I do not own Once Upon a Time nor any of its characters.

The plot thickens. In advance…I'm sorry…

On with the show.

-Y&M-

Chaos.

Chaos is the only way to describe what they now found themselves in the middle of, Emma thought bitterly to herself, as the very ground beneath her feet felt as if it shook as the castle took yet another heavy hit from the magical storm that now surrounded it with full force. She heard screams and cries from the others that had gathered in the vast throne room as they clung to one another in fear of things to come. Charming and Snow had instructed them all to pile into the large room, stating it was the most centralized within the castle and its walls would have been the thickest to ride the storm out. They had barricaded the massive, wooden doors to the room after all had been accounted for within the castle walls.

All the fighting, all the magic that had been used against them in Storybrooke, none of it, Emma thought, none of it came anywhere near the danger she felt they were now in with this attack.

Suddenly, she heard glass windows shattering all at once, the noise coming from the main hall just outside the throne room. The sound was followed quickly by the piercing shrieks of the army of flying monkeys as they piled into the main hall, their numbers and winged beats created and odd noise as if a swarm of birds had suddenly invaded. Emma heard Killian and her father, almost in unison, draw their swords from their scabbards, stepping forward with several others from the crowd, men and woman alike, whom prepared themselves to defend their friends and family that had gathered there amongst them. Killian had placed himself slightly in front of her, his hooked arm protectively placed across the front of her as she brought Henry up between the two of them to protect him from the inevitable mob of angry beasts making their way nearer to them all. The first time several of the creatures sounded like they'd flung their bodies into the door in order to try and break through it, the entirety of the crowd surrounding them did a collective flinch in fear of things to come.

Emma looked over to Regina whom had also moved nearer Henry with Robin Hood at her side, his bow at the ready and his son, whom Emma had learned two days before was named Roland, clung to his father's lower leg, he also being strategically placed between Robin and Regina. Emma grimaced at the look of terror that was on the young boy's face and loathed that this boy, so very young, was about to see a level of violence that no child should ever have to bear witness to. Her eyes met Regina's whom must have sensed her looked at her as they stared at each other for a moment before she gave Emma a slow knowing nod and ignited a fireball within her palm, motioning for Emma do to the same.

Emma looked down at her empty hand and spread her fingers wide as she summoned flames within them, the fire dancing across her fingertips giving them a pleasurably warm feeling.

"Cool," she heard Henry breath in awe as she shot him a wry grin as she looked to him and felt her heart catch in her throat.

Henry was holding the sword her father had crafted for him in his hand that was shaking hard from fear. Emma reached out and pulled her arm fiercely around his waist to pull him closer to her side.

"We're going to get through this, kid, you got that? Killian and I and Regina and everyone, we're all going to protect each other from these…these things okay. I promise," she said as she watched Killian turn his head round to them both before shooting her a concerned look.

"I know," Henry said as he summoned up every last ounce of courage he still had within him while he tried to mentally block out the screeching, clawing, and pounding on the door the winged monkeys were making. "We're the good guys. In the end, we always win, right?"

"Right," came Snow White's voice from behind them as she pulled an arrow from her quiver and placed it within her bow. "Good always prevails, Henry. Never forget that."

The group collectively flinched again as the noises against the door began to grow louder and quicken pace with the beating the outside of the door was taking from the frenzied animals on the other side.

"It won't be long now till they break through the door," Killian began as he turned back around to Emma and Henry both one more time. "I want the both of you to stick close to me, do you understand?"

Emma and Henry nodded in unison before he continued.

"You will move as I move. Follow my command. If I give you direction, you do it, aye?"

"Aye," Henry said with such conviction and seriousness that, despite the dire situation they found themselves in, Emma could not hold back a half-hearted laugh as tears of fear stung at the back of her eyes and she kissed the top of Henry's head.

"We're gonna be okay," she whispered into Henry's hair as her eyes found Killian's and felt her heart break.

