And here's another chapter! The muse ran rampant in the first part of this and then wanted to bury her head in the sand in the last bit - very fickle she is. As of 6 AM Monday morning I am off for an entire week so as long as the muse complies you SHOULD get another chapter by next Sunday.

I also edited this while half asleep so it's not up to my usual editing skills (not that my normal editing skills are awesome by any means, haha). I also know NOTHING about sailing so yeah…. just go with the flow in that area.

As always enjoy, and reviews/favorites/follows feed the muse!

Chapter 24: A Selfless Act

Emma's heart beat frantically against her ribcage as she ran down the planks of the dock, her father and Killian's future selves on either side of her. Everyone had leapt into action upon learning of Killian's kidnapping, chairs scraping against the library's floor as they were shoved back and voices ringing out in the cathedral ceiling room. Through a haze of fear Emma had watched Charming bark orders to an elaborately dressed Knight at the same moment Liam, Future Will, and Eric had run from the room to procure weapons for those going to rescue her pirate.

The discussion on who was going had been a quick and heated one.

After giving the Knight orders to seal the entire castle Charming turned towards the group, hand resting on his ever present sword. "If it's just one of them only a few of us need to go." As Snow came around the table he shook his head. "No, Snow."

"Really, Charming?" her mother's future self bit out, green eyes flashing. "Clearly your method of information gathering failed as someone who had been cleared by Regina and Rumple is the one behind this. No one else knew they were here and now you are telling me you don't need my assistance?"

Clearly having to bite his tongue or say something he would regret, her father's future self calmly replied, "We don't know who is behind this yet and Regina needs to concentrate on strengthening the magical barrier and dealing with anything else that may arise. I need you to remain here in case Maleficent and Ingrid use this distraction to attack."

"Neal is more than capable of giving orders!"

"He is, but your years of leading attacks is only going to strengthen those decisions, Snow."

There was a tense moment as the King and Queen stared at each other before Snow clenched her jaw, muttering "Do whatever you think is best" before leaving the room with Neal close behind her. Pinching the bridge of his nose Charming turned his attention back to the group.

"Our past selves will remain here-" the shouts of outrage from David, Snow, and Regina had been met with a stern look. "It's too risky to have any of you in a potentially harmful situation. If something happens to you it can directly impact the timeline. This is non-negotiable."

"What's non-negotiable?" Future Will asked as he, Eric, and Liam reentered the room.

"Our past selves remaining here because of the risk involved."

Liam nodded in agreement. "Grandpa's right. If something happens to any of you it could drastically alter your future."

"I'm going," Henry sternly said, taking one of the swords from his brother.

Handing Future Killian his sword Future Will nodded. "As am I."

"So am I," Erin replied. Turning to Elizabeth she whispered, "Will you go to the kitchen and help Granny with the kids?"

"Of course," Elizabeth replied, giving her best-friend's arm a comforting squeeze. "Do we need to initiate Operation Mother Hen?"

Charming shook his head. "Not right now. Keep the kids in the same area though in case we do. Belle-"

"I'll stay here in case we do need to initiate it," the future librarian replied, moving toward the back of the library as Elizabeth quickly left for the kitchen.

"Operation Mother Hen?" Elsa asked, confused.

"If there's an attack on the castle all the children are brought here to the library and hidden in a magical alcove with Belle," Future Will answered, strapping on his own sword belt. "Henry named it."

Moving toward the growing group of those going to rescue Killian Future Elsa said, "I'll come with you. My powers may be limited but with Regina staying here and Erin unable to use hers, any little bit could help."

"I'm going as well," Eric said, stepping to stand next to Erin.

"More than enough to rescue an old pirate," Liam chirped, earning him a glare from his father. "Let's head out."

As the group started to leave Emma moved with them but found herself suddenly blocked by a leather clad body.

"Swan-"

"Don't tell me I'm not going, Killian," she snapped, staring at her pirate's future self with a hard look.

"You heard your father, love."

Eyes flashing she hissed, "I don't care what the danger is. I'm not going to sit here and twiddle my thumbs when he is in trouble. You can either let me come with you willingly or I'm just going to follow you. Either way I'm helping."

She could see the muscle in his jaw twitch as he stared at her for a long moment before growling in acceptance. "Fine, but you stay with me or your father at all times, do you understand?"

"Crystal," she muttered as she followed him out of the library.

She knew her father's future self and her children hadn't been happy about her coming along - Liam had all but spluttered at seeing her following his father - but a hard look at her future son had quickly silenced him. Apparently her future self was still known as a woman to not be argued with.

