22nd November 2015 - Hi Everyone. Spoilers for up to 5x08 ahead. I haven't written anything in a long while but in the light of what happened at the end of 5x08 my imagination went a little nuts and I had to share this :) It won't be a long one given I don't have a whole lot of free time but will try to get it finished before the new episode in a week or so. Fingers crossed.

As per my description definitely some potential for "adult situations" in coming chapter(s). Also some non-consensual themes here so if that's not your thing then would recommend reading something else :)

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."

- Helen Keller

Dark Emma caught her stark reflection in the glass pane of her living room window. Her posture different since accepting the darkness - her shoulders back, neck straight, hiding behind the confidence of her Dark One façade and black leather clothing. She wanted to reach out to Killian as she struggled with the tight bonds of the squid ink.

"So much for our future Swan," growled Killian, Excalibur still in his right hand by his side.

Emma saw the emotion in Killian's eyes - it had flashed from shock, to disbelief, to anger and then quickly to rage. It was what the darkness did - twisted it's host's feelings with a flick of a switch into something irrational and unrecognisable. She knew it all too well how easy it was to let it take over - the rush she had felt to accept it. It was always easier to simply welcome the darkness, to do nothing and let it overwhelm. Fighting it was exhausting. The lure of it's power was too strong, and as she stared at her previously strong-willed pirate she could see he'd already given in to it, again.

If only that damned witch hadn't found the dream-catcher Killian would still be none the wiser. If only Emma had been able to execute her plan. She ground her jaw as she fought to weaken the restraints of the ink.

Zelana giggled with glee as she stepped in front of Killian with dream-catcher in hand. "Now, tell me, are you ready to learn what else happened in Camelot?"

"Aye," Killian responded, "but first we have to take care of her."

A shudder ran down Emma's spine. She couldn't let him see what else the dream-catcher was yet to reveal. She couldn't let Killian see what he'd done. There would be no turning back from that. She had to hope that there was still a chance to inspire him to fight the darkness. With a frustrated grunt Emma broke free from the ink - its power shimmering one last time as it washed away from her silhouette.

Needing only move her arm, Emma used her magic to grab Zelena by the throat, crushing until the witch was gasping for air, forcing her to drop the dream-catcher. Emma could feel Zelena fighting back but Emma was more powerful. She took a step forward and pressed a little harder and then released the witch and spoke with a calm voice. "Leave now before I decide to follow through on my plan to make you non-existent."

Knowing she was out of her depth, the Wicked Witch grimaced and rubbed her throat. "Until next time Dark Ones," she rasped."Ta-ta." Zelena pouted and poofed herself away in a green swirl.

"That was a little bit rude don't you think?" scoffed Killian.

"Well as they say, two's company, three's a crowd, and you and I need to talk."

"Oh now you want to talk? I gave you plenty of opportunities to talk Swan and yet you decided that sedating me and locking me up in your basement was the best course of action."

"I had to. I couldn't tell you the truth. I couldn't risk unleashing the darkness inside of you, not again." Emma glanced down at Excalibur - she had to find a way to get it away from him. She had to have it back.

"Well it's a little too late for that don't you think?" he replied bitterly.

The two dark beings circled each other in the living room of the house they were supposed to start their future in. Predator to predator they stared wide-eyed and wary of one another. Killian dragged the point of Excalibur on the hardwood floor with each step that he took.

"It's not too late," continued Emma. "I know there is still good in you. I've seen it. I know you still love me."

"You'd like to think so wouldn't you Swan?" Killian glared at her with furrowed brow. "But I'm afraid you snuffed out that light when you turned me into the thing I despise most."

Emma was desperate to see a glimmer of the man she loved behind those shadowy eyes. "You may not have known you were dark, but I know you meant it when you said you loved me earlier."

Killian shrugged. "Hardly authentic though was it Swan? Knowing that you've been manipulating me, my memories. Doing what you had to, to make sure I remained your obedient little servant? But then there is the fact that you made me a Dark One," he stopped and grinned. "Perhaps I've known all along, and have just been telling you what you wanted to hear to toy with your affections."

