A/N: thanks to my amazing Beta Reader Clare! I'm so sorry for the delays but it is taking me longer to write this story! While my muse is there - it doesn't seem to like anything I write! Thanks to the two who left reviews last chapter! I appreciate all the kind words and support! I hope you enjoy this chapter! I will be posting it to Tumblr later! If you don't already follow me there - please look me up (same name as here!)
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Emma had woken up the morning after their date in pure bliss. She had been worried she would forget everything they had done, every word that he said, every feeling that she had – so she did the only thing she could think of. She stumbled our of bed and moved to her desk in order to write everything down. She recounted every she took from the moment she awoke in her dream world to the moment she walked away from him and into the forest.
She had a wonderful time with him – felt more comfortable with him than with anyone else she had ever met. She loved Ingrid, but she never really felt that Ingrid understood her – at least in the way Killian understood her. She had friends at school, but none of them could empathize with her, it was hard being abandoned by a parent, let alone two. Killian was the only one who really understood her, who really got her.
Yet, she knew she couldn't keep allowing herself to think like this. He was just a dream after all. Could she really allow herself to keep thinking that he was something he wasn't? Yes, she had an amazing time last night; and yes, she wished that she didn't have to wake it; but in the end, she knew that this was all too good to be true. She didn't deserve the happy ending that was awaiting her in her dreams.
When Emma went to school she was distracted to say the least. She couldn't focus in any of her classes – including her favorite science class. She caught herself daydreaming more than a few times: scenes of Killian being real and actually joining her in school took over while she was in Math class. While she was in English during individual reading time, while she was reading one of her favorite teen book series, she dreamt she was back in the clearing with him, with him reading her stories while her head rested on his lap.
Music class passed rather uneventful, but she found herself wondering if Killian knew how to sing. She somehow believed he could, and not only that, but he was really good at it. During lunch she found herself reliving the dinner while she ate crappy lunchroom food – wishing that she had some chocolate cake right about now. The rest of the school day went the same way. One of her only friends actually asked her about it.
"What is going on with you Em? You seem out of it?" Tricia asked her. She had known Tricia for a few years. They weren't the best of friends, but she was someone Emma had come to rely on to at least talk to her during the day. Before Tricia and her friends came along, Emma tended to be a loner.
"Nothing, I just didn't sleep very well." She lied. She felt rested when she woke up that morning. Killian – or even just the dreams of him – made her feel better, helped her to cope better.
Thankfully Tricia didn't push the subject and off they went – each to their respective houses. Ingrid wouldn't be home for a few hours. Her mother worked at the local diner. It wasn't a terrific job, but her mother managed the diner and got to make their own ice cream during the summer. Plus, Emma was able to get free food anytime she wanted.
She headed right upstairs to read what she had written that morning. She wanted to relive every detail of that night. Maybe, just maybe, it would help her stop thinking about him. She needed to cut it out. She needed to move on. Knowing her track record with dreams, she wouldn't see him again for a while, or if she did, a lot of time she was sure would pass. Maybe reading the details, she could get him out of her head – like when you listen to a song that has been stuck in your head all day – once you listen to it, it disappears.
Later that night, as she was trying to fall asleep, something called to her – something drew her to the window. She looked up at the night sky, and immediately locked on Cygnus. It was like everything came to a halt in that moment – she wasn't quite sure how to describe the feelings that were overtaking her. Looking at that constellation, it was as if everything was suddenly righted in the world. Like it didn't matter if Killian wasn't real, it didn't matter that she only dreamt of him. The only thing that mattered was there was hope. She couldn't explain it well – all she knew was that in the back of her mind, something was telling her that everything was going to work out in the end.
She knew it was something she could hold on to when she woke up in that small village once again. Earlier in the day, when she was scolding herself for even letting herself believe this place could be real, she would have been pissed she was dreaming of the seaside village again. Yet, after staring at the stars for so long, she couldn't help but think of the village as she fell asleep, and she was actually quite glad to be back. While she loved Ingrid, she never felt more at home here.
