Thank you, you wonderful readers who have favourited, followed and left kind comments. I hope this chapter answers some of your questions! I struggled a bit with this chapter, but I hope it reads better than I think it does.

Thanks to sambethe for the amazing banner and the artworks she has made for Chapters 2 and 5. And thanks to downeystarkjr for a great teaser and a beautiful video. Both these artists are supremely talented and managed to capture the essence of the fic and of the moments.

Thanks to accio-ambition for being my rock during a tough time, and being tough during my rocky, lethargic times. I couldn't have asked for a better beta for this fic, and for life.

Present day: Enchanted Forest

Emma was the first one to react, rushing forward and throwing her arms around Alice, hugging her tight, her one hand cradling the back of Alice's head. "Alice," she whispered, unable to believe she was holding her daughter in her arms again.

"It's me, Mama," Alice whispered reassuringly. She allowed Emma to hold her a moment longer, knowing that the older woman needed it. Emma squeezed her once more before releasing her, her hand instead coming up to frame Alice's face delicately.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you." Emma blinked away the tears gathering in her eyes, unable to believe Alice was with them. Alice smiled tightly, knowing that her being here was a double-edged sword.

She turned gaze to her father, who stood rooted in his place, his expression unreadable. Alice drew away from Emma, her smile tentative as she approached her father. She hardly noticed Emma moved away, a large grin on her face.

"Papa?" Alice's tone was soft, but it seemed to pull Killian out of his daze. He blinked, swallowing thickly. She waited for him to move first, the anticipation heavy in the air between them.

-/-

Alice, he mouthed, unable to make a sound past the lump in his throat. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think - all he could do was stare at the young woman in front of him, his Starfish now so grown up. It tore at his heart that he hardly recognised her now. All he knew was his little pirate; he had missed out on her entire childhood and there was nothing he could do to change that now. He forced his legs to move, push him toward her. He was hesitant to reach out to her - she had been his world at one point, and now he was afraid to speak, lest he said the wrong thing. But before could make another move, Alice ran forward, almost stumbling into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging herself to him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Papa," he hears her whimper, muffled by his jacket.

He breathed deep, bringing his trembling arms around her, tears welling in his eyes. "Alice," he breathed out, finally.

Alice fisted the back of his jacket, letting out a soft sob, which within seconds turned into a proper cry. Her shoulders shook with her sobs, the force of it making her hiccough violently. His parenting instincts seemed to kick in almost immediately on hearing her cry. Killian held her tighter, almost cradling her and rocking her slightly, whispering soothingly in her ear.

"Shh, Starfish. It's alright, sweetheart. Let it out." He pressed his cheek to the top her head, rubbing her back and allowing her to cry. He had left her for all these years, and it broke him to see her in such pain. He really had been a cowardly bastard.

He caught Emma looking at them as she stood away, her hands pressed to her lips and her eyes glassy. He held out his hand, beckoning her over; she did not wait for anything further, practically running over to him.

Nothing else mattered in that moment to him, not when he had his family together. Because despite the problems between Emma and him, despite his regret and shame, and despite all the years he had missed out on with his daughter - they were all together again.

And as it happened with most good moments in his life, this too did not last long.

-/-

Alice had finally managed to calm down, and Killian and Emma set up camp for the day. It was already nightfall and there was not much that they could do. Besides, they were finally reunited with Alice, and as much as it warmed Emma's heart to see her daughter again and to see her and Killian interact, she knew that there was more to the story behind how Alice's had come here. Emma knew that Gothel was not an easy foe to deal with.

Thankfully, Killian's thoughts ran in the same direction. "How did you manage to evade Gothel, Starfish? Not that I am not happy about it."

Alice finished swallowing her food, nodding at Killian. "Well, she had me trapped inside my head, in a Dreamscape. I first thought it was a curse, but it felt...different? I was stuck in my own mind, and turns out I was the only one who had the power to break out of it. I had to harness my magic, and free myself."

"How did you figure that?" Emma asked, frowning at Alice. Something did not feel right about this, it sounded almost too easy.

