"Snow!"

David didn't hesitate before running down the hill towards the burning vessel. His wife was in danger, his child was in danger. There was no time to consider risk. He pulled out his sword and stumbled onto the beach, feet slipping in the sand as he struggled to gain traction. His heart pounding, he ran onto the docks, feet beating out an even rhythm on the rough-hewn boards. The gang plank had been removed, leaving climbing up the side as the only option of boarding the vessel. He sheathed his sword and stared up at the wooden hull, looking for handholds. A rush of noise behind him found Emma standing at his side, the same look of determination on her face as they began to scale the ship. All the while above them was the constant clash of metal on metal, the cries of the injured and while he was climbing all David could think was let her be alright.

Upon reaching the top of the quarter deck, he dove towards the nearest group of guards that were attempting to set another fire that would further trap Snow and the dwarves from pushing forward to drive off the guards.

"David!" Snow shot down a guard, half happy, half terrified that her husband had arrived. They had been set upon not long after everyone else had disappeared over the ridge. A group of guards and monkeys had appeared further down the shore, making for the ship. Snow knew the smart move would have been to cast off and sail out to deep water, waiting until the threat had passed to dock again. But she couldn't risk that the guards would leave to attack David and the others. They needed to be given their best chance if they wanted to defeat Zelena and she was determined to give it to them. If that involved serving as a distraction to some of the witch's army, then so be it.

They successfully defended the ship in the beginning. But the monkeys had thrown bottles that burst into flame when they hit the ship. And so they were forced to retreat, giving up ground inch by inch until they found themselves caught between fire and the guards. The monkeys harassed them, baring their teeth and trying to drag them overboard. The situation had been dire. But now, even with less than half a dozen arrows left she made every one count as her husband and daughter fought their way through Zelena's forces.

"Just hold on!" David cut down the nearest guard as he advanced towards his wife and the dwarves. He knew he was slowing down. The battle in the courtyard was catching up to him. Every muscle was sore and he was sure his back had been nicked because it burned something fierce. The fires weren't helping. He was drenched in sweat and it felt like the heat was sapping his strength but there was no stopping him. He would fight until his family was safe. He glanced over to his daughter to find Emma fighting a monkey who kept leaping away from her, onto the mast, the rigging, the railing, all the while screeching at her, baring its teeth, gnashing away.

Back on shore Robin looked on, frustrated at his inability to help. He watched as his friends got dangerously close to the numerous fires burning on deck.

"You…should go help." Regina croaked out, her pallid face betraying her.

He wasn't sure what had happened but she was in pain. And by the way she kept holding her side he was sure it was broken ribs. In better circumstances he would have been happy that she was so close at hand, his arm around her waist. But every step had seemed like an agony to her, despite how she tried to keep up with the others, how she tried to stay silent. She had alternated between swearing under her breath and groaning in pain as they escaped the castle.

"Then who will protect you milady when Zelena's forces choose to retreat?" It sounded more strained than he would have hoped but there was little he could do other than try and keep the conversation light.

Normally Regina would have rolled her eyes but she wasn't able to do much of anything at the moment.

"Then just…put me down and…shoot them!" She gritted out, every breath as shallow as she could make it.

Robin carefully set her down against the beginning of the ridge, moving to stand in front of her, lest any of the guards try and attack them. He pulled his bow off his back, notched an arrow and aimed, hitting his mark every time, taking his anger and frustration out on the guards and monkeys. Speed was on his mind. Speed and efficiency. He wasn't sure if this force had been sent to slow them down but he did know that they needed to leave this place and soon. There was no way of knowing if Zelena had sent any forces after them but it would be the smart thing to do and he made sure to never underestimate his opponents when it came to fighting.

The last of the guards were dispatched but several monkeys, crawling out from below decks managed to fly off as both Snow and Robin were stuck with empty quivers. David pushed his way through the dwarves, patting the on the shoulders as he made his way to his wife, catching her up in his arms, pulling her away from the fire behind them. He hugged her close, careful of their child and kissed her.

"Are you alright?" Snow nodded, a protective hand coming up over her belly.

"We both are." David's hand came up to join hers and they just stood for a moment, grateful that things had turned in their favour.

"What happened?" Her eyes searched his as concern washed over her face. She had not expected to see him again so soon. Clearly something had gone wrong.

"We lost." David hung his head. "We were no match for her. We barely escaped with our lives."

Snow looked over to Emma who, along with the dwarves were putting out the various fires on deck with sea water.

"I'm just glad you're alright." She stroked his cheek and he smiled. The danger was past. Now they had to regroup.

Grumpy let down the gangplank as Robin and Regina slowly made their way along the dock and onto the ship. He gingerly set her down on a crate of supplies before moving off to help the dwarves. The fire damage appeared mostly to be contained to the main deck and the quarter deck. There was smoke below decks but with a good airing out it should be safe. Doc was busy attending to the various cuts and bruises the dwarves had incurred in the fight. Sleepy had a particularly nasty gash on his forehead.

