Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all the reviews/follow/favorites :) I'm so appreciative of all the kind words about the story and I love hearing what you all have to say. This is my longest chapter yet, but I really wanted everything that happens in this chapter to stay in the same chapter for the sake of pacing and other things, which I'll explain at the end! So enjoy :)
Chapter Nine
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Two Weeks Later
Emma was going crazy. For two weeks, she could feel that stupid pirate's eyes on her, but not once did he ever show himself. What did he expect? For her to come to him? Yeah, right. That would happen when hell froze over. And how was following her around going to do him any good? Shouldn't he be following around that mysterious man he was now an errand boy for apparently? It's not like she was going to suddenly reveal some super secret way to kill Rumplestiltskin. The guards had been looking at her strangely now, wondering why she carried her sword throughout the castle grounds with her lately, seemingly paranoid. Her parents were starting to hover worriedly too, since she had been acting like a woman possessed when it came to mirrors now.
So in short, Killian being back was not helping her at all. She was already stressed enough with everything that was going on in her kingdom and burdened with the frustration that she hadn't made any true progress after six long months of trying. Emma was beginning to feel like it was her fault. She was the one with the magic and the one who was supposed to be the savior, but people were still continuing to be killed by some unknown villain and things were getting worse in the Enchanted Forest every day. And now, she was just so angry. Angry at Killian for suddenly showing up and thinking that everything was just peachy between them and angry at herself for almost being happy to see him. Because she shouldn't be and because she still felt a slight sting of betrayal when she looked at him. She had no idea what to do. She wished he would just leave her alone so she could stop feeling all jumbled inside and finally be able to think straight and not have to make a decision about what she may or may not be feeling for him. Things would be so much easier if he would stop being so stubborn about her. Emma was convinced he wouldn't even be seeking her out so much if she hadn't been shot with that blasted arrow. It was all George's fault. And with that conclusion and Killian's words of 'we need each other' echoing in her head, Emma began to focus all her scattered, overwrought energy on one task: she was going after George. She had to do something. She had to gain some kind of control over her life or she was going to fall apart. And she was going to prove that she could fix her own problems without the help of that stupid pirate.
With her puncture wound finally healed, mostly anyway, Emma was practicing shooting on one of the long, open walkways on top of the castle. While there wasn't a lot of range for her arrows, it was the one place she knew no one could watch without her noticing. They only way anyone could was if they came through one of the two doors at the sides.
Enjoying her alone time, Emma didn't know how long she had been up there when she heard the door behind her start to open. She grasped her bow tighter, preparing herself if it was Killian – she was going to be livid if it was – but instead saw her father come through the door. "Hey," he greeted with a small, confused smile on his face, noticing her defensive stance.
Emma breathed a sigh of relief before turning back around and briskly shooting another arrow at the circled target. "Hi," she muttered flatly.
"I would hate to be whomever you're picturing right now," Charming joked as he walked up next to her, "Should I run?"
Who was she picturing at the moment? She couldn't decide between George and Killian. Emma turned to give her dad a tired, pointed look. "No."
"I came out here to tell you the news," Charming said, his voice serious as he held up a letter, "Caroline's pregnant."
"Already?" Emma asked, taken aback. Caroline had married William, the oldest son of King Eric about three months. She hadn't been invited to the wedding. "Wow," she breathed, blinking in astonishment. She nodded her head at the parchment in his hands, "Who's it from?"
Charming crossed his arms and leaned up against the stone wall. "Abigail," he sighed.
Emma felt a flash of annoyance course through her. Of course it was from Abigail and not a direct announcement from Caroline. Great. Another problem caused by her that she had forgotten about. Ever since Caroline had married William and ascended to the throne of their newly combined kingdoms, she had been acting hostilely toward theirs, even if her parents were still allies with Frederick and Abigail. "Another trip I have to make," Emma grumbled under her breath. She knew Caroline harbored animosity for her, but Emma was not going to let her continue to risk the alliance of their kingdoms because of it. It was about time for them to finally confront each other. She had been putting it off for far too long. It would have to wait until after she was done with George, though.
"What are you talking about?" Charming concernedly asked, having heard her.
"I overheard you and mom talking a long time ago," Emma reluctantly confessed, not able to meet this eyes, "About how I'm the reason Caroline doesn't want to ally with us anymore."
"Emma, it's more complicated than that-"
"No it isn't," Emma interjected sharply. This was about her. She reached down and frustratingly grabbed some more arrows, "It's time to clear the air between us."
After a long moment, suspicion washed over Charming's face. "What do you mean another trip?" he asked, his voice rising slightly.
Shit. She hadn't been thinking when she had said that. Emma shot another arrow, feigning indifference. "Nothing," she told him, her voice straining to stay even.
Realization entered his eyes as he studied her. Taking a step forward, he warned, "Don't go after George."
