A/n: I love Emma's new sassy attitude. Being the dark one has made her stronger, wiser. This story is dedicated to Emma/Hook. I have to admit, I wasn't necessarily shipping Captain Swan before, but the winter finale won me over. I also love how they're not leaving Henry behind anymore.

Operation Cerberus: Emma travels to the Underworld to save the man she loves. But can she save him without falling back into the darkness? It's a fight of will and determination as they all must face the demons of the underworld, and within themselves.

Recap (verbatim):

Mary Margret gave her daughter a disturbed glance as she repeated, "You want to go to hell?"

"The Underworld." Emma clarified, as if that made it less dangerous.

"That's quite a distinction." David chimed in, not seeing the difference.

"Gold tricked us all again. Everything Hook died for was for nothing." Emma explained. "It's unfair to Killian."

"Emma, we just got you back, we can't risk you giving into the darkness again!" Mary Margret explained, hoping her daughter could see reason.

"I'm not giving into darkness; I'm giving in to love." Emma revealed with a sigh. "I learned my lesson. I'm taking a page out of your book and I'm going to do this right."

"But Emma you know it's a one for one trade. Someone still has to die to take his place." David objected.

"You two share one heart," Emma gave an unwavering stare. "So will we."

Regina saw the desperation, the determination in Emma's eyes. This was happening, whether they all approved or not. Shrugging at the Charmings', she added "It could work…"

"It WILL work." Emma assured.

Robin, ever the voice of reason spoke up, pausing from his drink. "Forgive me if I'm missing the obvious, but how does one get to the underworld?"

-The Lake Acheron

Gold stood at the bank of the lake as the heroes gathered around. Emma came up to him.

"Do it." She commanded.

Gold lifted the dagger in his hand, but paused.

He'd grown a soft-spot for Emma. He could feel her power, connected with his. She was strong, resilient, and if he wasn't careful, she'd one day defeat him. Ironically, she was everything he'd want in a daughter, if he'd had one.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked, only slightly concerned with her well-being.

"DO. IT." She commanded once again.

Rumple sliced his hand, and two drops of blood fell into the lake Acheron. All of them watched as a fog appeared. Charon arrived in the mist, the boat mere feet away from them.

Emma didn't look back as she stepped into the lake. Hearing the footsteps of her family behind her, she exhaled. Up until this moment, she didn't know if they were there to accompany her, or wish her luck. But she should have known-they were family, and they did things together. They were stronger that way.

With the assurance that she had the people she loved most backing her up, Emma vowed, "Hook, I will find you. I will always find you."

Chapter One: Operation Cerberus

The boat ride was eerie. Robin, Mary Margret, David and Regina sat quietly talking, not wanting to disturb Emma. She'd been traumatized enough.

"No matter what happens," Mary Margret whispered. "We are not leaving the Underworld without Emma."

"You know how stubborn she is." Regina chided.

"From her side of the family." David added. Mary Margret rolled her eyes, but ignored him. "I hope like hell we can save him, but if not…"

"She has to learn to keep on living." Regina finished sadly. "Agreed."

"Is there any way we can make the Charon go faster?" David asked Regina as they moved slowly passed the willow trees of Storybrooke.

"You wanna ask him?" Regina nodded towards the shadowy figure that stood seven feet tall in a shadowy darkness.

David just stared. "Nah, I'm good."

Henry watched as his mom stood at the mast, gazing into the night as the boat neared the edge of town. He came to stand next to her, thinking about the mission. The journey they were about to embark on, needed a name.

"Operation Cerberus." He declared aloud.

Emma turned to him, coming out of her daze. "What?"

"That's what I named this mission-Operation Cerberus."

Emma smirked, slightly. "What's a Cerberus?"

"It's a three-headed beast that guards the gates of Hell." He told her grimly.

Emma nodded. "Well it sure fits."

Henry said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad that you're not giving up. You deserve a happy ending."

