A/N: Here we go, chapter 3! Thank you so so much for your wonderful reviews and support for this story! I do hope that you continue to enjoy what is to come in future chapters.

Apologies for any typos!

Keep Smiling!

"I think I know of a way that we can return to the Enchanted Forest."

Emma sits up quickly and suddenly which makes her cry out in pain and Killian holds her, gently pushing her back down. Snow places her hand on Emma's arm and soothes her, continuing to do so until her breathing has regulated and she has relaxed.

"How?" Emma asks Regina. The reformed Queen steps forward to stand on the opposite side to Killian. "How can we get there?"

Regina takes a deep breath, hers still slightly irregular. "We can create a portal which can stay open if we fuel it. It needs to be set up in a place that can act as a doorway and has done so before."

"The Sorcerer's Mansion?" Emma asks and Regina nods in confirmation.

"We can set it up in the ballroom where the portal to Arendelle was and anyone who wishes to go through, can." Regina says, glancing at Snow and Killian too.

"You need to do it today." Emma says, drawing all attention to her.

"I will need your magic too, Emma, as I am not strong enough on my own. Once it is cast, it will take at least a week to form and open."

Emma shifts, groaning in her pain, before trying to pull herself up.

"No, Emma," Snow says, pulling her daughter back. "you can't right now. You need to rest."

"You have to let me do this." Emma says, trying again to sit up despite her pain and has Killian push her down as well this time. "I have to do this."

Emma keeps trying before crying out and beginning to quietly sob in frustration. Killian places his palm on her cheek, trying to soothe her. He whispers sweet nothingness to her and a few minutes later, she has calmed enough.

"Emma, I know that you are desperate to go back but you need to heal before trying to use such a large amount of magic." Regina says, her voice soft. "Until then, we will protect you from Gideon and we can make sure that you aren't alone."

There is a slightly tense silence for a few moments before Emma nods.

"Can someone get a nurse please?" she asks and Regina nods, leaving the room.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Snow asks and Killian sits back in his chair, Emma grabbing his hand.

Before she can reply, Regina returns with a nurse in tow.

"Are you alright there, darling?" the young nurse asks Emma, a bright smile on her face.

"Whale said that I could have more painkillers." Emma says and the nurse moves over to check her vitals.

"Are you still in a lot of pain?" the nurse asks, moving away from the bed. Killian resists the temptation to roll his eyes at the question.

"I've moved too much, too soon." Emma admits and squeezes Killian's hand.

The nurse nods. "I'll go and get you some more. I won't be long."

The nurse leaves and Killian raises her hand to press a kiss against her knuckles.

"You will feel better soon enough, Emma." Regina says. "A few short weeks is all I ask to make sure that you are alright."

Emma nods, inwardly sighing and looks back up at the door when the nurse comes back in. She moves to Emma's right side where Snow and Regina stand and connects the syringe to her IV cannula to administer the painkillers.

"This is slightly stronger and will help you relax a bit more." the nurse says and Emma can already feel it beginning to take effect. "Try not to move until tomorrow to help your body heal a bit better."

Emma nods, settling back into the pillows. The nurse detaches the syringe, pats Emma's shoulder and then leaves.

"Do you need anything, baby?" Snow asks and Emma relies without hesitation.

"Grilled cheese?" she says, knowing that she isn't really hungry but still wants it.

"Of course. I can pop by your house and get some pyjamas for you too, if you'd like?"

Emma smiles gratefully and tilts her head into the kiss that her mother presses to her forehead.

"I won't be long, I promise." Snow says. "I love you, Emma."

"I love you too, mum."

Just as Snow leaves the room, Henry jogs in, storybook in hand and rucksack on his back.

"Mum!" he says and goes up to her left side, carefully leaning over her to hug her.

"Hey, Henry." Emma mumbles, pressing a kiss to the side of his head just before he pulls away.

Henry places the book on the top of the bed and removes his bag from his back, placing it on the floor beside the multiple machines. He takes the book back in his hands and sits on the arm of Killian's chair, partially leaning against the pirate.

"I'm going to see what I have in my vault to help us, Emma." Regina says, smiling at them all as she approaches the door.

Thank you, Regina." Emma says. "Really, thank you."

Regina smiles and bows her head for a second. "It's my pleasure, Emma."

Regina then leaves with a promise of returning later on in the day. Henry excitedly begins to read his grandparents' story with vigour, taking extra glee reciting the altered version with Prince Charles and Princess Leia. As he reads, Killian laughs along in all of the appropriate moments and Emma breathes out her laughter, the medication in her body helping her to relax.

Snow returns just as Henry is finishing the story, a Granny's takeout bag and envelope in one hand and a small overnight bag in the other. She places the bag on the bottom of the bed before pulling the table up towards Emma, putting the takeout bag and envelope on the surface.

"What's this?" Emma questions, picking up the pale blue envelope.

"Granny gave it to me. She says that everyone is thinking of you and wishing you well. She also said that you will be getting free food anytime you go in from now."

Emma smiles, ripping the paper to reveal a card with 'Get Well Soon!' in bold and shiny letters. She opens it as Snow gets the food out and she feels tears prick at her eyes. The inside of the card is scattered with little messages and well wishes from many people - some she may not have even spoken to.

Emma looks up at her mother. "Can you thank Granny and everyone else for me, please; since I am stuck in here?" she asks and places the card on the table and reaches for an onion ring.

"Of course I can, sweetheart." Snow says, sitting in the extra chair that had been brought in from another room the day before.

"Thank you." Emma mumbles before munching on the onion ring.

Henry and Killian go through the book together before agreeing on the next story. Henry begins reading it and it isn't long before the food is forgotten, a few bites of the grilled cheese and nearly half of the onion rings eaten, and Emma is being lulled to sleep by her son's voice and her pirate's soothing strokes against her hand.

