The mansion was precisely where Beth said it would be, and just as ominous as her description. The three of them shuddered from the collective chill across their spines. They took the grotesquely ornate staircase, Regina at the lead, followed by Killian and then David, to a long corridor decorated with scenes each of them had lived. At the end, in accordance with Beth's tale, a looking glass the height and width of a wall.

Regina was the first to approach, closing her eyes and waving her hands in a most theatrical manner. A second time, and a third. When nothing happened, David sighed, and Killian clenched his jaw.

For all his efforts not to get his hopes up, he'd done just that.

"Should've brought the bloody Dark One." He mumbled.

Regina glared at him, looking every bit the evil queen she'd forsaken years ago. "I agreed to this fool's errand to help your daughter—it wouldn't hurt to show a little gratitude."

"He's just nervous."

"I'd appreciate you not speaking on my behalf, Dave."

Taking a deep breath, Regina tried again. This time, when she waved her hands, the looking glass shattered.

And on the other side, stood the impossible.

She looked back at him with wide green eyes, mouth open, appearing as dumbfounded as he felt. It wasn't until he whispered, "Swan," that she moved, bounding forward and latching her arms around his neck.

His cursed limbs, frozen with shock, were slow in responding. Once they got their wits about them, they pulled her flush against him. "Is it really you?"

She answered by cradling the back of his head as she sighed into his shoulder.

"How is this possible? I saw you—you were…" he swallowed thickly, feeling a familiar sting in his eyes, "How are you alive?"

"It's a long story."

"I've got all the time in the world, Love."

Emma laughed, clinging more tightly to him. In finally pulling away, the two of them locked eyes, moving forward for a long overdue public display, when an invisible force intervened, propelling them apart. The only sound to follow was cackling, like thunder all around.

—

Regina stood at the threshold, where the looking glass had regenerated, naught but flickers of light leaving her hands. She glared at the lot of them, trapped like rats in a magical box.

"I should've known better." She said. "No good ever comes from helping this family."

Ignoring her, Killian turned back to Emma. "So you could see us?"

Emma nodded.

"The entire time?"

A tear formed in the corner of her eye, and she wiped it away. "All I could do was watch. Until recently."

"The mirror." Said Killian. "That was you, wasn't it?"

She gave a slight smile.

"What changed?"

"My guess is Beth. Somehow she was able to cross barriers no one else can."

Killian ran his hand through his hair. "And I didn't believe her."

"You had no reason to," David chimed in from his quarter of the chamber. The four of them had been sectioned off, separated by force fields—Emma's term. "The things she was saying, they were…"

"Crazy?" Killian quirked his brow.

"While this is all very fascinating," said Regina, "wouldn't our efforts be better spent looking for a way out of this hellhole?"

"I've spent the last seven years doing exactly that." Said Emma. "I doubt whoever's kept me captive during that time is going to let her guard down again."

"What does she want with you?" Asked Killian.

"I don't know."

Regina scoffed. "I find that a little hard to believe."

"You think I'm lying?"

"I think the memory lapses in this family are a little convenient."

"You would know."

"We won't get anywhere by turning on each other." Said David.

"We're all open to suggestions, Mate." Said Killian.

"And we'd better make it quick—knowing Beth and Henry, they won't sit idle for long."

"Aye. I'd give it another hour before they come looking."

"If that."

"Ideas would be helpful." Said Regina.

"Is there any way to contact Gold?" Asked Emma.

Regina rolled her eyes. "I didn't see many payphones on the way in."

"Dave," said Killian, "any chance you brought your cell?"

"Already tried—no service."

"Well there wouldn't be, would there?" Said Regina. "I doubt your service provider could succeed where magic fails."

"This may sound crazy," said David, "but what if Beth is our only hope?"

"Are you out of your mind?" and "Not a chance in hell," were spoken in unison by her parents.

"Her magic is the strongest any of us have ever seen—and Emma knows how to contact her."

"If—if—we went along with what you're saying, I'm sure there's some sort of counter spell in place by now." Said Emma. "And you're suggesting we lure my daughter into a trap, all so we can save our own skin? Not happening."

"Knowing your daughter, she won't need an invitation." Said Regina.

"She's right." Said Killian. "Bloody stubborn, like her mother."

Emma glowered at him.

"Have I told a lie, Love?"

She rolled her eyes, but Killian caught the ghost of a smile playing at her lips.

"Henry's no different." Said Regina. "He may look like a man, but he never did outgrow the impulse to act first, think later."

"So either way, we're screwed." Said Emma. She squinted her eyes into the near distance, and got to her feet, approaching the force field between her and Killian, "Unless…"

In touching it, the barricade sparked. Emma closed her eyes and reached both hands forward, screaming in agony but not breaking contact. Killian pleaded with her to stop—they'd find another way. But she didn't hear him.

A flash of light erupted, surrounding them, and Emma was thrown back. Killian was at her side in an instant, not realizing until she sat up, grasping his jacket collar, that the force field was overcome.

Emma smiled at him, and he lifted her into an embrace.

"You'll have plenty of opportunities to grope each other when we get out of here." Said Regina, causing David's face to fall ashen. "But for the time being, could we focus?"

Killian aided Emma in standing, and she and Regina set to work taking down the remaining walls.

—

Returned to the safety of the apartment—Regina having decided on everyone's behalf that poofing was the best option—Emma pulled Killian into her arms, squeezing rather tightly. Not that he was about to complain.

"So far that's three for the pirate." Said David. "And none for anyone else."

Emma laughed, trading Killian for her father. "I missed you, Dad."

Mary Margaret and Henry and Neal joined them, and it was all rounds of hugs and kisses and whispered declarations and tears. By the time early morning's light crept through the windows, the lot of them were a sodding mess.

"I hate to be the voice of reason, but we aren't out of the woods, yet."

"Regina's right." Said David. "The sorceress has to know we're gone."

"So what do we do?" Asked Killian.

"I'd say a protection spell, for starters." Said Regina. "But seeing as she was able to immobilize the Savior for seven years, I doubt it will hold for long."

"We need any advantage we can get." Said David.

"Mom?" Every head turned toward a quiet voice from the corridor.

Emma walked slowly toward her, taking a knee once arrived. "Hi, honey."

Beth sprang forward, nearly toppling Emma to the floor, and Emma laughed, the sound falling on Killian's ears like an angel's song.

"Emma?" Regina said softly, her voice absent of the sarcasm it'd known all evening. "We really do need to set up that protection spell."

"Of course."

Emma dried her cheeks upon standing, and Beth moved to Killian's side.

Watching them work, she whispered, "She's really back."

"Thanks to you, Love." Killian smiled down at her, but his daughter wore an anxious expression. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

"It wouldn't be a very good story if you did." Beth forced a smile.

"Hey, there's no need to be frightened.

"I'm not." She glanced up at him and his arched brow. "Maybe a little. I don't know what to do with my hands." She held them up, bending and straightening her fingers. "Is it hot in here?"

Killian laughed. "Breathe."

Her shoulders rose and fell in an exaggerated fashion.

"You'll do fine."

"Have you ever wanted something so badly, dreamed of it for so long, but never actually imagined it would happen? And then it did?"

Killian regarded his daughter. He never failed to see Emma in some part or other—the expressions that contorted her young face, her determined spirit, gods, her laugh above all. But perhaps there were parts of him, as well.

"Aye."

"How did you survive it?"

He took her hand. "By holding on."