So I by no means know where the show is going this season, but I really love it and can't wait for more! This story is spoilerish, I guess, based off of the pictures and interviews that have been released. I doubt I'm remotely close to what is actually going to happen, but if you don't follow spoilers or like them, this might not be the story for you!
Description: All magic comes at a price, especially the kind that saves Emma from the Darkness. Killian was willing to pay the price, but Emma is not. Who cares if this was their destiny, she wasn't letting him go without a fight.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Emma sat at the table in her parent's kitchen cupping her hands around the now cold mug of hot chocolate. She barely heard or acknowledges the people around her or their conversation. Her eyes lay unfocused on the table in front of her; all she could see was the replaying of Killian unwillingly leaving her behind. She knew they had no choice, they both did. It was the price.
The price he had to pay in order to save her from the darkness.
"Killian…wait! No!" Emma says reaching out and grasping his jacket more firmly, pulling him a little closer. "I can't let you do this."
"Let me?" Killian says with a light chuckle that he doesn't mean. "Love, since when have I ever needed the permission of others to do as I please?"
"Well never, I know." Emma says not letting go of him. "But I don't care, you aren't doing this."
Any attempt Killian had been making before to lighten the moment was gone now. "I don't think we really have a choice, Love."
Emma felt the tears burning her eyes break loose and tumble down her cheek. She wipes them away, with one hand, not wanting anything to blur his face. Not when she didn't know how much time she had left to look at him.
"What were you thinking?" Emma shakes her head.
"Of you, Love." Killian says as if it were obvious, running his fingers through her loose curls. His eyes roaming her face and her hair, now that it was finally back to normal. "Always of you."
"You didn't have to…" Emma starts to argue, but Killian silences her with a finger over her lips.
"Emma." Killian says using her real name, something he rarely ever did. "I didn't have a choice, and if I did, I wouldn't have changed a thing."
Emma wishes she could curse him then, but the words won't leave her mouth. "You promised me…" She says instead, releasing her hold on his jacket to cup his face in her hands. "You promised you were a survivor."
"Aye, I did." Killian agrees, with a small nod, bringing his own hand up to cup her jaw. "Then perhaps this isn't the end as we feared."
"I don't see how it isn't…"
"Shh Love. I don't want to talk about any of that…not now when the time we have is too precious."
Emma just stared at him then, thinking that time wasn't the only thing that was precious. So was he. And she had never realized it until it was too late to do anything about it. She ran her thumb along his cheek, over the scar, and then over his lips that she loved. She leans forward without a word and brushes hers over his once, and then again, and again. She only pulls back when she tastes the salt from her tears, releasing one hand to wipe her face again.
"I hate to interrupt but…" Regina says awkwardly from behind the pair. "But we are out of time. The moon is almost overhead and I don't think it would be wise to make them wait."
"No you're right." Killian sighs, slowly pulling back to look up at the sky, then Regina, and finally back to Emma. "I want you to stay here." He says, knowing it will be a fight, but one that he's unwilling to lose.
"What! Why?" Emma says predictably, her grip becoming firmer on his jacket. "I'm coming with you Killian, you can't stop me."
"You're right, I can't." Killian agrees, raising his hand and grabbing on to hers, and holding it firmly in his. "But I'm asking that you stay here, for me."
"Why don't you want me to go with you?" Emma asks shaking her head.
"I don't want you to risk anything to try and keep me here. You might anger them. I want you to stay here, or better yet go to your parents, and I want you to not cry." Killian says raising their joined hands to wipe at the trailing tears on her cheeks. "Because I knew what I was doing when I pulled that bloody sword out of that stone and that crying now isn't going to change anything."
"You stupid pirate, do you think that is going to stop me from crying?"
"No, but a stupid pirate can hope." Killian says with a small smile.
"I hate to do this, but time really is running out." Regina says with tears in her eyes and clogging her throat.
Killian glances over at her and nods, before looking down at his and Emma's joined hands, he watches his thumb unconsciously rubbing her fingers. "Emma…before I go.. I just want you to know…" Killian struggles to get the words out.
