"I can't just let him die Regina. If I have the opportunity to save him, I will. Help me. Maybe with your help I won't screw anything else up."
Regina eyed Emma for a moment then finally stepped aside. "Do come in, Miss Swan."
The number of horrible looking deformities in Regina's books we're almost enough to make Emma wonder if she did not yet truly understand the possible price of magic. And Regina's insistence in showing her the most grotesque possibilities was not among the more subtle ways for Regina to make her point.
"Have you changed anything yet?" Regina asked tersely as Emma tried to pull her eyes away from trying to determine if that were an arm or a leg coming out of that person's back.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"Think about it Emma. You say you woke up the day after the funeral. Did anything happen that day that didn't seem like it would normally have happened?"
"I don't think so... I mean I didn't know what was going on yet."
"Ok the next day. The day of the funeral? Did anything strike you as strange?"
"Aside from discovering that my fiancee has been dead for days?"
"If you can't be serious-"
"I'm sorry, ok." Emma grumbled, "Umm... I didn't know, the funeral was happening so Snow had to tell me to get changed. I guess that was odd. And... the necklace. Mom asked... or... will ask Eric to give me Killian's necklace. I wouldn't have asked for it. It was his, wouldn't seem right for him to be without it."
"So..."
"So I freaked out when I didn't have it this morning. That's probably why she asked for it. What does that mean? Is that good?"
"Depends on your perspective, I suppose. It means you might be able to change things."
"So how do I change something when I don't know what happened the first time."
"I guess that's up to you savior," Regina retorted.
"So what did they want? The three stooges? I don't remember them coming into town."
"They are so dramatic," Regina said with a roll of her eyes. "I swear you impersonate a sea witch one time-"
"Regina?"
"Well they played nice for a grand total of 18 hours before they started talking about taking over the world and fixing the endings. Probably a new record for them-"
"What endings."
"The book, Emma." A hint of guilt reared its head as Emma remembered. She was supposed to help Regina find the author... whatever that meant. "They wanted to change the endings too."
"And how did they plan on doing that?"
"By corrupting the hero's. If the good guys always win then they have to keep the good guys from being quite so good, right. Or that's their theory anyway... But none of us know what happened once you went under that library. They wanted you to come alone. Hook disobeyed of course but the rest of us were most thoroughly distracted by the other two trying to rip the town apart."
"Where was Henry?"
"Your parents. Emma, you can't tell your parents what is happening."
"Why?"
"Frankly the less anyone knows, the less likely things will get messed up. And they were the one's protecting Henry. You can't risk changing that."
Emma didn't leave Regina's until late trying to accumulate all of the knowledge she could about the days she couldn't remember. The moment she entered her apartment that evening her parents converged on her.
"What did she say?"
"She probably thinks I'm crazy." Emma shook her head. "I guess we'll find out tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, but tomorrow..." Snow started.
"If I'm right then you won't remember any of this tomorrow," Emma confirmed.
"So tell us again, Emma we want to help you."
"Sure," Emma lied, "if you don't mind... I'm kind of eager to get to bed early. If Henry wakes up would you apologize for me? Tell him... tell him I'll see him in the morning."
Charming nodded, "of course."
She stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. Counting the ticks of the clock, the steps of Charming pacing downstairs and Neal's cries for dinner. At some point it grew quiet and Snow and Charming left for their own apartment. She was half tempted to dig around under her sink for nyquil but it was too much of a risk. She'd no idea how this worked, only that it seemed to. She couldn't risk messing it up. Breathing deeply she counted the seconds, holding her breath and exhaling with a slow even breath. 100... 99... 98... 97...
"You're so beautiful in the morning."
Emma's eyes snapped open abruptly and met crystal clear blue.
"Killian?"
"Were you expecting someone else, love?" he mumbled teasingly, tightening his grip on her waist. Emma was frozen in shock for a moment before finally her mind began to process what was happening. She raised one hand to his cheek and brushed her thumb across the morning stubble with shaking fingers. Killian's smile faltered.
"Swan... Emma, lass, what's wrong?"
She didn't trust her voice yet though, and so she just buried her face into him, clinging like a lifeline, unbidden tears soaking his neck.
"Love?" She still didn't respond and so he tightened his own grip around her, pulling her flush to him and brushing his fingers through her hair soothingly. "Emma please, why are you crying?" His voice was shaky and uncertain. Could she really blame him? A perfectly normal morning to him and she was dissolving into a puddle of tears clinging to him like a frightened child.
