Chapter 4: Reckoning

Killian took a step forward, beside Emma, his body forming a shield in front of Henry. "Blackbeard. I have to say, death becomes you," Killian said, motioning his hand up and down in Blackbeard's direction.

He ran his hands down the front of his coat, patted the pockets, and grinned. "Alas, I took a detour on the way to Davy Jones' Locker. I am still very much alive." He climbed the stairs to the aft deck, and stood there, staring at Killian, flipping the dagger in his hand twice before thrusting it into his belt.

"Aye? And you came all the way here to pay me a visit? I didn't know you cared."

Blackbeard stroked the railing of the ship, musing, "Nice work you've done here. When I leave port with this ship, it's nice to know she'll hold together for the journey."

Hook cocked his head. "Now there's wishful thinking. You know what I think? That I shouldn't have left it to the sharks to finish you off. A mistake I won't be making again."

Smee tossed Killian his sword and he caught it deftly, aiming it at Blackbeard's chest.

Blackbeard barely flinched, shaking his head and waving off the sword, as though it were a mere trifle. "Not sharks – mermaids. Damnable creatures. Thought they were going to finish me off. Apparently, they were there to speak with that lady friend of yours. 'Twas my good fortune that she ignored their requests for a parley. When she swam into the sunset, they enlisted my help."

Emma heard quiet shuffles and casually looked down at the deck of the Jolly Roger. Everywhere, members of the crew had put down their tools and were making subtle shifts in posture. In the matter of a minute each had assumed a defensive stance, with their hands on weapons kept in pockets and on belt buckles.

Not wanting things to escalate any further, Emma threw up a hand, and addressed Blackbeard. "Hold up. Can we just take a few steps back and explain what is going on here?"

Pointing his head to Emma, but ignoring her question, he said, "And here's your latest dalliance, Hook."

Killian glanced at her and back to Blackbeard, with a blank expression, but Emma could tell that he was nervous. Which didn't help to ease the fear creeping up her spine.

Blackbeard shook his head, mock regret in his voice, "You know what I've heard? That you've gone soft over a woman. What happened to the man who was more than willing to ruin someone else's chance at love for his ship? Now there was a man I could respect."

At this, Emma looked back at Killian. He breathed deeply, shoulders dropping, and she knew that there was honesty in what Blackbeard was saying. Why hadn't she asked him more questions about the missing year? Henry glanced at her, questioning. She shook her head faintly.

"I don't quite care what you believe of me," Killian said. "I assure you, you'll be no less dead."

Emma then addressed Blackbeard in a voice laced with power and authority. "You need to take a good long look around you. You're outnumbered. Captain Hook is right. Whatever your intentions, I don't think the odds are in your favor." Emma fitted her hand over the gun in her holster.

"My, my. She's got spirit, this one." He was speaking to Killian again, instead of her. And it was starting to piss her off.

"Look, Blackbeard. I'm giving you an out." She motioned her arm towards the gangplank. "Take it while you still can."

Finally, he turned to face her, and said, "Emma, is it? Sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. But, this does not concern you. Think long and hard before you involve yourself in this. It is not your battle to fight. Don't risk your life for his."

"Leave her alone," Killian said.

"Aye. I intend to. Very much alone. But what is this!? Concern for a woman? Oh! You do love her."

Killian worked his jaw inside of his mouth. He said nothing.

He waved his hand. "Of course, I've heard something of the sort. One similarity between this Storybrooke and the villages of the Enchanted Forest – everyone knows everything. And – oh! – do villagers love to talk. Sad that you'll never see Emma here, or anywhere else, ever again."

Taking a step towards Blackbeard, Killian said, with his weapon still drawn, "Whatever you think you're going to do, you're going to have to go through me first."

To his left, Emma thought forcefully, No. Don't. Blackbeard looked at her, cocking his head, and she wondered if maybe she had actually said the words aloud.

Killian said with some impatience, "Now, Blackbeard! Draw your sword. I haven't got all day. After I dispatch you, I'd like to have some dinner. Maybe have some ale. You're wasting my precious time."

A hearty laugh issued from Blackbeard. "I would draw, but what would be the point? You won't be able to pierce my skin. It's not going to be a fair fight, matey. You see – those mermaids – they brought me to Triton and we made a deal. I kill that prince who ensnared his daughter, and bring her back to him. I get to keep the Jolly Roger. More importantly, I get my revenge."

