It was a jarring feeling, having the memories of a completely different (three hundred years long) life returning to his mind in the span of just a few moments. It was even more strange to have such conflicting personalities, the Deckhand and the Pirate, at war with each other inside of his head. He had a brand new sense of empathy for all those who had been subjected to the Queen's original Curse. Having to sift through two different sets of memories had already become exhausting, even after just a few hours. Perhaps that was why Dave could be so surly at times.

Speaking of David, he hoped he never found out about his Deckhand self. He'd never hear the end of it.

Not that Swan or Henry were letting him off easy. As soon as they had expressed how relieved they were to have him back, they wasted no time in teasing him about his alternate personality.

"Goats milk!" Emma laughed as they all walked back to the cabin together, one of her hands in his and her other arm slung around Henry's shoulder. "You were carrying goat's milk around in a flask! How does that even make any sense?" she asked as Henry snickered.

He didn't reply, just simply grinned back. He couldn't find it in himself to be even the slightest bit annoyed by their jokes. Just looking at them, seeing them both so happy to have him back, well. It made him the happiest man in all the realms.

That and the fact that he and Emma had shared True Love's Kiss. He knew how he had felt for some time, but having the concrete confirmation that she felt the same only added to his happiness. Ever since his failed attempt at a True Love's Kiss in New York, he couldn't help doubting himself, despite later learning that such a Kiss couldn't break a curse when your True Love couldn't remember you. However, their Kiss that afternoon had put all his doubts to rest and left him with a feeling of content peace.

He knew that although Emma loved him, she wasn't quite ready to admit her feelings out loud yet. At first, he had been confused as to why she didn't want to say the words, why — when the proof was staring her straight in the face — she didn't want to face her feelings head on. Then he realized: saying it out loud would make it real, and every time someone's love for her had been real (or felt real, in that Monkey's case) she had lost them. So he contentedly resolved to wait until she was ready to tell him. He was a patient man after all.

When they arrived back at the cabin, they quickly began making plans for (what would hopefully be) the remainder of their time in this version of the Enchanted Forest. They decided that they would leave for the Jolly Roger first thing in the morning, which would hopefully allow them to reach the ship by nightfall. It then be another day's trip back to the port where Henry had first found Killian, which would give them three full days to find Regina and convince her to help them before they had to stop the wedding.

They all retired fairly early that night, but Killian couldn't sleep. He had no doubt in his mind that Emma would succeed in setting everything right. After all, he had yet to see her fail. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Shaking his head he rolled over and closed his eyes. Soon enough, the steady breaths of Emma and Henry lulled him to sleep.

-/-

Their trek through the woods the next day was uneventful. As they walked, the conversation flowed easily, especially now that he had his memories back. He told Emma and Henry stories about his time as a pirate (the Captain not the Deckhand), and later listened to their complaints about the modern technologies that they missed. Despite the gravity of the situation, and the nature of their mission, he couldn't help enjoying himself.

They reached the Jolly Roger just before dark, and quickly set to work removing all the brush that they had used to camouflage the ship. After that, they ate a quick dinner before getting ready for bed. Killian suggested that Henry sleep in the first mate's quarters, to which Henry readily agreed. After saying goodnight, he then led Emma to the captain's quarters and bade her goodnight before retiring to his hammock.

He was woken a few hours later by the sound of creaking floorboards. His eyes blinked open to see Emma walking quietly towards him. When she noticed that he was awake she paused.

"Are you alright, Emma? Is Henry alright?" he asked, his voice growing gradually more panicked.

"No, no, Henry's fine. I…I just…," she stuttered, and he furrowed his brow in confusion. "I just didn't want to be alone tonight," she said looking at the floor.

He smiled kindly at her. His Swan rarely showed any kind of vulnerability, even at times like this when she had every reason to do so. "Would you like me to accompany you back to my quarters?" he asked softly.

