Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time
AN: A big thank you to GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia. Thank you so much for all of your help. This is for you! ~ XOXO MAS
Voices
She couldn't wipe the grin off of her face. She was sure she looked positively insane as she wandered aimlessly through King Arthur's castle, twirling the pink rose Killian had plucked for her between her fingertips. Killian had gone off in search of Robin to get an update from Regina. Emma was certain her heart was still racing, and it wasn't from the ride through the countryside. Killian was right. As long as she could trust him to share in the burden, she could fight the darkness. He was there for her. And he wasn't going anywhere. He wasn't Neal. He wouldn't walk away. He'd never walk away. Raising a hand, she brushed her fingertips to her lips. And that kiss. She felt her own smile soften. It was burned in her memory now. She wasn't sure why she'd held him at arms length for so long when she could've had more of those.
A maniacal laugh behind her made her pause, "You really think it's that easy, do you?"
She shook her head, tears brimming, her hand falling limply to her side and her smile dropping instantly, "No." She murmured, "You're not here, go away."
Rumplestiltskin's form popped in front of her, "Oh, I'm right here, dearie. Your precious pirate can't keep me at bay forever." He taunted.
She continued shaking her head, "No, go away, leave me alone. I don't want to be dark." She pushed past him, but he followed, his incessant voice ringing in her ears about magic and darkness and power.
It sounded so easy.
It sounded so appealing.
To just give into the darkness would make all of these problems go away. She'd no longer be at war with herself. She could finally know peace.
Then she thought of Killian. She thought of the rose between her fingers and his kiss on her lips. She thought of Henry. She thought of him riding with that girl, Violet. The memories brought peace to her as well. She could have peace and not give way to the darkness. She just had to fight it. She just wished she weren't so tired.
So, she kept walking, the pale rose clutched tightly in her palm. Pressing her hands over her ears, she moved quickly down the halls to Killian's room. She had to find him. She couldn't be alone. She could never be alone. Pushing the door open, she slammed it in Rumplestiltskin's face.
"Ah, slam doors all you like, I won't go away." He sang out. A strangled mewl tore from her throat at his words. She'd never be alone again. If she could just sleep, if she could just close her eyes and, "You're the Dark One now. Dark Ones don't need sleep." He reminded her blithely.
She threw herself on Killian's bed, curling up into a ball and turning over to face the wall. She squeezed her eyes shut, her shoulders shaking as she pressed one of the pillows over her head, hoping to block out his voice.
That was how Killian found her twenty minutes later, curled up in a ball, the rose on top of the pillow over her head, pressed between the white cotton and her hand. "Swan?" He murmured.
She didn't budge. "You're not here." She whispered. "You're not real. You're not here. Killian promised me that you're not real."
Killian felt his heart clench at the sight. The Dark One was back, haunting her waking moments once more. With a sigh, he moved to the bed, sitting on the edge and gently bringing his hand to her stomach, slowly rolling her over. Fingers ghosting over her cheek, he murmured, "Come on, Swan, open your eyes, love, I'm here now."
Her eyes fluttered open and his heart broke at how lost she looked, "Killian?"
He nodded, moving to settle on the bed with her, drawing her up to his chest, "Aye, love, I'm right here." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "I'm right here. Just ignore him, he'll go away." He promised.
She shook her head, "He promised to never go away." Still clutching the rose, she sat up, straddling him, "What if he never goes away? What if this is my life now? Fighting darkness, fighting him?" She pressed her forehead to his, "I don't want to fight anymore, Killian. I'm so tired of fighting." Her fingertips traced his cheek, his chin, the thin scar, his lips.
"You can't stop fighting, Swan. You can't give into the darkness." He reminded her.
She pushed herself back, "I'm tired of fighting for everything." She screamed. "Fighting Pan, fighting Cora, fighting Zelena, fighting Regina, fighting Gold, fighting Ogres, fighting Lily, fighting Maleficient, fighting Cruella, fighting Ursula, fighting the Ice Queen." She shuddered in his hold, "Fighting myself. When does it stop? Why does it never stop?"
"Oh, love," Killian drew her into his arms again, holding her tightly as a sob wracked through her too thin body, "we will get through this. We'll get rid of the darkness, I promise." He assured her softly, "And when we do, you and I are going to spend some alone time together celebrating." He whispered in her ear. "And then we're going to take your lad and go on a trip away from everything. And you and your parents are going to get to celebrate together. And perhaps you, Regina, Robin and I could go on a trip." He murmured, "And of course Granny and Leroy will throw a celebration in your honor. We'll get through this like we get through everything else." He murmured. "Together."
She wanted to believe him, but the glittering form of Rumplestiltskin in the corner smiling maniacally at her before fake gagging at Killian's words made her doubt it, "I don't know how this time, Killian." She whispered.
Gently, he tipped her chin up to him, "Do you trust me?" He asked softly.
She nodded, "Always. More than anyone."
He lowered his head to hers, brushing his lips lightly across her own in a silent promise that somehow they would come out stronger on the other side. When he pulled back, he murmured, "Believe me that we will be okay, Swan. We'll get through it together."
Emma hummed, when she glanced over her shoulder, Rumple wasn't there. With a sigh and a soft smile, she murmured, "Okay." Before burying her face in his neck, resting the rose over his heart and pressing her palm down firmly so she could feel his heart beat beneath it.
OUAT
XOXO
MAS