Omg, two updates in one week?! I am as surprised as you are, believe me.
Thank you all SO MUCH for your support and your kind words. It means so much. So thank you so much!
And hell yes, Charming needs to calm down xD I always thought he became such a jerk to Hook so quickly when they went to Neverland in canon. Don't worry, I have a bromance coming in later chapters ;)
I hope that this chapter reads well, and that you guys enjoy it :)
~cosette141
Why does there always seem to be a crisis?
Emma felt her heart pound, trying to quell the rising sense of dread.
She's had her fill of crises and life-threatening experiences for the week.
Neal's apartment, lying on the ground, the pain, her fear…
She took a shuddering breath, trying to calm down.
She was more than grateful Henry asked Regina to heal her. On a normal day, Emma would want nothing to do with the woman, but she was in pain, and was not looking forward to weeks of recovery. Being healed and free of the physical pain (for she filed the emotional pain away somewhere deep down inside) was an overwhelming relief.
However…
It wasn't her only relief.
Emma was all too aware of Hook at her side as they left the hospital, so close his coat was brushing her arm.
Ever since waking on his ship, the concussion had left her a bit fuzzy. But it didn't fabricate the way he looked at her, the way he touched and held her, or the feelings he elicited from her.
Nor the fact that he was still here.
Blearily, Emma remembered when she'd been laid on the hospital bed, the concussion making every movement feel like a sharp stab into her temple.
The moment she'd felt Hook's arms begin to release her, to move away…
She panicked.
Her hand had shot out of its own accord, managing to catch his wrist.
The fear that overwhelmed her at the thought of him walking away, of leaving, had consumed her in that half a second.
And yet, here he was, still beside her.
Emma was healed.
She was with her family.
He didn't need to help her anymore.
And quite honestly, he never needed to help her.
He could have walked away the moment he killed Rumplestiltskin.
And yet, he didn't.
Even now, here he was, despite the fact that Cora's biggest target right now was him.
He could leave, save himself. Cora had no magic outside town lines.
Nothing was preventing him from leaving.
But he was still here.
And from the way he looked at her in that hospital room, faced with the choice to stay or leave, Emma had been stunned to see that there was no question in his eyes. His mind was made up.
He was staying.
For her.
And she simply couldn't understand why, because no one ever has before.
"Where are we even supposed to start looking?" asked David once they were back outside, snapping Emma out of her thoughts. "Would Cora even keep her heart in Storybrooke?"
"Aye," said Hook. "She froze herself in time for the extent of this curse—myself as well," he added, making Emma distantly wonder just how old Hook was. "She was always planning to come to this world once the curse was broken. My best guess is that she kept it somewhere safe, perhaps somewhere Regina would have a… collection." He winced at the idea.
"Her vault," whispered Mary Margaret. "It's got to be in her vault."
"I know how to get in," said Henry with a grin. "I can help!"
Fear flitting in Emma's chest, she took him gently by the shoulders, "You can tell your Grandma how to get in, but you're going to stay here with Ruby until this is over."
Henry looked like he wanted to argue, but he seemed to remember just how scary the last encounter with an evil sorcerer had gone.
Swallowing, he said, "Don't get hurt again." He hugged her tightly around the waist, and Emma felt her eyes burn a little as she hugged him back. "I won't," she whispered. "Promise."
Henry pulled away, not looking quite as confident. But he smiled a little anyway. He then gestured for Mary Margaret to bend down, and he whispered the instructions to her. Mary Margaret nodded and stood back up.
And not a second later, somewhere in the distance was an explosion.
It rocked the ground, making everyone stumble.
And the moment it did, Emma felt Hook grab her as if to steady her, like an instinct, and their eyes snapped to each other.
He blinked, letting her go quickly, like he hadn't meant to do so.
Emma couldn't speak for a moment.
"What the hell was that?" exclaimed David, eyes scanning the buildings.
But seeing the smoke in the distance, Emma felt her chest tighten. "The clock tower."
