N/A: Here's the second part. It grew much bigger than previously anticipated, so there'll be an epilogue coming over Thanksgiving! Enjoy the holiday!
Emma took a step back and stared at her handiwork, torturing herself into wondering if it'd work or not, when her father burst into the station, frantic. Seeing her unharmed and holding the bag of dust he relaxed. "Is there a reason why we need a broom?"
"You didn't break the circle, did you?"
"No. I tried, but I couldn't. I thought the Snow Queen was doing something."
Emma smiled, but knew this was a minor test. At David's impatient look, she hastily explained the situation. How Gold was controlling Killian and how Regina had given her this dust, meant to prevent magic to work within its circle. The woman had been clear that it was not the strongest magic and if Gold ever realized what was happening he would be easily able to breach it. But as long as he was just casually looking, the dust should be able to conceal them and overrule any commands the imp might have given the pirate. The savior had been trying to convince her dad that waiting until Killian could tell them the whole story was the better plan, instead of just rushing into Gold's shop and starting a fight (and all the while she was trying so hard not to think about how easily the Dark One could just turn Killian's heart to dust) when the pirate came in, his eyebrow raised in question.
David rolled his eyes, acquiescing, and said he'd go outside and be the look out. Emma smiled at the subtle attempt to give them some semblance of privacy, but appreciated the gesture all the same. She quickly repeated the explanation and before she could even finish, Killian was hugging her, his arms around her so strongly she could barely breath. He let her go at once when she said it, his eyes widening and apologies flowing, but she took her hand to his cheek and smiled. "I'm sorry, love. I just…" he trailed off and Emma frowned. She asked him to tell her everything, aware that any minute now Gold might notice the concealment spell and break through it. Killian sighed and threw himself in one of the chairs, his whole body language exuding self-hatred. Then he started talking. About how he had blackmailed the crocodile, how the tables had turned, how worried he'd been the night before, the desperate voicemail, and how Gold found him outside the mansion and their interaction there.
The lights flickered, reminding Emma of Regina's warning the dust was not powerful enough to contain hers or Gold's magic. Killian was intently staring at the floor, ashamed to look up. And maybe terrified he'd see despise in her eyes. She huffed. "You're an idiot." He chanced a look up, his curiosity winning out. "You should've known blackmailing the master manipulator in town would be a terrible idea. But then again, I decided to trust him, so maybe I'm an idiot too. No, don't. You don't get to speak. You get to listen. I'm furious with you. But not because you lied to me – though technically you never lied, you just didn't tell me, which is not much better. Well, actually, I'm mad about that too. But I'm furious you'd just assume I wouldn't forgive you. Maybe before, when I was looking for any excuse to run away I'd take that as proof I shouldn't trust you, but not now. Not after everything." he let his head fall again, shame consuming him from the inside out. "But" she continued, sitting next to him in the couch and forcing him to look at her "you told me the truth and that's what matters. We'll have a lengthy argument about this later. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a crocodile to skin."
He smiled sadly. "That's my line, Swan."
"Well, I'm borrowing it for the moment. Now, let's take back your heart. This way, I can try to steal it myself." she said, with a thin smile, afraid of what he'd say.
He opened the first real smile she'd seen in days. "You can't steal what is already yours, Swan."
She smiled back and was about to lean forward to kiss him when her phone beeped with a text from Regina. Gold just went inside the library. Robin can see him talking to Belle. "Let's go."
.
.
The newlyweds turned as soon as the door closed behind Emma and Killian, and Gold immediately made a face, before plastering a fake smile. "Ms. Swan! So good to see you are back in control."
Emma was not in the mood for falsities. "You have something that belongs to me, Gold. And I want it back."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, dearie." though his clenched jaw suggested otherwise.
"Fine. Where should I start? At how you lied to your wife and gave her a fake dagger, how you tried to kill me last night or just how when your plan to kill me didn't work you took Killian's heart and is using him as your puppet in some sort of sick and twisted plan?"
A heartbeat went by in silence. Then her words sunk and the imp got a murderous look on his face as Belle exclaimed "Rumple!"
"These are dangerous accusations, dearie."
"And all of them are true."
"It's my word against the pirate's."
"Not very hard to guess who I'd trust is it? Besides, all Belle has to do is– Well, she's already doing it."
Gold turned around to his wife and saw her holding the fake dagger he'd given her, tears running down her eyes. "Belle, wait, I can–"
"Don't say you can explain, Rumple. This has no explanation." she threw the dagger in the counter "Return Hook's heart."
He tried to argue, but the librarian was relentless. In the end, the pawnbroker sighed. "I'm sorry, Belle. But I can see I already lost you. I'm not… I can't lose myself as well."
He waved his hand and a glowing, bright red heart appeared within his fingers. He started to squeeze and Killian clutched his chest, letting out a screech of agony, falling to his knees in pain.
"NO!" screamed both Emma and Belle at the same time.
Gold squeezed the heart tighter. Then Emma lost all semblance of control. Her magic exploded out of her the same it had when Cora had tried to rip out her heart. The Dark One tried to fight against the wave of white magic, but the sheer strength of it was too much for him. The product of True Love fighting for her True Love. Sweat broke out on Rumplestiltskin's face and he lifted his other hand to try to fight it, but the battle didn't last long and soon he was thrust backwards, falling unconscious into a shelf. Killian heart started to fall until Emma's magic acted up and kept it in the air. The blonde stepped forward and carefully took it into both her hands. The warmth of the beating organ started sending shivers up her spine and she cupped it against her own chest, still trembling from the sudden release of magic.