"I know." Emma says nodding her head. "I know."
"I love you Emma." Killian says anyways, even though she knows. "And I was wondering if you would hold on to something for me? A token I guess you could say…like the swan chain from Baelfire and your friend's shoestring."
"Of course!" Emma agrees without hesitation. "What is it?"
Reluctant to let her go, Killian does it anyways. Lifting his thumb to his mouth he struggles to get the ring off, it had been on his finger for so many years. It slips off with some effort and holding it between his fingers carefully Killian lifts it up between him and Emma. "This belonged to my mothers father, and his before that. I would like for you to have it."
Emma can only stare at the ring in surprise, the tears having stopped for the moment. In stunned silence she lifts her shaky hand and takes it from Killian. It's too large for any of her fingers so she just clenches her fist around it and presses it to her chest, above her heart. "I'm only holding on to this." Emma says lifting her gaze back to Killian's. "You're going to be wearing this again some day…soon if I have anything to say about it."
"Aye." Killian agrees with one small head nod. "And when you give it back I will replace it with one more your size and with a bit more sparkle to it, agreed?"
Emma's breath caught in her chest and she felt her heart stop for a moment. Because she knew what it sounded like, but she had to be wrong. But of course she wasn't, because this was them, and nothing for her or Killian had ever come easy. Not before and not now. And Killian always did seem to be one step ahead of her, so why not with this too. "You better." Emma finally settles on, unable to say yes, but unwilling to say anything that might resemble a no.
And in spite of his pending doom Killian can't help but smile brightly, only for the moment. He pulls her in for one final, thorough kiss and releases her just as quickly. "I have to go now Love."
"We're always having to leave each other, I can't stand it." Emma shakes her head, pressing the hand holding the ring even tighter to her chest. "I don't think I can watch you go."
"Than don't Love. Go to your parents, hold your Lad close." Killian says and under the silent urging of Regina, slowly walks backwards. "And know that this isn't the end."
Despite her words, Emma can't seem to look away, and only after Killian had finally turned around to walk with Regina did Emma finally lose the ability to hold herself up any longer. Falling to the ground she crouches into herself and cries. That is how Regina finds her when she makes her way back from leaving Killian at the water front; where she had stood until the boat that took him had disappeared. She wipes quickly at the stray tears on her cheeks and bends down to wrap an arm around Emma's shaking shoulders. Muttering soothing words that she knew would do no good. Finally when the tears didn't appear they would be stopping anytime soon Regina holds Emma a little closer and waves a hand and whisks them away in a cloud of purple smoke. Taking her back to her parent's apartment, just like Killian had asked.
Even though it had happened only late last night Emma still felt like it had been days ago. Weeks even. And she wondered was this how Killian had felt when he had lost her all those months ago? Did he have this hollow feeling in his chest where the heart is suppose to be? Was this what she had to look forward to until they were able to bring him back? And what if they couldn't…? No! She refused to even think that. They would. They had to.
She had to.
"Emma…" Mary Margaret asks, coming to stand next to her at the table. Everyone in the room had noticed the change in Emma. The entire mood of the room had shifted from one of sadness to an almost impalpable fierceness. It was obvious it came from the silent woman sitting at the table, who had lifted her one hand to grasp the ring, now on a long chain, hanging from her neck.
"Mom?" Henry asks reaching out to grasp her hand still holding the cup.
"Have we had any luck reaching Merlin?" Emma asks suddenly her gaze encompassing everyone in the room before resting on Henry's. She grasps the hand that had been reaching to hers and offers it a light squeeze, grateful to have the most forgiving and loving son possible. He had refused to leave her side since Regina had brought her home.
"Regina was going to his mansion this morning, to see if he was still there, or if he had taken a portal back like he had been planning on." David says, obviously relieved to have Emma talking again.
"Do you want me to heat up your hot chocolate?" Mary Margaret asks with an overly cheerful smile.
