The world was blurry, and the ground was hard and metal rocking around in a state of disarray. Emma felt groggy but tried to sit up finding herself on a boat heading out to sea, leaving Killian lying alone on the pier. Emma gasped out loud, the image of Killians cold lifeless body bringing her to tears once more. The loud roar of the boats engine right behind Emma bringing her to the present. She stood up seeing the back of Liam's head at the helm. Enraged and weak from administering the compressions to Killian. Emma focused on getting her balance right standing tall in the boat, hands clenched into fists at her sides. Trying her best to think of something that would give her strength but all that came to mind was Killians still heart. However, there was a moment where Killians hand grasped hers before his eyes even opened. Before he even took a breath, Killian squeezed Emma's hand tight. Once again, a shield of light burst out of her like a wave, but it faded quickly. Only managing to push Liam forward into the steering wheel. Grunting like an animal he stood up towering over Emma his nose gushing blood. Looking into his eyes they were hollow almost completely black.
"Liam" Emma gasped.
A large wave hit the front the boat nocking it into a spiral. Emma couldn't fight him she could barely keep balanced while the boat rocked around in the waves. Liam lunged forward causing the boat flip up as the weight shifted to the tail end. Off balance Liam just missed a direct hit to Emma's face with his fist. Swiftly moving forward ducking under Liam bought Emma a few more seconds, where she considered jumping in the water and attempting to swim back. Looking at the ruff swell of the waves Emma stopped in her tracks.
"You'd never make it" Liam said his voice high.
Emma wiped the tears from her face looking up at this stranger, nothing like the man Killian told her about at all. A determination swelled up in Emma to bring Liam home to Killian, the man he was. Standing up straight Emma clenched her fists ready to fight.
"Your all alone now" Liam said again with a hollow mocking tone.
Liam took the time to pick up a knife from where it lay on the boat. Slowly stepping over the slits in the floor Liam crept over closer to Emma. Starring right at her, Liam's eyes were distant, his left-hand twitching at his side. Emma's breathing increased as she backed away reaching over quickly grabbing the wheel and turning it hard left, the boat almost tip sideways splashing some water at their feet. It wasn't enough to stop Liam, quickly readjusting his stance to stay upright. With no moves left Emma stood helpless as Liam closed in once more gripping his knife.
Suddenly there was a loud thud as something pierced the side of the boat. Bemused by this, both Emma and Liam looked up trying to see who was attacking. In the distance they could just make out two people on the pier. Emma looked down to see a singular arrow imbedded in the boats right side.
"Mom" Emma said relieved.
"Not a very good shot" Liam hissed.
"That was just a warning" Emma replied.
"She thinks I'm going to surrender, how sweet" Liam replied.
"Warning wasn't for you" Emma replied with a smirk ducking down hands on her head.
Just as Emma hit the deck another arrow flew across the water straight into the back of Liam's right shoulder. He fell forward letting out another loud screech. Emma could see the blood dripping onto the grey surface of the boat, jumping up quickly to check on him. Placing her hand gently over his wound, to see if the arrow had gone all the way through. Liam looked into Emma's eyes and for a moment there was a flicker of blue in them. As quick as it appeared it faded, and he shoved Emma back down.
"Please let me help" Emma said.
Liam seemed to be offended by this statement and stood up straight towering over her, anger in his eyes. Anger that was become sadness as tears formed in his eyelids.
"He spent fifteen years waiting, for you" Liam bellowed but his voice wasn't so much of screech more broken and sadder.
Emma eyes lit up and she smiled while falling backwards once again almost overboard. Barley grasping the edge of the boat and regaining balance. Liam flinched looking bemused before raising the knife once more. Emma was about to reach out, when a cloud of purple smoak appeared in front of her. Before she could even make out who it could be, a hand reached out for Emma pushing her back away from Liam. Then Regina appeared her expression determined reaching out her other hand in front of Liam, the only weapons she needed.
"No wait, his still in there" Emma said surging forward.
Regina wouldn't let Emma budge putting her arm behind her stiff, stopping Emma from moving closer to Liam. Making sure she stayed in between the pair Regina turned towards Emma.
"I know" Regina said quietly.
Regina turned quickly towards Liam, who was breathing heavy. His whole body shaking as Liam breathed in and out. Regina looked Liam over, up and down trying to make her best judgment. Anger rose in him realising he'd missed his chance to kill Emma. Liam lunged at Regina slicing her arm, but she barley flinched. Focusing on staying upright as the boat continued to sway in the waves.
"You're hurting and you don't want to feel it, but you need to" Regina instructed.
"You don't even know me" Liam yelled back.
"I know what you're going through, and it will only get worse" Regina continued tears forming in her eyes.
Ignoring Liam presence for a moment, she pictured her own reflection in his place. Her mind still playing tricks only now while she was awake. The Regina standing in front of her was younger, less broken. A sly smile on the evil queens face, looking down on the women in front of her. Of what she'd become. Regina wanted to lunge at her former self grab her by the shoulders, tell her to stop avoiding her feelings. To let that shield of hate and anger down and start living again, before it is too late.
"They'll be gone, either dead, or they give up on you" Regina screamed at her former self.
"What, you're talking nonsense" Liam yelled but his voice had significantly lower.
Liam lunged forward again; this time Regina smacked the knife out of his hand into the water. Surprised by this counterattack Liam lost his footing falling backwards. Regina kept moving forward shaking with desperation.
