You Are Loved
Chapter Twenty-One
When Emma and August finally made their way back into town, they pulled up outside of the pawnshop where Snow and David were just walking out of after talking to Gold, then Snow rushed toward her daughter's car as she called out, "Emma! Did you find him?"
As she got out of her car, the Savior shook her head in frustration and kept her head down while August climbed out as well when he answered, "We were too late. Killian somehow made his way into the middle of the woods and when we got there, Maleficent and Lily had already arrived. They were kneeling over him and Killian was unconscious."
"They took him," Emma replied curtly, then angrily wiped away the tears that she was fighting to keep back. "I wanted to shoot her. I wanted to kill her when I saw that Killian was hurt. I just couldn't take the shot. It wouldn't have helped Killian and I'm not a villain, but because I couldn't act, they've got him. They have Killian because I don't have my powers and they do!"
"You couldn't have known, Emma," David responded firmly. "Both Lily and Maleficent were working hard to change. Or at least we thought they were."
Snow spoke again saying, "You know, I believe that Maleficent was really trying to change. She was sincere when we talked to her. You know, when we helped her to find her daughter when Lily tried to leave town. I saw the look in her eyes and she desperately wanted to get past her old life."
Emma looked at her mother as she answered, "I've gotten the same feeling, from Maleficent and Lily too. She wanted to stay to try to find her father. I thought I had gotten through to her, but I was wrong. When I spoke to her just now, she was angry with me for not being here for her more than I've been. That I've been ignoring her. On top of all that, she's angry with Killian for turning down her advances. That's why she chose to go after him first. If she succeeds in whatever her plans are now, she'll be coming after the rest of us too and Maleficent is helping her."
"Emma's right," August quickly added. "She won't risk losing her daughter again."
"We can't blame her for that," Snow replied sadly. "David and I know how it feels to not be able to be there for our children. We would do whatever it takes to make sure we could stay together."
The Savior let out a growl and then looked up at the sign hanging down outside of Gold's as she stated, "He knows more than he's saying. What were you talking to him about?"
Her father responded, "We asked for his help to find Killian. But as you might expect, he was too busy."
"Doing what?" August asked with disbelief. "Dusting our valuables that he stole from us during the first curse?"
"That's what he was doing yesterday," Emma said coldly. "I don't care what he's doing today. I don't care if he's helping them or not. If anyone can tell us what Maleficent and Lily are up to, it's him and I'll do whatever I have to do to get him to talk."
Gold stepped outside of the shop as he answered. "I'm afraid that I can't actually help you with that, Miss. Swan. If you've lost your pirate, this time… it's on you. I will no longer help you to keep track of him. I believe I've made myself very clear about that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something of dire importance I must tend to right now."
As he began to walk away from them, the Savior called out, "We want Isaac's book!"
"I've told you what I want for it in return," the villain called back while he continued walking away. "Give up the mermaid's bracelet, and then we'll talk."
"Gold!" she shouted angrily when Rumple swiftly disappeared in a cloud of red smoke to get away from them. "Damn him!"
She turned around as she looked back at her parents and asked, "Where are Henry and Regina?"
They began walking down the street toward the diner as David replied, "They went to different places where they thought Killian might have gone. I'll call them to tell them to meet us back at our apartment."
"Don't bother," Emma responded in anger. "I'm heading back to the Jolly Roger alone and I'll call Regina on the way. I need her help to see if we can find where dragons like to hide out. If we get anything, I'll call you."
"Emma wait," her father pleaded when she began to storm off until she stopped, but didn't turn around. "We'll find him. And we'll break the spell that's on him too. But going off angry and running into danger in the frame of mind you in right now, will only make saving Killian harder for you."
She spun around as she wiped away the tears falling down her cheeks and cried out, "Do you really think I don't know that? Of course I know it. That's why I'm going back down to the harbor to his ship. Because like for Killian, being on the water is comforting. I need something that will help take my mind off the fact that being the Savior probably means that I can't have my own happy ending like I fight constantly to make sure everyone else gets."
Snow immediately answered, "You can't believe that. Killian was returned to you by Zeus, the God of all Gods. If that's possible, then…"
"Please, save the hope speech," Emma replied sadly as she looked at her mother with dead eyes. "I just can't take it right now. If I do succeed in saving him this time, then maybe I'll listen. But right now, I only want him to live. And if that means that I have to push him away to make sure that he'll be safe, then so be it."
"Our daughter won't give up on herself, Snow," Charming responded quietly as he pulled his wife into his arms to comfort her when their daughter continued to walk away from them, this time without turning back. "And when we do save Killian, he won't allow her to push him away because he's just as stubborn as she is."
While he held her close, she whispered, "What if she's right? What if all this keeps happening to them because Emma is the Savior?"
David said firmly, "I don't believe it. And they'll prove it."