A/N: I was extremely lucky and got my college work out of the at before getting another load tomorrow so I had the time to go over this chapter and you get two updates in two days!

Thank you so much for your reviews - do keep them coming! We have one chapter left after this one and then that is it for Sacrifice!

Enjoy this chapter!

Arwen4eva xxx

After no more than perhaps twenty minutes, Emma shoots up from a nightmare - her breathing heavy and tears beginning to pour quickly from her eyes to fall down her cheeks. Kilian immediately begins to reassure her and she falls back into him, her head going back onto his legs with her face in his stomach.

"It's alright, love. You're alright." Killian mumbles, running his hand over her head soothingly.

Emma turns her head so she looks up at Killian, her eyes running over his features; memorising them. Killian's hand moves to her cheek, brushing away her tears with his thumb.

"I'm sorry." Emma whispers and Killian is quick to shake his head.

"You have nothing to apologise for."

"I should have stayed away from everyone when I became the Dark One; none of this would have happened and you wouldn't be here risking your lives."

"Emma, don't think like that." Killian says, seeing the insecurity shining strongly in her eyes.

Emma shoots up, moving to stand up; showing her walls full force.

"How can I not?!" she asks, raising her voice. "I just dreamt of all of you dying down here, Killian. You are all aimlessly risking your lives to try and save me and if you die down here? I will never be able to forgive myself if that happens to any of you - it will be entirely my fault! You should not be here."

"I am exactly where I need to be, Emma." Killian says.

Emma is about to reply when the door swings open and Henry walks in. When he sees Emma standing, he runs for her and holds her tight enough that she cannot move. Killian partially smiles to himself and looks up at the door when Snow, David, Robin and Regina walk in. He stands and walks to them.

"I got your message." Killian says to David who is looking at his daughter and grandson, conflicting emotions running through him. "Is something wrong?"

"Did you get through to her?" he asks, ignoring Killian's words for the moment.

"I encouraged her to get some sleep. But that may have only been about 20 minutes or so; she woke up from a nightmare and once again pushed me away." Killian says, running his hand through his hair.

"That is some progress at least." Snow says, her characteristic hope showing.

Killian looks back to Emma who is now sitting on the sofa, Henry buried into her side as her hand rests on his head.

"We have a problem; one that concerns Emma." Regina says, gaining Killian's attention.

"What do you mean? What's wrong?"

"Hades." Robin says and Killian's heart sinks to his feet.

"He appeared on our way here and has demanded to speak with us." Regina finishes. "All of us."

"We cannot ignore this." Killian says. "I cannot see Emma hurt like that again and I fear he may do something to her if we do not comply."

"We don't know what he wants from us." Snow points out. "What if we go and he ends up hurting Emma?"

"If that was the case, he could just take her again." Regina says. "I agree with Killian; he could hurt her if we don't go."

"We can't let him hurt mum again." Henry says, pushing his opinion into the conversation from his place beside Emma. The five adults move forward so they are closer to the two on the couch.

"It's okay." Emma says. "You guys can go. I'll stay here."

"I can't let you close yourself away again, mum." Henry says, making Emma sigh.

"I just..."

Regina notices Emma's hesitance and takes hold of Henry's shoulder.

"We will just be outside." she says, glancing at Killian before guiding her son out of the house to wait outside whilst Killian talks to his love. The others reluctantly follow when Regina gives them a look.

He watches them leave before kneeling in front of Emma, using his hook to tilt her chin up so her eyes land on his.

"What is it, Emma?" His voice is quiet, ensuring he knows that he will not push, too much.

"I cannot face him again." she whispers after a moment.

"I know that he hurt you, Emma. But you are so incredibly strong." Killian says, placing his hand on her thigh, not too far above her knee, his thumb running over the material of her jeans.

"What he did to me..."

"Do you want to tell me? You don't have to explain anything in detail, you can just say things. It may help you, love."

Emma takes a deep breath, one hand moving to rest upon his and the other going around his hook.

