A/N: I do not own OUAT and am only borrowing the characters.

Prologue

Terror welled up in Mary Margaret as she watched the Darkness swirl around and between her daughter and Regina. Her grip on David tightened as Emma said something to Hook and then attempted to push him away, turning to the whirling Darkness with the Dark One's Dagger upraised. But the Pirate had no intention of leaving her. Almost faster than she could see he darted forward, wrapping his hook arm around Emma's waist before the Darkness could push him away as it had Robin. His other hand rose to grasp the Dagger with her. What they said to each other she could not hear but she did see Emma drop her head to Killian's shoulder while her arm grasped him around the waist, tightly. His head dropped to rest on Emma's while their grip on the Dagger altered so they were clasping hands with the Dagger in between them. Then the Darkness hid them both from sight. She couldn't tear her eyes from the smoke, clinging tighter to David, hoping and praying her daughter would be okay. She could not lose her, not when they were finally starting to truly connect.

It seemed to take an eternity for the Darkness to swirl up and then down into the two entwined figures. As soon as the Darkness was gone the two collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. They were still clinging to each other and Dagger was clasped between their linked hands. Mary Margaret ran to her daughter and dropped to her knees, aware of Charming next to her. She was facing Emma with Hook's back to her. In relief she saw Emma was breathing slowly and steadily. She was a little pale but appeared otherwise unchanged. Against her will her eyes went to the Dagger. What she saw caused her to nearly collapse in relief. The name on the blade read 'Killian Jones'. She turned to David. "It's not her! We need to get her away before Hook wakes."

David just looked at her. "If Killian is the new Dark One Emma will be our best bet to keep him in control."

"What do you mean if Hook is the Dark One?" Regina asked, she and Robin had knelt on the other side of couple. The former Evil Queen was looking more shaken than Mary Margaret could ever recall seeing her. "Emma's name is on the blade."

To verify she had not read wrong Mary Margaret glanced back at the blade. "It says 'Killian Jones'," she reconfirmed.

Robin reached for the Dagger but before he could grab it Emma and Killian's eyes snapped open simultaneously. The Dagger was pulled closer to their bodies as they each scanned half the area. Mary Margaret felt a shudder run down her spine as Emma's cold eyes scanned over her. She felt like she had been evaluated and dismissed. Next to her David straightened, gripping her tighter. As one they shot up, Killian slipping the Dagger into his inside coat pocket. Neither spoke.

"Emma?" Mary Margaret spoke softly, wondering if anything of her daughter remained.

After a few moments Emma looked back at her and a change seemed to come over her and she relaxed slightly. Recognition filled her eyes and she scrambled to her feet, Killian beside her. They exchanged a look before she looked back to Mary Margaret and David. "We are fine." She looked over at Robin and Regina. "The Dagger stays with us."

Hesitantly Regina took a step forward. "Thank you for what you did. But it might be better if someone else held on to the Dagger."

This time it was Killian that answered and his voice brooked no argument. "We keep the Dagger."

Not happy with that idea, especially since Hook was currently holding it, but knowing they really had no choice Mary Margaret nodded acquiescence. "We should go see Gold for our next move."

Fire flashed in Killian's eyes as he turned a glare on her. "The Crocodile has no say over us."

Emma said nothing, but slid an arm around his waist in support.

David looked between his wife and the former Pirate before stepping forward. "The Apprentice is still at Gold's shop."

"Talking with him is acceptable," Killian decided after another quick exchanged look with Emma.

The savior turned to face them. "I am still me, Killian is still Killian. The Darkness is there but it is not in control."

Almost hesitantly Regina stepped forward, Robin a step behind her. "As your Pirate has mentioned in the past, Darkness is deceptive. It can sneak up on you."

Emma's grip on Killian tightened. "That is why we have each other." Done with the conversation the Dark Ones turned and strode toward Gold's shop.

Before Mary Margaret could follow Regna laid a hand on her arm. "They are partners in this," she warned. "The Dagger holds both their names and they share the Darkness. Attempting to part them could be a very bad idea."

"Or a very good idea," she argued. "By splitting it we would weaken the Darkness enough that Emma's light nature would then have a better chance of defeating it."

Closing her eyes against the desire to argue the notion Regina took Robin's hand and followed the couple to Gold's shop. She had been scared. For one of the few times since she was a young girl she had been absolutely terrified. She could feel the Darkness fighting to find a way in to her. She had worked so hard to change, her Happy Ending finally in reach, and once again the Darkness had reached out to snatch it away. Then Emma had reached out and taken the Darkness from her, Hook's support calling the Darkness even more to them. Now, she vowed to herself, she would help the Savior and the Pirate find their way back to themselves. The Darkness would not be allowed to keep Emma or her Pirate Consort. She recognized something that Mary Margaret would not see. There would be no coming back for one alone. They would both come back to the Light or they would both make the worlds burn in their Darkness. She would help them remember the Light and when the Darkness within grew too strong she would help them fight it.

Henry would not be allowed to lose his other mother.