"I told you Henry, you're my happy ending." She reminded him. "I'm just hoping I can one day, be your hero again."

"I'm still mad about Violet," Henry confirmed quietly, "but you're my mom, and you'll always be my hero."

"Thanks kid." Emma whispered, on the verge of tears again.

A part of her felt guilty. Henry had gone through a lot in the past year, even before her becoming the dark one and ripping out Violet's heart. She knew Henry missed his father, and they hadn't had enough time together. And now, she was willing to go to the Underworld for Killian, but not for Neil? It just wasn't fair, and she owed Henry.

Except, the teenager that was in love with Neil is worlds apart from the woman she was now. Her love for him was ageless, but for Killian it was timeless. But how to explain that to her son, she didn't even want to think about it.

As they passed Storybrooke, David came to them inquiring, "Henry, what all do you know about the Underworld?"

Regina, Robin and Mary Margret had joined them near the mast.

"A lot, Gramps." Henry assured them. "I paid attention in school. Though how much of it is real, or made up, I don't know."

"Doesn't matter, as long as we know all the players." Regina stated. She glanced towards David. "The Underworld is unknown for a reason."

"Well, let's not plan on joining the ranks. We need a plan." Robin told them.

Henry thought for a moment. "The underworld is ruled by Hades, who prides himself on dead souls. It's what gives him his power."

"Which means, he won't give up Hook without a fight." Mary Margret sighed. "Any ideas?"

"We're going to need allies." Emma spoke up. "No one of us has ever been to the underworld, and we can't afford to get lost."

"In the legends, the Erinyes were allowed to come and leave when they wanted." Henry recalled.

"Shit." Regina cursed. "The Erinyes seek vengeance against anyone who has lied or had done an malicious act. I'm the evil queen, Emma was the dark one, Robin's a thief, and the Charmings are murderers and kidnappers."

Robin cursed. "Damn, they sure as shit, won't help us."

"No," Mary Margret shook her head. "But they'll help Henry. He's the only one who is innocent of a crime."

David turned to Henry, raising a brow. "You ready for this kid?"

"Born ready." Henry vowed.

The boat creaked as it came to a slow stop. The fog was thick and cold. They had been traveling for what felt like an eternity, and nothing was familiar. Storybrooke had faded from view and they could barely see their own hands.

"What the hell is going on?" Regina snapped.

Emma stared at Charon. "Why have we stopped?"

"Mom." Henry breathlessly called.

She turned to stare at what had caught his attention. The fog had cleared slightly, to reveal the boat was surrounded by people. Hollow half-white creatures, with no eyes, but their faces appeared to be in agony.

"It's the…undead." Regina whispered as she saw ghost shells of endless people who had died. "Their souls are waiting to be ferried."

"The stories say if a body isn't buried and coined, they couldn't board the boat." Henry said sadly. "I think these are people who haven't been buried."

"So they just sit here?" Mary Margret gasped. It was horrible.

"They can't cross over, but they can't go back." David breathed, watching the souls as they waded in the water.

"What about Hook? He just died 9 hours ago. He's not buried." Robin stated, looking around for any signs of him.

"I put a preservation spell on the body until Emma was ready to bury him." Regina explained softly. "And since his body is technically in a graveyard crypt, he's considered…buried."

"This is depressing." Robin told her.

Snow watched sadly as small children tried to reach into the boat. She turned away and allowed her husband to cradle her head.

More souls approached the boat. The Charon, outstretched its hand, and a black flame emerged. The flame was thrown in the direction of the lost souls, trying to ward them off.

"Hey!" Emma shouted, grabbing its arm. " Leave 'em alone, they're already dead!" The Charon flicked its wrist, sending her flying to the floor.

The boat began to rock as more souls gathered towards the vessel. Henry hung onto Emma. "Mom, we can't let them get in the boat!"

Regina nodded, analyzing the situation while summoning her fire. "Henry's right! If one of them gets in, one of us has to take their place!"