"He beat me, obviously, because he didn't want me saving people down here." she mumbles after another moment of silence. "He made me watch images of you all happier without me - of Henry wishing he had never found me and being better off with Regina. He taunted me too, saying that you don't love me and-."

"Emma," Killian says, interrupting and not wanting to hear anymore. "listen to me now. Every word I am about to speak is the truth. I will not abandon you again. I am going to be here and never leave you because you deserve so much love and so much happiness."

Emma doesn't believe his words; knowing that Killian cannot stay in the Underworld. She forces a slight smile, however, to ease him.

"Now, how about we go and face this Hades and show him just how strong and amazing my Emma Swan is?" Killian pushes back a piece of hair with his hook after extracting it from Emma's grip.

Emma looks at Killian with partially disguised fear. "Alright."

...

Hand in hand, Killian and Emma walk with the others to the docks, the waters below containing poor unfortunate souls who will remain to be forever lost. Emma squeezes Killian's hand tight, her stomach clenching with nerves. Gold joins them, curious about the nature of Hades' summons.

"It's alright, love." Killian says as they stop on the docks. "You're completely safe."

"Don't speak too soon." a voice says as Hades appears in a flame of blue. He smirks when he sees Emma take a step back, moving partially behind Killian. "I have noticed how you have all been so determined to save the Saviour but unfortunately, it is never that easy."

Emma holds on to Killian's hand and arm a bit tighter and Snow steps forward, moving to Emma's side to offer silent reassurance.

"You have a choice; only one. You can either save Emma or you can save two from the River of Souls and eternal torment." Hades says and waves his hand.

Milah and Liam suddenly appear over the water, gagged and their hands tied together. Their legs are flailing as if they can propel themselves back onto land and away from danger. Seeing their struggle, Emma doesn't give her actions a second thought.

"Let them go. I don't need saving." Emma says, releasing Killian and moving over towards the two, keeping her eyes on Hades; a challenge.

"Is that the final decision?" Hades asks, a smile on his face.

"Emma-" Killian tries but she cuts him off.

"It is. Release them." Emma orders and Hades drops his arm. Milah and Liam end up just in front of Emma and she goes to them, ungagging their mouths.

"For the living, transport is ready to take you away; go to the graveyard. Say your petty goodbyes and leave my domain before I trap you here. The portal will remain open for ten minutes before closing forever."

With a sly grin, Hades disappears in blue flame. Emma unties Liam's hands then Milah's and helps them to stand.

"You should not have done that, Cygnet." Liam says, his gaze flicking to his brother.

"I refuse to let you be stuck in eternal torment." Emma says. "You two should go; just in case Hades returns."

Milah nods and Liam quickly goes over to Killian. They hold each other close, saying their goodbyes.

"I'll look after her. I promise, little brother." Liam mumbles before drawing back.

The grief that Killian had partially pushed aside comes back full force and he hasn't the heart to correct Liam, as he has always done. Liam pats Killian's shoulder before moving over to Milah who has finished talking to Gold, quite civilised.

The group watch as Liam and Milah walk off, glancing back once before disappearing.

"There must have been another way." Henry says, moving to Emma and holding on to her arm. "We could have found a way to outsmart him."

"There wasn't another way, kid. I could not let them be stuck for all eternity in that river. That isn't fair." Emma says and looks at everyone. "We should get you to the graveyard; I want to make sure you get home."

Emma holds on to Henry a bit tighter before summoning her powers. Within seconds, the grey smoke clears from around the group and they find themselves surrounded by graves, the broken clock laying in front of them with the hands turning.

"I cannot accept that we cannot save you, Emma." Killian says, looking to Regina. "We need to try the heart split, please."

Emma drops her hold on Henry, her mouth falling open.

"Heart split?" Emma asks and Killian turns to her, holding her hand in his.

"It is a good plan, Emma. It's your chance to leave with us and come home." Killian brings Emma's hand up to his chest, over his heart. "It belongs to you regardless, love."

