Dark Hearts | Once Upon A Time

XLV. Dreams and Fears

Neverland. Present day

THE NIGHT SKY twinkled with stars and Erica sighed, she was supposed to be getting sleep as they had just come back with Tinker Bell to the camp and Mary Margret had told them it was probably a good idea for the group to rest and they would focus on finding Henry tomorrow and while everyone had settled down rather quickly (Emma included this time) Erica had found herself unable to fall to sleep

Sighing Erica rolled over and stumbled to her feet, knowing that she wouldn't get any sleep tonight the blonde haired woman figured a walk would do her some good and she started to walk around the camp as quietly as she could

"Just what do you think you are doing?" She heard a teasing voice ask her making her turn around to see Jaclyn looking at her eyes wide  full of mischief

"I could ask you the same" Erica replied

"You see sweetheart I'm a pirate and as a pirate I don't have to explain the workings of my brain" Jaclyn tells her with a crooked grin "Plus I just naturally woke up having a call to adventure written in my heart"

"You think I'm an adventure?"

"Well how could you not be?"

"No, there's something more than that your not telling me" 

"Honestly I was thinking about something Tinker Bell said"

"What?" Erica couldn't hide the surprise from her voice "About this Alice woman?"

Jaclyn's tone was thick with amusement "No need to be jealous Ric, she's just someone I knew a long time ago I haven't seen her since and besides she was a child last time I saw her I rescued her from a place called Wonderland when I was there a few decades ago with Killian and I took her to the Enchanted Forest I haven't seen her since"  

Erica's cheeks flush in embarrassment "Look there is something you should know about me before uh whatever we are go any further there's a darkness in me that I can feel in my veins and while I'm trying to keep it under control you should know that it's there -- I'm no saviour like my sister I never was -- but what I am is dangerous so I'm offering you a chance to turn and walk away from me and I won't hold it against you" Erica rambled very against her usual calm and collected state 

"Why would I voluntarily want to turn away from you?" Jaclyn breathes, cocking her head to one side in confusion "I don't care that you've got this supposed darkness running through your veins that's not what I care about. How can you not see it? I care about you and besides loving light is overrated darling show me the darkness"

"But what if you don't like the darkness?" Erica asked

Jaclyn took a step forward so they were face to face "You need to give yourself more credit"

They were so close now that Erica could feel Jaclyn's breath fanning her face and if Erica tilted her head up slightly she would be able to join their lips together and something inside Erica's chest sparked but instead of falling into her desire -- like she really wanted to -- she took a step back a sad smile forming on her face as she removes herself from the situation "Goodnight Jack"

* * * * *

Neverland. Present day

"This is where they're keeping Henry" Emma pointed to the map with a long stick , it was the next day and Erica was watching silently after what happened the night before she found herself keeping to herself more and her heart was heavy, she really liked Jaclyn but she couldn't bring herself to talk about her feelings with the woman, and she didn't want to drag Jaclyn into it if she could help it and if she did it would be for selfish reasons and she didn't want to be remembered for that  "According to uh ..."