Emma began to open her mouth to speak when he merely shook his head sadly to silence her and then suddenly crashed his lips into hers, pulling her into a fierce kiss as she felt his hook come up to the side of her face.

"I love you," he breathed in a shaky voice that sounded so unlike him as he pulled away from the kiss and their foreheads touched.

"I know," she said with a grin and he chuckled.

"Cheeky woman."

"Aye, Captain. That I am. We're getting out of this together, okay?"

"Aye, love. Together."

"All of us," came Charming's voice from beside them.

"All of us," Regina said with conviction.

Suddenly, wood at the top of the door began to splinter and some of the onlookers within the throne room screamed in terror as they saw talons begin to pierce it.

"They're breaking through!" shouted Grumpy from across the room as Emma saw the dwarves collectively arm themselves with their pickaxes, creating a unified front towards the front of the room, just to the right of them.

Despite the flames she held within her palm, Emma felt a cold chill of fear race over her as she tightened her grip on Henry and felt Killian move his body to where his back was pressed flatly against hers and Henry's, his sword and hook out wide at his sides in order to block them from whatever was to come through those doors.

A loud creak was all the warning the room was given before the doors suddenly gave way, wooden shards shooting in all directions as the door gave way to the mass of animals that came flying through. They all initially flew upwards into the vaulted ceiling of the room. Some of them landed and hung from the rod iron chandeliers that adorned the room, screeching and analyzing their prey below, calculating their attack. Others circled those below as if vultures staking out their next meal. Charming and Killian barked orders to some within the crowd as they guided the group of them to a corner of the room in order to protect their group better against the winged beasts once they attached.

Emma watched in horror as one of the monkeys broke away from the swarm to come closer to their group. It let out a screech that seemed broken and strained in its throat as it eyed the group with murderous eyes. A grin spread wide on its face upon seeing the fear in their eyes as venom dripped from its sharp fangs before it took in a ragged breath.

"MOM!" Henry yelled over the noise of the crowd and beasts in the room. "Look at his throat, Mom! It's HIM!"

Confused, Emma followed Henry's eyes to the creature's throat where a thick scar covered the majority of it as it sneered at them once again.

"Walsh," Emma breathed as Killian shot her a look of shock before whipping his head back around to closely eye the beast in front of them. "What the actual fu—"

"Impossible!" Killian growled as the beast motioned with its talon to its own throat in a slicing motion as it had the audacity to taunt the pirate captain, infuriating the man in front of him even more. "Well, your witch may have saved your life once, you bloody monster, but I will not let that happen again. I'll dismember your every limb if I have to in order to ensure your death this time, beast!"

Emma watched as Walsh suddenly darted up, flying to one of the highest points in the room before he then bellowed out an awful sound of a screech to the other monkeys flying about the room. As if they were all collectively under his control, their mere watching the crowd below them came to a sudden and terrifying halt as they all flew down and began to attack. Pandemonium broke out within the room. Fireballs from both Emma and Regina flew through the air, taking out a few of them as they disintegrated into ash upon the fireball's impact. Killian sliced with hook and sword gracefully, his fighting skills having been honed over 300 years showing his masterful ability as he took several of them out before they could even come near their group. Charming as well was easily slicing through them as they came at them with seemingly unlimited numbers.

Henry had pulled Roland behind him as he stood ready with his sword as they flanked Snow White and Robin Hood, whom had crouched in front of her. The two archers were also easily pegging off some of the winged monsters as they came for them or others within the crowd. Emma, Regina, Killian, and Charming now held the perimeter of their small grouping while Snow and Hood held the interior where the children were.

Meanwhile, going unnoticed in a corner of the room behind a large piece of furniture was Rumpelstiltskin whom watched the room cautiously in wait. He had been in the room before the monkeys had broken through the doors, having materialized in the castle, in disguise, mere moments after his storm had broken through Regina's protection spell. He had witnessed the interaction between the pirate and his son's ex-lover and had an idea strike him…an idea of how he could set things in motion to where he might be able to influence the witch's downfall without making her aware. The Wicked Witch held his dagger, so he had to obey her will, no matter the request, but he would be damned if he allowed her to make him break his promise he made to his dying son.