"Killian, you need to stop this." Emma was grinding her teeth. "You can't let the darkness win."

He scoffed loudly. "Then you'd have to face the consequences of your actions wouldn't you? You'd have to face the cold, harsh truth, that you're no longer Emma Swan, and thanks to you, Dark One, I'm no longer Killian Jones."

Emma's composure was still cold and self-assured. "I know you're still in there Killian. Just as I know that I'm still Emma Swan."

"Do you really believe that? If, as you say you are, still indeed Emma, then I'm going to give you a chance to redeem yourself, to fix what you've done."

"What do you think I've been trying to do since we got back to Storybrooke?" She asked, a frustrated expression on her face.

"By making Zelena the Dark One and killing her?" Killian shook his head. "No, that is far too easy Swan."

"What else would you have me do?" Her voice wavered ever so slightly, giving away a hint of desperation.

Killian took several steps toward her until they were face to face. His steely gaze met hers as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "End me," he urged quietly, his right hand still on the pommel of Excalibur as he angled it toward her. "Stick me with this cursed sword and leave me to die like you should have done back in that field."

"I won't do that." Emma swallowed deeply as she glanced down at Excalibur. She still wanted the sword, except this time it came with a sudden willingness to plunge it deep into Killian's chest to end this once and for all. No, she told herself, shrugging off the gruesome thought.

"Emma Swan would do it," Killian urged. "Then again," he snarled, "Emma Swan wouldn't have betrayed me in the first place."

"I told you I wasn't going to let you die," Emma choked back her emotions. She didn't want to let him see weakness but despite it the tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I did it to save you. I did it because I love you!"

Killian's demeanour changed. His shoulders sank and his facial expressions softened. "If you truly loved me," he paused and took a breath, his voice breaking as he spoke again, "-you'd free me from this damnation."

Her fingers twitched, itching to grasp Excalibur. "Killian, don't ask me to do this."

"Emma please," he whimpered, tears welling in sorrow-filled eyes. "I'm not as strong as you. I'm worried about what I might do, what I may have already done!"

Emma's icy heart was breaking. "Killian I-"

"Take the bloody sword and do it Emma!" Killian commanded in a fit of rage.

She lunged for the sword, swooping down in an attempt to take his from his grasp, only to find Killian manoeuvring it out of her reach and behind his back. A confused expression stretched across Emma's face. She stood in disbelief, first in her own actions, and then slowly in the realisation that she'd been ordered to do it. As she glanced back up she was taken aback by the smug look of satisfaction on Killian's face.

He scoffed and laughed an almost-goofy laugh, his tongue licking at the side of his mouth in an devilish smirk. "You were actually going to do it, weren't you? Come now Love, do you honestly think I would give you the sword? " He chuckled and took a few steps back, patting the flat side of Excalibur's blade against his thigh as he tapped at his lips with the curve of his hook. "Wait, but now I'm confused." He was being melodramatic now. "Did I really compel you to do it, or were you actually going to try to kill me?"

"You can't make me do anything," Emma growled in response.

"Look here Love, Excalibur has your name on it." He trailed his finger under the engraving of her name on the newly formed sword. "And given that I am currently in possession of said sword, I would beg to disagree."

Emma had to reign her darkness back in. Right now she wanted to kill him and not because she was being forced to. She wanted to remind him that his name was also on Excalibur. Her nostrils were flaring as she calmed herself, straightening the front of her leather jacket as she unclenched her fists. Don't show weakness she reminded herself, We feed on weakness and vulnerability. Emma forced a smile and reminded herself that behind that darkness was the man that she still loved. She'd get him back no matter what it took. "There is no need to compel me with the sword Killian," she said in her sweetest, sincerest voice. "I'd do anything you asked. I love you."

Killian was clearly studying her as he paced back and forth in a short line. He stopped and grinned, licking his lips. "How about we play a little game, one I'd like to call - 'Is Emma doing something because she wants to, or because she has to?'"

She shot him a piercing stare. "You wouldn't dare."

"You violated my trust Emma," muttered Killian with a sinister tone. "Perhaps now, it would seem only fair that I violate yours."