It couldn't be more than ten in the morning. The sun wasn't too high in the sky and the bakery was still open. The smell of fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls filled the air as she walked by the open windows. She was in different clothing – her red dress nowhere to be found. She still had a while until the tavern would be open and she could talk to Sarah. She needed to find out exactly how much time had passed. Looking into the bakery it couldn't have been that long – since the baker was the same plump man who had been working there for years, and his beard still hadn't grown back from when he burnt it off.
She looked off in the distance and didn't see the ship anywhere in sight though, and she would be lying if her heart didn't break in that moment. She began to venture father into the town, down the side streets that she used to walk. She walked past the old house that once belonged to his family. For years it had been boarded up, and nothing had changed.
She ran into Sarah a bit later, after she took the time to walk off her disappointment. Sarah was walking into the tavern when their eyes met.
"Emma! How was it?" she asked with quite a lot of excitement. She knew she must have been talking about the date she had, which only meant one thing – no time must have passed between now and then. Sarah was a constant in her dreams – just like the village. She was always there, to let her know how much time had passed. However, unlike Killian, she never really had any in depth conversations with the woman.
"It was wonderful actually." She confessed, a bit of blush rushing to her cheeks. It was more than wonderful, but it couldn't happen again.
"It was more than that; I can tell. Tell me what happened?" Her friend begged.
"You tell me first, how did yours go?" Emma countered – hoping to not have to relive the memory again. It was different reliving it when you were alone, but telling it to a friend made it even more real and Emma wasn't sure if she could handle that.
"Oh, it was amazing!" Sarah gushed.
"Who was it with?" Emma asked.
"The Captain! Can you believe it? The Captain asked me to meet him!" her friend was really happy about "landing" the Captain. Emma was less excited. It wasn't that Liam was a bad guy, she just wasn't sure he liked her. "He met me on the docks and took me on a horse ride up to the lake, we ate in one of the little towns along the way. We sat up underneath the stars and talked almost all night."
"Sarah, that sounds amazing! I'm so happy for you. But where is the ship then if you all were out almost all night?" Emma finally asked, needing to know. Maybe she could then avoid Killian, not wanting to break his heart any more. She couldn't let this continue. It was one thing to let the dream people have relationships, but she couldn't have one with him. Or could she?
"Oh, he said they needed to move the ship a little farther up the coast, I don't know why, but he said it had to be done. He said the crew would be back by midday, as they will be making quarters here until they leave in a few days – in order to make restocking easier." She explained. "But why don't you tell me about your date, while I make us some lunch?"
"Killian did something similar for me. We hiked up to the overlook and ate a meal under the stars. It was actually really sweet and nice. No one has ever done anything special for me before." she confessed. It was true. While Ingrid did wonderful things for her - it was nothing like what Killian did. It was different. Having your mom do something nice for you is so much different than having a boyfriend do something for you.
Shit - did she really just think that Killian was her boyfriend? She was getting way too far involved and invested in this dream. She had to keep reminding herself that everything was just a dream. Nothing was real here. Nothing. No one.
However, something also told Emma that it was OK to get invested a bit - that there was nothing wrong with it - as long as she knew in the end that this was a dream. What was the harm in actually enjoying the time she had here?
The girls talked a bit more - just simple things. They discussed how the weather had been lately. For October, it was surprisingly warm. They hadn't had snow in a few years. There were rumors it was because of an evil sorcerer who had vanished for a while in search of something; but Emma just called it global warming. They discussed how the town had faired since the ship had landed. Her mother's shop had seen triple the amount of business in the past two days, which was good. Emma then noticed the tavern had become a bit busier. Men had started to enter and fill up the room - all becoming very loud and boisterous. Sarah noticed Emma's stares at the men.
"Yes, that's the crew. They must have finished with the ship," she explained, which only meant one thing in Emma's mind - Killian. She quickly excused herself in hopes of walking around the town and finding him.
