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Peter stepped inside of the house and noticed his five year old son reading a children's book to his wife on the couch. "Hey. What're you two reading?"

He bent down on the back of the couch and kissed his wife who had glanced up at him while Zephyr continued to read Animal Stories, saying, "And the cow goes 'Mooo'..."

Astrid smiled and moved the book out of her son's hands and placed it down on the coffee table before moving him more in her lap, speaking up, "You did good on your reading today, Zep."

"Thank you, Mommy... Now, can I go play with Roland?" The small boy began with his best puppy dog look on his face.

Peter then sat on the kid's other side on the couch, moving an arm lightly around his wife's back, saying, "I don't see why not, Kiddo."

David and Snow entered the Blanchard loft and noticed the three as Snow spoke up first, "What're you three doing today?"

Astrid stood up and moved over to where her parents had stopped at the kitchen counter and answered them, "We're just gonna drop Zep off with Little John, so that he can hang out with Roland."

"Or you could let us spend time with our newest grandson," David remarked while Peter now read another chapter to Zephyr in the book.

Astrid pursed her lips out and glanced away before looking back at her parents, starting sheepishly, "Right... It's just he thinks you two are sort of... boring."

"What? No, we- we're not boring. We're full of adventure and fun." Snow assured the young mother.

Astrid shot her husband a look as if saying she needed some help, only for Peter to shrug and continue to read to their son. "It's just Roland's his age and he's used to being around a lot of adventure and his little Viking friends..."

David furrowed his eyebrows and started in confusion, "So that's where you ended up after you stopped the Author... How come you haven't really told us anymore of your six years away?"

Astrid moved her hands in her pockets and shifted under their gaze and commented, "It was good. I mean, Peter and I are the Chief and Chieftess of Berk. And life was good there, except for me not having my whole family with me and by my side like I hoped they would be..."

"Astrid-" Snow began.

"No, no, I'm not angry with you guys. I'm just- I was sad for two years of the time... My heart ached to be with you guys, and I tried to find a way for us to get back here for all of us to be a family again..." Astrid cut her mother off gently, "But there wasn't a way. I had to accept that price to save all of you, and I don't regret that at all."

"Well, I meant what I said last night. We're not letting you go again." David told his daughter who looked over at him with a small fond smile, "We are really glad to have you back... even Peter. And we're already fond of Zephyr, too."

"He loves you two, also," Astrid assured before adding in amusement, "It's just his favorite grandparents right now are the well-known former pirate, Captain Hook, and the infamous archer, Robin Hood..."

"Oh," David sighed, "Well, how about Snow and I take Zephyr out to get ice cream and show him the Sheriff station? Then we'll drop him off with Little John or whomever you want."

Astrid softly laughed, saying, "Okay, whatever you want. Just take care of him. Don't let anything harm him."

"You know we won't," Snow assured her daughter who nodded in amusement and grinned as the blonde remarked, "Oh, I know, because you two are quite boring."

"Hilarious, A," David commented as the three of them stepped over to where Peter and Zephyr was still seated on the couch. "Hey, Kid, how would you like to hang out with your gramps and grandma today? We'll get some ice cream and show you the sheriff station-"

Zephyr glanced from his father to his mother curiously, asking, "Do I have to?"

Astrid covered her laugh with a cough and held her hand to her mouth and let Peter tell their son, "It'll be good for you in getting to know them, Zep."

"Come on, Zephyr, give us a chance, too. We can be just as fun, you know." Snow told her youngest grandson who looked up at them, "I mean, after all, we're Snow White and Prince Charming."

Zephyr shrugged and stood up from his spot on the couch and finally replied, "Okay."

Astrid moved away from them and gathered some of his things and packed a backpack for him and stepped back over to them.

She slid the straps on the boy's shoulders while Peter then tied their son's converses on his feet and fixed his messy curly brown hair.

