There are many events over the seasons that have led Emma and her family (character development included) to where they are now. This story was not created in disagreement to those events, but rather I wanted to explore how the past could look like if the developments had already happened. There are a lot of spoilers, so be aware of that. Also warning that there's character death - the point of the story is to go back to prevent it, but the issue is still a primary focus.

Chapter One: An Open Book

In hindsight (for foresight, given the odd circumstances), Emma really should have expected something like this to happen. One week before her wedding, and Fate decided to up the stakes by reversing her entire happy ending.

Emma held tightly to the vine in her hand, fighting the urge to hug the beanstalk – she'd almost woken by falling a very long distance to her death. Killian succumbed to that urge, but he had a hook for a hand so his grip had been less secure than hers even the first time they'd been there.

In her other hand was a letter; the most important piece of paper she'll ever read. Emma held it tightly, knowing it was too risky to open it while positioned somewhere between sky and ground.

She'd opened her eyes to the horror of their new reality, but nothing compared to the ripping grief and pain that pierced Emma so deep she felt it in her soul. Her son was dead. Henry, just short of his fifteenth birthday, had died in her arms and still used every last breath he had to be a hero. He was the author – that's what got him killed, and it was also what was going to save him.

Henry's sacrifice would save them all.

'Well, you never forget your first,' Killian finally spoke, looking up the tangled limb of the beanstalk.

Emma did as well, relieved they didn't have much further to go because her entire body already ached with exhaustion. The shock subsided and reason returned, as Emma considered their next move.

This was the day they first met. She and Killian were back in the Enchanted Forest, long before it had been reduced to ash and blood. Or would be – the tenses were confusing now. Henry's plan wasn't a complete surprise, but it had been the absolute last resort for when hope itself was finally snuffed out of existence. Clinging to the vines of a beanstalk, with a giant's castle above and compass to be obtained, was not the appropriate moment to dwell on what was years away from happening.

They had a job to do.

'Swan?' Killian watched her. 'You all right?'

His words of her being an open book came to mind. Emma smiled and nodded. She grabbed another vine and hoisted herself higher; they needed to get to the top and read the letter.

'Ugh, was it always like this?' Emma grunted, dropping onto solid ground with relief.

'Aye.' Killian fell beside her.

The letter was badly crumpled from her climb, as she'd needed both her hands and refused to let it go. Shaking, Emma unfolded the piece of paper torn from an empty storybook. That's where they were now; on the blank page of a new story about to unfold.

'Henry...' Emma choked back sobs at the first three words written on the paper. He'd prepared the letter beforehand, just in case, but it surfaced memories of them talking about the wedding and Killian's place in their life. Henry never got the chance to tell the man himself.

'Emma?' Killian's hand touched her shoulder. He glanced at the page and released a staggered breath against her hair. He enveloped her in his arms, angling his head to follow the words on the letter as Emma read aloud.

'Mum and Dad,' Emma began, forcing her voice to remain steady. 'Please don't blame yourselves. I had to learn the hard way that heroes don't always win, but that doesn't mean either of you failed me or our family. We were betrayed. You did everything you could. I know what's going to happen to me, but I can fix this. We can still save everyone.'

She paused, leaning her head to Killian's shoulder. His kissed her forehead, but Emma could feel his heart racing in his chest. Hers probably was too, but all she could focus on was the image of her son dying in her arms. Their son, really. They'd come a very long way since the journey up the beanstalk behind them.

'Go on,' Killian encouraged.

'Uh...' Emma cleared her throat, checking it still worked. 'I've sent you back to the start. You'll remember everything, even the little stuff most people forget over time. You need to remember. I worked out what you have to change, but go with what your gut tells you. It's never wrong.'

Emma shook her head, turning to bury her face against Killian's chest. She couldn't get through it. These were her son's dying wishes; his final act and words. He was still just a boy.

'The first change is probably obvious: don't leave Dad at the giant's castle.' Killian read, gently taking the letter from her. 'Aye, love. Let's skip that bad form this time around.' He nodded, voice wavering at the title Henry gave him but never had the chance to actually say.

'I'm sorry.' Emma sighed. 'I didn't want to, just...'

