I own nothing except my delusions.
Curled into Killian, Emma rested her head to his shoulder, breathing in his scent to commit it to memory.
"Not much longer, now," he murmured, his arms around her tightening.
To her horror, she saw the horizon line beginning to lighten.
Even spending the night up with him, talking and kissing and loving and holding each other, Emma felt like they hadn't gotten to do anything, like their time had passed too quickly.
She would have stopped the sun from rising if she could, even if it meant giving everyone else an eternity of night.
She didn't know how she was going to let him go, unable to imagine her life without him in it. She knew that when he died, she would die there with him.
"I don't know how to say goodbye," she whispered as her eyes began to burn again.
Smiling sadly, he gently wiped away a couple tears that had fallen with his thumb. "Then don't."
Despite her fighting, a sob escaped her. She had managed to keep herself together as they talked, wanting to be strong for him, but she felt herself beginning to crack.
"Just know that even if I'm not here anymore, I'll still be with you," he whispered as he continued to cradle her face. "I'll still be right here beside you, and if there is something after this, if I've done enough good in my life, I will wait for you. I will endure purgatory gladly if it means I get to be with you again."
She surged forward, wrapping herself around him as she desperately kissed him.
It didn't matter that she was scared or that it would possibly cause her pain later on when she was alone again, but she couldn't live with the regret of never telling him what she was finally ready to.
"I love you," she told him. "I love you. I can't let you go without knowing. I need you to know that you are loved, and I'm sorry I was too afraid to tell you earlier."
He shook his head as he kissed her again. "I love you, too."
Her sob was cut off as her lips met his, willingly going as he pulled her into his lap.
A breeze stronger than the rest washed over them, but she didn't care, only wanting to stay with him.
Too soon, Killian broke their kiss, his eyes trained on the horizon. "It's time."
As his eyes met hers, she could see his own tears in them.
Feeling her heart breaking, she ran her fingers over the scruff of his cheek.
"You should go," he told her.
Defiantly, she shook her. "No. I told you, I'm staying with you till the end."
Cupping her head, he gave her what she knew would be their last kiss.
She lingered for as long as possible to draw it out, knowing what was to follow.
"I love you," she said again, wanting them to be the last words he would hear.
He gave her a teary smile. "And I love you. More than anything."
Tensing, Emma saw the sun peak over the horizon.
She felt Killian tense with her, preparing himself for his final transformation.
Seconds ticked by as tremors didn't start wracking through his body to accompany his pain.
Green met blue in disbelief as the sun continued it's slow climb up from the horizon, but Killian didn't begin his change.
"You're not changing," Emma breathed out. "The sun is rising, but you're not changing."
"That wind earlier-" he suddenly said before digging into his pocket to procure a small knife.
He quickly drew the blade across the palm of his left hand, both watching as blood welled up from the cut but didn't begin knitting itself together.
"Swan, it's not healing," he laughed joyously. "The curse is broken."
She released a loud laugh of her own, feeling almost giddy as she wrapped her arms back around him to hug him close.
"You bloody did it," he said before ducking his head to capture her lips in a kiss.
"We did it," she laughed as they broke apart, unable to stop smiling.
He turned his head, letting the early morning light catch his skin as he watched the sun continue it's slow incline.
She watched him, finding the situation to be similar to the day she met him and let him out of his prison for him to see the moon for the first time in hundreds of years, but so much better.
The sunlight picked up tinges of red in his scruff that wasn't nearly as visible in the artificial lights she'd always seen him in, as well as showed his hair to be a deep brown rather than black. Watching the sun play across his features, he'd never looked more beautiful to her.
Only tearing her eyes away from his face for a moment, she held her hand over his, focusing her magic to heal the cut on his palm.
He was looking at her as she looked back up. Resting his healed hand on her face, he tenderly stroked her cheek before lovingly kissing her.
"I love you," he said, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke.
Resting her forehead to his, she smiled, thinking that they would be able to have a future together, the one he wanted her to be able to have and the one she wanted with him.
