Recap:
"Emma I'm only trying to protect you, please-"
"Get out, just get out..."
Ruby put down the coffees on a nearby desk and grabbed Killian's arm. "Come on Killian, let's go. We can come back later." When the door closed behind him Ruby turned on him.
"What did you do?"
"The Witch wants her heart, Red. What am I supposed to do, just sit around and wait?"
Ruby just raised her eyebrows.
"I asked her to go back to New York with Henry. It would keep the witch from being able to get what she wants until we can figure out how to beat her."
"She can't go back," Ruby said, "didn't you hear? Anyone who crosses the line looses their memo-" she broke off when Killian nodded. "Oh."
"Yeah, but it's not just about protecting her, Red, can't you see that. If Zelena gets her heart she'll be able to put into effect whatever horror she's planning. She thinks she can change the past, Red. If she's right everything could be destroyed. And we can't fix things if we don't exist."
"So what about Zelena? What does she do when she realizes what she wants is out of her grasp?"
"Get pissed. Hopefully make a mistake. Would you stay here with her, I need to speak to Regina."
"She won't do it, Killian."
"Just keep an eye on her, alright. I have to go."
When he arrived at the loft he tapped lightly at the door and David opened it up right away.
"You too?" Killian brushed past him and saw Regina was sitting at the kitchen counter while Mary Margaret was making tea of some kind. "What is going on?"
"You're soaked, Killian. Are you alright?" Mary Margaret asked, offering him a steaming mug of something that smelled faintly like plant.
"Regina, is there anything you can do in case Zelena or her minions are listening?"
Regina nodded, "There's been a protection spell around this apartment since the day Henry started sleeping here."
Mary Margaret smiled gratefully at Regina and Killian sank down onto a stool. His fingers wrapped around the mug he had been given and the warmth seeped into his chilled skin.
"Emma's awake," Killian said and Mary Margaret glanced toward Emma's bedroom.
"Thanks for the update, mate," Charming broke in, "How do you know that?"
"She's fine now. Zelena came after me tonight. Then she dragged Emma down to the docks to propose a trade. Her magic for my life. The witch wants Emma's heart... she can't get it while Emma has her magic. I told her not t-" Killian broke off and shook his head. "Stubborn lass that she is, she changed the stakes. Dove into the water and tied herself up below on the gamble that Zelena would free me... allow me to save her. It was a close thing."
Charming rushed towards Emma's room, throwing the door open. It was, of course, empty. "Where is she?" David asked, grabbing his keys.
"Hospital. She's fine now; Red's staying with her. I had a rather extended conversation with a turned off phone on the way here about seeing Emma back at the loft. If Zelena's watching she'll think Emma's here " Killian replied wearily. " I needed to speak to Regina. And you both."
"That can wait," Charming snapped.
"It can't."
"She's my daughter. Don't tell me not to-"
"David, please?" Mary Margaret asked softly and David froze, one hand already on the doorknob.
Killian pushed the mug away, the grassy smell making his already twisted insides feel even more nauseous. He spun on the stool to face David.
"You know bloody well that I'd go to the end of the world for her. Just...hear me out, mate."
Charming's hand dropped from the door and he turned. "Fine, make it quick."
Killian turned to Regina. "Zelena wants to change the past. She thinks she can do so, with the Dark One to help her cast the spell and the two most powerful hearts in the realm."
"I suppose that's why she didn't just kill me when she got the chance," Regina said.
"Aye. For now she seems to be relying upon this curse that she's burdened me with to take Emma's magic. Could she do it another way?"
Regina shrugged, "depends on the complexity of the curse. Could take some time to figure out another way to enact it. Sleeping curses are easy though. Little needle prick and she'd have all the time she needs to figure out the next step. That's what I'd do."
"Yeah, we know," Snow grumbled.
"We have to get Emma out of here before that happens."
"Get Emma where," Regina retorts tersely. "You going to hide her in the florists shop?" Killian shook his head and Regina's eyes widened. "You're talking about the town line?"
Mary Margaret looked up suddenly. "Killian, you can't mean that. She'd forget us, again. All of us."
"She's right," Regina said, "it wouldn't be a curse, per se, so I wouldn't count on a repeat performance of true love's kiss. And memory potions are ... fickle."