She searched at the fountain first; taking a seat on her bench and watching the people pass her by. She waited there for a while, just in case he would show up. She didn't want to take the chance of missing him. She had decided - for the final time - that she was going to let this dream advance in whatever way her brain wanted. She wasn't going to stop thinking about him; she wasn't going to push him from her mind. She must need it, if she kept dreaming about him. Yes, she knew it was a dream, but in the same thought stream she had last night and the night before - why not let it happen? There was no harm being done, so why not let it play out?
She decided she wasn't going to hide anymore. She wasn't going to try and stop dreaming about him. But she also wasn't going to force herself to dream, and she was going to stop daydreaming about him too. If she was going to let her dreams progress, they were only going to progress there.
After waiting at the fountain for a while, something told her he wasn't going to show up there. In fact, something told her he wasn't going to come looking for her either. She knew that while the kiss they shared last night was special, she also knew he was a bit disappointed that she didn't respond in kind when he confessed some of his feelings for her - she could read it on his face. She was going to have to be the one to move the relationship forward from now on.
All of a sudden there was a feeling in Emma's gut - something swirling, and pulling her to walk towards the clearing. It was like a magical tether was pulling her towards the spot where she shared that first intense kiss with him. OK, it wasn't that intense, but as first kisses go, she would have to say it probably ranked in the top 10 first kisses in the history of mankind. Right up there with Buttercup and Westley. She had always loved The Princess Bride, and had dreamed that one day she would find someone she felt so strongly about, that she would be willing to die for. And in that moment, when her lips touched his for the first time, she had that feeling.
As she walked through the forest and out to the clearing she caught sight of him. There he was in all of his glory - standing and looking out at the sea. She could feel the tension in his body, but she didn't understand why. As if he sensed her standing there, gawking at him (or maybe he heard her approach), he turned around to take her in. A small smile crossed his face, but it was nothing compared to the smiles he had given her before. This one held some sadness, some concern.
"Hello Emma." was all he said. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't that welcoming either. It was a drastic change from the man she had kissed the night before.
"I've been looking for you," she explained, not really giving him a greeting.
"And you have found me." he countered. He was selling her short on conversation and things were awkward to say the least.
"Killian, what's wrong?" she questioned, moving to place herself right in front of him. She was close enough that if she wanted to fold herself inside on his arms, she could easily do so. Yet, she stood back. He hadn't held his arms out to her, and he wasn't welcoming her.
"Nothing Swan." she almost rolled her eyes at him. He was lying. She knew it.
"Cut the crap. What is going on? I thought you would be happy to see me? Why are you acting as if last night hadn't happened?" she asked, thinking that it was the only thing that could be wrong.
"Is that what you think? That I didn't enjoy my time last night with you?" he questioned, allowing his face to relax. He didn't seem so upset anymore.
"What else could it be? You didn't come find me this morning, you didn't look, and now you are acting as if me coming to find you was wrong." she explained her thinking.
He moved quickly, reaching out with one hand, pulling her close. She folded into his embrace - she placed her cheek upon his chest and finally felt better. Her arms circled around his body and squeezed so she wouldn't let go. His arms came to wrap around her back, his hands rubbing circles into the fabric of her dress. She could hear him breathe in her hair, taking her all in.
"Love, last night was one of the best nights of my whole existence. However, when you left, I was worried that I may never see you again. Something in the way you kissed me, told me that I may never get that chance again. I walked back to the Jewel in a haze, praying to the gods for one more opportunity to see you. I looked to the stars and they didn't comfort me in the way I was hoping. Then, Liam told me something. Instead of departing in a fortnight, which was the plan, we are now departing tomorrow. I am unsure for how long either - and I was worried that I wouldn't see you again before I leave. I am sorry for my behavior - I guess I was just trying to protect you and myself. We don't know where we are going or what our job entails," he confessed, looking down at her, trying to meet her eyes.
