Family Torn Apart

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.

Wow, this was hard to finish... Sorry! I'm really glad that you're still with me. Let's continue with Emma's side of the story. Enjoy!

The second flashback takes place during 1x4 "The Price of Gold".

Chapter 5: Belonging

August hopped off his bike with a huge grin and took a couple of seconds to observe his new darling after he'd taken off his helmet. She was a real beauty. A little battered here and there but nothing he couldn't fix. He could hardly wait to show her to Emma.

He took the few steps of the community home two at a time and, after ruffling the hair of little Jimmy who had really taken a liking to him and promising to go and play with him later, he entered the living room with an excited grin.

"You are leaving," the girl in the room stated, without looking up at the young man.

August sighed, placing his helmet on a nearby table before walking up to the girl who seemed deeply engrossed in doing her math homework. He knew better. She'd never been a big fan of it and even from his vantage point it was clear that she was doodling on the edges of her book rather than completing the exercises. "Look at me, Emma," he gently told her, crouching down by her side.

"Why would you ask that?" he asked curiously after that seemingly out of the blue statement.

"Nobody sticks around," Emma shrugged and it suddenly became painfully obvious to August that the statement wasn't so out of the blue after all. "And now you don't have to, either. You're free to go…"

You're free to go, the words reached his ears and August felt dumbstruck for a moment. He was, wasn't he? After all he'd been working ever since he was old enough to work to save up some money and buy a bike to be able to roam the country free from anybody who wanted to tell him how to live his life. He'd never been good at following the beaten path. And Emma knew it just as she knew his deeply rooted desire to be free.

But the joke was on him. He'd bought that much coveted bike earlier that day… but he hadn't even taken it for a test ride. The first thing he did was to visit Emma.

"What you're gonna do?" Emma's question that lacked every curiosity whatsoever brought him out of his revere. "Go and find that Storybrooke?" she asked, her voice laced with bitter ridicule and her eyes still fixed on her book.

"Well," he shifted a little on his crouched legs and a smile lit up his face as a piece, he hadn't even realized he was missing, snapped into place in his soul. "The only way I'm going to find Storybrooke – because it exists, you'll see – it's going to be with you."

"Yeah, whatever," Emma scoffed.

"Until then," August continued unfazed. Now was not the time to argue about that. Now they had to come clear about just what they want. "I'm just going to stay here," he finished and watched with a satisfied smile as Emma's head snapped in his direction, eyes wide with disbelief. "You really thought that I'd leave you here?"

"But you wanted to go away… to leave everything here. You hate being here."

"Yes," August shrugged. "But you see there is one thing here I really love and couldn't live without…"

"Really?"

"Really," he nodded.

"What?"

"Not a what, who," August corrected her. "You, Emma. I just can't go and leave you here. There's nothing more important in my life than you, Emma."

"Not even that crazy place that's in your head?" That was a tricky question and August had to take a moment to answer.

"You'll always be my number one, Emma," August told her finally and suddenly he found himself in the crushing hug of the teen, being grateful that the girl hadn't noticed his hesitation. "Always." He repeated once again, pulling her closer.

"Now that we settled that," he started after a while. "What about a game of 'Piggy in the middle'?" Emma groaned. She stopped enjoying that game years ago. "Of course you can always finish your homework," August grinned, indicating the book still in Emma's lap, then watched amused as the girl dashed out of the room.

"Last one out is the piggy!" Emma called behind her, disappearing from his sight.

One day he'd convince her about his truth and she'd believe in magic… but until then, these were the moments that made him feel successful in keeping his promise to his father.

Emma was safe and happy. And for now, that was enough.

When Mary Margaret told her that they were going home, it hadn't really registered with Emma. And wasn't surprising, really. She was a stranger in a strange land and even if she'd tried, she would never feel like she belonged.

So when she stepped into the chamber that had been meant to be her nursery, it hit her like a brick wall as she recoiled for a moment. She'd had everything, she realized with an aching heart as she took in the room for the very first time in her life. And it wasn't about the countless toys that now lay scattered around or the nice crib in the middle of the room, it was about what they all represented. Her parents were waiting for her. They were preparing to welcome her in their family… they loved her. Seeing all this so plainly in front of her almost choked her.