As they had left the castle Future Regina had found them, breathlessly telling them that they had discovered who had Killian. Apparently the castle servant who had seen the younger pirate walking that morning was unaccounted for among the staff who had been cleared as the mole and hadn't been seen since making his claim. None of them wanted to think about how he had gotten around the strict interrogation of Rumple and Future Regina. A quick search of his room had turned up a personal item and after pressing it and a locator potion into Future Elsa's hands Regina's future self had taken off to strengthen the magical barrier.

Which is why Emma found herself running along the massive docks below the castle, following a floating handkerchief of all items.

Her mind hadn't stopped racing through every horrible scenario since they had learned of Killian's kidnapping. They didn't know how badly he was injured or what the captor's plans for him were and all Future Killian could remember was being hit in the head by something and then the obvious movement of a ship beneath him. Guilt also churned her stomach. If she hadn't pushed him away the night before and had simply talked to him he would have been at her bedroom door at the crack of dawn, safe and unharmed to walk her to the library. Instead he had been caught off guard in his room while he probably brooded over her actions, away from everyone else.

She was going to owe him a large bottle of rum and a long explanation when they got him back.

Hearing the sound of approaching boots she was brought from her thoughts to see Eric, Liam, and Erin running toward them from one of the side docks.

"One of the castle staff's personal ships is missing," Liam gasped. "All other ships are accounted for."

"How big?" Future Killian asked as Eric and his children joined them in their pursuit of the floating handkerchief.

"Small passenger," Eric replied, "Maximum capacity of five souls, if that. No provisions on board."

The group came to a sudden stop as they reached the end of the dock, watching the handkerchief continue to float out to sea.

"How are we going to find him when he's on a boat?" Emma asked, breathing raggedly.

"With a ship of our own, Swan," Future Killian responded, nodding to his son. Liam reached into his vest and tossed something over the side of the dock. Emma heard him begin the same chant Erin had done at the Storybrooke dock and within seconds the air around them tingled with that familiar feeling of magic. A bright light momentarily obstructed their view but as it cleared the very real form of the Jolly Roger sat before them, gently swaying in the water.

"She's the fastest ship in the realms, right?" Emma asked as the nine of them quickly boarded the enchanted ship.

"Yup," Henry answered, already going through the motions with his siblings to get the ship moving. "Especially when there's a Jones at her helm."

Emma turned to see Future Killian stood at the wheel, blue eyes trained ahead as his three children worked in absolute silence and in tandem, pulling and tying off ropes without direction. He looked tall and foreboding stood on his ship, long leather coat blowing in the wind - every inch the pirate Captain. Moving toward the railing she let out a shaky breath. There wasn't a ship in sight on the blue horizon but the enchanted handkerchief kept steadily floating above the waves. She could see storm clouds gathering in the distance, dark and menacing, and her heart raced a little faster at the thought of Killian caught unaware in it.

Hold on Killian, I'm coming.

Bloody hell….

The first thing Killian noticed as he fully came to was the pounding in the back of his head. He had spent many a century waking in bits from drunken nights but none of them compared to the current pain coursing through his head. His only comfort was the gentle swaying beneath him - he'd know in a thousand realms he was on a ship. Groaning softly he blinked his eyes open and took in his surroundings.

He was on a ship, a rather small passenger one from the looks of it, and lying in the middle of the deck. There was a young man moving about sailing the ship - badly, he noted, watching through half opened eyes as he almost mangled the main sailing line while trying to extend the sail. He looked like he didn't know the first thing about keeping a ship a float which spoke to the amount of rolling they were doing in the water. Going to move his arms Killian realised they were tied both at his wrist and brace and further up at his biceps, as well as his legs.

Bloody fantastic.

Seeing his movements the man boggling the sailing came toward him, almost tentatively. Killian thought he vaguely looked familiar - wasn't he one of the staff he had seen the night before as Erin showed them to their rooms?

"I truly am sorry about this, Captain" the man whispered, kneeling down next to him. "This wasn't how things were suppose to go but I have to do what my Mistress commands."

"Where-" swallowing against the dryness in his mouth Killian hoarsely continued, "Where are we?"

The man smiled sadly. "Where we are doesn't matter. It won't be long until we arrive at my Mistress's home."

Killian shook his head against the still throbbing pain. "Maleficent?"

"I didn't want to do this," the man continued, ignoring Killian's question. "But I had no choice in the matter. My Mistress… she has control over me and-" The man suddenly broke off, eyes taking on a glassy look. He stood abruptly and went about the rigging, not another word or glance backwards towards his captive.

Killian closed his eyes as he felt the ship lurch wildly. They wouldn't make it far with this bumbling idiot at the helm on a calm sea and having spent centuries on the ocean, he knew they were sailing in rough waters. He could smell the oncoming storm - the salty air tinged with the freshness of incoming rain, the almost skin prickling electricity that surrounded them. And by the increase of force the waves were hitting the small ship with, he knew it was only another half hour before the storm overtook them.

