Xanathusa lurked just outside of the Storybrooke town line until the darkest predawn hours. She had no way of knowing whether the residents of the town expected her return, or if they had any way of detecting her. But, in her short time doing battle with the people of Storybrooke, particularly the former Evil Queen and the Wicked Witch, she knew better than to underestimate her enemies.
Tragically, she wasn't in possession of any of Hope Swan-Jones' magic, and her own magic was not strong enough to work outside the border of the little magical town. She had no way of detecting any protection or alarm spells that might be present at the town line.
Still, she had her senses and her instincts, and she had a feeling that someone in Storybrooke would know the moment she crossed over.
She would have to be crafty, and she would have to work fast. She needed to find a means for opening a portal back to the fairies' realm. In her original plan, she had counted on having the girl's magic with her if and when she returned to Storybrooke to make an escape. Now, she was no stronger than she had been when she first battled the heroes that lived here. She would need to sneak past them to find a bean or a wand that would open a portal.
Finally, when she judged that it was as dark and quiet as it was going to get, she crossed over. She immediately felt the charge of magic in the town's air, and she breathed deeply, taking in the energy so that it suffused her every cell.
She thought back to the time she'd spent in the town and pictured the faces of some of the insufferable residents. Which of them would be least likely to arouse suspicion if he or she was lurking about in the early morning hours? She remembered a swarthy man in a wool beanie and a flannel shirt. He was one of the dwarves and an obvious drunk. He'd certainly be the kind of person that could conceivably be out late, wandering home from some decrepit watering hole.
She closed her eyes and focused her energy, and suddenly her appearance transformed into that of the dwarf, Leroy. Slowly, adopting a slightly wobbly gait as if she were drunk, she made her way towards the center of town.
She'd start with the pawn shop.
Killian had always been an early riser, but when he opened his eyes this morning, he knew right away that it was still ridiculously early. The sky outside Emma's window was still dark, and he didn't detect any hints of predawn light just yet. Still, he felt perfectly awake. And, better still, he was happy.
His head rested on the pillow beside that of his daughter. Next to her lay his wife, her golden waves spread out behind her on her own pillow. His right arm lay across both of them, his palm gently holding the side of Emma's slender waist. This was a familiar configuration for them. He and Emma were generous about letting Hope join them in their big bed on nights when she was scared or lonely. The only thing that felt strange was that this was the first time he'd ever slept in this particular bed in this particular apartment.
He stayed as still as he could and listened to their breathing, recognizing it as that of deep and normal sleep. He gently removed his hand from Emma's waist and carefully brushed Hope's hair off of her forehead. He sat up gingerly and took one more look at his girls, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face. He knew that they still had work to do, but he also knew from experience that they could beat any foe as long as they were together.
With that thought, he grabbed his duffle bag off the floor and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Emma opened her eyes slowly, relishing the feel of the last few moments of contented sleep. As she gained consciousness, she became fully aware of her daughter sleeping next to her. Irrationally worried that the curse might have returned, she placed her palm on Hope's tiny chest and made sure that the girl's breathing felt normal and steady. She gently touched her daughter's face with her fingertips and noted the little flutter of Hope's eyelashes. Emma sighed, satisfied that she'd be able to wake her up when she needed to.
She was also aware that Killian was no longer in bed. She felt bereft for a moment, wondering whether he had decided to return to his own apartment. The feeling didn't last, though, as in the predawn quiet she was able to hear the water from the shower in the bathroom at the end of the small hallway.
She relaxed for a minute, enjoying the knowledge that all four of them were together and safe under one roof. She decided to forego getting up to make coffee. They could buy some on the road. She listened to the rhythm of Hope's steady breathing and the sound of running water until she heard the shower shut off.
She couldn't wait any longer. She wanted to see her husband again.
She climbed out of bed and didn't bother putting a robe over her thin pajama pants and sleep tank. She knocked perfunctorily on the bathroom door, then opened it slowly to find Killian just beginning to brush his teeth. One of her towels was wrapped low and tight around his waist.
He cocked a saucy eyebrow at her as she entered. "Morning, Swan," he said around his toothbrush. "I hope you don't mind me using your shower."
She'd been with this man for years, but she hadn't seen him like this in nearly two months, and now she was pleasantly dumbstruck as she took in the sight of him. She let her eyes rake over his strong arms, adorned with those few familiar tattoos. Her hands itched to explore the contours of his chest and the hard planes of his stomach. She could spend hours running her fingers through the expanse of dark wet hair that covered his abdomen before disappearing beneath the towel.
In lieu of answering him, she came up behind him and just wrapped her arms around his waist. In the mirror, she saw him pause his brushing and close his eyes, enjoying the feel of her body against him just as much as she did. She gently brushed her lips over one of the familiar scars on the back of his right shoulder blade, and she smirked as she felt his breath hitch in his chest.
She began to explore other spots on his back, leaving a trail of kisses from shoulder blade to shoulder blade before stretching up on her tip-toes so that she could reach his neck. There, she started with a kiss but turned it into gentle sucking, adding a few flicks of her tongue and a graze of her teeth against his soft flesh for good measure. While she did this, her hand crept down his stomach, lower and lower and dangerously close to the tuck that kept his towel in place.
She felt him shudder with pleasure,before he finally tossed his toothbrush in the sink. He turned around and growled, "bloody hell, woman," as he backed her up against the opposite wall and kissed her.
Maybe she had taken things a bit too far, but she certainly wasn't complaining about his reaction. She could feel the evidence of his arousal against her stomach as he worked her mouth with his own. He knew how to drive her crazy with kisses, alternating between gentle sucking of her lips and needy plundering of her mouth with his tongue in a sinful rhythm.
He hadn't fully dried off after his shower, and now that she was pressed against him, her pajamas were wet in the front. Her pebbled nipples pressed against his bare chest through the thin, damp fabric of her tank top, creating delicious friction as he moved against her. She heard herself moan, even though she knew they needed to be quiet. Her core was pulsing with her own arousal, and she was dying to grab his hand, which was currently gripping her ass, and move it down the front her pants. She was getting to the point of no return. Every cell in her body was electrified with the growing anticipation of the release she knew that he could give her.
Suddenly, they heard an annoying electronic melody coming from the other room, and Emma was able to regain her faculties enough to recognize it as Henry's cell phone alarm. She felt her eyes widen. "Shit!" she cried. "Henry's going to be up!"
Killian stepped back from her, and she looked up to see that he looked as flushed and wrecked as she felt.
