Curse Gone Wrong

Oops

Regina

Emma! What in the world just happened! Gah stupid girl, now I had to go and save her sorry ass from this darkness, this was exactly what I was trying to avoid! "How could she be so stupid?!" I exclaimed, the Charming's shot me a look along with Killian, so I softened my approach, but the stress filled my body, knitting my eyebrows. "Okay. Let's go and look for her." I said a tad bit calmer, the three of them nodded, Robin's hand still protectively in front of my stomach.

We stalked through the forest and I tried to zone out Snow's aggravating sobs, but they were too much to handle, she just lost her daughter, for the third time, again thanks to me. "Snow, Charming I just wanted to ap-" I was cut off when I heard a rustling in the trees, then a small whimper coming from that direction. I raced towards the spot and pulled the branches back, revealing a small, sickly thin girl. Her blonde ringlets were tied in two messy pigtails, dirt and grime staining her yellow dress and frilly socks. Her clothes looked outdated and old, like something a child would wear in the nineties, from what Emma had shown me.

She was crying and huddled in a ball in the mud. "I know you." The little girl whimpered, I spun around and looked at everyone else, they all shook their heads and returned their glances to me. "You do?" I said bending over so I was leveled with her, holding my hand out to her. She nodded and pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face in them. "Sweetie where are your parents?" Snow asked behind me, the little girl's face became sullen and her lower lip started to quiver. "I don't have any! They left me when I was a baby!" She sobbed, I bit my lip and moved closer to the small child. "We are going to help you, but we just need to know your name." I said gently, she bit her lip and nodded. "My name is Emma Swan."

It took everything inside of me not to gasp in shock, The Charming's and Killian's jaws dropped, shocked at the state of their loved one. "That's a very pretty name." I managed to utter, she just stared at me and started to cry again. "Oh honey, shh it's okay. Don't cry, now I need you to tell me if you know any of these people?" I asked pointing to my entourage behind me. She shook her head and returned her big hazel eyes to me. I bit my lip and nodded, trying to decide what to do. "Okay honey, come with me."

I carried the small girl back to my mansion, she weighed nothing and her skin felt like ice, I wrapped my thick wool scarf around her and tried to warm her up with my own body heat.

"Hey Emma do you want to stay with us tonight?" David blurted out, I spun around and gave him an exasperated glance. "Who- who are you?" She shuddered, her small hands clutching my shoulders harder. "We will discuss sleeping arrangements later." I said through my teeth, trying to ease the young girl's nerves. "I want to stay with you." She asked, craning her neck up so she was facing me, I unlocked my front door and went inside, setting her on a stool in the kitchen.

"Okay honey, you can stay with me until we figure everything out." I said brushing her hair back, rubbing my thumbs up and down her cheek. "You're going to send me back?" She whimpered, climbing down from the chair. "No! I just meant until... We find out what happened." I lied, lifting her back onto the stool, I heard her stomach growl and her body stiffen. "Sweetie are you hungry?" Robin asked, taking a step forward, David and Snow stayed back in fear of frightening their small daughter. Emma's face filled with fear and she shook her head. "No sir." She shuddered, I moved closer to Robin and stood next to him. "Honey it's okay, if you're hungry we can make you something." I said gently, she looked at me for assurance and I nodded. "N-no thank you." She stuttered, I bit my lip and took her hands, feeling the frail bones under my fingers. "Well Robin and I are hungry so I am going to make us some macaroni and cheese. So if you are hungry go ahead and have some." I said standing up, fear flooded her features and she shook her head. "I'm not allowed to eat with the families, only their real kids are allowed to sit and eat with them." She said sadly, perching herself on the stool, she looked so small and frail, as if she would fall over if I didn't feed her fast enough. I had no words, I just looked at Robin then the Charming's, pulling out a pot.