The Enchanted Forest
Almost Two Hundred Years Ago
 
Killian Jones followed his brother down the cobbled street toward the docks where Captain Silver’s ship waited. He used his neck cloth to wipe at his face, feeling the burn in his back and shoulders. He was seventeen, and already he felt as if he might break under the strain of his daily work.

“Hurry up, Killian,” Liam ordered. “The captain will only punish us if we’re late.”

Clenching his jaw, Killian picked up the pace. They’d spent the day unloading cargo from the hull. Now they would spend the night cleaning the deck. Damn their father. He’d sold them into servitude, and they were prisoners until they worked off the debt. How they’d do that, Killian didn’t know.

As they drew near the docks where several ships were anchored, Killian ran his gaze over the shops and various homes lining the road. What manner of people lived behind the walls? Were they happy? Did their muscles scream in agony, their heart rage with anger?

With a shake of his head, he threw the questions away. What did it matter?

At the corner where the cobbles met the strip before the ships, a couple kissed beneath the pitch of a roof. Killian averted his eyes, but he heard the soft laughter of the woman and pain sliced in Killian’s gut. Would he ever know the touch of a woman? Would he ever know love that was soft and peaceful?

Damn these torturous questions. He lengthened his stride and caught up with his brother. They went around other deckhands loading their ships or cleaning the sides. When they reached their destination, Captain Silver stood at the helm, glaring down at them.

“We got back as quick as we could,” Liam called out to him, going up the gangway.

Captain Silver linked his hands behind him, his stony countenance promising retribution. “Obviously not fast enough because we’re still anchored.”

“Are we leaving now?” Killian questioned, following his brother.

“We have another shipment to fetch in Arendale.” Captain Silver glared at them. “You two will man the rigging.”
Killian wanted to growl in frustration. When would the back-breaking work end? When would he have silent moments of happiness? And what did he even want out of life? He loved the sea. When they were full sail, that was the only time he was really happy. That much he knew.

He remembered the couple under the torch.

Another thing he knew, but would never admit aloud, was that he wanted someone to love, someone who would love him back. True love. The kind that broke curses. But how in the bloody hell would he ever find it stuck on a ship?

As he went through the motions of setting sail, he couldn’t stop imagining the lady who might give him everything he could ever want. She would be kind. Have a nice smile. Maybe she would be tough. A little mischievous. The dream formed, keeping him company.

They’d put port behind them, and now Killian was surrounded by late afternoon sea air, the orange rays of the sun slashing across the sky. Sometimes the views proved to him that a better life was possible, happiness attainable. He gazed at the sight, longing filling his soul.

A sudden cry from the sailor manning the crow’s nest struck Killian with concern.

“Captain! Trouble ahead!” the sailor yelled from above.

Killian looked up sharply to check the direction in which the deckhand pointed. He then hurried to the stern, and in the red-golden light, he saw some sort of swirling vortex in the middle of the ocean.

Murmurs and shouts grew among the crew.

“What is that, Liam?” Killian asked his brother.

“I’ve no idea.” He leaned over to get a better look.

As Captain Silver gave orders to turn, men scattered to carry out their duties. But the ship couldn’t be turned.
Alarmed, Killian fought with the rigging, keeping the sail as straight and as strong as possible.
The captain continued to bark, the crew did all they could, and just before they were sucked in, the ship turned, skimming along the side of the water funnel.

As Killian’s heartbeat began to slow, he couldn’t help but look over the side at the cavernous hole. “Bloody hell,” he whispered.

A sudden surge of wind swirled around him. He shouted, and latched on hard to the side of the ship. The gale increased, and his body flew. The skin of his hands tore as he was ripped from purchase. He cried out as what felt like a great hand scooped him up and tossed him. “Liam,” he yelled.

He heard his brother calling his name.

Killian flailed, trying to grab hold of anything. But nothing was within grasp, and a forced pushed him into the endless vortex.

Emma studied the landscape whisking by the windows of the rented car. She couldn’t believe she was back. The road stretched before her, the trees swayed in the breeze, their green leaves a stark contrast against the bright blue sky.

She kept both hands on the wheel as she drove along the highway, heading for the distant shore of Pelican Lake not too far outside of Minneapolis. Her skin tingled with excitement as hope continued to race through her. She couldn’t believe there was a possibility that she’d met Killian a long time ago. If true, it would mean she’d known him before Neal.

She glanced over at the man who would be her husband soon, and her heart flipped over as he smiled back at Henry. They were playing Twenty Questions. Well, Henry was. Killian kept asking the wrong kind of questions. On purpose. And somehow he managed to get the answers after only a few clues.

“Mom,” Henry whined. “Tell him to play right.”

She smiled to herself and looked at her son through the rearview mirror. “Pick someone or something harder. Your tone of voice gives it away every time.”