The bathroom door was still ajar, so she reached out and pushed it shut as quietly as she could, wincing as the latch clicked.
Killian raised an eyebrow. "Now we both appear to be trapped in here, love," he noted. "Unless you want some company in the shower. I'd be happy to take another one."
"God dammit," Emma muttered. That sounded really good. As it was, she knew that she was going to be taking a quick and bracing cold shower. Alone.
She grabbed the pants Killian had hung on the towel rack and handed them to him. "Get dressed," she sighed. "I'm going to get in the shower. Maybe you can get out of here before he notices that we were both in here."
"As you wish," Killian replied, leaning down slightly to press a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose.
She turned on the water as he pulled on his trousers. She couldn't resist stripping off her pajamas and jumping into the shower while he was still standing there. She peeked out from behind the curtain and watched with a smirk as he stood there for a moment with his mouth agape as he stared at the spot where she had been. She heard him mutter, "minx," before he slipped out of the bathroom.
Killian stood in the hallway outside the bathroom for moment to try to regain his composure. Thankfully, he heard the sound of the refrigerator door opening and closing and knew that Henry had started his morning off in the kitchen. Once he was fit for polite company, Killian joined the boy.
"Good morning, lad," he greeted Henry as he stepped into the small kitchen.
"Hey, Killian," the boy replied. He was tearing open the metal foil packaging of one of those repugnant s'mores flavored pop tarts.
Killian grimaced. "Can I get you a piece of fruit to go with that?" he asked out of habit.
Henry rolled his eyes. Killian smiled as he and the boy easily fell back into their usual dynamic.
"I think we're a little light on groceries," Henry replied. "Is my mom in the shower?"
"Aye," Killian replied, hoping that Henry didn't notice the pink tinge he felt warming his cheeks as his mind involuntarily pictured Emma entering said shower just moments ago. "Why don't you pack up whatever you can find for you and your sister to snack on in the car?" he suggested to Henry. "I'll pack a bag for Hope and then wake her to get her ready to go."
Henry gave him a salute in response and continued to munch on his pop tart.
Killian headed back down the hall and stopped in Emma's room to check on their daughter. Hope was stirring now, no doubt attuned to all the activity in the apartment. Or perhaps she had simply had enough sleep the previous day to last her for a while. He sat down on the side of the bed closest to the door and reached out to gently stroke Hope's arm.
He smiled as he watched her long eyelashes flutter before her eyes opened. She appeared to blink away the cobwebs as the world came into focus, and when her eyes lit upon his face, she broke into a gleeful grin. "Good morning, Daddy!" she cried, sitting up to put her arms around his neck.
"Hello, darling," he replied as he held her tight. "How did you sleep?"
"Good! No bad dreams," she answered happily.
"Wonderful news! Are you ready for our next new adventure today?"
"Aye aye, Captain," she replied.
She climbed out of bed and took his hand. Hope needed to use the bathroom, so he led her to the door and knocked so that Emma, who had just stepped out of the shower, could help her.
Killian went to the kids' room and found Hope's small pink rolling suitcase tucked under her bed. He opened the top drawer of her dresser to look for some suitable clothes for their trip. His heart swelled as he spied some familiar shirts and sweaters. It was such a gift to suddenly remember his daughter and all of their time together. He recalled that she particularly loved a light blue long sleeve shirt with a print of a ship sailing on the ocean, so he grabbed that one and folded it neatly. He found several familiar sweaters that he pulled out and packed in the pink suitcase.
Some of the clothes in the drawers were new. It occurred to him that Hope might have grown in the weeks that they'd been apart. She did look a bit taller now that he considered it. Emma would have had to buy new, larger sizes during her time in Boston. It hit him then that he would never get that time when they were missing their memories back, and his heart twisted with pain at the thought. He resolved in that moment to never be separated from her again, never to miss anything.
At that moment, Hope bounced into her room with Emma following behind in her dressing gown.
"You got this, babe?" Emma asked, looking slightly charmed as she observed his packing progress so far.
"Aye, love. We're good. Go get dressed."
Hope sidled up to him and helped him pick out the rest of the clothes, which he meticulously folded and placed in her small suitcase. He packed enough for about a week, remembering that they had left clothes back at their house in Storybrooke when they fled town. Yesterday, he and Emma had agreed that they would need to return to Boston after Hope's magic was restored to clear out their apartments and tie up other loose ends.
Once her things were packed, Killian helped Hope to dress in the clothes she had set aside for their trip: a pair of stretchy jeans and a fuzzy red and yellow striped sweater.
Once she was dressed, he gently brushed Hope's soft blonde curls. Then, he selected a red barrette from the box on her bureau and clipped back the long pieces of hair in the front to keep them out of her eyes. He wasn't wearing his brace, so he used his stump to gently hold the hair in place while he fastened the barrette, just like he had done countless times before at home in the years since her hair had started to grow long.
When she was ready, he kissed her forehead and declared that she was "ship shape" for their trip. She smiled so hard back at him that her eyes and her little button nose crinkled adorably, and he thought that he would be happy just to stare at her face forever. He pulled her into one more spontaneous hug, which she returned enthusiastically.
"Come along, darling," he said. "Let's gather Henry and your mother. Time to go!"
He made a quick detour to the bedroom to grab his hook and brace and reattached it with practiced ease.
"Where's your real hook, Dad?" Hope asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Across the hall," he replied. "It's a bit, er, large, to wear around the streets of Boston, don't you think?"
She shrugged. "Maybeeeee..." she replied. "You should bring it though."
"Will do, love," he assured her with a wink. They were going into battle, after all.
They found Emma and Henry in the kitchen, packing a soft cooler with snacks and their water bottles. Killian left Hope with them and ran back to his own apartment to grab his hook and a few more pieces of clothing to stuff in his duffle bag. He located his old hook, still complete with the bright pink rubber protector, in the shoebox in his closet where he'd left it after his "camping trip" to Maine.
On his way out, he stopped at his coat closet and grabbed his favorite lined leather jacket. Fall weather would have really kicked in up in Maine, and this jacket had proven more practical than his old, thinner one. This one was still black, of course.
When he returned to Emma's he found everyone ready to go. He shouldered his bag and picked up Hope's small suitcase. She smiled back at him as she grabbed Henry's hand so that he could lead her down the stairs. Killian stayed back with Emma as she picked up her own bag and the cooler, stepped out into the hall with him and locked the door.
