A/N: This is a quick update only because a good part of this chapter was supposed to be a part of chapter five but that would have made it too long.

Chapter 6-Consequances

Everyone was up at dawn the next day, preparing for the portal jump. After a quick breakfast everyone, except Killian still at the helm, gathered in the crew quarters in their scuba gear. Emma remained seated on the bunk she had been direct to, a small smile on her face, not reacting to anything going on around her.

"That is just creepy," Ruby commented about the Dark One's perpetual smile but tensed body as she and Victor settled on the bunk farthest from her.

Mary Margaret wore a small smile as she and David settled themselves on the bunk next to Emma. "She is simply focusing on the positive to get ready to remove the Darkness."

"Fools," Rumplestiltskin muttered as he and Belle entered. At the Librarian's quelling look he slinked to the corner bunk.

Still adjusting his wetsuit Henry entered the quarters closely followed by Regina. "The ship is ready. Ursula will be here any time now."

With a bright smile Belle moved to him. "Killian told you that?"

Giving a quick shake of his head Henry took his seat. "No. He still hasn't spoken, but that is what has happened for all the other portal jumps."

"This has gone on long enough," Mary Margaret commented with some asperity. Her gaze moved to Emma briefly before dropping back to the Dagger on her lap. "I am going to have no choice but to interfere."

Before anyone could answer there were two thumps against the hull. Ursula's signal that they were about to go through the portal. On prior jumps Killian and Emma had said they were too occupied with protecting the ship to poof down to let them know they were about to jump. They barely had time to brace themselves before the ship began its plunging journey. The first jump had shown them that mermaid portals were different from any other portal they had travelled through. Instead of being instantaneous or almost instant it was five to ten minutes of twisting and turning. Ursula had told them that it was not usually that bad but the larger the objects being transported and the farther they were going the longer the trip took. They were barely thirty seconds into the jump when they knew something was desperately wrong. Water flooded into the compartment as they all scrambled to get their masks on, Mary Margaret needing to order Emma to. Since she had made no move to brace herself, indeed no move except to follow the order to put her mask on, Emma was thrown across the room. What Ruby did notice was that Emma was still smiling, even as she winced in pain. Before the implications of that had truly hit her she felt like she was being squeezed as the ship began creaking and groaning in ways it never had before. They had never before had anything except a smooth, dry trip. Her eyes met Victor's and she saw the same knowledge in his eyes. Something had gone horribly wrong. Shaking her paralysis Ruby tried to catch Snow's eye when the pressure suddenly stopped and the water settled, filling about a third of the room.

"What the hell?!" Regina snapped, pulling herself upright to get her face out of the still splashing around water. The ship was still rocking steadily instead of it usual smooth ride.

Before anyone could reply Emma began to shriek in agony as a cloud of Darkness was yanked from her. Charming tried to go to her but was immediately shoved away by an invisible force.

Mary Margaret snatched up the Dagger. "Emma, let me in." With no apparent trouble she rushed to her daughter, holding her tight. But what Ruby found most horrifying and that she was unable to look away from, was the smile Emma still wore as she yelled out her pain. Just when Ruby thought she was going to go insane the screaming stopped. Reluctantly she pulled her head from Victor's chest, she could not recall when she had put it there, she saw Emma was still crying out, albeit silently. Snow was looking at Charming in desperation. The swirling Darkness was still being pulled from Emma but only a trickle was moving to the deck. The rest was swirling around, moving in and out of her. To make matters worse when she turned from that horrific sight she saw Rumplestiltskin trying desperately to get to the Darkness while Belle struggled to keep him on the bunk. The look on his face was pure avarice and wanting. He had almost gotten free when a barrier sprung up. A sudden spin threw Regina into the water but she kept her hands upraised to hold the shield in place. Henry dove at her to keep her head above water and brace them both. The ship rolled again, almost doing a complete circle. As she clung tightly to Victor and the bunk with both her arms and legs Ruby realized that whatever Killian had done to stop the water and pressure he had been unable to protect his passengers from the tossing and turning. A quick glance at Emma's still smiling; agonized face and tug-of-war Darkness told her exactly why. Burying her face in again in Victor's chest she wished desperately for this jump to be over.