"We can have a future together now," she told him.
His eyes seemed to impossibly brighten more. "Yeah, we can."
She laughed, feeling lighter than she had ever remembered feeling before.
"We need to tell everyone," she said as she gently caressed his cheek.
He nodded, pulling away to stand. Reaching down, he helped pull her up, keeping her hands in his as he looked out towards the water again before drawing her close to his chest.
Willingly going, she reached up, finding it impossible to stop kissing him.
She refused to let go of him as they moved to go back to her car, knowing the trip to the town would be much happier than the trip out.
"I don't know if David told the others about last night," Emma admitted.
"Even if he did, they'll all know soon enough," he replied with a gentle pressure on her hand.
She nodded in agreement.
Only a few people were out in the early hour, unaware of everything that had happened during the night. No one paid her car any mind, many familiar with the habits she had picked up because of Killian.
Giving him a small but happy smile, she wove her fingers through his as they moved from her car to the front of the building containing the loft.
"You know there's no getting rid of me now," Killian told her teasingly.
Humming, Emma slightly swung their hands. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
There was no resistance towards either of them as they neared the loft, both being allowed in the loft with Regina's enchantment.
Reaching the door, they froze, sharing a look as they heard movement behind it sounding like scuffling.
As soon as she pushed the door open, they saw David dashing around the loft frantically with Mary Margaret leaning against the table and Henry standing at the bottom of the stairs looking lost for what to do.
Taking in her mother's labored breaths combined with her hunched stance and how she was grasping her swollen stomach, Emma knew immediately she was in labor.
Mary Margaret's voice suddenly broke through the contained chaos, making her everyone freeze. "Killian?"
Both David and Henry snapped their eyes toward the entering couple in disbelief.
Moving further inside, Killian nodded. "Aye."
He suddenly smiled brightly as he looked at Emma. "At the last moment, Emma broke the curse."
"I told you it would have to be something dramatic for Emma to finally tell him," Mary Margaret told David knowingly before wincing in pain. She looked back at Killian, her eyes softening. "We're really glad you're alive and okay."
David nodded in agreement, clapping Killian on the shoulder as he moved to pass him.
"We need to get to the hospital," David said before speaking directly to Emma. "We were actually about to call you to tell you. I'm sorry, but even if…"
She nodded in understanding, that even if she were mourning, because of her role she had responsibilities, even if her parents understood why she wouldn't want to come.
"You think Zelena will try to attack the hospital?" Henry asked nervously.
"It would be ideal timing for her," Killian said before looking back at Emma. "She'll believe me dead and you either with me or in no condition to fight."
"And believe me when I say I owe that bitch a fight," Emma murmured darkly.
"We're ready," David said as he slung a small bag over his shoulder.
"We'll follow right behind," Emma nodded.
David nodded as he moved to help Mary Margaret out.
Henry moved to follow them, stopping beside his mother and Killian. Taking them by surprise, he suddenly wrapped his arms around Killian's waist.
"I'm really glad you're okay," he said.
Killian released Emma to hug him back. "So am I, lad. So am I."
Emma kept close to David's truck on the way to the hospital, keeping watch for any possible obstacles that would prevent them from arriving.
The lot was mostly empty when they made it, parking close to the entrance. Glancing around, Emma saw Regina's car close by as well as Gold's and a couple of the dwarves' cars, guessing David had called them before he was about to call her.
Everyone inside looked at them in shock at the sight of Killian, but they ignored them as they pushed their way to the maternity ward.
Regina looked just as surprised as the others as they found her casting a protection spell to keep Mary Margaret and the baby safe.
"Maybe we can talk to Whale about removing that silver from you," Emma suggested as she saw the man in question running around.
Killian nodded in agreement. "I'd rather not have it in me as a reminder."
As soon as Mary Margaret was admitted into a room, Emma moved to Regina, knowing she would be testing her magic.
