To Save The Saviour

Chapter One

Those soft jade coloured eyes pleading with him to understand. The warmth of her hand holding his to her heart. He had selfishly wanted to find another way. Any other way as long as she stayed with him and Henry. This was not meant to happen. She and Henry were supposed to get their happy endings even if it wasn't with him.

He was lost without her. It was her decision but he wanted someone else to blame. Her parents for not trusting that the product of True Love would not become evil. Rumplestiltskin for not seeing that random acts of kindness would clear some of the black consuming his heart. Regina for getting her happy ending.

The nights were the worst. During the day he could work with Belle and Regina to bring Emma home or take Henry out on the Jolly Roger. At night he relived the precious moments he had believed he would get more of. Those hugs, the touches and those fiery kisses that left him wanting more. So he would read or go to the Rabbit Hole to stay awake.

Henry found him at the Rabbit Hole one night. The toll of loosing Emma showed on the Pirate. Henry knew it was True Love that the Pirate felt for his Mother. Many a woman was trying to catch his eye but he paid no attention to them. It was time to get the Pirate some help. He knew who to get, just not how to get word to her.

Perhaps his other Mother would know how to get the only other woman Killian Jones had in his life. He had trusted Killian with the dagger which now bore his Mother's name, but so far none of them had been able to locate Merlin. It was seeming hopeless.

Henry had suggested after the first week that they should find someone else to carry the burden of the darkness. Killian had pointed out that Emma would never get over the guilt no matter how willing he was to take the burden for her.

Obviously, the Pirate had considered a number of possibilities, but it always came back to: Would Emma be able to live with an act to save her that would harm another. They all knew the answer would be no. After all, she had taken on the burden so that Regina would get her happy ending. If you could consider it a happy ending with her pregnant Sister in town carrying Robin's child.

It had been too long. Time to bring in some help and get his Mother back. Henry left Killian to his drink and went to get help sending a message from his other Mother.

Charming slammed another book shut. Nothing. Absolutely nothing to tell them where to find Merlin. Henry's idea of transferring the burden of darkness to someone else was looking more and more appealing. "Someone must know where to find Merlin."

Snow looked up from where she was feeding Neal. "We'll find him David. Perhaps we should get Killian to summon Emma. She may have some idea from wherever she is." Really she just wanted to see her daughter.

"She wouldn't want Henry to see her like that." They had already gone through this. Hook had been surprisingly level headed when they had made the suggestion. It was obvious that he had wanted to, but had made his first thought be what Emma's reaction would be.

"I know." Snow frowned when Henry came bursting in the door with Regina, Robin and Roland following. "Henry, are you alright?" It was getting late and Henry had been staying with Regina.

"We know who can help us but we need to send a message to another realm." Henry was beginning to feel hopeful. Just maybe they would have his Mother back sooner than they had thought.

"We need to contact Hook's Sister." Regina explained. She was kicking herself for not thinking of this sooner. Snow has a better connection with the birds needed for such a task. "She's met Merlin remember?"

Of course. Why hadn't any of them thought about this. "I thought she might be able to help Killian." Henry grabbed a sheet of paper and started scribbling a note. "I forgot she knew Merlin."

Charming didn't want to dampen his Grandson's spirits but from memory it had been a while since Esmeralda had seen Merlin. "She might not know where Merlin is Henry. But I think you might be right about Hook needing her." Regardless it was still a good idea to send for her.

Henry read through his message and satisfied, handed it to his Grandmother. Snow opened the window and held her hand out until a bird landed on it. "Get this message to Esmeralda at Notre Dame." The bird appeared to nod as Snow attached the message to its leg and then flew off into the darkness. "Do you really think she can help?" Or was it too much to hope for?

"The last time she was here, she appeared to have quite the knack for resolving conflict." Robin had heard stories of the Pirate's Gypsy Sister. He was interested to meet the woman.

"Yes, well she's certainly gifted even if she doesn't know what she's doing most of the time." Regina quietly wished that she had been the one to find the answer. After all, she felt responsible for Emma being in this situation. Not to mention she could see the loss on Hook's face clearly no matter how well he tried to hide it and it was adding to her feelings of guilt.

"Someone should let Killian know." It suddenly occurred to Snow that he might not want his Sister involved considering he had lost his True Love already.

"Let's wait until we find out if she can get here." Henry didn't want to add to Killian's problems with the disappointment of Esmeralda not being able to get to Storybrooke.

The bartender signalled to Killian that it was the last round just as a shapely pair of legs in a skin tight dress slipped onto the bar stool next to him. "Buy a lady a drink Sailor?"

Killian was about to decline when he realised he recognised the voice. Turning to look at the woman beside him, he barely recognised his Sister in the dress she had obviously borrowed. "That's a lovely dress you're almost wearing Es."

"You know, I don't understand why this realm feels the need to walk about wearing only a corset." Esmeralda grinned mischievously at her Brother.

"What are you doing here?" He looked around him. "Where's Quasi?" The Hunchback wasn't usually far from his Sister.

"Back in Paris. The last time we were here somebody decided to paint faces on all of the bells. Quasi was not happy." She searched his face for a moment. "I'm here because you need me." She stood and pulled him from his stool. "Come on. You look as though you haven't slept for months."

There was no point trying to solve anything right now. Killian was too exhausted and this outfit Snow had suggested she wear so that she didn't stick out was about to cut off her circulation.

"I'm staying on the Jolly." Killian staggered beside his Sister. Too tired to even notice the number of men ogling her. "You could stay at Granny's if that would be more comfortable."

"I'll be fine." Esmeralda wasn't as fond of the sea as her Brother, but she wasn't leaving him like this. She had been given a rushed explanation of what had happened when she arrived and was poured into this sorry excuse for a dress.

They made it to the Jolly Roger and Killian collapsed on the bed. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. The moonlight shining through the porthole caught on something shiny poking out from under the pillow.

Esmeralda moved closer quietly. The dagger baring Emma's name. Killian was sleeping with the dagger. Just then Killian murmured Emma's name in his sleep and the atmosphere in the cabin immediately changed.

The next minute something crashed into Esmeralda knocking her to the floor. "Ow." Esmeralda scrambled to her feet and found herself face to face with Emma Swan. Or at least that's who it looked like.