When the ship finally settled Belle reluctantly opened her eyes. Not daring to release her grip on Rumple she glanced over her shoulder. The Darkness was steadily fading back into Emma. Looking back at her ex-husband she saw him slump in on himself pitifully as his chance to regain his lost power vanished. Unable to even look at him she turned away. He never changed, why did she keep hoping? Leaving him to stew she went over to the Charming family, stopping to be sure Regina and Henry were okay on the way. As she was helping Henry up she noticed the unused wetsuit and breather. "Killian," she breathed worriedly, whirling to face Mary Margaret. "Why is Killian's wetsuit here? Being above deck he would need it even more than us. He and Emma were always wet after a jump."

Mary Margaret barely glanced up from Emma, who was still smiling even while she curled in on herself in pain, as she answered. "I don't know. Most likely for the same reason he has ignored all of us for the last two days."

"Killian is not that petty," Henry snapped at her, joining them. "He would not take out your actions on everyone else. Especially not me and Belle." His gaze moved to his mother. "And Mom would not smile like that while separated from Killian and in pain."

Before anyone could answer Ursula burst into the room. "What the hell is going on?" She demanded. "Killian is at the helm, soaked to the bone, looking like he is going to pass out in his normal clothes and the ship was nearly destroyed before the protection spells kicked in. But they were weaker than I have ever seen before from them."

Realization dawning Belle staggered back a step. "What orders did you give Killian?" Her gaze darted to the still smiling Emma who appeared oblivious to the conversation. "And to your daughter?"

Not looking away from her daughter Mary Margaret answered, "Nothing bad. I told Hook to man the wheel and think only of getting us to Camelot and Emma to think happy thoughts to help get rid of the Darkness. And to not think of or acknowledge each other in any way."

"Nothing bad," Belle managed to get out, barely managing to keep the contents of her stomach intact. "I know you have been feeding Emma but has Killian had anything to eat or drink or even slept since you took the Dagger?"

Mary Margaret looked up at the accusatory tone. "I have not stopped him or ordered him not to take care of himself."

A rough cackle sounded from the corner of the room. They all turned to see Rumplestiltskin laughing madly on his bunk. "I couldn't have done it better myself. The Fairest of Them All has been torturing her daughter's boyfriend and no one stopped it or even knew." He continued to giggle.

Upset Mary Margaret rose to her feet. "I have done no such thing! You told me other than direct commands they would still be able to function normally."

For a moment, as he sat up, they could see the powerful imp he had once been. Then he saw the glares everyone was sending him and shrunk back into himself. "It had to be your wording. If you used the word 'only' he would not be able to think or do anything else without your express orders." His gaze moved to the still smiling Emma. "As for the Savior until she is told otherwise she will keep thinking those happy thoughts, no matter the circumstances or conditions."

"Oh my god." Mary Margaret staggered backward, her legs giving out. Only David's quick grab prevented her from falling to the floor.

Quickly Henry grabbed the Dagger from his grandmother's loosened grip. He quickly turned to his birth mother. "Emma Swan, I release you from all commands made by the Dagger's last wielder." Something deep inside him that he did not want to think about compelled him to add, "Do not hurt anyone on board this ship."

Smile dropping instantly Emma did no more than shoot Mary Margaret a quick glare before poofing away.

"Killian," Belle guessed.

Henry darted for the door, aware of the others following him. On deck Killian was still at the wheel, completely ignoring Emma at his side. There was so much wrong with this scene that Henry's heart hurt. Killian would never ignore his mother. Quickly he raised the Dagger. "Killian Jones, I release you from the commands of the prior wielder of the Dagger. Do not hurt anyone on this ship."

The words had no sooner left his mouth than Killian dropped like a puppet with its strings cut. Emma caught him before he hit the deck and before Henry even reached them Victor was examining him. The Jolly remained steady; Killian's outstretched hand still on the helm. "Drop the anchor."

