Hello again readers! And thank you for bearing with my painfully slow updates (well, for me, anyway). I'm putting the finishing touches on my latest novel (so check my author blog in for details - it's breaking soon) and I've got a solid writing gig that's eating some time. I'll try to get at least 2-3 chapters a week up until this one is done, and I'm hoping to tie that out to the end of the season (or shortly after). Then to get us all through till Season 5...(drumroll, please!)...I'll be debuting my next fic: "Twice Upon A Dream." Yep, you guessed it - Killian and Emma are going back to dreamland, and this time, they'll be taking the Outlaw Queen with them! So, if you have any dream worlds you'd like either or both pair to visit, PM me! Your ideas led to some awesome scenarios last time around! In the meantime, we have a story to get to...

"Okay," Emma said, leaning her elbows on the table and looking at Gold. "Tell us where you put the box."

"Before I reveal its location," Gold said, "It might be best if I tell you about the box itself. You're dealing with forces that you might not want to unleash."

"You had no qualms about unleashing that force while we were in Neverland," Regina reminded him.

"Precisely," Gold said. "We were in another realm. The opening of this particular box comes with a frequently nasty side-effect."

"The troubles of the world," Emma said.

"No. That particular curse had already been unleashed when I received the box, much to my dismay," he explained. "The side-effect I'm discussing is the notice of the beings who owned that particular box."

"The gods of Olympus," Regina said. "But you opened it when we got back to Storybrooke."

"I didn't have much choice," he reminded her. "Or would you rather I'd have left Henry trapped inside?"

She gave him a look and he continued. "When nothing proceeded our opening of the box, I had hoped we'd managed to avoid any notice, but with our visitor here, it's nearly a sure bet that our luck won't hold."

"Why did you keep it, if it's so damn dangerous?" Emma pointed out. "Why take a chance?"

"The box was still a powerful magical object, even without the curse," he said. "And I have found it useful, upon the odd occasion."

"So Epimetheus tried to sell it to you?" David asked. "Even though the curse had been released?"

"He was seeking protection," Gold said. "He'd made the deal before he opened the box, and he thought I wouldn't notice. I did, of course, which meant I was in no way bound to deliver on my end."

"So you refused him?" Snow clarified.

"No. I gave him a simple protection spell," Gold said. "It didn't shield him at all from what was hunting him, but he didn't catch the common cold again, either."

"You can cure the common cold?" Henry asked, his eyes wide.

"Henry." Emma rolled her eyes.

"What? That's so cool!"

"Back to the subject at hand," Killian said tersely.

"Apt, coming from you," Gold retorted before he continued. "Epimetheus left, he didn't live to see another sunrise, and I made a hasty exit before the box was discovered to be in my possession."

"Was Epimetheus alone?" Snow asked. "Did he have a child with him?"

"He was alone," Gold said. "If there was a child, he'd disposed of it long before he got to me."

"Or the curse whisked the baby away somewhere," Emma said.

"It doesn't work that way."

Dora's voice was soft, hesitant. They'd all almost forgotten she was there, since she insisted on sitting far to the back of the room, concerned as she was for everyone's safety.

"Babes are untouched by the curse, or so it has been," she said. "I think because their innocence protects them. Most haven't lived through dark times to be sent back to them."

Her chin quivered a bit. "He must have...done something," her voice was clogged with tears. "Perhaps he sold her. Or..." She couldn't go on, and Archie reached a supportive arm around her.

"We don't know that, Dora. You said she was the child of a god - could one of them have recognized her? Taken her back to Olympus?"

"Can demi-gods live in Olympus?" Robin asked.

"It's frowned upon," Dora replied, "However it wasn't unheard of. But Hope was the child of Zeus. Hera would have killed her the moment she realized what she was."

"Maybe he hid her somewhere?" Emma replied.

Dora stood abruptly. "Don't you see? There is no hiding from them! Without me to protect her, she couldn't have survived. She's dead. My daughter is dead." She started for the door, and Archie reached out to grab her arm.

"Stop!" She cried out, and David shouted "Archie!"

It was too late - he was gone. Vanished in an instant, and Dora stood shaking, her hand clasped over her mouth in horror.

David was out of his chair and moving toward Dora a second later, despite Snow shouting his name, and Henry right behind him as Emma lunged across the table to stop him. Her fist closed around the tail of Henry's shirt, and then she was holding nothing but air.

"I - I'm s-sorry! I'm so sorry!" Dora shrieked, and she turned and ran for the door, pushing through and out into the night. Snow rushed over to where David lay on the ground, slowly rolling him over. His eyes were wide, unfocused. He clawed at his side, and Snow reached up under his shirt, lifting it.

And then she stared in horror at the Dreamshade, creeping toward his heart.

###

"We'll find him Swan. We just need to think."