"You can still come back, be here" Regina yelled the tears breaking through as her voice shuttered.
"The man that Killian told me about, he was stronger than this" Emma said
"No, no" Liam said over and over. As if he only just remembered he tried to drown his own brother.
"Come back to us" Emma pleaded.
This was only meet will a longing expression of fear from Liam. The blue in Liam's eyes fading once more terrified of rejection. That there was no way he could ever be the man he was after spending so long in the dark.
"He'll forgive you" Emma said.
"You don't know that" Liam said shaking his head.
"Maybe your right, but I have hope" Emma replied. "Sometimes people just need time" Emma finished looking up to Regina now.
Liam nodded his eyes returning to their natural state but there was something still brewing in him. A fight that he would have to take on daily, if he wanted to. Regina reached out her hand to Liam's her other hand already holding Emma's. Reluctantly he took it and the three vanished into a cloud of purple smoke, leaving the boat swaying in the waves.
Standing right on the edge of the pier both Killian and Mary Margaret were panicking having only seen tiny people in the distance. Killian refused to leave in the ambulance but took a blanket from the paramedics. Draping it over his shoulders pulling it tight around himself, hoping that the threads could hold him together. Mary Margaret eye was on the water her bow still armed and ready but now her hands were shaking. The purple cloud appeared behind them. It felt like hours had gone by since they last saw Emma. Both holding their breath waiting to see what they would find once the smoke cleared.
"Nice shot, mom" Emma said.
"Swan" Killian exclaimed smiling.
Straight away Killian lost his grip on the blanket it dropped to the floor. Mary Margaret and Killian ran towards Emma practically bowling her over, but they wouldn't let her fall. Carefully Mary Margaret placed her hand on Emma face where a nasty bruise was already beginning to form and let out a sorrowful sigh. Regina and Liam stepped back slowly as the three of them reunited.
"We got to stop doing this" Mary Margaret said out of breath.
After a moment or two Killian looked over to Liam and a small smile curled up on the side of his face. Killian stood perfectly still one arm around Emma. A light chuckle left his lips as he focused on the blue in Liam's eyes.
"I'm sorry brother, I lied to you" Liam paused finding it hard to say the words" I'm not ok" Liam finished looking ashamed.
"You don't have to be ok" Killian said "Your still my brother"
The brothers embraced at the end of the pier finding comfort in the fact they were on the road to recovery. Liam gave Emma an apologetic look over Killians shoulder. Realising a lot of his negative feelings had ended up being undeservingly directed towards her.
"I thought you couldn't get out there, that you'd most likely drown" Mary Margaret said with a smirk.
"Must be my lucky day" Regina replied curtly.
"I don't know why you did that or who you are, that but thank you" Liam said holding out his hand to Regina to shake.
Regina couldn't help but smile after what she'd achieved today. Taking Liam's hand Regina shook it gently relieved to finally be met a grateful recipient of her help. After a long few weeks returning hearts only to be continuously met with animosity. Regina let out of a sigh of relief finally seeing what she was ding making a positive impact.
"All that stuff you said back there?" Emma began to ask.
"It was nothing" Regina said waving them off.
It was quiet for a minute, but you could still her the faint purrs of the boats engine in the distance. The sun slowly starting to set on another day in Storybroke the odd group stood together smiling enjoying the peace for the moment.
"All this has worked up quite the appetite, shall we head to granny's" Killian suggested
"Killian, did the paramedics give you the ok?" Mary Margaret said doubled with a concerned look from Emma.
"Yeah, good as new" Killian replied with a reassuring smile.
Without a word Mary Margaret raised her eyebrows. Knowing by the way he awkwardly smiled this was a lie. Liam chuckled and put his arm around Killian gesturing for them to head back to the ambulance.
"Come on brother, I might need a few stitches myself" Liam added.
"Sorry" Mary Margaret said to Liam as they passed.
"You did what was necessary, I respect that" Liam replied looking over at Emma with a nod.
The brothers walked down the pier towards the still waiting ambulance and two very impatient paramedics. Liam held his hand on the still bleeding shoulder while Killian strayed behind taking one last look at Emma. Making their way slowly back up the pier to the ambulance, but Emma couldn't stand still for long. Running off catching up to them quickly. When Emma got to the rig Killian was already lying back down on the gurney his shirt ripped open. Various cords linked up him monitoring his heart and lungs, Emma starred at him unable to speak.
"What" Killian said concerned by Emma's distant expression.
"You almost drowned" Emma said exasperated.
"I'm fine" Killian said.
However, he couldn't see but the paramedic behind him was shaking her head. Emma stepped up into the back of the ambulance leaning in closer. The monitor linked up to Killians chest began to beep much faster and louder. Quickly the paramedic looked up bemused as to how this had happened. Emma's hand was nestled in his as they quietly starred into each other's eyes.
"Teenagers" the paramedic said rolling her eyes and exiting the rig.
Killian and Emma took advantage of this moment alone. Emma brushed her hand through Killians still wet hair, just stroking it for a while. After a moment Killian sat up placing his hand on Emma check just below Emma bruised forehead. Leaning in quickly for a delicate long-lasting kiss. To feel his lips again with warmth and life was blissful. They stayed there lying in each other's arms while Liam got stitch up outside. Just listening to the sound of the waves and their heartbeats Emma felt more peace than she ever had in her life.
Note: Thanks again for support and reviews, next chapter will be light with a lot of corniness.