Turning Henry obeyed his captain's command, calling out the required orders to David and Ruby who had just come up on deck. Luckily the sails had already been furled in readiness for the portal jump. Killian had not wanted to risk them in a potentially rough ride. Once done he returned to Killian's side. Up close he wondered how he could miss that something was wrong. Lying with his head in Emma's lap, her fingers gently carding through his hair Henry could see how pale he was. His clothes were wrinkled and his usual scruff was close to being an actual beard. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't notice."

Giving him a small smile Killian started to sit up but Ursula's hand on his shoulder kept him still. "It is okay. It was not your fault. No one knew." He shot Mary Margaret, who had quietly joined the group around him, an angry, hurt look. "I was not able to say anything."

"I'm so sorry," Mary Margaret breathed. "I didn't know. I would never hurt either of you knowingly."

Killian ignored her, turning his head away. Emma just glared at her. "What do you think separating us did? Even without all the other stuff, how did you think denying us the knowledge of even knowing each other was not going to be painful? A good portion of my happy memories involve Killian and I was denied those. What was even worse was when my mind tried to access those happy thoughts, on your orders, it caused me physical and mental pain to disobey your command, but I still had to think happy thoughts."

As she talked Killian reached for her hand, circling his hooked arm around her waist. "It is over. I am here."

Victor rose from where he had been quietly examining the Pirate. "You are going to be fine. You are dehydrated and need food and rest. I would advise small meals to start."

Quietly Belled appeared at his side. She had a bowl of soup and a flask in her hands. "Water to start," she told the Pirate, who mock pouted.

Ursula helped him to a sitting position, leaning against Emma for support. "What happened during the portal jump?" she asked. "I thought the Jolly Roger was going to be crushed, but it was too late to stop the jump."

Killian took a sip of water, attempting to suppress his shaking. The last two days without food or sleep had been difficult but the magic needed to get the ship through the portal had drained him beyond exhaustion. He had been, and was still, relying on the Dark Power to even remain conscious. He was grateful for Emma's soothing presence and Henry's Dagger induced injunction against harming anyone. A part of him really wanted to hurt Snow White physically and mentally. Scar her in a way she would never recover from and no one would ever see. Quickly he shoved those Dark thoughts away as he tried to find the words to describe what had happened. For a man who was never at a loss for words this was unusual. Closing his eyes he started to speak. "I knew we were in trouble as soon as the ship went below the water. The Jolly was crumbling under the water pressure and the ship was flooding, but I was not allowed to do anything but think about getting us to Camelot and steer." He shot a quick glare at Mary Margaret that caused her to flinch. "But that wound up being the loop hole I needed. Without the ship and if the compartment was forcefully flooded I would not be able to get every one of us to Camelot."

He shook his head at Belle who had been quietly feeding him the soup. His hands were shaking too badly to hold the spoon himself. The few mouthfuls he'd had had been enough to fill his empty stomach. He was too tired to even care about the weakness that showed.

"For a few moments things evened out but I was not strong enough alone to protect the ship and its passengers." Closing his eyes he shuddered, pressing back against Emma. "I could feel the Power being drawn from elsewhere, but I could not think or know who or do anything to release the agony I was feeling at disobeying the wielder of the Dagger. I knew it was causing the other half pain but was helpless to stop it or soothe it. All I could think about was Camelot; it took everything I had to maintain the concentration needed to protect the ship." His eyes had gone distant, back to the perilous passage. "The water was pushing on me and I had to push it away, if I drowned or was crushed I could not get us to Camelot." He shuddered and Emma held him tighter. "It was overwhelming. I could not pull any more power without destroying the other source. But I could not do that. Something in my very core rebelled; the command was there, overriding everything. Demanding I take what I needed to fulfill the wielder's order to find Camelot." Everyone ignored Mary Margaret's moan of pain, riveted on the Pirate who was clinging to Emma in a show of desperation none of them but her and David had seen from the self-contained ship's Captain before. "The pain was agony, worse than losing Milah and my hand. The refrain 'find Camelot' 'find Camelot' the only thing I could hear or think about. The Darkness was pulling but I could not let it destroy my other half. But the wielder demanded I do so. The pressure was increasing, I could not breathe, I could no longer hold back the water or steady the ship. Then we were through." His whole body sagged, but his eyes remained clouded with pain and in the past. "We had not found Camelot; we appeared to be in the same endless ocean. The refrain started again, louder than before 'find Camelot' 'find Camelot'. The Darkness continued to swirl restlessly, I knew it had to go back, but could not think to whom to send it to. The command pushed everything away. It was all I could hear. Ursula spoke to me but I could not acknowledge her or even hear what she was saying." He looked at Henry, coming back to the present. "Then you released the command and I could think again. Thank you." He squeezed Emma's hand. "I can feel the Light again."