Alice turned to Emma, appearing surprised by her question. "What do you mean?"

"How did you break out of it?" Emma asked, a hint of challenge in her tone. There was definitely something amiss about Alice, Emma could feel it in her gut. She had known the girl for years, and never once had she shown even the slightest interest in magic. She had the ability, for certain, but she had never cultivated it. After a few years of trying to teach her about the magical arts, Emma had given up, allowing Alice to choose her own path in life.

That girl was too much like her father; if she was ever in a bind, she was more likely to take the pirate's way out of a knot than a witch's. Alice had never resorted to her magic; she had always associated it with the pain and misery it had caused her family. Which is why none of what she said made sense to Emma.

Something in Alice's expression shifted, almost as if a veil fell away from her face, and Emma could finally see the real Alice. Alice's eyes were pleading, almost afraid, and it seemed like she wanted to say something for a moment. But she squeezed her eyes shut, and just like that, the moment was over, and the veil was back.

Emma felt her gut clench. It might be Alice's body in front of her, but this was not her daughter.

-/-

20 years ago: Enchanted Forest

Emma and Killian had broken the news of her freedom together to Alice. She had been ecstatic, her tears of happiness about their engagement doubled over their reveal. She had literally jumped with joy, talking both Emma's and Killian's ears off with everything she wanted to do when she got out of her prison. They had indulged her, of course; but an hour past her bedtime was all Alice had been able to manage. All the excitement from the day had exhausted the poor child, and she had fallen asleep on Emma's lap, her soft snores lulling the adults as well.

The next day, they embarked on their journey. Emma had remembered her parents telling her of a cave deep in the dwarves' mines that had been converted to hold Rumplestiltskin. But in her reality, the Dark One had been released by Regina once she had begun her reign, but she had kept his Dagger to herself, knowing that was the only thing that could control him. Emma knew the kind of power the Dark One had, and a Dagger couldn't control his manipulative nature. Emma had seen that first hand as he corrupted the Evil Queen with every passing day, encouraging her to ravage the land until there had been nothing left. Emma did not want that to happen to her family, but Killian had not changed his mind about approaching the Dark One.

Killian planned to sneak into Snow White's castle to steal the Dagger from where it was kept, under the cover of the night. Emma had known the precise location of it, of course. But she had refused to go along with Killian - just the thought of it brought back too many memories of her few happy childhood moments before Regina had seized control. Of the years she had spent, a prisoner within the walls of that castle. She knew every nook and cranny of the castle and had never come across the Dagger. For years, her parents had kept it a secret, but when it had become evident that they would not survive their fight against Regina, they had told Emma alone of its whereabouts.

It had been a heavy burden for a child to carry, especially after she had been forced to witness her parents' deaths. Her loss made her impulsive, and she found the Dagger, intent on using it to defeat Regina and bring her parents back. There had to be a way to bring them back, and she had to do everything she could. Unfortunately, Regina had found her before she could go through with it. That was the first time the Evil Queen had displayed her wrath on her reluctant ward. Emma had seen the way dark magic could corrupt people, and had vowed from that day forward never to allow her darker impulses to take over.

However, it did not stop her from catching a glimpse of the life she could have had using Killian's telescope. They had to wait until nightfall, and it gave her plenty of time to take a gander of the grounds. Or so she told herself. But the moment her gaze landed on Prince David, her heart seized in her chest, her quick intake of breath alerting Killian.

She could hear him talking, but she could not bring herself to listen to him. Emma could not look away from the scene that had caught her eye. Her father - or the version of her father in this reality - was playing with a young blonde girl, who could be none other than the Emma from this reality. Emma recognised the girl as the one she had seen in mirrors when she was younger, even from such a great distance. He was leading the child around on a pony, and while she could not see the little girl's face, she could see her father's expression. He looked much younger in this reality, clean shaven and hair short, his laugh lines more pronounced. Nothing like what her father had looked like - what he never had a chance to look like. This Prince seemed to have a happy life with his daughter, no threat of the Evil Queen and no Darkness to haunt them. They had their happy ending. Emma's felt the longing for that life viscerally - her heart racing painfully fast, her gut clenching tight and her eyes burning with tears.