Henry huffed and sat back.

“You don’t have a poker face, my boy. Guess that’s something else I can teach you.” Killian continued to grin.
Henry leaned forward. “You’ll teach me how to play?”

While Killian laughed at Henry’s eager tone, Emma turned left down the road leading to the lake, but she found a change. “There’s a booth and a gate. I guess they turned this into a park of some kind.”

After going through the entrance, Henry and Killian became quiet and observant of their surroundings. “None of this looks familiar to me,” Killian commented. “It’s quite beautiful, though.”

“It was my favorite hide-out. I left in late September, though. Couldn’t stay during winter.” The trees parted to reveal a shore with a parking lot ten yards from the rocky bank. “I never learned who owned the cabin. Never even saw a sign that someone used it.”

Birds flew over colorful sails as people enjoyed the crystal lake. Killian gave a whistle. “That’s some view.”

“Yeah,” Emma murmured, watching the scene and the road. “It made me happy, all those years ago.” She felt Killian’s eyes on her, and she turned to look at him. They shared a smile of understanding then she gave her attention back to the road. “We’ll park here. There’s a path that leads to the cabin. I’m assuming the building is still relatively isolated since the globe didn’t show anything around it.”

Henry was already unbuckling his seatbelt when Emma slid the car into a space. “Let’s go,” he cried and was out the door before Emma had the key out of the ignition.

“Slow down, kid,” she told him. “We need to be careful.”

As they all exited the bug, Emma scanned the area. She found the forest to be even more overgrown than when she’d lived here. She frowned then headed in the general direction of where the path had once been.

“What are we looking for, love?”

They left the parking lot for the twenty yards of grassy space before the trees. “There’s a trail somewhere that leads to that cabin. Just search for a break or something.”

As they split up, walking along the edge, Emma couldn’t help but recall the weeks she’d spent at this lake. She’d made decisions, worked out who she wanted to be while she stayed alone in the cabin. She’d come to the realization that she couldn’t depend on anyone but herself, that she was better off on her own. And she’d stayed away from cities, not wanting to be sent back to a group home.

And she hadn’t been. Instead she’d learned to hot wire cars and lift items from stores with ease. And she never hung around long enough to spend time with anyone. At least, not until she’d stolen a stolen car. She smiled to herself, glad she could remember Neal now without feeling grief.

“Love?” Killian called. “I think I’ve got something.”

Henry and Emma hurried to his side. Buried beneath a cover of a fern was a narrow stretch of gravel. “This could be it,” Emma murmured. When she looked ahead, she caught sight of an oak with a bent trunk. Recollection struck. “Yes, this is it. Let’s go.”

She led the way. Henry followed in between her and Killian, and Emma knew Killian had done that on purpose. Her heart squeezed with gratefulness. Just another reason why she loved him so much. He always took care of Henry.
They had to duck under low hanging braches, and meander around fallen logs. It was slow-going, but they eventually reached the cabin she’d used as a shelter for a period of five months. And, if the globe was to be trusted, Killian had, as well.

“There,” Henry said, anticipation lacing his tone. “I see the sapling.”

Emma drew up short, stunned, while Henry hastened forward.

“You didn’t think it would really be there, did you, love?” Killian stood beside her.

“Did you?” she asked him, watching as Henry came to a stop and assessed the magical plant.

“I’ve learned that odd things happen, so…yes.”

She looked at him. “The fact that it’s here…it means you were, too. With me. And that we…”

“Fell in love?” he finished for her, giving her a soft smile. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

As she released a sigh of wonder, she gripped his hand with hers. “Come on.”

They drifted to the sapling. “What do we do, lad?” Killian asked.

“Grandpa told me they just touched it at the same time, and they had this blast of visions. It was their story that played in their minds.” Henry gave them some room.

“Ready, love?” Killian arched an eyebrow at her.

She loved it when he looked at her like that, and when he said those words in that tone. It always made her feel safe, as if she wasn’t alone. Since the moment she’d met him, she’d understood him. How had she known he could be trusted? Was it because she’d met him before their beanstalk adventure? “I’m ready,” she said softly.

Together, they leaned down and gripped the base. A surge of energy exploded, and Emma and Killian flew backwards. When she landed, everything went black.

Scene: Charming Loft; After Killian proposed the second time; They have used the globe to find Killian and Emma's sapling and have discovered it's in Minnesota

“Minnesota?” Killian stared Emma, stunned. “That’s not possible.”

Her green gaze shone with disbelief. “I know, but that’s where that lake is. That cabin, I stayed there after Lily ruined my chances with my last foster family. I was sixteen.”

As her words broke through the fog in his mind, he turned back to the scene still visible in the globe. He leaned down and narrowed his eyes. “I don’t recognize this place. Not one bit.” He straightened and looked at Regina. “Could you have made a mistake?”