Mary Margaret dropped to her knees beside him, reaching out to touch him. When he pulled away she dropped her hand. "I am sorry. I did not mean to cause either one of you pain. I just wanted-"

"-Your daughter free of the Darkness," he finished bitterly. "It did not matter who you hurt or betrayed to do it. I do not mean me," he snapped when she opened her mouth. His eyes closed and he gathered himself, the exhaustion was starting to press down on him. "Just because you are Good does not mean you are always right."

Putting the soup aside Belle glanced up at Ursula. "Help me get him up. He needs to get some sleep."

It showed how tired he was that Killian did not even protest that he could move himself. Emma smiled at them. "Thank you, but I have it." Her gaze moved to Henry, her eyes flashing to the Dagger. She forced her eyes up. "Please hold on to that for us." Tightening her grip on her Pirate she poofed them away in a cloud of nearly black smoke.

Belle sat back on her heels on the deck and then dropped to a full sitting position. "How did we not know? How did we let it get this bad?"

"I'm so sorry," Mary Margaret was shaking with her remorse, tears coursing down her cheeks. "I would never willingly cause them pain. I just needed to protect and save Emma."

David pulled her into his arms, allowing her to sob into his shoulder. "None of us saw," he reassured her. "We are all to blame."

"It's worse than that," Belle said. "We all saw something was wrong but none of us took the time to figure it out." Wearily she started to push herself to her feet, gratefully accepting Ursula's helping hand. "I had better go make sure Rumple is not making a nuisance of himself."

Henry was still staring down at the Dagger in disgust. "They cannot harm him."

Stopping to give him a reassuring hug Belle replied with a small smile. "I'm sure Killian could come up with something without causing physical harm."

Ruby joined them, standing next to Victor, speaking to Henry. "We will take the watch."

Eyes still on the Dagger Henry nodded. "Thank you."

Slowly letting out a breath Regina joined him. "You did good," she assured him. "Do you want me to take the Dagger?"

Not even bothering to look at her Henry pulled the Dagger in close. "No. Mom trusted me to hold it."

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Emma poofed into the Captain's cabin, onto the bed, Killian still in her arms. She poofed Henry's storybooks and quill to the first mate's cabin and moved her parent's stuff to the crew quarters. It was hard enough to suppress the pain, anger, and betrayal thoughts that only strengthened the Darkness within her. And right now Killian was in no condition to counter her Dark amplified feelings. If anything the Dark should be pressing stronger on him. He had pulled most of the Darkness into himself to get through the portal and had needed to rely on the Darkness to keep fully functional under her mother's orders.

"I'm fine," he reassured her quietly, burrowing a little deeper into her lap. "I am not going to go anywhere. I am too tired to be overwhelmed by anything, even the Dark."

Still needing more contact Emma willed them to laying down, removing all their clothes except undergarments. She needed to feel him and Killian was exhausted so they would not risk letting their feelings get out of control. A sigh of relief came from him as Killian rolled to his side, resting his head on her shoulder one arm going around her waist and one leg resting comfortably over one of hers. Finally feeling the tension starting to ease from her muscles she settled one had over his stump underneath him and playing with his soft hair with her other hand. His hair was grittier than normal. Once again Emma felt her anger flare at her mother. Killian kept himself well-groomed unless he was lost in something. Even in Neverland he had known safe places to bathe.