Astrid stepped back over to her husband, moving a hand over his heart as he wrapped an arm around the small of her back. "Have fun, kiddo."

Zephyr now held Snow's and David's hands as the three left out of the loft, leaving the young couple alone.

"What do you want to do, love?" Peter asked his wife as he faced her and kissed her forehead.

She smirked and kissed him on the lips, tackling him on the couch as he laughed and kissed her back.

***

"This question mark-- That's my handwriting." Regina pointed out about a picture of a toadstool in her book to Snow and David inside of the Sheriff station as Zephyr looked around the room and over at the cells. "I must've marked this page in Camelot. I don't know if this is the right answer, but these books came from there. I think we were looking at this for answers."

"We've been violated!" Grumpy spoke up as he and the dwarves rushed inside of the station, causing Zephyr to look over at them and quickly move over to his grandpa, clinging to his leg.

David glanced down at the boy and moved an arm around him in assurance and asked, "What's the problem?"

"What do you think it is?" Grumpy answered, "Your kid."

"She took my axe!" Happy added, upset.

"Uh, dwarfs are your department. I'll stay on this." Regina remarked while picking up her books and walked out of the station.

"What do you want us to do about it, Leroy?" Snow questioned in an impatient mother kind of way.

"Help us. We know she's your daughter, but you got to do something, 'cause if you won't, we will." Grumpy answered.

Snow leaned up from her seat and glared at him, saying, "Do not hurt her."

"It's okay. They can't." David replied.

"Like that's all that matters?" Grumpy argued, "Stop being a scared parent. Be our sheriff again. We need you."

Zephyr looked up at his grandpa who commented to the dwarf, "I'll see about getting the axe back. Thanks for letting us know."

"Looks like just another insult for us to swallow down." Grumpy remarked, "For now." He and the other dwarfs turned and left out of the station, still upset.

David sighed and slid his jacket off and hung it on the coat rack before entering the office as Snow quickly followed him.

Zephyr watched the two adults talk while he sat down at the desk outside of the office and began to draw.

"Why does she need an axe? That's alarming, right?" Snow warily began.

"I don't know. I mean, what could she do with an axe that she couldn't just do with her powers?" David replied before kicking a file box over.

"David!" Snow started.

"Just wish she'd talk to us." David sighed as Snow agreed, "I know. Me, too."

"Worst part is... we can't save her." David let out.

"Yet." Snow commented, "We're trying. Astrid went through the almost same thing when she went dark, and if she can defeat that, then Emma can, too."

"How? What am I doing?" David questioned.

"You're leading." Snow pointed out.

"Nobody seems to be following." David also pointed out as Snow remarked, "Oh, don't worry about the dwarfs."

"I'm not. I'm worried about Emma and how this my fault." David admitted.

"She made the choice to save everyone. That's what our daughters does." Snow replied.

"I should've stopped her. I am their father, and now I'm..." David began and then sighed, "I'm paralyzed. There's nothing I can do, for her, for Astrid, for you, for anyone."

Snow took her husband's hands in hers and assured, "You are doing something. You help the people the best you can."

David sighed and looked at her, "That's kind of the problem."

Zephyr then stood up and moved over to the office door and opened it and spoke up, making both of the adults look over at him, "Grandpa, in any world, you are my hero-- Like you are my mommy's. She talks about you all the time."

David nodded as Snow added, "He's my hero, too." He smiled over at his wife and kissed her before scooping his youngest grandson up in his arms and kissed his forehead. "You're pretty amazing, Kid. You know that?"

"I've noticed." Zephyr beamed happily, making his grandparents softly laugh.

David handed Zephyr over to Snow and replied, "Go. I'll meet you after." The two of them kissed again as David ruffled the five year old's hair and watched his wife and grandson leave out of the station.

David then stepped over to where the bulletin board was and looked at the picture of him, Emma, and Astrid who was in the middle of them, as the three of them stood in front of the sheriff's car.

