Author's note: You guys are gonna hate me.

I own nothing except my delusions.


Emma tiredly opened her eyes as she felt a gentle movement in front of her, seeing Killian pulling away from her.

"Sorry, love," he said softly as he saw she was awake.

Shaking her head, she propped herself up on her elbow, drawing their blanket up to cover herself from the cold as she looked back at the dying fireplace.

"I was going to try to move you before I left," he said by way of apology.

Pushing herself to sit up, she shook her head, not minding in the least about where they slept, even if she ached from the floor. "Don't worry about it."

She leaned forward to rest a hand on his cheek, drawing him in for a slow kiss.

"I have to go," he said regretfully.

"I wish you didn't," she told him.

He gave her another light kiss. "I know."

Reluctantly, she let him go, moving to gather her own scattered clothes.

She debated on whether or not to try to restart the fire as he redressed, knowing there wouldn't be a need for it once she showered and dressed.

"Are you going to stay here for a while?" he asked her as he pulled on his waistcoat.

"Just a little bit," she told him.

He nodded, moving to kiss her one last time. "I'll keep close for now."

Nodding, she rested her forehead to his.

Killian stayed with her a moment longer before pulling away to leave.

Watching him leave, Emma had a weird feeling deep within the pit of her stomach.


Setting a couple mugs of hot chocolate down for herself and Mary Margaret, Emma sat down at the table beside Henry.

"So, any ideas how to actually stop Zelena?" David asked.

"Not at the moment," Regina said. "All I know is she can't hurt Emma, so she's our best bet."

"No pressure," Emma muttered as she took a sip of her drink.

Mary Margaret shot her a sympathetic look.

"So she wants our baby for a spell?" David asked uneasily. "As a sacrifice?"

"Not exactly," Regina clarified. "I looked at the spell Belle found, and from what I can make out, you need tokens of courage, a brain, a heart, and innocence. Your sword is your courage, my heart, and Gold's brain are the supplies she has now. A newborn baby is about as innocent as you can get, and unfortunately one's due to arrive any day now."

"I can't believe this is happening again," Mary Margaret lamented.

David rested a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder.

Emma knew exactly what her parents were afraid of, that they would have a second child ripped away from them moments after their birth.

"If she does get a hold of the baby, but we stop her, what will happen?" Mary Margaret asked Regina in a tight voice. "Will the baby die?"

A look of regret crossed Regina's features. "I'm sorry, but I don't know."

Exhaling, Mary Margaret nodded.

Seeing her mother's distress, Emma knew she had to end things sooner rather than later, even if it meant taking the fight to Zelena.


"Are you sure about this?" Emma asked as Killian went to the dresser to pull some fresh clothes for himself, the bad feeling she had had in the morning remaining even as she told him her plan to go after Zelena.

"Of course," he replied. "I told you, I'll gladly go with you."

She couldn't help smiling at his words, knowing she could depend on him. It was a strange feeling for her, to be able to trust someone so completely and know that they would be there for her for anything, but it wasn't unwelcome.

She pushed the damp hair from his face as soon as he was dressed, standing on the balls of her feet to reach up and kiss him.

"If we're going, we need to leave now," he told her.

"You need to eat first," she reminded him. "I brought us over some dinner from the loft. And don't say you're not hungry."

The tips of his ears reddened as he smiled guiltily.

Gripping his hand in hers, she pulled him out to the main room.

She released him as they went to retrieve their meals, knowing they couldn't sit down and enjoy their dinner together like they usually did. Both ate quickly, wanting to go and get their task with trying to stop Zelena over with as soon as possible.

Her chest felt heavy as she walked to the door, pulling on her red leather jacket. She looked over to see him shrugging on his own leather jacket. "Ready?"

He nodded. "Aye, love."

She nodded in return before leading him to her car.

He silently slipped his hand in hers as she drove, reassuring her.

He continued to hold her hand as they walked through the forest, parking her car in a spot that was as close as possible to the trail that led to the farmhouse. "You're anxious."

Biting her lip, she nodded. "I've been feeling that way ever since I woke up."

He stopped walking, instead turning so he was facing her. He rested his free hand on her face, gently cradling her cheek.

"Everything will be fine," he promised her. "You'll win this, Swan."

Slowly nodding, she let him put her at ease.

"Let me give you something," he suddenly said.

She watched in interest as he pulled one of the chains from his neck, the one where the only decoration was a ring. It wasn't as ornate as his others, just a silver ring with some scrolling around a single red stone.

Taking her other hand in his, he placed it in her palm.

"This was my brother's lucky ring," he told her as he closed her fingers around the metal. "I would say it works, all things considered. But I want you to have it,"

Touched at the gesture, she leaned forward, sweetly kissing him.

"Thank you," she said as she pulled away.

She lifted the chain over her head, pulling her hair out from under it as it settled on her chest, knowing it would replace the necklace she used to wear.

