Hi there! I am back from the dead! Or well... sort of.

It's been like a month since I last uploaded something after I promised myself I would write more often (which I did) but then my laptop started throwing tantrums and I was forced to take a break from writing and uploading until I could buy a new laptop. I'm sorry about all that. Anyways, here I am again, this time with a slightly different story. This is a season five meta I wrote (before my laptop broke down) and it's going to be a two-shot, so keep your eyes open for chapter 2. I wrote this before any spoilers came out, so please forgive me for any inaccuracies!

Enjoy!

The words took the air right from his lungs. I love you. He had been patient with her, hadn't pushed her to say, hadn't said it himself, and here it was.

She tells him I love you.

And for a moment, everything is perfect and he is so happy and he wants to open his mouth - wants to tell her I love you too but she pushes him away before he can, and she holds up the dagger in the sky.

"NO! EMMA DON'T DO THIS!"

He calls after her although he knows it is no use. She will always make this choice. She is the savior. She must save everyone.

He just wishes he could tell her that he felt the same, hold her hand a little longer, caress her cheek, kiss her soft lips.

He watches as the dark clouds of magic whirl around her, hungrily absorbing her the longer she stands there. She doesn't break eye contact with him.

He can see the light fading in her eyes as the magic seems to be dissapearing - and taking her along. He locks eyes with her once more and she mouths something to him. She mouths "Find me" before the a bright flash blinds Killian and forces him to look away. When he turns back, Emma is gone.

The dagger falls to the ground.

It now bears not Rumplestilskin's name - but hers.

Emma Swan.

The cloud of darkness whirls around her and she focuses on the one thing she knows will never leave her.

Killian.

He holds his hand up to protect his eyes against the bright flashes of magic coming from the dagger that Emma is holding in the air. He doesn't break eye contact. Not once. His eyes are teary and she can hear him screaming but his voice already sounds distant, and somewhere in the back she hears her parent's sobs and her father yelling her name, but everything is already so far away. She can feel the power coursing through her veins and her heart is beating in her chest and all she can think is away, I need to get away from here. I have to protect my family.

She feels the world around her changing, shifting. She looks at Killian one more time, mouthing the words "Find me." before everything goes black.

He watches how his daughter says something to Killian, puts his hand over her heart and holds back tears. She pushes him aside, just far enough that he is safe. Killian is screaming her name, but Emma doesn't listen.

Before David can run to her and stop her, keep his little girl safe, Emma holds up the dagger, causing all the dark magic to flow towards her, towards the dagger. He screams her name, begs his daughter, please, and he feels his wife pulling him close.

They stare in disbelief at the cloud of dark magic that has started forming around Emma, knowing there is no way to stop it. They lost their little girl. Again.

Tears are streaming down Snow's face and he wants to comfort his wife, tell her it will be okay, but now, even David is not so certain of that.

He catches one last glimpse of Emma, tears streaming down her face, not breaking eye contact with Killian.

There is a bright flash in the sky and all are forced to look away. When they turn around, Emma is gone and on the ground lays the dagger.

On the dagger says the name of what used to be Rumplestitskin

It now says Emma Swan.

Killian returns from the crossroad to Henry, who is at home, waiting patiently until his family comes home again. Killian has just lost the love of his life to the dark one - again. And now he has to confront her son.
In his head are still the last words she spoke to him. I love you.

He wants nothing but to kiss her and tell her that he loves her too. But she is gone.

Killian opens the door and calls the boy's name.

"Henry? Are you here?"

The boy answers and excitingly starts to talk about now being the author, but the look on the pirate's face makes him stop.

"What is it? What happened?"

"Rumplestiltskin - the dark one - he died. The dark magic came free. It was dangerous, Henry. Tried to kill Regina."
Killian pauses. It is still too painful to talk about. The terrified look on Emma's face is still fresh in his memory.

"What happened Killian? Where is mom?"

At that moment, David, Snow and Regina entered the tiny apartment. Henry sees them. Sees the tears running down their faces. He staggers back.

"No. Mom. Where is she? Where is my mom?!" Henry's voice cracks. He stares at Killian, somehow hoping he would say something. Tell him it isn't true. That his mother is safe. But Killian stays silent.

Realisation hits him and a wave of sadness and pain washs over him. Henry falls to the ground and throws the book away angrily. He starts sobbing and hides his face behind his hands.

"I just want my mom."

Killian sits down on the ground next to him. "She's a hero, Henry. She saved everyone."

Henry lifts up his head and sighs. "I want her here."

"I know, lad. I want that too. But that won't help her now."

"What do you know?! BECAUSE OF YOU SHE'S GONE!"

The boy gets up and runs towards his bedroom. Killian stands up and yells after him. "HENRY! WAIT!"

But Henry has already slammed the door closed.

A hand on his shoulder is what stops him from going after the boy. Regina gives him a pitying look.

"Let me, Killian. He'll be okay."

Killian sighs and nods. He understands the lad needs time to process everything, but that doesn't make his words any less painful.

A knock on the door startled Killian. Who the hell would come here at this hour?

It was late at night, and Killian was on his ship. Snow and Charming had offered him a bed at their loft - Emma's bed, but he couldn't spend one minute there without his swan being next to him. So he stayed on his ship, the only place that didn't remind him of Emma, but she was on his mind the entire time either way.

Killian stood up from the chair he had fallen asleep in (or had tried to), and walked towards the door. Maybe, just maybe, it was his swan. Maybe Emma had come to find him. Maybe she came back. Hope fluttered in his chest. They would find a solution to this, together.

He opens his door and his heart stops.

In front of him, is not Emma, but her son. Henry.

In his arms he held the storybook. He looked ... exhausted. Killian opened the door further and let the boy in. "Does Regina know you are here?" Henry nodded. "She dropped me off." There was only one reason why Henry would come to him and bring his storybook.

Emma.

Henry stood in the middle of the room. Killian's heart dropped. He felt for the boy. His mother, his own mother had turned into the greatest form of evil to exist in this world to save everyone. She was a hero, and both Killian and Henry were proud of her, but they also missed her terribly.

"Killian?" He looked up at the lad. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry what I said the other day. It's... It's not your fault." Henry's voice quivered as he spoke. "I just want her here." Killian pulled the lad into a hug. "I know, Henry. I want that too."

"There has to be a way to undo it, right? It's a long shot, but we can try. And if I remember correctly, there is a little boy who happens to be an expert at fairy tale stuff."

Henry scoffed. "I'm not little."

"You are to me."

"Yeah but only 'cause you're like 500."

"Good point. Now, will you help me?"

Henry jumped up and grabbed the fairytale book. "YES!" And then all serious: "We need a name for our operation, though."

He thought for a second. "Operation Swan? Or is that too cliché for you?"

"Perfect! Let's start now!"

Killian smiled at the boy's optimism. Yes, they would find a way. They would save her. No matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, no matter where the would have to travel, they would never ever give up on her. That much he knew.

I hope you liked this! It would mean the world if you would write a review. Thank you!