The light coming in from the slit in the curtains was just bright enough to bother her eyes, though she could tell it was still minutes from dawn. She hadn't meant to wake so early, the previous night's adventures leaving her tired enough, but as soon as her eyes had opened just slightly, that had been it. Her brain had gone into overdrive, replaying the horrifying image she'd seen last night-Killian's heart, red as a ruby, in the Dark One's claws-and all hope of more sleep had been lost.
A quiet mummer sounded behind her, and she was reminded that though Kilian had been in danger last night, he was currently tucked in around her, safe and warm, one arm slung over her hip possessively in the comfort of a queen size bed at Granny's.
They hadn't done anything the night prior. Well, nothing much. She'd turned up at the door of his rented room only hours after having left him there, too worked up and anxious and scared to go to sleep at the loft without seeing him one last time. He'd ushered her in with no words and only a small smile, not asking any questions as she toed off her boots and scooted under his blankets. He'd joined her moments later, allowing her to quietly wrap one arm across his chest, her fingers becoming glued to the steady thump, thump, thump of his heart.
"I can hear you thinking," a sleep weary voice interrupted her now. Emma smiled, rolling over gently so that she could see the face that matched the voice. Killian's arm remained over her waist as she moved, tugging her gently closer once they were finally eye to eye.
"Good morning," he said, his grin spreading as she answered back with a "Good morning" of her own. They stayed like that for several long seconds, drinking in each other's features in a way that reminded both of them how much they'd each almost lost the night before.
"Emma, I'm sor-" Killian began, before Emma hushed him with two finger over his lips. She shook her head, trying to tell him without words how unnecessary his apology was now. She understood, she knew how it must have torn at him, being under the control of the man who had been his nemesis for so long. She also knew in a keen way just how paramount Killian Jones' heart was to the man's very being, and she couldn't imagine what it had cost him to be without it for so long.
"If you're going to apologize for anything, apologize for not getting me coffee yet."
The response drew something like amusement from Killian's eyes, as he took the opportunity to kiss first one, then two of Emma's fingers.
"Aye, love," he said. "Where are my manners?"
The pair sat up at that, Emma stretching and trying not to look too obvious as she studied Killian's graceful walk across the room clad only in the T-shirt and boxers David must have helped him pick out. The smirk she saw on his face as he disappeared behind the bathroom door told her he had most definitely noticed.
She bent and began the process of pulling on her boots, noticing her phone had landed on the floor. She pulled it up and checked her messages, seeing that Mary Margaret had left her a text saying they would meet her at the diner.
A little early for a family breakfast, but Emma figured they were just anxious to make sure she was okay.
"Ready to greet another day, Swan?" Killian asked, emerging from the bathroom fully dressed in his new modern clothes and looking like someone who had not almost had their heart crushed to ashes.
The image was another reminder, sending a cold trickle of dread down her spine, as she once again fought to stave off the memory of Killian's near demise at the hands of Gold. He'd been walking around for weeks at death's door, and she hadn't even known.
"Emma, sweetheart, I'm right here," Killian said, laying his palm against her cheek as he noticed the sudden change. His nearness instantly calmed her, and she nodded quickly, holding his hand in place against her skin as she blinked back the tears that had suddenly appeared.
"I'm right here," he repeated, leveling his stark blue eyes against her, a look of utter sincerity on his face. "And I'm not going anywhere."
She smiled then, knowing it was a promise she fully intended to make sure he kept. She may not have been the most emotionally open person in Storybrooke, but she wasn't an idiot, either. For as much as she had run from her feelings for the dashing pirate with a flair for the dramatic-freaking Captain Hook of all people-there was no denying it now. She had fallen, and hard. And she was going to do everything in her power to once and for all not mess up this chance.
Killian tugged at her fingers, leading her out of the room and down the hallway into the diner. Their hands remained linked, even as they entered the near-empty restaurant and spied her family sitting huddled at a table at the front window, Mary Margaret and David holding the baby, with Henry pulled up at one corner where Regina stood behind him. Emma's eyes darted back to the formerly Evil Queen, thinking it was a little early for Regina to be making an appearance with the Charmings. She looked down at her watch-just about 8:15 am.
"Hey guys," Emma said, perhaps too brightly. A feeling of awkwardness suddenly rushed over her as she realized everyone would know exactly where she had spent the night. David did his best to stare at the ground, while Mary Margret rolled her eyes at her husband before speaking in a rush.
"We have a problem," the petite Snow White said. "A Dark One problem."
Emma's eyebrows darted up to her hairline, and she could feel Killian instantly tense up at the mention of his old enemy.
"What sort of problem? Gold's gone, Belle forced him over the town line last night, he can't hurt anyone."
"True, but it seems the maniacal imp left behind a contingency plan," Regina said, looking more than a little put out.
"What sort of contingency plan?" Killian asked, his jaw clenched.
"We noticed it last night, this billowing smoke rising up in the air, we think it was coming from the old well," Mary Margaret said.
"And nobody told me?" Emma griped in annoyance.
"We didn't want to disturb you two."
David groaned at his wife's comment and put a hand over his eyes.
"Honestly," Mary Margaret continued with a tsk. "We went to Belle, to see if she had any idea what was going on. We thought immediately it might have something to do with Gold."
"And it turned out they were right," Belle said, entering the diner as if on cue. In her hands was a stack of dusty books, and she looked like she'd been awake all night.
"I think I've found what we're looking for," she said, placing the books down carefully on the table as the small crowd gathered around. "I didn't know what to be looking for, so I started where this all began."
"The original curse, that brought us all to Storybrooke?" Henry asked, speaking up for the first time.
"Yes," Belle nodded with a warm smile. "I found the old inscription Rumple used, and there was mention of a parallel curse, one the caster could use if he or she wanted some sort of backup plan, in case the Land Without Magic wasn't all it was cracked up to be."
"Well, knowing our dear Rumple, I'm guessing he was open to the idea of hedging his bets," Regina said wryly.
"I should say so," Belle agreed grimly. "I can't be positive, but I looked into all of the possibilities of what his parallel curse could have been, and I think I found it."
All eyes looked at the page Belle pointed to now. It wasn't in any language Emma had ever seen.
"How in bloody hell are we supposed to read this?" Killian asked.
"It's in ancient runes, it explains how a caster can ensure their spell is reverted if a certain clause goes into action. Considering what happened last night, I think it's safe to say Rumple's clause was being forcibly exiled out of Storybrooke."
The group was hushed for a moment, considering what it could mean.
"I don't understand," David said finally. "If Gold set it up for some new curse to break if he was ever forced out of Storybrooke, then why isn't he here now? Wouldn't he have made the clause so that he could get back in?"
"He could have if that was his ultimate goal," Belle answered, looking more dour than before.
"I'm guessing the ultimate goal is something worse?" Emma said slowly, a feeling of dread growing, to which Belle nodded.
"Rumple never wanted to live out his days in the Land Without Magic. He wanted to find his son and then go home, powerful as ever," Belle said pausing for just a moment. "If I'm correct, and I think I am, I believe we're all about to find ourselves back in the Enchanted Forest."