He was just as scared, as she was that they would never see each other again. It was like they were attached in their souls - both of them scared of what this relationship could mean and just how hurt they could get.
"Well, here we are. No need worrying anymore." she said, looking up at him.
"But I'm leaving tomorrow." he said.
"And that is what you are worried about?" she questioned.
"Aye, we don't have much time together, and each time we move forward in whatever this is," he gestured between them "one of us is called off and its years before we see each other again. It's already too painful." She could see the pain in his eyes, and she understood where he was coming from. This was why she didn't want this to go any further, sure he may just be a dream, but in here, he was real. He had feelings. She also felt the same way. The more they got to know each other, the more dependent on him she became. Over the past few years, it was hard for her to go a few days without thinking about him - and this time she knew it would be harder, especially since she felt so intensely for him.
"I know, but wouldn't we rather cherish the time we have together, and remember everything we shared than spend our next separation in pain? We don't know why we always seem to miss each other, and we don't know how long we have or how long it will be until we see each other again. But why don't we make this time we have count? I would rather spend this time with you, than alone wishing I was with you." with her confession, which didn't really seem like her, but for some reason in this world, she had hope overflowing, she pulled him down to meet her.
His lips hit hers in a similar fashion to the previous night, but the control that was in the previous kiss was absent. Their kiss was passionate, their bodies unable to get close enough to one another. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer to him, as his lips assaulted hers. She couldn't get enough of him. Her tongue darted out to touch his lips, and she heard a groan escape his throat. Too soon, their tongues met in a dance that was new to the both of them. While Emma may have never kissed a boy before Killian, she had seen plenty of movies and read plenty of books. And she could tell that what she was doing was right.
However, way too soon for her wanting, he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. He was panting at the same speed she was - trying to catch their breath from the intense moment they just shared. Emma had never felt anything like it - and thought she would never feel anything like it again.
"I don't want to leave," he said quietly, a little louder than a whisper.
"I don't want you to leave either, but you must. It's your duty. Besides, I know we will see each other again. Nothing will change - the feelings I have for you will stay the same." she knew what she was saying was true, but also didn't fully tell him what she was feeling - she didn't think she was ready to admit that she was falling in love with a dream.
They spent the day together in the clearing. However, as the sun began to set, they ventured back down to the town to get some food. They sat in the tavern for the rest of the night, their hands entwined and shoulders touching. She wanted to savor each moment she had with him, because she knew in her heart that while they may see each other again, she didn't know when it would be.
As the night came to a close, she walked Killian towards the outskirts of town where a horse waited for him. It was his ride back to the ship that was hidden a bit inland to protect it. He couldn't tell her what was going on, but she knew that when he left, he was going to be in danger. Her eyes welled up with tears as they said their final goodbyes.
"Love, please don't cry. Please, I can't stand it." he begged, pulling her into his embrace, his voice cracking under the pressure of the situation. She could tell her was on the edge of emotions too.
"I'm sorry, I'm just going to miss you," she said, she didn't add that she was worried he could be injured or worse. She didn't want him distracted.
"And I you. And don't you worry, I will head back as soon as I can and in one piece, because my heart is will be waiting here for me." he said, his sweet words helping to comfort her. She knew he felt the same way about her that she did for him. Yes, it was way too soon, but she felt the love radiating off of him.
"Killian, I…" she began, but he cut her off with a searing kiss. Her tears kept streaming down her face, coating their lips. She brought her hands up from his waist to cup his cheeks, hoping to keep him close.
"Don't love. Do you trust me?" he asked once the kiss had ended.
"What?" she questioned confused by the kiss and the question.
"Do you trust me?" he said, reaching out his hand to meet hers that had fallen to her side.
"Yes." she said, no falter in her words, as she grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers.
"Then wait for me. Trust that I will be back, that I will come back home to you. Trust that what we have is strong enough to wear any storm. Trust that everything I do is only to make my way back to you." he said, staring into her emerald eyes.
"I trust you," she repeated.