Killian backed up a step, sword not held quite as high, and Emma could tell that this information did not fall happily on his ears.

"Ariel wasn't taken away. She chose to be with Eric. She loves him." Emma shook her head and said through lips thin with rage. "You'll never find her."

He shrugged his shoulders. "She loves him. That's nice. Love clouds the mind; it makes you weak. It will make it that much easier for me to kill the prince. And, lass, I know exactly where he is. I'm the one who put him there. I can be there in a matter of days."

Emma stood her ground. "Yeah. That's not going to happen. You may have this deal with Triton. Still. One man against twenty; we may not be able to kill you, but we can take you down."

As though in a scene from a comic book movie, where the hero looks up and finds henchmen closing in on all sides, Emma saw unfamiliar men began to materialize on the docks around the Jolly Roger, brandishing weapons. She caught the familiar faces of the two bankers in the crowd. They were no longer in suits, and had donned linen shirts and breeks. One of them winked at her.

Blackbeard leaned on the railing. "You didn't think I came alone, did you? I've brought my finest with me. And as a bonus, I leave this godforsaken town with two more in my ranks. You see that scroll there? That, mateys, was enchanted. Anyone who reads those scrolls is bound into servitude under me forever."

The pieces fell together and Emma sucked in a breath. She put her arm around Henry. Killian crossed the space between himself and Blackbeard, grabbing the lapels of his overcoat, and said, "You want revenge on me. You have no need of the boy."

"Aye. It certainly wasn't in my original plan. But, you have to appreciate the beauty in this. You will be the reason the woman you love is losing her only child. And you will never see each other again. Not only will you be my slave for eternity, but you will be heartbroken and riddled with guilt." He laughed enthusiastically. "It's just brilliant."

Emma couldn't breathe – she was going to lose both Killian and Henry if she didn't think of something. And fast. She focused all of her energy into her hands. Quickly, she directed her spell across the helm of the boat. A flash of white hit the scrolls. And…nothing.

"Oh-ho! Well this is a development. Hook! You never told me this one was a sorceress. Go ahead and try to break the curse, lass. This is a binding enchantment, it can't be broken. Unless you're the person who cast the spell. And you don't look like a god to me."

Undaunted, Emma again reached deep within and cast a spell at Blackbeard, to bind him with a rope lying nearby. The rope flew up from the deck, moved towards his torso, and fell lamely on the floor at his feet.

"I don't think you understand. You cannot touch me with your spells. Triton is a god. You are a mere mortal. It's a shame Hook showed your boy the scroll. It is. But he's a strapping lad and I've taken on much younger in my day. And now, I suggest you say your goodbyes. I grow tired of this nonsense."

Blackbeard's crew had the men of the Jolly Roger surrounded. Emma's heart was racing and she felt like she couldn't breathe. She couldn't let this happen. There had to be a way out of this situation. Think, Swan. Every scenario she ran over in her mind ended badly.

Killian's face was a masque of stoicism layered over what she knew was a world of pain. It matched her own.

She had no idea how to thwart the power of a god. Then, inspiration struck her. She knew what she had to do. She squared her shoulders and prepared to let her world crumble for the time-being.

Emma walked to Killian first, taking his hand in hers. With an unbidden tear in her eye, she took his chain in her right hand and tugged on it, bringing his head toward hers. Her heart was heavy in her chest as her forehead met his.

"Emma…love. This is my reckoning, and I may well deserve this. But I swear to you, I will find a way to get Henry back to you."

She ran her fingers gently through the hair near his ear – a touch filled with tenderness – and leaned forward to kiss his cheek, lips grazing the rasp of his beard as she spoke. "I will see you again," she said, trying to lock in the memory of the tingle in her lips – a feeling she had come to associate with kissing Killian.

Emma made a move towards his lips, but glanced around at the assorted faces staring at her and thought better of it. Instead, she backed away a step. She was momentarily caught off-guard as Killian grasped her by the back of the head, fingers in her hair, and kissed her, taking her breath away with the immediacy and desperation of it. And for a moment, the world was only the two of them.