He would protect Emma and Henry at all costs. Perhaps, though, he could influence things, just so, in order to lay the groundwork for her undoing, all the while following her orders. A cunning giggle escaped his lips before he waved his hands with a flourish and all within the room froze in mid-stride.

All, that is, but one person…

"What the bloody hell?" Killian asked into the eerie quiet as he stepped back away from the monkey that he had just sliced his sword partially through, the monkey still unmoving, in mid-air, as if a statue that defied gravity.

He turned around slowly, sudden realization that he was the only one within the room that wasn't in this state of suspended animation as he sheathed his sword and walked over to where Emma stood. It was as if time had quite literally stopped for everyone around him, he thought, as he reached out to touch her cheek to see if she would respond.

Nothing.

"Emma?" he asked as he attempted to shake her shoulders, but her body was rooted to the spot and did not give way to any movement.

An altogether familiar laugh broke the deafening silence within the room as Killian turned to see Rumpelstiltskin walking causally throughout the room. He watched his crocodile admire his handiwork before coming over to stand in front of the pirate, whom merely regarded him with narrowed eyes.

"Captain," Rumpelstiltskin greeted him with an exaggerated bow as Killian once again brandished his sword and held it to the man's throat.

"Crocodile. You seem to be looking rather well for a dead man," Killian seethed at him.

"You may be rather glad that I'm one of the living, Hook, before this day is over," he said with a grin as he held his ground, the sword still at his throat.

"And why is that, imp?"

"Because I'm here to make you a deal," he said as he slowly pushed the sword away from his throat and shrugged as he continued to pace a circle around the pirate.

"A deal? And just what makes you, of all the creatures in this realm, think that for one second I would ever make a deal with you, Crocodile?" Killian asked, mentally chastising himself for allowing his sword to be pushed away by this man that he had sought to assassinate for centuries.

"You see, I have a problem. The Witch has my dagger and as you know, that means I am compelled to abide her bidding," Rumpelstiltskin said with an acidic taste in his mouth at the very thought that the witch had that much power over him at the moment. "Unfortunately for you, Hook, that means I am to bring you to her."

Again, Rumpelstiltskin felt cold steel pressed to his throat as Captain Hook came up from behind him quickly and whispered dangerously in his ear, "And what makes you think I would let you do this, imp?"

"Because if you don't, Emma and Henry may die in this fight."

Hook froze behind Rumpelstiltskin as the imp smiled, knowing he now had the captain's full attention.

"Ready to make a deal, Captain?" Rumpelstiltskin sneered with a wide toothy grin. "I promise to not let any harm come to Emma or Henry and you come quietly with me."

"Just what makes you think, for one inkling of a moment in that diluted mind of yours, Crocodile, that I believe you'd do this?" Hook once again whispered dangerously into his ear.

Hook felt Rumpelstiltskin still beneath his grip. The imp stayed quiet for several moments, not saying a word, confusing the pirate slightly by this sudden change in demeanor. Just when Killian was about to ask him the question again, the imp spoke softly and quietly, a somber tone to his voice.

"Because I promised Bae, as he lay dying in my arms, that I would guard them with my life."

Captain Hook suddenly backed away in shock from the man before him.

Baelfire.

Baelfire was dead.

Killian's heart constricted painfully in his chest, "Baelfire is…?"

"Gone."

"But how?"

"It doesn't matter how," Rumpelstiltskin snapped at him, his voice reaching a high pitch on the last word. "What matters is that it was by her hand that it happened! I'd tried to save him and she—Never mind. It doesn't matter. I shouldn't feel the need to speak to you about my boy. Who do you think you are, anyway? You-The man whom stole his mother away from him. And now, here you are, stealing his love away from him as—"

Killian backhanded the other man harshly across the face with his hand and the hilt of his sword, drawing blood to the imp's lips from the impact. Rumpelstiltskin had not been expecting that in the very least as he wiped the blood from his split lip and looked to the man whom was fuming before him.