"That was the bloody location of the dagger," breathed Hook.
"Do you think Cora knows?" asked Henry with a wince.
Emma felt her chest pound.
A few of the hospital personnel suddenly ran outside, exclaiming versions of what the hell was that? And among them, was Ruby.
"Ruby," said Emma quickly. When she turned, Emma said, "I need you to watch Henry."
"Okay…" she said slowly, brows creased. "What the hell is going on?"
"Cora," was all Emma said, and Ruby swallowed hard. She nodded though, putting her hand to Henry's back. "Come on, Henry. Let's get back inside."
With one look back at Emma, Henry turned and followed Ruby back inside.
Emma heard a metallic click beside her, and saw that Hook had reattached his namesake. And it only struck her now the fact that he'd been willingly without it the entire time he'd cared for her.
She quickly shook away the feeling that slid down her spine at the gesture.
"We have less time than I thought," said Hook, voice tight. Taking a heavy breath, looking incredibly torn, he said, "If I… if I go now, I can still buy you enough time to—"
At the word go, Emma felt herself flinch.
"No," she said immediately, the word slipping out firm and unrelenting before she could think. And still, she had the strongest urge to grab his wrist, keep him here.
The fact that that feeling, that sudden comfort with him near, hasn't even faded since they'd returned home was something that Emma wasn't sure whether or not to be afraid of.
Because she had never once felt such a thing before.
Ever.
"No," she repeated, firmer, turning to look at him. "Hook, we are not using you as bait."
However, David chimed in, "Actually, I don't mind the pirate's plan."
Emma glared at him. "Fine," she said firmly. "Then you and Mary Margaret can go find Cora's heart. I'm going to go with Hook and help hold her off."
"You're what?" said Hook and David simultaneously.
But Emma turned to Hook then, expression hard, but fueled by her fear. "I'm not letting you face her alone," she said firmly, her voice just barely touching desperation. "She wants to kill you, Hook! I am not letting that happen."
Because she can't.
She can't.
An emotion jumped into Hook's eyes then, something Emma couldn't quite read.
Something that looked like surprise.
"Fine, then I'm going with you, too," said David just as firmly. Glaring at Hook, he said, "Emma, I'm not leaving you alone with him."
Emma took a steadying breath, never realizing just how self-righteous Prince Charming could be.
But before she could say anything, Mary Margaret said, "Only one of us needs to get the heart anyway. I'll go, but you're going up against Cora." Her brows creased with more fear. "You're going to need more than just a barricaded door to hold her off."
A slight, tense silence grew at the sense in her words, and seconds ticked dangerously by.
Then—
"Gold's shop," said David quickly. "There's got to be some sort of protection spell or potion or something in there."
Mary Margaret nodded. "Okay, go." She kissed him, then pulled Emma into a tight hug. "Be safe," she whispered over her shoulder.
Hesitantly, Emma hugged her back, whispering just as quietly, "You, too."
Then, Mary Margaret ran, heading for the forest.
"All right," said David. "Let's go."
They made it to Gold's shop in minutes, all three of them nearly out of breath by the time they reached it.
David grabbed the door knob and twisted, but it didn't budge. He swore, and moved to punch the glass.
"Let me," said Emma quickly, reaching in her jacket pocket, pulling out—
"Are those lock picks?" asked David, brows shooting up.
Bending to her knee, Emma worked on the tumblers in the lock, saying, "Long story."
She managed the lock in seconds, and stood the moment she heard the tumblers align with a click. She grabbed the door knob and pulled open the door. "Come on." She walked inside, entirely missing the stunned looks on both David's and Hook's faces.
The last one in, David shut and locked the door, closing the shutters over the window.
"There's got to be something in here," muttered David.
The three of them spent the next handful of minutes rifling through the shop. Emma felt her heart pound with their ticking clock, her fingers sifting through nicknack after nicknack that looked more like pilfered items than magical artifacts. With a frustrated, worried huff of air, she looked up from what she was looking through and caught the curtained back room.
