Hey there, lovelies!

I decided to upload the first chapter of my new multichap already, to give you guys something to look forward to when I finish ATAS :) This will be continued when ATAS is completed, and I do plan on focussing on that story before this one.

Hope you guys like it :D

Love,

Annaelle

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Untitled

Preface

"Are you sure about this?"

She smiles sadly and nods, before looking down and swallowing thickly. Despite this plan having been in the making for months—years, even—the moment to set it into motion finally being here is overwhelming for both of them, and their impending goodbye weighs heavily on her mind.

She's sure it does on his too.

"I need to do this," she whispers, tears filling her eyes once again.

"I know," he replies sadly, "I know. But… If this works… If you change the past, our lives will be different—we could… There is a possibility we would never meet."

"I don't believe that," she shakes her head immediately, rushing towards him to take his hands in hers. "I love you—I'll always find you, as you will with me."

He nods wordlessly, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips before sighing heavily, touching the silver pendant around her neck. "Be careful. Promise me you'll come back to me." She closes her fingers around his wrist and nods, ignoring the tear that rolls down her cheek.

"I promise."

"Good," he chuckles, "Good. Now go. It's your turn to be the hero."

His face is the last thing she sees before her vision is filled with bright, blinding white light.

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Emma chuckles when Killian presses her against the wall in the alley, eagerly attacking every inch of skin he can reach with kisses. "Killian," she groans, patting his shoulder half-heartedly—he looks so happy and carefree and sweet, and she's never seen him look like this before and she doesn't want the look to ever disappear.

"Come on," she moans when he presses his lips to her cheek and lingers, "my parents are right around the corner."

"I'm well aware, darling," he breathes, his fingers playing idly with her hair—she really doesn't understand his obsession for it, but it's cute, so she lets him. "It is why you decided we ought to hide in this alley."

She knows he does not mean for it to sound like he is hurt or bitter, but she knows that the feelings are there nonetheless, and she hates that she's pushed him away so many times he's decided it's okay if she's ashamed of them, as long as there is a them.

"Hey," she tugs on his hair gently to get him to look up at her. "I'm not ashamed of this," she says slowly, "and I don't regret a damn thing about last night. I just…" She sighs heavily and shakes her head, "I think we should not flaunt anything for a while. You know, with Regina and Robin and Marian…"

She trails off awkwardly and pouts again—she didn't mean to ruin Regina's second chance at love, but she refuses to feel bad for saving an innocent woman's life and reuniting a little boy with his mother. Killian pointed that out to her yesterday, after Regina stormed out of the diner and Henry followed her, and it made a lot of sense.

Of course, she was a little distracted by getting all of that leather off her pirate for the rest of the night—and most of the following morning—so she hadn't checked in with Henry yet.

"Love," Killian rubs his thumb over her cheek gently, "the Queen must fight this battle herself. If she truly loves Robin, she will fight for him, and she will not allow anything or anyone to stop her." His eyes are blue and sincere and her heart is pounding—she has to remind herself she can't be in love with him yet; it's too soon.

Too soon after Neal, too soon after Walsh—though she would really rather forget he ever even existed.

"Like you?" She questions playfully, tugging on his necklace with a small smile.

"Aye, Swan," he chuckles, leaning down to kiss her again, "Like me—a man, or woman, in the Queen's case, who doesn't fight for what she wants, deserves what she gets."

"Really?" Emma drawls, pulling him forward by the chain, "So… What do you deserve for everything you've done for me?" His answering grin is downright lecherous, and she's suddenly very glad there's no one around to see them.

"Oh, I believe I reaped the rewards for my efforts last night, love," he smirks smugly, nudging his nose against hers, "Several times."

She just rolls her eyes and kisses him again.

She has no idea how long they've been in the alley before they're interrupted—of course they are—by Leroy, who's screaming about being attacked and portals.

"Seriously?" Emma pouts, dropping her head to Killian's shoulder, "Is one day too much to ask? It's been like ten hours since the last town crisis." He chuckles and rubs his hand over her back soothingly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Ah, such is the life of the Savior, love," he grins, "Come, let's go see what all the fuss is about."

She lets him drag her back onto Main Street, where they immediately stumble upon a large crowd forming. Snow is standing at the back, Neal in her arms, craning her neck to see what's going on.

"Mom," Emma exclaims, "What's going on?"

She ignores the way Snow looks between her and Killian—it's probably because he's not wearing his vest and coat (she may have been a little too enthusiastic about removing them and broken a few of the clasps on the vest)—and tiptoes, trying to look over the still growing crowd.

"I don't know," Snow replies slowly, still glancing back and forth between Emma and Killian, "there was a huge flash of light and a wave of… Well, some kind of magic, and then people started yelling and pointing before I could really see what was going on."

"Okay," Emma sighs, shaking her head, "Here we go again." She swallows thickly and waits until she's sure Killian will be right next to her—he always is—before she starts pushing her way through the crowd, yelling, "Sheriff coming through. Stand aside, let me through!"

Finally she manages to break through the last line of people, stopping dead as she takes in the sight before her.

It's certainly not what she expected.

Before her stands a tall, dark-haired girl dressed in full Enchanted Forest gear—and she does mean that literally. She's wearing leather pants, knee-high leather boots, white linen shirt, a heavy leather belt with two guns and, when she turns, Emma sees a sword strapped to her back.

Emma opens her mouth to say something, anything, when the girl suddenly gasps loudly, her eyes—green, green eyes—widening in surprise. Emma turns to find Killian and her mother standing behind her, and for the life of her, Emma can't figure out why they seemed to shock the girl so intensely.

"Who are you?" Emma says slowly, turning back to the newcomer, "Why are you here?"

"I'm—" she stutters, and Emma's slightly taken aback by the girl's soft accent, "I'm… Anna," she finishes, "You may call me Anna."

Lie.

But not really.

Emma tilts her head to the side and regards Anna closely. "That's not your name," she deadpans, feeling Killian tense slightly behind her.

"No," Anna smiles tightly, "But I cannot tell you who I really am. You've travelled to the past." She gestures to Emma and Killian, "You know what it's like. I cannot divulge too much." Emma's eyes widen and she gapes at the girl.

"You are from a different time?" Killian questions slowly, stepping up close behind Emma, resting his good hand on the small of her back—she relaxes just a little bit and scolds herself for how much she needs him by her side before returning her attention to the strange girl.

"Aye," Anna nods slowly, "Twenty or so years into the future."

"So why are you here?" Snow interjects kindly, eyeing the girl nervously.

"To help," Anna replies immediately, "And to insure what has come to pass by the time I was born does not happen."

"Why would we need your help?" Emma frowns confusedly, "I thought the timeline wasn't supposed to be altered." Killian nods silently, curling his fingers into the soft fabric of Emma's shirt without thinking about it. Emma smiles a little at the move, knowing he is subconsciously trying to anchor himself to her so he will not lose her to another portal.

"I don't think you'll mind me altering this timeline," Anna sighs gravely, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly.

"And why's that?" Emma crosses her arms over her chest and raises an eyebrow.

"Cause if I don't help you, most of you will be dead within a week."