She continued to hold his hand as they moved to continue walking to the farmhouse, needing his stability despite being ready for a fight.

Steeling herself as they broke through the last of the trees, Emma watched as they crept along the barn, looking for any signs of Zelena.

While there was a chance that Zelena could possibly be asleep because of the hour, Gold didn't sleep, meaning they could still be watched. They didn't know how many monkeys Zelena had left, but knew they could also pose as a threat.

"Aren't you going to say hello?" a voice called from the side of the barn.

Releasing a small curse, Emma knew Zelena knew they were there.

Killian stayed directly at her side as she moved to meet Zelena, seeing Gold standing beside her.

"Look, Rumple," Zelena said in mock delight. "The Savior has brought your pet with her."

Emma had to resist the urge to haul off and hit Zelena on the spot.

"I'm actually rather glad you've decided to pay me a visit," Zelena said. "I'll even forgive the late hour."

The anxiety Emma had been feeling all day spiked, making her wonder how dire her mistake had been in trying to go after Zelena.

"You know, I heard about a dragon that roamed the forest when I first arrived here," Zelena told them. "I even heard that he had been Rumple's prisoner. But I never would have guessed that he would turn out to be our dear Emma's paramour."

She began pacing lazily, holding the Dark One's dagger in her grasp. "But you can imagine my… frustration when I found yesterday that not only is the Savior's boyfriend the dragon I heard about, he took out some of my own precious pets, as well as discovered he can't be harmed."

Suddenly stopping, she faced them. "You can imagine how displeased I was with Rumple. But I saw it as an opportunity to not only get rid of a nuisance, but make sure the Savior wouldn't be able to fight because she would be too busy mourning."

She looked back at the man in question. "Immobilize them."

Emma's vision flashed red as Gold waved his hand, finding herself beginning to panic as she couldn't move her limbs. Looking back, she saw Gold carrying a look of regret, making her worry about what could possibly come.

Zelena looked over at Emma as she approached Killian, a different silver knife in hand. "Turns out you didn't ask the right questions when you paid him a visit before."

She suddenly plunged the knife into his stomach, making him release a groan of pain.

Before she could say anything, Emma watched as Zelena used magic to break off a small part of the blade, leaving it embedded in Killian's flesh as she withdrew the knife.

"Rumple did always like his loopholes," Zelena giggled. "There may be no way to break your dear boyfriend's curse, but there is a way to kill him."

"What are you saying?" Killian demanded. "There's no way."

She shrugged as she held up the broken blade. "It's kind of ironic because expectant mother dragons hoard it, but silver has many properties, particularly in helping get rid of anything that can shapeshift."

"What are you saying?" Emma demanded as fear began to creep up in her, freezing her more than a spell ever could.

"Silver is mostly harmless to a human," Zelena said as if she were slow. "But Rumple made it highly toxic to him in his other form."

Realization struck Emma, making her want to scream as it sunk in exactly what Zelena had done.

The silver in Killian's body wouldn't hurt him, even if it was embedded in his muscles, but as soon as he changed, it would become poisonous.

"You bitch!" Emma screamed at her.

"I'll give you two some time alone," Zelena said before looking at Killian. "Just think, you're finally getting what you always wanted, a way out."

She suddenly disappeared in a puff of green smoke, taking Gold with her.

Emma stumbled forward as soon as the spell broke, nearly falling. She felt Killian suddenly beside her, helping her up.

All thoughts of going after Zelena left her mind as she looked at the healed wound, unable to see any sign that he had been stabbed. Gingerly, she touched where his shirt was ripped, unable to even feel the metal beneath his skin.

"Whale might be able to get it out," she said panicked before realizing that it would be useless.

Slowly, Killian shook his head. "It won't work, Swan. As soon as they would make an incision I would just heal."

"There has to be something," she said, keeping her voice low to fight off her growing hysteria.

He shook his head again sadly. "There isn't, love."

All breath left Emma's body. "So this is it? As soon as the sun rises, you…"

She wanted to cry as it dawned on her that the last thing he would ever feel was the agony of his change.

"We can still go after her," Killian told her.

"Zelena won't do anything right now," Emma replied in a tight voice. "Not when she knows…"

She trailed off, not able to continue.

Focusing on him, she made herself stay calm. She wanted it to be up to him with what to do with what little time he had left, hating the thought of him using it in going after Zelena.

"What do you want to do?" she asked, knowing it was his decision.

"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.

"With the time that's left," she clarified. "It's your decision, whatever you want."

His voice was quiet. "It doesn't matter. I don't want to be a burden to you or your family."

Fighting crying, she cupped his face, making his blue eyes focus on her. "You've never been a burden, Killian. To any of us."

It didn't matter to her what he wanted, only that she would make sure he got it.

"You know that beach we went to that day during the summer?" he finally asked.