Everyone tried to fight with new-found purpose. Regina had lit flames to Robin's arrows as he shot them, warding off as many as he could. Mary and David created makeshift torches from old wood, fighting off the souls at the back of the boat.

But Emma was frozen. She couldn't torment these people. 'There has to be another way.' She thought to herself.

She saw the pleading looks they gave to those on board. She could feel their pain-all of it. They were begging for help. They were begging for a savior.

"Mom!" Henry called as one of the souls grabbed his arm. Regina shouted desperately to Emma, "SWAN! Do something!"

Breaking out of her trance, Emma summoned her magic, letting it build within her. She caught the attention of some of the lost souls, pleading to her.

"I'm so sorry," she cried, "but I can't let you leave!"

She pushed her palm out, delivering a massive blast. Everyone on the boat was knocked down. Charon turned its eye-less gaze to her, and Emma nodded. "Go." She whispered.

Charon moved its oar, and the boat began to glide faster. Emma helped her parents up as Robin did the same for Henry and Regina.

"How did you get it to go faster?" Robin asked.

"We understand each other." Was all Emma said, as she sat down, and put her hands in her head. David saw the toll everything was taking on his daughter, and he was suddenly in protection mode.

Taking a seat next to her, he put an arm around her. "There was nothing you could do for them, Emma." He said, rubbing her shoulder in circles. It always comforted her mother, maybe it would have the same effect now.

"I can't do anything for anybody!" Emma cried into his chest. "I couldn't save Merlin, I couldn't protect my family, couldn't destroy the darkness, and I let that gotdamn sociopath regain his power and make Hook's death pointless!"

'That's it.' David thought as he turned and faced her. "Listen to me Emma Swan!" he growled. Even Mary Margret jumped slightly.

"You are the product of true love, the sheriff, a princess, the dark one, and the savior! You saved everyone a thousand times over! Don't ever say you can't because if anyone can bring Hook from the Underworld, and turn Gold into a hero, it's you." David ranted.

Taking a breath, he helped her to her feet. "You were destined, to end the darkness Emma." He finished with a stern voice that bode no arguing.

Emma gawked at him, never seeing her father so upset. "You believe in me that much?"

"We all do Emma." Regina spoke up. "We wouldn't be here otherwise."

Emma looked around the boat. Robin nodded, Henry smiled, and her mother gave her a kiss on her forehead.

They shortly arrived to a black shore, a small dock awaited through the mist. Henry saw skyscraper statues of Hades and broken pillars. "We're here." He told them.

Everyone stepped off the boat, checking out their surroundings. Charon began to move again, the ferry disappearing.

The sky was neither light nor dark. The waves that lapped the shore were black, and lifeless. No sign of anything alive, or anything dead. It was a place that truly reminded you of unknown.

"We should team up." Robin suggested. "Me and Regina in the back, David and Mary Margret in the middle, and Henry with Emma."

"That way we're covered on both ends, smart." David agreed. Grabbing his wife's trembling hand, he whispered, "You ready for this?"

Mary Margret nodded. She stole a glance at her daughter, who hadn't said a word since they arrived. "Emma?"

Emma just looked out at the empty valley, clouds of smoke, obstructing any further view. She didn't know what waited for her on the other side. She didn't know if it was even worth risking her family. Could she lay it all on the line for love? Could she surrender herself to it like she had so foolishly done before?

Henry walked up to her, taking her hand. "Mom." He called again. "You ready?"

After was seemed like an eternity, Emma spoke. "Yeah." She breathed, pulling herself together. "Let's go save Hook."

-EOC-

A/n: What do you think? Let me know. I tried to make Emma still…Emma. She's stronger, but she still has the pressures of trying to do everything on her own, and needing her family foundation. I chose the lake Acheron (in reference to the river Acheron- because in Greek mythology it's the first of the five rivers, which is the river of grieving or pain. I thought it would be cool to tie it into Storybrooke to explain exactly how it's a portal to hell. I hope you continue to read it and enjoy. I look forward to reviews and feedback!