I was so surprised when the last 3/4.5 of this chapter came out in about 35 minutes. Maybe less. I was so happy to suddenly have inspiration for this story! I think updates should get more of a schedule soon. Not immediately, but hopefully soon. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

Emma blearily opened her eyes to a pair of ocean blue eyes, and was incredibly confused. And then the numbness returned, along with all of her memories. Killian had taken her heart, had hurt her. But all she felt was numb. She couldn't imagine emotion. She knew what they were, but not how they felt.

"What are you doing here?" Emma attempted to put anger into her words, but it just sounded robotic. Hollow. She had no emotion, therefore her voice held no emotion. Emma couldn't even fake it. It made her feel weak. And she hated feeling weak.

Killian's lips tried to form words, but to no avail. She noted his hands were shaking and his eyes were bloodshot. From what, she didn't know, but she had a few ideas. Killian's eyes were filled with guilt, and slightly wet. Had he... Had he been crying? Why had he been crying? What had he been crying about? And why guilt? Why was he feeling guilty?

He eventually gave up on trying to speak his message, and simply handed her a piece of paper. Killian then left the room, pace fast. Emma wanted to call him back, but the door was already slammed shut. But as he had left, she could've sworn she saw tears glistening down his cheeks. Emma hastily unfolded the paper, her eyes quickly scanning the page.

Dear Emma,

Because I know I won't be able to tell you this, I have written my message out, just in case. Emma, I love you. I took your heart because Cora said she would kill you, your parents, and Henry. Henry, Emma. I have never felt this sorry in my entire life, this pathetic, and I have no excuse for what I did. Please, forgive me. If you don't, I don't know what I'll do. I need your forgiveness, I need it, Emma. Otherwise, I will go mad.

Henry and I have devised a plan to get you your heart back, free you and Snow, thereby letting your father out of his coma, and stop Cora. I can't say the entire plan, should this message be intercepted or something. That's what Henry said, anyways. I personally believe that if I hand it straight to you there's no chance it will be intercepted but then again, maybe I won't need this and I'll get lucky. Doubtful, highly doubtful.

I love you, Emma. I really do. Please, just know that. Know that I love you. I promise to get you back your heart if it's the last thing I ever do.

It wasn't signed, and probably for the best. Tears rose in Emma's eyes. She did have some emotion left, thankfully. And he had brought it out of her.

At least now she had something to believe in. And, very slowly, so slowly Emma didn't notice it, hope gently flooded her system. And then it started growing. A faint smile crossed Emma's lips.

She had to put herself together. Emma refused to play the damsel in distress. No, she would do something. What she would do, however, she still had to figure out. She needed her heart back, and with a little bargaining, she might just get it.

Killian ran off the Jolly Roger as fast as he could. He wanted, needed, to talk to Emma. But, he couldn't. It was as if she had captured his voice in a box and held it captive. The look she held in her eyes scared him, terrified him. He had done that. And he just couldn't believe that he had done that to her. That he had just destroyed someone.

The guilt was slowly drowning him. He couldn't do anything, just felt guilt. Guilt, guilt, guilt. The word pounded in his ears, blocking out all other sound. You. Are. Guilty. Guilty of so many crimes, so many sins. He couldn't save anyone. He wasn't cut out for being a hero. Villainy, that's what he knew. That's what he was good at. So what was stopping him from going back? More importantly, who was stopping him?

Emma. The guilt of his crime against her would always be something he would remember, no matter what. He couldn't just leave her, not when he loved her. Fine. He would rescue her, charm her, play the hero. But then he was done. He would sail back to Neverland and never, ever, look back. End his days happily. Maybe even find a spell to erase the cursed memories. But no spell could erase the love he felt.

Yet, he knew what he had to do. It was simple, too simply. He would swoop in, get her out of there, put her in safe hands, say a final parting, then get the hell out of there. Killian didn't want to hurt anyone ever again. What better way to do that than live in isolation? No one to hurt, no one to hurt him.

It sounded oddly wonderful. Simply wonderful. Calming. All of the sudden, Killian was very, very tired. Uncharastically tired. He just wanted a break. Even his revenge seemed pointless now. It was like his soul, his thoughts, his very being, was being drained. And all he wanted was calmness. Peace. A break. What was worth hurting people? Nothing.

He didn't even care that he would be leaving her behind. Because he would be protecting her.

Cora watched the pirate practically run off the ship. She smiled. Everything was going to plan. Emma was in her clutches, her daughter would come back to her, and she would finally put her on the throne with no Charmings to try and kill her. It would be wonderful.