"I'm not." Emma said, incredulousness in her voice. She knew it was useless trying to lie, though, her dad knew her too well.
"He's not worth it." Charming sternly stressed.
"I said I'm not going after him," Emma snapped. She immediately felt bad, but if her parents knew, they would stop her and she had to do this. She had to something. That phrase had been flying through her head like a mantra lately.
Her father took a deep breath, his voice turning softer, "I know you've been going through a rough time ever since you got back from Neverland-"
"He was here the other night," she suddenly blurted, knowing he would know who she was talking about since they were on the topic of Neverland. Emma had no idea why she was confessing to Killian's visit now, but it had messed with her head and she wanted to talk about it. At the moment, her parents were the only people she had to talk to. Who was she kidding; they were the only people she really could talk to anyway. And her unexpected rendezvous to Neverland had freaked them out so much she felt bad about not telling them. Especially since they still thought that Killian had kidnapped her. She had never corrected them on that assumption. Oops. Emma started to contemplate telling him that, he probably wouldn't be so keen to hang around the castle if he knew her dad would run a sword through him the second he was spotted. "About two weeks ago."
"Hook was here?" Charming reiterated, his voice low and dangerous, "Two weeks ago? And you didn't alert any of the guards?" he furiously ranted, looking stunned, "Why didn't you say anything?"
"He just wanted to talk," Emma muttered, rolling her eyes and instantly regretting ever bringing this up now.
Charming stared at her outrageously. "About what exactly?"
"It doesn't matter. I got him to leave," Emma told him reassuringly, her voice confident. Killian had been right about her bluffing, but not exactly what she had been bluffing about. That gong was just some random item in her room and no guards would come if she hit it, absolutely nothing would happen. She couldn't even remember where it came from.
"It matters to me," her father countered, still flabbergasted, "How did he even get into the castle without anyone noticing?"
If her father only knew he was still in the castle, hiding out somewhere. "He just wants his revenge," Emma whispered, failing to hide the bitterness that was creeping into her voice.
"You thought about giving him it, didn't you?" Charming mused, his voice startled and confounded, and Emma knew he was referring to the wardrobe, "Until –"
"It doesn't matter anymore what I thought," Emma quickly interjected, her demeanor hardening. She aimed an arrow and watched as it the bull's-eye, harshly and determinately saying, "He's not getting anything else from me."
She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince.
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Early the next afternoon, Emma snuck down the side of the castle wall when she was sure no one was watching. Her dad had been watching her like a hawk ever since yesterday. She tried not to think too hard about what she was doing, instead just forced herself to focus on the adrenaline that was beginning to pump through her veins. This had to be done. She needed to do this. How were things in her life or in the Enchanted Forest ever going to get better if things constantly remained stagnant? She wished she was going after Regina, or even after whoever was terrorizing the kingdoms, but that was too much for her to take on right now. She had to start small, with George, and then keep going from there.
Emma traveled to the area where he had last been spotted, close to east river running through mountains, and began to hop from tree to tree, keeping a lookout for any sign of George or his men and trying to stay out of sight. Since she was also carrying her bow in her hand, climbing was starting to get more difficult the more the hours passed. Deciding to stay on the ground for a while, she hopped down from the tree she was in only to be grabbed from behind seconds later, a hand covering her mouth.
Panicking, Emma hysterically squirmed and began to try to fight against whoever had grabbed her. "Relax. It's just me," a familiar, exasperated voice hissed in her ear.
"What the hell!" Emma snarled, wrenching herself away from Killian when he loosened his hold, "You can't just sneak up on people like that!" she told him irately, wild accusation in her green eyes. With her heart was thumping from shock and fear, she reflexively put a hand to her chest. Emma had thought for a fleeting moment George's men had found her before she found them. Instead, it was the last person she wanted to see. But frankly, she wasn't that surprised to see him here, which should worry her more than it actually did.
Rolling his eyes, Killian reached a hand around her head and pulled down the hood of the black cloak she was wearing. With an outrageous scoff, Emma immediately flipped it back over her head. Killian glanced at her tiredly before he pulled it off again, saying with an obnoxious tone, "You're not doing yourself any favors with that on, love."
With an incredulous gasp, Emma roughly flicked his vest. "Yeah, well, you're one to talk. Those buttons aren't just for show, you know," she countered disdainfully. Was it that necessary to always have that much of his chest showing? Not that she noticed, of course. Emma saw him start to smirk, a wicked glint entering his eyes, and she regretted ever trying to take a jab at his clothing too. He would twist whatever she would say.
Fortunately, he didn't throw back an innuendo, and instead dryly implored, "Care to explain why you've taken a sudden interest in traipsing around in the trees?"
"Have you been following me?" Emma demanded, narrowing her eyes accusingly. She knew he had been watching her at home, but following her out here? Seriously?
