A/N: This story is ending up so much more than I'd initially intended. Like, look, plot! :)
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She was writhing underneath him, her body glowing ethereally in the moonlight as he brought her pleasure. Her pink lips where open in pleasure, soft mewls escaping her mouth as her hair cascaded in blonde tangles over the pillow as he traced over her face

"I love you," she whispered as he thumbed her lip, and he held her tighter around her hip as his thrusts slowed, "I'll never leave you, Killian."

"Emma," he whispered leaning down into the crook of her neck, a content sigh left him before the cold laughter began to echo beside his head. He stilled and looked at her, eyes widening in fear. No. No, she couldn't.

"Maybe if you hadn't pushed me away," she grinned emotionlessly, before throwing him off. He fell onto the mattress on his elbows. Hard. Emma rose onto her knees above him – looming – only her face wasn't bright with life, it was dark – an evil seeping into her. "Too bad, Jones. You're better off on your own."

You're better off on your own.

Killian shot up from bed in a cold sweat as he panted heavily. How could she still be infecting his dreams so, itching at old wounds – at present fears. She had no place in his life.

But he couldn't forget that kiss. The truth that it had brought forth as she cradled his head and pressed her lips to his lovingly. In his drunken haze, he could have been fooled into thinking there was a veela floating before him like an angel.

She was too good for him.

He wouldn't have her dead like Milah and Liam.

She was better off on her own.

At least then she would survive.


Next door, Emma lay awake, staring at the wall. She was too afraid to go back to sleep. That dream – that image of her own face…Killian's fear…

That image of herself, it was much too close for comfort…

And despite however much she wanted walk next door, and curl up beside him. To hear him whisper in his husky voice that he loved her and know that they could well, be.

She couldn't.

She didn't sleep that night. Her eyes were sore when she rubbed them, pulling her slippers and a jumper on and heading out of her room with a wide yawn. She almost jumped in surprise when she heard a voice ask from the lounge, "Couldn't sleep?"

She took one look at Killian Jones' disheveled state, turned on her heel, and fled back to the safety of her duvet.


She was jittery.

Killian had absolutely no idea how many coffees she'd had that morning, or the past week for that matter, but every day she looked more tired, her eyes more bloodshot, her hair more bedraggled. Killian found himself watching her more than he should, but keeping the necessary distance, for the both of them.

That was, until Friday afternoon before the next Hogsmeade visit came around. And Killian was sitting in the great hall, picking at his food. Him and his friends were some of the last in the hall, but there were spatterings around. And that included Emma and her friends over at the Slytherin table. He couldn't help but worry for her, even if he probably looked the same. Trying to stay away from her was proving difficult. And the dreams that came night after night weren't helping in any manner.

But still, when he saw that asshole Neal heading towards her, anger flushed through him. His hand clenched tightly on his fork so hard that he thought it might bend in half. He watched her face turn white as a sheet as he slipped into the empty space beside her, leaning in to whisper in her ear.

Killian was on his feet in a second. He crossed the hall within moments and the closer he got to her, the more he could see her fear. Her shaking.

"Hey Swan," Killian said loudly, barely containing the disgusted anger in his voice, "I need to talk to you about rostering."

"She's busy," Neal answered, eyes narrowing over Emma's head at the approaching young man.

"This is important, Swan," Killian answered, continuing to address Emma and ignore the boy beside her. Emma's head was bent; he'd never seen her look so defeated.

"Yeah, we should get on that," she said finally, looking up to connect her eyes with Killian's. He saw the depth of gratitude in them. And when she picked herself up off the bench, she didn't give a backward glance to Neal, despite the boy's constant glare after their retreating backs.

When they were in an abandoned corridor, Killian finally spoke, very aware of Emma's strained emotions, "Are you okay, Emma?"

It took her a few more corridors to answer, "No."

Killian nodded as they continued in silence back to their rooms. After entering the common room, it was obvious that she'd been holding out because the second the secret door snapped shut, the first hint of a sob escaped her.

Killian spun round, his hand bracing her arm. And when she didn't shy away, he pulled his other hand up, but still she was immovable, even as her sobs escalated and tears began to fall down her face. He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his body because despite both of their fears, he couldn't see her in pain.

But as she choked herself into silence, it was as though she realized where she was, and she started to wriggle out of his grip. But she needed comfort, Killian knew it as well as she did, and he was unwilling to let her curl up and cry herself…well, perhaps not even into sleep.