"We need to leave. Now." David looked down at everyone from the quarter deck. "Zelena knows we're here. It's not safe."

"I can get us away from the docks and out into open water." Emma offered.

"Emma why would you… Wait, where's Hook?" Snow looked at the broken group in front of her but nowhere did she see the leather-clad pirate. She noticed Regina was looking particularly ragged, not her usual snappy self. Apparently they hadn't just lost the battle. They'd been badly defeated.

"He was injured. Zelena took him." Emma answered quickly when no one else spoke up. She didn't want to talk about it.

"Injured how?"

"She… stabbed him." The image of the wand in his chest flashed across her memory like a fresh wound, bright and painful.

"Then he's…as good as dead." Regina muttered.

"He's not dead!" Emma turned to yell at her. He can't be.

She ignored the look her mother was giving her and set about running through everything Hook had taught her in terms of sailing. The voyage to Neverland had been quite enlightening as to how much work was put into sailing a ship. But it was all half-remembered steps that she didn't have the muscle memory for. She only wished she didn't feel so burned out otherwise she would have used her magic to sail them away from this place.

The entire time they were making their escape though, she caught looks of concern directed at her. Grumpy was sticking close and Snow's face gave everything away. David asked if she wanted to take a break as she wiped away sweat but she waved him off. Her arms were aching but anything was better than standing still. She'd rather have something to do than time to think. Besides it was rather satisfying to sail away from the castle. Unfortunately this meant everyone else relaxed and felt the need to comfort her, whether by offering her a swig from Robin's flask or Sneezy asking if he could sharpen her sword for her. By the time Bashful brought her a blanket with a pitying look on his face she'd had enough. Stalking away she fled below decks to find some peace and quiet, only to find her way to his quarters.

She leaned against the door, closing her eyes and instead listened to the waves hitting the side of the boat outside the window. Her parents were always ones to put faith in hope above all else, that somehow things would work out. But deep down she felt a cold dread growing. What if he really was dead? Zelena hadn't the decency to leave them a body so there was always a chance. But experience told her only a fool would take those odds. And even if he was alive where would they look? There was no guarantee that Zelena was still even in the castle and they had no means by which to launch another attack.

She hesitated before walking inside. It felt like an invasion of privacy, being here without his permission. But it was still and quiet. The one place on the ship she knew she could be alone. The one place she didn't have to worry about concerned faces staring at her, wondering when she was going to break. Here she didn't have to pretend to be okay. She closed the door behind her and leaned against the wood, sinking to the floor. The creak of the ship as it moved through the water was a comfort. A warm balm to the gaping hole that was left in her life. But it was of little consequence, a soft moment in all this mess was nothing but a lie. A small escape but it was what she needed. For everything to just stop, just for a while so she wouldn't have to think about what came next. So she wouldn't have to think about what had come and gone. So she could just focus on being and breathing because anything else was too difficult to contemplate.

Her mind kept flashing back to that moment, to when…She felt her gut clench when she thought about it. The green hand around his throat. The look in his eyes. Emma put her head in her hands. His face, his god-damned face looking at her. How did everything go so wrong? She wanted to go back, back to the castle. Maybe there was something they missed, maybe it was all a mistake. Maybe. Maybe he wasn't… If only thinking made it so. Shifting her feet she felt the hard outline of the broken wand in her back pocket and pulled it out. Foolishly she gripped the broken end, pricking her finger. But for the jagged shard it looked innocuous enough. The blood on it though, was another matter. His blood. Emma stared down and frowning, threw the wand across the room where it landed amongst his books.

She wanted to cry, she did. She wanted to mourn, to let out all the pain that was burrowing inside her like a rat in a hole. Tears though, tears would make it real. And all she felt now was numb. Experience told her it was the adrenaline pumping through her but her heart said it was loss. That stupid pirate! He'd always been there, finding ways to make her smile, whether it be through unwavering support or cheeky remarks. And now he was gone. She'd never get the chance to tell him what it had meant to her, that he had believed, even when she hadn't. It wasn't fair! She ran a hand through her hair as she looked around his room. She was seeking solace from his memory in a place where she was surrounded by him and all that he was. It had been a mistake to come in here.