Killian shrugged indifferently. "Maybe," he replied, an innocent and charming grin on his face that told Emma he was definitely anything but innocent.
"Why can't you just go run off to another realm already?" Emma frustratingly hissed, throwing her hands up frenetically in the air at him.
He narrowed his blue eyes mockingly at her, still grinning. "How can I when you're so obviously up to something?"
"I'm not up to anything," Emma whispered hostilely. She was going after George. Alone. And could he be any louder? George and his men could be close, she didn't want them spotting her first, and she certainly didn't want him distracting her.
"Then why are you whispering?" Killian asked, whispering as well now, moving his head down only centimeters away from her face.
Emma roughly pushed him away from her. "Back off," she ordered sternly, her heart already fluttering erratically from his close proximity for just those few seconds.
Killian threw her an exasperated look before asking more seriously, "What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing," Emma replied shortly. She started to walk away from him, but he grabbed her around the waist and used his free hand to start poking around in her pockets. "Stop it!" Emma gasped outrageously, boiling with anger. She hectically tried to kick and tear herself away from him. This was so completely uncalled for. When he found the paper she had been trying to hide, he suddenly let go of her waist, causing her to tumble unceremoniously to the ground.
"This?" Killian held up George's wanted poster, skepticism and amusement in his voice, "This is what you've snuck out here to do?"
"What's it to you?" Emma growled, glaring at him as she stood up and brushed herself off.
"If you don't recall, I was there for one of your little run-ins with him," Killian replied scathingly, his eyes darkening, "That man definitely didn't get on my good side."
Emma pretended to be shocked. "You have a good side?" she asked dryly.
He glowered at her. "If you're going after him, I'll help you," Killian sighed, folding the poster up and sticking inside his coat pocket.
She reached over and grabbed the poster from his coat. If he wanted a poster, he could get his own. This was her poster. "No," she told him indignantly.
"I wasn't asking for your permission," Killian said, his voice quiet with warning.
Gritting her teeth together, Emma fumed, "I don't need your help."
"So let me get this straight," Killian theorized, crossing his arms in exaggerated contemplation, "you're going to capture and bring in a man, an elderly one," he relented with humor, "but one still twice your size nonetheless, all by yourself, while still somehow evading all of his guards?" Killian pondered, obviously making fun of her. Whatever. She didn't have to justify anything to him. Besides, that's not even what she was planning to do. With a contemptuous glare, Emma marched away from him. After a moment, she heard his appalled voice, "You're not going to try to kill him, are you?"
Emma turned around and saw him staring at her incredulously. "Oh, don't look so scandalized," Emma snapped, not wanting to think about it. If she thought about it, she wouldn't be able to do it. She shouldn't feel guilty. How many times had he tried to kill her? Her anger was what was driving her now. "It's not like it's something you're unfamiliar with," she caustically muttered, turning to walk away from him again.
"I may not be, but you are," Killian heatedly argued from behind her, "You're not a killer, Emma."
"Watch me," Emma hissed, not bothering to look at him. She could, and would, do this and him trying to stop her was only making her more determined.
He grabbed her arm and spun her around. She was met with intense blue eyes burning through her. "You don't have to try to prove anything to me," Killian stated, his voice determined and aggressive.
"This isn't about you," Emma menacingly sneered, violently tearing her arm away from him. And it wasn't. Mostly.
"Then what is it about?" Killian urged, his eyes blazing. The seriousness and genuine interest in his question rattled her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Emma remained silent and quickly started to stride away from him. "Please, enlighten me," he called, his voice turning sarcastic at her retreating form, "Your excuses are always so riveting."
"Oh go back to Agrabah!" she irately sputtered back at him, a last-ditch effort on her part to get him to leave her alone.
Emma determinately marched forward, continuing her search, but she couldn't concentrate knowing he was still behind her. Whipping around, she hotly ordered, "Stop following me."
"Let me think about it…" he said lightly, a cheery smile forming on his face. It quickly disappeared. Eyes turning into a hard glare, Killian spat, "No."
Raging, Emma balled her fists and had to resist the urge to hit him. He was definitely the most frustrating man she had ever met. Couldn't he take a hint? Getting ready to climb a tree, hoping his hook wouldn't allow him to follow her up there, she noticed red stains on her hands and looked down to see blood seeping from her side. Her arrow wound must have opened back up when she was dumped on the ground. This was just fantastic. She was bleeding before she even made it to George. "Now look what you made me do," Emma furiously barked, putting pressure on her side in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
"What exactly am I to be blamed for this time?" Killian questioned, his voice weary and sardonic.
"My wound opened back up," Emma irritability grunted, huffing in annoyance.