An image of Emma and their kids flashed before his closed eyes and he knew what he had to do. Swan may not want the pirate after having found the hero she deserved but he had made her a promise and it didn't matter if she never looked at him again, he refused to be like everyone else in her life who had let her down. Erin and Liam's very existence relied on him surviving this and he bloody well wasn't going to fail them the way his own father had failed him.

Jaw clenching in determination, he mentally started forming his escape plan.

As a rough wave hit the side of the Jolly Roger Emma's grip on the railing tightened. They had been sailing for a little under an hour now and the further out to sea they got the more turbulent the weather became. The sun had long ago disappeared behind the swirling black clouds, darkening their surroundings into that eeir shade of grey the world takes on before a storm. The wind had been steadily picking up until it was more of a constant gust, whipping her long hair around like a sheet caught in its dance. The sea itself was no longer calm with the ship sailing through large, choppy waves that churned it from a sapphire blue to a dark and angry green.

Not for the first time she wondered how any ship smaller than the Jolly Roger could withstand an environment like this.

"He's going to be okay."

She turned her head to see Liam standing next to her, his own eyes trained on the horizon. He looked so much like a younger version of Killian stood there, face in that same determined look with the wind forcing his dark locks to blow across his forehead. She had to blink back the sudden tears that stung her eyes as she looked back out to sea.

"You don't know that," she found herself whispering, glad the wind was strong enough to hide just how broken her voice sounded.

"Aye, I do." When he didn't continue she looked toward him again to find him looking at her intently, the blue of his eyes bright against the dark sky.

Trying to keep her voice level against her rising fear she asked, "How can you be so sure?" She watched him tilt his head in that infuriating way Killian did when deep in thought. Struggling to keep her hair out of her face she saw his eyes briefly move from her toward the helm where his father still stood, steering them toward his younger self.

"When I was seven," Liam began, eyes coming back to her, "Dad went to Arendelle to help Aunt Elsa with a pirate problem. A ruthless captain had started attacking royal ships, taking no prisoners, and dad was the first person Aunt Elsa thought of to help with the situation. You suspected you might be pregnant-" At her widened eyes Liam quickly shook his head. "It was a false alarm. Dad refused to let you come though since you weren't one hundred percent certain yet. Aunt Elsa sent word that the problem had been fixed and dad was on his way home. Its only a few days journey by ship to Arendelle and when dad still wasn't home three days after he was suppose to be everyone feared the worst."

Emma swallowed, her throat suddenly tight with emotions.

"A few days later word reached us that a massive storm had swept through the area and there had been dozens of lives lost during it. All of grandpa's advisors told him there was no way dad could have survived that type of storm, that the Jolly had most likely went down at sea. There was talk of starting funeral arrangements but you refused to believe any of them and held on to the one thing you knew was certain."

"And that was?"

Liam smiled at her, the dimples he had inherited from Killian pulling at her heart. "That he would always come back to you. Almost two weeks after his missed arrival date the Jolly sailed into the docks, badly beaten but still standing tall with dad at her helm. You practically disintegrated every door between you and him to get to him and you know what he said when you did?"

Emma chuckled. "Probably some sassy line like 'Did you miss me?' followed by 'I'm a survivor, love.'"

Liam laughed, the sound carrying over the wind. "Essentially. He also said compared to what he had to go through before he found you all those years ago, that storm was but a little blip." Blue eyes stared at her intently. "He is a survivor, mom. How else can you explain the fact he was born 300 years before you and lived to meet you?"

Emma blinked in surprise at her son's words. She had never thought about that before - how Killian had been born in another time, hell, another age, and yet the events of his life had lead him straight to her, every decision he had ever made putting him under that pile of dead bodies for her and her mother to find on an unplanned trip to the Enchanted Forest. It was more than that though. Their lives paralleled each other so vastly - the abandonment of parental figures, the loss of those they loved the most, the walls they had hid behind to protect their hearts. He might have used the darkness to run from his emotions but her emotional walls had been just as dark and dangerous.

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's surviving.

Nodding his head, as if he could see her train of thought Liam said, "And he will survive this too."

Taking a shaky breath Emma asked, "The storm or kidnapping?"

Liam shrugged. "Both. It's not the first storm, both literal and figurative, that he's had to go through." Tilting his head again - seriously, how could another human being have inherited so many of their parent's quirks? - a smile tugged at Liam's lips.

"You know that moment, watching you and dad embrace after everyone thought he was dead was the moment for me."

