Coming Back to You

Chapter Two

Emma and David carefully helped Mary Margaret to get back up to her feet once the gash over her forehead was fully healed by the Savior's magic. Then, after checking on Maleficent and Lily to make sure they were both alright as well, David and Mary Margaret walked on ahead through the woods back towards the town line, while Emma and Killian walked more slowly behind them hand in hand so each couple could have a little time alone before they arrived back within whatever chaos in town awaited them.

"Killian, I want to thank you," Emma finally said quietly as she looked over at him and ran her hand over his chest tenderly. "If it wasn't for you…"

"You have no need to thank me for anything, Swan," he immediately replied to stop her from what he believed was completely unnecessary, then changed his countenance as he looked over at her and grinned. "Not unless you wish to do so with a kiss."

She smiled at his cheekiness, but then grew serious again as she continued, "Actually, I really do have to thank you. If it weren't for you, for your words earlier on the beach even though I made it difficult for you to try to help me the last few days, I would still be angry and unforgiving of my parents. And I'm not sure that I ever would have been able to forgive them were it not for you. I would have lost them all over again. You made me see how stubborn I was being."

Killian looked ahead at both David and Mary Margaret as he answered, "I'm happy you feel this way, love. But I am certain you would have figured out your feelings within your own time. You always do."

"Maybe," the woman he loved responded with sincerity. "But you got me here a lot faster and Mom was hurt pretty badly today. She could have died and she never would have known how sorry I was. So, thank you."

"Like I said before, I only hope it's my job to protect your heart even when no one is physically trying to steal it," he replied gently. "You know how I feel about you, Emma. I will always be here to protect you."

She smiled at him with humility and then a question she has long since wanted to ask him came to mind as she asked, "What about you?"

The pirate looked over at her again in confusion as he asked in return, "What do you mean, what about me?"

"You never talk about your own parents," she stated to make herself more clear in what she wanted to know about him. "You hardly ever talk about your brother either. What were they like?"

Killian turned away from her as he lowered his head and Emma could tell that whatever had happened to his family centuries ago, it was unquestionably quite difficult and painful for him to talk about. She was about to apologize to him for prying until he stopped her before she could by putting his hook up to her lips to keep her from talking as if he read her thoughts, then looked into her eyes.

"There isn't really all that much to say," he despondently answered. "I told you of how Liam died and that we had been very close."

She nodded as she replied, "That's right. He died because of Pan. Because Pan tricked you both about the dreamshade, which killed him when he tested it on himself."

Killian shook his head, then curtly responded, "Not exactly. It was my inability to convince Liam what we were doing for our King was wrong and his own stubbornness that got him killed. Pan actually spoke the truth about the dreamshade being poison. His only contribution to Liam's death was by him not returning to allow me to repay him the price of the water despite my search for him. I had no idea then that Liam would have to remain in Neverland in order to stay alive."

"Killian, your brother's death wasn't your fault," the Savior replied sadly, using her hand to turn his head around to look her again, then began to caress his cheek when they stopped walking so they could face one another while they talked. "It was Pan's and the fault of this King of yours back then. He must have known about the dreamshade's effects if he sent you to an entirely new and dangerous realm to seek it out."

"What about your mother and father?" Emma continued when she could tell the didn't want to say any more about his brother, hoping to get him to really open up with her about his past the more he was getting to know her own as he worked to break down her walls for her.

He let out a soft sigh and then answered again, "My mother… she died too. On the night I was born as she gave birth."

She couldn't stop herself from letting out a gasp of surprise, but with concern she spoke again saying, "Oh God, Killian. I had no idea. I'm so…"

"It's all right, love," the Captain interrupted her again. "It was a long time ago and clearly I never knew her. As for my father… Honestly, I didn't actually know him like I thought I did either. He loved Liam and I… just not enough. Not enough to…"

"Here you all are!" Regina called out sternly as she and Robin came around David's truck, as well as Emma's yellow bug parked at the town line when the Charmings and Hook exited the woods. "We've been looking all over for you. What the hell is going on out here? You know what… it doesn't really matter because we've got a problem. A big green problem."

Mary Margaret looks at Regina with worry as she asked, "Is your sister alright?"

The former Evil Queen responded curtly, "She better be. Because when I find her again, I swear I'm going to kill her."

"Wait, you mean she escaped from her prison cell?" David questioned with disbelief.

"It was my fault," the archer replied to try to take the blame away from Regina. "I distracted her."

Emma rubbed her forehead in frustration, then Regina looked at those before her as she pulled out the page left behind by Isaac and nervously added, "I'm afraid it gets worse. Zelena isn't the only one who escaped. The Author did too. I was trying to decide my sister's perfect ending with Isaac there to make it happen using his gift. But then I decided I wasn't going to do anything because… well that part doesn't matter right now. My point is, Robin came in and before either of us could stop her or him, they escaped. Isaac used his power to vanish within a cloud of smoke to get to Gold just like this page says. And we didn't see that he had left behind a taser for Zelena to on us to break herself out either. She zapped us both and we were out cold for who knows how long."

Mary Margaret looked at her husband, then to her daughter and Killian, until she turned back to Regina and Robin again as she said firmly, "We need to get to Gold's shop before he and the Author do whatever it is they have planned."

"And seeing as Isaac helped Zelena to escape, she must be heading there now herself in search of protection from us," David stated after her. "Or to make a deal for her own happy ending."

"Actually, I doubt going to the pawnshop will do us any good," Emma finally answered again. "Gold will surely have put up a protection spell around it to keep us from getting in to stop them. We need to come up with another way to do it. We should all head up to the Sorcerer's Mansion to see if we can find something there that will help us. There has to be something."

Kilian nodded in agreement as he responded, "Aye. It's a good idea for sure."

Regina replied, "I agree with the one-handed wonder here and Miss. Swan. It is a good idea. I'll call Henry and have him meet us there too. He knows more about the Author and his books than any of us. Do you want me to transport us all there?"

"Actually, Mary and Margaret and I will take my truck," David answered quickly.

"And me and Killian will take my car," Emma responded as well. "We'll probably be needing them."

They all started to get into their cars, as Regina was about to poof herself and Robin to the mansion like they agreed upon. However, the earth around them began to tremble for nearly a minute until a bright golden light suddenly shot up into the sky above the trees in the direction of the old barn.

Everyone stared up at it in concern as Regina asked, "What the hell is that? It can't be."

The Savior uneasily replied, "That's exactly what it is. It's another time portal and it's coming from where she tried to open it before. Zelena must have made a deal with the Author so that he would open it again for her. We need to go."

"Allow me," the former Evil Queen answered coldly. "Gather close and hold on tight."

"Just get us there," Emma responded crossly as everyone grabbed hold of her before they all disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.