AN: Here's the next installment, I had such a fun time writing this chapter.

One thing, I did change some key points in Chapter 1 involving Killian, and then Emma and Killian's 'Reunion' in the dream in Chapter 3. I wanted to let you all know I edited it so that the story flows better, and I really do love the changes I made to it. It's so much easier to read now! So, You might want to read those two changes (you don't have to read the whole story all over again, just those two parts), but when the two eventually meet again, you'll be slightly out of the loop if you don't know the changes.

Of course if you just started reading this story as of Chapter Seven's update then you don't have to worry about what I just said!

Anyway, onto the story!

o0o0o0

It was cold. This wasn't the first time that Emma has had to sleep in her car. She's done it before, and because she was already used to her seats, it wasn't uncomfortable. She couldn't sleep though. It wasn't for lack of trying, or because it was chilly, she just couldn't get her thoughts to stop flowing through her mind.

So instead of counting sheep, she watched the stars above her, outside her window twinkling away. These last couple of days in Emma's life have been hectic. She was found by her son and with his ideas about this town being those of a fairy tale, she thought of the dream, or whatever it was that she had a long time ago.

When she had 'woken up', she tried to summon electricity through her fingertips, but nothing happened. Merlin had taught her to harness magic through herself, not through books or spells. She had an affinity with three main things; healing, barriers and electricity. She knows how to use other elements, but she isn't as strong in them. Using the power within herself to form magic is true magic.

If you were not born with magic in your veins, and have to learn how to harness magic through books or other means it's not going to be as powerful. It's unnatural, it's forced.

Like being the Dark One for instance. His whole being was unnatural. Sure they have huge magical powers now, but in order to become that, you lost a big part of who you were. So you deal with living as a curse.

But all that was a dream. Magic doesn't exist. She missed the feeling that the magic had felt like. It was a warm vibrating feel, like your blood was massaging you from the inside. She hadn't had a pulled muscle, or stiff neck that whole time. She doesn't miss the part of being a squirrel though.

She knows that the man she met the previous night looked like a man she knew in that dream. The only thing that confused her, was how she could dream of a man she's never met before? Maybe it was a telepathic thing? That dream had awakened something within her years ago. She was more open to the idea of ghosts and the supernatural. This world is full of mysteries waiting to be solved, and there are many things that haven't been explained. So who is she to judge Henry in his beliefs? She can support him.

She fidgeted and switched positions, then once she got comfortable again, she pulled her blanket up to her chin, and fluffed up her baby blanket using it like a pillow. 'How will I talk to him without sounding nutty?' Feeling the exhaustion finally hitting her, the last thoughts before sleep caught her were, 'Maybe I'll just try and be his friend without revealing anything. That world isn't real, after all, he's here, not in a dream like he was before.'

o0o0o0

'Knock, knock, knock.' Emma peaked out from under her blanket and blearily looked at her window where she saw her friend Mary Margaret tapping on the window. Blinking her eyes awake, she rolled the window down and managed to croak out a "Good Morning" that didn't sound scratchy.

"You're sleeping in your car?" She looked at her friend in worry.

"Um. Yeah. Granny kicked me out, per Regina." Waking up more she took the blanket off of her and put it in the seat next to her, and got out of the car, stretching her arms above her as soon as the door closed. Turning to her friend she said softly, "Don't worry about it, I've done this before. It's not bad."

"Well, if you need a place to stay, I have an extra room available." Smiling, she handed her car sleeping friend a warm to go cup of hot chocolate.

Emma's gaze was curious and before she could ask, Mary Margaret said quickly, "I walked passed you earlier. Thought you might need something warm to wake up to."

"Thank you." She gazed at the young woman who was supposedly her mother, with a content look in her eyes. "Hey, would you know where I can find Mr. Gold at?"

Eyes widened a bit, but then she quickly fixed the shocked look and replied, "He's the owner of the Pawn Shop."

"Thank you. I want to go and talk to him today."

"Just be careful with dealing with him." She said gently while shifting on her feet a little bit.

"I will."

The two just stood there talking, leaning against her car, losing track of time. It felt nice having a girlfriend to talk to. She's never really had female friends before, and having one is a new experience.

Mary Margaret looked at the watch and her eyes widened and with a quick, "I'm sorry, I'm late. I have to go." Turning around to leave, she quickly turned back around and said, "Remember what I said, if you need a place to stay, my house is your house." With a last smile thrown towards Emma, she turned around and hurried away.

Reaching into her window Emma got out a new outfit, toothbrush and then she rolled up the window and locked the car. Throwing the now empty cup in one of the trash cans outside, she makes her way to Granny's Diner, and heads into the bathroom to change and make herself as presentable as possible.

Sitting at a booth eating breakfast and drinking a cup of coffee, Henry sits down in front of her, face exciting and grim at the same time.