Frowning in confusion Emma asked, "What moment?"

Blue eyes moved to stare off into the horizon as he whispered, almost too soft for her to hear over the wind, "The moment I realised True Love really did exist."

Feeling her throat constrict tightly Emma started to ask him what in the hell did he mean by true love when Erin's excited shout rang out across the deck.

"I can see a ship!"

Emma practically ran to where her daughter and Eric stood toward the bow of the ship, Erin's arm pointing straight ahead in the same direction the floating handkerchief was still headed. At first Emma couldn't make anything out against the dark sky and ocean but then she saw it - the bobbing of a much smaller ship in the distance. A smile broke out on her face and she turned to look back at Future Killian at the helm, noting his nod as their eyes locked.

They had found him.

"Oi! Are you trying to get us killed?"

Killian's captor threw him a dagger laced look but the pirate could clearly see the fear behind the man's eyes. The storm he had sensed had rolled over them quickly, black clouds taking away all aide of navigation and the rumble of thunder foretelling of a storm more dangerous than even Killian could have predicted. No rain had fallen yet but the clouds above them looked like they were seconds away from unleashing a special kind of hell on them. The ocean was virtually impassable for a ship this size in its current state, waves crashing against the small hull every other second, and his sixth sense as a sailor told him they were aimlessly being thrown around rather than heading in any particular direction.

His captor was still fighting the elements, trying to regain some control over the boat even though Killian knew it was a lost cause.

"How about you just sit there and shut up!" the man shouted over the wind, going back to helplessly try to tighten the main sail. Killian couldn't stop the eye roll and huff of annoyance if his life had depended on it.

"You're going to tear the sail if you keep doing that! You need to wrap the rope around-"

"I have it under control!" his captor bit back at the same moment he lost his grip on the rope, the wind ripping it out of his hands to flutter uselessly out of reach.

"Really, mate? Because at this point my kids could have sailed better when they were toddlers!"

Gnashing his teeth, the man grabbed the knife at his side and stalked toward Killian. Shortly after formulating an escape plan - one that didn't end with him trying to swim with arms and legs tied up - Killian had moved himself into a sitting position with his back against the railing of the small ship. His captor thought he had done it to alleviate cramped muscles but it really had been for this moment, for the advantage. He almost had the first set of bindings around his brace and wrist loosened, slowed down in the process by only having one hand and the ever watchful eye of his captor. But he was certain they were loose enough for this confrontation.

"I don't care what my Mistress has planned for you, I'm going to-" the man's words died in his throat at his eyes moved from Killian to the ocean surrounding them. Killian noted how his face drained of almost every pigment of color and the hand holding the knife was now shaking. Turning and craning his neck so he could see over the railing Killian half expected to see a kraken bearing down on them by the fear on the man's face. Instead what he saw had his own blood soaring and freezing at the same time.

The Jolly Roger was headed right for them and unless his eyes were playing tricks on him, his future self stood at her helm with Emma by his side.

"Battle plan?" Future Will shouted over the wind that was now more a gale. They were approaching the ship at a steady speed, the smaller ship seeming to just be moving with the waves instead of heading in any sort of direction. They were close enough that they could make out one man, the castle servant William, moving about the deck but there was no sign of Killian.

Future Killian tightened his hold on the wheel, blue eyes studying the black clouds above them with a seasoned eye. "We'll pull alongside her as best as we can. If he puts up a fight we out number him so boarding shouldn't be difficult. We need to do this quickly though before this storm fully unleashes."

Stood next to him Emma turned toward him. "How are we going to slow down enough to grab you - Killian, let alone get on the other ship if need be?"

"Normally I wouldn't drop anchor in weather like this," Future Killian replied, eyes scanning the growing waves. "But it's the only way we're going to be able to slow down and hold steady while still maintaining our sail for a fast retreat."

"Can Elsa not translocate them on board?"

Future Elsa shook her head. "My magic is based purely in the ice realm!" she shouted from her place below them. "I can try to freeze the mole but with as unpredictable as the sea is trying to freeze it could end in disaster for all of us!"

Charming nodded in agreement. "Henry, Will, and I will be first line of defence at the railing. Erin, Liam, Eric - you're second in case we can't get on board that ship for any reason. Elsa, stay on the bridge to counter attack incase there's a magic user lying in wait. And if you get a clear shot at him, take it!"

As everyone moved into their positions Future Killian moved his hand off the wheel and wrapping his arm around her waist, pulled Emma to his side. Bringing his mouth close to her ear he said above the howling wind, "Remember our accord, love. You don't leave my side no matter what happens."

