the portal that I was trying to create,” Zelena started to explain. Both Regina and Henry furrowed their brows as Zelena continued. “Emma happened to be a little too close to the barn when the portal opened and she got sucked in and the idiot pirate followed her.” Regina groaned and visibly rolled her eyes.
“Of course he did, he has followed her around like a lost puppy since Neverland,” Regina says.
“Not the point mom, let Zelena finish,” Henry piped up from besides her.
“They traveled back in time to when you were still the Queen, I don’t exactly know when, but I know it was still during your reign,” Zelena said.
“Great, so for all we know they could be added to my long list of victims,” Regina sighed and practically collapsed into her chair which Henry willing gave up to her a few minutes earlier.
“No,” Zelena argued. “I was just brought back here so they won’t be too much further,” She added.
“Then we have to hurry, we have to get to them,” Henry said excitedly as he rushed towards the door.
“Henry we have to get your grandparents!” Regina called after him. Henry stopped and turned back to face his mother.
“This is the 21st century mom, you all have working phones.” With that, the little smartass turned back toward the door and took off.
“Oh that was purely your saviour,” Zelena states as she stood up and followed them.
“She’s not my anything,” Regina stated as she searched for Snow’s contact. She told them to meet her at the barn where it all started and used her magic to get Henry, Zelena, and herself there. Shortly after that, the Charming clan and other members of the town showed up.
“What’s happening?” David asked as he eyes the barn. “Where is she?”
“She’ll be here soon,” Granny stated, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“How are you so sure?” Regina turned and asked the older woman.
“Trust me,” Eugenia said. Suddenly the ground shook and the doors flew open once more, revealing a bright orange light inside. “I told you!” she shouted over the wind coming from the portal. The ground continued to shake until finally the sky darkened momentarily and the wind stopped.
“What the hell was that?” Regina asked. As the sky regained the normal pale blue of midday they all heard the shuffle within the barns now closed doors. When nobody moved Henry rushed forward and pulled the doors open.
“Ma!” he called when he saw the blonde wearing a cloak and dress?And with shorter hair. She turned and smiled when she saw him.
“Henry,” She said breathlessly. “I’ve missed-”
“Swan!” Hook shouted as she stopped speaking and wobbled on her feet. He caught her before she hit the ground. “Someone help her!” he called for anyone over there. Snow immediately rushed over, followed by David, Henry and Regina.
“Can you get her to the hospital with your magic?” Snow asked.
“Of course I can, what kind of question is that?” Regina asked bitterly. With a wave of her hand she engulfed them in her magic and transported them to the hospital.
“Can we help you your majesty?” one of the head nurses asked.
“Get me a room and Doctor Whale, Miss Swan has collapsed,” Regina ordered. The nurse quickly stood and called for Doctor Whale. He was there within a minute.
“Give her to me and I will make sure she is alright,” Victor said, reaching out for the blonde who somehow ended up in Regina’s arms during the transportation.
“Just lead us to a room Whale,” Regina warned.
“Regina I need you to be cooperative. We don’t know what we are dealing with, and the longer you dilly dally and keep her waiting for medical attention, the more her life could be at risk,” Victor explained. Regina sighed and handed her off to Whale who quickly rushed her into an exam room.
“Is she going to be okay?” Henry asked his mother. She didn’t quite know the answer to that question. “She has to be okay right?”
“She will be okay Henry,” Regina said, not fully believe herself, but it was enough to convince her son and that was all that really mattered.
When Emma finally awoke, she was drowsy and slightly delirious. “Regina?” she called quietly. When there was no answer she began to panic. “Regina!” she screamed loudly. This time there were footsteps that followed her calls. Her parents, Henry, Regina and of course Hook had come rushing in.
“Oh my god,” Regina said upon entering.
“Mom you’re-”
“Pregnant!” Snow shouted before collapsing into her husbands arms.
“Well you clearly didn’t waste any time did you?” Regina questioned Emma and Hook.
“What? No!” Hook shouted. “I’m not the father, the-” Emma used her magic she silenced him.
“You don’t get to speak right now,” Emma snapped. “I am so done with you.” Hook motioned to his mouth and then crossed his arms. Emma rolled her eyes and made him disappear all together.
“Ma how did this happen?” Henry asks her.
“This is not something we are discussing right now, absolutely not,” Emma states.
“No, I don’t mean that specifically, but how did this all happen?” he asks again, still not 100% clear on what he meant.
“I don’t understand,” Emma said.