"You've no idea how badly I want you to convince me there is better way," Killian muttered, "but if Zelena gets Emma's heart and enacts her spell, it's all over. We won't even exist to try to save Emma. Emma may never have existed in the first place." He turned to Regina, "She will keep coming after the people Emma loves. That means Henry."
"Have you talked to Emma about this?" Mary Margaret asked softly.
"Didn't go well."
Regina sighed, "if she refuses I don't see what you can want from me?"
"I want to know if you can give her a life with Henry. Like you tried to do last time. And I want to know if you can defeat Zelena without her."
"I don't know," Regina sighed, "I think Henry is right. I think it's going to take light magic-"
"You can do it." Henry said, coming out from behind the corner.
"What have I told you about ease dropping?" Regina scolded half-heartedly.
"Why shouldn't you be able to use light magic too, mom?"
Regina moved over to Henry and knelt in front of him, "I'm not like Emma, Henry. I love you very much, but that doesn't change the fact that I am a villain."
"I don't believe that," Henry said firmly. "You said you put a protection spell around me here, that doesn't sound like dark magic."
"That's different. That's a spell out of a book... it's...like a recipe anyone can make with the proper ingredients."
"So? You can still do it? Just means you have to learn the right recipe."
"Henry, even if I could... If you leave you may not even remember me on the other side of that town line. I may not be able to get you back."
Henry smiled, "Of course you will."
"We just got them back," Mary Margaret said, and David came up to put an arm around her.
"None of this is relevant if Emma won't go," David said. "She's never been one to run away from a fight."
"She'll do what she needs to do to protect her son," Killian said flatly. "Can you do it Regina?"
"I can modify the spell slightly. Change one key detail and make sure she remembers Henry maybe a detail here and there. But I don't think I can manage much more then that. It's all probably going to be a bit foggy for her around the time of crossing the line."
Killian nodded, "I'll go talk to her again. If I'm not back in an hour I'm dead. Henry gets the ship." Henry's eyes brightened and Killian laughed, "great now the little lad's gunna kill me in my sleep."
Mary Margaret shook her head, "Killian... I think perhaps we should talk to her this time."
When they knocked on the door Emma's voice came out tight and irritated.
"I'm not having this conversation, Killian."
Mary Margaret peaked inside the door, then hurried to her bed. Emma was sitting up and had changed into some dry clothes that someone must have brought for her, perhaps Ruby. Ruby smiled at Snow when she entered and stood to relinquish her seat.
"I'll be outside if you need anything."
"Killian told us what happened," Snow said, "are you all right?"
Emma nodded, "He shouldn't have woken you, everything's fine."
"He told us about your ... disagreement too," Charming said hesitantly.
"He wants me to run away."
Mary Margaret perched lightly on the edge of her bed while David sank into the chair next to it. "He's only trying to keep you and Henry safe," David said. "What happened tonight... it scared the hell out of him. When he got to the apartment he still had this half-mad look in his eyes, I almost didn't let him in!"
"Yeah well, I'm fine now so..."
"He told us Zelena wants your heart," Mary Margaret said quietly, "is that true?"
"I guess so. She certainly doesn't seem to want me dead." She glanced up at them suspiciously, "You want me to leave too, don't you?"
Mary Margaret took her hand, "No, Emma, of course not. We want you here... but you're in danger here-"
"I can handle it. I'm not running away."
"Emma," Charming spoke up, "we know that you can handle yourself. But sometimes knowing when to leave is the braver thing to do. Zelena has already used Henry against Regina. She will try again. You have to get Henry out of her reach." Tears were pricking at Mary Margaret's eyes now and she squeezed Emma's hand.
"But Dad...Mom I...I just found you," Emma whispered, not quite trusting her voice.
"And we'll find you again," Charming said confidently. "Nothing keeps this family apart forever, you know that."
"Can you do that, Emma?" Snow asked, "Can you get Henry out of Zelena's path."
"I'm the savior, right? I'm supposed to save the town."
"You did, Emma" Mary Margaret said emphatically. "You broke the curse, twice. Now you need to save your son."
Finally Emma nodded and Charming stood to place a kiss on her forehead. "Killian will meet you at the town line with your car. Regina is on her way here with Henry. She'll take you both there so Zelena won't realize what you're doing until it's too late.
"Now?" Emma asked.
Snow nodded. "We don't have much time. In case Zelena finds out, we need to move before she does."
