X Marks the Spot

Chapter One

Killian entered Granny's Diner and immediately walked over to sit down beside Emma who was sitting at the bar as he spoke up saying, "Good news. Regina called. She reversed the spell. That sister is gonna live a long and hopefully far less eventful life."

She watched him move around her and then eagerly asked, "And what about Belle?"

"As good as can be expected after all she's been through," he responded with assurance in his voice.

"What she just did... that's why I keep fighting," Emma said again strongly, as she looked into the eyes of the man she loved. "As the Savior. It's a title I've thought about running from numerous times, but I never have, and what she did today reminded me why I don't run, why I fight."

She laid her hand over his arm that wore the hook in place of his hand while she continued, "Because I want to protect my family and my friends and the people that I love."

Killian looked down with worry in his eyes as he stated, "The vision... it's still getting to you."

"Yeah," the Savior replied sternly. "It's time for me to get to it."

"There's the fight that I love," he whispered again and then smiled at her lovingly.

Emma responded, "Let's go find out what really happened to me."

A short time later in Gold's shop…

When she and Hook walked inside, they saw the mess that Gold had left behind before he disappeared and Emma spoke again saying, "Whoa. Oh, well, someone had a temper tantrum."

"Do you really think you'll find something in here to explain your vision?" he asked skeptically.

"I think I just did," she answered in surprise upon seeing the hilt of a sword sticking out from beneath the mess surrounding them and then she knelt down beside it in order to get a better look, then saw the red stone within the tip of its silver handle. "This is it. This is the sword from my vision. It's here."

As she reached out to touch the blade, she was suddenly overwhelmed by another vision that revealed even more than all the ones before and Killian immediately knelt down beside her as he fearfully cried out, "Emma, are you okay?"

Emma grabbed a tight hold of the sword and lifted it up as she replied, "Yeah. I think it's safe to say this is what did it."

"This is the sword that killed you," he stated, looking across the blade as she did.

"Will kill me," she quickly corrected.

Hook looked around them as he asked again, "And why would it be in here?"

The Savior stared at the weapon while she responded, "I don't know. But now that we have it, maybe we can finally find who's responsible."

"The figure under the hood," he answered crossly.

"Yeah," Emma replied firmly as they both stood back on their feet. "And then we can stop them."

The morning after they discovered the mysterious sword from Emma's visions inside Gold's shop, the Savior walked alongside Killian hand in hand down on the docks towards the Jolly Roger while Henry walked on ahead of them, giving his mom and close friend a few minutes alone to talk quietly among themselves. Henry kept glancing back at them and could tell that Killian was concerned about leaving for a few hours, especially while Emma remained behind to talk with her parents and Regina about finding the sword that killed her.

Emma pulled up Killian's hand to her mouth and tenderly kissed the top of it as if to ease a little of his concern, then she looked into his eyes while she said gently, "I really appreciate you taking Henry out."

He smiled for only a second before letting it fade, then he responded worryingly, "Of course, love. You know I am always more than happy to take the lad out. It's just that I hate to leave you after your latest visions have affected you so. And between the Evil Queen and the Crocodile…"

"I know right now seems like the wrong time to go out on your ship with all that's going on, but I promise you that I'm alright," she continued before he could finish. "I'm more worried about Henry right now. Worried about how he's dealing with everything. He says he's fine and he's acting brave for me. But I know that he's struggling, just like you are. You both could use some time away and my son is safe with you."

"I'm glad that you can believe so," Killian whispered, though she could tell that he wasn't so sure he believed it as she did. "I promise you that no harm will come to the boy so long as he's in my charge, Swan. But are you certain you don't want to change your mind and come with us?"

Emma leaned in closer and kissed him, then she answered, "You know I would love to more than anything. But I really need to talk things over with Mom, Dad, and Regina. Even Gold, since we did find the sword in his shop. And because of the curse on my parents, I'll have to share what's happened more than once. You already know everything. You were there with me last night. I just thought that you don't really need to hear it all again. And Henry…"

He interrupted, "The lad knows a lot more than you would like him too. He's smart and tough, just like his mother. Both of them of course, but mostly you."

"Hmmm… it's good of you to see it," she replied and then leaned over to kiss him again as Henry walked back over to them and cleared his throat to get their attention.

"I'm sorry, but I just got a text from Mom," the sixteen year old stated as he held it out for them to read. "She's waiting for you at the diner, Mom. With Grandma, Belle, and August too. Belle must need something to help take her mind off of losing Gideon. And August… well maybe he just happened to be there for breakfast. I'm sure he'll be happy to help with whatever it is you're trying to keep from me."

Emma look at her son apologetically as she responded, "It's not that I'm trying to hide anything from you, Henry. I just thought you might like to have a day out on the water with Killian. He needed a little distraction from all the stress around here. I was hoping you could help him to lighten up a little so he would stop all of his brooding."

Killian laughed, while Henry smiled and answered, "Nice try. But it's okay. Killian can tell me what's going on while we're out on his ship. It's going to be fun. Try not to worry about us."

"I'm not worried," she replied as she looked between the two loves of her life, patted the teenager's arm and caressed Killian's cheek before walking back towards the center of town. "I love you, boys."

"I love you too, Swan," Killian called out to her, keeping his eyes on the Savior until she disappeared from view, while Henry ran up the gangplank to board the Jolly Roger. "It's time to set sail, lad. You know what to do. Let's start with the rigging."