Thank you so much to my wonderful beta! She's absolutely fantastic!
Chapter Nine
"Everyone thinks of changing the world,
but no one thinks of changing himself." - Leo Tolstoy
"Regina are you alright?" Emma brushes Killian off as he tries to help her stand. She doesn't bother to check herself over and make sure she's alright. Emma thinks of her friend before herself, it's something that tells Killian she hasn't fully given into the darkness, she still cares. Emma is forced to let Killian help her when she stumbles onto her feet, this time she doesn't push him away as she realizes how dizzy she really is.
"Did it work? Are you okay?" Killian questions while helping her walk toward Regina who leans forward on the table with Excalibur on the ground beside her.
"No, but the power of the two blades is enough to keep Liam alive, for now." Emma answers with a short breath while she reaches for Regina's shoulder. Killian can still see her veins, prominent on her pale hand, his heart clenching in response. Her sickness isn't completely gone. Will any of this be gone when everything's done, when Emma's back to who she used to be and when the darkness no longer has a hold on her? Can they get back to the people they used to be? The thought haunts Killian but he pushes it away to the back his mind. They'll have time to figure all that out when everything is fixed.
"And keep you alive." Regina presses her hand to her forehead wincing at the dull ache that infests every inch of her mind. She's clearly overwhelmed by the use of her magic.
"Thank you." Emma quietly mutters but the tender words don't suit her dark features.
"For what? Helping you destroy Rumples life and condemn you to one of self hatred and regret? My pleasure." Regina snaps. She's still stuck on the idea that Emma won't be able to handle the guilt when she's back to her normal self. Maybe it's Killian being selfish, but he knows Emma will be strong enough to get through this.
"Regina maybe you should sit down." Killian suggests when the woman tries to stand straight but stumbles back clearly woozy and disoriented. He reaches for her elbow to bring her to the edge of her bed but the Queen yanks her arm away in response.
"Leave me alone, pirate." She spits as she runs her hand over her hair smoothing it behind her ears. "Well now that that's said and done should we go get Rumple from the basement, assuming that's who you've got down there, and tell him his new life is going to ripped away from him? " Regina's tone is much too pleasant for the situation. "Or should we go down, trap him in a corner and force him to do it?" Regina gives another suggestion as she glares in Emma's direction.
Killian can feel the rage boiling inside Emma from where she stands beside him. His hand is protectively placed on her back, he can feel her vibrating beneath his fingertips. "Maybe we should regroup with everyone see if there isn't any other way we can fix this." If Emma see's her family it might clear her mind. There's nothing more powerful than being surrounded by the people you love. They can have the most powerful influence, even in dark times like these.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Emma says through her teeth, still frustrated by Regina's remarks.
"Why not?" Regina looks to sideways at them as she leans once again on the table, still catching her wits.
"I'm not exactly Saviour of the year."
"That may be true Swan," Killian doesn't lie. "but you're still their family." He reminds her as she steps away from his touch. It hurts him but he covers the emotion before it can show. This isn't about them right now, this is about everyone. This is about keeping Emma from the darkness as much as possible.
"We don't have much time. You know this isn't going to last forever." Regina gestures to the sword that still finds itself on the floor. The idea of up picking it up sends a chill down Killians spine. It's still tethered to the Dark One, meaning it still controls Emma. She notices Killian staring at the blade and she flicks her wrist, it's engulfed in a black smoke disappearing before them.
"It's somewhere safe now." Emma tries to reassure them but it does nothing.
"Look Emma, you don't have much time left. At least let us try and figure out a way to fix this together." Regina tries once more. This time her words aren't sour, they're kind and forgiving, they're exactly what Emma needs right now.
"Fine." Emma reluctantly says and Killian is surprised it doesn't take more convincing, she must have something up her sleeve. It's unfortunate that this is what their relationship has come too, he doubts her motives and in return she likely doubts his. Maybe she misses seeing the people she loves, just because she's the Dark One doesn't mean she's exempt from loneliness.
"Well, let's go then." Regina gives an exhausted sigh and clouds herself with her own smoke of transportation while Emma takes Killian with her until they find themselves placed in the center of Mary Margaret and David's apartment, wide eyes looking at them.