Emma hesitates for a moment before nodding, a smile blooming on her lips. Killian presses a kiss to her forehead before turning to face Regina.

"Do it, please."

Regina shakes her hands before looking at Killian apologetically. She reaches in suddenly, pulling out his heart. The group watches as she splits it in half and hands one half to Killian. He turns to Emma who steps slightly closer with a reassuring, but almost frightened, smile on her face. He reaches forwards, about to push his heart into her chest when he doubles over, extreme pain radiating suddenly from his chest.

"Killian?!" Emma exclaims, grabbing hold of his body, supporting him.

Regina quickly takes the half heart out of his hand, melds it together and pushes it back into his body. The pain fades and he is able to grasp his breath.

"Why didn't it bloody work?" Killian asks, his voice strained.

"I think I may have an idea." Gold says, stepping forward. "Emma has been down here for too long; even if it is only a few days. Her body is beginning to rot so even if it was possible to revive her, I don't think her body would be in the best condition."

David looks at his daughter, shaking his head.

"Snow's heart brought me back. It has to work for Emma too." he says, knowing that he is grasping at straws. But, straws are all he has; all they have.

"But, it was less than a minute before it was done, David." Regina says, unshed tears forming in her eyes.

"You should just go." Emma says. "Go back home, be safe and leave me here. There is no other way to save me."

"Wait, there may be." Henry says, unwilling to let Emma go. "There's a myth of two people, Orpheus and Eurydice - she died and he followed her to the Underworld and saved her thanks to something called ambrosia, the food of the Gods."

"Where can we find it?" Killian asks, his voice desperate.

"In the centre of the Underworld so for Storybrooke, that would be beneath the clock tower." Henry says.

"We should go. It is worth a shot." Killian says, looking to Emma who is beginning to shake her head.

"I agree, Emma." Snow says. "I don't think I can lose my daughter again, it is worth it."

Emma breathes out for a second before moving and embracing her parents at the same time. David's hand goes to cradle the back of her head whilst Snow's arms go around Emma's waist.

"I love you both, so much." Emma mumbles.

"We love you too, baby." Snow whispers.

"And we always will, sweetheart." David finishes.

They allow themselves a moment before Emma withdraws and smiles weakly at them. She moves to Regina and tells her to keep an eye on Henry; regardless of what happens.

"Of course, Emma." Regina says and she smiles. Robin smiles too and Emma nods her head.

"You'll find it, mum. I believe in you." Henry says, surging forward and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Thanks, kid. But remember, no matter what happens, I love you so much." Emma says, kissing the top of his head.

Henry withdraws and Killian moves to stand in front of her.

"Right then, love. Let's go and save you." Killian says.

"Wait!" Henry says, a thought suddenly coming to him. "There is no magic that far down and there is a test of some description that requires a heart. You need to remove it before you go."

Emma looks at Killian before she, as gently as she can, removes his heart and conjures a bag, placing it within.

"We'll be back soon." Killian says to everyone before taking Emma's hand and disappearing before their very eyes.

...

The ride in the elevator downwards is not an easy one, the cage dropping and moving too much to feel comfortable, not even for a second. Emma and Killian hold on to each other as they descend, Killian's grip tightening when they land on the bottom with a loud thump.

"Bloody hell. Are you alright, love?" Killian asks, ensuring that Emma is steady on her feet before he raises the gate to allow them to exit.

"I believe this is our stop." Emma says absently before walking forwards. She sees the light ahead and decides to follow it, Killian falling in step beside her.

"What's that?" Killian asks as they near a stone table with a set of brass scales upon it.

When they are close enough, Emma sees the inscription on the base of the scales but her brow immediately furrows when she doesn't recognise the language.

"The instructions couldn't be in English?" Emma asks, and Killian steps forward.

"Only a heart filled with true love can pass." he says, reading it with ease.

Emma turns to face Killian, surprise on her features.

"Seriously?" she asks.

Killian shrugs. "You'd be surprised what they teach you in the Royal Navy. The only question is, what the bloody hell does it mean?"