Killian was surprised to feel a pang of sadness as he looked around at the familiar apartment doors and the dingy, poorly lit hallway. His family had been under a curse during their time here. They had been forced apart, but they had still found each other. They'd had good times, and it was here that he had fallen in love with all of them once again.
Emma was watching him. She gently placed a comforting hand on his arm, but he was still lost in thought. Stepping in front of him, she forced him to meet her eyes.
"Hey," she said. "Me too. We'll come back here, all of us, for a little family vacation. But now we have to go."
He nodded, and then leaned his head down to briefly touch her forehead with his own. What a gift it was to have a partner that understood him the way that she did. He swore, not for the first time, never to take her for granted.
"Let's be off then, love," he said. They followed their kids down the stairs.
Xanathusa slowly made her way to the center of town, ambling about like the town drunk she portrayed. When she reached the door of "Gold's Pawn Shop," she carefully turned and looked back around at the dark, sleepy streets and shops. Satisfied that nobody was watching, she placed her hand up against the door of the shop and felt for the familiar pulse of a protection spell. She felt it immediately. The Dark One was gone, but clearly he hadn't taken everything of value with him.
She concentrated, held her hand in front of the lock, and began to chant a counter spell. She was so deep in concentration that she started like a fool when dual puffs of green and purple smoke appeared on either side of her. She suddenly found herself under the sneering appraisal of the Evil Queen and the Wicked Witch.
"Hello, Leroy," the queen (Regina, Xanathusa recalled) said haughtily. "Did you leave something at Gold's?"
Rather than attempt an excuse that the women clearly weren't going to buy, Xanathusa trusted her power and acted on instinct. She shot her hands out on either side of her, attempting to send a jolt of painful magic to her enemies, but both of them were ready with counter curses. The queen then took a confident step forward and grabbed Xanathusa's wrist, slapping a brown leather cuff on her. She felt her appearance change from that of the dwarf back to that of her true self.
Xanathusa wrenched her arm free of the woman's grip and attempted to curse her again, but to her horror, she realized that her magic had suddenly gone dormant. She tried again, but nothing happened. It must have been the cuff. She felt just as impotent as she had playing the helpless old lady in that dreadful land without magic.
Regina lazily waved her hand toward Xanathusa, magically freezing her where she stood.
The fire-haired Wicked Witch (Zelena, she remembered) stepped closer to her. "What's the matter, dearie?" she chided. "Did you lose something? We were given to believe that you were in possession of some rather extraordinary magic. Didn't show." She shrugged and frowned in mock disappointment.
"You know, you're right, sis," the dark haired woman added. "I really thought she'd put up much more of a fight given what she'd stolen. This wasn't even a challenge." The haughty queen paused for a moment, looking from Xanathusa to the door of the pawn shop. "Unless," she began, "you didn't get your claws on that little girl's magic after all. That's why you came to The Dark One's shop, isn't it? You need something here because you don't have Hope's power."
Xanathusa seethed quietly as the women continued to consider her.
"But if she doesn't have it, where is it?" Zelena wondered.
"So how about it, witch?" Regina began, glaring at Xanathusa. "Why don't you tell us where we can find the magic you stole, and maybe we'll only torture you for a little while?" The arrogant, regal woman waved her hand slightly towards Xanathusa, loosening the freezing spell she'd cast just enough to allow her to talk.
"It's true, I don't have it," Xanathusa hissed. She took a breath, trying to regain a measure of calm despite her fury at the situation. "But I know where it is," she continued. "I can help you find the fairies that have it. We don't have to be enemies. We both want the same thing now."
Zelena snorted. "You want to return that magic to the sweet little girl you stole it from and then subject yourself to hours and hours of torment? I doubt it."
The Evil Queen did not partake in her sister's gleeful derision. She stepped in front of Xanathusa and looked into her face. Xanathusa could see her orange glowing eyes reflected in Regina's brown ones, but to her dismay she saw no fear from the queen, only icy resolve.
"Let me tell you how this is going to go," Regina said, power dripping from every word. "You are going to tell us exactly where to find those fairies, or my sister and I will strip you of every ounce of your magic and shove you across that town line where you can live out the rest of your miserable life as the helpless old lady you pretended to be."
Xanathusa glanced down at the cuff on her arm. She thought of the world on the other side of the Storybrooke town line. Of buses and cheap apartments and bad food and frail bones.
"I can take you to them," she said. "I can help you get the magic back."
They were barely out of the city yet, just pulling onto the interstate, when Emma's phone rang. Since Emma was driving, Killian picked it up from the change tray and answered it. Emma felt the tension in the car as everyone, even Hope in her carseat, strained to listen to Killian's side of the conversation.
"Snow. Hi, love," he said. "Yes, we should be there in just a couple of hours." He paused to listen, glancing at Emma. "They did?" he said. "That's wonderful news."
"They got her?" Emma asked anxiously.
Killian nodded. "Aye love, she showed up early this morning," he told her. He turned his attention back to the phone call.
"What?" he said after listening for a moment. The hair on Emma's neck bristled at his tone, and she glanced back and forth between him and the road as he continued to listen to her mother. She heard him sigh. "Okay," he said. "No, I know. It will be all right. I'll tell her." Emma saw him glance around at everyone in the car. He paused when he looked at Hope, smiling and winking at her sweetly. "She's wonderful," he said to Snow, and despite her worries, Emma's heart swelled a little at the happiness in his voice. "Yes, same here. It should be just a couple of hours. Yes, see you then."
He ended the call and seemed to sit in silent contemplation for a moment.
"Well," Emma cried. "Where's the witch? Did she have Hope's magic?"
Killian glanced behind him, giving Hope one more small smile before replying. "She showed up in town, and Regina and Zelena managed to capture her. However, she was not in possession of Lady Hope's magic."
Emma bit back her disappointment, sensing there was more to the story. She nodded for him to continue.
"The witch offered to show them where they could find it and help them acquire it. The dark fairies she'd been working with have it in their realm. Zelena and Regina accompanied the witch there in an attempt to get it back. They're there now."
"What?" Henry cried. "My mom went to the dark fairies' realm?"
"Lad, it will be all right" Killian replied. "If there's one thing I know about your mother, it's that she never jumps into anything without a plan. She wouldn't have gone if she didn't have a strategy. She'll be fine. It's those bloody fairies you should worry about."
Emma was angry that Regina and Zelena had taken it upon themselves to go on the recovery mission without her and Killian, but she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She felt her husband's eyes on her and glanced over to see him looking at her with that eyebrow slightly raised.