Nodding her head in understanding and taking comfort from the familiar feel of leather wrapped around her, Emma turned her attention to the upcoming rescue of her pirate. The storm surrounding them was intensifying, streaks of lightning running through the dark clouds, the sea becoming restless as the waves around them became larger, almost threatening to even crest the railing of the Jolly. The air was thick with the heat of the storm and when a bolt of lightning cracked a few yards off their starboard side Emma flinched, instinctively moving more into the protective enclosure of Future Killian's arm.

She watched as Henry dropped anchor without command from Future Killian and seconds later she felt the pull as the ship began to slow down. As the anchor dug fully into the seabed they came to a stop a few yards from the smaller ship, the wind and ferocious waves battering even the Jolly from side to side. The smaller ship was perilously close to turning over and Emma's heart leapt into her throat with each rough wave that struck it.

"William!" Charming bellowed as he, Henry, and Future Will stood at the starboard railing of the Jolly Roger. Seeing no movement on the smaller ship Emma began to pull away from Future Killian but just as his arm tightened around her she saw the man in question appear. As Future Elsa raised her hands, blue magic flaring the man reached down and yanked a dark form to stand in front of him, knife at the person's throat.

Emma stopped breathing when she realised it was Killian. She quickly scanned him for injury, noting the smear of blood on his left temple and his bound arms. He didn't look harmed in any other way and and she gripped Future Killian's hand that rested on her hip tightly. Her smile of relief was short lived as she noted the hard stare he gave her, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"You don't want to do this, mate!" Future Will shouted, hand moving from the railing to the sword at his side.

"I have no choice!" William cried, tightening his hold on the bound Killian and pressing the knife just a little harder to his throat. Emma instantly reflexed to move toward the scene but the firm arm of the future pirate kept her still.

"There's always a choice," Henry said, both hands held up so the captor could see them as he moved toward the boarding ramp.

"Not in my case, Sir Henry. I didn't want it to come to this but I have my orders!"

"Ignore them," Charming commanded, slowly following behind Henry. "Come aboard William and we will show you leniency."

Emma saw the man shake his head, the smaller ship rocking more in the increasing waves. Another flash of lightning lit up the sky, quickly followed by a deep rumble of thunder.

"No you won't! I've been feeding Ingrid information for years and I've kidnapped a member of the royal family. You're going to hang me!"

"You know Snow and I aren't that type of rulers," Charming replied, immediately stopping. "We know you aren't the real enemy here, William. All we want to do is stop Ingrid and Maleficent."

The man faltered for a moment, clearly weighing his options of dealing with Ingrid and Maleficent's wrath or the kind but hard justice of her parent's future selves would bring down and that was all the opening they needed. At the same moment Charming and Henry reached for the boarding ramp and Future Will was drawing his sword, Killian broke through the ropes tying his wrist and brace together. Bringing his head back he connected with his captor's nose, momentarily blinding the man with pain as Killian lurched for the knife still held firmly in the man's hand. They struggled for a few minutes, Killian impaired from the rope still binding his upper body and legs and the man fighting through a clearly broken nose to keep a hold of his one advantage in the situation.

Emma watched in horror as the largest wave yet hit the two ships, sending the Jolly Roger rolling dangerously to port and completely capsizing the smaller ship. Killian and his captor both went into the turbulent sea, Killian still bound as the heavens above them opened in a torrential downpour.

"KILLIAN!"

Wrenching herself from Future Killian's hold Emma ran across the short expanse of deck and with her father and Killian's future selves shouting her name, dived over the railing of the Jolly and into the ocean.

The coldness of the water shocked her to the core, the pain like a thousand needle pricks running up and down her body. Fighting against the urge to rise to the surface and away from the cold she opened her eyes. The light from above was minimal, throwing the world beneath the crashing waves into a murky green darkness. Moving toward the direction the smaller ship had been she frantically searched for Killian's familiar leather form, her lungs beginning to burn. When she couldn't fight the need for oxygen any longer she kicked for the surface, gulping in mouthfuls of precious air as the rain continued to pour down.

She could hear the continued shouts from the Jolly but she ignored them, diving back below the surface.

She had to come back up for air two more times, barely getting enough air before a wave hit her on the last time before she saw him. He was floating about fifteen feet away from her, his dark form barely visible in the almost blackness with only the glinting of his necklace charms helping her spot him. Heart pounding as she noticed he wasn't moving she quickly swam towards him.

He wasn't breathing when she reached him, his pulse faint and she knew if she didn't get him out of the water and onto the Jolly quickly she was going to lose him. Moving behind him and wrapping her right arm around his upper body she kicked with every ounce of energy she had toward the surface. She was weak from the cold and fighting the turbulent water though, lungs burning with the need for air and she knew as she continued to struggle to move them upwards, her vision starting to blacken at the edges that she was in trouble. Even if she were able to get them both to the surface she still had to contend with the raging sea and physically getting him on board the ship, neither of which she would have the energy for.