Emma looks back to the scales, her eyes running over it for a moment before it clicks.

"I think I know." she says, her voice slow. "I think you have to weigh your heart to see if your love for me is true."

Killian looks at Emma, wonder and fear on his features.

"Are you saying that what we share is..."

"Well, we're about to find out." Emma says. Killian fights a smile, instead looking down and away from Emma's gaze.

"I know you love me, and I know for sure that I love you with everything that I am. But true love is the rarest magic of all." Killian looks up again, almost bashfully. "Are you certain?"

Emma smiles slightly before shrugging.

"Who could be? But, I know that thanks to you I am able to admit how I feel about you; I used to have my armour to protect me but I need to remind myself that I don't need it with you. I never need it with you."

Killian looks at the woman he loves with sheer wonder in his eyes. They smile at each other, suddenly shy in each other's presence. Killian opens the bag dangling from his hook and removes his heart, the bright red rhythmically drumming in his hand.

"Here it goes." he mumbles, turning to face the scales. Emma takes a step back and both of them hold their breath as Killian lowers his heart onto one of the dishes.

His fingers release their grip and he steps back so he is beside Emma. They both look around, desperate for some sign that they have passed the test but nothing arises.

"It didn't work." Emma says, her voice small and filled with sorrow.

Suddenly, Killian chokes in his breaths, pain filling his entire being.

"Killian?! What's wrong?" Emma asks, frantically grabbing Killian.

"The... the pedest... my heart." Killian pushes out and Emma quickly stands to retrieve his heart. However, she is stopped when a cyclone of fire surrounds her, slowly pushing pain into her dead body.

"Emma!" Killian shouts.

"Get your heart, Killian!" Emma exclaims, gritting her teeth.

Killian shakes his head before pulling himself up and lunging towards Emma. As they fall, he turns enough so Emma falls on him instead of on the floor. They breathe heavily for a moment before the sound of doors opening fills the small space. Both heads snap up.

"It worked. It's true love." Emma whispers before turning her eyes to Killian, her gaze tender and filled with complete love. "You chose me."

...

"No, no, no." Killian says, running forwards when he sees the cut tree. He falls to his knees, picking up a piece of ambrosia and watching it crumble to dust in his palm before it tumbles back down to the ground. "They're dead."

"They have been for some time." Emma says, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Killian."

"No, there has to be seeds or clippings or something that we can use to save you." Killian says, desperately searching the ground for something, anything. Emma bows her head but it shoots back up when the ground begins to shake and rocks fall from above.

"Killian, the portal is open. Come on, let's go." Emma says, tugging on his arm and hauling him to his feet.

"No, Emma. Not without the ambrosia." Killian says, turning his head to continue looking. Emma puts her hand on his cheek, turning him back to her. "Not without a way of saving you."

"We will find something else, but we need to leave; now." she says and grips Killian's hand tight. She pulls slightly and he begins to move, following his love with his dread growing with each passing second.

...

"Come on. We don't have much longer until the portal closes, love." Killian says as he steps into the elevator. When he feels Emma's grip disappear from his hand, he turns and looks at her questioningly.

"I'm not going up with you, Killian." she says, her voice quiet. Killian looks like he has been physically struck.

"But, you said..."

"I'm sorry I lied but," Emma moves forwards slightly. "you weren't going to leave that chamber otherwise."

"No." Killian says, grabbing hold of one of Emma's hands tightly. "Emma, I came to the Underworld to save you. I refuse to go back without you."

"I'm sorry; we don't have that choice because there is nothing up there that will save me." Emma says, unable to keep eye contact with Killian. "Look, I want to say my goodbyes down here without everyone watching. I want this moment for us, and only us."

Killian grabs hold of Emma's arm now, trying to pull her in to the elevator but to no avail.

"We've already had more time than we were ever meant to, Killian. I should not have saved you in Camelot, because that is what led up to this point. I am paying for that mistake now, as I intended to."