And when she set the wardrobe on fire, effectively destroying their only way back home… back to Henry, she knew that she wasn't the only one who'd lost everything. Her parents did so, too. They gave her up to save her… to give her her best chance. And she couldn't possibly fault them for it.

They put her first.

It was so difficult to comprehend.

And why wouldn't it be? After all, from the moment of her birth she was left on her own. Her parents let her go for the greater good and believing to have given her a better life… her best chance. She wanted to cry. Wasn't that what she had done with Henry? Still, it wasn't the same. And then there was August. Left alone in a strange world, they could have stuck together… they could have provide each other with something that no doubt had missed from both of their lives – belonging, knowing that somebody was out there who cared. But it wasn't meant to be and she was left to mend for herself.

But looking around that room… her nursery, she knew that she was wrong. She may have been left alone but she'd never been neglected. Her parents loved her and it might be a lot to deal with at the moment but it was a thought to hang onto until she would be able to find her balance in her world once again.

"Enjoy your cocoa," Regina told her with a smirk before leaving with an air of authority and self-reassurance around her and Emma was just about to go after her and give her a piece of her mind when a commotion in front of the door stopped her and made her look.

Apparently someone had bumped into the Mayor, literally, Emma realized with a smile forming on her lips and watched with satisfaction as Regina looked down at her coat and shirt horrified. She was soaked with paint all over in the front. Emma actually chuckled.

The two women exchanged a couple of not so pleasant words then Emma watched the other woman stomp into the diner while Regina walked away, no doubt pissed as hell.

"Watch your steps, you little tramp," the woman was mumbling to herself as she practically kicked the door open and let it shut close behind her, no doubt mimicking Regina's previous gestures with not so little exaggeration. "Bitchy much, Madam Mayor?"

Emma knew that woman, she realized. Well, more like she saw her on a couple of occasions. Somehow her face stayed with her.

First she saw her at Granny's but at the time she didn't really realized that it was her. She only saw her red hair disappearing into her room just when she exited hers after being told to move out. When the next time she saw her, she could only recognize her from her leather jacket. She could spot her at different locations in the town with her painting kit, making portraits of the townsfolk or just sketching absentmindedly.

And while she could see her interact with other people on a regular basis, Emma actually never saw her with anybody in particular. Similarly, in that couple of days she'd been in Storybrooke, she could see her having her meals in the diner but she could never see her sharing it with anybody.

The woman's behavior really intrigued Emma and, seizing the opportunity, she grabbed her cocoa and went to the woman's table.

"May I join?" she asked mastering up a friendly smile. That smile, though, faltered when the woman looked up at her and Emma noticed how stunned she looked by her presence. "You know what? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you…"

"Oh, no. I'm sorry. It's all right. I was just a little preoccupied. Please, sit."

"Hi," Emma smiled, placing her cocoa on the table, suddenly nervous. "I'm Emma."

"I know," the woman replied. "It's a little town," she clarified, seeing Emma's furrowed brows. "Not much happening around here… but ever since your arrival, life's just a little bit more interesting."

"I don't know about that but my stay here is definitely not boring… and you've just made it more colorful. Well, technically, Regina's day is more colorful," Emma chuckled, the image of Regina covered in the colors of the rainbow coming into her mind again, "Mine's just more amusing."

"It was a good look on her, wasn't it?" the woman chuckled with her and gave a grateful nod to Ruby when she placed her cocoa in front of her.

"Cocoa, huh?" Emma observed.

"It gets me through the day."

"I drink to that," Emma agreed, lifting her own mug and they sipped in silence.

"Sorry," the woman spoke up at once and, putting down her mug, she offered her hand to Emma. "I'm May."

Emma shook her hand with a friendly smile then posed the question that had been bugging her ever since she saw the redhead in the B&B.

"So, for how long have you been in Storybrooke?"

"Sorry?"

"I'm just curious. I saw you here at Granny's, before I was kicked out and I'm just curious, you know, this town not being a touristic center..."