...

It is four days later when Emma feels like she may be able to breathe once more. She is finishing getting dressed, throwing on a loose cardigan over her tank top and jogging bottoms. Killian picks up her bags of clothes, cards - including the one Henry had presented her two days previously from all of the school children - and small presents gifted to her.

"Are you ready to go, love?" he asks, shouldering the bag.

Emma breathes out a sigh of relief and nods. "Definitely."

She takes Killian's hand, reassuring him that he will not hurt her since the small dressings from where the multiple needles were are in the crook of her elbows, not her hands. They walk out of the room and Whale greets them, handing Emma a bag full of medication and dressings that she will need to change daily.

"If you have any issues at all, big or small, come back in immediately. We want you getting better, not worse." Whale says with a slight smile.

Emma nods. "Thank you, Whale." she says. "I know things have never been the best between us and I really appreciate everything you have done for me."

"My pleasure, Emma. Besides, it is the least I can do for someone as selfless as you."

Emma smiles, nodding again before beginning to walk out of the hospital she has been in for practically a week. They walk slow, Emma ending up linking her arm with Killian's for extra support as they move through the corridors. They stop every so often, Emma thanking a nurse she sees who had helped her at some point during her time in hospital. They walk out of the front door and see Snow getting out of her car.

"Hey, mum." Emma says, stopping a few paces from the car, feeling drained already. "Thank you for driving us home, I really appreciate it."

Snow smiles and takes the bag from Killian and the bag from Emma's hand. "It's no problem at all, sweetheart." She opens the door for the back seat behind the passenger seat before opening the passenger door and putting the bags onto the seat.

Killian helps Emma sit down in the back, slowly easing her down and allowing her to hold onto him tightly as it becomes painful. Once she is down and releases her tense breath, she lifts her leg to place them inside the car.

"There we go, love. Almost home now." Killian says, pressing a kiss to Emma's temple before leaning back out of the car, closing the door and jogging around to get in behind Snow.

Emma takes hold of Killian's hand, squeezing strongly before resting their hands against her thigh.

"Almost home."

...

She slowly sits down on the couch in the living room with Killian's help, Snow having just left with a lengthy hug and plenty declarations of love so she can pick up Neal from Ashley's, spend time with him and then explain what has happened for when she wakes David up.

"Do you need anything, sweetheart?" Killian asks her once she is settled. "I'll go and fetch you a blanket from that tumble machine for you so you don't get cold. Do you want anything else?"

Emma shakes her head. "Thank you, Killian."

Killian presses a kiss to the crown of her head. "Anything for you, my love."

He is walking in the direction of the kitchen when Regina walks through the door, Henry on her heels.

"Hey, Emma. How are you feeling?" Regina asks, watching as Henry sits beside Emma on the couch.

"Sore but it is so nice to be out of that hospital." Emma says, gingerly shifting on the couch so Henry can shift closer.

"I bet it is." Regina says, turning her head to Killian as he walks back into the room, blanket in hand. "I have put a protection spell over the house so only those you trust can enter which means that nothing can even touch you if you don't want it to in here."

Killian unfolds the blanket and drapes it over Emma's body to help keep her warm.

"Thank you, Regina." Emma says, smiling at her before turning her head to her son. "Shouldn't you be at school?"

Henry shakes his head. "We're looking at writing stories at the moment and I think we both know that I can definitely do that. Anyway, it is more important for me to be here than at school which is why I am going to be staying with you and Killian for a while."

Emma smiles at her son, brushing his hair back before pulling him into her so he rests against her good side. Killian gestures for Regina to follow him and they move into the kitchen so they can talk quietly.

"We have to make sure that we don't push Emma." Killian says, glancing over to his love. "She is desperate to leave but needs to heal. No pressure on her."

Regina nods in agreement. "It will be hard for her. Gideon has not been found and Belle has no idea where he could be. But, we will protect her; the sword is safe - I checked - and so is Emma."

Killian runs his hand roughly through his hair before scratching behind his ear. "What about the lad?"

Regina smiles slightly. "It was his idea. He is adamant to stay near her. He wasn't coping well even though he saw her awake. I think he was petrified that it was all a dream and Emma did die."

"He isn't the only one." Killian admits. "I have barely slept with her in hospital in fear that when I wake up, she will not be there."

Regina places her hand on Killian's arm. "She isn't going anywhere."

"I know." Killian says, releasing a breath. "How is Robin?"

"Overwhelmed? He touched his arrow quiver and ended up with all of the memories of the Robin that we knew." Regina says, hope in her tone. "He found the feather that Roland intended for me and he asked to be left alone to process everything."

Killian smiles. "It appears you have your happy ending after all."

"It seems so indeed."

They're silent for a moment, both glancing at Emma and Henry.

"Do you think that she will listen to Henry?" Killian asks, wanting his love to heal but knowing exactly how stubborn she can be.

"I do hope so." Regina says. "I am hoping that she will listen to us too. I do wrong that her parents' situation will add pressure to her that she really does not need."

"Is there any progress to find a way to break the curse on them?" Killian asks, leaning against the table.

Regina shakes her head, a sigh escaping her. "Nothing still. The Evil Queen is still in my vault too and unable to use her magic so I know she will not throw a spanner in the works."

Killian nods, gaze drifting back over to the two most important people in his life. Henry once again has his storybook out and is reading to Emma as he continues leaning against her. She has her arm around her son and periodically looks at him, mapping out his features each time; burning each tiny little thing into her mind.

"What do we do next?" Killian asks, his gaze remaining fixed on Emma and Henry.

"We see how Emma heals and take it day by day to know exactly what; but when she is healed enough, we are going home."

End note: Please review! :)