Regina and Henry appeared in the doorway and Emma's chest tightened. It was too fast. She needed time to think... .To say goodbye... to come up with a reason that this wouldn't work...
Her mind was in a blind panic, but she took a deep breath and stood too walk over to Henry. They were right. He can't be here. Regina moved to put one hand on each of their shoulders and Emma's heart jumped. "You're... you're not coming to the line?" she asked her parents.
"Not this time, Emma. It would draw too much attention." Charming opened his arms and Emma ran to her parents, forgetting for a moment that she was supposed to be strong for Henry.
"This isn't the end, Emma," David whispered in her ear. Emma blinked back the tears and nodded as Henry took his turn hugging his grandparents.
"We'll see you soon," Snow said, voice almost steady.
Emma nodded and she felt Regina's hand on her shoulder, and the hospital was gone and Killian was standing at the line, leaning up against their rental car with his jacket clutched in his hand.
"There's not much time," Regina said, kneeling next to Henry to hug him tightly while Emma hurried over to Killian.
"I hate this idea," she whispered, afraid if she spoke any louder he would catch the tremor in her voice. "I hate you for thinking of this stupid idea, I really hate memory curses."
"Not as much as I do, I can assure you," he replied. He tossed his jacket onto the roof of the car so he could take her in both arms, trying to memorize the way she felt pressed against him and the smell of her shampoo.
"We have to move now," Regina broke in, and for a moment Killian just tightened his grip. Then he pulled away and left her cold. He grabbed his jacket and held it out to her as though reading her mind. She shrugged into it, trying not to think about the fact that in a few minutes she wouldn't know whom it belonged to. Regina was already at the town line, tracing a line across the road. Killian opened the passenger side door for Henry as Emma pulled away.
"You take good care of your mother, lad?" Henry nodded and Killian hugged him before closing the car door and moving to the other side.
"When I say you can't hesitate," Regina called. "When I modify this spell, Zelena will realize we're here, you have to be gone before she arrives."
"What about you?" Emma asked nervously.
Killian squatted down and hugged her once more through the still open door. "We'll be fine love. You do your part, and we'll do ours." He traced the line of her jaw and finally kissed her cheek. "I know you won't remember this but I need you to know; I will find you again. Even if I have to make you fall in love with me all over again."
She smiled, "What makes you think I'd fall for you again," she teased, trying and failing to keep her tone light.
He squeezed her hand reassuringly; "I've a pretty good track record on the subject. Besides, I am devilishly handsome. Trust me, love, you don't stand a chance." He finally stood and closed the car door. Emma nodded to Regina and sudden light filled the road.
"Now!" Regina called and Emma hit the gas, passing over the line before she had a chance to change her mind.
Emma's car was hardly over the line before Zelena arrived on the scene, and she did not look pleased.
"What have you done?"
"Ruined your day, I hope" Regina answered smugly.
"I need that heart. You will bring her back or I will burn this whole town to the ground."
"Oh I've no doubt you'll try," Regina retorted. "But this is my town. And you've overstayed your welcome."
"This was never your town. Your little curse couldn't even hold your toys forever, how would you expect to be able to control me?"
"Because Rumpelstiltskin chose me for a reason."
"You will regret this little sister. Have you forgotten I hold your heart? I could crush you like an insect."
"That's the only way you could beat me, you're certainly no match for my magic." A fireball appeared in Regina's hand and Killian took a step back, he knew when he was outgunned.
Zelena laughed. "You can't beat me, sis. I know all of the little party tricks that Rumpelstiltskin taught you. But I was always the better student." Regina's fire ball began to waver and licks of green tainted it's flames before it disappeared. Regina waved her hand and Killian jumped out of the way as a tree was uprooted and thrown toward Zelena. For a moment all was quiet but then Zelena reappeared sitting on top of the uprooted tree.
Regina loosed another fireball in Zelena's direction but again the flames began to turn green. Zelena held up her hand and the fireball stopped before turning around and flying back towards Regina. Regina just barely dove out of the way in time.
"Is that all you've got, sis? He chose you, and you didn't even take advantage of it. I learned more magic in a few short weeks than you figured out in all your time with him." Zelena's eyes went dark with rage. "Why? Why would he choose you?"
"Perhaps the same reason out mother did."
Zelena reached out and a wave of power threw both Killian and Regina off the road.
"Well it doesn't matter now, Regina. You took away the only reason I have not to crush your heart."
