Hello Readers! I have to crow! Can I call it? Can I freaking call it? If you've watched the last episode (Heart of Gold), you only need to refer to chapter 32 of "Finn's Tale" to see how well I know these freaking characters. Yeah, baby. Satisfaction oozing out of every pore.

But enough about me. Who is the mysterious man that just walked into Storybrooke? And how can they help Pandora help herself without anybody getting hurt?

You read. I'll just sit here and gloat. Read my recap blog (link in my profile) because I'll be twerking in victory all over it.

"Don't come any closer!"

Her voice reached him from not too far away, by the sound of it. Whether her voice was shaking from fear or fatigue was not entirely clear.

"Dora!" Archie called out. "Dora? It's Dr. Hopper."

"I know who you are!" she called back. "And I don't want...you can't be here!"

Archie stopped a moment, resting on his umbrella. "Well, I am here. And I want to talk to you."

"Dr. Hopper...please. I can't control this. You know that. As long as I'm near you, you're in danger."

"That's not true," he murmured. Then he raised his voice and said it louder. "That's not true. Dora, we've been close to each other several times. You haven't hurt me. Not once."

She stepped slowly out from behind a large tree, looking at him warily.

"Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean you're safe."

"I'm safe with you," he answered. "I trust you." He held out a hand. "Please, Dora...can we talk? No one's angry with you. And David and the driver of the car are going to be just fine."

"Why?" she asked. She still hadn't moved, so Archie took a tentative step toward her.

"Why what?"

"Why do you trust me?"

He paused a moment to ponder that. "You know, I really can't say for sure. But I have good instincts about people. You don't need to be afraid of us, Dora."

"I'm not afraid of you," she explained wearily. "I'm afraid for you."

Archie nodded. "The troubles of the world. I can't even imagine."

Dora's eyes went wide. "You know who I am?" She turned, as if to flee, and Archie ran forward, gently catching her arm.

"I know. And it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me or to anyone else. We want to help you."

She stared up at him in patent disbelief, then her eyes shifted down to where his hand sat, gentle and warm on her arm.

"Please, Dr. Hopper..."

"Archie," he prompted. "You can call me Archie. And shall I call you Pandora?"

Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back furiously. "No." She was emphatic. "I'm Dora now. Just Dora. The Gods gave me the other name, and I don't want it."

She pulled away, but didn't run. It was clear that she was exhausted, dark circles ringed her beautiful blue-grey eyes, and her normally honey-gold hair hung limp and matted down her back.

"When was the last time you ate?" Archie asked gently.

"I don't know," she replied. "I've tried to hunt, but there isn't much game to be had."

"Why don't we find you some food, and sit and talk?" Archie offered. At her doubtful look, he gestured widely around him. "See? Nothing's happened. Maybe I have some kind of immunity because I'm charged with listening to people's troubles. I'd like to help you with yours, if you'll let me."

She tilted her head to the side a bit. "That's your job? Really?"

He smiled at her. "Really." He put out his hand and she looked down at it, but didn't move to take it.

"Granny's makes a great burger," he said. "And her pie is the best you've ever had." He remained with his hand extended, and after another moment of hesitation, Dora finally took it.

"I'll take care of you, Dora," he said, smiling down at her. "You're going to be all right. I promise."

And Dora, to her own surprise, smiled back.

###

"Gold!" Emma pounded on the door. "Gold! Come on, I know you're in there."

"And I'm to just believe you're all alone?" came his muffled reply. "I was nearly murdered by a pirate in this very building. I don't care to repeat the experience."

"I am alone," she said. "I just want to talk. Storybrooke needs you."

She heard his mirthless laugh through the door. "Storybrooke? I'm afraid I've no interest in helping Storybrooke. Good day, Miss Swan."

"Wait!" Emma made a face and curled her hand into a fist again, resting it against the door. "Belle needs you. Henry needs you. There's been another curse."

There was a pause, and the door opened a fraction, held fast by the chain lock at the top. Rumple's eye peered out. "All right, Miss Swan. You have my attention."

"Pandora came to Storybrooke, and it sent everyone back to the darkest place in their lives," Emma explained. "We're managing to reverse the effect, but anytime she comes near anyone, bad things happen all over again. We think she's looking for her box. If we give it to her, maybe she'll go and we can all be safe again."

"Is that what she's telling you?"

"I haven't spoken to her personally," Emma said. "I just broke out of prison. I head back to Storybrooke tomorrow, but I need to know where to find that box. Belle says it's not in the shop."

"No, it's not. Am I to assume she's all right, then?"

"For now. I can't guarantee that'll hold as long as this woman is walking around looking for a box."

"Well," Rumple said. "Good luck with that." He began to close the door, and Emma stuck her foot in the way, pushing hard until the chain popped off and the door broke free.

