Visitors (1/?)

Rating: T

Summary: Emma Swan has wanted to visit Ireland her entire life. When she finally arrives, the manor she's staying at isn't quite what it seems.

A TV played at a low level, an old woman was barely watching it with her focus on the young blonde next to her.

She grinned softly at her. Mrs. Lucas always loved little Emma. From what she heard, the poor girl was bounced around from house to house in foster care. A little less than a month ago, her dreadful son had taken her in. She knew he was simply using the fact he brought in a foster child to brighten his image at his law firm. All her life she tried to lead her boy in a good direction, but he seemed to take after his father.

Since Emma had arrived, her son had constantly used the girl to watch over her. Apparently, spending time with his sick mother was more than he could be bothered with. She wanted so much more for her, and she hoped when she went, that the girl would be loved by someone who deserved her. Mrs. Lucas loved young Emma as much as her own.

"Have I ever told you about my time in Ireland?"

Emma looked up from the book cradled in her hands with wide eyes, as she sat next to the hospital bed. She shook her head and the old woman proceeded.

"Oh, it's a gorgeous place. Do you remember the golden book I brought for you all?"

"Was that the one with the fairy tales?"

A wide smile graced her, "Yes, my dear. It was. I spent 6 summers in Killarney. A wonderful place. It looked exactly that the setting for those stories."

The Mrs. Lucas started coughing hard and wetly. Emma rose from her seat and got the woman water from the pitcher across the room. She handed her the glass with a frightened look in her eyes.

"I'm alright dear, just a scratchy throat," she said after taking a few gulps. "Now, get up here and I'll tell you the wonders of it."

Emma sat her book in her chair and climbed into bed. She sat herself next to the old woman who then took her in her arms.

"Nearly all the buildings in the town were built way, back when. Some of the oldest ones were made of stone; just like castles. They had horses who could take you from place to place too."

The girl's eyes sparkled with amazement, "With a carriage? Like a princess!?"

She chuckled at her excitement, "Yes, like a princess. It had green bushes everywhere. And the flowers! The most gorgeous things I've ever seen."

Emma listened intently at her stories. Telling her about the old stone buildings, how some of the roadways were still dirt, the vastness of the fields.

"I wish one day you'll be able to experience it for yourself." She brought her frail hand to cup the young blonde's face. "Why don't you bring me your book and I can read the rest of it to you?"

The girl hopped off the bed and went to retrieve her book. Mrs. Lucas' hoped one day for her to have the best days of her life there, much like she did.