"Zelena wait-" Regina called, but she was gone.
"Do you think you held her off long enough?" Killian asked.
Regina didn't respond for a moment then a smile drifted across her face. "Well, I'm still alive aren't I? He must have succeeded."
When Regina and Killian arrived back at the loft, Regina sighed in obvious relief when Robin opened the door.
"Did it work?" she asked as he stepped aside to let her in.
Robin produced a small box and handed it to her, "It pays to know a good thief, milady."
Regina smiled as she took the box; opening it to reveal the heart Zelena had stolen from her. She closed the lid and handed it back to Robin who looked at her quizzically. "It's not safe for me to keep it, would you mind... holding on to it a bit longer?"
"You'd really entrust something so valuable to a thief." He grinned, "I might be tempted to steal it."
"Can't steal something that's been given to you."
Robin nodded, a small smile playing over his lips as he returned the box to its satchel.
Unknown number (8:15 PM): I do believe you stole my jacket.
Unknown number (8:51 PM): Theft is a serious crime.
Unknown number (8:58 PM): I'm incredibly persistent, milady.
Swan (9:01 PM): Who the hell are you and how did you get this number?
Unknown number (9:01 PM): You gave it to me, at the party... I'm not surprised you don't remember. There was tequila involved.
Swan (9:07 PM): I do not drink tequila.
Unknown number (9:07 PM): Therein lies the danger. Check the inner pocket, love.
Emma rolled her eyes but she made her way over to her closet to check the pocket anyway. He was right about one thing. She had no idea how she'd gotten home last night... Inside the pocket was a slip of paper with the name Killian and a number. She checked it against the number that was texting her and it was a match. She put the name into her contacts and texted him back
Swan (9:15 PM): Do not call me love. Did you drug me?
Killian jacket guy? (9:15 PM): If I had would I have left you my jacket, name and number?
Swan (9:15 PM): Maybe it's a fake name.
Killian jacket guy? (9:16 PM): You caught me. My real name is Captain Hook and I'm a 200-year-old pirate.
Swan (9:16 PM): Haha, you're fricken hilarious. I can mail you the jacket. Got an address?
Killian jacket guy? (9:16 PM): I don't know, lass; I don't think I'm comfortable giving my address to a woman with such a scathing wit.
Swan (9:18 PM): I'm more than happy to just keep it. (Lass is not better.)
Killian jacket guy? (9:19 PM): Tell you what; I'm actually out of town. Extended business trip of sorts... might be a while. But when I get back to New York. I'll come pick it up. (What should I call you, then?)
Swan (9:20 PM): I'm not giving you my address.
Killian jacket guy? (9:22 PM): You gave it to me last night. How else do you think you got home after that much tequila?
Swan (9:26 PM): If we really met last night why don't you know my name?
Killian jacket guy? (9:27 PM): You told me to call you Esma. Would you prefer Esma?
Swan (9:27 PM): No. Just... Swan is fine. If you're out of town why bother texting me tonight?
Killian jacket guy? (9:27 PM): You're really not the trusting sort, are you? I only wished to ensure you arrived home safely. You wouldn't let me walk you to the door, despite my insistence that I'm always a gentleman.
Swan (9:27 PM): I'm fine. I guess you can text me when you get back into town. Black leather's not really my style anyway.
Killian jacket guy? (9:29 PM): Good to know, Swan. See you soon.
Todays been a weird day. On the other hand my new obsession the 100 is on tonight. Tumblr induced addiction...
Thanks, as always, to my lovely reviewers who stick with me.
(I always thought it was odd. Building up Emma's light magic in the show and then doing like nothing with it. Well I'm fixing that... she didn't do anything with it because she had something better to do! Yay!)
Marcela I can't contact you via PM so I'll say hi here! Thanks for reviewing and I think you were exactly right in your previous review (c 16 i think...) Which I imagine you see now that you've gotten this far. I think Zelena couldn't (as in was unable to) kill Emma for the same reason Cora couldn't... And that protection comes from her magic and being the product of true love. But in the show they also clearly state that Zelena not only couldn't ... but wouldn't kill Emma. That was never really explained, and is why I modified things here to make her goal to use Emma's heart. That would explain not only why she needs Emma's magic gone but can't just kill her. I've enjoyed reading your reviews as you make your way through hope you're still having fun! :)