As they separated, Emma looked pointedly into his eyes. "Don't take the chain off, hear me?" she said in a murmur. She caught a glimmer of comprehension in his face, and knew he understood.

She pulled back, and turned to Henry. "You know who I am. What I do. I'll do it again."

He nodded.

She put her arms around him, hugging, and said, "All that I am – what I've become – I owe to you. You are everything. You know that?"

"Thanks, Mom…and…I believe in you."

"You keep your head down, until I see you again." She kissed the top of his head.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I have Killian."

She continued hugging him, drinking in the warmth and closeness of him, not letting herself go to a place where she saw this as a "last hug" for fear that the thought would infect the clarity of her plan. And without clarity, there would be tragic missteps.

She kissed him again on the cheek and said softly, "It won't be long."

"I know," he said "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said, on the brink of tears.

She turned to Killian, and looked into his eyes. "We've been through worse before. This is nothing."

He smiled sadly, "I'm sorry I brought this on you. It's my f-"

Emma stopped him, saying, "You can't spend your time with Henry thinking that way. Promise me you won't."

Blackbeard spoke up, "As much as this entertains me, I really must be on my way. I want to get to finding that mermaid, and enjoying my ship, and my vengeance. Time to weigh anchor. Shame we couldn't talk more, Miss Swan, but I've already spent too much time in this unbearable place."

Emma began to descend the stairs, her heart splintering into a thousand pieces, mind racing. But as she reached the bottom, she looked up, searching for Killian's face. She mouthed the words, "I love you," to him.

"I know, Emma." He flashed her a playful half-grin that didn't reach to the melancholy in his eyes – his attempt at putting her at ease. It was all she could do not to throw herself at Blackbeard's mercy and ask him to take her with him. But leaving was the only hope she had to rescue them.

As she disembarked along with Killian's crew, she felt a hand at her back. It was Smee. He was looking at her in a way he never had before. He was nodding, in recognition of their shared agony, and she squeezed his hand.

He said, "Promise me. Whatever you do, you let me help."

"Of course."

"You make him a better person, Emma. A better captain."

She was shocked at this heartfelt admission, but before she could thank him, Smee and the rest of the crew dissipated into the side streets. None of them wanted to watch their ship sail away from them once again.

A moment later, David and Regina came running down the street, clearly aware that something was horribly wrong.

"What is going on here, Swan?" Regina said, staring at the Jolly Roger.

"Emma. Where's Henry?" Her father looked worried.

"It's Blackbeard. BB. BB was Blackbeard. He's taking Hook." She looked at Regina. "And Henry."

Regina made a dash for the boat, where the crew was pulling up the gangway and loosing the ropes that kept the boat – and all that Emma held dear – tethered to the dock. To this town. Emma ran and grabbed Regina's arm, bringing her up short.

"Let go of me, Swan. I will stop him." Regina yanked her arm out of Emma's grasp, holding her hands up, as though about to cast a spell.

"You can't. Listen to me," Emma implored. Regina had her eyes on the ship, where Henry was being taken below-decks. He raised a hand in farewell to Regina and Emma, and tried to smile, lifting his chin high as though to let them know that he would be okay. Emma felt sick.

"Regina. The magic on that ship is the magic of a god. Triton. You can't do anything…yet. I tried."

The queen's eyes widened, reinforcing Emma's belief that this was a force that Regina had never anticipated. Regina shifted on her feet, clearly wanting to do something, staring as the ship pulled away from the docks, and not knowing what to do.

David put his arm around Emma, stroking the back of her head as though she were a child. In all honesty, it had been a long time since she felt so small. She let a tear drop from her eye. "Dad. I couldn't stop him. I wasn't good enough."

"You did all you could Emma. You are only one person. Don't carry the weight of this on your shoulders. We will find them and bring them home, as we have done before."

The whole time they stood there, Killian kept his eyes fixed on hers, even as his hands were bound and he was taken below-decks. Watching the top of his head disappear, she let the tears flow freely.

Regina began to silently cry. There was pain knitted into her brows, as her mouth was open in shock.

In a show of solidarity that Emma had never seen, David took Regina's hand. And she let him. The three watched as the ship moved out into the harbor. Emma gasped softly as the ship carrying two of the three men she loved most in the world disappeared into a portal.