She quickly walked through, seeing cabinets full of what looked like potion bottles and other miscellaneous things. Opening the cupboards, she found nothing to be labeled or indicated in any way. Great.
Footsteps and the distinct scent of the sea approached her, and she heard Hook ask breathlessly, "Anything, love?"
Chasing down the rush of sudden feeling in his presence, Emma swallowed, turning around to face him. His eyes held the same uncertainty she felt.
She shook her head. "There's no way to tell if any of these things will protect us or blow up in our faces."
David walked in behind them. "This isn't good," he said gravely. "The one time we could have used Gold."
Emma was desperate, but not that desperate.
She was still more than satisfied that Gold was gone for good.
"Cora's gonna smoke us out any minute," said David quickly. "The lock on the door isn't going to hold her. We need to fight magic with magic." But David suddenly stilled, and looked at Emma. "Magic," he whispered. "Emma…"
Emma tensed, realizing what he meant.
She'd only ever used her magic twice, and the first time was by accident. The second time was to take the memories from Archie's dog to discover what had truly happened to the therapist.
She didn't like using magic.
It felt… unstable.
"What?" asked Hook, looking between David and Emma in puzzlement.
Meeting Hook's eyes, Emma said, "I… have magic."
Hook's brows shot up. "You do?"
"It's… part of the whole 'Savior' stuff," mumbled Emma. "I've only ever used it a few times and I… I don't… I'm not sure what I can do with it," she admitted.
"It might be our only shot," whispered David, brows kneading sadly.
Emma swallowed. She didn't want to even try… But they needed to protect themselves and give Mary Margaret enough time to get Cora's heart.
If they failed…
Emma swallowed hard.
"Just this once," said David encouragingly, "and you'll never have to use it again."
Emma felt nervousness flit in her veins. "Okay," she whispered, feeling entirely lost on what to do. But she shut her eyes, trying to focus in the midst of the anxiety riding her veins. She felt Hook and David waiting in front of her, and her fingers shook a little.
Emma took a shaking breath, trying to imagine a protective shield surrounding the entire shop.
Seconds ticked by.
Yet, still…
Nothing happened.
Her eyes opened. David and Hook were staring at her in apprehension.
"It's not working," she said, her voice giving into her fear. "I don't think I can—"
"Uh–"
Emma's words dried up at David's voice.
David's head had snapped back toward the front of the shop, and his eyes widened. "Cora," he breathed, drawing his firearm and running.
Emma felt panic seize her.
But suddenly, Hook was in front of her, his fingers under her chin, tilting her head to look him in the eye.
There was something so strong in his gaze, an unwavering confidence.
In her.
And it made Emma freeze for a moment, because no one has ever looked at her like that before.
"You can do this, love," he whispered. "You can do this."
Emma shut her eyes tight.
She imagined it, a shield, surrounding all four walls, protecting them, keeping them safe, keeping Hook safe, keeping Cora from hurting him, from killing him, because Emma could not take one more person leaving—
And suddenly, she felt it.
It was like a rush that sped from the top of her head, all the way down her body.
It traveled to the floor, speeding across the floorboards, this protection, climbing the walls, the ceiling, every inch of the building, locking them within its safety.
And not seconds later, an explosion by the front door rocked the whole structure.
Emma's eyes snapped open, feeling Hook catch her when she stumbled. Some things fell from the wall, crashing to the floor, cabinet doors swinging open, dust falling from the loose boards in the ceiling.
When it settled, both Emma and Hook looked from each other, then to the front room.
Cora was visible behind the window, still outside the building.
Yet, her attack left nothing broken.
The wall, the entire structure was untouched.
"Swan," breathed Hook, giving her a brilliant grin.
"Emma!" exclaimed David, shooting her a relieved grin. "You did it!"
Emma felt half in shock, but took a shaky breath, smiling a little herself.
Cora glared at the untouched wall that should have blown apart with one blast of her magic.
"Clever girl," she muttered under her breath.