"Wait for me." he said, pulling into one final goodbye kiss.
The kiss was unlike the kisses they had shared throughout the day - and there were many. They were both young, and spent most of the afternoon kissing in the clearing. This kiss however, was filled with so much love and compassion. There wasn't much passion behind the kiss, but that didn't bother her, because this one meant more. It was like all of his feelings for her were being poured into this kiss. His arms wrapped around her body, tightening to keep her close.
He quickly pulled back, taking her hand in his again, and walked them over to his horse, that he quickly mounted after he gave her hand a tight squeeze. Once he was on the steed, he reached for her hand one more time - one last connection before he was off. She moved closer to the horse to plant a kiss on his hand. The final goodbye.
They didn't say anything before he rode off, tears streaming down her face. She didn't know if she could have even talked at this point. Her heart was breaking.
As he rode off into the forest, in the direction of his ship. She composed herself. She was going to wake up in the morning. This was all going to be a dream. She told herself in that moment - she would see him again. It didn't matter how long it took her, she was going to trust him and trust what they had. Dream world be damned - she was going to be with him again.
They had done it. The compass was currently in their possession - kept away from Cora, and they were well on their way to heading back to Storybrooke. She was thankful that the giant didn't turn out to be such a bad character as he could have been. Something registered with her when she was speaking to him. He was lonely - something she was familiar with. However, she now had a new family and her old one. She now had a son; one she never thought she would see again. Her life was really changing.
Killian, or Hook, was back in her life. She hadn't really decided what she was going to be calling him. Most of the time, she called him Killian, but it didn't always feel right. He wasn't the same person she knew from her dreams. He was distant and cold at times, revenge clouded his judgment and the years were rough on him; however, he did prove there was some of the same man still in there when he saved her from the giant.
As they descended the beanstalk she couldn't help but think about their next steps. She told him he would have to prove himself in order for them to take him back to Storybrooke. She was unwilling to budge on that. He needed to show that revenge wasn't as important anymore. Yet, she was worried that he wouldn't be able to give up that revenge. She didn't know if she could actually leave him behind. He was special to her, even though she hated to admit that. He had shaped much of her childhood and young adult life. Could she really leave him behind simply because his 300 year old vendetta couldn't be turned around overnight. And if she was telling herself the truth, Rumplestiltskin or Gold or whoever the hell he may be, probably deserved it.
As they were a few hundred feet from the ground, they had just passed through the cloud layer that hung around the stalk; a large tremble came from within. The whole beanstalk was shaking. It reminded Emma all too well of when the giant came barreling towards them in the central hall. At first, she thought it may have been the giant, deciding to go back on his words, but then she glanced at her watch. The sands in the preverbal hourglass had run out. Mulan was actually cutting down the beanstalk.
"What the bloody hell was that?" she heard Killian question from a few paces above her.
"I think Mulan is cutting down the stalk!" she cried out, trying to move more quickly down the trunk.
"Why would she do that?" he screamed, the look of confusion crossing his face.
"Because I told her to." Emma explained, but didn't elaborate on.
With a bit more motivation, the pair moved quickly down the stalk. What should have taken them an half an hour, ended up being only 10 minutes, once Emma put her back into it. She was jumping down most of the way. They had to get down before the stalk came crumbling down on top of them. Thankfully, they only have one other quake - soon after the first. As they landed on solid ground - which Emma had never been more thankful for - she saw her mother and Mulan in a heated argument, and were they really about to throw punches?
"Stop!" Emma yelled, gaining the attention of the group. Her mother registered her presence, and ran directly into her arms.
"Emma! You okay?" she asked, looking at her daughter. It warmed Emma's heart a bit to see her mother give her the once over, silently checking for any injuries. Her mother's eyes also did a pass over on Hook, yet the admiration and love disappeared from her eyes as she did it. Yet, there was a look of thanks that did cross her face.
"I did what you ordered. Did you get it?" Mulan said, moving to stand next to Aurora who had been trying to get the ladies to stop fighting.