"What if he's in Neverland, Killian? I'm surprised he wasn't sent there to begin with." Her frightened eyes met his, and he pulled her in, holding her close.

"We need to find Ariel. She can locate the boy if he's in Neverland. And there's nothing there that can hurt him anymore."

"Wild boars? Dreamshade? Marauding pirates? Who knows?" Emma spluttered.

"We don't know that he's there," Killian said. "He could be here, but unable to call us. Think, Swan."

"My father is dying of Dreamshade poisoning, and we have nothing to make an elixir with. My son is missing. I can't think!"

Regina stood up and headed for the door. "I've had enough," she bit out.

Emma looked up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find that walking calamity and she's going to tell me where Henry is. And then I'm going to lock her up for the safety of everyone in this town."

"You're going to put her in jail?" Robin raised his brows.

"Why not? We used it when the Snow Queen rained discord on our heads - and if she's as concerned as she seems to be, I think she'll agree it's the safest place for her, short of burying her in a tomb somewhere."

Emma suddenly froze. "Burying her..." she murmured.

"What's that, Swan?" Killian picked up on her mood instantly.

"I think I might know where Archie is...and maybe Henry, too. We need Leroy!"

"The mines!" Regina nodded. "That's right - they might be trapped again.

"Take Pongo," David gasped. "He helped last time." He struggled to sit up.

"Take it easy," Emma advised. "The less you exert yourself, the better."

"There's nothing you can do?" Snow turned pleading eyes to Gold. "Don't you remember how you made the elixir?"

"Of course I do," Gold replied. "But as Miss Swan pointed out - I have none of the original water to replicate."

"It's hopeless," David said grimly. Snow buried her head on his chest, and had just started sobbing when Killian's voice broke in.

"I wouldn't say that, mate," he replied. "It just so happens I came here from Neverland. And as a precaution, I filled my flask with water from the spring." At Emma's disbelieving look, he continued. "I didn't want to be caught without it if I should run into a patch of Dreamshade. I've enough here to revive you, and the rest can be made into the elixir." His eyes held Gold's and Gold stared back, unblinking.

"Killian!" Snow ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "Oh my God, thank you!"

He handed her the flask and she knelt next to David, who took it from her, tipping it up and taking a healthy swallow - which he immediately coughed and choked on.

"It's working," Snow replied, staring down at the skin on his side, and the reversing path of the Dreamshade. In moments, he was fully healed.

"That tasted like rum!" David said, wiping his mouth.

"Probably because it was rum," Killian said, taking his flask back from Snow.

David was good and confused. "I don't understand," he said. "How am I not dead?"

"You didn't need the water, mate. You only needed the hope." Killian saluted him with the flask before helping himself to a drink.

"Brilliant!" Snow said, clearly impressed.

"Nice of you to notice," Killian said cheekily. "Now, how do we get to Henry?"

"Down the elevator would be fastest," Regina replied. "And David is right - Pongo can sniff them out faster than going alone."

"You're still going after Dora?"

"Yes," Regina replied. "And I'm taking him with me." She tilted her head over at Gold.

"I'd prefer to sit and wait, if you don't mind," he replied.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight," Regina replied. "And you're going to take us to the box, while we're at it."

"I'm with Regina," Robin said.

"And so am I." Snow reached for her coat. "I know what it's like to be treated like a pariah. She needs a friend."

Emma nodded. "See if you can get her to voluntarily go down to the station - for her own good. If she refuses...we'll come up with another plan. I won't force her into a cell."

"We'll be diplomatic," Regina said, prompting Gold to give her a thoroughly snarky look. They filed out, leaving David with Killian and Emma.

"That's twice now you've saved my life," David said, extending his hand.

"Does this mean I'm allowed to date your daughter?" Killian asked.

David smiled. "I'll be out in the truck," he said, following the others through the door.

Killian started after him, but Emma pulled him back around.

"Hey," she said. "I think I owe you something."

He gave her a crooked grin and she pulled him closer, her fingers wrapped around the collar of his jacket. "I think it went something like...this," she said, kissing him long and lingeringly.

"I think I left my cellphone -" David's voice registered, but it didn't interrupt them. "Oh, for Pete's sake!" he fumed. "Can you just...not?"

Emma pulled back sheepishly and Killian looked over her shoulder at David.

"She owed me," he said with a shrug.

David raised a protesting hand. "Please. I don't want to know. Let's just...get Henry and Archie." He turned on his heel and headed back out the door, and Emma was pulled in again, as Killian kissed her once more.

"I'll save his damned life every day," he growled against her lips. "I'll even do his laundry, if this is the reward."

"Do my laundry," Emma smirked. "Eliminate the middleman."

"Deal." He dropped one more light kiss on her lips. "Now, let's go save Henry...again."