"Emma Swan can use magic?" said Regina incredulously.
"Her magic is still no match for mine," growled Cora.
"Mother," said Regina, and Cora jerked her head toward her daughter, seeing Regina's brows creased, the hardness about her missing. She instead looked wary. "You said we were doing this to get Gold to kill them, to make Henry mine," she said, brows creasing more. "Henry won't forgive me for this, Mother!"
Assuming Gold's power was never about Regina, and Cora had long grown tired of the charade.
Not when everything she'd planned for all of these years chasing the Dark One was gone at the hands of a filthy, stupid pirate.
"That power belonged to me," she growled, voice edging on hysteria, gathering power into her palms.
"With Gold gone you have more power than anyone!" exclaimed Regina, voice sounding almost choked. "You said you came here for me. You have power, and you have me. Shouldn't that be enough?" At Cora's frigid silence, Regina whispered, "Henry is enough for me. Why am I not enough for you?"
"That's why you were never able to defeat me, Regina," said Cora lowly. "That's your weakness. Love. Love is weakness. And weakness is not enough."
Nothing is ever enough, whispered a voice in Cora's mind, something empty and hollow, something that held the lilt of a question, the faint remains of emotions she used to feel.
But the dark fury consuming her washed it away, like it always did.
And so, she lifted her hands, concentrating her magic in another blast of power, striking the protection spell around the building. She felt herself smile, something almost mad as she began wearing it away, bit by bit.
"You did it, Emma!" repeated David, grabbing her in a crushing hug. "You're amazing. Amazing."
Emma felt herself smile a little at the praise, and the sudden affection, but the building rocked harshly again, making all three of them grab onto something to keep from falling over.
Emma swallowed hard; she could feel the shield weakening, little by little. "This won't hold forever," she gasped, meeting David's and Hook's gazes. "I can feel it… it's not going to last, I'm not as strong as she is—"
"It's okay," said David, his concern dipping into that ever-present hope that ran in their family. "Mary Margaret is going to get her heart. We just need to hang on until then."
Another blast from Cora shook the building again, more items falling from their perches on the walls, shattering them on the ground. Emma's knuckles were white as she gripped the counter to keep herself on her feet, her heart pounding.
"Here," said David, handing Emma his pistol.
Finally. Emma took it with a relieved smile. She's missed the comfort of a firearm.
"Hook," said David, grabbing a sword from a collection by the counter, extending the hilt to him. There was a little don't make me regret this in David's gaze.
Hook looked a little surprised at the offer, but took the hilt, saying, "Aye."
David drew a sword for himself, and another blast from Cora again quaked the building.
Emma's heart beat even faster, feeling the protection around them weakening even more. Hook was inches from her, and she met his gaze, her own fear reflected in his eyes.
"Come on, Mary Margaret," whispered David.
Mary Margaret was panting by the time she reached the vault, but didn't stop to catch her breath, nearly tripping up the stairs to get to the door.
Henry's instructions worked, and the heavy door groaned open, allowing her inside the crypt. It was eerie and cold, and she felt herself shiver, but it had nothing to do with the temperature.
Again following Henry's instruction, she pushed the coffin to the side, revealing the stairs leading below ground.
She ran down them.
Please let her heart be here.
Gold's shop shook again with Cora's wrath, this time so violently Emma did fall, only catching herself on the counter. Hook and David fared no better, barely remaining on their own feet.
But Emma's eyes were locked on the front window, seeing Cora just beyond it, and Emma could feel it.
Her shield couldn't handle another attack.
So when she saw the flash of another blow from Cora, Emma cried, "Get down!"
Without question, David and Hook heeded her warning, both of them pushing her behind the counter before they dove themselves, just as Cora released the blast.
It was deafening.
The explosion shattered the wood panels of the front wall, wind and smoke rushing in so loud it rang her ears.
Dust hung in the air like tension, and Emma, David and Hook got up as one, weapons branded. Both Hook and David flanked Emma protectively.
