Hands of Time

She was surrounded by darkness. It was a terrifying darkness at that and it was also cold…so very cold. Her insides were numb and her mind was paralyzed with dread, "Hello?" Emma called her voice trembling as she tried to remain strong.

There was no response, but the only sound of heavy breathing, "Who is there?" She called out again this time sounding more anxious as she felt a shiver run up her spine and the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up as she fought to get herself under control.

The heavy breathing turned into a sinister dark laugh, "Not telling you. You already know who I am…and I know who you are Emma Swan."

Emma shook her head, finally regaining some of her control as she fought the overwhelming sense of dread, "Show yourself!" Emma yelled back her voice no longer trembling, but filled with authority from being in a royal bloodline.

The voice laughed once more as it responded, "I am not one of your peasants that you can control your highness. In fact no one controls me. I am the darkness and you my dear," the darkness dimmed and Emma gasped at the grisly sight before her, "are at my control." It enveloped her once more as she experienced a falling sensation into a dark hole.

-SNOOPYKID-

"He is not going!" Snow and Regina yelled at Hook, Gold, and David.

Henry merely stood back and watched as the adults glared hard at one another. Emma was still unresponsive in Hook's quarters. He had sat with her when Hook had called them up on the deck and announced the course of action they would have to take in order to get to the Indians, who according to Gold, would be able to help them in reviving Emma. Naturally the boy, who would soon become a knight, had volunteered in joining his two grandfathers and a pirate in making the journey ashore. This idea was accepted (rather grudgingly) from the men, but took a complete opposite turn for the women.

David sighed. He really does not want Henry coming ashore with them, however he understands the young boy in wanting to be a hero and help his mother. After seeing Emma's memory, he knows that there was no one to help her in the past and that now Henry would do anything in order to make sure that Emma was well taken care of. Also another side of him came and if he was honest he does not want Henry to see his mother looking like she was dead, "Snow, Regina…I know this is not a good idea, however-"

"No. There is nothing that you can say that will make me consent to my son going back to the damned island!" Regina snapped.

"For once I agree with Regina," Snow stated narrowing her eyes at her husband, "Emma would kill us if she found out that we let him back on to that island."

Henry stepped forward now before another retort could be made, "It is my decision," he stated his voice firm as now all eyes were on him, "I feel that I could be useful. Please," He was now looking at Regina knowing that if he could get her to say yes then the matter would close, "let me help her."

Regina knelt down and placed her hands on his shoulders, "I cannot lose you again. I will not lose you again. So the answer is-"

"But I want to help her. I need to do this." Henry pleaded now, "Besides Hook will be with us, so will Gramps, and Rumpelstiltskin. Pan is gone and so are most of the dangers. Please mom," His voice got quiet now, "please let me help Emma like she helped all of us."

Regina stood up as Gold stated, "Look we do not have much time to keep doing this. We have already wasted ten precious minutes in arguing. I do not like the idea of him coming either, however," he went to Snow and Regina and pulled them aside out of Henry's hearing rang as David and Hook stayed by the boy, "it is better than having him sitting and watching his mother in this comatose like state were as you know," he again looked at Regina, "she could lose this battle."

Regina and Snow looked at each other. Snow saw a faint spark in her step-mother's eyes. What Gold said bothered her and clearly he and Regina shared a few words about her daughter's condition. However she knew that Gold was right. Snow nodded as did Regina and they went back to the group followed by Gold, "You had better keep a close eye on him and if anything should happen to him-" Snow was cut off.

"There will be hell to pay." Regina finished.

Henry smiled brightly as he hugged both Regina and Snow at the same time, "Nothing will happen." He said firmly.

Snow and Regina looked at each other since this was the closest they have stood together in a long time, "You better stay near them. Understand?" Snow stated trying to break the awkward tension.

"Yes."

"And do not under any circumstance take un-necessary chances." Regina stated.

Henry nodded and released them and went back over to the guys who were standing by the life craft looking a bit wary. Hook coughed to break the tension, "We best be getting to land." And he climbed into the craft.

David hugged Snow, "Take care of our daughter ok?"

"What do you think?" Snow responded then looked at him seriously, "Be safe and look after him. He is Emma and Neal's son after all."

David nodded and let go as he too got into the boat followed by Henry. Gold hung back a few more seconds to give them a hand mirror, "What's this?" Regina asked.

"Two way mirror. I have the other. If something should happen on this ship, say my name and it will contact mine and vice versa." He explained, "We should be back before soon though."

Then they lowered the small vessel and watched as David rowed the small crew to shore leaving Regina and Snow standing on the deck of the Jolly Roger, "Alright Henry is gone so spill." Snow said airily.

"I do not know-" Regina started to say as her eyes narrowed.

"What did Gold say to you about Emma?" Snow asked looking at Regina, "If Henry was in this position-"

"He isn't." Regina cut her off her voice deadly looking at her step-daughter with a hard glare.

Snow sighed and said gently, "I know, however if it was, you would want the truth as to what is going on…now please Regina," she asked now her voice pleading, "what is going on with Emma? I saw the exchange that you and Gold had…Gold said something to you about Emma's condition?"

Regina turned away not being able to face Snow. She once longed to take away Snow's happiness by any means necessary…even if it meant once killing her daughter…She once dreamed of getting revenge for Daniel's death…and she once made this girl…this woman's life an unimaginable hell. However realizing that this could have been Henry, she could not bring herself to say the truth, "She will be fine. Ms. Sw-Emma," Regina corrected herself, "will be fine. She is a fighter."

Snow could tell that Regina was fighting to be the person that she once knew as a girl: the carrying and kind person that saved her life a long time ago. Snow also knew however that Regina was lying to her, not purposely trying to be deceitful like in the past, but trying to spare her feelings. Sighing once more, Snow hesitantly reached out and grabbed her arm gently, which made Regina look at her, "I know you are trying to spare me the pain…but please…tell me the truth." Regina looked away from her and began to tell Snow about the conversation she had with Gold and what he told her about Emma.

-SNOOPYKID-

Once they reached the beach, Gold led the way through the thick forest to the village of the Indians. Henry had to admit that he was slightly afraid of being back on the island after all that has happened, however he swallowed his fear as he continued to follow Gold in silence.

David looked at Henry and he could sense the uneasiness in his grandson and placed a hand on his shoulder, "It is ok to be a bit scared you know that right?"

Henry shook his head, "No it isn't. I want to be a knight. That means I have to be brave. I cannot be scared."

Before David could respond, Hook pulled the boy aside as David shot Hook a glare, "Henry, all knights get scared sometimes. It's what makes them human," Hook shared a glance at David, who realized what Hook was doing gave a nod of approval as Hook continued, "we will get her back. I promise."

Gold stopped to look back at the stragglers as Henry's voice caught his attention, "You promise?"

Hook stood up and nodded firmly, "I gave your mother my word that I would help get you back, so I now make the promise to you that we will get your mother back."

Henry looked up at him, then to David who nodded, then to Gold who was not looking at them, but then Henry's gaze shifted back to Hook, "Alright. Let's do this!"

"Aye let's do this." Hook responded ruffling the boy's hair as he looked at Gold, but then frowned slightly seeing Gold's gaze shift slightly to the sky.

"Alight dearies can we be on our way please?" Gold asked his voice crisp and slightly exaggerated as he limped forward into the woods. No one spoke as they continued to follow him.