Hi there! Wordaholic here :) So this is my first contribution to the CS fanfic world. Hopefully it'll be as much fun for you to read as it is for me to write. This little piece is dedicated to the whole CS fandom & very especially to Shelby, the most wonderful beta to ever be. Come find her on tumblr coffeewithcaptainswan or me i-am-wordaholic and let us chat and gush about the wonders of Captain Swan. Feel free to follow & review. Now, without further ado, let's get this show on the road!

-Prologue-

Emma's fingers clutched desperately to the leather of Killian's sleeve while she hugged Henry's book to her chest, the hardcover digging painfully into her ribs. Zelena's time portal swirled angrily at her feet, pulling her and beckoning her into the unknown.

She looked up and locked eyes with the pirate.

"Hold on, Emma!"

She could barely hear him over the roar of the portal and her own terrified screams. Everything that wasn't strapped down was whooshing past them and into the light. She threw her weight to the side to avoid a wooden plank heading straight for her face, making Killian dig his fingers harder into her skin.

"I'm not letting you go this time, Swan, come on!" he yelled.

"I can't!"

Emma's knuckles were starting to cramp. Killian was her last tether to this world, his hook firmly anchored in the hard, packed ground of the barn.

Emma tried to adjust her fingers around Killian's wrist without letting go of his jacket but it was impossible. Her efforts were halted by the ominous sound of Killian's jacket ripping, sending Emma an inch closer into the light. Both stricken, they looked at each other.

His blue eyes were wild and desperate. Killian's veins popped angrily against the reddening skin of his forehead.

"The book, Emma," he said through gritted teeth. "You have to let go of the book!"

Emma looked down at the storybook and closed her eyes tightly before loosening her hold and letting her son's precious book be dragged away by the dark magic.

Her heart felt heavy but she didn't have time to mourn the loss of the storybook. With her hand now free, Emma reached up to Killian. Her fingers circled around his wrist tightly and she flashed him a hopeful smile in response to the one in his eyes.

"I've got you, Swan."

The words didn't even have time to reach her spirit as the end of his jacket sleeve tore off completely. Before either of them could do anything, Killian's hand slipped through her fingers like desert sand and Emma fell helplessly into the swirling portal.

"No!" Killian howled with a force that sliced the air.

He tried to free his hook from the ground, but it was too late. Golden hair and red leather jacket disappeared before his eyes, sucking the oxygen out of the room in the midst of Emma's last desperate cry.

"Hooooook!"

Then, there was silence. Emma was gone.