A/N: Surprise! This week looks like another double update which is great for you and for me! I currently have 5 more chapters planned and I am debating whether to end it where I have it or not - I may add an epilogue and then stop - we shall see! I am writing Chapter 8 tomorrow morning so will be updating tomorrow evening as well :)
Thank you so much for the reviews wonderful people! I appreciate your feedback, good and bad, so do leave a review if you can!
Only 4 days for me until ONCE is back... YAASS *extreme celebratory dance*
Keep Smiling!
Two days is all that is left until the town moves back to the Enchanted Forest - something that, quite surprisingly, everyone was entirely eager for.
Killian and Emma walk hand in hand out of the pharmacy where they have just printed off another load of pictures and bought a few more photo frames; all of which have seem poofed back to the house where they are headed before lunch. A sigh of contentment falls from Emma's mouth as she extracts her hand from Killian's grip and instead laces their arms together so her head can fall upon his leather-clad shoulder as they walk.
Her eyes dart around the street, spotting many people placing items in front of buildings; giving away what they will no longer need when they go back. Killian presses a gentle kiss to the side of her head which encourages a smile to appear on her lips.
"I'm glad that we did not take the Bug." Emma mumbles.
"Aye. This was a good idea - one last hurrah so to speak."
Emma snorts softly and her gaze softens when she spots the docks, the area where the Jolly Roger had been berthed now empty. To ease the transportation of the magnificent and beloved ship, Regina has shrunk it down with boxes of important magical items from her vaults and other places on board and put it in a bottle - ready to be released in the royal docks. Very similar to how the Bug will be shrunken down but it will remain in a glass orb so she does not have to part with it.
Her gaze then moves away, focusing on the various shops, some of which have completely closed down in preparation for the move whilst others remain open and freely give away stock that people may want.
However, the mood is ruined when a figure suddenly appears before them on Main Street.
Gideon.
"Get behind me, Emma." Killian says immediately, pushing her behind him and drawing his sword from his hip. "You are not hurting her again. You'll have to get through me."
Gideon rolls his eyes before waving his hand lazily in front of him. Killian falls hard onto the floor, the magic forcing him to lose consciousness.
"Killian!" Emma kneels down beside him, trying to rouse him unsuccessfully. "Come on, pirate."
"I must say that I am unsure of how you are alive at this moment in time," Gideon says and Emma looks up at him, her heart thudding in her chest. "but that will not stop me. I will take the greatest pleasure in killing you."
"What have I done to you? Why do you insist on killing me?" Emma asks, confused by his vicious intent.
"Saviours do nothing but stand in the way." Gideon says as if it is the most simple thing in the world. Well, to him, it is. "I will not have you in my, or my father's, way. Besides, you must pay for encouraging my mother to give me up; putting that idea in her head."
"I would, could, never do that!" Emma argues. "I tried to make her change her mind but she wanted to protect you from your father. She gave you your best chance."
A sword suddenly appears in Gideon's hand and he takes a menacing step closer.
"We are leaving in two days." Emma continues, pushing back the wave of fear. "You could stay in Storybrooke and do whatever you like - I won't be here to stop you."
Gideon chuckles darkly and shakes his head. "That's not good enough. You deserve to die."
"Why?"
"Because you are good." He spits out the word like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth. "That is reason enough."
"What about your mother?" Emma shoots back immediately. "She is good - her heart is kind and she sees past people's flaws to who they truly are." She gestures to Killian, still unconscious. "Killian used to be a villain but changed and now he is good - I see that, as does everyone else."
Emma can see that Gideon is thrown over her words about his mother and she immediately takes the opportunity. Keeping hold of Killian's prone form, she quickly poofs them back to the house. She falls on her side, drained from the larger use of magic since her body is still healing.
"Mum?" Henry's voice sounds, accompanied by footsteps as he moves down the stairs. "Mum!"
Emma pushes herself up into a sitting position, her gaze drifting between her son and her pirate. Henry kneels down and checks over Killian before looking at her in concern.
"What happened, Mum?" he asks, his voice surprisingly steady despite his inner panic.
Emma is silent, taking deep and controlled breaths to push back the dizziness. Once it passes, mercifully quickly, she answers her son.
"Gideon appeared on Main Street." she says, keeping her right hand on Killian's arm as her left rubs over her son's back, soothing him before he panics more. "He knocked Killian out with magic as he tried to protect me but after I mentioned Belle, he froze for a second so I got us away."