“What he means is how did you fall through a portal not pregnant and return 48 hours later ready to pop?” Regina asked for Henry since he couldn’t get the words out.
“Yeah that,” He said defeatedly.
“That’s kind of a long story,” Emma said, rubbing her hand along the back of her neck. “Wow I’m still not used to that,” she said mostly to herself as she touched her recently chopped hair.
48 hours earlier.
“You must be excited to be back lad, and to have your memory back?” Hook questioned.
“Yeah, I’m glad that I remember everyone now and that my family is back together,” Henry said from besides his grandmother.
“We are glad to have you back too Henry,” Snow said. “I guess we all will always find one another,” she added.
“And it didn’t involve any danger this time,” David said.
“Danger?” Henry and Snow questioned.
“You know, rocks or other weapons that could’ve been aimed at someone,” David stated. Snow chuckled and rolled her eyes.
“You’re still butt hurt about that?” Snow asked. David scoffed and pointed at the very visible scar on his face.
“Of course I am, you scarred my face!” He pointed out.
“I think it’s sexy,” Snow said.
“Ew grandma, TMI.” That earned a laugh from everyone at that table. Hook’s pocket buzzed and he reached for his talking cellular device.
Swan- meet me at the barn, we need to talk ~ E.
Killian- be there soon.
There was no other response from Emma. Hook smiled and giddily slipped out of the diner, coming across Regina, Robin and Roland walking inside. “Where are you headed to Guyliner?” Regina asks.
“To meet up with Emma,” Hook answered. “Why? You jealous?” He teased. Regina scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Absolutely not.” Hook smirked again and continued down the path, navigating his way to the barn. When he got there, Emma was waiting by the doors with her arms folded over her chest.
“Swan!” He called. Emma was pulled from her thoughts and looked up. Her smile faded as she saw him. “Are you finally going to discuss the elephant in the room?” Killian asked.
“What ‘elephant in the room’ would you be talking about?” Emma asked.
“You know,” He said as if she was actually supposed to know.
“No, I don’t Killian, so please stop wasting my time,” Emma snapped slightly.
“Us finally being together,” Killian finally said.
“Killian,” Emma started. “You and I will never happen.” Killian’s brow furrowed as he took in what she said.
“What are you talking about Swan?” He asked.
“I have no feelings for you, and even if I did, which I don’t, I do not do long distance relationships,” Emma explained.
“We both live in Storybrooke, how is that long distance exactly?” Hook asked. Emma sighed and placed her hand on her temple. “You’re going back to New York, aren’t you?” he questioned.
“I have a life outside of Storybrooke, and I don’t really see Storybrooke as a home for me,” Emma said guiltily. She had her parents and her son, but nothing was truly keeping her here. She would still come and visit them as often as possible, but she couldn’t see herself happy here.
“So you’re just going to take Regina’s son from her?” Killian asked. Emma’s face grew red.
“Our son, not just Regina’s,” Emma said. “And no, I am not taking him from her. I am going to work out a plan with her so that I can come back and see him, or he can come down to New York and visit his friends.”
“Don’t you think that’s too much for a young boy to deal with?” Hook asked.
“It’s better than nothing, and I still have to meet with Regina and talk about this,” Emma explained. “Which I am going to do now.” She took a step forward and attempted to walk past him. He stepped forward and blocked her from moving.
“C’mon Killian, move out of the way,” Emma warned.
“You’re making a mistake, Storybrooke is your home and it’s where everyone cares about it you and you know that,” Killian stated.
“It’s not home,” Emma shouted. “Now move out of my-” The barn doors flew open and Emma was sucked back as the floor shook and opened up. “Killian!” she shouted.
“Emma!” he called back, rushing towards her.
“No!” Emma screamed, holding onto the ground as tightly as she could. “Go get help,” she told him. Soon she couldn’t hold onto the ground anymore and fell into the portal, a loud scream emitting from her lungs as she fell.
“I need to learn to stop following women in to danger,” Killian said to himself before he jumped into the portal. He closed his eyes and thought about Emma, hoping it was enough to land with her wherever this postal was taking them. When he opened his eyes again, all he saw was darkness.
When Emma opened her eyes, she didn’t know where she was. All she knew was she had a pounding headache. Her vision was blurry for a few moments before it finally normalised and she took in her surroundings. She was in what looked like a very old bedchamber which was the first clue that she wasn’t in the world without magic anymore. “You’re awake,” A deep-ish voice came from besides her. Emma quickly turned her head to face whoever spoke to her and winced at the sudden pain. “Careful dear, you might have a concussion,” he said softly.