"No I got it." Emma says and waves her hand over the mug, steam immediately visible rising from the cup.
"Oh well…" Mary Margaret says, forcing the frown off her face. She was unused to Emma being so free with her magic. It was something they were accustomed to seeing from the Dark One, not their daughter. Obviously she had brought some habits with her. "Would you like something to eat?"
"No, Mom, I'm fine." Emma says with a strained smile towards Mary Margaret. "I just would like for Merlin to get here and Regina so we can start talking strategy."
"Strategy?" David says at the same time Mary Margaret asks, "For what?"
"For getting Killian back, of course." Emma says looking at both of them in confusion. Shouldn't it be obvious they had a job to do.
"Emma…" Mary Margaret says giving David a startled look. They had stayed up half the night talking over everything that had transpired the previous days and Killian's fate. They both were eternally grateful for what he had done and after spending so much time with Killian had viewed him as more than just Emma's boyfriend and a friend. He was family. But neither of them had given any thought to bring him back. It just wasn't possible. Not when one…Not when one gave his life to end the Darkness.
"I don't think that is possible." David says with a shake of his head.
"It is." Emma is quick to disagree. "It has to be. We just need Merlin here to figure out a way."
And as if she had conjured him herself, the door opens and in walks Regina and Robin, with Merlin between them. "What have we missed?" Regina asks as she enters the room and comes over to brush a hand over Henry's head in greeting before coming to stand behind Emma and squeeze her shoulder briefly.
"We can fill you in later." Emma says, not taking her eyes off of Merlin, who was simply staring straight back at her. "It is possible. Tell me it is." Emma's words are almost pleading now.
"What is possible?" Regina asks, unwilling to wait, and disliking to be left out of the conversation.
"Mom wants to bring Killian back…from the dead." Henry finally says the one word they had all been careful to avoid.
"Emma." Regina says, pity in her voice. "I wish there was a way, I had even tried it with Daniel, remember? Even if it were possible, it wouldn't be the same…he wouldn't be the same."
"I know Regina, but this isn't the same as with Daniel. Cora crushed his heart and you preserved his body even after he lost his soul. Killian's heart hasn't been touched and he left with his soul. We have to act fast, but I know there is a way to bring him back. I can feel it in my heart." Emma tears her eyes from Merlin for a brief second to look at Regina and at her parents, hating the pitying looks. "Killian may be gone, but he isn't dead. I wouldn't know if he were dead." Emma looks back at Merlin. "Am I right?"
Merlin nods once and slowly settles himself in the chair across from Emma at the table. "You are correct, Killian is not dead, nor will he be for some time yet. How much time is to be determined by how strong he is…and from what I have seen…he is quite strong when he wants to be."
"He is a survivor, that's for sure." David says coming to sit at the table next to Mary Margaret now.
"It's funny you should mention that." Merlin says with a smile for David. "Calling him a survivor. You're not wrong there, but as to why he is…I wonder if any of you have ever given that much thought."
"What are you blathering about?" Regina asks rolling her eyes.
"Killian has always had an uncanny ability to get himself out of dire situations…especially for a pirate. Especially for one who tends to find himself in situations most everyone else has never been able to walk away from." Merlin says sharing a look with Emma now.
"You're talking about Neverland." Emma says almost like a question.
"Not just Neverland, but his pursuit of the Dark One. Many have tried and failed and yet Killian was within the grasps of Rumpelstiltskin multiple times and lived to tell the tale. Not to mention being at the mercy of the Queen of Hearts and the Evil Queen…" Merlin says sending Regina a look now.
"More than once my mother and I had a chance and reason to end that pirate." Regina agrees with a small nod, her eyes speculative. "So what?"
"Have none of you ever asked yourselves how he managed to survive such perilous situations? And not once, but multiple times?"
"No one is that lucky." David says now shaking his head.
"That same man is able to stumble across Cora, who protects him from her daughters curse, and eventually put in the path of the Savior and brought to this world."
"Killian was hell bent on getting to Gold, and did anything in his power to do it…so what?" Regina says again.
