I Know The End || Killian Jones

𝟶𝟾 - 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐

storybrooke, maine

— WHEN EMMA HEARD A KNOCK ON THE DOOR, SHE ALREADY KNEW WHO WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE. When she opened it, she found Aja and Grey on the other side, the younger of them offering a brought smile in greeting.

"Hey." Aja said easily. "I don't have anyone to watch Grey today, I hope you don't mind..."

"No, that's alright." Emma replied with a heavy sigh. "Thanks for coming." Opening the door wider, she gestured for them to come in. Inside, her things were slightly strewn about, partially packed into boxes and a duffel bag. A sort of sad understanding came over Aja. She had a feeling she knew why Emma had called. "I... um..." Emma murmured. "I don't really know how to... how to say..."

Aja turned, gently taking her friend's hands in hers. "It's okay." She assured her quietly.

Emma frowned, blinking. "What?"

"I get it. And it's okay." Ajatri's voice wobbled slightly, but she remained firm in her words.

Emma swallowed. "Look, I... I can't thank you enough for what you said last night. You were right. I can't keep fighting Regina. I have to do what's best for Henry and... I think I have to do this. I'm not going to abandon him, but I can't stay either, and I can't take him with me."

"I know." Aja nodded.

"I'm..." Emma almost looked to be blinking back tears. "I just really don't know how to say goodbye?"

Aja laughed, though her voice broke slightly as she did. "Who says this has to be goodbye? You know where I live. It's a big house. Four bedrooms, lots of hot chocolate to spare." They were both smiling now. "Knock on my door at noon, at dinner time, or four in the morning." Emma laughed. "You're always welcome."

Emma stepped forward, pulling her into a tight hug that Aja happily returned. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Of course."

The blonde pulled away when there was a knock at the door, and Grey came over to hold his sister's hand, looking a little sad. "That'll be Henry." Emma realised. She glanced at her friend. "Could you... would you stay? I don't know if I can..."

Aja nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

Nodding, Emma went to open the door. Aja felt terrible when she spotted the bright, hopeful look on Henry's face. Poor boy... "Hey Emma. Everything okay? You sounded strange over the walkie."

"Oh, um..." Emma closed the door behind him before busying herself with more packing, as if for a distraction of some kind. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just..." She sighed, turning to face him. "Yesterday when I tried to take you away, you were right. I can't take you out of Storybrooke... but I can't stay either."

Henry's expression turned to one of disbelief and confusion. "What?"

"I have to go." She told him quietly.

Aja put a hand on Grey's shoulder. "Hey," she whispered. "Why don't we help Emma pack a bit, hm? Let her talk to Henry."

"Okay..." He agreed quietly, glancing at his friend with worry. They quietly began putting a few things in boxes while Emma tried to explain and Henry protested. Finally, when he said something about heroes, the woman's willpower not to cry seemed to break.

"Henry!" She nearly sobbed, kneeling in front of him. "This isn't a story. This is reality. And things have to change. You can't skip school, you can't run away and... you can't believe in curses."

For a moment, there was silence as the boy tried to process what this meant. "You really don't believe?"

"I... This is how it has to be right now." Emma answered instead. "I made a deal. And I used my superpower. She's telling the truth. She's gonna take really good care of you."