***

Hook stepped inside of the captain's quarters on the Jolly Roger and looked around just as Emma appeared behind him, startling him. "That's not funny appearing like that."

"Sorry." Emma started.

"What's going on?" Hook also began warily.

"I know this has all been really confusing, and I have not made it any easier. I wanted to apologize for overreacting last time. I know you're just trying to help." Emma answered, "So, I thought... We could just talk and have lunch, like old times."

"I'd like nothing more." Hook admitted before sighing, "But this is hardly like old times." He set the paper bag of food down on the table and watched as it magically appeared on plates and a tablecloth.

He quickly turned to face Emma who was also changed into the pretty pink dress she wore on their date. "Better?" She offered her hand to him as he slowly held it in his hand. "Come on. You know you can trust me."

The two of them sat down at the table as Hook started, "I have questions."

"You want to know if I'm still the same Emma," She commented.

"I imagine that's not a simple answer, so let's start easy." Hook replied, "Your new house. What's behind that locked door?"

Emma froze as he awaited her answer, but she couldn't find anything to say. He added, "You know I want to trust you, Emma. Why don't you help me?"

Emma places her hand over his and assured, "So trust me. With my powers, I could hide anything from your prying eyes, anyway."

"Well, you've answered my first question, too." Hook replied, "You're not the same Emma. She didn't play games."

Emma cleared her throat, saying, "Yes, I'm different. I'm better."

"As the Dark One." Hook remarked.

"I used to be scarred and judgmental and closed off." Emma reminded him, "It took me forever to see the magic in this place. And now I... I see things clearly. I'm not scared anymore. Honestly, I'm an open book, if you're willing to take that trust step."

"Are you really suggesting that we move forward in a real relationship?" Hook began, "I mean, I know what you said to Astrid, and that was wrong. She's done nothing but help you, Swan. Sacrificed her life even. Why did you call me here?"

Emma stood up and looked at him as the pirate in front of her continued, "You need something, Dark One. What is it? Answer me."

"Did you know being the Creator also makes them with the purest heart in all the realms?" Emma began in intrigue, "So, apparently, I do still need Astrid, but really, I need her for her heart."

Hook's jaw flexed as he warned, "Stay away from her, Swan."

The blonde smirked after discreetly taking his sword he had once used on Rumpelstiltskin a lifetime ago. "What're you gonna do about it, Captain? She'll go with me willingly if she thinks she can save me... because that's who Astrid is- ready to do whatever it takes to save everyone. That's what makes her so pure."

Hook slightly glared at his love now turned Dark One, saying, "You'll have to get through everyone first, including her husband Peter Pan."

"I'm quite aware," Emma confidently remarked, "And all I need from you is your trust. I promise." She then vanished in a cloud of gray almost silver smoke.

***

Zephyr ran in the front door with Snow and her husband following behind him; She and David had picked him back up from playing with Roland and Little John.

"Mommy, Papa, we're home!" Zephyr exclaimed happily as the said couple stepped out from in the kitchen and moved over to them while their son ran into their arms.

"Oh. Did you have fun, Zep?" Peter asked his five year old who nodded quickly and answered, "Yup. I got rocky road ice cream with Grandpa and Grandma and went to the station and then played with Roland and then they took me bow shooting."

"Did they?" Astrid remarked in amusement while glancing over at her parents before shrugging, "I picked up a bow when I was about four, so I guess it'd be time for you to learn, too."

"Yay!" Zephyr commented before adding, "I see why they're your heroes, Mommy. They-They're pretty great."

Astrid fondly smiled then and moved over to her parents, saying, "Yeah, they are. I'm very lucky." She then hugged Snow and David who grinned and hugged her back, David moving a hand behind her head.

"What'd you and Daddy do today?" Zephyr asked curiously, his big hazel eyes looking up at his parents who shared a small amused look before Peter simply answered him, "We just had a parents' day."