"I'm fine," she said. "You're right. They wouldn't have done if they didn't have a plan."
"It will be okay, Mom!" Hope chimed in from the back. Emma smiled. Hope never missed a thing when she was overhearing adult conversations.
"You're right," Emma replied, glancing at Hope's little face reflected in the rearview mirror. "Maybe they'll already be back with your magic when we get there, sweetheart."
They settled in for a quiet ride after that. Henry was wearing headphones and watching something on his phone. Hope dozed off for a nap an hour into the trip.
Emma and Killian chatted about the last six weeks, filling in any remaining blanks about their time apart. Emma admitted that she felt terrible about having had to tell Max that she was leaving. When she called to tell him that she was leaving town, she had promised him that once things settled down with her family, she'd help him wrap up any outstanding cases that she was working.
Killian told her that he was less concerned about leaving his job. He had enjoyed it, but now that his memories of The Jolly Roger had returned, he was excited to get back to her. "Nothing better have bloody happened to her since we've been away," he muttered, furrowing his brow.
Emma laughed. "It would be just like Blackbeard to sneak into town and steal it while you were gone," she teased.
"Now why would you have to go and say something like that?" Killian countered with a chuckle that sounded little bit nervous.
"I'm sure it's fine, babe," Emma soothed, reaching over to pat his wrist.
As she mused over the past six weeks, a thought suddenly struck her that made her stomach drop. She looked nervously at Killian.
"Hey, can I ask kind of a sensitive question?" she said quietly.
He raised a curious eyebrow. "Of course, darling."
She glanced back at Henry, making sure he was still oblivious before she continued. "Well, there were a couple weeks there, when we were in Boston but before we, you know, 'met.' You were all alone..."
"I suppose so," he said, still confused. Then realization seemed to dawn on him. "Wait," he said. "Are you asking whether I had any...dalliances while I was cursed?"
He sounded appalled at the notion and Emma couldn't hold back a smile.
"Well, it happened to my parents, when they were cursed," Emma explained. "And you're, well, you."
"Swan, you should already know that I am perfectly capable of refraining from amorous activities for more than a few weeks."
"I know, I know!" Emma assured him. "But you didn't know you were married! It could have happened, and I would have...figured out a way to be okay with it."
He still seemed offended. "Well, I assure you, it did not happen. I stayed true to my beloved wife. Even though I didn't know she existed."
She glanced over to see him smiling at her devilishly, but with that familiar gleam of affection in his eyes.
"How about you, Swan?" he asked her.
"Me?" she cried. "Did you forget that I had the kids with me?"
"So?" he replied. "You were also the most beautiful woman in all of Boston. I've no doubt that you had opportunities."
"Oh please," Emma replied with a chuckle and roll of her eyes. "No, don't worry, I was celibate."
"Well, we'll have to remedy that soon then, love," he replied, patting her leg with his hook.
She grinned, and squirmed slightly in her seat as she remembered their stolen moments in her bathroom earlier that morning. They sat in a charged but companionable silence for a few more minutes.
Emma's mood darkened as she thought ahead to what they would face when they reached Storybrooke.
"What if we can't get it back for her?" she asked quietly.
"We'll get it back," Killian replied confidently.
"I know," Emma said. "But on the chance that we don't...would it really be so terrible?" She lifted her hand from the wheel to halt Killian as he began to protest.
"I mean I don't want Hope's magic in the hands of dark fairies, obviously," she continued. She glanced quickly at the backseat to make sure the kids weren't suddenly listening. Hope was still asleep, and Henry was still engrossed in his phone. "But if they are off in some other realm far away, and we never find it, we'll still be okay. In some ways, it might even be nice, easier. You know how we're always worried about the day she figures out how to teleport herself and just disappears? And we wouldn't have any repeats of the pancake incident."
Killian raised an eyebrow at that.
"The actual pancakes!" Emma cried, keeping her eyes on the road as she whacked his arm.
"Ah," Killian replied with a smile. "You mean that time she made Henry's breakfast fly in the air and stick to the kitchen ceiling when he pretended that he'd used the last of the maple syrup? Aye, that was a bit of a mess."
"Right. Her powers can actually be dangerous, and she doesn't necessarily need magic. She's still amazing and special no matter what."
"Of course she is!" Killian agreed. He smiled as he glanced back to gaze at Hope as she dozed peacefully. "But Hope's magic is one-of-a-kind, and it's hers. She was born with it because of your parents' love and because of our love. It's pure and good, just like her. I just can't imagine something so unique and miraculous being in someone else's possession, especially someone evil."
Emma had to stay focused on the road, but she stole a quick glance over at her husband. The certainly and sincerity she loved so much were all over his handsome face. She smiled a little as she thought of how cynical and broken he had been when she met him, and now here he was talking about true love creating the purest magic.
She reached her hand over again and took his hook, squeezing tightly as if it was flesh and he could feel it. "We'll get her magic back," she said confidently. "Of course we will."
He smiled, then lifted her hand with his hook and gently rubbed it against his cheek. He pressed a kiss to her palm before lowering her hand back down to the front seat.
The rest of the trip passed quickly. They hit light traffic around Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but otherwise very few cars were heading north into to Maine on a weekday morning. It was still before nine in the morning when they passed the familiar roadside diner a few miles outside of Storybrooke. Hope was awake and fidgeting in her carseat in anticipation of being home and seeing the rest of their family.
Killian had called Snow back with their estimated arrival time, and they saw David's familiar pickup truck pulled over by the side of the road as soon as they drove across town line. Emma's heart swelled and she couldn't suppress a grin as her parents stepped out of the front seat. David helped five-year-old Neal out of the car, holding his hand tightly even though there were no other cars in sight.
Emma parked just in front of the truck, and they all clambered out of the Bug, with Killian carrying Hope. Emma jogged up to her mother and embraced her tightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw David grab Hope from Killian. Her father squeezed his granddaughter tight and spun her around, then he pulled Henry into the hug and kissed the side of the boy's head.
"My turn!" Snow cried, pulling away from Emma, who could see that her mother's eyes shone with tears. Snow pulled Henry into a tight hug, and then released him so that she could grab Hope from David. She looked into her granddaughter's little face before leaning in to touch her forehead with her own. "Oh sweetheart," she said wetly. "We missed you so much!"
"I missed you too!" Hope said. "Hi Neal!"
"Hi Hope," the boy replied a little shyly.