Finally she drew back and he brushed her hair back from her face. With the first smile she'd felt in days she pressed forward, kissing him abruptly. It was harsh and desperate with no hint of the gentleness that had become so common, but it was real. Too solid to be a dream.
"Please say something, Emma," Killian asked when she finally released him.
"I love you."
He grinned and kissed her forehead, "and I you. Was it a nightmare, love?"
"You were gone-"
"I'm not leaving you. I'm right here."
"You did. You will. She's going to kill you."
"I don't think your mother is that scary," he teased.
Emma glowered at Killian as he drew his fingers gently down her arm. "I'm being serious, Killian. Maleficent. She's going to kill you."
"It was just a dream. What have I told you love-"
"NO." Emma burst out. "Not this time. I was there Killian, I watched. I watched them sew you into a hammock. How would I know that is how it's done... we don't bury a lot of sailors in Storybrooke."
Killian propped himself up on an elbow, watching her carefully. "So... this is some kind of a prophecy?"
"Something like that. Killian they're going to come out of hiding today. You can't be there."
His eyebrows shot up. "Ah... of course. I'll just hide in the nursery with the little ones then?"
"K-"
"That's not going to happen, Swan. I will not let you face them alone."
"Then you will die. Again."
"So be it," he answered tersely, but his gaze softened when he looked at her. "I can see the fierceness in your eyes, love. The need to protect... Am I not allowed the same?"
"And if it was me? If you knew the day of my death wouldn't you beg me to stay hidden away?"
"And wouldn't you refuse me? This prophecy of yours. In the end you and your family are unharmed?" She didn't respond but he must have seen the answer in her eyes. "And you'd be willing to risk them? What if my hiding like a craven costs them their lives, or you yours? I can't take that chance."
"Please Killian." She reached tentative fingers for him, drifting down his chest until she could feel the steady thump of his heart under her fingers. "Don't make me watch you get stitched up into that sheet again."
Killian wrapped his arms around her once more, pressing her head forward gently. Before she could say anything more her phone rang. She glanced over at it, and very seriously considered ignoring it. Until his started ringing too.
"I'm not sure I'm very fond of these devices," Killian commented as she reached for it.
"Hey mom... OK, we'll be right there." She hung up the phone, not moving to leave his arms.
"Forewarned is forearmed, aye love? This prophecy of yours... it gives us an advantage."
"I don't know how to fix it, Killian," she whispered. "I don't know how it happens. Just that it does."
"If it does-"
"Killian-"
"No lass, let me speak. If my day has finally come-"
"Please don't talk like this," she whispered dropping her eyes. Killian placed light fingers under her chin to make her look at him again.
"We've a rare opportunity here. Most don't get a warning. I've not been subtle love; you know that you mean the world to me. More than the world... And I'd regret not seeing you in your wedding dress... and a hundred other things. But in the end, if it costs my life to protect you and your family I'd willingly give it. A hundred times over and be glad of the opportunity."
"Please don't do this Killian."
"I'll not leave you, love. Not so long as I've any choice." He paused, considering. "Where does it happen?" he asked.
"In the town square," Emma lied flatly. "I'm going to fix this Killian. We're going to fix this," her voice was hard and cold and Killian pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. She pulled away hurriedly, getting changed with her back to him. She was afraid to look at him now. He knew her too well... he'd see the lie in her eyes.
"Very dramatic," Killian replied, finally getting up too. "I approve."
"It's not funny Killian," she snapped, pulling her jacket out of the closet. A warm hand closed over her shoulder and she jumped. Killian took the jacket from her shaking fingers and held it out for her. Always the gentleman...
"You should laugh anyway. You've a bloody gorgeous smile and before long you'll be obliged to laugh at all my jokes no matter how tasteless."
"I am not putting that in the vows," she grumbled, slipping on the jacket.
"No, perhaps not." he murmured in her ear, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "But you'll do it anyway. I've a very fine wit, Swan, you won't be able to help yourself."
She did laugh, in spite of herself, rotating in his arms to face him. "You know what. You keep yourself alive today and I'll put whatever the hell you want in those vows."
Killian grinned, "Dangerous words Swan, do be careful what promises you make to a pirate."
She pulled away with a smile, taking his hand as they hurried out of the apartment.
Out on the street it became immediately obvious why they had been summoned.
"Hell beastie is back..." Killian commented, sounding every bit like he was surveying the weather rather than a giant black bat-spawn-of-hellfire soaring over the town. "And it brought a friend." Indeed a giant Dragon was perched atop the library clock tower.