"Right. We made tacos." Astrid laughed and smirked over at her parents who simultaneously groaned in disgust. "Had to scar you like you scarred me that day."

Peter licked his lips and smiled in amusement while glancing down at the floor briefly, moving his hands to his hips.

Before anymore could be said, Emma Swan suddenly appeared in the room through a cloud of gray smoke. "Hello, family."

Both Astrid and Peter moved in front of their son protectively while Peter also stepped a little more in front of his wife, too; Astrid held one arm in front of Zephyr and her other hand held onto Peter's arm protectively.

"What do you want, sister?" Astrid spoke up first towards the new Dark One while Snow and David watched Emma warily.

Emma looked at the protectiveness shown by Peter and Astrid and smirked before admitting, "It seems I do need you, after all, Astro."

"You only get to call me that when you're not the Dark One," Astrid remarked, making her sister's smirk grow. "What do you want from me?"

"I need you to come with me. Alone." Emma commented, glancing over at her parents as David spoke up, "Absolutely not. Sorry, Emma, but not in your state of being."

Emma lifted an eyebrow curiously and then furrowed them, starting, "I'm your daughter and your twin still. What, you don't trust me?"

Astrid stepped forward, much to Peter's dislike, and lifted her hands slightly before stating, "Okay. Tell us before I decide to go with you. What's your plans with me? First, you were completely done with me- aggravated that I wouldn't become the Dark One myself to save you, might I add- and now you suddenly need me all over again?"

Emma sighed, "I know. I apologize for all of that. I overreacted, that's all. Look, you just gotta trust me now. Okay? I mean, if I wanted to, I could hold everyone hostage until you gave yourself up and came with me, but I'm not doing that. Am I?"

Astrid watched her sister and noticed a certain gleam in her eyes as Emma added, trying to hide the quiver in her tone, "I need my twin. I need you, A. This is your chance to save me."

Snow and David shared a look and looked over at Astrid and immediately knew what she was thinking, David starting, "Astrid, you can't."

"He's right, love," Peter added in agreement with his wife's father. "This could be a trap for all we know."

Astrid glanced over at her husband and murmured, "But what if it's not? I had a chance to save her in Camelot, and now look at her. I have to fix my mistake. This has gone on for too bloody long."

Emma hid a smirk at her sister's selflessness personality. She knew she could always count on her sister on doing the right thing and to always have pure intentions.

Astrid inhaled deeply before turning around and knelt in front of her son who slowly shook his head with watery eyes. "You're gonna come back, right, Mommy?"

"I promise." Astrid assured her five year old, kissing him on the top of his head as he then wrapped his small arms around her neck tightly, her hugging him too. "I always will, Kid. Trust me. You'll see me again soon."

She kissed him on his cheek before looking the boy in his innocent eyes again, adding, "Be good for Daddy, okay? Look out for him."

"Okay, Mommy." Zephyr nodded and now clung to the back of Peter's leg tightly after Astrid stood back up and moved in front of her love.

Peter shook his head at his wife slowly before he started, "Love, I know how the Dark One bloody thinks. My brother was one for a good few centuries. She can't be trusted right now."

Astrid moved her hands and cupped the sides of his face and gently kissed him on the lips, murmuring, "Then trust me."

Peter searched her blue eyes carefully and knew she was already thinking of a plan herself. "Okay, love. Just come back."

"Always." She assured before kissing him once more before stepping back and moved over to where Emma still stood.

"Astrid-" Snow and David both started on worry and concern.

Astrid glanced behind her at her parents before winking and nodding somewhat and faced Emma. "Let's go."

Emma smirked and took her hand in hers and made the two disappear in a cloud of gray smoke and reappear in a cave-like room that held a sleeping Gold on a couch and the Excalibur sword set in a large stone.

"Excalibur," Astrid let out and glanced from an unconscious Gold and then at Emma, "And Gold? What're you planning, Em?"

"You'll soon find out, my dear sister." Emma remarked, "In time."

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