"So Regina…" Mary Margaret says looking at the other woman. "What Merlin is saying is that it wasn't by chance that Killian did all of that. And it wasn't just by luck." Mary Margaret says looking first at David and then at Emma. Her eyes widen when she turns to look back at Merlin. "You saw Killian pulling out the sword, didn't you?"
"What?" Emma says, her eyes going wide and staring at Merlin in shock now. "You saw that and you didn't do anything to stop him? To save him?"
Merlin raises a hand to stop her and everyone else from interrupting. "You're right. I did see Killian's future." Merlin says looking first at Mary Margaret. "I'm sorry, but there was nothing I could do." He then says looking at Emma.
"I don't believe you." Emma says, her voice laced with anger.
"Let me try to explain." Merlin says in understanding.
"That would be an excellent idea." Regina says crossing her arms over her chest.
"Much like with Emma and her destiny to be the Savior…I saw that there was another with a destiny to fulfill."
"Killian?" David says, unable to hide the disbelief from his voice.
"He might just seem like a pirate to all of you, but before long before his birth I knew the path he would take. I knew the man he would become and how hard it would be for him to get there. Just like I knew it would lead him to you." Merlin says staring only at Emma now, knowing that for this story meant to the most to her.
"Killian and I were destined to meet?" Emma says feeling her own sense of disbelief.
"Not just meet Emma." Merlin shakes his head. "To fall in love."
"Oh Emma…" Mary Margaret says with tears in her eyes, reaching out to grasp her daughter's hand when she sees tears in Emma's eyes. "That's beautiful."
"But then why?" Emma shakes her head and wipes angrily at the tears. "Why did this happen to us then? That doesn't make any sense."
"It was your destiny to meet him, for you to be in love." Merlin says, his voice sadder now somehow even though his face doesn't really change. "Because it was also your destiny, as the Savior, to rid the world of the Dark One for good. But to do that…"
"I needed Killian." Emma says her heart heavy with this news.
"Yes." Merlin says simply, nodding his head once. "You were always meant to sacrifice yourself as the Dark One, just like Killian was always meant to be the one to pull Excalibur from the stone. You are two halves of a whole. Together, only you two are able to wield the true power of the lightest magic and the darkest magic. Your love being the only match to keeping that dark magic at bay."
"But why did Killian have to go then? If he isn't dead and he did only what he was destined to do…then why?" Henry asks, shaking his head.
"All magic comes at a price." Regina says with a quirk of one eyebrow and a shake of her head.
"That's right." Merlin says nodding his head.
"Pulling the sword from the stone and combining it with the dagger was the ultimate use of dark and light magic." Emma says, knowing this from her time as the Dark One and the quest to unite the two. It was why she had been so set on Rumple doing it, because he had cost them all so much, as the new Dark One she saw it as irony. "The only way to repay such a cost was with the life of the one who dared pull the sword out."
"Did Killian know?" David asks looking first at Merlin and then at Emma.
"Do you mean did he know his destiny?" Merlin asks and shakes his head. "I can assure you he did not."
"No." Emma shakes her head and wipes at a stray tear. "Neither of us knew of that, but he did know what would happen if he pulled out the sword. I told him when I was the Dark One in hopes that that would sway him into finally joining me in getting Gold to pull out the sword." Emma lowers her eyes now, feeling all their eyes on her and hating this feeling of disappointment and guilt. "He tricked me into thinking he was working with me and I didn't realize until it was too late…until he had already done it."
"So Killian sacrificed himself to save you, knowing that he would…" Mary Margaret says in awe, with a shake of her head.
"He was destined." Merlin says again simply.
"Do you think either of us cared about that!" Emma spits out lifting her angry gaze onto Merlin. "Do you think I care that I was destined to meet Killian, to fall in love with him…only to lose him in the end anyways! Do you think any of that matters to me right now."
"I know it does not." Merlin says, sounding apologetic.
"Neither of us asked for this. Any of it!" Emma says standing now, to agitate to stay seated. "We just wanted to be left alone to live our lives and be happy." Emma paces away.