Cora was still standing on the sidewalk, yet the entire wall had been blown clean off. She smiled, something beyond sinister, as if admiring her own work.
And slowly, she stepped forward, broken debris crushed under her shoe.
"Don't take another step," said David firmly, raising his sword, though his voice shook.
But Cora only had eyes for Hook, hers narrowing dangerously as she hissed, "Hook."
"It's over, Cora," said Emma firmly, fear making her fingers shake, even as her finger curled around the trigger of the gun, aimed in front of her. "Gold's dead. Deal with it."
"I'm no longer here for power, you foolish girl," snarled Cora. "Thanks to the filthy pirate," she spat, words sharp as knives, "my power is as strong as it will ever be. I am here for revenge."
"Believe me," said Hook from Emma's other side, hook and sword raised in front of him, his entire body so rigid Emma could practically feel his fear. "It isn't worth it."
"Believe you?" echoed Cora, taking another step toward Hook, all three of them flinching. "You got your precious revenge. You should understand more than anyone what I need."
Emma felt her eyes flick to Hook, her heart beating a mile a second. There was so much fear and sadness coloring his eyes.
"I was wrong," he whispered, voice giving into something age-old. "And if I had killed the Crocodile to get my revenge, I would have regretted it."
Emma felt a flip in her stomach.
David's head snapped to Hook, brow lifting sharply.
"Enough of this," growled Cora, lifting her hand.
Regina stepped hesitantly in after her. Emma glared at her, adjusting her aim for Regina instead.
But Regina wasn't looking at her.
"Mother," said Regina, voice so utterly different than Emma's ever heard it. She sounded lost.
"Stay out of this, Regina," snapped Cora.
And with a flick of her wrist, suddenly David went flying, his back slamming against the wall.
"David!" cried Emma.
He grimaced from the impact, the sword falling from his grip, and he struggled against an invisible force that pinned him there.
Cora's eyes never left Hook.
"Emma, run," breathed Hook, voice laced with a fear so strong it sent a chill running over Emma's skin.
But the same fear in his voice was claiming her chest, and she only stood her ground, snapping, "No. I'm not leaving you." But her voice shook just as much as her fingers did, words cracking, her fear slipping through.
But Cora suddenly squeezed her fingers, and Hook was jerked off the ground as if by an invisible hand around his throat. His sword fell from his grip, and his eyes screwed shut as he struggled against the hold.
"HOOK!" cried Emma, panic fueling her as Cora stepped toward him, squeezing her fingers harder, making a strangled noise escape Hook's throat.
Emma pulled gun's trigger, releasing a bullet aimed at Cora's chest.
But without even turning in her direction, Cora's free hand twitched, and the bullet was frozen in the air, dropping uselessly to the ground.
"You stupid pirate," snarled Cora, glaring at Hook, who was still fighting desperately for breath. "I would never have allowed you to help me if I knew you were halfway competent."
An angry growl mingled with his gasps.
"Cora, stop!" cried Emma, making Cora turn in her direction, her brow hitching up with irritation.
"No—" gasped Hook tightly. "Swan—don't—"
But it made Cora pause.
Slowly, her head turned back toward Hook. "Don't tell me… you've grown to care for her?"
Hook's eyes widened in sudden fear.
Cora's smile grew with the confirmation, and she slowly turned back to Emma.
Emma couldn't breathe.
Hook fought.
"Emma!" cried David, struggling against the hold still pinning himself to the wall.
"You can't kill me," said Emma, the words supposed to come out firm but only came out in a mumble. She felt herself stumbling away from Cora when the woman took a step toward her.
"I can't take your heart," agreed Cora, that cynicism growing. "But there are more ways than that to kill someone."
She lifted her hand, and flicked it.
Emma gasped, feeling the gun in her hand disappear, and reappear in Cora's free hand.
Her finger curled around the trigger, and she aimed it at Emma's heart.
"Now, Hook," said Cora dangerously. "You take what I want, I take what you want."
