Chapter 13

Despite Hook's insistence on not kissing her, not yet, they remained locked in their embrace for a few more minutes, Emma loving how warm and safe he made her feel, even though she knew that within an hour, she would be standing in front of Rumplestiltskin and would be nowhere near safe.

The thought of Henry was enough to make her untangle herself from Hook, adjusting her cloak and glancing over at the pirate to see if he looked as cold as when he had arrived. His lips were pinker, his nose just as red as before, but he seemed far less likely to freeze. Satisfied, she stepped past him, telling herself that if she just started walking, she wouldn't be thinking that she was walking Hook to his potential death, even with his promise of attempting true love's kiss.

When he took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers and striding to her side, she felt some of her doubts melt away, his firm grip a reassurance that maybe she wouldn't lose him after all, that their kiss would be powerful enough to remove the curse from him.

Maybe she had panicked the moment the suggestion had escaped her, but for once, Hook hadn't tensed away, hadn't grown angry and distant. He had simply beamed at her, looking so hopeful, so happy, that he had convinced her that her own suggestion wasn't pointless, wasn't impossible.

And walking together, their hands clasped tightly and steps in sync, she could forget where they were going and enjoy being next to him.

She smiled softly up at him when he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles, his own smile similarly contented. "So, Swan," he started, reaching around with his hook to nudge the cloak teasingly. "Tell me about your son. I'm about to meet the lad and all I know about him is his name."

Emma laughed, his interest in her son creating a warm feeling that spread through her entire body. Speaking about Henry had been hard, the doubts she had about succeeding in getting him back making attempts to talk catch in her throat, but after everything, she knew Henry would be with her again, and she was hopeful that Hook would be there too. And if he was, he definitely needed to know more about Henry.

"He's ten years old, so he asks everyone these ridiculous questions," she started, a fond tone entering her voice as she reminisced. "He once asked my father what type of food would he use as a weapon, should he not be able to access his armory, and he just thinks every answer is so important. And my dad would just laugh, but then he'd have to answer because Henry wouldn't stop asking until he knew." Hook chuckled, Emma glancing over and using her free hand to gesture at his hook. "Expect some awkward questions about that. Henry is going to love it." she told him, able to imagine how excited Henry would be to find out she had travelled on a pirate ship. "In fact, he'll never leave you alone once he knows you're a pirate. He collects little model ships, and he's always wanted to learn how to actually steer one, because dad has no idea how to navigate or anything like that."

The question had brought every single thing she loved about Henry to the forefront of her mind, and she couldn't stop talking. She wanted Hook to know everything about Henry, the boy that she loved with every part of her being, and she wanted him to care for the boy too. He seemed to be listening intently, nodding at everything she mentioned, an amused grin crossing his face whenever she found herself gushing about Henry being particularly silly or adorable.

And before she could even process how much time had passed, they were standing in front of the large gates of the Dark One's castle, laughter fading into an ominous silence, his hand tightening around hers. She glanced over at him, his jaw tensed and his eyes locked on the distant turrets. "So shall we go with your original plan then?"

"My original plan?" he repeated, seemingly unable to remember the details of his plan, a confused glint in his eyes when he turned to face her. "Oh, you mean, the distraction?"

"Well, what other plan were you thinking of?" she asked him, his uncertainty about his plan a stark contrast to his previous conviction. "You only told me that you wanted to take advantage of me distracting Rumplestiltskin. Did you have any others?"

He released her hand, angling her towards him and meeting her gaze, his brows furrowed in an intense stare. "Emma, I haven't…I'm not..." He seemed to be floundering for words, a trait he had never demonstrated before, and she wanted desperately to know what he was trying to say. He bit his lip, tongue darting out briefly, before he sighed and shook his head. "Emma, I'm not going to let Rumplestiltskin harm you. Go in before me if you must, if you think it's our best course of action, but just know that I will not wait long before I follow. He's already killed one woman I loved, I'm not going to-"

He didn't finish speaking, pulling her towards him and crushing her into his chest, holding her as if he never wanted to let her go, refused to let her enter the Dark One's castle, and she heard him mutter in her ear. "Damn the fool who came up with this no kissing arrangement."