"Didn't I kill that-" Emma muttered and Killian glanced at her with eyebrows raised. Emma just shrugged and headed down the street, one eye on the skies. Fortunately the dragon seemed content to watch them, making no move to follow.
"Were you going to tell me at some point that you were a dragon slayer?" Killian asked in stunned admiration, half jogging to catch up.
"Apparently I'm not." Emma replied.
"To the town square?" he asked.
"No... they're holed up in Gold's shop," Emma said.
"Is that wise?" Killian wondered out loud from behind her.
"Belle is there. He won't risk her."
"The dark one? He's back?"
Emma nodded. "And whatever we need it's probably in his shop too. Regina has put her own little enchantment on it. Even Gold will have difficulty getting in.
The magical barrier rippled slightly as they passed through. Snow and Charming were already there with Neal and Henry. Belle was pouring over a book and Regina was pacing in the front hall. Ruby and Granny were in the back of the room and Granny looked as though she were considering shooting Regina if she didn't stop pacing soon.
"What does she want," Emma burst out the moment she entered the door. She was pretty sure she already knew but perhaps Regina had forgotten to tell her something.
"Oh that's not the half of it." Regina said. She waved her hand and a mirror on the wall rippled and changed. The docks came into view in it's reflected surface. The sea roared with vengeful anger. The ships were mostly splintered and cracked and Killian winced in spite of himself. The mirror rippled again and the scenery changed. Rabid looking dogs growled and spat from somewhere in the woods waiting at the beck and call of a tall woman in black and white.
"What are they waiting for?" Killian asked, "They could have their choice. Between flooding and burning and a pack of bloody hellhounds they could have reduced Storybrooke to dust. Why haven't they?"
"Because," Regina responded. "They want Emma."
"Why?" Emma asked.
"Maleficent wants you to come to the Library alone to... talk." Snow said, rolling her eyes. "It's obviously a trap of some kind."
"Of course it's a trap," Regina said irritably. "I don't see that we've many viable alternatives though. We can't take them all together."
"So we split up," Emma suggested. "Ruby and Granny, take Killian and the dwarves to deal with the ... hell hounds as you put it. Regina can you handle Ursula?"
"We're overdue to find out."
"We'll go with Emma," Snow offered quickly.
"No!" Emma retorted, "Someone needs to watch Henry and my brother."
"Emma you can't go alone," Charming protested, glancing at Killian.
"She's not going alone," Killian affirmed and Emma's stomach jumped into her throat.
"No. You can't."
"Course I can love. Besides, you know I've nothing to fear from the library right?" he said with a sly smile. Emma tried to smile back but she was certain it looked forced.
"Killian, you're a swordsman." Emma said, trying to inject her voice with as much confidence as she could manage. "Without magic you're far better suited to deal with Cruella and her beasts."
"Swan-"
"It's fine Killian. I've defeated her once before, before I even knew I had magic ... I'll do it again. Trust me, I can handle this."
Killian watched her carefully for a moment before he finally yielded. He nodded but still there was a skeptical look on his face. Regina had already left and Granny and Ruby were hovering outside waiting for him. He paused, slipping his arm around her waist.
"Be careful," he murmured.
"You too," she replied.
He let out a sigh of resignation, kissed her lightly on the cheek and hurried to catch up with the wolves. A wave of relief spread through Emma as she watched him go. Away from Maleficent.
Her parents still hovered but Emma dismissed their concerns quickly. "I can handle this," she repeated. "But I need to know you guys are looking after Henry."
Finally they acquiesced too and left, leaving her alone in the shop with Belle.
Belle handed her the bracelet that had once bound Regina's powers. "If you can get close to her," Belle said, "this might be able to bind her powers."
"And what about the other two," Emma muttered, "We're going to need a bigger jail."
Time to face the dragon... again.
She took the stairs down beneath the library, not liking the idea of announcing her entrance via the elevator.
Unfortunately that didn't seem to matter.
"Hello dear." The dragon had shed all but her horns by the time Emma arrived under the library. Maleficent was waiting for her at the entrance to a familiar cavern.
"Didn't I kill you already?"
"Didn't stick, apparently." Maleficent retorted.
"What are you doing here? What do you want?" Emma asked.
"Don't you remember, dear? We've already had this conversation."
"Yeah, well apparently it wasn't memorable."
"I understand, that spell can do a number on one's faculties."
Emma's eyes widened. "You... you did this?"