"Yeah I did." She pulled out the compass to show them their small victory.
"Thank you," came Aurora's voice, "Both of you." she added, looking at Killian, who was still hanging back.
"You are most certainly welcome princess. Now if I can recommend we move away from this wretched place and find cover. We are unsure where Cora is hiding, and it's best that we get moving." She nodded at his comments, and they began to pack up their items, moving towards the tree line.
"You told her to cut it down?" Mary Margaret questioned Emma, holding onto her arm, refusing to let her avoid the conversation.
"Yes. I couldn't risk -" she began, before her mother cut her off with a giant hug.
"We go back together. That is the only way. Do you understand?" she said into Emma's ear. Emma almost started crying at that point. No one had ever really wanted to save her the way her mother wanted her to. Sure Killian had cared about her when she thought she was dreaming, and Ingrid was a wonderful adoptive parent, but there was just something in Mary Margaret's words that soothed Emma and made her long for her family even more.
"Yeah." she hugged her mother back.
"Good. Now let's get that dust from Cora and go home!" Mary Margaret exclaimed, looking like the true Snow White again.
It didn't take that long to actually figure out a plan to get the dust back. They had made camp a few miles away from the beanstalk. They weren't heading in any specific direction yet, since they weren't quite sure where Cora was. However, Aurora was getting tired and Emma couldn't lie, she could use a good night's rest. Mulan was making camp when Killian approached her.
"We need to get the dust from Cora sooner than later. The longer we wait, the longer she has to plan an attack. We can't fight her off if she attacks - even though I am pretty handy with a sword, I can't fight magic." he explained, a hint of laughter filling his face when he said the word handy. At least he still had humor about his hand. If he had humor, than maybe, just maybe, he could get over his revenge.
"I know, but we don't even know where she is. We can't just go barging into every random castle looking for her, and we can't attack her." she concurred. Her mother had set up near the pair, resting her back against a log. Aurora laid her head on her mother's lap. According to Mary Margaret on their walk to the site, Aurora had been having trouble sleeping. She was plagued with nightmares ever since she was under a sleeping curse. Her mother had them too at times. It made her worry about Henry. Was he having the same dreams? Was he doing OK without her?
"Maybe we can." her mother said, trying not to disturb the sleeping princess.
"How?" Mulan questioned, she had gotten the fire started and Emma could now clearly see everyone's faces.
"Well, we draw her out into the open. It would be five against one. Sure, she has magic, but if she is distracted, maybe one of us could get the dust. She won't shy away from us either." her mother explained.
"So you are suggesting we outright fight Cora, while one of us sneaks behind her and pickpockets her?" Killian asked, moving to stand in the circle that was now forming around Mary Margaret.
"Yes." her mother answered matter of factly.
"You have to be bloody kidding me! Your majesty, we will be walking into a battle that we already lost." he cried, looking around at the group, Emma could tell he was hoping someone would agree with him. He made sense - now that she was really thinking about it. Could the five of them - in reality really only four of them since Aurora wasn't a warrior - really take on Cora and win?
"He has a point. We may not be able to win at all, are we willing to risk it?" She added.
"We don't really have much choice do we? We have to get back to Henry, to our world, and we cannot just keep sitting around doing nothing. I would rather die fighting to get back to my family, than wondering around this realm hoping to one day get back. Besides, Cora may look scary, but I know we can beat her." her mother rallied.
"And how do you know?" Mulan questioned.
"I have hope." was all her mother said.
In the end, that is exactly what they planned on doing. Turns out the story of Snow White isn't too farfetched, her mother really did have a way with animals. She sent word with a blue bird to Cora to meet them. They were to meet Cora at the village where they arrived. Killian said his ship was nearby, so once they got the wardrobe remains, they could use them to get back with the compass using his ship. Aurora was to wait in the shadows with the compass, just in case anything bad was to happen. Mulan and Emma were going to be fighting Cora and her magic. However, they were having a hard time figuring out who would pickpocket Cora.