Emma, oh, poor Emma. She was losing herself. Her magic came from love, of all things. How silly it was, Cora thought. Love was weakness, yet, for Emma, it was her protection. And now it was gone. For now, at least.

Cora's plan was simple. Give Snow to her daughter for Regina to join her, to love her once more. Whatever happened to her next didn't concern her, Cora honestly didn't care what happened to her. And then there was Emma.

With Emma, she was getting rid of almost all of her leftover problems. With her heart as a bargaining, she would have the entire Charming family in the palm of her hand. With the parents already taken care of, all there was left was Emma and Henry. Henry was of slight concern, mostly because of Regina's feelings for him. Oh well, they would deal with him later.

But Emma, everyone loved her. She had broken the curse, with the threat of her dying everyone would be in the palm of her hand. Cora would move everyone back to the Enchanted Forest with ease, then kill Emma. Killian would obviously be heartbroken, but if the spell she placed on him worked (which, it would) he would have no desire to do anything after he completed his latest and final goal. Probably killing Rumplestiltskin. Fine. Just worked in her favor, anyways.

So, Cora had no worries. Because nothing would go wrong. Nothing could go wrong. Everything would be perfect.

Killian knew what he had to do. Kill Cora, rescue Emma. Then he could 'retire', in a word. He could relax, be free. And that's exactly what he would do. But he had to finish what he started. He didn't know why he had to, but he wanted to. At least, he thought he did.

So, he found his partner, accomplice: Henry. His role was simple, to get Regina to distract Cora. Get her off the boat and far away from his Jolly Roger. To lead Cora to a place where the Blue Fairy and Regina would stun her... Or kill her. Whichever Regina saw fit. Either ways, Cora would be taken care of.

Everything passed in a grayish blur. One second he was talking to Henry, the next Regina and the Blue Fairy. They said they would do it. He didn't remember if they which option they choose. Whatever. The plan was in motion. And then he could find peace. But not before saying goodbye.

And finally, he was hiding at the docks. Crouched down besides a boat, burning his back and knees. Regina's and Cora's voices drifted away. He waited a good two minutes before jumping up and running onto his ship. Cora had set protections, of course, but not against herself, Regina, or Killian. Quite a nice little feature.

He ran to her cabin, and began to tear it apart. Where would she keep Emma's heart? Where did everyone keep things they didn't want to be found? Under their bed. Killian tossed the frame aside, frustrated. Nothing there. Just as he was about to turn away, he noticed a floorboard slightly crooked. Killian grabbed the plank and ripped it up, ignoring his bleeding hands. And below the floorboard rested a metal chest. He hurriedly opened it, anxious. And there it was, in all its glory. Emma's heart.

Killian greedily snatched it up, careful to not squeeze it. To not hurt her. He ran to her cell, her prison, and tore open the door. Killian wasn't being careful, he wasn't being himself. He was being reckless, tearing apart everything in his path. As long as he didn't break the hull of the ship, he was fine. The ship always repaired itself, no matter what. But not the hull. That was where the magic was.

Emma looked up, startled. "K-K-Killian?" she asked, eyes wide. Maybe it was nerves, or maybe it was the fact he had just torn down a door, but she looked scared of him. Without responding, he shoved the heart back in her chest, praying he did it correctly. There was no manual to taking out and putting in hearts. Someone should write one.

She gasped, color flooding into her ashen cheeks. Pain filled her eyes, along with several emotions. "No time to explain, we have to move. Now," Killian said, swinging Emma over his shoulder and running. Emma didn't do anything, possibly too shocked to do anything besides be cooperative.

He had to run, but run where? Killian didn't know the town very well. He needed to get Emma to the hospital, but where was it? He was lost, and Emma, strong Emma, was in so much pain. Emotions were overwhelming her, drowning her. Probably because if she had had her heart over the time period her heart wasn't there, her emotions would have been raging. God, just thinking that gave Killian a headache.

After running around for about 15 minutes, Killian noticed Emma's wincing. She didn't cry out, per say, but she did wince almost every time Killian took a step. Her wrists, they must be killing her. Now that he slowed a tiny bit, he could feel the blood from her wrists slinking down his back and neck, staining the skin red.

He gently laid her down by a tree, trying to not cause her any more pain. "Killian, Killian stop!" Emma suddenly cried, eyes wide. Killian's mind panicked, fearing the worst. Was Cora behind him? What really could go wrong besides that?

"Killian, where's Snow?" Oh yeah, that could go wrong.

Kind of short, but I'm working on it! I think this story will end soon. I just feel it. Not sure when, but I know how it will end, though. And I like it. Though, getting there will be a problem. But don't worry! I have some ideas.

Hopefully, see you guys soon. :) Hope you enjoyed!