“Who are you? Where am I?” Emma asked.
“My name Is Henry, and you’re at the Queen’s palace,” Henry introduced. Emma looked at him oddly before everything sunk in.
“You’re Regina’s father?” She asked. Henry laughed and nodded.
“Careful, Regina is one for formality,” Henry warned. “She could have you executed for not addressing her properly.”
“I’m sorry,” Emma said.
“It’s quite alright, I won’t say a word,” Henry said, bringing his left hand up and making an X over his heart.
“How did I end up at the Queen’s palace?” Emma asked.
“You must’ve fallen and hit your head,” Henry said. “We found you unconscious on one of Regina’s private passageways.” Emma brought her hand up to where she felt the pain and lightly connected her fingers to the sensitive skin. She sharply inhaled and now understood why her head was throbbing. “What we’re you doing on that road anyway?” Henry asks. Emma eyed him suspiciously. “That road is only to be traveled by the Queen.” Emma couldn’t remember being on that road and figured that she had landed there when she fell from the portal. But she couldn’t exactly tell Regina’s father that. Right?
“I don’t remember,” Emma said. “I don’t even remember being on the road,” she shrugged.
“What do you remember then?” Henry asked. “Be honest with me,” he added. Now Emma felt like she had no choice but to tell him the truth.
“I was standing near a barn and the doors flew open,” She began to explain. “The floor opened up and I got sucked into a portal and then I woke up in here.” It was the complete truth and she hoped that Henry believed her and didn’t call for her to be executed.
“So you aren’t from this realm,” Henry inquired. “It explains the odd clothing.”
“I was born here, but I didn’t grow up here,” Emma says. “My parents sent me to a different realm to keep me safe.” She clamped a hand over her mouth. She couldn’t tell him that. She already figured out that she was in the past because Regina’s father is dead in her timeline, and she knew that the butterfly effect wasn’t something to fuck with. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that,” Emma said as she looked at him with a sudden panicked look in her eyes.
“It’s alright dear,” Henry said as he took Emma’s hand in his own. “I do need one thing from you though,” He adds.
“What is it?” She asks sceptically.
“What is your name?” Henry asks. Emma released a breath she didn’t even know she was holding onto. She couldn’t tell him her actual name. It could mess with her timeline. She might have only just recently learned that magic and fairytale characters were real, but she was not chancing the butterfly effect.
“Charlotte,” Emma lied. Okay partially lied. It was her middle name so it wasn’t like it was a complete lie.
“No, it’s not, but it’s not really important at the moment,” Henry said, dropping the name subject. “Tell me about yourself Ophelia.”
Emma makes a face at the name guess, but shrugs it off as she adds; “I can’t do that Sir."
“Are you in some kind of danger?” Henry asks her.
“What no, why would you ask me that?” Emma asked nervously.
“Well the fact that you fell through a portal doesn’t really make sense,” Henry starts to explain. “You were on the Queen’s passage and you were knocked out cold, you’re jumpy and nervous about something, You lied about your name, and you ironically cannot tell me anything about yourself,” he adds.
“That doesn’t automatically mean that I’m in danger, it just means that there are things I cannot tell you,” Emma said.
“I’m not going to turn you in if you’re running from someone, I can help you,” Henry says . “That is if you tell me what happened,” he adds.
“I’m not running from anyone or anything.” Her lie detector went off. She was running from what she had slowly built in Storybrooke. “I just ended up in this realm by mistake and I need to make it back home.”
“I don’t know how to help you with that, but maybe Regina will,” Henry said, releasing her hand and standing.
“No!” Emma said, startling Henry as her voice rose. “She won’t take any of my answers and she will force me to give her what I haven’t given you,” she said in a softer tone this time. “She cannot know anything about me, just let me go and she won’t ever have to know I was here.”
“She already knows you’re here,” Henry stated matter of factly.
“Well you shouldn’t have told her,” Emma said.
“He didn’t tell me dear, I am the one who found you,” Regina’s rich voice sounded from the open doorway. “And I would like to know why you were trespassing on my passageways?”
“I wasn’t “trespassing” I don’t even know how I got there,” Emma said. Regina visibly grew angry and lifted Emma up with her magic, stepping closer to her as she did so.
“Regina!” Henry warned. Emma’s breaths were strangled as Regina’s magic tightened around her throat.
“Do I look like a fool to you?” Regina asked harshly. Emma shook her head. “Well I don’t like being taken for one.” Her magic loosened and Emma collapsed into the bed again. “And you should be wise to not lie to me again,” she warned .