She was drawn away from the view and her spiralling thoughts by Killian's hand on her shoulder, his touch forcing her to face him. Emma almost screamed at him for ruining her only chance of seeing her parents again, but one look at the concern marring his handsome features was enough to give her pause.

"What is it?" he asked, gently cradling her face, wiping away her stray tears with his thumb. "Sweetheart?"

A sob wretched itself from her throat. Emma buried her face in his shoulder, trying to take deep breaths before she completely fell apart. She could have had this life - she could have been the one who got led around the training yard on a pony, she could have been the one to wear the pretty dresses. She could have been the one whose parents hadn't been executed.

Killian for his part remained quiet, allowing her all the time she needed to pull herself together. Over the years, the pain of losing her parents had reduced to a dull throb in the center of her chest, but she could never prepare herself for the bad days. It could have been just the slightest thing that triggered a distant memory of her parents, but it had been enough to send her reeling. In the past year, she had managed to hide her pain. It had not been very difficult when she had a little angel like Alice to distract her. But she never expected to see any version of her parents in this reality; she had made sure she never came anywhere near the part of the realm they resided in. Until now, she had succeeded in that. She had an inkling that she might be reminded of her past, but she never thought she would be hit by a tidal wave of emotions.

"Talk to me, darling. Please?" Killian murmured at her ear, rubbing her back in slow motions.

Emma let out a deep, cleansing breath and pushed away from his shoulder. She smiled gratefully at him, reaching for his hand and squeezing tightly. "I was just overwhelmed, seeing my- seeing Prince David."

Understanding dawned on Killian, his concern melting to something much tender. "I can't imagine how that might feel, darling. I'm so sorry."

Emma shook her head, her brows pulling together as she struggled to voice her thoughts. "I-I'm tired of living in the past, Killian. I'm ready for our future, for our children. I'm ready for my happy beginning." Her voice was firm, strong with conviction.

Killian smiled at her raising her hand and kissing her knuckles, right above where his ring rested. "Aye, I know what you mean."

"Go get that dagger. We have a man to see about a spell."

-/-

Present Day: Enchanted Forest

Emma laid wide awake on her sleeping pallet, her back turned to Killian and Alice, pretending to sleep. They conversed in whispers, and while Emma couldn't hear them, she knew they were probably catching up on lost time. She could not shake the feeling that something was wrong with Alice; unfortunately, she had not been able to get a moment alone with the girl. With father and daughter finally reunited, they were loathe to leave each other's company. Well, Killian more than Alice, but Emma couldn't blame him. The last time he had seen her, Alice had just turned six years old.

Emma's worry kept her awake for a long while, but the exhaustion of the day coupled with the warmth from their bonfire and the soft cadence of Killian and Alice's conversation lulled her to sleep.

It wasn't until much later in the morning, when they had packed their things that Emma had a moment alone with Alice, with Killian off to a nearby spring to fill their canteen. She pulled the girl aside, both of them taking seat on a log.

"Is everything alright with you, darling?"

"Of course, Mama. Why do you ask?"

Emma reached for Alice's hands, clasping them in hers. "I just have this odd feeling. Like something might be bothering you. You would tell me, wouldn't you?"

Alice's expression hardened for a moment, and she squeezed Emma's hand hard enough to alarm her. "Do you remember what happened with the White Rabbit, Mama?" Alice asked, head tilted meaningfully.

And Emma finally understood what was happening with her daughter. "His time ran out, did it not?" she replied, smirking slightly.

'The White Rabbit' had been their signal to each other for years. They had spent a lazy, rainy day creating code words, after Alice had read a book on them. It had started out as a fun activity but served them greatly over the years. Alice had never had to use this particular one before, however.

'The White Rabbit' meant there was a heart missing.

