Hey guys! Hope you don't mind that I haven't been switching between universes like I said I might do. I think I have decided to leave that out of this story, but I may write about that in another fanfic someday. :) A huge thanks to all of you; honestly, the fact that you guys are still reading this astounds me. Thank you so very much! I love you all! :)

That night, after Regina had gone inside, Emma and Hook sat around a small fire.

"I'm learning a lot Killian." Emma swoons. "I think tomorrow I'll finally be able to transport myself somewhere." The joy in her eyes brings a grin to Killian's lips. But it quickly disappears as he takes her hand.

"Emma, I need to tell you something."

She nods slowly, her eyes desperately searching Killian's. "Of course."

He focuses his eyes on their intertwined hands, and he feels the now-familiar tingle in his toes at her touch. "Emma, love, the Queen is after your powers."

"Killian..." She whines and tries to pull her hand from his grasp.

"Please, listen to me. I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's true. She has a potion that will slowly take away your magic and give it to her. She already has some of it." Emma's eyes shine disbelief. "She wants you to not believe me."

"Oh really?" She gawks. "And I'm sure the Evil Queen is the one that made me see how much you want to get out of here? She wants me to turn against you, right? It has nothing to do with this actually being how you feel." She stands, and starts walking away from Hook.

He groans loudly as he follows her. "What do I have to do to get you to believe me Emma?"

"Not lie!" Emma spins on her heals and pushes on his chest.

"I'm not lying!" He refutes, and grabs hold of her arms.
"Prove it. Show me this potion the Queen is using on me."

The Pirate hangs his head. "I can't Emma. I don't know where she has it."

"Oh, that's convenient."
"Stop doing that!" He demands. "Can't you believe me? When throughout this whole journey have I lied to you?"

"I don't know, because it would have been a lie!" Emma screams back.

"I care about you Emma." Killian lowers his tone.

"Yeah right." Emma rolls her eyes and looks away.

With a surge of courage, Killian leans in and presses a soft kiss to her lips. She quickly pushes him away.

"What are you doing?" Her voice is ragged.

"Showing you I care." Killian whispers. Emma's wild eyes search his for a moment before she leans back in. Their lips connect, and send shooting sparks down both of their bodies. The knots in Emma's stomach explode and flutter around. She carefully wraps her arms around his neck, but then he pulls away.

"Come on Emma, we have to go." Killian grabs her hand and starts pulling her towards the forest.

"Go? Go where? Killian, I'm not leaving." Emma pulls her hand back and stares at the man. 'How can he still be thinking about running off? How is his brain not mush like mine? Oh right, he's done this plenty of times before.' Emma looks down in sadness as she realizes the kiss was only a ruse to get her to do as he wished. He was trying to cloud her judgment with his handsome, scruffy face and that dazzling accent. She stood her ground and shook him out of her mind.

"Emma, please, I'm trying to save you." Killian pleads as he stares at the young woman who has captured his heart. The thought of losing her, even if not to death, but condemnation, was tremendous.

"No Killian." She shakes her head, her curls spilling down her back. "I won't bend to your will just because you bat your eyes and flash that smile. I won't fall for your ruse like every other girl. This is my life, this is what I have been waiting for for years." She digs her heals into the dirt and glares at him. "I'm staying here, but you aren't."

"But Emma," He cries. And she shakes her head adamantly.

"Killian, leave right now." Her tone is dark and terrifying.

He stares at her for a moment before turning to walk away. At the edge of the forest, he glances back at the Princess one last time to find her head buried in her hands, and his heart breaks.

From the doorway of her cabin, Regina watches Hook walk away, and a brokenhearted Emma sit by the fire alone. She grins wickedly at the Pirate when their eyes meet.

She was finally going to get her happy ending.