Killian paused and looked at her with reluctant concern. "Is it bleeding?" he implored, walking toward her. Emma stopped, overwhelmed with déjà vu. This seemed all too familiar. An idea popped in her head and it was beginning to look like things might finally go her way today. She turned her shoulders away from him, getting her fist ready. "Here," Killian gave out a frustrated growl when she moved away form him again, "Emma, stop being so bloody stubborn and let me help you." The moment he was in front of her, Emma swung her fist up and hit him as hard as she could across the temple. He fell to the ground. Her heart dropped when she saw she had successfully knocked him out, again, and immediately felt bad, now that she knew what it felt to have that happen to you, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do. Emma grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him over to a shadier part of the forest, kicking some leaves over him to try to hide him better if George's men, or anyone else, did end up coming this way and happen to find him when he was still unconscious. After she got him settled, she was on her way again.
As it got closer to dusk, Emma was almost ready to call it quits and start her search again tomorrow when she saw a flash of movement to her right. Perched up in a tree, she quietly climbed down to a lower branch and spotted a man wearing a dark blue, worn out looking tunic and a silver helmet. One of George's men. She quickly hopped down and crept up behind him, following him. Her heart started to pound and her stomach turned to knots in anticipation. She could do this. She just had to stay calm and keep a level head.
The man stopped when he came to a clearing. George's camp was hidden away on a small ridge, tucked between the rocky side of a mountain and the high edge of a ravine. Emma had to admit, it was a good hiding spot. She would have never thought to look in a place like this because it was a place she would have never chosen for herself. There were only two ways to get to it, through the woods, where she now was, or the narrow, steep path on the other side. Plus, that cliff looked very daunting and she would have been afraid of something, or someone, accidently going off the edge. It wasn't a place suited for attacks, which would work well for her, but was a disadvantage for him. Emma spotted George sitting by a rudimentary fire, only five men around him at the camp. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. This was no time to lose her nerve.
Emma climbed up into one of the trees and shot an arrow toward the camp, deliberately missing anyone. She was just baiting his men to come searching in the woods for the attacker, leaving George alone. As the group ducked and scattered at the appearance of the arrow, she saw George furiously stand up and direct his men toward the woods. Emma smirked and once his men had passed below her, she jumped down and snuck up behind George on the ridge.
She held the tip of her sword at his back. "I wouldn't move a centimeter if I were you," Emma warned, her voice stern and cold.
"Emma," George spit, chuckling humorlessly. He raised his arms up in submission and slowly turned around to face her. Emma poked her sword harder into his chest. "How nice to see you again."
"Believe me," Emma replied distastefully. She circled around him so that her back was to the mountainside now, instead of the forest where his men would be coming back soon from, "the pleasure's all mine."
"Why have you so graciously sought me out tonight, your Majesty?" George asked, glowering at her. Five men returned from the woods, getting ready to charge at her, but George held up a hand, stopping them.
Glaring, Emma contemptuously snarled, "I'm just paying you back for shooting me with that arrow." Her heart was flying rapidly and she didn't think she had ever been this nervous. She tried to keep telling herself that this man deserved this. He was the whole reason she was now indebted to Rumplestiltskin.
"I never shot you with any arrow," George retorted disdainfully, "But I applaud the person who did."
Emma saw the genuine denial on his face. "You're lying, it had to be you," she stubbornly accused, slightly thrown. No, her father had been sure. Who else would shoot her? Everyone else that was after her would've used magic. The main reason that strengthened her resolve for coming after him crumbled before her eyes, along with the plan she was so sure of, and she had no idea what she should do now.
"Believe what you want," George replied, his voice bored. He studied her smugly, "Are you here to kill me?"
"It's not anything less than what you deserve," Emma spat, though her voice was not as harsh as she wanted it to be. She wasn't sure if she could go through with it, now that she was actually here and standing in front of him.
"What I deserved was my family," George heatedly countered. And for the first time in her life, Emma saw real emotion in his eyes.
"I'm sorry about your wife and you son," she told him sincerely, "But you could've had a family, a different one."
George paused and Emma could see the wheels turning in his head. "Do you think you could still ever see me as such?" he asked, his voice feigning empathy. She knew what he was trying to do and she wasn't fooled. But she knew she couldn't kill him regardless. Killian was right. She wasn't a killer. Her father was right. She should have never come out here. Her frustration, confusion, and anger had blinded her and now she was in a situation she wasn't sure how to get out of. Emma loosened her stance and lowered her sword a fraction of an inch for a split second, distracted by her racing thoughts, but George capitalized on the opportunity. His foot kicked sharply into her chest and sent her flying backwards. She hit the stone wall of the mountain, paralyzed from shock and pain, and accidently dropped her sword; the wind completely knocked out of her.