"Emma!"
"SWAN—!"
Emma shut her eyes tight.
Then…
"No," breathed Cora.
Emma's eyes snapped open.
Suddenly, Hook and David were released, both falling gracelessly to the ground. Hook gasped, breathing desperately.
Emma was frozen, staring at the muzzle of the gun, watching as Cora tried to pull the trigger…
But couldn't.
Cora suddenly looked afraid.
"Mother?!" breathed Regina.
"She has it," whispered Cora.
"Who? Has what?" asked Regina breathlessly.
But Emma felt herself smile, just as Cora said, "My heart."
"Your—your heart?" breathed Regina.
"It was in your vault," said Cora, her fingers seeming to drop the gun of their own accord. Emma immediately kicked it behind her, away from her. Cora's body looked frozen, though her face twisted in a grimace of effort to move. "She's there—GET IT."
After a split second hesitation, Regina disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
Mary Margaret let out a breath of relief.
Cora's heart, the blackest of the hearts in Regina's collection, was firmly in the palm of her hand.
She'd uttered one command:
Stop.
Smiling, Mary Margaret left the vault at a run, pulling her cell phone out of her pocket with her free hand, when Regina suddenly appeared in a mass of purple smoke.
Mary Margaret stumbled back.
Why hadn't they accounted for Regina?
"Give me that," snarled Regina.
Mary Margaret swallowed. Hard. "Regina," she gasped. Mind racing, she blurted, "She doesn't care about you!"
Regina hesitated. "What?"
"Your mother," she breathed. "She doesn't care about you. She doesn't love you." Swallowing, Mary Margaret rushed out, "Be the good person, the hero that Henry wants you to be. Help us. We can live peacefully, Regina! Us, Henry, you—just help us!"
"My mother loves me," growled Regina so sharply it almost hurt to hear.
"How can she?" said Mary Margaret desperately. "She doesn't even have her heart, Regina!" She exclaimed, lifting it for emphasis. "She can't love anything, let alone you!"
That seemed to make Regina hesitate.
But only for half a second.
Regina flicked her wrist, and Cora's heart suddenly appeared in Regina's palm.
And then, Regina disappeared.
"No!" cried Mary Margaret, her own heart pounding.
Emma.
David.
She ran.
"Hook!" cried Emma, rushing over to the fallen pirate as Cora struggled against her frozen state.
Hook was painfully pulling himself to his feet, breathing hard, his hand tenderly on his throat. But his eyes snapped to hers. "Swan—" he rasped. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," said Emma with a relieved grin, seeing him all right.
Both of them seemed to remember David at once, and they both rushed over to the prince, who was still on the ground, his face drawn tight with pain.
"David," breathed Emma. "Are you okay?"
David's hands were wrapped tight around his leg, and Emma suddenly saw the wrong angle it was at. She sucked in a breath; it looked broken.
"Fell on the counter," said David through clenched teeth, blinking his eyes open. "I'll be fine," he said tightly.
"We have to get out of here," said Emma. "If Regina finds Mary Margaret, then—"
"Then I'll be able to do this?"
All three of them went rigid at Cora's sudden voice.
Emma and Hook whipped around, seeing Cora's hand over her chest, a sick, twisted smile on her face.
"No," breathed Emma.
"Oh, yes," hissed Cora. "Goodbye, foolish girl."
Cora suddenly lifted her hands, slowly curling her fingers in.
Shards of wood ripped from the panels of the building, daylight breaking through as Cora formed what looked like spikes, hovering dangerously in the air, all swiveling like the arrow of a compass, straight toward Emma.
Emma couldn't move.
She was paralyzed.
And with a wicked grin, she jerked her hands forward, the shards flying straight for her.
"Emma!" cried David.
But suddenly, Emma was pushed, hard, out of the line of fire. She hit the ground, eyes wide, seeing Hook standing in her place, his eyes on hers, burning with a wild sea of emotion.
No.
No.
NO.
