Leaning against the side of the old library in the centre of town was Emma Swan, the shadow of the clock tower offering some much-needed shade. Emma breathed out a frustrated sigh looking down at her phone again. Killian was now officially fifteen minutes late for their date. As of late this had become the norm, Emma understood of course things with Liam were taking up Killians time. In unexpected ways from the outburst of sadness or anger to straight pulling a disappearing act for a day. Emma's warnings that Liam might not be himself where no longer debated but clear and obvious. It didn't change much as the brothers weren't too eager in relying on outside help. Not able to trust what was still a strange new world, especially the people in it. Understanding that feeling all too well, Emma also knew the immense reward that comes from letting down your walls and letting people be there for you. It would just take time for Liam to accept help, Emma just hoped they had that much time. After the display her and Elsa saw this morning, it seemed unlikely. Thinking about it Emma was getting more and more anxious. Wanting to tell Killian in person what they had overheard behind Golds shop.
Finally at twenty past Emma heard footsteps coming closer to her and she looked up from her phone smiling. However, her expression quickly changed, and her heart sunk because it wasn't her ruggedly handsome and sweet boyfriend walking up to her, it was Regina Mills.
"Oh, it's you" Emma replied rolling her eyes.
"Emma please I just want to talk" Regina pleaded.
"You already tried that, why don't try apologising to the people you've hurt" Emma spat back.
"I am" Regina said looking into Emma's eyes desperate for the same recognition she used to get.
"What I'm getting from this is you feel bad, and you want me to forgive you because it will make you feel better, but I don't know if you can" Emma said tears already welling up in her eyes.
"I know I can't take back what you saw, but I've joined the Sheriff's department, me and Graham we've been returning hearts, one by one" Regina explained proud of her accomplishments.
Emma looked somewhat surprised at this not expecting Regina to have actually followed through and really taken action. However even if Regina had somehow finally let go of her pain and anger, that didn't mean Emma had too. The image of Regina crushing Peters heart was always at the back of her mind now. The truth is she needed more time, not sure if she could ever get past it. The fact Regina took a life just in the chances, she would stop Emma from breaking the curse and reuniting with her family.
"You know that's great it really is" Emma said before pausing "But truth is you're too late, you took too long to make the right choices" Emma said about to walk away.
"I'm sorry" Regina said sincere "I'm sorry I cast the curse and that I didn't fight harder to adopt you and for every ounce of pain being alone all that time has caused you" Regina said believing the voice waking her from her nightmares. Calling her to a better life was Emma's, that this was her path at reclaiming the person she was meant to be.
However, Emma just shrugged away awkwardly from Regina not sure what to say. The truth was, she didn't hate Regina not even a little bit. It felt wrong though, everything she'd done impacted Emma's life immensely good and bad. Still Emma didn't hate her and that scared her most of all.
Regina couldn't stop now feeling desperation overflowing to let it all out, seeing in Emma's eyes that there was still hope. That this was her last chance to get Emma to believe in her again. Regina looked up at the clock with a smile, now seeing it moving after all those years of staying frozen. They stood there in silence while Regina thought back to who she was and what pushed her to do all those awful things.
"I had trapped myself with them and after a time became just as miserable, even if I pretended I wasn't, I knew" Regina began to explain reminiscing on the time before Emma came to Storybroke.
"You want me to feel sorry for you" Emma replied confused because she did, understanding that loneliness better than anyone.
"No, I'm just trying to explain, everyone here they were stuck couldn't move forward, couldn't develop a connection with anyone" Regina said only know seeing the full consequences of her actions.
"That was the idea wasn't it" Emma shot back sarcastically.
Regina nodded her expression sad and thoughtful finally realising, she was her own worst enemy. Every step she made to ruin Snow Whites happiness only making them both miserable. Emma wasn't able to turn away now getting angry wanting further explanation. Emma also needed some catharsis, needed to know why this was so complicated.
"But why try and adopt? you couldn't just try break the curse, set yourself, set everyone free" Emma replied hopeful imaging a world where she was found at an earlier age.
"Only you could break the curse" Regina said proudly "without doing that first it wouldn't be right to be involved with anyone"
"Right" Emma replied in agreement.
"I saw the adoption as my only way to let love back into my life" Regina said trying her best not to cry as she thought about how different things would be if that had worked out. "When that didn't happen, I feel even deeper into my revenge, it was all I had" Regina admitted getting chocked up.
Emma could tell by the look in her eyes Regina was being sincere, but what did that mean. When every time Emma closed her eyes, she could see the callous cold look in Regina's as she took Peter's life. This terrified her because even with all that she still didn't hate her. The truth is she just felt guilty for not hating Regina. It didn't matter either way because before Emma could even respond she heard footsteps charging towards them.