"Emma...?" Mary Margaret's voice is fragile at the sight of her daughter. It breaks Killian heart knowing that this is truly the first time Emma's mother has seen their daughter in her darkest state. With her sleek jacket wrapped tight around her body as it curves to shape her neck. Her skin glistens in a way that sends shivers down one's spine, it almost holds the colour of death, if there is one. Her sickness doesn't help as eyes seem hollow and her cheeks sunken in.
"Emma you're…" David's voice trails off.
"Don't say it." She snaps in a tone that tells them all not to test her.
Killian scans the room searching for his brother and he finally finds him on the couch. He looks just about as bad as Emma does. "Brother how are you?" Killian questions rushing toward him and past Regina who currently leans on a worried Robin.
"I'm fine, the worst of it has passed I think." Liam tries to reassure his brother.
"I'm afraid that's not the case." Emma says in a flat tone.
"What does that mean?" Mary Margaret asks still unsure of how to approach her daughter.
"It means that little miss Dark One screwed up." Regina glares as she seems to have found most of her strength.
"Regina!" Mary Margaret scolds. "Whatever it is I'm sure we can find a way to fix it, together." She looks to Emma on the last bit. The hope the woman holds in her gaze is almost heartbreaking. Emma doesn't respond with anything more than an unimpressed glare toward Regina.
"She wants to put the Darkness back into Gold, I'm not sure how exactly we can fix that." Regina informs the others in what wasn't the best way.
"You what?" Henry's voice comes from the stairs as he makes his way to the lower floor.
"Emma, you can't do that." David looks at his daughter like he doesn't recognize her. Killian can see the sting it leaves in Emma's eyes, no one else catches it but him. He moves toward Emma's side in an attempt to make it seem less like they're ganging up on her which they most likely will.
"Why not, you and Mary Margaret didn't have a problem ruining someone's like to keep the darkness out of me, why should I have a problem." Emma asks her parents and her statement keeps everyone silent for a short while.
"I thought we moved past that." Mary Margaret suggests, the hope he once held slowly draining.
"We didn't." Emma snaps.
"Maybe we should focus on helping Emma and Liam get better." Killian suggests hoping the change in topic will bring some sort of ease to the room.
"Get better?" Henry questions and Killian realizes his mistake, he still hasn't told them yet. He curses himself silently.
"Yes, well I've been meaning to mention to you all that Emma's dark magic is tethered to Liam's life. The power she used to bring him back is Killing her, and if she dies so will Liam." Killian explains scratching behind his ear. He tries to avoid the angry expression on Mary Margaret's face.
"You've been meaning to mention?" David's jaw is tight, he's clearly angry.
"That doesn't matter now, we need to transfer my magic into Gold, so Liam won't die." Emma's stern voice makes them focus on her.
"We can't do that mom, heroes don't hurt others for the sake of themselves." Henry reminds his mother stepping into the group. "We'll find a way to save you, but we can't hurt someone else in the process. You taught me that."
"Henry, people are going to die if we don't do this." Emma's voice always becomes more tender when talking to her son.
"We can't destroy a man's life either." Mary Margaret's voice is quiet. "Even if it is Rumple."
"I knew you guys wouldn't understand. This was a mistake." Emma glares at Killian as if it's his fault. He knew nothing good would come of this, but he had to try.
"Emma." Regina and Killian both call to her before she poof's herself away to god knows where.
"Someone will have to tell Belle." After a moment of silence Mary Margaret suggests and when no one volunteers, she grumbles something Killian can't make out and tells them she'll do it herself.
"I'll take Liam back to Granny's." Killian helps his brother stand and they leave the apartment with short goodbyes to everyone. They're quiet for a while and Killian doesn't mind. It gives him time to think of possible ways to get out of this. They've bought themselves some time but how long? In those worried moments that Killian thought he might loose Emma, the love of his life and Liam the brother he'd spent so long missing, he thought he could do what he said he could to Rumple. Now that he's had time to think and process everything, he's not sure he can. He's become this new man for Emma, a better man. Is he willing to be selfish to bring her back with consequences that could haunt her forever?