"White picket fences and sunsets?" Merlin asks with a smile.
"How do you know about that?" Emma asks fire in her eyes as she turns to glare at Merlin. "What else do you know that you aren't telling me!"
Merlin raises his hands now in a sign of peace and maybe self-defense. "Not much and nothing definite I can promise you that."
"Well out with it than." Regina says with a sigh, taking the seat Emma vacated.
"You asked when I came if it was possible and the answer is yes. Killian is gone, but he doesn't have to stay there. He isn't dead and if you act fast you have a chance to bring him back."
"Then lets go." Emma says looking around the table at everyone. "What are we waiting for?"
"Emma…" David says with a small shake of his head and looking at Merlin. "I'm assuming there is more."
"Killian is in the Underworld." Merlin continues as if neither had spoken. "Since he wasn't dead when he entered there he will be in limbo until his heart stops beating. As I mentioned before how long that is depends on his determination to get back here."
"I can assure you he is quite determined." Robin says, finally speaking up for the first time since entering the apartment, he offers Emma an encouraging smile.
"I know he is. But Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, will be equally determined to keep him there and to collect his soul. Enough souls and Hades will be free from the Underworld, something he has been waiting a long time for and is not fond of."
"So what do I have to do?" Emma asks, unwavering.
"You will need to catch a ride on the boat to the Underworld, something that requires the offering of the dead." Mary Margaret offers a small gasp that no one acknowledges. "Once you've gained passage to the Underworld you will have to find a way to cloak yourselves, Hades will know otherwise that you are there. Once there you will have to find where he is keeping Killian and free him. Getting out you must simply wait for the boat to make a trip back."
"It's just that simple." Regina scoffs.
"No." Merlin says looking at her briefly. "I know this might not sound difficult, but while there, the lost souls of the Underworld will be there protecting their future brothers and sisters. They will do anything to trick you and see that you fail, all in hopes of keeping you there. Trying to make you join them."
"But it is possible." Emma says, uncaring about the rest. She just needed to know that she could bring Killian back.
"Emma listen to what he is saying." Mary Margaret urges in a loud whisper. "He's saying there is a chance you might not return."
"I don't care." Emma says simply staring back at her mother, her face determined.
"Killian wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself like this. That is not why he gave his life for you."
"Didn't you hear?" Emma asks lifting her hands in the air and dropping them in frustration. "Killian isn't dead. He is waiting in the Underworld. Waiting for me to come and save him. Because that is what he and I do…we save each other. Isn't that right?" Emma asks looking at Merlin now.
"You two do tend to have a pattern." Merlin agrees with a small smile and a head nod.
"And you saw a future for us." Emma doesn't pose it as a question. "You saw that this isn't the end."
This time Merlin does hesitate before finally answering. "I have seen two outcomes. One of which, this is not the end and you get the future you had envisioned in Camelot."
"And the other?" David asks, squeezing Mary Margaret's hand when she releases a quiet whimper.
"The other…" Merlin hesitates, not accustomed to sharing his visions until the outcome has passed. "In the other Emma is not successful in bringing Killian back."
"So my mom has to spend the rest of her life alone." Henry frowns, obviously not liking that outcome. But the adults in the room all know what Merlin actually meant.
"You mean I don't come back at all, don't you?" Emma asks, still sounding as determined as before.
"Yes." Merlin nods his head once and offers a sad smile now.
"Emma no!" Mary Margaret says standing now and shaking her head. "I can't let you do this."
And then, to the surprise of everyone except Merlin, Emma smiles before responding. "Since when do I need the permission of others to do as I want?" She says, hearing Killian silently cheering her on in the back of her mind. She turns to Henry then and crouches down to be eye level with him. "Henry I'm sorry, but I have to do this. Please tell me you understand?" Emma asks, his being the only opinion she truly cares about.