Again, it was not Killian running towards them but Liam as he got closer, he was clearly taller and looking quite panicked. Emma completely dropped any concerns she had about Regina seeing terror in Liam's eyes. They only thing that could rock a man like Liam in this way was loss of a loved one.
"Killian" Emma breathed out and she took off towards him.
As Regina looked over at the man a chill went up her spine. Sensing something was extremely off. Knowing that the fear in his eyes would very quickly lead to hate.
"Emma wait" Regina said trying to grab her, but she was already out of reach. "Be careful" Regina said quietly knowing no one could hear her anyway.
"Liam, what happened?" Emma asked catching up with him.
Liam didn't respond just running completely out of breath, but he kept on going. No time to explain to Emma what was wrong especially since she had already guessed correctly. They just needed to get there before he lost his brother forever. Liam didn't even know where he was going, unable recall he last few hours of his day. His mind clouded with a scratching and clawing coming from inside his head. Like something was surfacing in him and he was losing the strength to fight it.
"Stop" Emma yelled grabbing the back off his coat. "What happened" Emma demanded.
"I don't know" Liam yelled moments from complete breakdown.
Emma realised with Horror Liam didn't remember he had that same lost look in his eyes, just like her father had when they first meet. Even if you're mind forgets your heart knows and Liam's heart knew that something was very wrong. That something involved Killians life. Liam took off again running towards the docks. Emma was trying to look for clues noticing Liam was wet from head to toe. That there where scratches on his arm and a bruise forming on his face, like he'd just been in a fight. Emma followed realising that whatever happened was down by the water.
"Liam please what's the last thing you remember" Emma asked knowing they weren't going to get anywhere just guessing.
"I told you, I don't know" Liam replied frustrated they had stopped moving.
"That doesn't make sense" Emma replied.
"Everything is so clouded, next thing I'm" Liam paused "I was in the street, and I had blood on my" Liam stuttered looking down at his hands.
"Then there's this memory I can't get out of my mind" Liam continued terrified.
"Memory, that might lead us to Killian" Emma said hopeful.
"No, it's from when we were kids, but" Liam answered trailing off.
"But what" Emma said getting frustrated Liam was taking so long to get to the point.
"It feels as though it only just happened" Lia replied confused.
"Tell me" Emma instructed while they kept moving at a jogging pace.
"Long ago when we were just boys we had a home by the ocean, and we'd watch all the boats come in, hoping to come aboard one day" Liam explained panicked not sure this would help. Very fond of this memory not really wanting to share it.
"We used to play a game in the water" Liam said looking up to Emma with a smile "See who could hold his breath the longest, I'd always win of course" Liam chuckled reminiscing "Killian was so small, there was no way he could beat me" Liam continued tears welling up in his eyes now.
"Still, this frustrated him, and one day out by the pier watching the boats sail off we played the game once more. I held my breath for so long, longer than I ever had but Killian stayed down and so did I. Until I just couldn't anymore. I looked at him surprised realising he'd beat me. I rose to the surface gulping in a big breath of air. Then another minute went by, and Killian was still in the water. I went back in to see that the fool had tied himself to the post, trying to override his survival instincts. Thinking he could last that little bit longer, then cut himself free. But he dropped the knife and Killian was unconscious when I went back down" Liam continued quickly realising something now moving faster.
Emma gasped even knowing he would survive; it was still so horrible to picture. This small boy unconscious tied to a post at bottom on the ocean. Just trying to impress his big brother. Emma couldn't help but picture Killian tied down gasping for air.
"I set him free, I saved his life" Liam explained "We both laughed about eventually, but never played that game again" Liam finished.
"Why would you be thinking of this now, today" Emma asked confused.
"When I was in the void I thought about it a lot, those where the best days of my life, before father left back when me and Killian where happy" Liam said his mind wondering.
"That is where he'll be" Emma realised while Liam was reliving his past his present self was reliving it to. Only the darkness had corrupted it instead of Liam saving his brother, he was the one drowning him.
Both realising this at the same time they took off faster knowing that Killian was seconds away from taking his last breath. Passers-by looked surprised as they ran past at high-speed knocking over a bucket of fish as they went by. Not even bothering to apologise they keep on running down the docks. However, they had no idea which pier Killian was tied to. Emma grabbed her phone calling for an ambulance knowing that they would surely need one if what they feared was true.
"Liam, which way do we go?" Emma asked her face turning white with fear as they had stopped moving now at a crossroads. Knowing that going down the wrong path would lose them precious time.
