Future fic set in the 5A finale, speculation based on filming spoilers and headcanons.
Her fingers begin to tremble as the moment approaches, slightly weakening her firm grip as she presses the metal deeper into her palm, desperate to memorize its shape as she did his face, his hands, his lips. Closing her eyes, she forces herself to focus on the incantation and feels her lips begin to move around ancient words, their meaning unknown yet the most important she's ever spoken.
Regina's voice is echoing hers from somewhere behind her and Gold is stepping to her side with the dagger, the sight of which threatens to break her concentration. Her battered soul rested along those jagged edges not long ago, only returned to her thanks to the love and sacrifice of the man she's here to save.
Fate expects her to let him go, add him to the list of loves lost, but fuck fate. She's done playing by the rules of someone else's game, one she never asked to play and is tired of losing. Come hell or high water, knowing her luck it will be both, she's holding on. She won't lose him.
"Ms. Swan, are you ready?"
Without further hesitation, she tugs hard until the chain around her neck snaps, not even caring about the burn against her skin and only that his ring is cradled safely in her palm. Deep crimson clings to the blade as she looks over at Gold, the irony of him being the one to have to supply the blood for this spell too ridiculous to fathom. Killian would be rolling his eyes if he were here to see this. He won't believe her when she tells him.
Placing the ring in Gold's outstretched palm, she meets his gaze with unwavering strength and certainty.
"Bring him home to me."