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"It's nothing." Killian gives his brother a smile that doesn't really say 'nothing'.
"Thinking about her?" Liam asks, always able to see through his little brother when it came to women.
"What about you, how are you doing? Now that you know…" Killian trails off.
"Now that I'm dying again?" Liam breathes the words with a tense breath of air. "Can't say it's the best feeling." he jokes, giving his brother a nudge. "Relax brother, things will work out, you'll see."
"How can you be so positive?" Killian questions unable to shake his own worried state.
"I'm living in the moment, it's something you learn to do after coming back to life." Liam gives his brother half a smile but it disappears when he realizes how deep Killians concern goes. "Killian, there's no point in dwelling on it. Let's live for the now and not focus on the bad. If these are our last days together I want them to be happy. Now go and find Lady Swan, I have a feeling she'll be needing someone tonight." Liam places his hand on his brother's shoulder when they reach the entrance of Granny's.
"What about you?" Killian questions, not wanting to leave him alone.
"I'll be fine. Now go." Liam's tone becomes jokingly stern as he points his finger in the direction away from his.
"You'll be alright."
"Yes, what did I just say." Liam laughs a little and pushes his brother's shoulder. "Now get a move on." Killian reluctantly leaves with guilt deep in his stomach. He shouldn't leave his brother like this, but something in his chest is telling him to find Emma. In order to help Liam, he needs to help her.
Unsure of where Emma might be he starts at her house but finds nothing when he pushes through the open door. Each room untouched since they left it earlier today, which means she hasn't been home since. Killians second thought as to where she might be is a long shot, but he finds himself at the docks stepping onto the Jolly Roger anyways. With no one on deck he pushes the door open to the Captain's Quarters surprised by who he see's.
"Swan." He says quietly, afraid saying anything too loud might scare her off. She doesn't respond so he walks to the edge of his bed where she lays. She's shed herself free of her stiff jacket, leaving her in a black tank top and pants. It's been so long since he's seen her in such normal clothes, it almost seems unnatural. Killian sits beside her and he tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear as it's lost it's sleekness. She leans into his hand when it rests on her cheek.
"I've made a mess of things." Her voice is small, almost a whisper. "I don't know how to fix it without hurting anyone else." She squeezes her eyes shut as tears escape down her cheeks leaving wet marks on the pillow she rests on.
"We'll figure it out." Killian reminds her that she isn't alone, hoping that if she hears it enough times she'll start to believe it. He moves himself to lay behind her and his good hand wraps around her body holding her close. He presses a kiss to her neck and then to her shoulder. It's been so long since they've held each other like this, he thought he'd missed it before but now that he has it again he's not sure he can't let her go.
"How could they all gang up on me like that, don't they know that I just want things to go back to normal?" Emma questions and Killian can feel rage begin to boil beneath her skin.
"You would have agreed with them once love." Killian reminds her, he's not sure if it's what he should say, but it feels like the right thing. "When everything goes back to normal you'll be happy you didn't do something that could hurt someone else."
"Assuming that everything can go back to normal." So she's been think about that too. If they can get back to how everything was before, if they can all forgive and forget.
Emma coughs into her hand and it forces both of them back from their thoughts. "You should get some rest." Killian tells her.
"I don't want to sleep." Emma spins around so she faces her pirate. She brushes his hair from his forehead but it falls back immediately. She traces his features with her fingers, down his nose, his jaw line, and over his lips. She stops there looking deeply into his eyes. "I miss you." She confesses.
"I miss you too." He does the same, pulling her closer.
"I should go." She says with tears still streaming from her eyes.
"Stay." He tells her, but it sounds more like a question. He can see the conflict in her eyes, knowing that she'll most likely leave, doing to him what she was always so afraid he'd do to her. "Love?" Killian questions her once more. Many moments pass and she does something that surprises both of them. She rolls over taking his good hand with her, she wraps it around her body as she tucks herself into her pirate. He holds her the way she's been needing since everything started. They don't say anything more while Killian falls into a deeper sleep than usual, it helps knowing that Emma other is safe. For now.
Feel free to leave a review if you'd like! I love hearing what you guys have to say!