Once Upon A Happy Beginning

Chapter Thirty-Three: A Phone Call

If you were one of the brilliant people who read this on the separate book, this chapter has been updated. 

David

I don't eat. Or sleep. Or do anything.

Neither does my wife.

The dwarves are running the station and it's the worst decision of my life. Why on Earth would I make the stupid decision to let eight exceptionally short and exceptionally fussy men run my town. Run my daughter's town.

That's why.

She's gone. For the nth time, I was put into a place to never see my Emma again. Only this time it's really true. She's really dead. My Emma is gone. She was herself and went impulsively through a giant time portal – for a second time! – killing herself and trapping my son-in-law and my granddaughter in a land of war and corruption. My land.

One Week Later

I sit at my desk, making an effort to appear busy. I shuffle a few papers. Open the drawer to my left. Close it. Drink some coffee. Open my phone and scroll through pictures of my wife and kids. Shuffle the papers again. Repeat it all.

Brrrrrrring! Brrrring-brrrring! Brrrrrrring!

"Emma! That's the phone!"

Brrrrrrring! Brrrring-brrrring! Brrrrrrring!

Oh. Emma won't answer the phone.

I pick up the handset and hold it to my ear. "Sheriff Nolan speaking." The person on the other end cries and heaves weepy tear which sound vaguely recognisable. I hear a voice on the other end telling their friend to pass the phone over. "Sheriff's station – can I help you?"

"This is Captain Killian Jones speaking–"

I pause. "Killian, son–" My voice breaks. "We're so pleased you're... How are you holding up, Killian? Honestly."

"I'm actually doing quite good. Better than you're thinking, probably. I mean you can't tell right now but I'm pretty pissed with the Crocodile..."

"You always are. Come to the station – I – does she look like her, does Elizabeth look like Emma?"

He stammers. "O-of course, she does... Look, erm... brace yourself... when I come. I'm not– I'm not alone."

Not alone? What does that mean? He's walking in with Emma all guns ablaze? "Kill–" The line goes dead and I decide now is an appropriate time to freak out. I call my wife and Regina and the next thing I know, both of them, Robin, Henry, Zelena, Belle, Gold, Granny and  Leroy, are all in my cramped police station. Why in the name of dear God are there so many of them?

"Well... Hello there." I say as Elizabeth and Jack are the last two to walk through. "This is a pleasant surprise..."

"With respect, Mr Nolan," Elizabeth tells me, and I give her a pointed look which she ignores that she is welcome to call me David. Even if I don't trust her. "We all loved Emma and we all want to give Killian our support."

"I know you did. All of you." I tell them all, because that at the very least is true. 

Ten minutes later, a very bedraggled looking Killian enters the room, and takes a painful swig of rum. He looks up at us, all of us. 

"You guys all family?" 

My eyes widen. 

Everyone's as shocked as each other. 

Killian Jones has lost his memory. 

"Uh... Most of us. Where's Elizabeth?" Regina says, already calculating what sort of spell or curse he's under. 

"Elizabeth? Oh, right. With the Crocodile."

Belle turns to her husband and takes Gideon from him but he just shrugs. "Old friend, I believe you're mistaken. The only Elizabeth I've seen is this one here." He tells my son-in-law whilst pointing at her.

"Hold up, hold up," Killian interrupts, hand waving towards Gold. "You're the Dark One."

"Well, last I checked, yes."

"You... the cane? The baby? Bloody hell. You're really the–" 

"CROCODILE!" Another voice yells, storming through the door. Another voice. No. Another Hook. 

And Emma behind him. Sparks flying at the pawnbroker. "Where. Is. My. Daughter."

There's a puff of smoke and Mr. Gold's gone.