She lifted an eyebrow at him. “Really, pirate?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve been mixing potions and spells for years, and everyone here should know by now that memories can be taken.”

The point made Killian’s heart pound. He faced his fiancée. “Love?”

He watched the shock on her face disappear and a slow and excited smile replace it. “Killian, we knew each other before…”

“It’s the only explanation,” he murmured. A burst of hope that they could get the memories back came over him.

“How do we get to it? How long would it take to get to Minnesota?”

“By car, too long.” Emma hooked her thumbs in her pockets. “We can’t waste too much time on traveling. We’ll have to get to an airport.”

“Can I go?” Henry begged. “Please?”

“Henry,” Emma and Regina both started.

“Please?” he interrupted. “It’s so awesome that y’all knew each other before, and I was the one who thought y’all might have a sapling. And you might need help.”

Killian wanted Henry to tag along. The boy was smart, and there was no telling what they might encounter. “I think the lad ought to come. Who’s to say getting to this tree will be easy, and if I’ve learned one thing,” Killian nudged Henry on the shoulder, “your boy is resourceful.”

The mothers shared a look.

Regina sighed. “He should go. It’ll get him away from the Black Fairy, too.”

“Are you gonna be all right while we’re gone? Who do you have to help you protect the town? Blue is gone, and Gold and Belle are too busy trying to save Gideon.” Emma removed her hands from her pockets.

“Well, it seems I’ll have to put Grumpy to work, hmm?” Regina shook her head and exhaled. “And the fairies don’t need Blue to do what they do best.” She gave a slight nod. “We’ll be fine.”

Henry hurried to the door. “Let’s pack,” he exclaimed.

Killian watched him go, hope living and breathing inside him. This was the first time he’d felt as if they might have an answer to the curse plaguing Snow and David. “This is going to work,” he declared to the ladies. “This torture will end soon, and then we’ll defeat the Black Fairy.”

Emma gave him one of her soft smiles.

“It certainly feels like we might be on to something,” Regina commented. She nodded at the door. “You need to go, before Henry leaves without you.”

Killian laughed while Emma squeezed Regina’s shoulder. “Granny can watch Neal. Dr. Hopper or Geppetto will as well.”

“I’ll call them,” Regina promised, then she cocked her head. “This will be the first time I’ve watched over Storybrooke without you or your parents.” She exhaled deeply.

The trials Regina had faced had prepared her for the task ahead. Killian nodded his head at her. “You’ll be all right, your majesty.” He quirked a grin at her. “You’re made of stern stuff.”

Emma made a noise of agreement.

Killian held out his hand to his fiancée, and she threaded her fingers through his then allowed him to lead her from the room.

They went down the steps, in sync, determined. “We won’t fail, Emma,” he promised her, his pulse pounding with certainty. “We’re going to wake up your parents. I owe them…so much.”

She gripped his hand tighter as they hurried to the car where Henry paced. “Right now, I’m trying to wrap my mind around the reality that you were in Minnesota.”

“It’s so awesome,” Henry broke in, catching Emma’s statement before she unlocked the car. “I can’t wait to write the story.”

As Killian climbed into the passenger seat, he asked, “Do you think we’ll learn what happened? I mean, memories return only when something causes them to.”

Emma started the engine then made a sharp turn in the direction of their home. “I hope all we have to do is touch it. Mom told me that she and Dad share a memory they didn’t know about until they touched the sapling.”
Henry lightly pounded his fist against the shoulder of Emma’s seat. “It’ll be the same for y’all, I know it.”

“And we’re going to have take a plane?” Killian recalled Emma mentioning the fact a little earlier.

“We have to get there as fast as possible,” she explained. She glanced at him. “Nervous?”

He shrugged, not really sure how he felt. “I’d prefer it if I was captaining the vessel flying my future wife and step-son through the air, but I’ll manage.”

Henry laughed.

“I’ll have to make you a driver’s license,” Emma said. “They won’t let you board without one.”

As Emma made a right turn down their street, Killian lifted his brow. “Won’t they question it’s validity since I only have one hand?”

Emma shook her head. “Lots of people drive with one hand.”

Struck and a little intrigued, he said, “Really?”

She let out a snort. “I guess I’ll be teaching you to drive when this is all over.”

“Me, too,” Henry put in.

Killian smiled, feeling happy and hopeful for the first time in weeks. When Emma stopped the car in front of the house, they all piled out. Henry hurried ahead while Killian put his arm around Emma’s shoulders. “This is gonna work.”

She gave him one of her confident, saucy grins, and he let out a slow breath, shook that his woman was going to be his wife. Nothing would stand in his way.

Chapter 3 will be posted next Friday -- I promise -- I've already written it.