"I'll do it. I know exactly where she keeps it. I can get close enough to her to get it." Killian stated.
"Over my dead body! We can't trust you. I'll do it. I have the experience," her mother countered.
"Oh really, how long has it been since you've had to do something like this? You're rusty, I on the other hand," he said while raising his hook in a flourish, "have experience beyond your years and haven't been out of the game. As for you trusting me, you'll just have to learn. I haven't done anything to hinder your quest so far - in fact; I've gone out of my way to help. Believe me, I am your best bet." he exclaimed.
Both of them looked at Emma. It seems that she was now the leader of their pack, and all decisions now ran through her. And truthfully, she wasn't quite sure which to pick. Her mother had a point; Killian had said he was just in this for revenge, among other things, and how sure was she that he would give it up? Could he turn on them, just as he turned on Cora? He was a pirate after all, and he went whichever way the wind took him - and if the winds were in Cora's favor to get to Storybrooke, is that where he would go? However, looking at him, she didn't feel like he would betray her. He did make a compelling argument. Her mother was out of practice and could sometimes act irrational. Could her mother really pull this off, especially if Emma was fighting and could become injured?
"Killian's right. You're out of practice in that sense, but we could use your fighting abilities. Mulan has a sword and I am only OK with it, but you have a bow and arrow, which I am sure, will come in handy. Hook can make the snatch. Besides, Cora may be more willing to let him come close than you." Emma decided.
Once the plan was executed, they would head to Hook's ship. He explained that the magic in his ship would activate the wardrobe dust, which once thrown in the water, would open a portal and they would just need to use the compass to direct their journey. Emma was a tad bit worried about that though. The compass hadn't stopped spinning since they got it. She had an idea though.
"Mary Margaret, I want you to take the compass for now," she said, handing the object over.
Her thoughts were correct, the compass stopped spinning instantly. It annoyed her that something was blocking her from getting back to Henry, and she couldn't understand what it was. All she wanted was to be home and to be with her family, yet the stupid compass wasn't working for her. It was all settled, it looked like her mother would be directing them home.
They were all waiting at their assigned spots, the minutes slowly ticking by until Cora was to arrive - at the stroke of noon. Aurora was hidden in a building farther away from the town center - in hopes that her position would stay private. If Emma or Mary Margaret didn't come and get her before nightfall, she was to destroy the compass by any means necessary. Her mother was stationed near the tavern had eaten at so many times - her bow and arrow at the ready - hoping to draw all of Cora's attention away from where Emma hid with Hook. Mulan was positioned a few paces away from her mother. They were all ready to go - and her watch told her they would need to be - only two minutes remains until they hoped Cora would appear.
"Everything is going to work out love." Killian said next to her. He could sense her anxiety. She was worried everything was going to go to shit and she would never see Henry again. She was petrified that she would die here - that everything she had gained in just a few short days - her mother, her father, her son, hell, even Killian - would all just disappear.
"I hope so. I hope that I am not wrong about trusting you." She spoke with a hint of anger in her voice. Ever since choosing him to find the remains of her childhood wardrobe, she had a bad feeling in her stomach. She wanted to trust Killian with everything she had - he had once been so important to her, shaped who she was; but now she wasn't quite sure. Could she really trust him? Why did she choose now to question his loyalty? Yet, they didn't have any other options - she needed to know what his decision would be.
"Emma, look at me." he begged, grabbing onto her hand, "You said you wanted me to give up this whole revenge plan and that I needed to prove to you my intentions. Well, that is what I am going to do."
She noticed something in him in that moment. The sincerity in his voice helped her to believe what he was saying as true, but something in his eyes pushed all the worry and the doubt out of her system. She did trust him; somehow she would always trust him.
"It's noon!" she heard Mulan yell out from across the square.
