A/n: Back with the FINAL chapter of this story. I wanted to thank everyone who ever reviewed, favored, or followed this story! I love Once Upon a Time as a show, and I'm glad to have gotten the chance to write this fiction.

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Once Upon a Time

Chapter XV- Stay with Me

"Here you go mother superior." Astrid said, handing her fresh linen for the children's ward.

"Thank you." Blue smiled briefly, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Astrid asked, seeing the rare stress lines.

"I'm fine. I'll close up the convent for the night. You should be going-wouldn't want to miss your date." Blue hinted.

Astrid blushed, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. Her eyes grew slightly wider with guilt. "Oh please don't be upset! I know I should have told you but-"

"No buts…" Blue interrupted with authority. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, "I took away your chances before, and I realize how wrong I was. You deserve happiness Nova. Being a fairy shouldn't get in the way of that."

Astrid smiled, pulling Blue into a big clumsy hug. "Oh thank you Blue!"

Blue gave a polite two pats on the back. "Go on then. I'll take care of things here."

Nova eagerly took off out the front doors. Blue continued to tidy up, not pausing when she heard the doors reopen. "Did you forget you forget something?"

"Not exactly."

She paused, glancing up to see Killian, staring back at her with annoyance. "I've already told you everything."

"Well, that's exactly true, now is it?" Gold asked, coming up with everyone else.

Blue eyed Tinkerbell and scowled. "What did you tell them?"

Tink crossed her arms. "The truth."

"The truth is relative." Blue countered, raising a brow. "And like I said before, my magic can't help you."

"We don't need your bloody magic." Derek spat, as if hating the useless word. "We need to summon someone." He glanced at Jack. "It is summon right?"

Jack nodded. "Pretty sure it is."

"You were the one who imprisoned the witch doctor, so we need you to summon her so we can ask, exactly how to defeat the Shadow Man." Gold explained, taking over from the simple Pirates.

Blue shook her head vehemently. "NO. She isn't to be trusted. She's even more of a scourge than you!"

Gold chuckled, "I doubt that."

"Besides, Rumple is a changed man!" Belle defended giving a loving gaze to her husband. She missed everyone's cynical glares.

Tink exhaled. "We're wasting time! We need to save Emma! Fairies help people with good hearts, that's what you always told me!"

"That witch isn't to be trusted!" Blue repeated staring at them all. "Why do you think she was banished?! Facilier made a deal with her to get his magic. A debt he will never be able to pay!"

"What kind of deal?" Robin asked.

Blue didn't want to say, but she saw that Killian's reincarnation was ready to shake it out of her. "She sold his living soul to Hades. That's why Hades can use him and no one else."

"So the payment is your soul?" Derek asked, feeling even more confused than before. Blue shrugged. "It depends."

"On what exactly?" Regina wanted to know.

Blue threw her hands up. "On what she wants! She doesn't belong in this land or in any other!"

"Look, we don't have time for your emotional constipation!" Gold snapped.

"Help us." David pleaded. "I won't spend the rest of my life, visiting my daughter at the zoo."

"Blue." Snow called out. "Please."

Blue saw that she was cornered. With a heavy heart, she gave in. "Follow me."

She led them down to the basement of the convent. Past a pair of iron gates. When they all entered, she closed the gates behind them, before sealing it with magic.

"What is this place?" Snow wondered.

"It's a bunker. I had the dwarves build it after The Dark One tried to use the hat against us." Blue told them all. "It's impenetrable against dark magic. So if the worse should happen…"

"The evil will be trapped in here." David finished. "Smart."

Blue crossed her arms. "Now what should I do?"

"Leave the rest to us." Gold nodded towards Regina. They got to work, forming a pentagram and placing several potions around it.

"This might hurt." Regina warned, summoning a knife. She grabbed blue's hand and made a clean slice, the drops falling to the floor. "Ah!" Blue cried out, snatching her hand back.

"Here, let me help." Regina told her, but Blue shook her head. "Don't bother."

Everyone watched as Blue's hand began to heal on its own. Jack smirked. "Well that's a nice trick."

Derek merely nodded.

Gold instructed everyone to stand back as he poured a black dust on the floor, and Regina lit the candles.

"Alright," Gold announced, glaring at Blue. "You know what to do."

Blue felt like slapping him righteously, but she contained herself. Holding up her wand, she closed her eyes, and let her magic flow. The black dust began to dissipate into brilliant colors, before a red fog emerged, creating an oval shape-a mirror.

An old woman with bones around her neck appeared, holding a python. "Well, well…it has been a long time-Blue."

Blue's eyes were unreadable as she gazed at the old witch. "Indeed it has."

The witch cackled a bit, stroking her pet. "Don't tell me, you're going to break your mean streak and release me."

"Not a chance in Hades…" Blue promised.

