Authors Note-

Hello, I've just finished watching episode 20 of Once Upon a Time and I had to write something! I haven't uploaded a story in a while so I hope you all enjoy it.

Emma lay in bed, clinging to her baby blanket and listening to the thunder storm that was raging outside. She was a little scared but didn't want to admit it, Okio always told her to be brave.

Another clash of thunder however soon sent little Emma out of bed. She had to keep quiet. She knew if she was caught sneaking around the house this late she'd be in trouble. She snuck down the hallway to the small room at the end. She didn't knock before she entered but she knew he wouldn't be mad at her. Okio was the only person that loved Emma and he never got mad at her like the other big kids did.

"Okio? Okio wake up. Wake up please." Emma shook her friend as hard as she could, all the while keeping a tight hold on her blanket.

"Huh? Emma what is it? Are you ok?"Pinocchio asked her quietly knowing that the little girl wouldn't come to him in the middle of the night if it wasn't important. No one wanted to get in trouble with any of the adults.

"I don't like the storm. I tried to be brave, I really did. Can I sit with you for a while?" Pinocchio couldn't say no to Emma's little face, especially when her lower lip trembled like it was.

"Of course you can." Emma climbed onto the bed and snuggled in next to Pinocchio.

"Can you tell me a story?" Emma asked charmingly.

"What about?" The boy asked even though he already knew.

"About the magic world where my mommy and daddy live." Emma grinned clinging to her blanket in excitement.

"Once upon a time there was a beautiful Princess and a handsome Prince. They lived in a magical world, where they ruled a glorious kingdom. They were loved by everyone except the evil witch. She hated Snow White and swore that she would destroy everything that she held dear. The Princess was scared but then she found out she was going to have a baby-"

"Me!" Emma squealed gleefully.

"Yes but remember we have to keep quiet." Pinocchio gently shushed her. Emma nodded placing her finger on her lips. "Yes they found out they were going to have you, a beautiful baby Princess who they loved more that anything else in the entire realm. However they knew that the evil witch planned on cursing them all so they decided to get help from Geppeto. They asked Geppeto to carve a magic wardrobe, from the last remaining enchanted tree, to take Snow White and her baby to a place without magic. But before Snow White could get in the wardrobe she gave birth to the baby and the curse started approaching the castle! Geppeto sent his only child through the wardrobe to protect the baby Princess and he promised that he would protect and guide the girl through life until it was time for her to fulfil her destiny." Pinocchio finished the story feeling yet again guilty that he had ruined Emma's chance to have her mother with her right now.

"Why didn't my mommy and daddy come with us? They could have looked after us and we could have lived in a pretty castle here! Then we wouldn't have to live with smelly old Miss Hunter." Emma's face scrunched up in distaste at the woman that was in charge of their care.

"Emma, I haven't told you the entire story…" Pinocchio looked away from Emma not being able to stand the trusting look on her five year old face.

"What else happened?" Emma asked eagerly, scrunching up her baby blanket in excitement.

"The wardrobe only had enough magic to transport two. I shouldn't have come with you. Your mom was meant to; my father wanted me to be safe so he sent me with you to this world. I'm sorry; if I just refused to get in the wardrobe then you wouldn't be stuck in this home." Pinocchio glanced at Emma whose face was scrunched up in confusion.

"My mommy could have come with me?" Emma asked tilting her head to the side.

"Yes." The young boy whispered feeling very ashamed.

"But then you wouldn't be here." Her brow furrowed as she thought of the possibility of not having her best friend with her in this world.

"No I wouldn't, you would live with your mother Snow White." Pinocchio told the small child, trying to make her understand.

"I'm glad you came with me, it would be boring without you. My mommy and our daddy's saved us both from the evil witch. We'll see them again wont we, Okio? When we're bigger." Emma trusted whatever her friend said and if he told her she would see her parents again she wasn't going to doubt him.

"Yes you're going to save them all and I'm going to help you anyway I can." Emma and Pinocchio grinned broadly at each other at the thought of the adventure that awaited them.

"The storms stopped Emma, listen." The rain still fell lightly but other that that it was quiet.

"You're right!" Emma yawned sleepily. "Goodnight Okio, thanks for the story." Emma wrapped her little arms around him tightly and then hopped out of bed taking her blanket with her.

"Goodnight little Princess." Pinocchio whispered as Emma tiptoed out of the room.

The boy didn't know what the future held for either of them but he knew his little friend could face anything and he would be there every step of the way, just like he promised.