Slowly she stood and made as if to leave. But it would mean facing everyone and she wasn't ready for their pity. She would probably regret this but instead she walked over to his bed, pulled aside the blanket and tucked herself in. She buried her head in his pillow, inhaling the scent of sweat and musk and him, willing herself to sleep. To forget if just for a little while, that he was gone. Her mind may have been racing but she felt sluggish. Every joint ached with a keenness much like a marathon. Unbidden her mind jumped to an image of the two of them in this bed, his arms wrapped around her, pressing kisses into her neck, a future that would never be. But if she closed her eyes and breathed deeply, it was almost as if she could imagine him right beside her. As if she could just reach out and he'd be there. She stretched out her hand then, knowing he wouldn't be but wishing all the same that he was. That's when the tears came. Quietly she sobbed herself to sleep, hot tears on her face, her throat raw, for all that had been taken from her, for the man she'd been falling in love with, for the time that had been stolen from them.

When she awoke it was dark. The ship still creaking with every shift of her beams. Disoriented for a moment, Emma didn't remember where she was. And it was blissful. Because for that small stretch of time she forgot. Then it all came rushing back to her. He's gone. Sliding off the bed she stepped in water. Frowning, Emma stared down at her feet wondering if she'd spilled something. But in the dim light coming from the windows she could barely see her hand in front of her face. A half-full moon, shrouded in clouds was enough to make out shapes but nothing else. Stepping towards where she knew the door to be, she sloshed through more water. As she crouched and felt around on the floor she found an inch or two covering the floor, flowing from side to side with the roll of the ship. Her heart immediately pounded faster, her thoughts going to her parents. To everyone else on the ship.

Stumbling to the door she crashed into a chair, taking it with her as she fell onto the floor and into water. It was cold and had her gasping as she fought to regain her feet. Dripping in the dark she hesitated before feeling around in the general direction of the bookshelf. Regina had done spells before with blood magic. Maybe she could do something with the wand. As she searched her hand brushed against something hard and metallic. The sextant! She grabbed it like a lifeline, hugging the contraption to her body. If the ship was sinking as she feared, she wouldn't let this go to the bottom with it. I won't lose all of him in one day! If I can only keep one piece, let it be this. She delicately felt around for the damn wand and after several frustrating moments clamped her hand around the slim object and stuck it in her back pocket again. Precious moments ticked by as she stumbled towards the door to warn everyone. In the hallway, dimly lit by wall-mounted lanterns, she saw water rushing from side to side.

"Wake up! Everybody wake up!"

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she stumbled down the corridor, bumping into walls. She wasn't sure where her parents had ensconced themselves but judging by the hour everyone was either asleep or on deck keeping watch. Whether it was a leak or worse, it had to have started several decks below them, only reaching them as they slept.

"Wake up!" She banged on every door she passed, trying to ignore how cold her feet were growing. A stairwell on her left lead down into the dark, with water burbling up from some unknown hole.

"Emma?" She heard a faint voice behind her and turned to see David leaning against a doorframe, shirt hanging loose about his body. He was staring down at the ankle deep water he was standing in.

"The ship's flooding and I don't think it can be fixed in time. We need to wake everyone up and get them on deck."

He nodded, before darting back into his room. Slowly other doors opened with tired heads poking out. Emma suppressed a shiver as she walked the length of the ship. She was sure all the sleeping quarters were on this deck. It didn't bear thinking about if anyone had been caught further down. She yawned as she made a mental note that they would have to take a head count as soon as everyone was assembled. Concern would normally have kept her waiting until everyone had heard the warning but she'd lost all feeling in her toes. A smattering of dwarves tromped upstairs and in the distance she could make out what was obviously Regina leaning on Robin. Satisfied for the moment Emma made her way to the stairs, the sextant carefully tucked under her arm.

Above deck wasn't much better. The wind had picked up and it was raining. Poor Sneezy was standing at the helm, soaked and shivering, his hands clamped on the wheel. The rest of the group was huddled under the main mast, sleepy and upset. Grumpy quickly looked over the group and was relieved to find everyone present.

"I don't know how but the ship is sinking. All the decks below the sleeping quarters are flooded. We have to get into a lifeboat." Emma shouted at them, trying to be heard over the wind.

Everyone looked rather alarmed and more alert than they had been several minutes ago. David directed everyone to grab what supplies they could and load the nearest longboat. There was no telling how much time they had before the ship was swamped.

As Emma went about transferring water casks to their new mode of transportation, the sextant weighed heavy in her hand. She saw those around her working, fighting to survive, to save each other. Grumpy was helping Snow, who was wearing David's duster, into the longboat, just as Robin helped Regina. The two women huddled together in the rain, trying to derive warmth from shared body heat. And in that moment, as she watched these two family members, these two former enemies sitting side by side, she felt as if she was on the edge of something. A great precipice looking down over a dark chasm. She could either jump into the darkness or try and leap to the other side. That's when she knew she had to make a choice. On the surface it was simple but deep down she knew it was more than that. It would be a declaration, not just for herself or for Hook, not just for hope that he was alive, but that Emma wasn't giving up on him.

"I will find you." She whispered so low that only the wind could hear her as the group boarded the longboat, uncertain of their future but determined to face it together.