"I just... I don't want to say goodbye. We have had to do that far too much." Killian says, tears springing free and falling down his cheeks.

Emma steps forward, so their fronts are pressed together, and places her hand on his cheek. She thumbs away the tears that have fallen so far.

"I know, but we need to say goodbye again." Emma whispers. "As much as it hurts, it needs to be done."

Emma doesn't allow him to reply in that moment, instead pulling him in to her, their temples resting against one another. Killian's hand rises to thread into her hair, knowing that he will never be able to do this again. They stay together for a few moments, before Emma breathes out a sob and Killian begins to cry in earnest.

"Just promise me one thing." Killian says, pulling back with his hand still in her hair. "Don't let me, or your family, be your unfinished business. Move on from here and be happy. Don't wait around for me to show up one day."

Emma forces a smile, her entire being hurting at the sight of her true love crying, before nodding. "I'll try."

They look at one another for a few more moments before Emma pushes him into the elevator. Killian presses a kiss to Emma's forehead before extracting his hand from her golden tresses and reluctantly pulls down the gate. Emma, however, stops him when the gate is halfway down, both of their faces wet with tears they are still crying.

"I love you, Killian." Emma says, looking into Killian's eyes.

"I love you, too." Killian whispers back before surging forwards and pressing his lips to hers. The mould together, as they always have and always should have, as their lips push fiercely together. Emma's hands go to the lapels of his jacket before one rises to the nape of his neck. Killian's hand goes to Emma's cheek. Emma is the one to pull away, forcing another small smile before she pushes the gate the rest of the way down.

Their hands immediately link and for a solitary moment, nothing happens. But then the elevator begins to rise and both of their breaths catch, their chests tightening and grief clouding both of them.

Emma does not break eye contact as he rises up, not until his hand is close to being out of her reach and she places a kiss, then a second, then a third, on his knuckles. Killian's face is streaked with tears as he looks down at his love, nay, his true love. Emma's hand slips from his and falls heavily at her side. His continues to reach down as if he can touch her again.

'Just once more.' Killian pleads inwardly. 'Just let me hold her one more time.'

"Emma, please." The words slip out of his mouth unbidden as he tries to reach out before having to pull his arm into the lift. "No..."

When he is out of sight, and the lift picks up speed, Emma allows her tears to fall unchecked, harder and faster. It is a few seconds after he disappears that a piercing anguished scream is permitted fall from her lips.

...

Killian runs out of the lift, tears still falling and he quickly reaches the graveyard.

"Where's Emma?" Snow questions, seeing Killian arrive alone. The pirate stops moving, handing the bag to Regina. She opens it and extracts his heart.

"There was nothing there; all of the ambrosia was dead." Killian says, turning to Regina and looking at her in despair. She pushes his heart back in his body and his new grief hits him full force, threatening to buckle his knees.

Henry runs to him, hugging him tight and Killian does the same. He rests his forehead on the teenager's head, trying to compose himself.

"You couldn't save her?" Snow asks, instinctively seeking comfort in David.

"She wants us to leave, even if she cannot." Killian says before going silent.

"Then, we should respect that; respect her." Regina says, on the verge of tears before she grips Robin's hand tightly and steering him to the portal. They ensure the others are following before walking through, Gold going first.

Henry is pushed towards Snow as she moves forward and David watches as Killian turns in the direction of the library, where he left his true love.

"Killian, we have to go." David says, gripping Killian's arm. "I am sure you did everything to help her."

"Did I?" Killian asks brokenly. His gaze continues to scan the graveyard, hoping that Emma will suddenly run towards them.

"I like to think I know you know, Killian. You would never have given up on my daughter unless she told you to come back without her." David says, tugging him backwards. "We have to go, Killian."

"I just..."

"I know, I don't want to leave her either. But we have to go."

Killian allows himself to be guided to the portal. He frantically turns, his last piece of hope fading when Emma isn't there before allowing David to drag him through the portal, the magic ceasing and their way home vanishing; any trace they were ever there, disappearing for good.

End note: Please review! :)