She tilted her head towards him, chuckling slightly, her breath brushing against his ear when she replied "It's all on you. I am more than willing for that idea to be thrown away."

He shuddered and pulled back, and she grinned at him, the moment becoming bittersweet with the Dark One's castle as its backdrop. She didn't know what to expect in response, his gaze darting down to her lips and his hand clutching harder at her waist. "I'm going to keep to our original arrangement, even though it's torture." he spoke, and he sounded lighter than he had since their last night in the tavern, when she left him alone in Myrsina. "Because I want you to have no doubt that I will not be leaving you. I want you to be utterly certain that once we have dealt with everything in there, you will not be leaving without me at your side."

Emma blinked up at him, the declaration something she had not expected, and as certain as she had felt before about her success, everything suddenly seemed brighter, as if there was no doubt they could fail. She tried to read him, to figure out how the challenge intended as compulsion to keep him alive had instead become a promise to her, and at that she drew back in astonishment. She knew what was different, what had changed in the way he looked at her. The darkness that was always present, always there, had faded. It was still there, she doubted it would ever fully leave, his past too scarring, but he seemed happier, more peaceful than he had ever looked before.

He kissed her temple before he let her go, something he seemed to do very regularly these days, and she stepped away from him, watching his hand reach out towards her, as if he wanted to hold her back, but knew she had to do this.

The gates of the outer walls opened for her.

It was clear Rumplestiltskin knew she was there, the next door opening each time she crossed the threshold of the one before, leading her through a maze of tapestries and decorative objects, and Emma couldn't help but gawk at the golden fleece, creepy withered puppets and the small chipped cup, displayed as if they were all equally priceless.

She reached out to touch one, to see what made the cup so special, but a loud tutting made her pause, turning to see Rumplestiltskin himself framed in the doorway, Henry hiding behind him. "I wouldn't touch that if I were you, dearie." he sung, stepping closer towards her, a slight bounce in his walk. "Not if you want to negotiate."

Emma drew her hand back, unnerved by his increasing proximity to her and the way her son was clinging to his side. "I'm not here to negotiate." she bit out, forcing herself to look away from Henry and keep her eyes on the imp. "I'm here to take my son back and that's not something we can discuss."

"Isn't that a shame?" Rumplestiltskin purred, pushing Henry to the side as he took another great stride towards her, stood too close and reached one golden finger out towards her, as if he was going to touch her, but suddenly stopped, his finger barely an inch from the cloak. "Hmmm, better not." he hummed, darting back a few steps with an unnerving giggle. "Now where would you get such a thing?"

"What?" she muttered, thrown by his change of focus, but deciding to use it to her advantage, noticing with surprise that he maintained the same distance from her when she stepped towards Henry. Her son was watching with confusion, appearing more concerned for Rumplestiltskin than for her, and she realised that her suspicions had been right. He had no idea who she was.

Anger filled her, the lack of recognition on her son's face making her step towards Rumplestiltskin, feeling her entire body shake with fury, the burlap sack in her hand dropping to the floor. "You can't just take people's children and make them forget!" she yelled, feeling a need to hurt the imp, something she knew was impossible but also certain it would be the only thing right now that would make her feel any better. "He may be related to you, but he is not your family! You lost that chance when you abandoned your own son. You forced your own family away from you and you can't take someone else's from them just to try and get it back. He is my son!"

She stopped, her voice gone with a click of the imp's fingers, the rage on Rumplestiltskin's face making her realise she had gone too far, said too much, and she turned towards her son, ignoring the turmoil on his face as she reached towards him, feeling almost certain that this was the end of everything.

And then there was a blur of motion, Hook throwing himself past her and forcing Rumplestiltskin to the floor. She couldn't move, her eyes locked on the pirate and the frenzied punches he was throwing at the imp, high-pitched laughter escaping from the Dark One as he raised his own arm, to fight back or curse Hook, Emma wasn't certain.

She didn't want to watch, turning her back on the fight and running over to her son, refusing to acknowledge the way he backed away from her. "Henry," she cried, her apparent knowledge of his name making him pause. "Please, I know you don't remember me, but it's me. Your mom. And I know it's been three months and I should've been here faster but I couldn't and please, you have to remember me."

