The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 11

You don't find love, it finds you. It's got a little bit to do with destiny, fate, and what's written in the stars. ~Anais Nin

#

Emma staggered back in surprise as various images started flowing through her head, ones that she couldn't quite explain. Most of them of a beautiful brunette and somewhere called Storybrooke. When her vision focused again, she looked up. "Hook?" she asked the man standing in front of her, recognizing him almost immediately.

He shot her his signature flirtatious smirk. "Good to have you back, Swan." He winked.

Emma rolled her eyes. "I have to get back to Storybrooke," she snapped, suddenly remembering Regina.

"Easy, Swan. Slow down and think for a moment. What are you going to tell Henry?"

Emma stiffened – that was actually a good question. She couldn't just walk up to her son and tell him that everything that has happened in the past year has been a lie whilst attempting to explain to him their obnoxiously complicated family situation. She sighed. "I don't know, but I'll try my best," she muttered before making her way back to her apartment.

#

Emma walked into the apartment and Killian was quick to follow, shutting the door behind him. She walked into the kitchen and saw Henry sitting on the sofa.

"Hey, mom," he greeted her. "Who's that?" he asked, eyeing Hook slightly as he got to his feet.

Emma looked at Hook and sighed. "This is Killian," she muttered.

The young boy scoffed. "Seriously, mom? You don't date anyone and then you pick a guy who looks like he thinks he's Jack Sparrow."

Her head shot up immediately. "No, no, Henry, we're not – he's an old friend," she quickly corrected him but all Hook could do was laugh.

Henry studied him carefully. "What happened to your hand?" he asked, noticing that he had a fake hand on instead of his signature hook.

She thought about scolding him for asking so outright about his missing limb, but decided against it since she knew Hook wouldn't be offended.

Killian laughed. "A crocodile got it," he said shooting Emma a sly smirk.

She groaned as she drank a glass of orange juice.

"Oh, I get it now, you think you're Captain Hook. You're missing the mustache and the long curly hair, dude," he commented quickly with a smirk.

Hook scowled as Emma choked on her juice trying to stop herself from laughing. "Don't take it personally, Killian, but Henry, you're right," she joked, shooting her son a smile causing him to let out a small boyish giggle.

She finished her juice and rinsed the cup. "Anyway, Henry, we're going on a trip."

His eyes widened in excitement. "Really? Where are we going?" he asked, suddenly intrigued.

"A small town called Storybrooke, it's in Maine," she told him honestly.

He nodded slowly. "Is it for a case?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Emma looked briefly at Hook before looking back at the young boy. "Yeah, kid, it is," she agreed, figuring it was easier to let the boy assume what he wanted. He probably wouldn't care anyway. It got him out of school after all.

Henry smiled. "Cool, I'll go pack my bag," he squeaked happily as he ran off towards his room.

Emma let out a sigh of relief. That turned out to be the easy part. The hard part is going to be trying to hide the magic in Storybrooke from him until they can figure out how to get his memories back along with keeping up with the charade of the supposed case.

She looked up at Hook and he smirked. "Let's get going, Swan," he chuckled happily.

#

After a long drive, Emma pulled up onto the familiar street just across the road from Granny's Diner and B&B. She thought she'd never see it again. She got out of the car and quietly shut the door so she wouldn't wake Henry. Her plan was to explain what she could in the morning, but right now, she wanted to let him sleep.

Hook quickly got out and stood next to her. "What now?" he asked while swapping the fake hand for his hook.

Emma sighed. "I'm going to see Regina. Please watch him until I get back. Don't scare him, just let him sleep," she ordered as she began to walk away.

A hand wrapped around her arm, pulling her back around to face him again. "What then, Swan?" he asked with his signature smirk.

Emma scowled and swatted his hand off her arm. "Then we go to my parent's place and you go on your merry way."

#

Emma walked up the familiar grey, graveled path of the mansion and it was like she never left. It reminded her of the last time she walked up this path to see Regina – the night they kissed for the first time.

Emma reached the door and knocked hesitantly. Then it hit her, what if she doesn't remember? What if everyone has forgotten everything again just like they had during the first curse. It was also nearing midnight.

Emma was about to turn away when the door opened. "Excuse me, do you-" she sounded like she was about to snap, but she came to a sudden stop. "Emma?" she gasped out, her voice barely a whisper. She stared at her for a moment, completely frozen with shock.

She remembers me. Emma felt a small wave of relief run through her body. She was going to speak but decided against it. There was only one thing she wanted to do in that moment. Emma stepped towards her, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman's waist, pulling her close and capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.