Snow put Hope down on the ground, and the little girl instantly threw her arms around her young uncle.
David and Killian shared a quick hug. Emma noticed with a grin that Killian cleared his throat, while David dabbed at his eyes after they parted. What softies they were.
"So, you're David Nolan," Emma teased her father when it was finally their turn. "I thought you'd be taller."
"Come here!" David laughed, and she could see that his eyes were genuinely full of tears now. He pulled her into a big bear hug, and she squeezed him just as tight.
There was an honest to goodness lump in Emma's throat now too. "Thank you," she whispered against David's neck. "For finding me, for getting through to me."
"I will always find you, remember?" David said, pulling back to face her with a smile.
Emma rolled her eyes and dabbed at her own tears.
David turned serious. "I just wish we could have done more," he said sadly. "We were just sitting here waiting for so long. We were so worried."
"It's all right, Dad. We're all okay now," Emma replied sincerely. She stepped away and bent down to pick up her little brother, pulling him into a long hug.
Killian reached down to pick up Hope again, and he turned to face David. "Emma's right, mate," he said. "We all found each other. We made it home. We broke the curse thanks to all of you, and to Henry," he added, nodding affectionately at his stepson.
"And thanks to you," Emma reminded him, looking up at Killian to meet his eyes. One of her most important jobs in their marriage was to remind him not to sell himself short; that he was indeed a hero. She never wanted him to forget it.
His eyes were wet as he replied, "Well, falling into true love with my family again certainly wasn't difficult."
Emma felt herself beaming at him. Then she rolled her eyes at her mother's tearful exclamation of, "Awwww!"
"Okay," Emma said, putting her brother back down and patting his shoulder. "So what's the plan? I take it Regina and Zelena aren't back yet?"
David shook his head. "No," he replied. "But we don't really expect them for a couple of hours. They opened a portal to the fairies' realm. They did it outside of Regina's vault, so we think that they'll return there."
"What was their plan?" Killian asked. "How are they going to acquire the magic once they get to the fairies' world?"
"That witch, Xanathusa, was really bent on double-crossing those fairies. She's going to get them into their castle," Snow answered.
Emma and Killian raised their eyebrows simultaneously.
"I know, I know," Snow added. "She's awful, but Regina and Zelena motivated her to help.
"I'll bet they did," Emma replied, rolling her eyes.
"Love, we'll do whatever it takes to get Hope's magic back, right?" Killian said, turning to her.
"I know, you're right. I just don't like being on the sidelines."
"Good, because you don't have to be," Snow said. "Tink and Blue are guarding the vault now, ready to provide backup if the others need it when they come back. Emma, I thought that you and I could go with them and wait while David and Killian take the kids to Granny's."
Henry protested that he wasn't a kid and that he wanted to be there when Regina came back, and Emma reluctantly acquiesced.
Emma could tell that Killian wasn't keen on being out of the action either, but she also knew that he didn't want to be apart from Hope, and Hope needed to stay in a safe place.
Emma walked over to her husband, who was still holding their daughter, and pulled them both into a long hug.
"Be safe, love," Killian said into her hair.
"I will. We'll call you as soon as we have it and it's safe to meet up, okay?"
Killian nodded.
Emma cupped Hope's little face in her hand. "I'll see you soon, baby. Bring me a grilled cheese from Granny's."
"Okay, Mommy," Hope agreed. Emma's heart broke a little bit at her daughter's bravery.
Henry and Snow said their goodbyes, and the three of them climbed into Emma's Bug.
Killian, David, Hope, and Neal stayed on the side of the road and watched them drive away. Hope blew kisses and waved, and Emma waved back, keeping her eyes on her daughter for as long as she could before turning back to the road.
On the drive, Snow had a million questions about their time in Boston, and Emma answered them patiently.
She couldn't help but smile as she recounted the day they met Killian. Henry, of course, grumbled in the backseat about how badly he'd hurt his toe when he dropped the heavy Neverland poster. Emma thought of Killian appearing at the top of the steps, sleepy and rumpled. Her defenses had been up, and she'd been more than ready to pick a fight, but something about him had stopped her. Then, when he'd knelt down to introduce himself to Hope like the gentleman that he was, she'd been a goner.
Emma rolled her eyes as Snow sighed during Emma's description of their outings with Killian, how great he was with the kids, and how they felt like they had known each other for a long time.
"And then when she was in the hospital, it all just came together," Emma explained. "Killian's memories were starting to break through. Henry knew something was off with that witch downstairs. And Dad's messages were finally getting through to me. We all just believed."
At this point, tears were streaming down her mother's face, and Emma reached over and affectionately rubbed her arm. "Mom," she said. "It's okay. We have to focus now, though. We're almost to the vault."
Snow sniffed. "I'm okay," she said. "It's just that, well, like your father says, we always find each other. And we really do."
Emma smiled softly as she pulled into the cemetery lot nearest Regina's vault. The three of them trudged through the grass to find Tinkerbell and Blue waiting vigilantly near the entrance. At the sight of Emma and Henry, Tink let out an excited yelp and ran over to meet them. She wrapped Emma up in a hug.
Emma returned her fairy friend's embrace. She allowed herself a moment to appreciate this, coming home to people. Not just family but friends.
Tink let her go to hug Henry, and Emma nodded a greeting to Blue, who was still stealing nervous glances at the air around the vault.
"What do we think we're going to be dealing with?" Emma asked, after all the hellos and pleasantries had been exchanged.
"Dark fairies," Blue replied. "The same ones that were here before trying to take Hope's magic. The question is whether having that witch with them will tip the scales in Zelena and Regina's favor so that they can steal the magic back."
"Well, hopefully they'll have the element of surprise on their side," Emma noted. "But what if the dark fairies are already using Hope's power?" she asked, voicing the worry that had been nagging her during the whole trip. "Couldn't they be, I don't know, unstoppable?"
"It's difficult to say," Blue admitted. "Hope's magic, well, it is really special. It may just be the lightest magic that's been born in ages. There is no telling how that kind of light magic will react if something tries to use it for darkness."
"So that's good, right?" Snow asked hopefully.
"Maybe," Blue said stoically. "I'm going to take a walk around the vault, see if I sense any energy that indicates the portal might be about to open."
When the mother superior walked away, Tink rolled her eyes. "Thank Zeus I don't have to be alone with her any longer. The vague sense of condescension and foreboding she always radiates was getting old," she said.
Emma chuckled.
"So," Tink continued. "You guys broke the memory curse and woke up Hope! That's incredible. We were all so worried!"