Killian's arm around her waist pulled her closer as he turned his head to kiss her shoulder. "I am here," he mumbled sleepily. 'I am fine,' she heard his voice in her head.

That simple contact was enough to finish relaxing her and push back the anger. She had missed the sense of him that had become integral to her since they had become the Dark One. Before they had gotten the Power she had found herself aware of his presence, always wanting to touch him when he was near. He never seemed to mind, instead appearing to thrive on the contact. It made her wonder sadly if anyone had touched him in a caring manner since Milah had been killed. Probably as often as she had been touched in a loving way while in the care of the foster system. It was not something they talked about. The knowledge was enough. She knew if she wanted or needed to talk about it he would listen and understand the same as she would for him. So far neither of them had felt the need to. A low rumble, almost a purr sounded from the man cuddled into her side. She smirked, mood lightening even more. She changed the brushing motions to a gently scratching. The purr increased slightly and he pulled her closer, snuggling in more. Normally she would tease him, but right now this was exactly what she needed. The nasty thoughts were being pushed away and all she could feel was the love and comfort Killian gave her.

Allowing his warmth to soothe her, she often called him her personal space heater, she allowed herself to start putting the horror of the last two days behind her. It had felt like so much longer. While a large part of her just wanted to push it away and ignore it she knew that would only make the Darkness stronger. As Killian's body relaxed completely with the heaviness of sleep she reveled in his soft breath against her neck and his natural body heat pushing away the chill that had been growing in her since they had been ordered apart. It should be scaring her how alone and off she had felt when she had not been allowed to even think of her mate. Instead it filled her with happiness, the fleeting feeling very welcome since the Darkness dampened all good feelings. She had been surprised by how many of the happy thoughts her mother had ordered her to think about, without waking Killian pulled her closer helping to push the anger away, had involved him. It had not taken her long to realize that the pain and quick diversion was her minds way of insuring she obeyed her mother's order not to think of or acknowledge Killian. Now that the injunction was lifted she found herself thinking about those memories. The Darkness faded as far back as it had been since it had entered her. Kissing the top of Killian's head she settled back against the pillow. He released a deep, contented breath and she went back to running her hand through his hair, smiling at the occasional purr. She could be content to stay like this forever. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to rest.

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"Mom?"

Henry's hesitant voice pulled Emma out of her light doze. "Just a minute," she called, trying to disentangle herself from Killian. His arm around her tightened and he made a small sound of protest. "I'll meet you in your cabin in a few minutes," she called to Henry.

"Grandpa and Grandma are there." His reluctance to give her that news reflected in his voice.

The Darkness started to rise but Killian's tongue licking along her pulse point stopped those feelings and started other ones. "The cargo hold then." She waited for his footsteps to retreat down the corridor before pushing Killian's head away. "We agreed."

His blue eyes that were still half asleep and not fully aware met hers. "You are nearly naked in my bed and I am in the same state."

"We both needed the full body contact," she told him, waiting for full awareness to return to his eyes. Usually Killian could go from a dead sleep to instant full awareness but when he pushed himself too far, especially if he was not allowed to wake up on his own, it took a little longer. To remove temptation she dressed herself in flannel pajamas, covering her body from ankle to neck and entwining their hands so he could not turn around and remove the clothing that he would find offensive.

Reluctantly he rolled to his back, pulling her with him to lie with her head on his chest. "Not fair," he murmured sounding a little more awake.

She smiled but found her new position much too distracting. Against her will her hand began roaming over his bare chest, lightly playing with the chest hair that was always teasing her. At Killian's low moan she hurriedly waved her hand and dressed him, forcing herself to sit up. "Not with the Darkness," she reminded them both.

Releasing an annoyed breath Killian ran a hand through his hair and winced. "You go talk to your boy, I need to get clean." As though aware of the Darkness trying to flare at the reminder of her mother's carelessness with her love's safety he pulled her closer, kissing her forehead. "I am fine; your boy is waiting for you."

Not thrilled at the idea of being apart after the last few days Emma reluctantly rose. "Join me later?"

His reply was a solemn vow. "Always."

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