A/N: This is the last chapter, but there will be a epilogue some time next week. Thank you everyone who followed this story and commented. You guys are the best! xoxoxo

Chapter 13

Emma sat in the kitchen of her parent's loft. She was biting her thumbnail hard. Her anxiety level was worsened by the fact that she no longer had the dagger. Her brain was screaming at her to go the Killian's and retrieve it, but she knew it was best that she didn't have it.

Her parents, Killian, and Henry were in the living room with Neal and Eva, playing a game. Emma tuned them out, not being able to sit and enjoy the game with them. She was feeling way too antsy, and nervous. She didn't really want to be around anyone right now, but she was trying to look calm for her daughter.

She stole a glance at her family, and saw Killian was looking at her. She looked away quickly. They had kissed, but she hadn't been able to bring herself to discuss it with him. He wanted her to move in with him, and she wanted to. But she didn't see how it would work. How could he forgive her for what she did?

She was pulled from her thoughts when Henry called out to her.

"Mom, why are you over there? Come sit on the couch at least, even if you don't want to play with us."

Emma got up, and moved slowly to the couch. They were all looking at her, and she felt put on the spot all the sudden. As soon as she sat down, Eva scrambled to her lap.

"Actually Emma, we all wanted to talk to you." Snow said.

"About what?" Emma asked, trying to feign cheerfulness.

"Your father told us that you were thinking about leaving again."

Emma stole a glance at her dad, and then her mom.

"I decided against it for now." Emma said, gently stroking Eva's head. "Killian has the dagger. I should be fine now."

"We just wanted you to know, that if you did decide to leave… we could come with you." Snow suggested.

"I couldn't ask you to leave here. Everyone you love is here." Emma stated.

"Emma you are a part of this family." David said firmly, sitting beside her.

"What is this? An intervention?" Emma asked, setting Eva down, and getting up. She walked a few paces away from everyone, running her hand through her hair in frustration.

"It's not an intervention." David explained. "We just figured… that we should all let you know that we are here for you."

"And that we love you." Henry added.

"I know that." Emma said, turning to face them, arms folded defensively.

"Do you?" Snow asked. "Because you left for three years, and didn't contact us."

"I didn't do that because I don't love you." Emma said frustrated. "I'm sorry, okay. I know I screwed up…"

"We know that you love us Emma. That's not what I said." Snow interrupted.

"You left because you wanted to protect us." David said.

"And because you didn't want to be a burden." Killian added, speaking for the first time.

"But I want you to stay!" Neal added. "You have magic, and you're my sister."

Emma smiled at him. "I'm not going to leave, little guy."

"Emma, you need to believe that you were and will never be a burden." Snow declared.

"You don't know… listen to me. What if I did give into the darkness? What if we can't find a way to get rid of this? You're telling me that you would still feel comfortable with me being around Neal? I don't even know if I trust myself around Eva!" Emma said angrily. She saw Eva start at her name, and stare at her mother.

"What wrong, Mamma?" Eva asked, walking towards her. Emma crouched down to look at her daughter, her eyes so very much like Killian's.

"Nothing lovey." Emma tried to smile, but she knew that Eva wasn't buying it. Her child was a perceptive one.

Eva held Emma's face, and kissed her nose. "You sad, Mamma? I kiss it better."

Emma laughed softly, hugging Eva. "Thanks lovey. I'm not sad. I'm fine."

Emma's heart clenched and she held her child closer. She never wanted to lose this… but she would. How could she keep something so pure with the darkness inside her, threatening to burst through at any moment? Killian had the dagger to stop her from doing anything horrible. But what about how she acted from day to day. She couldn't let go of her constant worry, her constant anxiety. She would eventually drive everyone away with it.

She stood up, still hugging Eva. Emma looked at everyone in front of her, her family. Why couldn't she feel happy with them here? This is what she wanted her whole life. To have a family. To have support and unconditional love. But it was like the longing for it, kept her from thinking that it could be real, permeant. It was going to go away. She felt the darkness cloud her brain as she thought about them, and what they were saying to her.

Her eyes filled with tears as her headache grew. She wanted to yell, scream, call them liars. She started shaking slightly, so David walked over to her, and tried to take Eva. Emma held out her hand, and David flew back, landing on the couch.

"Emma, stop!" Killian shouted. Emma felt her control leave, and she froze. She looked at Killian, as Snow walked over to take Eva.

Eva wouldn't let Snow take her, she was clinging to Emma too hard.

"David, I'm sorry." Emma said softly. "I don't know… what…"

"What happened to calling me Dad?" David asked, groaning slightly as he stood up.

Emma felt herself relax slightly, and Eva seemed to notice too. She pulled back from Emma just slightly, and rested her forehead on Emma's.

"I wasn't trying to take her away from you Emma. I just thought you might like a minute to yourself to regain some control." David explained.

"We don't care, Emma. If we never find a way to get rid of this, it won't matter. We still want you to be here with us. We want to help you. And if you feel overwhelmed sometimes, let us help." Snow said tearfully. "We don't ever want to lose you again."

"Don't be scared, Mamma." Eva whispered. Snow held out her hands, and Eva went to her.

"I love you Mom." Henry said. "Whether you are the Dark One or not."

Killian walked to face her, his face distraught. "I'm sorry, love. I wasn't trying to control you. I just reacted."

"Killian, that's why I gave you the dagger. I…thank you." Emma reached up to cup his face. "I love you."

He was kissing her, and she felt herself start to fight it. Her parents were around, Henry… she couldn't do this now. But a smaller part of her brain didn't care. And she was pulling him closer, letting him tell her with his lips how much he loved her. Letting herself believe it. She didn't care anymore. She didn't care if she was the dark one forever, as long as she could be with her family. As long as she could have this with him.

She felt her head clear, the clouds leaving and letting her think clearer than she had in as long as she could remember. She felt him pull away, and she pulled him to her, not letting him.

"No. Please don't stop." She murmured against his lips. "It's helping."

"Swan, your parents…"

"I don't care."

"Emma, are you okay." Snow asked.

Emma sighed, letting her head fall on Killian's chest. She wished that they were alone…

"Stop kissing." Neal said, disgusted.

"Neal, be nice." Snow urged.

Emma was still clinging to Killian, waiting for the shadows to return, and cloud her brain once more. But they weren't. In fact the more she stood there, the lighter she felt. Pulling away suddenly, she looked at everyone.

"What's the matter?" Henry asked.

"Killian, do you have the dagger with you?" Emma asked, looked back at him.

"Of course, Swan." Killian answered. "I told you I would keep it safe."

"Can I have it?" Emma asked, her heart pounding fast.

Killian looked at her curiously. "Yes."

He pulled the dagger from his pocket, handing it over. Emma grabbed it, looking at it, both sides. It was blank.

"Emma…it's…it doesn't have you name anymore." Killian observed.

Emma put the dagger aside, laughing hysterically. Then she was hugging Killian again.

"What happened?" Henry asked. "You aren't the Dark One anymore?"

"It must've been true love's kiss." Snow said quietly.

Emma pulled back from Killian, looking at him again, still smiling. He was smiling back at her. He brushed a stray hair from her face.

"Must've been." Emma breathed, pulling away finally. Looking around, she ran and hugged her mom, and David started hugging her too. She reached out her hand to Killian, who held it, while she hugged her parents.

"You all helped me." Emma said softly. "You never gave up."

"Did you ever doubt we would?" Snow asked.

"Never. But honestly, for a while there, I didn't think... Thank you for believing in me."