He seemed distracted by the fight going on behind her, seemingly concerned for his grandfather, and in a moment of desperation, Emma reached out, gently grabbing his chin and making sure he was looking at her, the sight of him making her want to cry in relief, even though she knew he was still oblivious to who she was.

"Wouldn't I remember my own mother?" he asked, the same innocent tone he used whenever he asked his, usually ridiculous, questions. "If you had only been away for three months?"

She inhaled shakily, his question making her want to turn back and hurt the Dark One for what he had done, but from the sounds of it, Hook was managing admirably in keeping him distracted. "I know it sounds mad, but please believe me. Henry, you have to believe me."

He blinked, but she knew Henry, knew that look in his eyes, the questioning glint that always appeared when he wanted to ask a question, wanted to know more, and she swallowed. She could reach him, he was already doubting, and then, like a lightning bolt, the solution she had considered before reappeared in her mind. Stroking Henry's face briefly, hoping to comfort him, she turned away, skirting around the two wrestling men to reach the sack and pulling the silver music box from it.

Immediately returning to Henry, she held out the box in front of her, watching with bated breath as he took the elegant box and turned the small key, winding it up with anticipation written over his face, the way it always used to be. She moved to help, hoping the lullaby would return his memories, her hand over his as he slowly opened the box, the tune singing out. She watched, waiting, and then he sagged, the box dropping from his hands and clattering against the floor, his arms wrapping around her waist. "I knew you'd come!" he cried, and her breath caught in her throat, as she reached down to carefully run a hand through her son's hair, only breathing again once he snuggled closer. "I didn't remember, but I knew. I knew you'd be here."

She leant down to hold him tighter. He's taller than he was before, but still small enough for her to have to bend down, which she didn't realise she would be so grateful for, and for a brief moment, everything was alright.

And then she heard Rumplestiltskin giggle and her heart stopped. She didn't want to look, didn't want to know what's happened, but she had to, so she turned around. Hook was holding the dagger, his hand completely steady, the weapon at the Dark One's neck, and Emma knew that it was time, that everything had been leading up to this moment.

Not wanting to see, Emma looked away, her arms tightening around her son, waiting for a sound, some noise that signalled Hook's revenge being complete, a sign that the power of the Dark One had transferred away from the imp who had possessed it for so long into the pirate who had despised the idea of such magic.

And then she felt the cold metal of the hook brushing the base of her back, looking to see Hook, as handsome as ever, beaming down at her, the dagger held loosely from his hand. She blinked in confusion, looking around to see Rumplestiltskin lurking by the chipped cup, still alive. "What?" she asked, unable to comprehend what had happened. "Killian?"

But Hook didn't reply, tucking the dagger into his belt and reaching out cautiously to lay a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Lad?" he asked, the strange voice making Henry raise his head and look up at him. "Are you alright? Everything's been a bit dramatic, hasn't it?"

"Who even are you?" Henry asked, and it was so perfect, so Henry, that Emma burst into overjoyed laughter, shifting to take Hook's arm and pull him closer towards them. She nudged the pirate when she felt him place a quick kiss just behind her ear, seeing how overwhelmed Henry looked by the sudden addition to the hug, how surprised he seemed by the easy affection between her and the unfamiliar man.

"How precious." Rumplestiltskin snarled before Hook had a chance to answer Henry's question, all attention drawn back to the Dark One. "Three hundred years and you haven't changed. Destroying families really does come easily to you, doesn't it, pirate?" Emma felt Hook tense, his hand dropping away from her son's shoulder as he turned to face Rumplestiltskin. "I thought you and my wife were twue love and yet you refuse to kill me? You know how Milah hated cowards."

He spat the last word, a cruel grin spreading across his face, and it was too much, Hook pushing himself away from them, despite Emma's attempts to keep him anchored at her side, and stalking over to Rumplestiltskin, the dagger held in his hand once again. "Are you calling me a coward?" Hook hissed, his expression darker than Emma had ever seen it. "You?"