Henry doesn't hesitate in his response. "Of course I understand mom. I love Killian too. He's always been really great to me, looking out for me, and helping me. I can't imagine our lives without him in it anymore than I'm sure you can. I just wish I could go with to help, but even I know that asking you to let me go to the Underworld is out of the question."
Emma feels her eyes burn with tears but she just blinks them away and reaches out to pull Henry into a hug. "Thank you!" She whispers into his hair before kissing him on the head. Pulling back she stands up and she looks around the room before turning back to Merlin.
"Emma wait!" David stands up now too.
"Dad you're not going to change my mind." Emma says raising a hand to silence him.
"No it's not that…" David says looking quickly at Mary Margaret and waits for her imperceptible nod before looking back at his daughter. "If you're going to actually do this, you're not going alone."
"Dad…no…" Emma shakes her head in shock, looking at both her parents now and sees the silent tears streaming down Mary Margaret's cheeks.
"Your mother can't go because we can't both leave Neal…" The silent ending to the sentence they all knew was just in case they don't return.
"And I'm going too." Robin says stepping forward.
"I'm going too." Regina says quickly, also coming to stand.
"What! No!" Emma shakes her head now. "We can't both go."
"We can, because with the two of us there we will have no trouble returning." Regina says with raised eyebrows, daring her to argue.
"I'm not asking any of you to do this." Emma shakes her head. "I'm going to get back the man I love, I'm not asking you to risk your lives to help me."
"We know you aren't Emma." David says. "I'm going to bring back my future son-in-law." David says gesturing to the ring hanging from her neck. "I've grown quite fond of him as well."
"And next to the Merry Men Killian is one of my best mates." Robin says with a small smile.
When Emma turns to Regina to hear her response the other women shrugs her shoulders. "What can I say? He has proven to be quite useful from time to time. And he is surprisingly good with Henry. "
"Emma none of us want to have to live the rest of our lives knowing that we could've helped to make you happy." Mary Margaret says, coming to Regina's aid.
"After everything you have done and given up for us, it's only fair that we return the favor." David says in agreement.
She turns then to Merlin. "What do we have to do?"
"Well first you're going to want to find my dear old Apprentice. I believe you preserved him in case I were to revive him, which I'm sadly unable to do. But he will work to bring the Underworld boat for you to gain passage."
"Anything else?" Emma asks hearing the others behind her moving, preparing themselves.
"You're going to want to load yourselves with as many spells and potions you can get your hands on before tonight."
"We're going to want something that belonged to Killian to use to help us locate him in the Underworld." Regina calls out.
"I believe you have that covered." Merlin says eyeing the chain around Emma's neck.
"Yes." Emma says reaching up to grasp the ring. "Killian never took this off, until last night."
"And one more thing…" Merlin says and then waving his hands and white smoke appears, when it clears resting in his hands is Excalibur, in its entirety.
"Get that thing away from me!" Emma seethes taking a step back, glaring at the sword.
"How is that still here?" Mary Margaret asks, stepping forward to rest a supporting arm around Emma.
"It belongs to Killian, he might have left it, but it is still his. And it is quite powerful sword, might come in handy on your travels."
"Fine." Emma says and reluctantly reaches out and takes the sword from Merlin, eyeing their names that are still etched in the blade. "Why are they both still there if the curse is broken?" Emma asks looking up at Merlin.
"Your names will forever be etched into the powerful blade of Excalibur…it was destined to be this way."
Emma eyes the blade for another moment before turning and setting it behind the kitchen counter, she will grab it before she leave, but for now she doesn't even want to look at it. "The only destiny I care about now is the one that I share with Killian."
"Remember that and you should have no problems returning with Killian."
"I'm holding you to that." Emma says sharing one last look with Merlin before turning when David calls her name.
"You might want this." David says holding out Emma's red leather jacket.
With a warm smile Emma takes it and revels in putting it on, she hadn't known if she ever would, and at one point would've bet she never would wear it again. It felt good. It felt right. Turning to the group she realizes they were all staring at her too with similar looks to hers. It would appear they all had missed the Savior in her red leather.
"Let's go get Killian back."