Emma nodded, remembering how much he had enjoyed himself on the secluded beach, both as a dragon and a man who loved the sea.

"Yeah," she said. "Yeah, I'll take us down there."

She didn't know who reached out to who, but she found her fingers intertwined with Killian's as they moved to walk back through the forest to her car.

She only let go of him so they could climb in before she found his hand again.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, keeping her eyes on the dark road as she felt her guilt eating at her.

He looked at her incredulously. "Why? This isn't your fault."

"I asked you to come with me tonight," she told him. "If I had just gone on my own, this wouldn't have happened."

"Emma, even if you hadn't, I would have volunteered to go with you," he replied gently. "I don't want to think about what she would have tried to do to you. But I do not regret coming with you tonight, even if it means it's over for me."

"You're in this because of me," she argued. "If I hadn't of-"

"Emma, you gave me a second chance," he told her. "Because of you, I got to live again. You made me feel like I was actually worth something."

Despite her best efforts, a couple tears finally fell. "You've always been worth it."

The town was completely silent as they passed through, only a couple lights on in some windows, with everyone oblivious to what was about to happen. Considering how many of the people continued to treat him with distrust, she wondered how many would even care.

They had the entire beach to themselves as she pulled into the makeshift dirt lot.

"I'll be out in a minute," she promised. "I just have to make a quick call first."

He nodded, squeezing her hand before exiting the car to stand a few feet away on the short cliff just above the sand.

Not wanting to waste anymore time than she had to, she pulled her phone from her jacket. She couldn't call her mother, knowing she was resting and that she didn't need more stress. She knew he would be asleep as she dialed his number, but had to let someone know she wouldn't be home that night, or possibly even during the day.

"Emma?" David asked urgently, his tiredness audible. "Is everything okay?"

She considered lying, but her father knew her too well. "No. It's not okay."

A new urgency took over his tone. "What happened? Are you hurt? Where are you?"

"It's not me," she said faintly, her eyes traveling over to the man waiting for her. "It's Killian."

"Killian?" David asked in confusion. "Wait, I thought- what happened?"

"Turns out Gold gave him one vulnerability," Emma said with false humor. "Zelena found out about it, and decided to use it."

Her voice suddenly tightened at the new threat of tears. "When he'll change when the sun rises, he'll die."

A sob broke through, which she quickly tried to suppress. She couldn't do that to Killian, no matter how much she wanted to cry and scream and curse Zelena and Gold. She wanted to be strong for him.

"I can't leave him," she said tearfully as she wiped at her eyes. "I can't just leave him alone, not after everything he's been through."

"Stay with him," David told her. "Emma, just be with him. Don't worry about anything else, we'll take care of everything for now."

She nodded even though he couldn't see her. "Thank you."

Ending her call, she tried to hide the evidence of her crying before getting out of the car.

Killian's eyes met hers as she joined them, his face softening as he studied her face. He brushed his fingers along the area her tears had fallen, making her know she should have known better than to try to fool him.

"You don't have to stay with me, love," he said quietly.

Swallowing, she forced herself to remain steady through the pain. "Do you want me to go?"

He exhaled, breaking eye contact. "No, but I don't want to make you feel like you have to do this for me."

"You've been alone all this time," she told him, reaching up and stroking his cheek with her thumb. "You shouldn't have to be alone anymore."

He suddenly leaned forward, pulling her to him to kiss her. His fingers threaded through her hair, gently holding her despite the ferocity of the kiss.

"I'll stay with you till the end," she promised him as they broke apart.

He pressed his forehead to hers by way of response.

Slipping her hand down to his, she silently led him down to the actual shore.

The briney air wrapped around them as they felt the breeze from the tides, the sounds of the waves peaceful.

Emma couldn't help think of it being a serene spot, even if the reason for them being there was anything but.

Finding a spot, they sat down in the sand facing the water. Her arm wrapped around his waist as his draped over her shoulders.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked her.

She nodded.

Even if she wasn't, her discomfort was nothing, that she would bear anything as long as she got to stay by his side.

"Tell me about when you were younger?" she asked, wanting to know everything she could about him so she had something to hold onto. "About your brother and your mother and you?"

He gave her a sad smile before he began speaking.

Bitterly, she couldn't help feeling that they were being cheated. Their time together was supposed to last as long as she lived, not for Killian's time to suddenly be cut short. While she knew he hadn't held too much hope for an end to his curse, she had fantasized about what their lives could be like if they did. She hadn't ever wanted it before, but she found that with him, she wanted to get married. She wanted to start a family with him, to give Henry some younger siblings. She wanted to make a home with him where they would grow old together before their time came and they could rest together.

She suddenly knew why it hurt so much knowing that he would be dead in only hours, why his death would hurt more than any other death had ever affected her. He was the love of her life, and she was about to lose him.


Teaser: "You should go," he told her.

Defiiantly, she shook her. "No. I told you, I'm staying with you til the end."

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