"Dammit, Gold!" she shouted as the door flew open.

"I see you still prefer to handle things with your usual finesse," Rumple said.

"I don't have time for games," Emma retorted. "Where's the damn box?"

"And what's in it for me?"

"How about you get to keep your miserable life?" A voice said, with a great deal of menace. She turned slowly to face Killian.

"I told you to wait downstairs," she said.

"And I heard you shouting. You'll pardon me if I don't trust your safety to a man who tried to kill us both," he said darkly.

"You didn't expect a pirate to keep his word, did you, Miss Swan?" Rumple asked. "Now, if you two will excuse me..." He made a move to shut the door again, but this time, a hook embedded in it, just grazing his fingers at the edge. Rumple pulled his hand away uneasily.

"You've no one to hide behind now, Crocodile," Killian growled.

Emma deliberately stepped between them. "Me." She said it firmly. "He has me. And you need to back off. Now."

"He's not going to help us," Killian said. "And as long as he's alive, he's a threat to us all."

"As long as he's alive, we've got a better chance of finding that box," Emma repeated. She turned and looked at Rumple, who was eyeing them both with cool contempt. "Where's the box?"

"Again, I'm not hearing the part that benefits me," Rumple reminded her.

"What do you want?" she asked flatly, already half-knowing what he'd ask.

He gave her a condescending smile. "You know the answer to that."

"It's not my place to allow you back in," Emma said. "I don't even know if we can get you back in."

"I know how I might get back through the barrier," Rumple said. "But I'm going to need assurances. You have nothing to fear from me as long as Belle has the dagger. I need to know I'll be safe from certain...scurvy pirates."

"You want him to promise not to kill you?" Emma asked.

"No." Killian said over the top of her. "I won't do it."

"Then I don't see that we have anything more to discuss," Rumple said, turning to go. "Do be sure and show yourselves out."

"Wait!" Emma turned back to Killian. "You don't have to make him any promises," she said.

"Good."

"Promise me."

"What?" He looked at her as though she were mad.

"You heard me. Promise me. He wouldn't believe a promise from you, anyway, and I don't want you making deals with him ever again. So promise me."

"I can't do that," he said. "Emma, he's dangerous -"

"You think I don't know that?" She raised her eyebrows, then put a hand gently on his arm. "But you're done with vengeance. You're not that man anymore. Show me. Promise me."

He stared at her, his jaw ticking furiously. Finally his gaze shifted to Rumple, and his voice bit out:

"I'll not seek to harm him deliberately, but if he ever harms anyone again by word or action, he will be made to pay. Painfully."

"Every day I share the Earth with you is pain," Rumple said darkly.

"Great," Emma said. "Glad we got that settled." She turned back to Rumple. "I can't just allow you back in - not without discussing it with Belle first. If she says no, then we'll do this the hard way and find the box ourselves."

"I'm sure you can explain to Belle - as you did to me - that it's for the greater good."

"It might make her more inclined to extend that invitation if you surrender the location as a goodwill gesture," Emma pointed out.

"Talk to Belle," Rumple said. "I'll wait."

She rolled her eyes, stepping back into the hallway and pulling the door shut behind her. Killian fell into step next to her, but kept glancing repeatedly over his shoulder, as if expecting an attack from behind. He didn't relax his guard until they were good and clear of the building and onto the subway. Even then, he still didn't speak. He was angry - no, more like furious. She knew what that promise had cost him.

She reached over, taking his hand.

"Thank you."

He nodded, but he still didn't speak. His fingers closed around hers, though, and his hand was warm and solid.

"I know how hard that was for you."

"Do you?" he snapped. At the look on her face, he was immediately remorseful, and his eyes softened. "Emma, the man has threatened not only you, but the people you care for. And he'll do it again."

"And we'll face him again - together," she said. "I don't know if he deserves a second chance. That's not really for me to decide. But I do know he's taken enough from you. I won't let him have one bit more."

"Careful, Swan," he said, cracking a smile. "You're beginning to sound possessive."

"I don't own you, Killian."

"Don't you?" He pulled their hands up to his lips, placing a soft kiss against her knuckles. She had to break away from the heat in his gaze out of sheer self-preservation.

"This is our stop," she said, as the doors to the train opened. They stepped onto the platform and ascended up to the street, just in front of the hotel. Emma ducked under Killian's arm as he held the door.

"Always the gentleman," she smiled.

"Always a pirate," he reminded her. "I was born a gentleman."

They stepped into the elevator, and the doors closed, leaving them alone together in the car.

"And which one am I getting tonight?" she asked, throwing him a sideways glance.

His eyes darkened with interest. "Which one do you want?"

She held his gaze boldly. "Guess."

And a moment later she caught sight of them in the mirrored wall of the elevator car, as his hard body pinned hers, and his mouth captured her startled exclamation.