Finding You Always

Through the Fire

Finding You Always

Chapter 53: Through the Fire

Leo chased after Graham, as the wolf tracked George. Waves crashed on the beach and Leo spotted smoke from a fire in the near distance. He halted, as he saw the former King sitting beside the fire, waiting for him. Graham growled and George pointed a gun at the animal.

"I'd call off the mut if you don't want me to shoot him!" George threatened.

"Graham..." Leo called. The wolf stopped snarling and sat back on his haunches, but still watched the former King intensely.

"The command you have over beasts is impressive," George commented.

"It's not command. It's understanding and respect," Leo corrected.

"If you say so. It's a pity that your parents have ruined you by filling your head with their mantra of hope and faith in true love. There was a time that I hoped my legacy might continue with you since James is dead. But I see you're following in your father's disappointing footsteps," George spat.

"My father is twice the man you are and I'll take being compared to him as a compliment," Leo spat in return. George smirked evilly.

"I'm glad you have fond memories of him. Because now, that's all you'll have," George goaded.

"What are you talking about? Leo demanded to know. George held up Jefferson's hat.

"You probably shouldn't have locked this up at the station. It wasn't difficult to find," George goaded, as he tossed it into the fire.

"NO!" Leo cried, as he tried to extract it. But it was too late, as the fire quickly consumed it, just as Regina, Robin, and Eva arrived.

"He burned it...he burned the hat..." Leo growled in anguish.

"What?" Eva cried.

"That's right girl, you'll never see mommy and daddy again," George sneered. Leo growled in anguish, as his hand became alive with magical sparks. George's face became alight with both fear and intrigue, as the youth grabbed him by the collar and held the magic close to his face.

"Do it...darken your heart. Maybe you are more like your Uncle than I thought," George goaded.

"Leo...don't," Regina pleaded.

"He has to pay," Leo growled.

"And he will...by rotting in a prison cell for killing an innocent man. If you kill him, he wins, because you start down a path that is very difficult to come back from, believe me, I know from experience," Regina continued. Leo sighed and willed his magic to fizzle out and then roughly slapped the handcuffs on the former ruler.

"You're under arrest for murder," he said, as he marched him in the direction of the patrol car, while Robin followed. Eva stared into the fire and Regina put a hand on her shoulder.

"What if they never find a way back now?" Eva cried. Regina hugged her.

"Oh honey...they will. You can't count your parents out yet. They'll find a way. Believe me, I myself put enough obstacles in their way over the years and nothing ever stopped them. They'll come home," Regina assured. Eva sniffed.

"I think the Charming faith has rubbed off on you, Aunt Regina," she teased lightly. Regina chuckled.

"I suppose it has. Your parents always say that the best revenge against those that have wrong you is to be happy. I never believed them until I met Robin and then I knew. I knew how they were able to be happy all those years I was trying to kill them. They had each other and their dreams of a family. They won't let anything stop them from making their family whole," she said.