Emma presses a kiss to the side of his head and receives a smile from him which assures her that he is alright. She then turns her attention to Killian who remains unconscious despite the fact he should have woken by now. Her right hand raises to cup his cheek, thumb scraping lightly against his scruff. Her left hand moves to his shoulder, shaking him.
"Come on, Killian." Emma says, her tone harbouring desperation.
"Is he alright?" Henry asks, growing concerned for his father figure.
"He should have woken up by now." Emma looks up at her son, seeing the fear in his eyes that is surely reflected in her own. "I need you to call Regina for me."
Henry nods, immediately grabbing his mobile from his back pocket and dialling his mother's number. As he talks to Regina, Emma reaches underneath Killian's neck and carefully lifts his head. She searches for any trace of blood or forming of lumps but finds none.
"She says she is on her way; just needs to tell Robin." Henry says. He places his hand on Emma's shoulder in comfort. "He's going to be alright, Mum."
The Saviour nods, wanting her son's words to be the truth but continuing to panic as her pirate continues to sleep. Purple smoke suddenly appears and Regina emerges, kneeling beside the three.
"What exactly happened?" Regina asks, checking Killian over herself.
"We were walking down Main Street and Gideon was suddenly there. Killian pushed me behind him and told Gideon that he would have to get through him to hurt me."
"How did Killian go unconscious?"
"Gideon waved his hand and then he was on the floor." Emma says. "Why isn't he waking up?!"
Regina waves her hands over Killian's body and frowns, detecting no magic.
"I'm not sure." Regina says honestly. "There is no spell on his body. What happened after he went down?"
"I asked Gideon why he wanted me dead and as soon as he said it is because I am good, I started to talk about Belle. He had a sword and was ready to strike but that threw him and I took my chance to escape."
Emma looks up at Regina who seems confused.
"I'm not sure why he is still out. It could be that Gideon's magic is slightly different thanks to his circumstances."
Emma looks back down at Killian before leaning over him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. She rests her head against his, breathing in his scent of the salty sea breeze that remains, lingering on his body, and something that just screams Killian Jones.
Her eyes drift shut as her head rests against his. "Killian, come back to me."
There continues to be no movement until a handful of drawn out seconds later when Killian shifts. Emma quickly pulls back as his eyes flutter open. He groans before his eyes grow as wide as saucers and he suddenly sits up.
"Did he hurt you?" he asks Emma, checking her over thoroughly, refusing to stop until he is satisfied. Once he is, her draws her in for a tight hug - holding her as tight as he can manage without hurting her. "Are you sure that you're alright?" is mumbled into her shoulder.
Emma turns her hand through the hair at the nape of his neck before tugging slightly so he looks at her.
"I'm fine, Killian; I promise." she whispers.
Killian drops his forehead against hers, breathing out a deep sigh of relief.
"Well, since the protection spell is still on the house, you are completely safe." Regina says, drawing attention to her. "The best thing to do is to remain calm and just continue packing everything. If you do plan on going out tomorrow or before we go through the portal, let me know. I could find something to protect you from Gideon."
Emma nods, standing up and assisting Killian to do the same. "Thank you, Regina. I'm sorry to bring you here so suddenly."
Regina waves her off. "I tod you that I am here to help you, Emma, and I meant that."
Emma smiles just as there is a knock at the door. Henry offers to go and walks up to the front door, opening it to be greeted by Belle. Emma notices her there and moves to stand beside her son.
"Belle, hi." she greets and Belle smiles, nodding her own. "Can I help you with something?"
Belle plays with her hands for a moment before answering.
"I wanted to apologise for Gideon." she says, smiling sheepishly. "Rumple told me what happened today - he has been meeting with Gideon in an attempt to work out what the Black Fairy did to him. They're going to stay here when everyone goes back in an attempt to work everything out."
"What about you?" Henry asks her.
"I told him that unless he did the right thing and tried making amends somehow with you, I will be going to the Enchanted Forest without him and not wanting anything to do with him. He is not the man I saw and spoke to in my dreams."
Emma feels Killian come up beside her, his hand warm on her back as he rubs up and down her spine.
"You could stay with us, if it comes to that." Killian says kindly. "We would be happy to help you."
Belle smiles gratefully, thanking them and makes her excuses to leave.
"I'm sorry too." Emma says as Belle is turning around to go.
The librarian spins back, a frown of confusion on her brow. "Why? You have nothing to apologise for."