Gritting her teeth in determination she moved to wrap both arms around the limp pirate, praying all those years of chasing perps and the recent bouts of running after villains had given her the leg strength to get them to the surface and hopefully giving someone on board the Jolly the chance to get them out of the ocean. Just as she moved her left arm down she noticed something missing from her left wrist - Medusa's enchanted bracelet. Blinking in confusion for a second Merlin's words from only a few hours ago echoed back to her:

… you must commit an act of complete selflessness in regards to another human being in order for the bracelets to come off…

Not pausing to consider what selfless act she could have committed she reached down within herself and almost cried in relief as she felt her magic moving, no longer tempered by the magical enchantment until it was that familiar hum beneath her skin. She had only had one lesson in translocation from Regina - a lesson that had ended up with her transporting a nearby tree stump into the middle of main street instead of herself - but it was the only chance she had of getting Killian to safety quick enough. Closing her eyes and tightening her embrace on the pirate, she visualised the deck of the Jolly with every detail that she could from the color of the wood to the space between various compartments. Just as her head was becoming light from oxygen deprivation, the mental picture becoming slightly fuzzy as she fought to retain it she tapped into her magic and poured every emotion she was feeling in that moment - fear, love, protectiveness, desperation - into the slight hand gesture she made underwater.

It was almost instantaneous. One second she was floating beneath the violent waves of the ocean clinging desperately to Killian and the next she was falling onto hard wood, droplets of rain pelting her already drenched body. She gulped in mouthfuls of air, the pain in her lungs slowly fading. Opening her eyes she took in the deck they were sprawled on, sending up a silent thank you to whatever God was appropriate in this realm that they had landed safe and sound on the Jolly.

"Emma!"

Blinking against the almost blinding rain she saw her father and Will's future selves running toward her with panicked faces, both men almost skidding on the slick deck in their desperation to get to her and the still form laying next to her.

Killian….

Arms feeling like lead from her effort to swim in the stormy sea, she sat up and turned Killian's limp body onto his back. He still wasn't breathing, his eyes closed and lips beginning to turn a dangerous shade of blue. Digging for her last ounce of strength as Charming and Future Will reached them she began giving him rescue breathing, willing what little air was in her lungs into his. She was vaguely aware of Future Will cutting the ropes that still bound the pirate and Charming checking for a pulse, shouting to Will's future self over the wind that there was one but it was faint.

She couldn't lose him, not now.

"Don't do this to me," she begged, tenderly cupping his cheek as she sucked more air in for him. He was so still and her mind flashed back to another time when he had been lying before her, not breathing and wet from Zelena's attempt to drown him. That same desperation and fear coursed through her now, heightened by the knowledge that even then she had loved him even if she had denied it. She could feel the hot tears burning her eyes, her vision blurring as she continued to breath air into him.

"Killian, come back to me," she whispered tearfully, her lip trembling with emotion. A sob started to tear through her as he remained motionless but then his body gave a jerk. Charming helped her turn him onto his side so he could expel the sea water from his lungs and when he rolled onto his back, vivid blue eyes blinking open to stare at her, she let out a cry of relief.

"Killian!"

"Swan?" His voice was hoarse, his chest rising sharply as he took in much needed air. "What… happened?"

"The boat capsized," Future Will informed him, bending on one knee to give the past version of his best friend a grateful smile. "You went into the water still tied up."

"How-" Killian gulped a large breath in, "How did you get me out?"

"That would be my daughter's doing," Charming replied, blue eyes turning towards the past version of his daughter. "She jumped in after you, a dangerous thing to do considering if something had happened to either one of you it would completely rewrite time."

Killian's gaze landed on Emma, quickly taking in her drenched hair and clothes before he met her eyes. "You saved me?"

Tears falling freely down her cheeks she whispered the words from another time, "Do you really think I'd let you drown?" She saw recognition light up his eyes at her words and when he reached a still trembling hand up to push her damp hair behind her ear she leaned into his touch. He was alive and safe, and she would be damned if he went another minute without knowing how she felt.

"Killian-"

Hoarse coughing brought her attention away from those depthless blue eyes to the other side of the deck and what she saw made her heart plummet in her chest. Future Killian was lying on the deck, Future Elsa and Henry helping him turn on his side as he dry coughed. Panic gripping her once again she gave Killian's hand a comforting squeeze before running to his future self on unsteady legs, not seeing the hard way her pirate clenched his jaw at her departure.

