A/N: This is the turning point in the story, this has turned out quite different from what I first imagined it would be... I hope u enjoy :)

Chapter 6

Killian climbed onto his feet as Cora took a step back as an effort to put him back into a comfortable position.

He glared at her. "I'm listening. And it'd better be good."

Cora raised an amused eyebrow. "You know, it would have been much easier - and enjoyable - to just crush your heart and rid the world of your sorry existrence. But I might yet have some use for you, and after all, I did make a deal with you, and I am a woman of my word. I'll spare you for now, but create a hitch in my plans and you might as well be writing your name on a gravestone."

"What do you want?" Killian asked through gritted teeth, his tone bordering on impatience. "If it involves leaving my family - "

"Quite the contrary, actually. I'm here to help your little makeshift family." Cora said with a cruel smile and raised her hand. "It took some time and energy, but I've finally found a solution."

Killian stared at the objects in her palm with dread. There was a small vial containing some potion, and what was quite unmistakably a magic bean. "Oh."

"If you're wondering, the vial contains a forgetting potion. The girl will forget the last year spent here." she added.

"W-why?" Killian said, a sense of puzzlement breaking through the numb haze. Cora had been dead set against the idea of helping Emma and Henry, then how is it that she suddenly had a change of heart?

"She needs to return to her world. It's where she belongs... and where her destiny lies." she took a deep breath. "Emma Swan is the Savior, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. It's why I couldn't take her heart, she's the product of true love, and that gives her immense light magic. She needs to return to break the curse, it's essential for all our plans."

Killian took a moment to absorb this revelation. "What if she doesn't go? What if she doesn't want to go? I don't care about any plan, any curse... We're safe here, we're happy... She doesn't want this destiny..."

"Really? You're ready to give up your revenge this easily?" Cora said with raised eyebrows.

"From where I stand, the Dark One is realms away and powerless. He doesn't affect me in the least." he explained, "Revenge is all I had after I lost my love, but now that I've found love again, found a family, I'd rather be with them than run after a revenge that can destroy not only me but them as well. The curse can go on forever for all I care."

"And doom the people under the curse, including her parents for eternity? I'd love to know how she would feel about that... And you're forgetting that we are cursed as well, just not there in the Land Without Magic. Are you, and she, willing to doom each one of us just for your selfishness?"

"I don't care." Killian said without thinking.

"Don't you? Won't she?" Cora asked.

That left Killian speechless.

"Think about it." Cora said, placing both the magic bean and the vial in his hand , before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"I was almost deciding to go back there to search for you." Emma said the moment he returned. "I was worried. What happened?"

When Killian didn't answer immediately, Emma placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, making him look at her. "What is it?"

Killian sighed. "You... you need to return. To your world."

"W-what?" Emma exclaimed in disbelief.

Killian closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to be strong.

"Remember the curse?" Emma nodded, eyes wide with anticipation. "Emma... you are the Savior, the one destined to break the curse... and for that you need to return..."

"What? Me? But why? No, it can't... but I... I don't want to go!" she exclaimed hysterically, tears stinging her eyes by the time she said the last part. "I don't want to leave you, leave this life... I'm no one's Savior... I just want to be happy, have a family... I don't want to go back..."

Killian blinked away tears of his own hearing her voice, but he had to be strong. She had to know what was at stake, and no matter how much it hurts them to part, she will have to return.

"Love, I understand, and I hate to say this as much as you do... but there's much more at stake than just the two of us... the inhabitants of the Enchanted Forest, including your parents Queen Snow White and King David, they're all imprisoned by this curse... Can you sit here knowing that your parents are suffering and do nothing? I know you can't, you can't be in that situation and not tear yourself apart. For whatever it's worth, the curse needs to be broken and the people freed." Killian took a shaky breath, "Even if the price is to be apart from each other."

After a moment, Emma let out a shaky laugh. "It sounds ridiculous even to think of it like this... Snow White and Prince Charming, my parents... I'm a real life fairytale princess with a curse to break..." she chuckled again. "sometimes I just wish the dream would end and it'll all be just a figment of my imagination, except you and Henry... but I guess that isn't happening..." she wiped the tears she didn't even realize had fallen, and tried to put on a strong face. "Okay... I'm willing to try... For all it's worth, I'll try... I'll go back..." her voice cracked, and Killian pulled her into his arms. Killian let his tears fall as Emma sobbed into his shoulder. It felt like waking up from a really good dream, or walking into a nightmare. Everything was happy, everything was fine, and then it all came to an end.

Emma eventually let go of him and stood up, wiping her face. "Okay, let's do this. Anyway, how will we - "

He held up the magic bean, before glancing at the vial. "And umm... Cora gave me this. It's to make you forget about the time you spent here."

Emma shook her head. "I don't want it. I want to remember. Even if it's the only thing I can have."

Killian sighed. "As you wish."

He went to say goodbye to Henry, who had just woken up hearing his parents' raised voices. When he turned back to Emma, who was looking at them with a strange expression.

Wordlessly, she took Henry from him and placed a kiss on his head. "I love you." she whispered, before handing him back to Killian.

She held out her hand. "Give me the bean."

Killian looked at her in confusion. "Emma..."

"Yes, I'm-I'm leaving Henry here, with you." Emma said.

"What? No!"

"Killian, I can't leave you here alone... It's for the best that you have him with you, even if not me..." Emma whispered.

"And what about you? Won't you be alone?" Killian asked.

Emma gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I have a destiny to worry about." Emma cut off his protests placing a finger on his lips. "And this... this isn't forever. Once all this ends, I will find you. I will find both of you."

Killian nodded.

Emma took a deep breath and threw the bean. Light filled the entire house as a what seemed to be a green whirlpool appeared on the floor, trying to drag everyone into it. They all backed away.

Emma turned to Killian with a sense of finality. "I love you."

"I love you too." Killian whispered and pulled her in for a kiss.

Emma slowly let his hand slide out of hers as she edged towards the portal, tears in her eyes. Killian caught hold of it in the last second, and everything happened quickly. Emma didn't even realize what was happening before glass touched her lips and something vaguely unpleasant made his way down her throat.

"It's for the best." were Killian's parting words, sounding muffled and far away in the haze that she was drifting into. "Be happy, Emma. You deserve happiness."

And then everything was dark.