The Song of Darkness

Broken

EMMA SWAN

I'm meeting with Layla today for lunch for an update. I know she's six but maybe she'll be able to give me something. I need this curse broken. She walks in with the book. She asks Ruby for a pink lemonade and sits in the booth with me.

"Hey kid."

"He doesn't believe."

"I know kid, it's part of the curse. It's gonna take a while."

She slides the book back to me. "Can I come stay at your house again?"

"Someone has to stay and convince your dad."

She looks so sad. "My mommy is so mean please Emma I can't stay there."

"Ok, you can stay with me and we can find another way to break the curse."

"Can't you just arrest her for abuse?"

"Sadly no, there's not enough evidence." Layla's mouth hangs open. She rolls up her sleeves and she's covered in bruises. "I know honey but it could just be that you're clumsy."

"I'm not! She hits me! She yells at me and tells me I'm a horrible daughter! I'm six!"

"Layla I know. I believe you I promise. Its just hard to arrest her for this atuff because a lawyer could break apart our case so easily and then she would be free and it would be impossible to lock her up. I'll find a way I promise but I can't right now." She sighs and pulls her knees up to her chest and lays on them. I go over and hug her. "As soon as I break the curse we can arrest her."

She's asleep. I pick her up and take her to my apartment. Did she faint? I don't know what happened. An hour later she wakes up. She cuddles the pillow on the couch as I'm washing the dishes. My parents get home around the same time.

"Emma, why is Layla here again?" Mary Margaret asks me quietly.

"She doesn't want to go home."

"Are you sure it doesn't have anything to do with Hook?"

"What? No."

She tilts her head at me. "Emma."

"I hate him."

"That's not how it seemed the other night when you were crying in my lap after he got cursed."

"That's not why I was crying."

She pours herself some coffee. "O-kay. Sure." She sips it and walks to her bed. I roll my eyes. Imagine me liking him. He's an ass. He's rude and pervy and just awful. He's attractive though. Sexy. But not someone I'd ever wanna be with. I don't think I'll wanna be with anyone again. Layla comes running in crying.

"Daddys in the hospital."

"How do you know that?"

"They called David, you have to take me there." Shit.

"Ok sweetie let's go."

I carry her to my bug and take her to the hospital. We go in and Layla runs to Lottie. "What did you do to him!" She's crying.

"Baby I didn't do anything. Daddy slipped in the shower. He's gonna be ok though I promise."

Layla goes in next to the bed and holds his hand. "I know Mommy did this." She kisses his cheek. "Emma you have to kiss him. He loves you it'll work!"

"Layla thats not how it works. We don't love each other."

"Emma, please just try!" I sigh and go to do it just to show her it won't work and then the machine beeps. "No! No Emma kiss him!"

I sigh and kiss his lips. "See." A light comes from him and he wakes up. What the hell! "How the hell..."