"I'm sorry for everything that has happened and who Gideon has become. You deserve none of that and I wish that I could change it so you have the son you dreamt of. I'm also sorry for how I have acted around you since I was stabbed. I felt like I had to be cautious around everyone."
Belle smiles slightly again. "You don't have to apologise or explain yourself, Emma. I would do the same if our roles were reversed." she says, her eyes darting between the three who stand at the door. "I shall leave you to do what you need to, to be ready for the move. I will see you soon."
With a final slight smile and subtle nod, Belle leaves.
...
"Did you get everything sorted?" Emma asks as Henry walks into the living room which currently hold multitudes of photographs.
Henry sits down on the floor to Emma's right, Killian on her left as he places a picture in one of the frames. He has just finished packing up what he has of his in the house that he will take with him and will move it to Regina's tomorrow where is will be packing up his childhood bedroom.
"I did, yeah. It will be nice to decorate my new room with the stuff from both bedrooms." he answers, spying a pile of pictures that is topped with one of the two of them from when Emma first arrived in Storybrooke and the curse had been broken; simple moments that he misses.
Emma spots the smile he has on his lips and the pictures that are now decorating her son's lap. She reaches across Killian, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she does so, and grabs the item in her hand. She rights herself before placing the empty album on Henry's lap. He looks at his mother in confusion.
"This album is reserved for just the two of us." Emma explains, smiling softly at him. "I found quite a few of the two of us together at different times and have them here." She points to the pictures in his lap. "You can add any that you have and then I can create a replica so we both have one."
Henry smiles widely, taking the album in his hands. He pushes a kiss to Emma's cheek in thanks before beginning to organise the pictures. She turns to face Killian who is placing a picture into a simple varnished wooden frame. A smile claims her face when she glimpses which photo it is.
It was taken during one of the rare quiet periods in Storybrooke. They were in Granny's celebrating the owner's birthday and Snow had sneakily taken a picture of the pair of them as they took a moment blissfully unaware of anyone other than each other. Emma's arms were around Killian's waist, her arms snaking around his body beneath his jacket as his hooked arm lay around her shoulders. His hand had rested on her jaw, his thumb dragging over the apple of her cheek but in no way obscuring the way their eyes held such love and devotion for each other, soft smiles on their faces.
She presses another kiss to Killian's cheek which makes him face her.
"What was that for, love?" he asks, smiling at he and place the filled frame down beside him.
"I love you." she mumbles.
Killian's gaze impossibly softens. "I love you too."
The front door opens then and the three of them look up to see Snow and David walk in, Neal in his father's arms. Emma gets up from her place on the floor and moves to her parents, hugging each in turn.
"We had these printed on our way here." Snow says, handing Emma an envelope. She peeks inside and sees more pictures for them to have.
"Thanks, Mum." she says and quickly moves back to Killian to give him the envelope and drops a kiss to the top of his head. "I bought a few things so we can make something for dinner."
Snow smiles and nuzzles a kiss to David's cheek and moves into the kitchen after removing her shoes, followed closely by her daughter. David moves to the couch and sits with Neal on his lap, chewing on his fingers; saliva spreading over his top.
As Henry remains occupied with his album and organising the various pictures, Killian turns slightly to better face David and the little Prince.
"How are you progressing with packing up?" he asks David, his eyes drifting to Neal as he smiles at the pirate.
David sighs, gaze drifting to his wife and daughter who are preparing drinks and small nibbles for everyone together.
"We are almost done although Snow insists on boxing everything up in a specific way - folding this, wrapping that. We probably could have had it all done by now but Snow is stubborn and insists on doing it that way so I just leave her to it."
Killian laughs. "Probably safer, mate. Like mother, like daughter those two, for definite."
David smiles, a laugh escaping him. Both men's gazes move from their love to fall on Neal who insists on being the epicentre of attention, babbling unintelligible words loudly. Killian brings his hand up to Neal who quickly grasps it, the pirate's rings interesting him and his babbles die down slightly.
As the afternoon progresses into evening, the aroma of deliciously cooked food fills the house, alongside the laughter and discussion from all as they reminisce over the memories of the past few years. Emma smiles fondly at her father who chats companionably with both his grandson and her true love, watching as they laugh at terrible jokes and retellings of funny memories.
The smile falls ever so slightly as she realises that memories like these will not come along very often in the Enchanted Forest. However, the happiness recovers when she realises the potential to not only create more memories that are happy but to create ones that are better; ones she has always wanted.
End note: Please review! :)