Liam stopped running letting out a gut-wrenching scream as they reached the pier realising, they didn't have enough time to check each post. Trying his best to focus, to stop the beast within from clawing it's way out. With his emotions so heightened it was getting harder and harder to focus on anything. Emma reached out grabbing his arm pulling him back into focus.
"Look at me" Emma said "Look the love of my life is out there somewhere drowning, I need you to remember" Emma pleaded.
While looking into Emma's eyes he saw a flicker of the light glowing inside. The love that kept Emma going right now, that stopped her from falling apart. She was beaming with it and now that magic was extending to Liam. This almost gave him a jolt and Liam looked over to the horizon. For a moment he was back home in the enchanted forest looking out to the pier his little brother waving at him to come play. Right in front of them, Liam had already been heading in the right direction unconsciously. Taking off in a run closely followed by Emma, they reached the last post at the end of the pier. Without pause Liam dived in pulling his knife out he was able to cut through the ropes used to secure Killian to the post underwater. Once free Killian floated to the surface unconscious and Emma reached down to pull him free while Liam lifted him from below. Killian was beaten just like Liam, he must have put up quite the fight.
Tears started falling from Emma's eye as she saw Killians blue lips and white face. He was ice cold to the touch as she dragged him onto the pier. Immediately Emma started compressions knowing the ambulance was still a while away.
"What are you doing" Liam asked confused seeing Emma almost cracking Lima's ribs. When he got back onto the dock.
"CPR" Emma yelled as she moved in on Killians cold lifeless lips to give him breath.
"What" Liam said with a scowl confused and heartbroken believing he had killed his brother.
Killians lips felt wrong, he felt wrong lifeless and even though he was lying in front of her, he wasn't there. For a moment Emma lost hope Killian would ever be there again. However, she couldn't stop. Emma would not stop even as her muscles ached, and the tears swept down her cheeks. Focusing on keeping count of the compressions.
"It's not working" Liam yelled after a minute, and he crumbled to his knees.
Silently Liam let himself fade away not wanting to feel the pain of losing his little brother. Quietly he was gone but Emma hadn't even noticed so focused on breathing for Killian, until help arrived. Everything else around her was not of concern all she could see was Killian now. Not even able to hear the sounds coming out of Liam's mouth. Hyper focused on listening to Killians heart waiting for it to beat on its own. In her panic Emma hadn't realised the Jones brother that was slipping away was not Killian, but Liam.
Suddenly Killian convulsed and coughed up the last of the water in his lounges. Breathing in and out heavily trying to catch his breath. Killian looked up at Emma smiling as the sirens where now close enough to hear, it felt as if the danger had passed. For a moment it seemed that everything was going to be ok. Then Killian looked over at Liam only to find a stranger starring back at him. The same look in his eyes he had when attacking Killian.
"Emma run" Killian warned barley able to move his muscles still weak waiting for the oxygen to return.
Killian tried to sit up, but Emma put her hand on his should having no idea why he was alarmed. Believing it is best to wait for the ambulance to come and assist him.
"Killian relax, we need to get you to the hospital" Emma said out of breath herself.
"It wants you" Killian warned referring to the beast still inside Liam. Petrified now still trying to move, trying to run but his body had nothing left to give.
"You" Liam moaned his voice almost sounding like a croak his eyes darker then ever.
Killians warning was too late and the part of the creature still inside Liam took control enraged when it saw Emma in front of it. The very person that had decimated it and forced the creature to take a host to survive. Standing right there completely unprotected and exhausted Emma was an easy target. Liam swung his arm back whacking Emma in the head, and she went straight down onto the dock. Looking up with distain as the paramedics started making their way over, Liam realised he needing to take this elsewhere.
"No" Killian wailed as Liam bent down unfazed by Killians desperate cries.
Liam grabbed an unconscious Emma lifting her over his should and jumped onto a nearby boat. Killian rolled over trying to push himself up, but he was still struggling to breath. As always love brought him strength and the two people he loved most in this world where about to sail away. Killian pushed himself up onto his knees by the edge of the pier with his last bit of energy he had.
"Brother, please I know your still in there" Killian pleaded.
Emotionless Liam swiftly kicked Killian in the face with such force he fell back onto the pier. Killian lay there helpless as the small speed boat took off. Killian was in shock laying there breathless blaming himself for not listening to Emma's warnings. Feeling the clattering of feet on the pier Killian looked up to see the paramedics coming towards him. Breathing a sigh of relief knowing help was coming.
Notes: Next chapter Regina and Mary Margaret have a difference of opinion on how to save Emma.