X Marks the Spot

Chapter Fourteen

After she rested for a few minutes while she kept her head down on Killian's chest as a way not only to meant to comfort him, but herself as well, Emma slowly sat up and leaned in to kiss his lips while he continued to sleep uneasily, then she walked back into the kitchen to join the others still there for them.

"It's time I go confront Black Beard myself," she said curtly as she looked between her father and her son. "If he is in control over the memories Killian's seeing, then we need to take away that control by going through with Henry's idea. I don't know how much help it will really be for him to remain unconscious until we fix this, but… I know that I'll certainly feel better after I knock him out either way."

"It's a good idea," David replied before she could second guess herself. "I'm coming with you. But before we go, I'd feel better if you took a few minutes to eat something. We have now, but I know that you and Hook haven't."

Belle spoke up then saying, "I can stay here and watch over him for you while you're out doing what you can to help him. And in a little while I can try to get him to eat after he gets the rest he needs."

Emma nodded as she responded sincerely, "Thank you, Belle. I really appreciate you being here for him."

"I'm happy to be," the red haired woman answered as Emma took a few bites of her sandwich to please her father. "Not that I'm happy Killian's in trouble of course, but… I needed a distraction from my own troubles like I mentioned earlier this morning. If anything happens, I will let you know."

"I'm going to go find Mom," Henry stated as he looked over at Emma. "To let her know what we're about do. Then we can meet you and Grandpa back at the station. Don't worry, the Evil Queen isn't going hurt me and neither will Zelena. I just need to get out of here for a little while. This is happening to Killian because he was protecting me."

Emma pulled her son into a hug as she replied, "That isn't true, Henry. This is happening because Black Beard came after Killian for revenge. Killian was protecting you, but because he was afraid his enemy would hurt you to hurt him. He was also shot when I distracted him, but Black Beard is the only one to blame for this. Black Beard and whoever's helping him."

August crossed his arms and responded, "I can stay here with Hook and Belle. She may need some help. Especially if this second villain we're dealing with should come to accelerate their plan."

"Don't worry about that," the Savior answered with confidence as she raised her hands and began to cast a protection spell upon hers and Killian's home. "My magic will keep anyone who might come here to try to hurt Killian again out. And I'll know about it if they do. The three of you will be safe here. Just please call me right away if Killian suffers through another of Black Beard's memories."

"Of course," he replied firmly. "Try not to worry. We'll take good care of him."

She nodded and then responded, "I know you will. And thank you."

Emma walked back over to Killian one final time as she sat down on the couch beside him, then she gently laid her hand on the side of his face to wake him and when he weakly opened his eyes to look at her, she spoke to him softly saying, "I need to leave you for awhile so I can try to get to the truth. But I'm going to be back as soon as I can be. August and Belle are staying here to look after you."

"Plea… please be careful," he answered in worry while he gripped her other hand as tightly as he could and held it against his chest over his heart as if to give himself some assurance that she would be alright. "I should… be going with you. Black Beard…"

"Black Beard may be your enemy, but you don't have to fight him alone anymore," the Savior replied sternly upon sensing what he was trying to tell her before he could finish. "I love you. So when someone comes here to try to hurt you, it affects me too and I won't let him win."

He smiled softly until a wave of pain suddenly washed over him while his eyes fell closed, then Emma leaned down over him and she kissed him once more, but when she started to pull away from him, his grip on her hand tightened indicating that he needed her to stay close for a moment longer as he whispered, "I love… love you too, Emma. I always will."

She smiled sadly and then responded, "I know. I've always known since the kiss we shared back in Neverland."

A short time later…

Emma, David, and Leroy made their way back into town as they headed to the sheriff's station in order to confront the latest villain who arrived to cause the heroes more trouble by hurting one of their own. But stopped when they heard a woman calling to them in the distance and were surprised to see Ariel rushing towards them from the direction of the harbor.

"Emma!" the little mermaid said eagerly as she finally caught up to them and struggled to regain control of her breath before she could say anything else.

"Ariel, what are you doing here?" Emma asked sounding more cross than happy to see her, which she was. "Did you swim all the way here from… Hangman's Island? Is everything okay?"

She smiled worryingly and answered, "Of course I'm fine. And so is Eric, but Hook collapsed before your magic over our mirrors faded. I couldn't just stay at home to finish packing a few bags for mine and Eric's voyage to visit with his people as though I didn't see what I saw. You and Hook found a way to get in touch with us to make sure we were alright. I had to do the same. So, I swam here as fast as I could. How is he? Please tell me he's alright."

The Savior pulled Ariel into a hug as she replied, "He's not well. But we're on our way to talk again with the bastard who hurt him. Black Beard."

"It is nice to see you," she continued when she released the red haired woman and took a few steps back while she turned her head to look towards the station. "I just wish I had the time to catch up."

"I want to help you," Ariel responded with sincerity. "I had to rescue Black Beard the last time I saw Hook in order to find Eric. But it was Hook I called a monster because he was the one who tried to kill Black Beard before I could find out where he was keeping my husband. All for a ship. I had no idea how wrong I was. I didn't fully understand that Hook only did it because he was so broken when he thought he lost you for good. He saved me from being trapped inside that bottle and now you checked on us to make sure Eric and I were okay."

Emma quickly corrected her as she stated, "That was actually Killian who asked me to look in on you. He was afraid you were in danger, or worse… that Eric might even have been dead."

The mermaid nodded in understanding and then answered, "It's my turn to repay him."