Emma looked up at her son and watched him with worry. "What wrong?"

"We need to talk." Then he brings his face closer and starts to whisper, "It's about Operation Cobra, and the book."

"Okay. So why do you look so upset for?"

"We can't talk here, too many people. Meet me after school by the castle." Standing up from the table he gives her a hug good bye.

After hugging the moody kid in front of her back she stated, "Sure kid." Then watched him leave the diner.

She was worried. What did he need to talk to her about that sounded serious? She won't have the answers until he gets out of school though. Until then, she has the whole morning to track down Mr. Gold.

o0o0o0

It was that feeling again. A nagging feeling that something would be happening today. Mr. Gold did not like that feeling. He hated not knowing if something would be in his favor, or not, this unknown gut feeling was making him nervous. He does not do nervous!

So instead of dwelling on it, he decided to re clean everything in his shop. No one ever really came inside to buy anything, but encase one of the locals decided to change their minds he wasn't going to have them coming into a shop that looked filthy and unkempt. Not like the prison they put him in.

His back was turned while he was dusting the shelves behind the display case, when the chime of the shop chimed alerted him that someone had actually gotten the nerve to come see him. Without turning around he just said, "What is it you came to see me for?"

"Uhm, Mr. Gold?"

His hand stilled and he turned around at the woman's voice. His eyes caught the green ones of the newest resident, Emma. "Yes? How can I help you?"

Stepping closer she spoke up, "I know this might sound a bit crazy." At this her eyes broke away from the man and scanned the small shop, trying to regain her composure. She can do this. She tracks down wanted men and women, how would talking to this stranger be difficult? "I-I know you said we had never met before, but I have this nagging feeling that I've seen you somewhere. I never forget a face, but I can't remember the place."

Mr. Gold at hearing his friend's confession had honestly surprised him, again. He didn't think that she would've wanted the answers to her acquaintanceship with him. He knew she was a stubborn woman, who didn't believe in the curse or magic. So he assumed she'd just let this pass on right by as well.

He found out a month ago about Mary Margaret giving Henry a book on fairy tales that she had found in her closet. One of his associates at the school spotted the conversation happening and had reported it to him. He never got to read the book. He does know though that since the boy received it, he'd been scrutinizing everyone in town. Like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

If he couldn't remove the doubt, then he knows nothing he says will make her change her mind. They knew each other years back, but they're a little more then strangers again. It's been years for her, centuries for him. They'd have to get to know each other again, and he's vastly different than the weakling of a man he used to be.

"As I stated before, I do not remember ever meeting you here before, other than the other night at the Bed and Breakfast."

Emma still worried about getting close to people, and so shutting people out is a default of hers. Hesitantly, she decides to try and get to know this man, after all, if she's staying in town for Henry's sake, she should start getting to know the locals and trying to put herself slightly out there.

"Okay then." She smiles then extends her hand as she's introducing herself, "Let's start off new. I'd like to get to know you. Maybe we can be friends, eventually. I'm Emma, or Swan. You can call me whatever you like."

Cautiously Mr. Gold returns the handshake, disbelief visibly shown on his face. 'She's wanting to start over at getting to know me?' "Mr. Gold." He said softly, re introducing himself. "What brings you into town, if I may ask?"

Smiling Emma replies, "Henry. He, uh, I gave him up because I wasn't ready to be a parent. I wanted him to have a better life than I had. He ended up finding me and I brought him back here."

"Ah yes. Letting a child go can be difficult." His eyes are glazed over, seeing something in his past. "Now that you found him, don't let him go." Regret weaved through the words, and he suddenly was brought out of his thoughts. He did not mean for her to hear those words, but she had this pull on him that made him talk and open up.

His eyes narrowed, suddenly defensive. He can't get close to this woman! Just intruding on his life like this is making him open up. Regina's here, he can't be seen as having a weakness! He already lost Bell, she was the biggest weakness he's had, and Regina had her almost destroy him. He can't have another!

The 'Dong' of the town's now working clock brought him out of his thoughts. His dagger was hidden there. He can't afford to be friends with this Swan, he has a curse he needs to break, through her of course. She can't break the curse standing here talking to him, being friends.

He is not the same guy that helped heal her wounds. He's a broken man, a demon. For her own good she can't be seen with him. With a heavy heart he knew what he'd have to do. He'll watch and keep an eye on her from afar, that's the only way he can be her friend, but they can't be seen actively hanging out being 'buddies'.

With an angry scowl now on his face his mood shifted. "Get out! I don't need friends, especially with the likes of you!"

Seeing the woman's eyes widening in shock, then anger, he doesn't give her a chance to say anything before he continues, "You won't be in town long anyway, I know your type! You settle in and get cozy but soon enough you'll leave this town. I do not need to make friends with someone who will have no business staying!"

