A/n: Sorry for the wait. I have work, and I was going through a bit of writer's block. I realized I didn't want my story to be another plotline where Emma just goes to the underworld, gets Killian's soul, and lives happily ever after. So I had to rethink some chapters, and rewrite a few; including this one. That also explains why the summary is a bit different two. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or the characters within. I believe it belongs to ABC Network.

Apologies, for any mistakes wherein.

Chapter II: Unfinished Business

Making their way from the beach wasn't a difficult task. Everyone stayed much to themselves as they trudged up the hill.

Henry observed the landscape, frowning a bit. Emma caught his vexed expression out of her peripheral vision. "You okay kid?"

"I don't know." He admitted. "I'm getting a sense of de ja vu….Like I've been here before."

"That's because you have." A voice called out. Everyone stared in shock as Mr. Gold appeared before them, poised as always.

He held his hands at his waist, like a he had been patiently expecting them. "Did you enjoy the trip?"

"A real pleasure cruise." Emma retorted rolling her eyes.

"How did you get here?" Henry asked. "You weren't on the boat with us."

"For the dark one, passage to the underworld is a lot…simpler." was the only explanation Gold offered.

As they reached the top of the mountain, the only thing that came into view, was a massive valley.

"The hell?" Regina thought aloud. There was nothing for miles.

"A cloaking spell." Gold explained. "To keep outsiders succeeding in pointless endeavors like this one." He gave a pointed stare towards Emma.

"What is this place?" David asked.

"Welcome to Elysian Fields." He introduced. "The gate to the Underworld."

"If this is some kind of sick trick-" Robin started, but Gold raised a hand. "I assure you, it's not. In order to see the Underworld, you have to be either dead, or have the key."

"The blood of the dark one." Emma finished. She nodded towards his hand. "Good thing you can still bleed."

"I don't plan on making it a habit, dearie." He shot back. Taking out his out his dagger, he once again, sliced his own hand.

Drops of blood fell to the ground, and a ripple effect started. After a moment, Emma gasped discovering they were in the middle of a massive graveyard. Not just any graveyard-the one from Storybrooke.

"Is Hook here?" Snow asked.

"That's an answer you'll have to find out on your own." Gold told them all, before starting to walk away.

"We had a deal, you little imp!" Emma yelled.

"The deal was me to get you here, not actually help you." Gold paused. "I've more than kept my share of the bargain."

"So what will you be doing while we roam the Underworld." Robin asked what was on everyone's mind. Leaving the Dark One unattended was a bad move, and they all knew it.

Gold started to resume his walk down the hill. "That is my business."

"BULLSHIT!" David roared, clearly fed up.

Snow grabbed his arm, a bit worried about his temper. "David,"

"No, I am TIRED of his selfishness at the expense of my family!" He huffed. "Our lives have been nothing but hell since you've been in it!"

"I think you're mistaking me for Regina." Gold's smartass remark made Regina growl.

"Regina only became evil because of you." Snow defended.

"Blame me all you want, but being evil is choice." Gold reminded them.

"Only because you fed and manipulated it." Snow sneered. "Had you not interfered in her life, Regina would have found Robin that much sooner."

Regina paused, snapping her head to Gold. "Is that true?!" She interrogated.

Gold just glared away, not willing to meet her hurtful gaze.

"He knew the future Regina." Snow answered. "He knew you'd eventually find true love after Daniel, and that would stop you from turning dark…"

"And I would have never cast the curse." Regina finished.

"And I wouldn't have had to send our daughter through a damn wardrobe." David snapped. "So here's what's going to happen-you're going to help us find Hook, and bring him back."

"Or what, your majesty?" Gold snorted. He took a step towards David, clenching his teeth. "I'm still the dark one, and let's face it- you don't have it in you."

"But I do." Regina barked. "I've already done so many evil things, and I have no qualms about doing one more."

"And I won't stop until that dagger is buried six feet underground, in your chest." Robin threatened, stepping closer to David.

"I wouldn't test us on this. A little darkness is worth it if it gets rid of the whole." Snow advised. "We've got nothing else to lose."

"Only your lives." Gold spat. Emma waved an arm. "Look around, Dark One…it's too late for that."

"And I've informed a special someone to tell Belle the truth, in-case you return without us." Robin chimed in.

"Do we have a deal?" David asked, raising a brow. "Or should we battle it out, right here and now, once in for all?"

Gold was fuming by the ears, at having a mutiny on his hands. Centuries of crooked deals were finally beginning to take their toll. He stood in frustration, weighing his options.