"Oh, no, I'm not visiting. I live here, too."

"No? Really? Then why are you living in the B&B?"

"Well…" May hesitated.

"Trouble in paradise," a man rudely interrupted her as he walked past them. "Not easy living with the mad man."

"Because you're such a ray of sunshine yourself, Leroy," May called to his retreating back. "Sorry, he's just…"

"Grumpy," Emma supplied and May grinned at her.

"Exactly."

"So, you are working through things with your… husband, boyfriend, whatever… or you are looking for a new place to stay?"

"Well, I'm not really sure," May shrugged with pretended disinterest. "And he's not my husband or boyfriend. More like the whatever category. It's rather complicated."

"Tell me about it," Emma winced, taking a sip from her cocoa. "So, you paint?" she changed the subject, looking at the other woman's kit that was in a state of disarray after meeting with the Mayor.

"Paint, draw… you name it, I do it," May smiled. "And that reminds me," she added quickly while she simultaneously rose to her feet and drained the last of her cocoa. "I've got to run. I'm about to get a real job. Well, that's it if I can charm Mrs. Lucas to give me a job." With that she gathered her kit and started towards the old lady who just disappeared into her office. She was by the end of the bar when she turned around as if forgetting something and walked back to Emma with a smile that was between excited and shy. Emma raised her eyebrows.

"It was really nice to meet you… Emma."

"Likewise," Emma nodded then May was gone.

Looking at the retreating figure of the other woman, Emma decided that she liked her. With that thought she stood up and yelped. She'd just poured her cocoa all over her top.

Karma was a bitch.

Emma had been beating the bars of Rumpelstiltskin's cell for what seemed like hours and finally Mary Margaret had enough.

"You're not going to break it down, Emma," she told her daughter in a patient tone. She could understand her frustration after all. It was clear that however hard she tried to hide it, Emma was feeling out of place… out of control. But at the same time she knew all too well that brute force would not make them free. "It was enchanted to hold Rumpelstiltskin. You don't have a chance."

She watched as Emma finally gave up and sat down with a frustrated sigh. She regarded her with a contemplative frown as Aurora settled down next to her.

"This is my fault," the princess stated.

"No, it's mine," Mulan corrected her, joining the other two. "Cora stole your heart because I failed to protect you."

"It's very sweet," Emma spoke up finally, "but I believe it's my fault. I am the Savior and I'm not doing much saving, am I?"

And there was that expression again that had been haunting Emma's features ever since her adventure to the top of the beanstalk. She became brooding after their encounter with the pirate and it'd just become more prominent during their forced stay in the cell. Something was going on in her mind. Something was clearly troubling her.

Mary Margaret slowly walked up to her daughter and sat down next to her.

"What happened up there?" she started without any preamble, startling Emma.

"I already told you what happened."

"I know but I'd like to know what you haven't told us yet." Emma's only answer was an unimpressed look so Mary Margaret pressed on. "Look, you're acting strange ever since you returned from the beanstalk. I just want to help. Maybe talking it out would help," she suggested. "I hope you're not beating yourself up over leaving Hook behind because I can assure you that…"

"Don't," Emma cut her off so suddenly that Mary Margaret could only blink. "Just don't. Don't tell me that it was the best thing to do because, for one, I'm pretty sure that you would've done differently. If it'd been any of you up there, we'd probably be already on our way home because you wouldn't have made an enemy out of that damned pirate just because you were convinced that he'd turn his back on you the first moment he got the chance. You would've given him a chance if he asked for it. But not me…"

"You had a good reason not to trust him," Mary Margaret tried to reassure her distraught daughter. "You did what you thought to be the best."

"And how wrong it proved to be. We're stuck here with a pirate and a woman who could easily scare Regina, too, on their way to Storybrooke just because I can't trust people. Just how many times do I have to screw up other people's life before I learn my lesson?"

"What are you talking about?"

There was a long silence before Emma spoke up.