She met his eyes and nodded silently. He quickly stood up and took her by the hand before leading her back to his bed. She laid down first and he scooted in after her, pulling her close to him and hooking his arm around her waist. It then hit him that this was the first time that they had slept together, in any capacity. If it had been any other time, he would have made some flirtatious quip about her inviting him into her bed. But he could tell that wasn't what she needed right now. Right now she just needed someone to comfort her and let her know that things were going to be okay — which he knew was something that she hand't had for most of her life.

With the love of his life in his arms, it only took him a few minutes to fall asleep. He awoke at dawn, as he always did, to find Emma still sleeping soundly. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he gently removed himself from the bed and left the room, getting ready to start the day.

-/-

They sailed throughout the rest of the day and reached the docks just as the sun was setting. After much discussion, Killian and Emma decided that it would be best to spend another night aboard the ship and begin looking for Regina the next morning. Once again, Emma came to him in the middle of the night, and he stayed with her until the dawn came.

Later on that morning, when they finally exited the ship, Henry ran off ahead of them, hoping to find a shop where they could buy something to eat. Killian and Emma walked slowly behind him, holding hands. However, they were soon broken out of their comfortable silence by the yelling of a familiar voice.

"There they are! It's as I told you, my queen. The one-handed pirate was helping them. And the boy was with them as well," Lily said as she rounded a shop corner, followed by several black knights and…Snow and Charming.

But they were nothing like the Snow and Charming that Killian remembered. Snow, who normally wore soft colors and very little makeup, was dressed more elaborately than he had ever seen her. She was wearing a striking red dress, and her short hair had been teased to stand almost straight up. She wore heavy jewelry and her eyes were surrounded by dark makeup.

Charming looked very different as well. His clothing was all black, and he was sporting a large, thick cape. But the thing that surprised Killian the most were his eyes, which were heavily outlined in kohl. Had they been back home in Storybrooke, Killian would surely have made some comment about imitation being the highest form of flattery (when they got out of this, he still might). Deckhand Killian had known about the Evil Queen Snow White and her evil servant Charming, but seeing them up close only made the reality of their situation that much more…real.

While these thoughts were roaring around Killian's head, Emma was desperately trying to convince her parents to do the right thing, to become the heroes they once were. And for a brief moment it looked like she was going to succeed.

"You're right. Emma. Hope is a very powerful thing," Snow whispered, her expression softening into what looked like recognition. But a second later it hardened again. "Which is why I'm going to have to snuff it out of you and that awful son of yours," she continued. She then turned towards the guards and commanded them to kill.

The guards were just beginning to advance when Charming noticed something behind Emma and Killian. "Wait! There he is!"

Killian and Emma turned around to see Henry walking around the corner, carrying food in his arms. When he noticed them he stopped in his tracks and stared at them like a deer caught in headlights.

"My, my. I am going to enjoy watching him die in front of his mother," Snow drawled, gesturing for Charming to attack.

Although he was a skilled swordsman, Killian knew that there was no way he could take out that many guards at one time. He noticed a wooden structure covered with large bags next to them. Thinking quickly, he knocked it to the ground, which took out Lily and the rest of the guards, sending them crashing to the ground. Only Charming was left standing, but he was desperately trying to to get around the bags on the floor. Realizing that he had bought them very little time, Killian spun around to face Emma.

"Swan, you have to go."

"No, Killian," Emma said, her green eyes widening in shock and fear. "I'm not leaving you behind."

He inwardly cursed her desire to save people. He knew that she was the Savior, and it was something he loved about her, but this was one time when he wished she would be selfish. "These people are not your parents Swan. They're never going to stop chasing you. I can hold them off, give you and Henry time to escape."

"Killian, if what you're saying is true, then there's only one way this ends," she said, looking at him sadly. "You or him."

At that he swallowed thickly. "If I can help return things to how they're meant to be, then what happens to me here won't matter will it? Now run. Don't turn around until you're sure that you and ou — your boy are safe."

She looked at him uneasily and nodded before grabbing him by shirt, pulling him to her, and kissing him hard. After letting go she ran toward Henry and disappeared around the corner. As soon as they was out of sight, Killian turned around and, taking a deep breath, walked toward David…toward his death.