"I had some help."
"Why?"
"I wanted you to see what was coming."
"You mean you being banished from the town? You lost!"
"Did we now. I remember it differently. I remember you sobbing over your lovers corpse. Is that the victory you claim?"
"It's going to be different this time."
"No, darling, it really isn't. You think Cruella and her beasts can't rip your pirate to shreds? Ursula is downright livid that she didn't get the chance to kill him herself... He will die. By my hand or someone else's. Unless you do something to stop us."
Emma pulled out her gun leveling it at Maleficent's head. "I don't know if this will kill you, but I suspect even you can't survive a bullet to the head. Why are you doing this? Why are you giving me a chance to fix it?"
"You're the hero dear, would you choose to kill me when you have that perfectly good bracelet in your jacket pocket? Of course last time you just banished me and I killed him. Guess you need to try something stronger..."
"That's what this is about? Whether or not I will kill you first?"
"That's exactly what this is about."
"I think you have me confused with my mother," Emma retorted, "I will have no problem putting a bullet in your scaly hide."
"I do not confuse you with your mother. You have dark potential inside you, Emma Swan; we're here to let it out. Why should you get your happy ending when you're not so very different then we are?"
"That is not dark potential, I am defending my family."
"Whatever makes this easier for you dear."
"He's not even here. You can't hurt him. I won't let you."
Maleficent smiled coldly. "I suggest you make your decision quickly, or you know how this ends." Her skin began to ripple and darken and Emma tensed. She dove behind a pillar just as a giant dragon burst through Maleficent's skin and a column of fire split around the column. The moment the fire abated Emma peaked around the column. The dragon was gone... where the hell could a dragon hide?
Emma crept forward towards the ledge hoping to catch a glimpse of the foe. There was a crackling noise and Emma's throat went dry. Before she had a moment to think, something barreled into her, shoving her several meters to the side before crushing her into the stone. Her bones jarred at the contact but she'd no time to complain. The spot where she'd just been standing was engulfed in flames.
"Killian, I told you-"
"I'm not accustomed to following orders love. Bloody hell... I liked that jacket" His voice was pained and Emma smelled burning leather. The back of his jacket was smoking.
"Killian you can't be here-"
"As it turns out..."
"Killian-"
"I know love. Cruella enlightened me to their little game."
"And you came here anyway!"
"Yeah well if I hadn't you'd be a smoldering heap on the ground so 'thank you' will do."
"Thank you... now get out of here," Emma ordered.
"Have you entirely taken leave of your senses? I'm not leaving you here."
"Tick tock, Captain," Maleficent's voice was deeper now, more a growl than anything else now. "Any final words?"
"Bugger you," Killian called and the booming voice laughed.
"Eloquent as always, Captain." There was a whoosh of wings and Emma started. She ripped free of Killian's arms and jumped out to face the dragon. A sudden pulse of light lit the cavern. It ripped its way through one of the columns and large boulders flew towards Maleficent. One slammed into the dragon's chest and threw it back into the wall.
She fell into the canyon a tumble of rock following her.
When the rock settled a small voice echoed from the bottom of the canyon. "I told you Emma, when our happiness is on the line... we're not so very different. "
Killian took her hand, pulling her away toward the stairs. "Hurry love, I suspect that column wasn't decorative." Indeed there was a grinding and shifting of stone that made Emma break out into a cold sweat. This whole place was crumbling, it's only a matter of time.
Still she hesitated... Finally she pulled away from Killian carefully picking her way down towards the voice.
"Don't listen to her..." Killian warned, "She's manipulating you, love."
"Doesn't change the fact that she's right. Stay here, I may need some help getting back up."
"Emma-" Her eyes were set, cold and immovable as steel. In a few minutes she had nearly reached Maleficent. Killian pulled away from the ledge searching for something useful. A rope perhaps? Maleficent still wore her dragon skin but she was pinned, immobile under a pile of heavy stones. Emma pulled the bracelet out of her pocket and the dragon let out a chuckle.
"You put that on me it will kill me just as surely," Maleficent growled. Emma ignored her and glanced up at Killian.
"This whole room may collapse if you move her," he called in warning.
Emma took a deep breath. She'd seen Regina transport herself a hundred times. How hard could it be? Finally she clasped the bracelet around one of the dragon's giant claws. The rock began to shift and Emma held tight to the dragon. One second she held a claw, the next a woman's hand. In the split second before the rock came tumbling down Emma closed her eyes, focusing on Killian and reaching for her magic.