"Thanks," Emma replied affectionately. "I'm so grateful that it all came together." She patted Henry on the back. "Henry was amazing as usual," she said. "And Killian, he really believed. It was his kiss that broke the curse and woke up Hope." Emma heard the emotion in her own voice as she explained to one of Killian's oldest friends how he had believed in true love.
Tinkerbell's eyes had filled with tears as she listened. "I can't even believe that he's the same man that he was on Neverland, Emma," she said. "What meeting you did for him...I never, ever would have believed that he was capable of such goodness."
Emma felt tears in her own eyes now, and she knew her mother was always on the edge of true waterworks, so she simply nodded and turned the focus back to the matter at hand.
Snow had brought her bow, so Emma instructed her and Henry to hide back by the treeline, ready for a surprise attack if Regina and Zelena had any unwanted company with them when the portal opened again.
Blue returned from her reconnaissance and told them she felt that the portal could open at any moment. Emma hugged her mother and son before they jogged over to their hiding spot.
Emma felt the air around her crackle with energy, and she stepped back, shielding her face from wind and blowing debris as the familiar orange circle opened in front of her, and several figures stepped out.
Emma raised her hands reflexively, ready for a fight. In her peripheral vision, she saw Blue and Tink on either side of her do the same. But as her eyes focused, she saw Regina step forward and heard the familiar condescending voice.
"Relax, everyone. It's us," Regina said as she approached Emma and the fairies.
The portal behind them disappeared as did the blowing wind, and Emma took in the sight in front of her. Standing behind Regina was "Mrs. X," although now she was in her true, witch-y form with her wrinkled grayish skin and glowing orange eyes. Emma noticed that she was wearing a magic-restricting cuff.
Next to that witch stood Zelena, her red hair windblown and her eyes agleam with the thrill of battle. Her hands were occupied. She was holding them up, like she was a game show hostess gesturing to a prize, and green energy was shooting out of them. The energy appeared to be coalescing around an object, which to Emma looked like a glass box with several small creatures inside.
Confused and impatient, Emma addressed Regina. "Did you get it, Hope's magic?" she asked.
Regina sighed and glanced back at her sister and the object she was levitating. "We did, sort of. But it's a little...delicate. Zelena, show her."
Emma held her breath as Zelena walked towards her, moving the glass box through the air with her. Snow and Henry had emerged from their spot near the trees and stood behind Emma, watching with anticipation. They all stood with rapt attention as Zelena lowered the glass box to the grassy ground. Her levitation spell was no longer necessary, so she lowered her hands, and the green smoke dissipated.
Emma bent down and peered inside the box. It was a cage, she realized, and its prisoners were three dark fairies that Regina and Zelena had captured. One appeared to be a male, and he stood tall by the front of the glass, sneering at Emma. His wings buzzed at his back, even though his feet stayed on the floor of the cage.
Behind him was a slightly smaller figure. She had the same pinched face and dark eyes as the male, but her wings were still. She was crouched over a much smaller dark fairy who was sitting against the back of the cage. It looked like it might be tired or sick. Its small wings didn't move, and it was resting its head against its tiny knees. It was a child, Emma realized as she looked closer. She had never seen a child fairy before. She thought they just sprung fully grown out of a flower or hatched out of an egg or something.
"What is this?" Emma breathed, standing up to look at Regina and Zelena.
It was Xanathusa who answered. "The receptacle," she replied. "Their savior."
Normally, Killian would have been quite happy to be enjoying brunch at Granny's with his best mate-slash-father-in-law and their children. Indeed, Hope seemed delighted to be tucking in to a small stack of pancakes and chatting across the table to young Uncle Neal.
But today, he was on edge and half sick to his stomach as he nursed his coffee and water. He was so worried that something would go wrong and that Hope's magic would be lost or destroyed. Even worse, he was terrified for Emma. Having her back by his side for the past several hours had been like restoring a part of himself that was missing. The idea that she was off in harm's way was debilitating. He was answering David's attempts at conversation halfheartedly in favor of starting at his phone.
After about twenty minutes of that, he felt Hope lean her head against his side. "Hi Daddy," she said.
"Hi, love," he replied. "How were the pancakes?"
"Thumbs up!" she said enthusiastically.
"That's wonderful," he replied. He pulled her into his lap and inspected her face. She was sticky with syrup, so he dipped his napkin in his water and dabbed at the mess. When he was done, she snuggled back against him in the booth. Killian didn't miss the look of contented affection on David's face as he watched them.
"She's going to call us really soon, Daddy," Hope said, pulling away to look at him.
"I know, Bean," he replied.
Sure enough, his phone rang a few minutes later. Emma didn't offer much in the way of explanation. She just said that it was safe and that they should hurry over to Regina's vault.
When David, Killian, Neal, and Hope arrived at the grassy lawn just outside the crypt, they found everyone huddled around what appeared to be a glass box.
Killian immediately noticed the presence of Mrs. X, or "Xanathusa" the witch, and he stepped in front of Hope, hiding her behind his legs as they approached. He raised his hook (his real one, although he knew it was less threatening with the rubber stopper) reflexively and gave the old woman his deadliest stare.
Emma walked over to them and took his arm. "Hey, it's okay," she said. "That witch is contained." Emma picked up Hope from behind Killian and nuzzled the little girl's hair. "Hi, sweetheart," she said.
"Hi, Mom."
Emma led them over to the others and nodded at Regina, who offered an explanation.
"After we opened the portal to the dark fairies' realm, Xanathusa helped us get to Othrall's castle." She gestured at the male fairy at the front of the box. "We'd prepared counter spells against their protections so that we could sneak in to look for this 'receptacle' she kept talking about," Regina explained.
"We thought we would be searching for some fancy urn or a jar that contained Hope's magic," Zelena added.
"Right," Regina continued with a nod. "But once we snuck in, Xanathusa led us to Othrall's family's chambers, and right to the room of this child." Regina pointed to the smallest fairy.
Killian stood close to Emma, who was still holding Hope, and kept his arm wrapped tightly around both of them. He shook his head as he listened to Regina, struggling to follow along and understand her meaning.
Zelena sighed in annoyance as she realized that not everyone had gotten it yet. "The child is the receptacle," she said. "They were channelling Hope's magic into the bloody royal baby all along. But this witch never saw fit to tell us until we were inside the castle." Zelena sneered as she indicated Xanathusa, who simply shrugged as if the fact that Hope's magic was now contained in another living being was neither here nor there.