"Like I said, Charming was never my son," George acidly reiterated, thinking her hesitation was from his plea. He brought his forearm to her throat and violently lifter her slightly and jammed her into the mountainside, the backside of her head hitting the stone. Pricking spasms sent waves of affliction through her head. "And I thought I guaranteed that you would never be born," George growled, his voice disgusted. Emma could barely focus on what he was saying. His arm was crushing her air source and her head was still spinning from her head injury, "You're weak, just like him."
She couldn't believe what was happening. George was probably going to kill her. And it was all her fault. Through her blurred vision, she saw three figures charging down the narrow hill to her left. "Dad?" she whispered, her voice hoarse and strangulated.
George turned to see what she had spotted. "This is perfect," he exclaimed, strangely enthused. He suddenly dropped his hold on her and Emma weakly tumbled to the ground, gasping for air. She saw George's men charge toward her dad and the two guards he had brought with him. I guess he had noticed she had left after all. And she was extremely grateful that her father knew her well enough to know where she would be. George stopped one of them, ordering, "Take care of her, I've got bigger fish to fry."
The guard sauntered toward Emma, a sly smirk forming on his face. Still on the ground, she fumbled for her sword. Okay, so she wasn't completely out of the woods yet. The man suddenly froze and Emma heard the slash of a sword before she saw it protruding from his chest. The instant it was removed, the guard fell to the ground.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked breathlessly, a little perturbed over the man's death, but still extremely relieved and elated to see Killian standing in front of her. She was stunned to see him. Even after she had knocked him out for the umpteenth time, he still followed her. She was still extremely mad at him, but her heart was soaring nonetheless.
"You can't get rid of me that easily," Killian haughtily smirked, obviously pleased by her reaction. He held out his hand and helped her to her feet, "I probably deserved that one," he conceded, his voice light as he pointed up to his head. Emma beamed at him and he grinned back at her before they turned to their attention back to fight. Her father and the guards had already defeated George's men and all that was left was George standing near the edge of the cliff, grasping his side. Emma could see the blood coming from there and his head, and his sword was cast on the ground feet away from him.
"Give it up, George." Charming thundered, his sword out and ready. Her father glanced over her from across the ridge and did a double take when he saw Killian standing beside her. Charming cast him a quick, skeptical look, his brows furrowed, before he focused his attention back on the white-haired man standing ahead of them, nearing the edge of the ravine cliff, "It's over."
Blood drizzling from his mouth, George hastily darted his eyes between her and Charming, as if he were making some sort of last minute decision. He suddenly spit out a mirthless laugh. "Never," George hissed, whipping out a knife and throwing it directly at Charming.
Emma reflexively reached out a hand. "No!" she hysterically bellowed. A wave of light burst from her chest in such a strong eruption it sent the knife and everyone, herself included, flying to the ground. Her body aching, Emma stayed sprawled out on her back trying to catch her breath. Everything was hazy. Her magic had never been that strong except for when Regina attempted to rip out her heart. Seeing George's knife fly at her dad had terrified her and she wasn't going to let him die for another one of her stupid decisions. The only reason he was here was because of her. After a few quiet moments, Emma attempted to stand up, wincing in the process. Beside her, Killian had started to stir as well and had garnered enough strength to sit up, but her father and the rest of the guards were still lying on their backs.
She glanced over and saw George's body lying deadly still next to the edge of the ravine. Her magic hadn't killed him had it? He hadn't been faring well before she knocked everyone over and it might have been the final punch. Emma slowly began to make her way over there, studying him cautiously along the way.
From the corner of her eye, she saw her father start to gain consciousness. "Emma, be careful," Charming ordered as he watched her edge along the side of cliff, his voice strained.
"Is he dead?" Killian asked her, his voice quiet and curious. She could hear him stand up, attempting to follow her over there.
Emma stopped and stood in front of George's body. He was lying on his side facing away from her, so she couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. She started to feel sick to her stomach as she hesitantly reached for him to turn him over. The moment Emma touched him, George's eyes popped open, sending of a wave of terror through her body. He seized her ankle as he rolled himself off the edge of cliff and into the ravine below, taking her with him.
Her heart in her throat, Emma spiraled into a free fall before she was suddenly halted mid-air. The unexpected jolt sent painful shockwaves through her body and her hands scraped agonizingly against the side of the ravine as she reflexively tried to stop herself as well. The sound of her heart and blood rushing in her ears and her breathing erratically uneven, Emma looked up and Killian leaning over the edge, his hook latched through the strap of her quiver. "I've got you," Killian reassured. The strain from holding her up was written on his face, but Emma could see the relief in his eyes. With straps now cutting painfully into her shoulders, she gave him the best smile she could muster. Glancing down at the river below, Emma could see George's body lying on the banks. She quickly averted her eyes, knots forming in her chest at the sight. She wasn't sad or happy about his death, she just felt sorry for him now.