"I don't trust people. I always thought that would spare me from heartache, disappointment or whatever but it turns out, it never caused anything but trouble. Maybe if I had trusted the people who took me in, I would have found a nice home… I could have even make friends if I had given the chance to anybody… I could have broken the curse sooner if I had let myself trust August…"

Something shifted in her expression again that prompted Mary Margaret to focus on the last part of Emma's speech.

"Then why didn't you…? Trust August? He was always so nice to you."

"Because I really liked him, Emma admitted. "I was burnt before and I just couldn't let it happen again."

"Henry's father."

"It was so easy to fall for him…" Emma remembered with a bitter smile, "but the only thing I managed to achieve with that was ending up pregnant and doing time for something I didn't do. So, yes, I kept August at arm's length."

"You fell for him?"

"What?" Emma asked as if realizing for the first what they were talking about. "That's not what I wanted to say. The bottom line is that had I trusted Hook, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"Or we would have ended up here anyway because he's a pirate who could not be trusted. So you shouldn't blame yourself. And turning back to the more important point… Have you fallen in love with August?"

Emma let out a frustrated sigh. "Does it really matter? He's turned back into wood and I'm as good as stuck in this godforsaken place."

"That doesn't answer my question," Mary Margaret pointed out calmly. "And what do you mean he's turned back into wood?"

"He's Pinocchio," Emma supplied. "And he's not been a good boy so now he's turned back into wood."

"Pinocchio? But how? Wait, it doesn't matter," she shook her head, focusing on the main thread of the conversation. "What matters whether you love him," she finished, giving her daughter an expectant look.

Emma held her gaze for a long time but Mary Margaret was persistent and finally, after another exasperated eyeroll, Emma burst out.

"Yes. Okay. I think I like him... really like him. You happy now?"

"That's wonderful," Mary Margaret cried happily.

"Wonderful? Did you hear the part where I said he'd turned back into wood?"

"Oh, I did," Mary Margaret nodded. "But here's the thing… When magic is involved, nothing's impossible."

"What do you mean?"

"Every curse can be broken."

"That's nice but he's not cursed. He turned back into a puppet because he'd not been a good boy."

"All the same," Mary Margaret dismissed her daughter's worries. "You can turn him back, you just have to kiss him… with true love's kiss."

"Are you kidding?"

"Nope. And that's all the more reason to get back home."

"How? You've just said that there is no way out of here. We failed. I failed," Emma stressed the last part.

"It's not over yet," Mary Margaret reassured her. "And Cora won't win this fight, you know. Good always defeats evil."

"You sound like Henry."

"Guess optimism runs in the family."

"I think it skipped a generation."

"You should know better than anybody. You broke the curse."

"What have I done since then?" Emma asked. "I'm but a stranger over here. I burnt up the wardrobe. Let Cora get the ash and now the compass. The only reason I broke the curse is because it was exactly what Gold wanted me to do. I've nothing to do with it."

"What are you talking about?"

"He told you that I was the Savior. It was his plan. Once I fulfilled that role… Maybe that's all I was ever meant to do. Everything I've ever done. He had all that mapped out before I was even born. I'm not powerful. I'm not… the Savior. I'm a name on a piece of paper. I'm a pawn. That's exactly why we are in here and Cora's on her way to Storybrooke."

Mary Margaret didn't believe that but she decided that she'd taken the conversation far enough. In truth she was surprised that Emma volunteered as much as she did. So she remained silent, holding the paper in her hand.

It was some time later when something occurred to her. "We're going to get out of here," she said still dumbstruck by the fact that it hadn't occurred to her earlier - the paper was the answer. She was quick to explain everything to the others, not wanting to waste anymore seconds and it wasn't long before they were all free.

"And now let's go home," she told Emma, after they all decided that it was best for Aurora to stay behind, and gave her daughter a suggestive smile that was fueled by hope. "We have some kissing to do."

"You didn't really say that," Emma groaned as she turned to leave the dungeons as fast as possible.

Following her daughter, Mary Margaret smiled because she could see the quick change in Emma's demeanor that was undoubtedly brought on by hope and a good amount of optimism. After all it did run in the family.

TBC

Thanks for reading!