“I’m not lying Re- Your Majesty, I don’t know how I ended up on that path,” Emma said. She was still breathing heavily from behind choked by Regina’s magic. It had been a long time since she had even seen Regina remotely like this and she did not like it.
“Daddy leave the room,” Regina ordered in a low, hushed voice.
“Regina just let her-”
“I said leave the room!” Her voice was louder this time and left no room for argument. Henry sighed defeatedly as his daughter sent him a harsh glare, and left the room, closing the door behind him.
“I didn’t want to have to use magic on you, I don’t enjoy starting my day off with people screaming,” Regina said, a slight smirk forming and leaving her mouth.
“I’m telling you the truth,” Emma answered as calmly as she could.
“I have no doubt that it’s your version of the truth, but I want the actual truth dear,” Regina said, taking a step closer to Emma. “Now we can do this the easy way or my way, which would you prefer?” she asked.
“The easy way is you taking what I give you and dealing with it,” Emma said.
“My way it is then,” Regina said. She waved her hand and a purple cloud engulfed them. They were no longer in what Emma now knew as the infirmary. They were in the throne room.
“What the hell!” Emma shrieked as she caught her bearings. “A little warning next time would suffice.”
“I don’t warn people who act children,” Regina snarked.
“I don’t act like a child!” Emma snapped. A jolt of magical zapped her wrist, causing her to release a high scream. “What was that?” she asked, clutching her wrist.
“That is what happens when you lie to me,” Regina said. “That last one was just to show you what it did,” she adds.
“This isn’t necessary,” Emma said. Another zap. “Ow!” she glared at Regina who had a playful smirk on her lips.
“This is fun,” she laughed. “What’s your name?” she asked quickly.
“Charlotte,” Emma said. She closed her eyes and waited for the shock. It didn’t come though.
“Why didn’t it shock you, you’re clearly lying,” Regina asked, her anger beginning to grow again.
“I didn’t lie, it’s my middle name,” Emma said.
“And that’s the name you go by?” Regina pushed.
“Yes.” She was shocked again. “Fucking damnit!”
“Hah!” Regina squealed before calming down. “What do you go by then?”
“I am not telling you that,” Emma answered.
“You are foolish if you think that will actually happen,” Regina stated, crossing her arms and keeping her eyes on the blonde.
“Look, I can’t tell you anything revealing about me, I will tell you what I think I can tell you, but please don’t ask personally questions,” Emma said. Regina raised a brow and eyed the girl suspiciously.
“Answer one more question for me then,” Regina says. Emma sighs and straightens her spine. “What are you running from?” she asks.
“I-” the words don’t form. She had no problem telling Henry that she wasn’t running from anything, but now that Regina was asking she couldn’t even form the words.
“That’s what I thought,” Regina said. “Where is your home so I can send you back, I have no use for you.”
“I’m not from here,” Emma said.
“I still need to know where to send you,” Regina said, rolling her eyes at the blondes idiocy. Emma opened her mouth to speak only to stop when the door opened. It was Henry. “I thought I told you to leave,” Regina said.
“I could use Charlotte,” Henry said.
“What?” both Emma and Regina asked .
“Daddy were you listening?” Regina asked him.
“I need a new maid and I know enough to know this girl has no home, we can’t send her out where she is possibly in danger,” Henry explained.
“I don’t care about her well-being, she is of no use to any of us,” Regina said, stepping away from where Emma stood.
“I need a new maid and I am sure that she wouldn’t mind working for me,” Henry said.
“So I will find you a new maid who actually has experience,” Regina sighed. Her father had been without a proper maid for a few weeks now and had been doing most of his chores himself.
“I have experience,” Emma defended.
“See, she’s perfect for the job,” Henry said. Regina sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Fine!” she snapped. “You have until I find him an actual main and then you’re out,” she adds. “And if anyone that you’re running from shows up here, I will execute you on the spot.” With that, she exited in a purple cloud of smoke.
“Thank you,” Emma said, finally looking up at Henry. “You didn’t have to do that though, I’ll probably be a horrible maid.”
“I have faith in you,” Henry says truthfully. Emma smiled and stood straighter.
“Do you need me to do anything for you sir?” Emma asked.
“For starters you can call me Henry,” he answered.
“Okay Henry, do you need anything?” she asked again.
“I need for you to get a good nights rest, you have a busy day tomorrow,” Henry answered. “Kylie." Again, Emma didn't react at all to it, giving no hint to her actual name. He guided her to the room she would be staying in until hopefully the portal opened back up again.