Emma squeezed Alice back, with no other way to tell her she would do anything to get the girl's heart back. "I know you can hear me, Gothel. You were after me before - so take me, and give me my daughter's heart back," Emma growled.

Alice's eyes widened, her true self momentarily emerging. "Mama, no. You don't know what she's got planned for you."

Emma bit her lip softly, brushing Alice's wayward curls from her face. She had always told the girl to pin her hair up, and brush out the tangles, and she never listened. "It doesn't matter. You do."

"Well, well. Isn't that touching?" Gothel materialised from the woods, a sinister grin fixed on her face. "The bitch wants to save her pup, is that it?"

Emma stood up, positioning herself in front of Alice protectively. "Stay the hell away from my daughter."

"That's rich!" Gothel cackled. "She's not yours by blood, nor is she by marriage."

"She is more of a mother than you ever were, you witch," came a growling voice from behind Emma and Alice. Killian had returned from his trip to the spring.

"Captain," Gothel greeted, her lips pursed as she turned her perverse gaze on Killian. "You still look very...spry."

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped, stalking toward her, his magic sparking within him, ready to be unleashed.

Emma noticed the signs of it immediately, rushing to stand between them, her hands held in front of Killian to stop him, hoping that he would listen to reason.

"Get out of my way, Swan." He glared at Gothel, his jaw clenched tight, almost shaking with his fury.

"No. She's not here for a fight. Don't give her one."

Killian finally looked away from the witch, staring down at Emma. "What are you talking about?"

"I called her here."

-/-

20 years ago: Enchanted Forest

It had been surprisingly easy for Killian to retrieve the Dark One's dagger, thanks to Emma's instructions. He thanked the Gods that nothing changed between the different realities when it came to such things; it baffled him sometimes, how he and Emma managed to meet despite time and space separating them. It was instances like this that made him believe in such a thing as True Love.

With the Dagger retrieved, Killian and Emma set off the following morning to the cave Rumpelstiltskin was trapped in. He followed Emma as she expertly navigated the terrain, leading them to the dwarves' mine. It took them a while to distinguish which mine opening led to the cave.

"Are you certain this is where the Crocodile has been imprisoned?" Killian asked Emma in a whisper, crouching and walking inside a damp cave. "Maybe it was a different cave."

"I remember well. My mother used to describe the shimmering in the walls of the mine - fairy dust. I can feel the light magic pulsing through here. It must help keep the Dark One subdued." She pressed her hands to the walls, feeling the fairy dust react to her magic. But dark magic seemed to corrupt the magic around them, the intensity increasing the further they moved into the tunnel. It must be the Dark One's presence, Emma deduced.

"We are definitely in the right place," Emma muttered, pushing through, despite feeling physically sick by the darkness that lingered in the cavern. Just as they were about to turn a corner, Emma stopped Killian with a hand in his chest.

"What is it?"

"Promise me you will not use the Dagger unless you absolutely have to. It's power that will corrupt you before you know it," Emma warned.

Killian nodded, knowing that she was right. It made him have a bad taste in the back of his mouth, just thinking about it. They rounded the corner, simultaneously stopping dead in their tracks at the sight that greeted them - an empty cell, with no one in sight.

"Bloody hell," Killian cursed, resisting the urge to punch something. Just when he thought matters couldn't get worse, the Dagger in his hand vanished in a cloud of smoke, startling both Emma and Killian. "What the hell just happened?" Killian exclaimed, aggravated by the sudden turn of events.

Emma couldn't believe her eyes. It was not easy to summon the Dark One's Dagger like that, not without powerful magic. She looked around the cell, her eyes falling on a very interesting find. "I think I know," she murmured, reaching for the vines that grew around the cell walls, and hissing the moment her fingertips came in contact with them, her skin burnt at touch.

Killian's head snapped to her direction, swiftly drawing his cutlass from its sheath. "What happened?"

Emma ignored him, hovering her hand above the vines, feeling the darkness settle and seep into the roots of the mine like some caustic substance, slowly eroding the light magic from the vines. Emma could feel it spread, making her skin crawl. "Ugh, the cave reeks."