"Will these hold?" she asked seriously.
"They should," Regina said in a low voice.
Her tone didn't instill much confidence.
Remembering the impromptu lesson Gold had given her when Cora tried to break into his shop, Emma focused on the wards, figuring another person attempting to reinforce them wouldn't hurt.
"Take Henry somewhere safe," she told Killian.
Flinching back in disbelief, he shook his head. "I'll make sure Henry is safe, but I'm not leaving you to face her on your own."
"You're mortal now," Emma reminded him in a low voice. "I don't want to risk you. I almost lost you once."
"And you think I want to risk you?" he countered. He leaned closer to her, his hand on her waist. "Mortal or immortal, I'm going to do my damndest to make sure you're safe."
His voice dropped to a near whisper. "You told me I wasn't alone anymore. You told me you wanted to share the burden of my curse with you. Well let me share your burdens, too."
Her breath caught in her chest, she didn't think it was possible to love him more.
Nodding, she quickly pressed her forehead to his before looking him in the eyes. "Just please make sure Henry's safe first. Archie will stay with him and make sure he's protected and hidden."
He nodded once before jogging to where Henry stood with Regina, saying something before having Henry follow him down one of the halls.
"He'll make sure Henry's safe," she said as Regina came to stand beside her.
Regina nodded. "I know."
A second later they heard Leroy's yell from outside the hospital, followed by Robin's shouts.
Emma silently prayed that Killian had gotten Henry to safety.
She knew Zelena was nearing as she heard the other woman and Belle arguing before Belle was suddenly silenced, Zelena telling Gold to leave her as they continued on.
"Here we go," Regina said.
Zelena turned the corner holding the Dark One's dagger as the lights flickered, Gold following only a couple steps behind her.
She let out a mocking awe of sympathy as she saw Emma. "Emma, I'm actually surprised you're here. Shouldn't you be mourning your pet?"
Bristling, Emma was ready to forget about her magic in favor of punching her, all of her previous rage returning.
"Take another step and I'll roast you," Regina snarled before she could react.
"Please," Zelena scoffed before waving her hand.
Realizing Zelena had thrown a sleeping spell at them, Emma's last thought before she fell under was she was glad Henry and Killian were safely hidden, and prayed that Killian wasn't about to reenter the hall.
Head pounding, Emma forced her eyes open to see a familiar set of bright blue eyes looking back at her.
"You're okay," Killian breathed out as he carefully helped her back up.
She saw Regina sitting up a short distance away, having awoken from the spell herself.
"Where's Henry?" she asked him.
"With Archie, as you asked," he said in a low serious voice. "I'm sorry I didn't get back sooner. I wanted to be sure the lad was safe."
She shook her head. "Don't be. She would have knocked you out, too."
David suddenly stormed into the hall, his sword in hand.
"Where are you going?" Regina asked, standing and moving to keep pace with him as her heels clicked on the tiles.
"To get my son back," he said angrily. His eyes slightly softened as he looked at Emma. "She took your brother."
"David," Regina called in an attempt to reason with him. "You're gonna get yourself killed. Think about this"
"What's there to think about?" he snapped.
"You can't go by yourself with no plan," Killian told him. "Emma and I went in with a plan last night and look at what happened."
"We need to be logical about this," Regina added.
Releasing a sigh of frustration, David thankfully stopped.
"What if we all went after her at once?" Emma proposed. "Against just one of us or even two, she's too strong. But with more players, it might work."
They looked at her in consideration.
Silently showing his support, Killian gently brushed his thumb along her palm.
"I say we end this," Regina said. "We'll all go to her and send her packing back to Oz."
Emma stopped her car beside David's truck, her and Killian leaving her car as her father, Regina, and Robin sprang from the truck. They all drew their weapons save Regina as they ran to the barn, seeing movement within.
They entered just as Zelena activated her spell, amber light glowing from a large rune etched into the ground.
"It isn't over yet," David yelled to call Zelena's attention, making her turn to them.