"So the child has Hope's magic?" David clarified, leaning down to look inside the glass box. "But it doesn't look well at all. Did you two do something to it?"
"No. We haven't done a thing," Regina replied, a little defensively. "The child was like this when we found it. Granted, the kid being sick made it easier for us to, well, kidnap it. Once we had the child, the fairy king here attacked us and ordered us to release their 'savior.'"
"We overpowered him and imprisoned the whole family, of course, " Zelena explained. "We opened another portal and now here we are."
Killian winced. Even though the fairies had started this fight by coming after his family, it was painful to see the small beings, especially the child, helpless and trapped in Zelena's cage. He traded glances with Emma and knew immediately that she had the same thought.
Emma handed Hope to him and took a step towards the glass box. "Can they hear us?" she asked Zelena.
Zelena waved a perfectly manicured hand indifferently at the box. "Now they can."
With the soundproofing magic removed, Killian and the others could now hear that Othrall was shouting at them, yelling curses and threats about the destruction he would rain down on them for this abomination.
"Hey!" Emma shouted. "Fine, you've sworn your revenge, whatever. Can you please just tell us why you wanted to steal my daughter's magic for your kid?" She nodded at the child in the back of the box. "It doesn't look like it's doing him any good."
Othrall glared at Emma, looking her up and down as if taking the measure of the real Savior and planning his attack. The hair on the back of Killian's neck stood up. He was ready to jump to her defense, as always.
Finally, Othrall seemed to recognize his own powerlessness. The buzzing in his wings slowed and his shoulders slumped. "He's not my child," he replied sadly. "Not really. We dark fairies don't have children. We're born already mature from the blackest, thorniest, most poisonous of blooms."
The dark fairy paused. He sighed and looked back at the child behind him. Killian couldn't believe it, but he thought he saw affection in the thing's eyes.
Othrall continued, "But one day, there was a strange storm, and the next morning, one of the blooms turned from black to a deep blue. When it opened, this child emerged. We called him Selvane, and we believed that he was sent to us as a savior of our kind."
Off to his left, Killian heard Blue gasp. Clearly, the existence of a fairy child was quite a shock to her as well.
The child at the back of the cage looked up and offered them a wan smile. Emma noticed that his eyes weren't as black as the other two dark fairies; they were more of a deep grayish blue.
"Why would you need a savior?" Emma asked.
Othrall frowned, and his pointed visage looked even more evil than usual. "Our power has been waning for years now. The Dark Curse was broken. The Evil Queen and the Dark One departed for a non-magical realm. Most of the kingdoms have been experiencing a period of peace under benevolent rulers. Nobody wants to conjure dark magic anymore. There's just less evil energy present in the realms, and as a result, our power is waning. We're no longer immortal, and our numbers are thinning. We thought that the child represented our salvation, a chance to regenerate our power," he finished sadly.
"But why try to steal light magic?" Killian questioned. "Your power comes from darkness."
"It wasn't about whether it was light or dark. It was the magnitude of the power, the rarity and the strength of two generations of true love's magic. We believed that, if channelled into our savior, it would turn as black as our hearts and we could use it as it we pleased."
"But it obviously didn't work," Regina added snidely. "If anything, your savior seems to be rejecting it."
Othrall looked up at her. His face showed anger, but Killian thought he saw shame in those dark eyes as well. "Selvane has always been, well, sickly," Othrall explained. "We were terrified that he would die from his illnesses before he had a chance to fulfill his destiny. We thought that channelling the power from the product of true love would restore him and awaken his own power. But it didn't work. If anything, the light magic made him weaker." He looked sadly over at his son, who hung his head.
"Well, now it's time to put Hope's magic back where it belongs," Regina said quietly but firmly.
"How?" Emma asked.
Zelena waved her hand in the air, and a familiar wand appeared in her grasp.
"The apprentice's wand," Killian said.
"Very good," Zelena replied. "Thankfully, it is much easier to return magic to where it belongs than it is to steal it."
Blue stepped forward to explain further. "Just as magic recognizes like magic, it also recognizes its source, even if that source has been emptied," she said, with a nod to Hope. "Zelena can give Hope's magic a little push with the wand and a few select words. The magic will free itself then seek out its true home."
"And young Miss Hope's magic will be restored," Zelena added. She looked over in Killian's direction and smiled affectionately at Hope, giving her a quick wink. As prickly as the former Wicked Witch could be when facing an enemy, her love for her daughter Robin had softened her, and she seemed to quite like Hope.
Othrall looked from Zelena to Killian and Hope. He seemed to be searching for any last means of an escape. Finally, his shoulders sagged. "Selvane is not to be harmed," he said to Zelena. "Or I will not rest until I destroy all of you."
"Of course he won't be harmed," Emma assured him. "Right?" she added to Zelena.
"Oh, he'll be fine. It's quick and painless. Now, shall we?"
Emma nodded. Zelena stepped closer to the box and lightly touched the top of it with her hand. The glass seemed to liquify, and she reached down and lifted up Selvane through the top. The glass immediately solidified again, keeping the other two fairies trapped. The female fairy, who Killian presumed was Othrall's wife or partner, flew up to the top of the glass, seemingly bereft that she'd had to let go of the child.
Emma noticed, of course, and leaned down to address the fairy. "It will be okay," she said. "I promise. We'll give him right back and send you all on your way."
The female fairy glared at Emma coldly but nodded.
Zelena brought the child over to where Killian stood holding Hope. Emma followed and stood close to them. Killian clutched his daughter tightly, but she turned in his arms so that she could scrutinize the fairy child that Zelena held in her hand.
"Hi," she said to it when Zelena had brought it within a couple feet of her.
Selvane nodded slowly. His strange, pointed features made it difficult for Killian to read his expression, but based on the slump of its shoulders, he thought that the boy seemed to be sad or ashamed.
"Are you ready, Hope?" Zelena asked. "It might feel a bit strange when I cast the spell, but afterwards, you'll be good as new."
Hope nodded. "I'm ready!" she said bravely.
But before Zelena could use the wand to draw the magic from the fairy, Selvane spoke. His voice was high-pitched and surprisingly musical for that of a being known for its menace. "So you can use it, this magic?" He was addressing Hope.
Killian was proud of how easily his daughter met the strange fairy's gaze and answered him with her usual forthrightness. "Yep! I can," she said. Then, with a quick glance at her parents, she added, "Just a little bit so far, though."
