Hook's Daughter

Party

Disclaimer: all rights to ABC and Odette Beane. Only Ashton and Charli are mine.

That night, the party celebrating Mary Margaret's release was full of people. Even August came.

I was with Henry, and he was dragging me along with him over to Mary Margaret. Henry's whole school class had signed a card for her, that read: "We're so glad that you didn't kill Mrs. Nolan." Not exactly sentimental, but from a bunch of ten/eleven year olds, I guess it's the thought that counts.
"Why thank you so much, Henry," Mary Margaret said upon receiving the card. "Please tell everyone I'll be back soon."
"I also got you a bell," Henry said excitedly, smiling widely. "For the class."
I smiled. When I looked up, Mr. Gold was standing in the corner, looking at Emma. When Emma finally noticed him, Gold nodded to the corner, and Emma walked over.
While Henry was busy telling Mary Margaret something about the Evil Queen and Princess Abigail, I took the chance to sneak away and see Charli, who was sitting in a corner booth, reading a book.
"Hey Charli," I said, walking up.
She looked up, smiled. "Hi Ash. I see Henry is expressing his happiness of Mary Margaret getting released."
"Oh, yeah. I think he was more excited about her getting out than she was herself."
Charli laughed. "He's very eccentric. I think he was the reason the ice cream shop is still open. When I worked there, I'm pretty sure he came daily."
"I guess Regina believed the way to win him over was through sweets. Wait, worked? What happened?"
"Oh, right. Well, I don't know exactly. I just came in this morning and Ingrid didn't want my help anymore. She said I should try and find a better job. I don't think I did anything wrong."
"That sucks, I'm sorry to hear about it. So are you going to take her advice than? Try and get a better job?"
"I guess so. There's a women's sleepwear store in downtown and they offered me a job there a while back. I might go see if it's still open."
"That's cool. What's it called?"
"Uh, Sleeping Beauty," Charli said.
"Huh, interesting name."
"Yeah, it sounds familiar for some reason, like a connection or something...but I think it's more like one of those things that you feel like are familiar, and realize they are because you pass them every day, or see them on the telly, you know?"
"Like a vague déjà vu."
"Exactly."
"Yeah, I'm on my own search. I can't keep staying at Granny's, it would be cheaper just to get a place. I don't know where to start."
"You could room with me if you want," Charli said, continuing to look at her book.
"Seriously? No offense, but I'm probably not a very good flatmate."
"Have you seen those apartments? They're huge! There is plenty of room. Besides, it'd be nice to be able to split the price with someone...and, just to live with a friend."
I smiled. "Alright, sure. Thanks Charli."
"Of course! I can help you move in tomorrow."

Emma was worked up when I got to the office a few days later.
"God, Emma. I'm totally with you about how sketchy Regina is and, yes, she probably had something to do with Kathryn's disappearance, but can't you just accept what has happened? Kathryn is back, and Mary Margaret is released, isn't that what you wanted?"
She nodded. "Yes, but it doesn't feel right. The way everything became happy just as I was making some head way. It's like Regina did this just to drive me crazy. You can't pretend you don't see her pattern here. Isn't it odd?"
"Okay, fine, yes, it's odd. It can't just be over, can it?" I asked.
"Nope. I'm going to get Regina this time. She can't throw any more curveballs."
"Alright, fine. I'm with you. Let's figure this out."

Suffice it to say, Emma was surprised and quite mad when four o'clock came along, Regina strolled into the office, and simply said,
"You're about to receive a major break in your case. But before you do, I want you to understand all of the circumstances led up to this."
"I can't wait," Emma said mundanely.
Regina nodded. I couldn't believe it. So many months of conflict between Emma and Regina, and not, here she was, turning herself in. I didn't trust it, and obviously neither did Emma.
"Sidney," Regina called, turning toward the door. "You can come in now."
Emma's face turned to confusion as Sidney Glass, head down, came into the room. Regina waited for him with an outstretched arm, as though she were a mother bring her son to a neighbor's house to apologize.
"Okay Sidney," Regina said to him, "tell the sheriff what you told me."
Sidney looked up, sheepishly. "I did it," he stated simply.
"You did what?" Emma asked, looking between Regina and Sidney cluelessly.
"I—I kidnapped Kathryn," he said. "I help her in the basement of an abandoned summer home by the lake. I bribed a lab tech to get me the heart from the hospital and used the same person to doctor the lab results."
Emma was stunned, and she didn't say anything.
"And the other thing," Regina said, prompting him again.
"I borrowed some skeleton keys from Regina and planted the knife in your apartment."
"My keys," Regina said, shaking her head. "I can't help but feel personally violated at that part."
"And you want me to believe that you did this...for what reason?" I asked, joining the conversation.
There was no way this was true. Whether it was unrequited love, a financial arrangement, whatever, there was something between these two that had everything to do with Sidney suddenly confessing.
"My plan was to be the one who rescued her," Sidney continued his story. "That way I would have a big story I could use to get back in at the paper. Write a novel, turn it into a movie." He shrugged. Did he just grin? "It was my way to get famous, I guess. It was dumb. It was—I know it sounds crazy."
"Oh, I don't know about crazy," Emma said. "False. It sounds false to me."
"I have maps to the house. Downstairs in the basement you'll find chains and everything. Lots of fingerprints, evidence everywhere." He was tearing up now.
"Can we have a talk?" Emma said to Regina.
She walked out of the office; I followed, and so did Regina. After I closed the door, Emma turned to the mayor, arms crossed, and said, "That was the biggest load of crap I've ever heard."
"I'm sure that's not true," Regina replied.
"That poor man," Emma continued. "I know you're behind this, and I understand that you own this game, and him, and you've got a rigged system in place. But I am about to start playing a different game entirely, Regina. And it's one you're going to lose."
Regina opened her mouth to respond, but Emma was riled up, and she cut her off,
"All I care about is my kid, Regina. That's it. I don't care what happens to you and I don't care wha happens to me. You are a sociopath. You tried to take away someone I love, and now I'm going to take away someone you love."
Regina took a step backward, understanding the situation. Regina reached up and took hold of a charm around her neck, twisting it slowly. She was obviously scared.
"I'm taking back my son, Regina," Emma finished. "And there's nothing you can do."

Ooooh! Shots fired.
Okay, so I've only got one photo shopped picture so you babes keep sending them in. It's no fun if only one person enters. You have until August 30 to enter either a photo shopped picture of Ashton and Hook or Ashton and Charlotte! See the chapter before this for complete details. You can also get friends to help you, just send them in! If you don't have a instagram to send it to me, than just dm me and we will figure something out. You can post it as chapter art, or if you don't want to do that, just dm me and I'll give you my email. Thanks babes!
Liz xx