Suddenly the floor went out from under her and an iron grip grabbed her wrist. She was stretched to the breaking point. Maleficent held to one wrist and Killian the other. She had tried to carry them to the ledge where Killian stood but she missed, placing herself right on the edge of the precipice. Killian had locked his hook into the crack of another stone column but she could already hear the crumbling. It was giving way. The whole room was giving way.
Closing her eyes she thought of home just as the whole room collapsed in on them.
A startled gasp was the first thing Killian heard. There was a slight scuffle and Killian glanced over towards the side. They were in Snow and Charming's apartment. Maleficent had tried to stand and run but Charming tackled her to the ground, handcuffing her to the front door to be dealt with later. Clearly the bracelet worked...
"Emma?" Snow said quietly . Killian looked to her instantly. He still held Emma's wrist tight in his hand but she was still.
He released her wrist and crawled closer shaking her gently. "Emma? Wake up, love." She didn't stir. He clenched his fingers to stop their shaking moving them to the side of her neck where he could always feel the steady beat of her heart. To his relief he felt it now.
"Where's Regina?" he asked Snow.
"At the docks still, I think," she replied.
"Get her here," Killian ordered. He was being rude no doubt but he was quite certain he would not remember his manners until Emma opened her eyes. He scooped her up and moved her to the couch as Snow called Regina.
A few moments later there was a burst of purple smoke and Regina appeared in the Charming's living room. She spared one glance for Maleficent's newest fashion accessory before moving to the couch to see to Emma. She touched Emma's forehead with one glowing hand and for a moment said nothing.
Finally Regina moved her hand away. "She's an idiot, just an exhausted idiot. She's never done that before and her mind is trying to catch up ... give her a few minutes."
The atmosphere in the room relaxed considerably and Charming turned his attention to Maleficent. "One down," he noted. "Where's Ursula?"
Regina grinned, "a bit tied up in her own tentacles at the moment..."
"And Ruby turned Cruella's dogs against her," Killian added, "they've got her holed up at the top of a tree."
Regina chuckled, "I'll need to see that, but for now I suppose I should help Maleficent do some sight seeing. Let's start with the sheriff's station shall we?" Regina disappeared with Maleficent and Killian returned his attention to Emma. He reached for her hand and squeezed lightly, running his fingers across his ring that she had finally agreed to wear. She stirred and Killian squeezed her hand tighter.
"Good morning, beautiful," he greeted her when her eyes finally opened. She shot up and threw her arms around him squeezing so hard he could barely breathe. "I'm fine, Emma," he murmured in her ear. "Everyone's fine."
She didn't let go though, and finally he shifted to sit next to her on the couch. Snow had dragged Charming away at some point and though Killian didn't remember them leaving he was grateful nonetheless for the opportunity to pull Emma into his lap.
"Can we just stay here," Emma asked, her voice muffled by a jacket which still smelled of smoke and burned leather. "I don't want to leave this apartment for the rest of the day."
"Well... technically this is your parents apartment. Though I doubt they'd mind, given the circumstances."
"What if I wake up tomorrow and you're gone again?"
"I'll be here."
"You can't promise that," she grumbled.
"No... I suppose I can't," he admitted. "But I'm fine. Maleficent has no powers, Ursula and Cruella are neutralized." Her eyelids were drooping again though she struggled to stay awake. "How about you sleep, and I'll wake you up in a couple hours. So you can see everything is ok?"
"You better. If I wake up and you're gone I'll... kill you myself."
"That would probably be more threatening if you weren't mostly asleep already."
"mmm not."
He shook his head and tightened his arms around her. "Sleep, love. I've got you."
She woke cold. Soft blankets swaddled her tightly but Killian's arms were gone. She clenched her eyes tighter once more afraid to open them. When she finally did she saw the walls of her own room. Her own apartment.
This isn't over, she realized, stiffening and pulling the blankets in closer. She didn't want their warmth. She wanted his.
Tears began to fill her eyes again as she worked up the nerve to get out of bed and find out what day it was. Before she could do so though, the covers lifted up next to her, letting in cold air. The chill was immediately chased away by strong arms pulling her backward into him.
"Good morning, beautiful." He dropped a kiss on the side of her neck as he settled in next to her, "I told you I'd be here..."
Congratulations on another survived hiatus, everyone :) Buckle in for whatever crazy nonsense they've got coming at us this season!
(What are you most excited to see this season?) Domestic CS and Belle and Killian's friendship is killing me!
