Chapter 9

I hardly felt the pain of my hook going into my chest, as I focused on Emma's lifeless form before me. I gasped in shock as I saw my heart in front of me, skewered on my hook, since it was completely red and clear. There was no shred of darkness swimming in its murky depths despite my past and my time as the dark one (I shuddered at the sheer thought of it). Emma drove the darkness out. The thought suddenly sprung to my mind, as if it had been whispered by someone else.

I looked back to my heart, focusing on what I needed to do. I grabbed one side of my heart and began to pull, sending shock waves of extreme agony through my body. I couldn't help but cry out in pain once it finally tore apart. I put the half that was still on my hook back into my chest, then changing Emma's half to my hook so I still had the magic to put it in.

I walked slowly up to her, still aching from that experience. I pushed her golden locks that covered her face behind her ear, so I could see her face, despite her pale, cold skin and closed eyes.

I took a deep breath to steady myself, and pushed the half into her chest. I was suddenly thrown back across the room, still holding her half of my heart. I felt the back of my head smack against the opposite wall and I was submerged in blackness.

I could hear a voice calling my name and getting gradually louder, as if someone was walking towards me. I could then feel hands shaking my shoulders, my name still being cried out. Light pierced my vision, blinding me momentarily. My eyes quickly refocused for me to see Henry and the fairy kneeling down next to me on the floor of the loft. There was a dull ache throbbing in the back of my head still, from the impact of my head on the wall, I suppose.

I quickly stood up, realizing why I was down there and what still needed to be done. It seemed that I stood up a tad too fast, as I became dizzy as the blood rushed out of my head.

"What happened?" the lad asked me.

Once I had regained my balance, I replied, saying, "I tried to put this half of my heart in Emma, but I was flung across the room when I did so. What did I do wrong? Does it only work with the person's true love? Or… or…"

"It was definitely not your fault for this, and either way, you don't need it to be your true love, and you clearly are Emma's true love anyway." The fairy said to me calmly as she walked over to Emma, who was still lying there peacefully. She placed her hand carefully on Emma's forehead, and lifted it quickly, "I sense that she has been cursed presumably by Hades, so that she can never be woken. Rather like a sleeping curse, only slightly more potent."

"Well cure her then! You're the bloody fairy around here! Cook up a potion or something to lift the curse!" I shouted, my damned temper getting the best of me.

The fairy shook her head with despair, "There is no cure like what you think of. The only way to break the curse is true love's kiss, which, fortunately, shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"Go, on then, Henry. It worked for the first time with the curse, so you can break this one."

"No, Killian, this is something you need to do. You are mom's true love, even I can see that, so I don't get how you can't see that too."

"I have already tried it, my lad, in New York. True love's kiss didn't work on her, I needed the aid of a memory potion. I can't fail your mother again."

"Please, what have you got to lose if you kiss her, that you haven't lost already? If you won't do it for yourself, do it for my mom, and for me, dad." The boy's words went straight to my heart (or what was left of it) and forced me forward towards his mother. Without hesitation, I kissed my Swan with all the power within me, with my eternal love for her, with all of the emotion within my soul. A golden glow filled the room, coming from Emma and I.

Hoping with everything that resided inside me, I carefully pressed the half into her still chest. This time, I wasn't thrown back, however she still laid there on the bed, still as a statue, without a sign of life.

"No, no, gods please no," I muttered, thinking that I had failed, and my true love would be lost forever. Tears began springing from my eyes, landing on Emma's lifeless face.

I almost missed the sudden rise of her chest and intake of breath, "Is it raining or something?" She said weakly with closed eyes. I started laughing, overwhelmed with relief, yet with tears still flooding down my cheeks with happiness.

She opened her eyes looking up to me, smiling and laughing, allowing me to drown in the green of them once again. I leant down to her, leaning my forehead against hers, cherishing the warmth and touch of her skin. "I love you." I said to her, still smiling like my life depended on it.

"I love you more," She said, leaning in and pressing her lips against mine. In that moment, we were timeless. No longer did anyone exist in our world that we had created, just us. Time slowed down around us. It was just us, and our love for each other. Emma suddenly pulled away as if she just remembered something.

"What is it, my love?"

"Henry. Where is he? Is he safe? Did he get hurt on his way out?"

"I'm fine, mom." Henry said, appearing around the corner carrying a steaming mug, "I've just got you some hot cocoa with cinnamon." He walked up to us with a one-sided smile, putting the mug down on the table beside the bed and leaning over and hugging his mother.

"I love you, Henry."

"I love you too mom."

"Where are the others? Mom and Dad, and Regina and Robin." Emma asked me, concern furrowing her brow.

"We have a lot to tell you, love, so I would suggest picking up that drinking chocolate of yours."