"Emma," her father breathed, anxiety palpable in his voice, as he crawled up next to Killian. He reached down toward her, "Give me your other hand." Emma grasped Killian's forearm with her right hand and took in her dad's in her left, and together they pulled her up.
The moment they pulled her to her feet, though, she felt herself wobble forward. Killian wrapped an arm around her waist, steadying her. "Careful," he chided, chuckling breathlessly. She wanted to tell him to move his hold on her waist higher, if not completely remove it, when her father, who already disliked him, was standing right there. But her head started to spin dizzily and her vision started to blur. Words wouldn't come out of her mouth.
"Emma, your head," her father's anxious voice came from behind her.
Trying to smile, Emma put a hand to the back of her head, only to feel something wet and sticky. "What?" she dazedly mused. She brought her hand down and saw it dripping with blood. Weird. That wasn't normal. Memories flooded through her. Oh, right. She had hit her head. Killian glanced down at her hand, alarm filling his eyes as he tried to turn her around, but she was suddenly just so tired. Emma's strength left her body and she stumbled forward, losing consciousness.
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Emma woke up in her bed, lying on her side, her brain feeling a little fuzzy. As she rolled over and began to sit up, she spotted her parents talking with Red over by the door. "Mom?" she called, her voice hoarse and crackly from dehydration. A quick dizziness washed over her and she reached up and felt bandages uncomfortably wrapped around her forehead, holding in place a gauze on the back of her head. Ugh, hopefully they would let her take these off soon, if not now. "Dad?"
"You're awake," Snow answered with a smile, beaming and relieved. She walked over and sat down on the bed beside her. Emma was surprised, expecting her to be angry about running off to go after George, but that was fine with her. She would take this over her mother's disappointed anger any day.
Her father moved toward her as well, concernedly asking, "How are you feeling?"
Details coming back to her, Emma remembered passing out in Killian's arms. "Where's," Emma began, about to say 'Killian' but stopped herself since her parents would have no clue who she was talking about, "Hook?"
Charming immediately started to glower. "In the dungeon where he belongs," he muttered darkly.
Emma stared up at him disbelievingly. He put him in there even after he had just saved her life right in front of him? "Dad, you can't be serious," Emma implored dubiously. As much as Killian infuriated her and even though she was still feeling hurt by him, a cell was not a good place for him when he had the likes of two sorcerers after him.
"I can't believe you went after George," Charming countered, his voice rising furiously, "After I specifically said-"
"I'm sorry," Emma quietly offered despondently. And she meant it with all of her heart. Going after George had been a stupid decision and had almost gotten them killed. With everything going on, she hadn't been able to think straight and had just blindly listened to an impulse, selfishly trying to gain control over something and prove something that didn't need proving. She couldn't believe she actually thought she could kill someone in cold blood like that.
"You almost got yourself killed," her father heatedly continued, pointing an angry finger at her.
Snow put a hand on his arm, attempting to lower it and calm him, gently saying, "Everything's fine now."
"I'm surprised you're being this calm about it," Charming said, looking at her incredulously and voicing Emma's thoughts. But then again, her mother had always had a knowing look in her when Emma returned from Neverland and always stayed mum on the subject of Killian, unlike her father.
Wanting to discuss and argue about all of this later and get Killian out of the dungeon before Regina, or worse Rumplestiltskin, got word of them locking him up. Either one of them would probably just poof up in the cell with him and rip his heart out. Besides, she felt bad that he was locked up after he had helped her. "Will you just let Hook leave?" Emma asked pleadingly, sneaking a glance over at her mirror to make sure it was still covered. Much to her relief, it was.
It was her turn to receive her father's intense incredulity. "Emma, he kidnapped you."
"He didn't kidnap me," Emma corrected, her voice sharp. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. She finally confessed, "I went to Neverland because I wanted to."
"Why?" Snow asked, curiosity washed over her face as she gave Emma her full attention.
"We made a deal," Emma explained, trying to act nonchalant about it.
Bracing himself, Charming authoritatively implored, "What kind of deal?"
"If I helped him with his revenge," Emma began lightly, but then reluctantly muttered, "he would help me go after Regina."
"Why would you do something like that?" Snow suddenly irately exploded, throwing the support Emma thought she might have from her regarding Killian out the window.
"He's a pirate, Emma," Charming hotly debated, "and a criminal."
"Stop," Emma furiously interjected, quieting their incensed rants, "He may be all of those things but he's saved my life more than once," she told them confidently, hoping to persuade them, "All he wants is his revenge and you can't deny the world would be a whole lot better without the Dark One in it."
"That doesn't mean-"
"I'll go release him," Emma declared, her voice stern and final as she attempted to stand up off the bed.
"Emma, I don't know…" Snow said, her voice hesitant as she studied Emma unsurely.