"And who's gonna stop me?" she grinned haughtily. "Certainly not the Savior-"
Her eyes widened in shock as she saw Killian beside Emma. "You're- you're supposed to be dead! Emma's not supposed to be here!"
Killian smirked. "And that's because you underestimated her."
It wasn't appropriate for the situation, but Emma felt her chest warm at the praise.
Seeing her father's eyes trained worriedly on her crying newborn brother, she pitched her voice low. "Go. Get him. We've got your back."
She turned her focus to Zelena as Regina and Robin moved, with Robin firing an arrow at the witch.
Zelena looked at Gold, waving the Dark One dagger, looking irritated. "Rid me of those pests. And keep the Savior from interfering."
His expression reluctant, Gold waved his hand, throwing David and Robin into the hay bales lining the walls of the barn. He looked back at Emma and Killian, his expression remaining the same.
Carefully, Emma crept closer to him, Killian remaining at her side to cover her, both her gun and his sword aimed at him.
"Get the dagger," Gold growled out, as his dark eyes darted between the two of them. "Then the Dark One will be on your side."
He waved his hand again, making Emma's gun fly from her grasp. He didn't attempt to disarm Killian, letting him keep his sword.
"It's easier said than done," Emma bit out in frustration.
"Do as I say, or I will destroy you both," he retorted in a wild voice. "I have no choice!"
Gold threw her and Killian back, momentarily stunning them both as they hit the hay bales.
Killian was the first to recover, scrambling for his fallen cutlass.
"Dark One, run her through," Zelena's voice yelled through the fighting, a hint of desperation coloring her voice.
Using his magic, Gold recovered the sword just as Killian's fingers brushed the metal, leaving him with nothing.
"I'm truly sorry about this," Gold said genuinely as he raised the blade before Emma.
Before she could react, she heard the sickening sound of flesh being cut immediately followed by the severing of a bone. Slowly, she registered Killian suddenly hunched in front of her, groaning in pain as a small pool of blood formed in front of him.
Gold suddenly stopped, the cutlass raised, but his eyes were on Zelena being held by Regina. He dropped the sword, instead going to retrieve his fallen dagger as the light from the time traveling spell diminished.
Her stomach dropping somewhere on the floor, Emma sprang up, immediately grasping Killian to see his injury.
Seeing him cradling his left arm, she noticed his bloody wrist, his hand missing with the flesh shredded.
"Oh god," she breathed out, touching his face to make him look at her, seeing his pale pallor. "Killian? We'll get you help."
Seeing his severed hand, she unwound her scarf from her neck, placing the appendage on the material to take it to Whale. The wound was more than she could heal, making her panic.
Only part of her brain took in Regina and Gold fighting over what to do with Zelena while David grasped his wailing son, immediately making the baby quiet down.
"David, the baby," Emma asked in a tight voice, most of her focus on the man in front of her. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah," David replied, sounding relieved as he stared at the baby's face. "He can handle anything. Just like his big sister."
He suddenly picked up on her tone, as well as her hunched stance in front of Killian.
"What happened?" David asked with new panic.
"Gold cut off his hand," she said, hysteria seeping into her voice. She raised her voice. "Regina, we have to get back to the hospital now."
Regina turned to look at her in annoyance before the scene registered, her eyes wide. She nodded before violet smoke suddenly clouded Emma's vision.
She and Killian were back in the hospital as soon as the smoke cleared, surrounded by some shocked nurses.
"Where's Whale?" she demanded.
Miraculously, Whale turned the corner, rubbing his head where she guessed Zelena did some damage.
"Here," he said irritably. "What now?"
His eyes widened as he took in Killian's injury.
The staff was in a sudden frenzy, moving to get everything ready for him.
"You're gonna be okay," Emma promised Killian as some nurses approached to take him away.
Faintly, Killian nodded, giving her a weak smile.
Teaser: Shaking her head, Emma's eyes automatically went back to the hallway. "Not yet."
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