He reached Rumple, shoving him back into the pedestal, the chipped cup wobbling precariously, and returning the dagger to the Dark One's throat. Emma couldn't look away, curling Henry into her so he was unable to see whatever Hook planned on doing, her breath shallow, scared. Rumplestiltskin seemed at ease with the weapon pressed against his throat, but Hook seemed oblivious, his own twisted smile crossing his face as he leant closer, the dagger breaking Rumplestiltskin's golden skin. Rumplestiltskin gasped, but not in fear, instead turning a calculating smirk on Hook. "I may have forgotten to mention something." he said, almost casually, his black eyes looking away from Hook and falling on Emma and her son. "Did you think I hadn't noticed you sneaking your way in to my home? That I didn't know you would be here? I see the future. I knew you would come and take my family from me."

The last words were directed at Emma and she shot him a scathing look, tightening her hold on her son. She saw Hook glance over to her, his intent wavering only slightly before he glared at the Dark One once again. "Get on with it." Hook hissed, the dagger pressing even harder into the Dark One's skin. "I assure you, these last words are a courtesy that I do not have to give you."

"You'll be happy you did." he trilled. "You see, I knew you were coming and so I prepared a little... precautionary spell. Now, if you kill me...you kill Henry."

Emma felt the entire world fall apart around her, knees unable to hold her weight anymore as she collapsed to the ground, Henry still in her arms, still alive, but she had seen Hook's darkness return since Rumplestiltskin's provoking words, and for a moment she was uncertain about what was going to happen, how everything had suddenly come to this.

"Is this child's life worth sacrificing for your ancient revenge?" Rumplestiltskin continued, his voice still a song. "I doubt your beloved Emma will feel the same once you've killed her son."

There wasn't even a moment's hesitation. The dagger was pulled away, still hovering threateningly, but no longer pressed against the skin. "I have the dagger. I control you. Reverse it. Break the curse on Henry now."

Rumplestiltskin shrugged. "I can't."

And then to Emma's surprise, and clearly Hook's as well, the dagger slipped from Hook's fingers, his shock at Rumplestiltskin's announcement causing him to lose his grip. He scrambled for it, but before he could catch it, Rumplestiltskin snatched it from the air and threw Hook aside with a triumphant flourish, a pleased smirk on his face when the pirate crashed into another pedestal and then lay still on the floor.

"Killian!" Emma yelled, dragging Henry with her as she ran to his side, Rumplestiltskin appearing instantly next to her. She bent down, her fingers hovering over his mouth until she felt a small puff of breath, relaxing slightly at the realisation that he was still alive.

"Don't worry, dearie." Rumplestiltskin said, reaching down to pry Henry away from her. Despite his restored memories, Henry went willingly, only shooting Emma a wary look before the Dark One chivvied him away, sending him from the room. "Your son was happy here. I'm certain you can get used to life without him."

"Because you clearly managed without yours." Emma mumbled, uncaring that he could hear her. "Now, tell me. How can this connection be broken? I'll do anything."

"Oh, I can break the curse." Rumplestiltskin told her, punctuating the sentence with a giggle. "Just not right now. Specific ingredients are required, those that I don't currently have in my collection. Wording really is everything."

"So do that. Go get the ingredients and let me take my son home with me." she forced out, dragging her fingers gently through Hook's hair, the physical contact calming her slightly. "Please."

And then Rumplestiltskin tilted his head and leant towards her, a wicked sneer spreading across his face. "I'll make you a deal."

To Be Continued In 'The Hat and the Heart'

So yeah, this is the end of this fic but clearly, there's a lot more to come. I'd like to thank everyone who favourited this or added to their story alert - I was really not expecting such a response to this fic and I'm happy so many people have enjoyed it! Thanks to Nouqueret, Colinodonewithyou, Mrs. Killian Jones pureblood and ChainOfPaperclips for reviewing, as well as to BlackDragon733 for beta-ing!

The sequel may not be out for a while, with exams and things, but as you can see from my last few speedy updates, I'm very motivated to write when I should be revising. But it should definitely be up by this time next month (sorry about the potentially long break, but exams...)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own OUAT or the related characters.