"Killian?" she asked breathlessly as she reached the future pirate's side, aiding Future Elsa and Henry in getting him onto his feet. "What happened?"

"When his past self started to drown so did he," Future Elsa explained, letting Emma take most of the pirate's weight.

"That's why having a past version of yourself in the same time is so dangerous," Henry added. "Anything life altering that happens to any of you will affect those in this time as if it were happening to them."

Taking in his laboured breathing Emma asked, "You okay?"

"Am I okay?" he gasped, turning so they were face to face. Hand and hook came up to cradle her face as he scanned her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

Emma shook her head. "I'm fine, just a little cold."

Shrugging out of his coat Future Killian draped it over her shoulders, the much larger item almost drowning her. While the outside of his coat was just as soaked as her own clothes the inside was still dry and she was immediately pulled it tight around her. "What were you thinking doing something like that, Swan?" he asked, voice laced with concern.

"Seriously? You - he was drowning, Killian. Why wouldn't I jump in after you?"

Blue eyes stared at her through the pounding rain and she saw the moment he realised why she had jumped in after his past self.

"Emma do you-"

"Erin!"

Emma's head snapped around to see Killian rushing across the deck to where their daughter was, unmoving with her head resting in Eric's lap.

"What happened?" she shouted, fear gripping her as she ran to her daughter with Future Killian, Henry, and Future Elsa close behind her. Dropping to her knees next to where Killian was already kneeling she scanned her daughter. There was a large gash on Erin's left temple that was bleeding and already starting to turn a dark, viscous purple.

"A gust of wind tore a pulley from the rigging," Liam explained, trying desperately to stem the flow of blood with the sleeve of his shirt. "Erin pushed Eric out of the way and it hit her."

"Why would she risk her life like that for me?" Eric whispered harshly, looking down at the unconscious princess. Emma didn't need to be told why her daughter had pushed the younger pirate out of the way of danger - whether Erin was ready to admit it or not, she had done it for the same reason Emma had jumped into the stormy ocean after Killian, heedless of her own safety.

"How long has she been unconscious?" Future Elsa inquired, ripping pieces off the bottom of her blue dress for Liam to soak the steady stream of blood with.

"Just a few minutes," Eric answered.

Charming nodded at Henry as he stood. "Henry, help me turn the ship around. We've got to get her home as quickly as possible so Regina can heal her."

As her father's future self and Henry moved a thought struck Emma. They didn't have to wait to get Erin home - Emma's magic was no longer impeded by the enchanted bracelet. She could heal the wound.

"No we don't," Emma mumbled, reaching her hand to where Liam and Eric were both applying pressure to the wound. She felt her magic surge forward, almost tingling through her veins as her hand glowed white.

"Emma?" both Killians asked in astonishment as Liam's blue eyes widened.

"Mom, how-"

Emma ignored them all, concentrating all her effort as Regina had taught her into closing and mending her daughter's wound. The flow of blood stopped almost instantly, the physical wound closing until there was nothing left to mark it ever having been there except a small white scar. Within minutes even the bruising had disappeared. Her magic dissipating, Emma moved her hand to stroke Erin's cheek.

"Erin, can you hear me?"

For a few heart stopping seconds Erin didn't move and just as Emma was beginning to wonder if the wound had been more severe than she thought, her daughter's eyes fluttered open at the same moment the rain ceased.

"Mom?" she asked in confusion, her green eyes dulled with the lingering head pain.

A chorus of happy shouts went up among the group and Emma could feel tears of happiness pooling in her eyes.

"How are you feeling, kid?"

Erin groaned, bringing her hand up to rub at the spot where her wound had been. "Like I've indulged in too much rum for a week."

Future Killian chuckled. "That's about the equivalent of what happened, love."

Erin frowned. "What did happen?"

"What's the last thing you remember?" Henry asked his sister. Erin groaned again, her eyes closing as she tried to shift through hazy memories.

"We found dad and then a wave-" eyes springing open in alarm she bolted up, almost head butting Liam in the process. "Dad!"

"I'm right here, lass," Killian said, reaching for his daughter's arm to assure he was fine. Without hesitation Erin launched herself into the past version of her father's arms.

"You're okay!" she exclaimed, hugging him so tightly Emma was worried Killian may stop breathing again. Killian simply smiled, wrapping his own arms around their daughter.

"Aye, love, I'm okay. Thanks to your mom."

At the mention of her mother Erin released her father, turning to look at Emma. "Mom you… you jumped in after dad."

Emma nodded. "And if you ask me why I'm just going to start assuming you Joneses want me to let you drown."

Erin smirked. "I remember grandpa and Uncle Will shouting at you and then... " Looking up at the current version of her father she said, "Something happened to you."