"I don't smell anything, love," Killian commented, his nose angled upwards and sniffing.

Emma chuckled, shaking her head. "I simply meant there is strong dark magic presence in this space."

"Must be the Crocodile."

Emma hummed, but she had an uneasy feeling in her gut that she couldn't name. Killian noticed her dazed expression, brows furrowing. "What are you thinking, love?"

"I'm not sure, but the magic here...it is almost familiar."

"Familiar, how? As in you've encountered it before?"

Emma's eyes lit up, her fingers snapping. She knew what it was! "The marker is the exact same one that surrounds Alice's tower!" she exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, the what?"

"Everyone's magic leaves a trace, or a marker, that is unique, whether it is light or dark magic. I've been feeling two very similar but separate traces here." She spoke in a rush, happy about having a lead. They did not even have to use the Dagger. "There were two people here: Rumplestiltskin and Gothel."

-/-

Present Day: Enchanted Forest.

"You did what?!" Killian burst out, eyes almost bulging out of his head. Emma took a cautious step back, afraid that the Darkness would come out to play. But he seemed to have the reins over it - for now. "Why the fuck would you do that?" he yelled.

"Why, to make a trade, of course," Gothel chimed in, as if she did not want to be left out. Not only did it anger Killian further, it irritated Emma as well.

"What is she talking about, Swan?"

"She has Alice's heart, but-" she began, and she cut him off before he could react to that. She saw the terrified look on his face, and knew that he was thinking back to Milah's demise. "-but I made a deal. I go in Alice's stead."

Whatever Killian was about to say, none of it mattered. His jaw snapped shut, his eyes wide in horror. "Emma, bloody hell. Why would you do that?" he exhaled.

Emma knew it was rhetorical. He knew why, because he would have done the same thing. She watched Alice move closer to Killian, his arms going around his daughter the moment he felt her presence next to him.

Emma swallowed thickly, turning to Gothel, who did not try at all to hide her glee. "Life for a life, right? Give me Alice's heart," Emma demanded, holding out her hand.

Gothel obliged, the grin never leaving her face. "You know, contrary to what you lot may think, I do have a heart. I'll let you have a moment to say goodbye."

"What are you going to do to her?" Alice spoke up finally.

"Oh, that is none of your concern little one. Your Mama has some information I need, that's all," Gothel replied arily, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Emma had Alice's heart nestled safely in her hand, and approached the girl, forcing a grin on her face. "What do I always say?" she asked.

"'Make sure your heart is in the right place,'" Alice chuckled tearily. She braced herself when Emma thrust her heart into her chest. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, adjusting to the feeling again.

"Yeah," Emma chuckled as well.

"Mama, don't do this," Alice whined, holding on to Emma's hands. "Please."

"Hush, darling. It's alright. Just keep your eye on the mission, alright," Emma whispered, holding Alice tightly. She bent, as if to kiss Alice's cheek, but instead said in a rushed whisper, "Get the Dagger from our friend, and go to Merlin."

Alice gulped, nodding. Emma pulled away from her, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "I'll see you again."

"I'll see you again," Alice echoed. Emma knew that despite the weight of the responsibility, Alice would make sure to keep on the right path and get rid of the Darkness.

Emma moved to Killian next, but he refused to look at her, turning away from her petulantly. She sighed, but she knew she had to say what needed to be said, in case...In case she did not survive Gothel.

"I know you're upset, Killian. But you know that there was no choice." She felt herself getting upset over his pettiness. "This might be the last time you see me, Killian," she hissed, stepping up to him.

"Do not say that," he snapped back, finally responding. "I'm going to come for you, you understand me, you bloody stubborn woman?"

"Aye, aye, C'ptn." Emma smirked slightly. She grabbed him by the lapel of his jacket, pulling him just a bit closer. She stood on her toes, reaching up and brushing her lips softly against him in a barely-there kiss; but before she could pull away, he grabbed her by the waist, dragging her to him and closing the distance between them. He pressed his lips tight against hers, kissing her deeply, his hook resting on her back, as if trying to soak in as much of her as he could.