She can't lose him, she can't lose him, SHE CAN'T—
And suddenly, Hook's entire body shimmered at the same moment a rush of feeling shot through Emma's body.
And three things happened at once.
Hook vanished.
The blast of shrapnel that should have killed him instead struck the wall, blasting through it, making Emma and David cover their heads as debris rained down.
And a cloud of purple smoke dispersed in the air, mingling with the dust.
Emma coughed, pushing herself off the ground, her entire body trembling with panic.
Hook.
She stared at the place he'd been in only seconds ago, and realized something.
The blast had changed direction last minute.
It would never have struck either of them.
It was as if Cora had changed her mind last minute.
Or… her mind was changed for her.
But how—
"Wh–what—"
Emma turned, seeing Cora stumbling, her hand to her chest.
And there was something different—
There was color in her skin, there was life in her eyes—
And Regina was standing behind her, looking at her mother with wide, hopeful eyes.
Cora turned, seeing Regina like it was the first time she'd ever seen her.
And suddenly, she smiled.
And Regina smiled back, tears in her eyes.
"My baby," breathed Cora, reaching for her face, tears in her own eyes. "You are enough."
Emma breathed out in relief, exchanging a look with David, but the fear still seizing her chest only tightened.
Hook.
Utter panic made her feel sick.
Where…?
He'd shimmered, disappeared, she'd felt something when he did… like it was in reaction to her fear, to her desire to get him out of harm's way—
Just like when she'd created the shield.
Magic.
She'd used her magic.
Her magic is controlled by her emotion.
A groan suddenly sounded from beyond the destroyed wall, from outside.
It was unmistakable.
She'd heard the same groan after the car accident, when he'd gotten hurt.
Hope and panic fueling her, Emma jerked off the ground and ran, stumbling through the debris of the broken wall, seeing the mess of the building outside, and—
There, lying on his back under a pile of wood and debris, was Hook.
"Hook!" Emma nearly screamed, running to him.
He was moving, trying to get himself free from the rubble. Emma dropped to her knees and helped, pulling off what was pinning him down until she could see his face.
The moment he saw her, his eyes widened with a relief that looked overwhelming.
He jerked off the ground, and Emma didn't even hesitate.
They grabbed each other in the same instant, in an embrace fueled by desperation.
She clung to him just like she had in the apartment. "Hook," she breathed, her voice shaking. "Are you okay?!"
"Aye," he gasped, hugging her back just as tightly, his left arm pulled tight around her waist, his hand moving to the back of her head, pulling her to him so tightly they couldn't have gotten closer if they tried. "Are you?" he breathed, panic lacing his own voice.
She nodded against his hold, and she felt him release a breath over her shoulder, like her safety was just as much a relief to him as his was to her.
"Did…" he breathed. "Did you do that? Move me?" he asked incredulously.
"I think so," she said just as breathlessly.
She felt him smile. But only a moment later, he tensed. "Is Cora—"
"It's over," whispered Emma, only hugging him tighter to her. "Regina put her heart back in her chest and she stopped. It's over."
He relaxed, letting loose a relieved, yet slight hysterical chuckle. "Thank the bloody gods."
She should let him go, but she can't. And from the way he was holding her, she didn't think he could either.
All of her fear, everything that's happened over the past few days suddenly bubbled up, and she finally couldn't contain it anymore.
"Why the hell did you do that?" she found herself admonishing over his shoulder. "You almost got yourself killed!"
"Better me than you," was his whisper.
"Hook—" she began.
"I can't handle seeing you hurt, love," he said, voice raw and cracked with honesty. "I've had my bloody fill."
Emma felt tears burn her eyes, because he only held her tighter, and he seemed to care for her more than anyone ever has.
"I can't lose you," she whispered, the words tumbling out, mixed with pain and relief, her entire body trembling. It was as close to an admission to him of what she was feeling as she could manage. Because she didn't know exactly what she was feeling.
Just that she could not lose him.
It would be a break her weathered heart couldn't take.