Future Killian nodded. "I experienced what my past self was going through at the time, lass."

"I was turning to come to you when I heard Liam shout…" Brows furrowing as she fought to remember, she turned to her brother. "Something happened with the ship, didn't it?"

"Aye," Liam replied, taking a shaky breath. "Piece of the rigging came lose, a pulley. I tried to warn Eric but there was no time."

"Yeah," Erin mumbled. "I saw and I… " Green eyes met the younger pirate. "I pushed you out of the way."

"And took the pulley to your own stubborn head," Eric huffed, clearly trying to hide the worry he had felt over an unconscious Erin with faux chastisement. Emma saw the emotion swimming in the young pirate captain's eyes though and she was reminded of the first night she met Elsa, cocooned in a mountain of blankets as Killian looked down at her with worry.

"Anyone would have done it," Erin said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Would they have?" Eric whispered, the emotion in his voice causing Erin's eyes to snap back to him. Everyone in the group could feel the electricity in the air as the princess and the pirate stared at each other, one with hope and the other with a restrained fear and Emma could practically see her daughter turning and running emotionally from the situation. She apparently wasn't the only one because Eric was suddenly clearing his throat, eyes now not quite able to meet those of the princess.

Her father was apparently not the only one who could read Erin like an open book.

"What matters is you're okay now. Your mom healed the wound before it could get really bad."

"Mom healed-"

Erin's eyes darted to the deck were strips of Future Elsa's dress lay, soaked with her blood before reaching up to once again touch the spot where her wound had been.

"Mom?" she asked, confusion written all over her face as she looked at her mother. "How?"

Emma shrugged as if the return of her magic was no big deal. "My bracelet came off when I jumped in after your father. I managed to translocate us onto the Jolly and then healed you."

"Well that explains why you and Killian appeared on deck in a cloud of white smoke," Future Will mumbled. Killian knitted his brows in thought.

"I thought they were enchanted and could only be removed by a specific person?"

"Not in this case," Henry supplied for his stepfather's past self. "While you were being kidnapped-" Henry ignored the quirk of both versions of his stepfather's eyebrow, "We discovered that while enchanted, it wasn't a person that could take them off but a specific act mom and Erin had to do."

"A selfless act," Future Elsa whispered, eyes widening in realisation. Looking at Emma she said, "You jumping in to save Killian even though it posed a risk to your own life must have been enough to release the enchantment!"

"Emma wasn't the only one who committed a selfless act." At Charming's words everyone turned to look at the King who simply nodded toward the deck. Following her father's future self's gaze Emma saw the enchanted bracelet that had been on Erin's wrist lying on the wood of the ship, glinting in the brightening sky.

Erin frowned. "How?"

"You pushed Eric out of the way," Charming reminded his granddaughter. "Without thought to your own safety in that moment even though it caused you to become injured. A pretty selfless act if I ever saw one."

"You know what this means?" Liam asked, his smile widening until it was almost ear to ear. "We can free mom!"

Emma found herself smiling just as big as her son. She'd finally be able to save her future self, the entire reason Liam and Erin had risked everything to come back in time and bring her here. She'd be able to give Killian's future self back his wife, the version of her that had weathered the past twenty-eight years with him. She could still the haunted look in his eye from the night before when he had told her that he simply missed her future self. Filled with a new sense of purpose she stood quickly, intent on helping in whatever way she could to get them home faster but as she turned the world around her suddenly spun, her stomach somersaulting and causing her to stumble slightly.

She dimly heard her three children shout "Mom!" accompanied by a chorus of "Emma!" and one "Swan!" as a pair of strong arms encircled her. Blinking away the haze she saw Future Killian looking down at her worriedly, his piercing gaze studying her.

"You alright, love?"

"Yeah I'm-" she closed her eyes as the world took another sickening turn and she swallowed to keep the bile that was trying to rise down. "Fine," she whispered, even as she leaned more heavily into his larger frame. Before she could say another word she felt him scoop her into his arms bridal style and when she half opened her eyes she saw the thin line of his lips.

"No, you aren't. It's no wonder with the adrenalin, over magic use, and sea water you likely ingested. You need to rest, Swan."

She started to protest, to remind him she was not a doll that was going to break after a few bumps but her stomach lurched again and she found herself simply nodding, resting her head on his shoulder as he started to move towards the captain's cabin. She could feel the deep rumble in his chest as he called back to his sons.

"Henry, Liam - take us home. It's time we saved the Savior for once."

I don't know if it has ever been addressed in the show if a person whose heart has been taken still has a pulse so I'm going to assume that as long as said heart is still beating (even outside their chest), they've got one. Otherwise well, they'd be dead, wouldn't they?