"Tick, tock crocodile." Emma chanted crossing her arms.

With a snarl, he uttered, "If I must."

"Good. Now let's do this." Emma commanded, looking out on the ghostly hollows of the Underworld known as Storybrooke.

They entered the town, barely comprehending what their eyes were seeing. The clock tower was in shambles, and everything appeared to be either burned or broken.

"Stick close." David advised everyone. No one objected, forming a tight circle as they fell in step.

Emma swallowed down her pain at the sight of her beloved yellow beetle, tarnished and stripped down to a hunk of scrap.

The people were all void of life, but still very much active, running loose like animals. Some were monsters from story books that she remembered as a child. Others were ones she didn't know, but by everyone else's' expressions, they seemed to.

"How is this possible?" She asked absently.

"It doesn't matter." Gold answered vaguely. "This is our reality now."

"We need answers, Gold." Regina demanded.

"And there's only one place you can get them, dearie." He replied.

As they turned the block, he halted at the steps. "We're here."

Regina exhaled. "I should have known." They all stared up at the rundown building that read, MAYOR.

Turning to the group, Gold advised. "Regina has to be the one to go in."

"What, no way! No one goes anywhere alone!" Robin objected.

"Those are the rules." Gold sighed, growing impatient of everyone combatting every word he said. "Whoever is in there won't be receptive to someone who they don't know."

"I'll go." Regina agreed. "Besides, the dead can't hurt us, right?"

"Oh they most certainly can." Gold chuckled. "The real question is, whether they want to."

"You got this?" Emma asked. Regina studied the building for a moment.

"Yeah." She breathed.

Robin took a step closer to her, giving a very inappropriate kiss. "I'm giving you 5 minutes, and then I'm coming in after you."

She touched his cheek, loving his protectiveness. "Deal."

Turning to the front door, Regina felt the magic behind it. She barely touched the door, before it opened wide.

She entered, summoning her magic, to prepare for an attack. The house appeared to have been ravaged. Her beautiful marble interior was covered in soot and dirt. The curtains had been slashed, and her beloved tree in the courtyard, struck down and wilted.

"Damn…" she whispered, feeling a twinge of pain.

As she climbed the rickety steps, she heard noises coming from her office. The door was open, and the chair swiveled slightly.

"Hello." She called out, for lack of a better greeting.

The chair swiveled full circle to reveal…Cora.

"Mother?" Regina whispered, not believing she was here. She didn't look dead at all.

Cora stood, smiling. "Regina. I've waited so long to see you again."

"I could stand to wait a little longer." Regina mumbled, swallowing down all her anger in resentment. She could barely contain her tears.

"And yet, here you are." Cora said simply, folding her hands in front of her.

"I'm here for answers, mother." Regina clarified. "Not to mend old wounds."

Cora cleared her throat. "I see."

"REGINA!" Robin called, his footsteps nearing the top of the stairs. He entered the office in a rush, Emma and everyone else on his heels.

"I see you finally found your true love after all." Cora smirked at Robin Hood. Regina blocked him from Cora's line a view. "That's not why we're here, either."

"Then tell me. Why are you here?" Cora asked. Glancing at Rumple, she laughed. "It must be something major for you to drag the Dark One to the Underworld."

"I assure you, I'm not thrilled." Gold grumbled, glaring out of the window.

"No matter the reason, there are forces at play here beyond your control." Cora warned them all.

"What does that mean exactly?" Emma said, crossing her arms.

"It means dear girl, that you should be aware that this isn't a world that plays by your rules." Cora told her. "It's not about good vs. evil. It's about unfinished business."

"Well I have some." Emma breathed.

"We need to find Hook, mother." Regina told her, cutting right to the point.

"The pirate's dead?" Cora hardly suppressed a surprised chuckle. "I can't say he didn't have it coming…such a waste though. He did have such a handsome face."

"Is he here?" Robin asked. Cora lifted a shoulder. "It's possible. If he has unfinished business, then yes…and I think I know where to find him."

"Wait, you're going to help us? Just like that?" Regina didn't believe it. Her mother was conniving and manipulative. Why should she be any different now?

"Oh Regina," Cora sighed. "I know you don't trust me…but I'm not the one you should fear.

"She's right." Gold agreed. "Hades won't be too thrilled about our little venture, and it's him you should look out for."

"Before we set out on our little journey, I'm curious." Cora commented lightly. "How did he die?"

Emma paused, before telling the truth. "I killed him."

As they walked through town, everyone watched as Cruella's car swerved recklessly in the road.