Emma was the one to pull away, still pressed closely to him and breathing quite heavily. "Was that a goodbye kiss?" she panted, her eyes remaining closed, revelling in the moment

"Nope. It's just a reminder of what is waiting for you at home." He looked awfully smug when she opened her eyes. "Come back to us, love."

She stared at him and trying to memorise his features - every freckle, every shade of his bottomless, soulful eyes. She brushed her hand over his scruff, smiling at the roughness under her palm. "I love you, with all my heart." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She held on to him for just a moment longer, before she let him go completely.

Alice rushed into her arms, hugging her once more. "Mama, this feels like goodbye," the young woman cried, resting her chin on Emma's shoulder. Emma swallowed thickly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Shhh, darling. It will be alright."

"How do you-"

"I know. I love you." Emma squeezed her daughter tight, and prayed that this was not the last time.

"I love you, too, Mama."

Emma smiled through her tears, drawing away from Alice and walking away from the Joneses, forcing herself to walk without looking back. A minute or so later, she was enveloped by gray smoke, transporting her right to Gothel.

-/-

20 years ago: Enchanted Forest

Emma was easily able to follow the traces of dark magic, Killian at her heels. She felt excitable, accomplished. Her magic was finally of some use. They did not have to go far; it became pretty clear where Rumplestiltskin and Gothel were, when they neared a large clearing where a ritual was being conducted.

Seven cloaked figures surrounded the Dark One in a circle, chanting unintelligibly. Emma knew most of the foreign languages used in spells and rituals, but this tongue seemed to be archaic. Emma and Killian skidded to a halt, staring wordlessly at the event unfolding in front of them.

"What the bloody hell is this?" Killian exclaimed, having to shout over the noise caused by the chanting.

Emma was lost herself, but their questions were answered soon enough when Rumplestiltskin fell to his knees and the Darkness shot out of him and into the sky. Emma gasp, horror struck - Gothel was trying to harness the Darkness, Emma was certain of it. She frantically searched, hoping to spot the person holding the Dagger. Whomever held it would have access to the Darkness. It took her a moment, but she finally spotted it, held aloft in the hands of a one of the cloaked figures.

"There! Get the dagger!" Emma shouted at Killian, both of them charging at the person. However, when Emma reached the border of the clearing, she was forced back by powerful magic, but Killian had managed to get through. Anti-magic boundary, she guessed.

"I can't cross over, Killian. You have to take the dagger away from them."

-/-

Killian kept shifting his gaze between Emma and the Dagger. If he took it, he would not have the power to stop the Darkness. He would be consumed by it, and that was the last thing he wanted.

"Emma, I can't do it without your magic. I will succumb to the Darkness," he shouted back.

"We don't have another choice! You have to do this!"

Killian hesitated but when Emma shouted again, urging him to grab the Dagger, he forced his legs forward. He ran as fast as he could, tackling the figure at full speed, grabbing the Dagger from their hand. The force of the tackle pushed the hood away from the person's head, revealing Gothel's enraged face.

He stood up immediately, hoping to get the Dagger to Emma in time. But he hardly took a step forward before he was enveloped by the Darkness completely, swirling around him like a hurricane. He tried to resist it, but the Darkness was too strong. He let out a blood curdling scream, as the Darkness consumed him, invading every part of his body, mind, and soul.

-/-

Emma had been pushed back by the forced of the Darkness as it wrapped around Killian, and by the time she had gotten to her feet, she had been too late. All she could hear was the echoes of Killian's scream, and then everything was suddenly still. Killian was nowhere to be seen, and every one except Emma had been knocked out cold. Emma walked slowly, her breath in her throat, and was glad that the barrier was now down. She ran to where Killian had been standing, falling to her knees when she saw what was left.

She picked up the dagger with a trembling hand, her heart stopping when she read the name carved into it: Killian Jones.