"Nor I you, love," came his voice, just as soft, just as hesitant, yet just as certain. "Swan… Emma," he breathed. He pulled back enough to see her face, his eyes holding just as much emotion as hers. "I…" His voice trailed off.
Suddenly, everything they'd left unsaid was rising to the surface, paralyzing them both. It was impossible to ignore it now, this pull, this… connection. It was more than just an understanding between them. More even than trust.
And it was impossible to deny that it was only she who was feeling it.
His eyes were locked on hers, staring at her, something like wonder in his eyes. Slowly, he lifted his hand, so hesitantly. He touched her cheek with that same delicacy as he did on his ship, when she'd woken to him. His eyes shot to hers as he did, like he wasn't sure.
Emma just felt her lips tilt, smiling at his touch.
At him.
He returned it, like a mirror. And suddenly he was leaning in, stopping an inch away from her, his eyes again finding hers, so close she could see the depth of the blue in his eyes, like the very ocean itself.
There was a question in his eyes, an uncertainty. A desire, a warmth, but a fear that Emma felt in her own chest.
And before she knew what she was doing, she closed their distance. Her lips met his, and she felt his surprise at the same time she felt her own.
And he kissed her, gently, sweetly, with every emotion she'd read in his eyes. His hand slid, holding the back of her head, his fingers light and tender.
And Emma's eyes shut, warmth spread in her chest because she has never, not once, not ever, felt more wanted than she did right here, right now.
Not for her body, not for convenience.
For her.
They both broke the kiss simultaneously, eyes on each other, blue searching green, green searching blue, as if for regret.
But like reflection in water, Emma saw the same peace, the same calm, the same certainty in his eyes that she felt in her chest.
And he smiled, the sight of it nearly bringing tears to Emma's own eyes, because she's never seen joy like that before.
And she's never—not once—elicited it from someone before.
And he kissed her again, this time more sure, but still gentle. He still treated her like she was the most delicate glass. His thumb brushed across her skin, and she smiled in the kiss, never having felt something so right in her life.
He pulled away, meeting her eyes again.
He looked as stunned as she felt.
Hook managed to find his voice, but only a semblance of it. "Emma…" he whispered.
Emma felt herself smile, her name never having sounded so good. His hand was still holding her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek. She felt herself lean into it, whispering, "Killian."
His thumb froze, absolute shock coloring his eyes.
Emma felt herself still, wondering if she made a mistake.
But he suddenly smiled wide, something so touched in his eyes, sparkling like a diamond in the dust.
"Are you going to stay?" she whispered, unable to keep the desperate hope out of her voice. "In Storybrooke? Here?" With me?
That warmth in his eyes, he said, "Emma, I'll not leave your side." Brushing his thumb over her skin, he whispered, "Ever."
And her eyes burned, thinking of Neal.
Thinking of her parents.
Because no one has ever stayed.
Everyone has left at one point or another.
But looking at Hook—at Killian, somehow she knew it was different.
He was different.
She felt a tear fall down her cheek, this time from relief, from finally finding someone who wanted her.
And gently, he shifted her closer, pulling her to his chest, holding her, just like he had in the apartment. She felt her eyes shut, that safeness wrapping around her with his arms, and she held him just as tightly.
He saved her life.
He saved her.
In so, so many ways.
"You saved me," she whispered into his chest, smiling into his embrace, only for him to hold her tighter, a tear of his own falling into her hair as he whispered, "No, love. You saved me."
;)
Big thanks to Sunniva95 for the idea of giving Cora her heart back instead of killing her. In canon, the writers made it seem like just getting her heart back would have cured Cora of her bloodlust, as she immediately stopped her attack, smiling at Regina and telling her "You would have been enough" before she died. So I loved Sunniva95's idea, because how fitting for OUAT, a show that likes to redeem characters when they can. :)
I truly hope you guys liked the chapter, and I already have plans for the next few chapters... and I am beyond excited about them. :)
See you very soon!
~cosette141