Emma was furious! How dare he, this man, act like he knew her! Sure he was spot on about the moving around, but he could've just been polite about it. How could a stranger know so much about her, just by saying she was here for Henry? "You don't know me!"

"I know enough!" Eyes narrowing further he continues, "Leave, or I'll call the Sheriff and have you arrested for loitering!" At that his heart clenched, he didn't want her to go, but she's safer this way.

"Fine." With a scowl of her own she turned around and walked away and opened the door, but before she left she turned around and spoke quiet enough that Mr. Gold would have to strain to hear it. "I know how it is to push people away when they've hit a nerve close to home. I do it to, so thank you for doing it first, instead of letting me be the one to shut someone out first."

The quiet of the door closing was a sonic boom towards Rumple. Walking to the door he locked it then turned his sign to 'Closed'. He isn't in the mood to continue to work today.

o0o0o0

Emma walked down to the docks, trying to calm her mood down. What she said to the man, it was the truth. Sooner or later everyone did leave her, so she's glad he did it first before she got attached to him. The only person she should have the emotions to focus on, is Henry.

Arriving at the edge she sat down and just watched the water. It was always soothing towards her. She always loved the water, that's why in her fantasy dream she decided to take a chance and go sailing away. "Why can't life really be a fantasy? It was so much better." She mumbled to herself.

She was sitting there for hours, losing track of the time, and before she knew it the alarm on her phone went off letting her know it was time to head to the castle and speak with Henry. Sighing contently, mood much brighter and lighter, she headed towards the castle Henry loved so much.

o0o0o0

She arrived the same time as her son did, and as soon as the two sat down he began to speak. "Remember how I said you were in the book, and showed you a picture of a baby in a blanket with the name Emma?"

"Yes. What has that got to do with anything about Operation Cobra?"

"I found something else, you're in another chapter!"

Emma scoffed. "Yeah sure kid. Another drawing of a baby me?"

He's bubbling over with excitement and pulled out the book, and said very joyfully, "I was looking at the book last night, and a chapter I hadn't seen before was suddenly there! I don't know why I didn't notice it at first, but woah!" He flipped through the pages and then found what he was looking for and started to hand his mother the book. "Look!" Eyes bright and cheerful. It was like Christmas came early for him. "Read this! How come you never told me you were there?"

Looking at the first page, she felt her heart stop. It was a random story about one of Merlin and her's adventures. 'No one knows what Merlin looks like, as he wanders the world in many forms; however, Zoso the Dark One, stumbled upon a powerful magic user and witnessed him teaching magic to an animal of the forest. It is rumored that mysterious man was the elusive Merlin.' On that page was a crude drawing of her dream's father figure, Merlin. Merlin had a squirrel on his shoulder and they were standing at the waters edge of a lake. Looking closely at their reflection in the lake, it looked like a teenage Emma was standing behind Merlin peeking out above his shoulder, instead of the squirrel being there.

Her dream was real? No way! This is fantasy, it's a book! Why is she in it!?

Turning the page she froze, fingers gripping the paper tightly. The first picture in front of her was of Zoso on the ground dying and standing above him was the newest Dark One, Rumpelstiltskin in his new dark form. Emma's eyes widened. Then she quickly scanned the pages in front of her, drinking in some of the words greedily. 'Rumpelstiltskin in a fit of rage because of Zoso taunting his son's lineage, stabbed the Dark One with their weapon of power and killed him. That action then resulted in Rumpelstiltskin's transformation into the newest Dark One.'

She slammed the book closed and started to hyperventilate.

Henry, not knowing his mother would react like that started to panic, and got in front of his mother and gently held her face. "Mom! Mom! You need to breathe. In and out! I'm sorry!"

She couldn't breath, she was in shock. How was this possible? Magic didn't exist, if it did, and this was real she should have been able to still use magic. 'So what happened? I time traveled some how?' Thought's kept racing and she suddenly is jerked out of her thoughts by a rough slam into her. Focusing her eyes, they land on the crying Henry holding on to her.

Gently she puts her arms around him and she holds him and calms him down, while trying to calm her racing heart as well.

When no sounds were heard from either of them, Emma broke the silence. "I had a dream once." She began, quietly and softly. "Where I was in this magical world with Pirates, Monsters and all kinds of Magic."

Pausing for a moment she looked down at her son that was still in her arms, listening intently. "It was the most vivid dream that I have ever had. But it was a dream. I woke up from it. I even tried to do a silly thing like magic to try and prove to myself that it was real. Nothing happened."

Henry spoke up then, "What if that dream you had was supposed to help you believe? You're the savior, you need to believe. You're in the book! You were there some how, it couldn't have been a dream!"

Sadly she looks in front of her and says, "Honey it's not real. They're stories. Dreams can be magical in their own way. I actually believed it was real for a few weeks afterwards, but then I had to grow up. Looking back, it was a lovely dream full of adventures and mystery." She ruffled his hair affectionately. "I will help you with your lifting the curse theory. I just can't believe in magic and fairy tales. Maybe someday I can believe in that again, but it won't be today."

