Chapter 12

Emma walked into his sight then, followed by Snow, Mulan and Aurora, all armed.

"You didn't really think you could fool me, did you?" Cora said maliciously, "Oh, it was smart, using another enchanted compass. Could have fooled someone else, but me? You forget, Hook, that I don't just recognize magic, I know it. I know it in a way someone like you never could."

"Let him go." Emma commanded, her voice wavering ever so slightly.

"Oh, believe me, I have no vested interest in his life or death. It's a simple trade I want." She squeezed slightly, making Killian choke and fall to his knees. "The pirate's heart for the compass. You can choose which is more important."

Killian was wheezing on the ground. "Don't give it to her!"

Cora squeezed harder. "Are you so sure about that, Captain?"

Killian struggled to breathe. Henry's face swam in front of his eyes. He had to tell her.

Emma took out the compass, taking a step towards Cora.

He had to think fast, some way to send a message, or... some way to stay alive.

In a moment of courage and stupidity, he lunged for Cora's legs. She was too close to the portal, and he pushed her right in, and nearly fell in himself. He heard someone falling on the ground right next to him, and saw a mess of blonde hair.

As they got up, he saw why she landed there.

His heart was safely held in Emma's hands. "You would have lost it, you idiot."

He scratched behind his ear sheepishly. "I didn't exactly think this through. Thank you for, er, saving it."

Emma just smiled, a bit shyly, before returning to the heart in her hands. "So, what do I do now?"

"Push it in?" He asked, confused. "Just... be gentle."

She looked nervous and unsure(and adorable) as she pushed the heart into his chest as fast as she could, knocking the wind out of him.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I thought if I did it fast, it'll be like r - "

He cut off her rambling by pulling her towards himself and kissing her breathless.

He pulled away eventually, both of them looking at each other, dazed. Killian was the first to snap out of it, and took a step back, heat rising in his face. "I'm sorry, I-I shouldn't have... I just couldn't resist..."

It took Emma half a minute more to regain her senses. Once she did, she immediately took a few steps away from him, mortified, especially after looking at their companions stunned faces.

As fast as her face had gained colour, it lost it, and he could see her walls snap back into their place. "You're right. You shouldn't have." Her tone is clipped, and she refuses to look at him.

She instead changes the subject, looking towards the group as a whole. "Now that Cora has used up the ashes, we'll need to find some other way to make a portal. Any ideas?"

"I may be able to help with that." Killian said, pulling out a necklace from under his shirt. "Remember the bean that the giant kept?"

"You took it!" Despite her current avoidance of him, she couldn't help but be impressed. "Then what are we waiting for? Give it to me."

Killian didn't budge. "There is something we need to do first." He let the bean fall back, and took out the piece of paper he had pocketed earlier.

"Your... son?" She asked, confused.

He gave her a small smile. "And I think it's time for our long awaited conversation."

Realization dawned on her. "Henry."

...

"So you gave up your son, only to unknowingly kidnap him that very day?" Killian said incredulously.

They were nearly at the location Cora gave him, Emma and Killian walking a little ahead, trying to piece together what happened on the day when it all started; Snow was a little behind with Mulan and Aurora, who decided to join them.

Emma shrugged, chuckling. "Freaky, right?"

"More like fate, love." He commented, smiling. "It seems it wanted to give you another chance."

"Well, I didn't use it much better, did I?" Emma said, the smile slipping off her face. "I abandoned him again."

Killian stopped in his tracks. "You didn't abandon him."

"Yeah? Well, I returned and he's still here, so that's what it looks like to me." Emma said bitterly.

"You did what you thought was best for him." Killian tried to reassure her.

"Why would I want to separate from him again?" Emma asked. "Why would I leave him here with you instead of taking him with me?"

Killian bit his lip, unsure what to tell her. Emma caught on to his reluctance and sighed, starting to walk again.

"You and Cora..." Emma started, "It wasn't a deal... It was blackmail..."

"Aye." Killian replied, stiffening even at the mention. "You don't really make deals with Cora unless you have the capability to overpower her. If she wants you to cooperate, you will."

"But then... you tried to betray her... how could you know she wouldn't hurt Henry?" Emma asked.

"No, Henry's too important for her for that. He's something she can use against both her daughter and the Saviour. She wouldn't hurt him over my betrayal, it's too trivial." Killian replied.

"You couldn't have known that." she said disapprovingly.

"I did." Killian snapped, "If you were so doubtful of my parenting or my love for my son, I guess you shouldn't have left him with me."

Before she could reply, he announced, "We're here" and walked ahead.

Emma took a deep breath. It would do her no good too antagonize him when all he was doing was trying to help her, she decided, before following him towards the cottage.

Emma could feel the magic surrounding the place. "How are we going to get in?"

Killian pulled out the paper. "With this." He placed the paper against the door. With a whiff, the shield was gone.

"Is it gone?" He asked.

"Yeah." She replied, to curious looks from the rest and a knowing nod from Killian.

"She has magic." He answered the unasked question, before pushing open the door.

He was barely inside when something small and fast came barreling at him with a squeal of "Papa!"

Killian caught Henry, chuckling. "Aye, I missed you too, lad."