Chapter 3: Hope
"Snow, we need to go." David said solemnly giving her a gentle tug. "We have another child that needs us." Everyone with th exception of Hook and Gold were still with Emma. Snow hadn't moved from her position by her side since she made it over there. Her hand never letting go of Emma's even as they put her body on the stretcher to take her to the morgue.
"It just isn't fair." She cried weakly.
David said nothing. He stood there with his arms crossed unable to look at Emma or Snow. He knew If he looked at them it would make it real.
"I know there is nothing I can say to make this better but Emma died a hero and that's something no one can take from her. It runs in her blood and I will always miss her and appreciate her sacrifice to keep my happy ending in tact. We know the result would have been far worse if the darkness had tethered to me." Regina assured. She was still holding Henry who had cried to the point of looking numb.
"It doesn't, but thanks Regina. I know you two had a rough start but in the end you were close. You shared something David and I never could with her." Snow said. She approached Regina with open arms.
"I'm so sorry, Snow. For everything." Regina whispered in her ear as they embraced.
"How about we get out of these woods and go back to the loft and have some hot cocoa?" Snow suggested looking at David then Henry. Robin took Regina's hand.
"I think that's a great idea." Robin spoke for the first time since everything has happened.
"With cinnamon." Henry said almost with a hint of a smile. "For mom."
For a moment they all tried to push the horrible events from their mind and tried to embrace the happy memories except for David. His hope was exhausted. He reluctantly left the scene and followed to the loft.
When they arrived they were surprised to see the door was unlocked.
"Let me go first, if there's something waiting on the other side I'm the only one who can protect us." Regina insisted.
She pushed the door open to see hook sitting at the table flipping through the few pictures of Emma and him together while drinking a fresh cup of coffee.
"Hook what are-" David asked but hook cut him off.
"I am hear to restore hope, mate. I spoke with Emma last night."
"You were probably drunk, Captain Guyliner." Regina interrupted rolling her eyes as she and the rest of the group went to have a seat.
"Watch it, Regina. I wasn't drunk I was asleep."
"So you were dreaming, Hook we know you're hurting but-" Hook cut Regina off
"But nothing! Would you bloody listen to me! I know it was real. She was there in my dream and obviously that wasn't real but her words. It was her." He exclaimed
"How do you know for sure?" Snow muttered.
"I think I can prove it." Henry said while approaching the table. He through the story book down to a new page.
"Henry, I thought you destroyed the pen." Regina questioned.
"I thought about it, but I decided not to. Look at this page. It's Hook and my mom on his ship but it's after she died."
"Emma needed to get a message to her true love... She found the phone booth that allowed messages to be sent from the underworld to the world above." Regina read.
"I'm her true love?" Hook gazed at the page tracing his finger over the image of Emma.
"She's trapped in the underworld? why?"
David asked filling with rage.
"She told me she had unfinished business, she didn't know what it was. She just wanted me to know she was okay." Hook trailed.
"How can she be okay when she's stuck in the underworld?" Snow snapped.
"Aye, I agree, but I have more information."
"And what would that be?" Robin Hood asked.
"The crocodile- he played us all. He's the dark one again. He used Emma to channel the darkness directly to him. He's even more powerful than before."
"He has no idea what's coming for him." David yelled as he slammed his fist on the table.
"He betrayed us. Again." Snow stammered.
"Don't pursue him, mate. He'll kill you before you can even take a step towards him." Hook said as he studied the pain on David's face. "Besides, I've already made a deal with the crocodile." A smile creeped on his face.
"And what would that be?" Regina asked looking skeptically at hook. "Any deal with gold comes at a price."
"He's paying the price, his dark one secret remains safe as long as he helps us get into the underworld. You and David, you share a heart right?" Hook looked over at snow and David.
"Yes." They said in unison.
"Aye, then so will we." Hook's voice filled with determination.
"When do we go?" Snow questioned getting up from the table to put her jacket on.
"As soon as I give the crocodile the go ahead."
They arrived back at the place where it all began. It was dusk outside and there was a chill in the air. Hook stood by Gold close to the edge of the water.
"Well what are you waiting for? Bloody do it crocodile!" Hook yelled motioning him to open the portal.
"Are you certain you want to do this? Coming from someone who's been to hell and back trust me when I say it's not a place you want to go."
"Do it!" Hook's eyes filled with rage and his jaw clenched.
Gold gave him a 'you've been warned look' and took the dagger slicing his hand dripping the blood in the water. Fog took over the pond and a ghostly ship approached them. Hook stepped in the water towards the boat while everyone followed distantly behind him.
"I will find you Emma, I will always find you." Hook muttered to himself so he was the only one who could hear his words.
Reviews? Thanks for reading.