They passed the all too familiar pawn shop, and Gold paused. There was a force calling to him. "You'll have to go without me." He announced, and headed towards the front door.

"Gold…" David's tone warned, but Cora held up a hand. "Let him go. He has unfinished business."

Gold glanced back at Cora, who nodded. Gold went into the shop.

"Come, we better keep moving." She told them. "You don't want to stand still for too long in this town. Draws attention."

The group followed her as she led them towards the edge of town, into the woods.

"In order to leave this world, you'll each need coins from the Flying Dutchman." Cora revealed while walking.

"The Flying Dutchman is real?" Henry asked. "Awesome."

"Why are we headed there?" Snow asked as they trekked further into the woods.

"You don't belong in this world." Cora reminded them. "And the longer you stay, the harder it will be for you to leave. Call it a failsafe."

"But we haven't found Hook." Emma objected.

"As luck would have it dear, the Flying Dutchman has just acquired a new Captain." Cora raised a knowing brow.

"You assigned him to the Dutchman." Regina concluded with a small smile. Her mother was always one step ahead.

As they neared the edge of the Forrest, the harbor appeared in the valley.

Cora stopped walking. "This part of the journey, I cannot follow." She told the group.

"Why not?" Regina demanded to know. "You said you would take us to him."

"And I have." Cora indicated to the massive ship that stood in the bay. "But Dutchman never makes port, and the waters surrounding it is connected to the river Lethe."

"The river of forgetfulness." Henry clarified. Cora smiled at him. "Well aren't you clever."

"Well that slows things up a bit." David retorted with a sigh.

"The living has nothing to worry about." Cora revealed. "Its waters only affect the dead."

"What exactly won't we remember?" Robin asked.

"The thing I love most." Cora explained, while smiling at Regina. "My daughters."

"Well what are we waiting for?" Emma glanced around the group.

They all started for the clearing, when Cora called out, "A word of caution savior."

Everyone paused as she took Emma's hand. "If he's found peace, it's best to leave him that way."

And with that last bit of advice, Cora vanished.

The ship was exactly as Cora said. Surround by water, floating idly.

"It's probably dropping off souls." Robin whispered. Regina nodded.

"How do we get out there?" Snow whispered the question. "Cora said it doesn't make port."

"That's because there isn't one." Henry observed. "But if my moms made one…" he tailed off.

Emma and Regina glanced at each other. "First time for everything right?" Emma shrugged.

Regina raised a brow. "First, we need a cover." She raised her arms over the water, and concentrated as her palms started to glow purple.

A heavy fog appeared over the harbor. Turning to Emma, she whispered. "Your turn."

Emma grabbed a piece of wood, focusing on it until it glowed. Soon, many pieces fused together to form a rustic bridge to the Dutchman.

They wasted no time, running as quietly as they could. Through a small cloaking spell, they boarded the ship, ducking behind the barrels. Voices could be heard, feet scampering around trying to complete their tasks. But that's not what had everyone frozen.

At the helm, stood Killian…kissing another woman. Emma felt the lungs escape her body as she turned away, leaning her head against the barrels.

"We're too late." She whispered.

"Emma, don't give up." David whispered. "He loves you, he just doesn't remember."

"I know. But what's worse? Forcing his memory only to be in pain again?" she closed her eyes, feeling like lead was in her stomach.

"We come this far, and now you're just going to walk away?" Robin exclaimed.

Emma felt the sting of tears in her throat, but she refused to cry. "You think I want this? To leave without him?!"

"Well you sure as hell aren't fighting for him." Regina scowled.

"Because he's already forgotten me." Emma rebutted. "You heard what Cora said. The river makes you forget the thing you love most."

"What if you're not the thing he loves most?" Robin spoke up. Everyone cut daggers at him, and he sighed. "Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he did live for over 300 years!"

"Yes, and he's had other lovers." Regina agreed solemnly.

"Doesn't that make it even more worth finding out for sure?" Snow asked them all.

But Emma shook her head. "If he's found peace, I won't take that away from him."

"Emma, that's not it and you know it." David argued. "You're scared, I get it, but it's time to stop running."

She didn't confirm or deny the allegation. "Let's just get the coins and go home."

"Are you sure?" Snow asked sadly. She was so disappointed that her daughter had given up so easily.

"Yeah." Emma nodded. "It's over."

"Wait." Regina looked around. "Where's Henry?"

"Look boys!" A voice called out. "We got us an intruder!"

David closed his eyes. "Shit."

A/n: A long chapter, with a lot of information. I promise chapter 3 will be a quicker update!

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-R.