"If I promise not to go after Regina any more, will you let him go?" Emma bargained, trying to hide desperation from filling her voice, "After what just happened, I'm realizing it was a mistake to ever think I could. That's not what's important right now," she added, trailing off quietly. No, there were bigger things at stake now. She had entire kingdom she was going to start having to take care of. She had to stop obsessing over old scores she selfishly wanted to settle.
There was a moment of silence between them, Snow's gaze torn and contemplative. "Do you what you think is best," she conceded reluctantly.
"You can't be serious," Charming started to protest, a look of defeat on his face.
"Thank you," Emma said, appreciatively squeezing her mother's hand, "Is he up in the tower?"
"Not exactly," Charming replied, guilt washing over his face, but she could see a bit smug amusement flickering in his eyes.
Realizing what he was getting at, Emma gaped at him disbelievingly. "You've got to be kidding me."
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Emma was relieved when she finally made it down to Rumplestiltskin's old cell after what seemed like the longest walk of her life. Hearing footsteps, she saw Killian stand up and lean against the pointed bars. An amused grin flitted across his face when he saw it was her. "Don't you just look lovely," Killian quipped, referring to the bandages wrapped around the top of her head.
She threw him a pointed look, trying not to smile. "This is the same cell where my parents kept Rumplestiltskin," Emma informed him wryly, coming to stand in front of him.
"The irony isn't lost on me," Killian sighed, a bored tone in his voice. "How's your head?" he asked more seriously.
"Fine," Emma disconcertedly muttered, hating being injured, as she pushed down on the lever to open the cell doors, "You're free to go," she announced to him, flourishing her hand toward the exit with a tired smile on her face.
"Is this legitimate or a jail break on your part?" Killian questioned, a skeptical eyebrow raised, walking out of the cell to come stand in front of her.
Rolling her eyes, Emma handed him back his hook that her father had taken. He was taking the 'protective father' act a little too far. "It's legitimate," she told him, her voice flat.
"Thank you, your Highness," Killian said, slight bowing to her with an infuriating smirk on his face. His blue eyes shone bemusedly, "Your father doesn't seem too fond of me."
"Are you surprised?" Emma dubiously questioned as she crossed her arms, her eyebrows raised challengingly, "And don't call me that," she added, a little embarrassed. It sounded too weird coming from him. She didn't like it.
Killian shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I guess not," he said, chuckling lightly as he attached his hook back on with an audible click.
Pointing at the dried blood that had been coming from his nose, Emma skeptically asked, "He did that?"
"Well I wasn't going to fight him back when you were passed out in his arms now, was I?" Killian sardonically objected, looking appalled.
"How noble of you," Emma commented dryly.
He gave her an impish look. "Your magic was different today," Killian added, his eyes filled with puzzlement and intrigue.
"How so?" Emma asked, dismayed by the worry that was seeping into her voice.
"It was just as powerful, if not more," Killian said reassuringly, noticing her anxiety, "it just wasn't as… bright, I guess," he mused, contemplation in his eyes, "Is it the Enchanted Forest?"
"Maybe," Emma shrugged, remembering how hard it had been to gain control over it again once she had gotten back, "It definitely feels different than it did in Neverland. It's been getting better, though," she added defensively with a wry, optimistic smile.
"The more I've been traveling lately, the more I've noticing what you use to ramble on about it," Killian observed with a teasing smirk, "about how the magic's been changing."
"Really?" Emma asked engagingly, surprised that he would even remember or notice.
"Agrabah seemed almost completely desolate of magic," Killian acknowledged, waving his hand knowledgeably in the air, "while Oz was flourishing in it. And here it's…" he trailed off, searching for the right words, finally settling on, "somewhere in the middle," Killian sighed.
"And waning," Emma despondently murmured, mostly to herself. She couldn't stop the next words from tumbling out of her mouth, "There have been these other attacks on parts of the kingdom I can't seem to figure out either." She wasn't sure why she was even talking to him about this, but for some reason she couldn't help always spilling her guts to him. Besides, it was just nice to talk to him normally again.
"What do you mean?" Killian inquired, staring at her fixedly.
"It's like magic I've never seen before," Emma bleakly concluded, her voice quiet and soft as her eyes glazed over, her thoughts dwelling on her recent nightmare now.
"So that's what's been bothering you lately," Killian coaxingly intoned, like he was relieved some great mystery had finally been revealed to him, and before Emma could respond, his hand brushed across her cheek, the electricity and warmth making her lose her thought process and her breath. She could see all the shades of blue in his eyes and all the hidden flecks of gold there, along with the intent that was rushing through them.
"Don't," she pleaded, putting a hand up to his chest. He hadn't even kissed her yet and she already felt overwhelmed by what she was feeling. It freaked her out. Emma didn't want to be in this type of position with anyone ever again. She wasn't sure if she could survive being broken again, especially by him. She did her best to hold on to the anger she had been feeling toward him and focus on that, because no matter what, Emma knew she would always be second to his vengeance.