'You were afraid.' Killian kissed her forehead. 'I know, love.'

Emma felt their connection even then - when they first met. It terrified her and that fear defeated her back then. It continued to for years, but she could fix the damage caused by that now.

She knew there were worst things than being afraid.

'Keep reading.'

'As you wish,' he said. 'The second change will be harder: you need to help Grandma Cora. Bloody hell.'

'I'm assuming Henry didn't say "bloody hell".' Emma leaned back, rolling eyes at her pirate. 'Why Cora? She's after the compass right now – I'm not just giving it to her.'

'He says...' Killian searched the page for where he left off. 'She'll find a way to Storybrooke without Dad. Hey! I'd like to think I-'

'Killian,' Emma grumbled. 'Stop commentating. Just read what it says. We don't exactly have a lot of time here.' She glanced at the giant doorway of the castle further ahead, beyond the bones and crumbled stone.

'Sorry, love.' He frowned. 'If Dad doesn't poison Grandpa Rumpelstiltskin, then Grandma Snow won't kill Grandma Cora. Bloody hell, I'm glad I don't have grandparents.'

Emma snatched the letter back.

'Get Grandma Cora's heart back, and tell Mum about Aunt Zelena. You can help them, and then they can help us. I believe there is good in them. Oh, Henry...' Emma sighed, tears forming despite her resistance.'The biggest change is my dad, Neal. He can't be my dad. You have to lie to me. Tell me he knew you were pregnant and didn't want me...No.'

'Swan?'

'I can't do that.' Emma shook her head furiously. 'Neal...He loves Henry. Oh my God, he's still alive!' she gasped.

'You know what happened and how I die. You have to start with Neal, Mum. He'll understand; I made sure of it,' Killian continued, cold eyes betraying his own emotional barriers. 'When you get back to Storybrooke, tell me the truth about how you went to jail. Turn me against him. It's the only way any of this can work. It's okay, I'll still have...Me?'

'This is insane.' Emma stepped away from him. 'Henry got mad at me for exactly that – lying to him about his dad! This is much worse.'

'There's more.' Killian kept his gaze on the letter. 'When the past catches up to the present, I'll remember why you lied. I'll know what happened and why you had to do it. My biological father can't be a part of our family or the plan won't work. But he has to come to Storybrooke when Grandpa goes to find him. You know why.'

'Okay.' Emma nodded, accepting that Henry would remember later. She hated it and didn't want to betray Neal's chance to know his son, but Henry's life was at stake and she'd do anything to save him. Anything. 'What else?'

'Greg and Tamara still have to kidnap me so we go to Neverland. You can't let Grandpa Rumpelstiltskin kill Pan, but the curse must be undone. Killian can come with us to New York – don't worry about the memory thing. Just make sure to tell Grandpa David to help Ariel when they're back in the Enchanted Forest.' Killian sighed.

Emma looked back to the castle, more motivated to proceed to the compass than finish the rest of Henry's letter. She didn't want a list of main goals because experience taught her such plans usually went completely different than intended.

'Keep me away from my father. Use the knowledge of what's coming to fix things, just make sure you help Grandma Cora and Aunt Zelena – that will save our Family.' Killian reached the bottom of the letter. 'Love each other. Get married. Be happy. This is your chance to be the heroes I know you can be and have been. I believe our family's love is stronger than all the darkness of the world. Thank you for giving me hope. I love you so much – Henry.'

Emma sat on a large piece of broken stone, weighed down by her son's letter and the truth of just how big their job was going to be – and how long it was going to take to complete.

'P.S,' Killian added. 'You can't tell anyone about this, except Mum. Give her back the hope she took from us.'

Emma snatched the letter from his hand, and folded it small enough to shove into her deepest pocket as if erasing the message from existence. It was too much to handle right now.

Exhaling, she focused her attention to the castle looming impossibly high overhead. First, they needed the compass. Then, they could go home – to eleven-year-old Henry who was still very much alive. Emma didn't care who she had to hurt or help to make sure she never had to watch her son die in her arms ever again.

As for the person who killed him...Well, there was no instruction about that in the letter. Emma would have to improvise.

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