Beane Odette - Reawakened - A Once Upon A Time Tale

The curse.

— I knew I would find you, — said Charming, lifting her from the ground.

— And I knew I would find you, — she responded. He laughed, and they kissed. Everything, finally, was as it was supposed to be.

The nurses and doctors had all scattered. Some did stick around to gape at Emma and wonder how she’d managed to perform the miracle, but soon, after their memories began to come back to them, and they realized that they’d been living within the mental fog of a curse for twenty-eight years, people scattered, frantically searching the town for loved ones and friends. Emma was right where she was supposed to be.

Regina, surprisingly, had disappeared as well.

Henry seemed to be okay, although he was a little weak. Emma told him about the dragon, and what she’d had to do to get the love potion, and she also told him that Gold had run off with what she’d recovered.

— August told me that I didn’t need it, — she said. — So I knew. I knew it was right to come to you. But what is Gold up to, do you think?

Henry shrugged, sucking on the straw attached to his little cup of orange juice.

— Whatever it is, — Emma said, — it’s probably bad for the rest of this town.

Short-term retribution. But then what?

— What is that? — Henry said, pointing out the window.

Emma saw it, too: a purple smoke flowing down the street as though it were water. She stood up and went to the window.

— I have no idea, — Emma said. — But I don’t like it.

She looked at Henry, whose eyes had gone wide. This time there was no smile, but the amazement in her son’s eyes reminded her of the first moment they’d arrived in Storybrooke together, all those months ago. They were eyes of fascination.

— Magic, — Henry said. — Magic is here.

She turned and watched the smoke creeping over the town, sensing that her son was right. She knew what it meant. This wasn’t over.

In fact, it was just beginning.

With her eyes still on the smoke, Emma stepped back to Henry’s bed and let her hand rest on his shoulder. Together, they watched in silence. Was it safe? No. Could she ever get back the life she could have had, or create the life she should have created for Henry? No. She couldn’t take any of it back and she couldn’t change the past. That was not how life worked. Not in this world, and not in any other world. The best she could do was make the right choices in the present. Here and now.

She would not leave her son again. She would always be there to protect him. Always. She squeezed his shoulder.

Henry, as though he’d heard the vow echoing in her heart, reached up and took his mother’s hand.

— Thanks, — he said.

— For what? — Emma asked, smiling down at him.

He looked up.

— For coming back.