"But I thought…" Killian began, looking confused and taken aback.
Emma narrowed her green eyes at him accusingly, "You thought what exactly?" Okay, now she was mad that he would just assume she would come back falling into his arms like they still didn't have any problems to be worked out.
Killian froze, searching her face confusedly for a moment, before fury overtook his eyes, "Why are you being so stubborn?"
"Why are you being so persistent?" Emma countered, just as furious.
Unflinching resolve colored his eyes, and before Emma could protest, his lips landed hungrily on hers. She immediately tried to push him off of her, but he latched his hand onto the back of her neck, holding her in place. Everything inside her melted and within seconds, she was kissing him with just as much fervor. She was completely lost in him. It was different from their first kiss. It was more urgent. More insistent. She inhaled his breath, felt his tongue in her mouth, rolling on top of hers, almost as if he wanted to devour her. Emma arched into him, wanting to get closer and wanting more. His lips moved down her jaw line, his tongue and teeth scraping down her neck, making her shudder. But when she heard him whisper her name, everything seemed to snap back into focus. Everything was so right about it, which made is so wrong. It wouldn't last and she didn't want to end up in pieces when it did.
"Stop!" Emma desperately bellowed, shoving him away, pain coursing through her. Her heart felt like a drum in her chest and she knew without even looking that her lips were swollen. Killian stumbled backwards, taken off guard. He looked stunned for a moment before hurt and outrage flashed through his eyes.
"Why can't you just trust me?" Killian vehemently argued, his voice echoing throughout the cave, "I just spent the entire day chasing you through the bloody mountains!"
"Congratulations on your one day of mountain climbing," Emma caustically hissed, glaring at him incredulously, "You betrayed me after Neverland and I know you say it was to protect me, but I can't trust you won't ever do something like to me again," she hysterically sputtered out, desperate for him to understand, "You are so consumed with your revenge, you will literally do anything for it," her voice was starting to break, "You don't care about collateral damage or people you may hurt in the process, including me."
He looked like she'd slapped him. "You've got me all figured out, don't you?" Killian maliciously drawled, his words cutting through her, "Then tell me why I've been following you around for the past two weeks instead out of looking for portals," he venomously roared. Emma didn't think she had ever seen him this angry before and she couldn't form a coherent thought. "Is Princess Emma finally out of excuses?" he tauntingly mocked.
"Go to hell," Emma acidly spat, riled up by his provocations now.
His eyes darkening, he pulled her flush against him, huskily whispering, "As long as you come with me." Emma quickly used all her strength to push him away, already starting to feel her body betray her. She had to get as far away from him as possible if she was going to hold her resolve and not give herself over to him right then and there. Turning sharply on her heel, Emma determinately marched toward the exit.
"So that's it then?" Killian bitingly called, his tone causing her to freeze, "I hurt your feelings once and you're just going to shut me out forever?"
Emma wildly whipped around. "You didn't hurt my feelings," she indignantly protested, sending him a look of disgust. She saw a malicious smirk form on his lips, reveling that he had hit a nerve.
"What did I do then?" he fierily implored, bitterness etching his features as he walked toward her.
She stared up at him, distressed and speechless. She didn't have an answer. She had been avoiding and running from that question for the past six months, too afraid to find out what the answer was. Her fight or flight instinct was screaming at her. And she was choosing to fly. Finally, Emma unevenly stammered out, "Are we done here?"
"I'm the only one that's here for you, love," Killian obstinately pressed, almost growling at her.
"Are we done here?" Emma repeated louder than before, finding her voice and confidence again.
Killian moved toward her face with an intimidating air. "Far from it," he spit, his voice viscous and scathing, before sullenly striding out of the cave. Emma stood there until she could no longer see him.
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A/N: So George is dead... and Emma and Killian just had a major fight. Their relationship is still pretty rocky at this point and lately, Emma has been using her magic without even really thinking about it and she is going to start learning that magic always comes with a price. She hasn't really noticed the effects of it yet, but every time she has used it, something negative has happened in her life. That's why it was important to me to have this major falling out with Killian in the same chapter that she used magic to save her dad, hence why this chapter is so long lol.
Thoughts/opinions?
And if anyone was wondering, because I had to look it up, 'quiver' is the proper term for what you hold your arrows in on your back.
Please leave a review if you can and thanks again for reading!
Love you all! :)
Next Chapter Summary: As Emma prepares for her 21st birthday, more of her past is exposed when she confronts Caroline, hoping to reconcile their friendship since Emma is starting to fear more inevitable destruction is coming to the Enchanted Forest, and soon; meanwhile, Regina attempts to strike a deal with Emma, but a shocking revelation could change everything.