They all watched as the fairy considered her. Finally, he asked, "What can you do?"
Hope took a deep breath and looked up, her expression adorably thoughtful as she prepared to recount her magical exploits. "Well, I made a baby chick come alive at Grandma and Grandpa's" she answered finally.
Killian looked up to meet David's eyes and found that his father-in-law was smiling at the memory.
"Annnnnd...one time when Henry had a paper cut, I fixed it with my hands," Hope continued.
"That's right, she did! It was awesome!" Henry added.
Hope smiled at her brother, but then she furrowed her brow. "And another time, I made his pancakes fly up and stick to the ceiling because I was so mad."
Everyone chuckled at that, except for the fairies, who just looked confused.
"Oh, and one time, Neal was climbing on Grandma's porch railing like he's not supposed to and he was about to fall but I pushed him back up with air so he got his balance."
Snow and David looked down at their son, who was leaning against Snow's legs. He shrugged guiltily.
The young fairy was still watching Hope intently. Finally, he spoke quietly. "That's good. It works for you. It belongs to you. I'm glad that you're getting it back. Since I've had it, Father has only been angry because I can't use it."
Killian glanced at Othrall, who was watching and listening intently from the box. His cruel face now looked stricken.
Hope was looking at Selvane sadly. "I'm sorry," she said sweetly.
The boy shrugged.
Finally, satisfied that the conversation was finished, Zelena said, "Are we ready? This won't hurt a bit."
She waved the apprentice's wand around Selvane. Slowly, swirls of glowing white light began to emerge from his tiny midsection. The swirls grew and grew until the magic was a large cloud that hovered in the air between Selvane and Hope. Once it was all free, the cloud began to focus in one direction, becoming a stream of magic. It headed right toward's Hope chest, entering her body gently and causing her to appear to glow for a moment. Killian held her tightly, but she didn't move or fuss.
When the transfer was complete, she took a deep breath and smiled.
"Ah, that's better," she said, with comic exaggeration.
Everyone chuckled. Killian hugged Hope to him, and Emma threw her arms around both of them and snuggled her daughter's little neck.
"Great job, baby," Emma whispered. "You were so brave!"
Hope suddenly pulled free of the hug and tried to wriggle out of Killian's arms. He acquiesced, lowering her to the ground. She ran over to Zelena, who was about to return Selvane to the fairies' prison.
"Zelena wait," Hope cried. "Can I see him?"
Zelena cocked an eyebrow at Emma, who nodded after only a moment's hesitation. She reached over and gripped Killian's hand tightly. He had a feeling they both knew what was coming.
"Selvane?" Hope said to the young fairy as Zelena knelt down and held him out before her. Hope reached out her hand with one finger pointed and gently touched the young fairy's tiny chest. He gave her a questioning look that turned to one of awe as a small amount of light magic flowed through her finger into his body.
Suddenly, Selvane's sallow gray complexion began to brighten, looking more like silver. His blue-gray eyes became brighter and more blue than gray. His shoulders straightened, and his little wings began to buzz with renewed energy.
Hope removed her hand. "Is that better?" she asked.
The young fairy smiled widely. "Much better!" he replied.
Othrall and his partner were standing in the front of the cage watching with awe. When Zelena returned Selvane to them, they hugged him tightly.
Killian felt pride swell in his chest as he saw the results of his daughter's generosity and brave heart. He watched adoringly as Emma knelt beside Hope and pulled her into a hug.
"We are so very proud of you, Hope," Emma told her, pulling back to look her in the eyes. Killian saw that Emma's eyes were filled with tears.
He knelt down next to Emma and took his turn hugging Hope, then he scooped her up in his arms and held her close as they turned back to the fairies.
The woman was still holding on to Selvane, hugging him and talking to him softly. Othrall stood and addressed them. "We are grateful to the child," he said. "She has restored Selvane's health. And now we ask for more mercy. Let us return to our realm to live out our days. We will not come back here."
"Not so fast," Regina told him. "We're going to need some assurances that you're not just going to buzz over to some other realm to try to steal someone else's magic."
"They won't," Emma said.
Regina raised an eyebrow. "You're willing to trust them?"
"I am," Emma replied. "I hope, and I believe that they know they got a precious gift today, and that they won't take it for granted."
As she spoke, she locked eyes with the female fairy, who nodded as she clutched the child that she clearly loved.
"What about her?" Killian asked, nodding at Xanathusa, who had been standing quietly off to the side.
Emma stepped away from Killian and Hope to address Xanathusa. She looked her up and down. Finally, she said, "You took our memories. You interfered with our lives. Killian and Hope could have died. And for what? A little bit of power? So you could get petty revenge on your enemies?"
"I've lived for a long time, girl," Xanathusa sneered. "My list of enemies is long."
"Well, it just got a lot longer."
Emma turned to address Regina. "She's banished, and she keeps the cuff."
"What?" Xanathusa cried. Then, she regained her composure. "I'll find a way free myself of it."
Emma shrugged. "Maybe. Eventually you might, but it won't be easy. And this town is still alarmed. If you show up again, in a dream or real life, we won't be so forgiving."
"All right, then," Zelena said. "Another portal it is." She looked down at Othrall. "Now, can I trust you enough to remove you from the cage for your journey?"
Othrall nodded solemnly. He hovered close to his family as Zelena waved her hand, making the glass box disappear.
Regina tossed a magic bean into the air, and the four figures stepped and flew towards the portal. Selvane turned one last time and gave Hope a small wave, which she returned along with a sweet smile.
Then they were gone, and the portal disappeared.
The group seemed to breathe a collective sigh a relief. Then, Killian and Hope were bombarded with loved ones offering congratulations and seeking hugs. David reached them first, and Killian handed Hope over so that her grandfather could swing her around in a circle.
Tink and Zelena nearly shoved each other while jockeying for the next hug, so Hope simply threw her arms around both women's necks at once.
Henry put his arm around Regina and congratulated her on a job well done.
Killian and Emma stood with their arms around each other. He gazed down at Emma as she beamed at the celebration happening around their little girl. Finally sensing his stare, she looked up and met his eyes, smiling that smile she reserved only for him.
"Ready to go home, love?" he asked her.
"More than ready," she replied. "Did you get my grilled cheese?"
"Aye, with extra onion rings. It's in the truck."
"I love you," she told him.
"I love you," he replied. "In every land, in every reality."
Her eyes sparkled with happy tears. He leaned down and kissed her softly. Then, still holding each other tight, they walked over to celebrate with their family.