"Who am I? I didn't steal Mila away from her son. She left you of her own free will! She may have left Bae too but she regretted every bloody minute of it," he began, his blood boiling in anger as he sought to set the record straight once and for all with this pathetic excuse for a man and father before him. "We had plans to go back for him, which is precisely why we'd made port that fateful day when you decided to show off your newfound power and rob her of her own life, crushing your wife's very heart before her own eyes! I loved Milah. I would have done anything for her. Anything! I tried once to help you, show you what sort of a man she wanted, what she needed, but you hid behind your cowardice and then behind your bloody magic and look where it got you!"

"She was never in love with you!" Rumpelstiltskin shouted at him. "She was my wife!"

"I KNOW!" Killian screamed back at him as the imp recoiled from him in the shock of his answer as he watched the pirate take several ragged breaths before he continued. "Milah loved the adventure and excitement that I offered her but that is where her heart lie. She loved me, in her own way, but I do not believe she was ever in love with me."

"But why—"

"Just because I knew this, didn't change the fact that I loved her. Didn't change my hatred for what you had done. Nor did it change when one day in Neverland, a young boy was found in the water outside the Jolly Roger…a boy I would later discover was her son."

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes grew wide in realization, "Bae…"

"Aye, Baelfire. Somehow he'd found his way to that accursed place. I took him under my wing, secretly promising to myself that I'd take care of him, as my own, in honor of her," Hook stated, remembering. "Life has a funny way of not working the way we all plan, though. Baelfire'd found a drawing I'd made of Milah all those years ago and then realized whom I was. I can only assume by his reaction you'd told him that I'd slain her. That day I'd lost him to the other Lost Boys, realizing only too late that I'd grown to care for the lad," he said wistfully.

"You have a strange way of showing that you care for the boy when here you were all the while, stealing Emma away from him."

Captain Hook leveled the imp with a dangerous glare that had him wondering if he was going to take another hit to the chin from him, or perhaps feel the steel of his blade. Hook merely walked up to invade his personal space and said his next words with warning.

"Your boy followed too closely in his father's footsteps and is one of the reason's Emma had closed herself away from people for years. He betrayed her. Left her. I'm not stealing her away from him. I love her and her son, for that matter, more deeply than you can fathom, imp. Moreover, Emma loves me as well. All of this is the only reason to stay my hand from killing you right here and now, Crocodile."

Rumpelstiltskin wiped a bit more blood away from his lips as he considered the man before him. He knew that the Swan girl loved this man. He'd seen the effect he had on her magic just being in the general proximity of one another, which generally meant that they had a deeply powerful connection between the two of them. A connection that Rumple was hoping went as deep and true as he suspected.

"Do you swear—," Killian began, before he was cut off.

"On the memory of my son, I swear to you I will not let any harm come to them."

Killian considered the imp for a moment before coming to some sort of internal decision. He dropped his sword to the ground with a loud clang and then turned swiftly and walked over to Emma, whom still stood frozen—unhearing and unknowing, just as all the others, of the events that were unfolding in front of their immobile forms.

"I'm sorry, my love," he whispered to her as he looked at her for what he believed to be the last time, memorizing her every curve, burning her face into his memory before placing a last kiss upon her stilled lips. "Never forget…I love you."

Rumpelstiltskin watched as it seemed the man before him had to think to tear himself away from the woman he loved before walking back over to the imp.

"Take me to the bitch," Killian spat as the imp grinned.

"Just one last thing, to keep with my promise," Rumpelstiltskin began and with a flourish and twist of his hand, one by one the monkeys within the room slowly disintegrated into ash and flame.

"Goodbye," Killian said quietly as he looked longingly to Emma and her family before the imp waved his hands again, disappearing them both from the room and unfreezing the others within it.