"Let me!" Emma whispered, fighting against him as she looked up into his eyes, hers shining with the residue of tears and threatening more, "Let me go! Please." Her hands beat against his chest helplessly. "I won't be evil. I won't."

"Emma, you aren't evil," Killian's eyes widened as he looked down at her, the images of his dreams appearing. But that wasn't his fear…that was…hers?

"Why would you think that?" he whispered, reaching up to cup her face as she seemed to slump into herself in defeat. Thoughts whirled through his head. "Was it… did he tell you that?"

Emma's eyes widened as she finally pulled herself out of his grip and began to sprint for the door. Killian almost let her go. But no matter how much he feared getting close to her, he couldn't let that pass. Even if they'd never be together, she couldn't truly believe that…

"You are not evil, Swan," Killian said strongly, grasping her wrist and turning her to face him. "Evil isn't born, I hesitate to even think that it's made. It's a choice. Have you chosen that path?"

She looked beside him for a few moments before finally shaking her head from side to side. "I fear that one day, out of circumstance, I will."

It was the most she'd spoken to him in a week and he almost sighed in relief. "You're strong, Emma. As strong as a lioness."

"Then why wasn't I put in Gryffindor?" she enquired, her brow furrowed, "With you."

"Because every House has unique characteristics," Killian answered with a soft smile, his hand reached out to brush against the escaped tear sliding down her cheek, "You know this, History-Girl."

"I don't want to be like my parents," she breathed, "Or like Neal, I can't…"

"You are nothing like them," Killian promised her, his heart breaking as he saw her at her most vulnerable. "Emma, you are intelligent and beautiful inside and out. Trust me, I know." She hiccupped in slight laughter. "You are just, you are a good friend, and you are amazing at anything you put your mind to."

Her face was falling slowly as Killian listed her qualities, finally murmuring, "Please stop."

"You need to hear it, Swan," he answered, stepping forward to cradle her face between his hands, "You are not evil."

"Then why does nobody stay?"

"I'm still here aren't I?" he answered with a soft smile, a pang going through him as she smiled in return. No. That was the wrong thing to say.

You were meant to keep her safe, you idiot!

"Killian," she murmured softly, taking one of his hands into her own and leading him towards her bedroom. His eyes widened when he thought of where this was going. They couldn't be…not after the letter and everything.

She let go of his hand to light up the room. She turned back to him, stepping forward almost shyly. "I'm not reneging on my words, Killian," she began and he breathed out in relief. Good. That made things easier.

"But you and I both haven't been sleeping," she answered hesitantly, "I don't think I've slept properly since…I just…Will you," she swallowed, "Hold me? And you know, just sleep?"

He should have said no. That hugging her and touching her already tested his restraint beyond belief. That holding her while she slept would only strengthen the depth of feeling that he had for her.

Instead he nodded and whispered huskily, "Let me just get changed into my pajamas and I'll be back."


"This is terrible news," Regina whispered as she sat at her desk, facing down the cat on her desk. Midnight's bright eyes agreed with the woman's statement. "They're actually…just…sleeping?" Midnight nodded. "I resist the urge to vomit," Regina shivered, moving to stand up.

"Perhaps it's time for an intervention," she began. "We need something to trigger that power inside of her so that I can find that daughter of hers. She's too well hidden, and I want that power – from both of them – mother and daughter alike."

An unearthly laugh filled the empty classroom as Midnight strolled back and forth over the desk, clearly growing more uneasy by the moment. When Regina looked down at her, she looked down with a face that was unfamiliar. A twisted mask of envy.

A mask, that wasn't really Regina at all.

"Don't look at me like that, Regina, you'll get your body back, soon enough," the woman inside of Regina's body said. "A cat's not too bad. I lived as one for 12 years, I'd know." A knocking came at the door.

"Ah, that'll be your boy toy, sister," she said, checking her hair in the mirror before giving the cat a sinister smile, "Wish me luck. And keep an eye on those two. I don't want any funny business happening."

And Regina, trapped inside the limited form of a cat, with no magic, and no choice, nodded her acquiescence of Zelena's command. Because it was the only way Zelena would have enough power to undo the feline curse and return them both to their own bodies.

Regina tried to ignore the guilt that Emma Swan and her young daughter, the one hidden away in the muggle world, were going to be the ones to pay the price.