Anticipation rose through the air. It reminded Emma of when she would wait for a concert to begin or fireworks to be set off. Electricity buzzed through her. She could feel Killian's adrenaline pulsing through his veins - he hadn't let go of her hand and it was oddly comforting.
Suddenly the air around them cracked. It wasn't loud, but you could feel the static in the air. It reminded Emma of the summer thunderstorms she used to witness when she lived with Ingrid. The air sizzled before the storm came - always making the hairs on her arm stand at attention. A cloud of red smoke appeared in the center of the square - right where Emma had waited for Killian on their first date. Cora appeared from within the smoke - in the same gown she had been wearing the first time she met her.
Her mother stepped out from the tavern, her arrow pointed right at Cora's heart. Cora's attention was immediately draw to Mary Margaret and a cackle came from her throat.
"You can't harm me dear. Now, just give me the compass - which I know you have - and we can all be on our way. I've been waiting a long time to be with my daughter, and I will not have you ruining it again." she spoke.
Mary Margaret released the arrow and it went whizzing towards Cora. Everything then happened very quickly - the plan was in action. Cora was now busy fighting the once fierce Snow White. She had sent the first arrow flying in another direction before it hit her; but now Cora was a sending fireball straight for her mother's head. However, Emma couldn't pay attention to that - she ran to meet up with Mulan, their swords at the ready. They were going to charge her from the other side - allowing Killian to sneak up behind Cora and take the remains.
They charged at Cora, blocking fireballs with their swords. Emma's heart was racing. Cora's attention was drawn on the three women in front of her. The two with swords were closet to her, providing the biggest issue. Emma wasn't paying much attention to what was going on around her - focusing every sense to Cora. The woman was actually laughing and taunting them - well taunting them as well as the witch could. Emma really didn't think calling her a little girl was an insult; but yet it annoyed her that Cora kept calling her that.
While Emma was fighting Cora - and while arrows where whizzing towards the women - no one noticed Hook slowly walking up behind Cora, still covered in the shadows. However, someone did notice.
"Stop this silly charade now." Cora yelled, throwing out a spell that knocked everyone back and to the ground, all except Hook. "Come now Hook, you really don't think you could get away with this?"
She turned to flash a creepy smile at the pirate, who had now come out of the shadows and into the light.
"Now, now love, did you really think I was going to go through with this ridiculous plan?" he questioned, with a flirtatious flair to his accent.
Emma was on the ground, but not knocked out. She looked around and saw that the same was true for her mother and friend. They were simply thrown to the ground. She heard Cora's question and her heart fell a bit when she heard Killian answer her. She was able to move a bit - just enough to turn and watch the interaction between the pair. He had Cora's undivided attention.
"My boy, of course not. I know where your loyalties lie. And while they may not be loyalties, I know you. You will stop at nothing to get your revenge. That means you also know you'll never get it with them." Cora sneered out.
"Aye that you do. You know me quite well dear," he said, moving closer to Cora. He moved his hook down her arm as he came to stand next to her.
"Really? Stealing my protection spell and climbing the beanstalk without me might seem like a bore to you. But to me, it's a betrayal. And I didn't think you were one for betrayal Captain." she bit out, but didn't move from his side. It was like similar thoughts were running through her head that were running through Emma's. Emma thought she could trust Hook, but here he was, moving back into Cora's corner.
"I was going to bring it to you. Our agreement remains. We are going to Storybrooke, together," he said, not even looking over to where Emma lied on the ground.
As the words escaped his mouth, Emma's heart shattered into a million pieces. Killian had told her that she could trust him; he had told her that he was going to prove himself to her. Now, here they were - with him now admitting that his vengeance was greater than what they have - well had.
However, Emma couldn't let herself grieve the loss of Killian - no Hook, right now. She had to figure out a way to get back to Henry, to save the situation and to get the dust from the wardrobe. A plan quickly formed in her mind - she would take the dust by force if she had to - even if that meant cutting down a certain pirate who may get in her way. He was no longer the Killian she knew - he played her like a fiddle and now he was going to answer to her.