Henry wanted his mother to believe, but how can he get her to believe even if she denies seeing something in front of her eyes, like her being in the book? He did understand where she's coming from, he's ten, it doesn't mean he lacks intelligence though. His task just got harder, he would have to find a way for his mother to believe in the magic she used to believe in. "You just have to believe in me, and I'll find a way to help you believe again."

Smiling at Henry she nodded, emotional roller coaster is now back to ground level. "Alright kid."

"So…" He said slyly, interest back in his tone, "Can you tell me about the dream you had? It sounds awesome!"

Laughing out loud and wanting to humor him, she nods, then starts the story. "I arrived in this small village along the coast…"

Henry was now sitting cross legged in front of her, elbows on his knees, and chin resting on his palms, listening to the end of his mother's tale. "... then with a flash of light enveloping my vision, I woke up!" It was now diner time, and both of their stomach's rumbled in protest at not having eaten anything yet. He looked at his watch and panicked, it was almost five-thirty, he has five minutes before he's got to being at home. "Oh mom! I'm sorry I need to run I'm going to be late!" Jumping up and grabbing his backpack with the book back in it, he starts to run towards his house.

"Don't you want me to take you home?" She asked, jogging next to the worrying child next to her.

Stopping to talk to her he says confidently, "No. I don't want to cause anything else between you both. It'll be best if I go alone."

"Alright, if you say so."

Henry turns around again, but then deciding against it whispers at Emma "Meet me tomorrow, we'll bury the book, it's too dangerous for someone else to read it now." Smiling he waves good bye and turns around and starts heading back to his house.

She went to the diner to go get diner and sat down at an empty booth. It sure was an emotional day. She went to find Gold and it looked like they had something in common about letting kids go, but then he runs her out of his shop. Then Henry shows her a book that had two moments of her "dream" captured in it. That was just bizarre. She couldn't wrap her head around that. Did she sometime in her childhood read a book on fairy tales and it hid into her subconscious and that's why she had such a vivid dream? But why such an almost alike picture of her? It doesn't make sense.

She recalled the whole dream, and told most of it to Henry, much of it edited to suit a child's ears of course. She told him of her time with Merlin and the craziness of it, and that yes, she did change into a squirrel at one point. She even admitted that while in the dream, she dreamed, until one night after talking to Merlin, then all the 'in dreaming' stopped. Even now she hadn't remembered a dream since she woke up from the one on the beach in Oregon. 'Shit, I haven't had a dream in ten years!'

For Emma going to sleep, it's all just, sleeping, then darkness and then waking up. Thinking of that, made her feel oddly lonely, and a bit scared for an unknown reason. Like she suddenly remembered she's missing something, after being told by someone else that it was gone.

"Hey."

The voice of Graham made Emma jump from the deep fearful thoughts that she was heading towards. She was glad for the distraction though.

"You aren't here to arrest me again are you?" She commented slyly, a smirk on her face.

The sheriff in front of her just smiles, his eyes crinkling at her response. "No. Sorry. Not this time." Pausing he looks at her curiously then remarks, "Are you alright? You looked a bit ill there for a moment."

"I'm alright. I was just in deep thought." Looking into his eyes she could see that he was genuinely concerned for her, and that made her stomach do a little flip. Maybe reaching out and becoming friends with him won't be as treacherous as Mr. Gold.

"You know. We didn't really start on a good note." Extending her hand and smiling a friendly grin she continues, "I'm Emma."

Graham's smile beamed right at her and he shook her hand and replied, "I'm Graham. Nice to meet you." Letting go of her hand he said with regret, "I'm sorry I can't stay long. I'm just picking up dinner for the late shift, Leroy is back in the cell again." Seeing Emma's face falling he quickly adds, "Maybe we can meet up sometime?"

Nervously putting a piece of her hair back behind her ear, she replies with a smile that lit her face, "Yes. I'd like that."

"It was good to see you again, outside of the station." He grins at her, and after hearing Emma's laugh at her small expense left the diner in better spirits than when he went in.

Emma smiled. 'Well. Maybe it wasn't too bad a day after all.' As that thought passed through her Ruby put down the plate containing her grilled cheese and bowl of tomato soup in front of her. Grinning one more time to herself, she dug in. Mood lifted and feeling a whole lot better then this afternoon.

o0o0o0

AN: I had a really good time writing this chapter! Things are starting to merge, AU with some Canon key points. For those of you worried after reading this, and I'm sorry to also say this because I love Graham, but one of the Canon key points does involve him, and with a change to his canon role, but not changed enough. This story will be having a character death involved... T_T I know, I don't like deaths either, but it'll have to happen for events to occur so that Emma can break the curse.