"We're here for your help!" Snow spoke up. "Our daughter has been cursed by the Shadow Man."

The witch turned to Snow, smiling wickedly. "The savior…"

"Yes, she's the savior!" David agreed on the clarification.

The Witch doctor continued to pet her python. "I cannot help the savior."

"WHAT?!" Regina and Tink shrieked.

"She's been transformed by black magic-YOUR MAGIC!" Blue hollered. "You're the only one who can help."

The Witch doctor studied every person in the room carefully. "I cannot help the savior, because the savior…doesn't need my help." Her eyes darted to Derrick. "He does."

"Me?" Derrick asked, already feeling like he was trapped in a very bad twilight episode. "I'm not the one cursed."

"The worse curses are the ones we don't know we're under." The witch advised. "There's a touch of destiny, about you, lad."

Derrick growled, "We're here for EMMA! Get to the point."

The witch sighed, knowing she was getting nowhere with these simpletons. "That is the point! If you want to save your princess, there is a cost."

Princess? Derrick repeated the word in his mind, wondering if he'd heard her right. Nonetheless, he asked, "What is the cost? Whatever it is, I'll pay it."

The witch laughed. "Oh, we do love it when they say that, don't we Rumple?"

Rumple, who'd been observing, or rather studying her closely, merely nodded.

Robin grabbed Derrick's arm. His voice quiet, he said, "Careful. When dealing with darkness, the cost is rarely worth the risk-and more often than not, you don't get the reward."

"I'll take my chances." He replied. He gave a nod of appreciation for the advice, which Robin returned as he released his arm.

Stepping toward the fogged Mirror, he answered, "Deal! Now how do we defeat Facilier?"

"There is an amulet that contains all of his power. Destroy it, the curse will be broken, and the Shadow man will go back to hell." The witch explained simply.

"Why does that sound easier said, than done?" Regina mumbled.

Blue sighed. "Because it is. Impossible in fact. She's counting on Derrick dying before, he can defeat him."

"I will give you a potion that will give you enough black magic for three days. Got that?" The witch held up her old fingers. "Three Days. Before the sunrises on the 3rd day- you'll have to have defeated Facilier."

"Why three days?" Jack asked.

The witch appeared as if it were the dumbest question in the world. "Because in three days, the Shadow Man will have absorbed the entire savior's life source-he will be immortal."

"What happens to Emma?!" Derrick demanded.

"That dearie is entirely up to you." The witch hackles. "Now, do we have a deal?"

"We do." Derrick nodded. The witch extended her hand. "Let's shake on it."

Derrick cautiously extended his hand towards the mirror. The python moved with quick precision, attacking his wrist it's eyes glowing yellow. The witch doctor took a blade, slicing his left hand clean off.

"ARGGGH!" Derrick hollered, everyone jumping at once to help him. Blue shot to the mirror, focusing all her magic. The mirror began to fade, finally releasing its hold on Derrick.

The witch smiled knowingly, her voice fading-"The days!" she repeated, before disappearing entirely.

"That bitch took my fucking hand!" Derrick hollered in pain. Jack gave him the flask. Regina tried to heal his hand, but it was no use. "I can't make it grow back! Gold?"

Gold shook his head. "It's not my magic." Not that he even wanted to.

"The best we can do is give him something familiar." Blue suggested. "If he was Hook before, then it should be a perfect fit."

Regina nodded, summoning the Hook from the morgue, where Killian's previous body was. It appeared on Derrick's hand, the pain seeming to dissipate. "Better?" she asked.

Derrick just stared at the hook in horror. "What the hell is this?!"

"It's a hook." Robin stated simply.

Panic filled his eyes as he frantically looked at Blue. "All the damn magic tricks in here and you can't bring back my fucking hand?!"

"Life's a bitch, isn't it?" Gold muttered with a smirk. Belle punched him in the arm, giving a chiding look. "Now, I've done my part. The rest is up to you."

He guided Belle out of towards the exit before she could protest.

"Great." Regina was annoyed by the constant setbacks. "Not only do we have to teach him magic and defeat Facilier-we have just 3 days to do it!"

"We'll just have to give him a crash course." Snow said, looking towards Derrick, hopeful. "He still favors his right hand, so it shouldn't be too difficult."

David rolled his eyes heavenwards. "I'll go get the swords."

Robin joined him. "I'll go set up the training grounds..."

"I'll help." Snow trailed behind them.

"Tinkerbelle, and I will try to find where Facilier is hiding." Blue said, and Tink followed her out.

Regina glared at Derrick, who was having his hook examined by Jack. "Follow me. If we're going to face off with Facilier, we don't have time to admire your new hand."

She waved her arm, transporting them out of the cave. Jack just stood there in the dungeon like room, eyeballing the bottom of his flask. "Bloody hell, it's empty." He grumbled and sauntered out.

"Where the hell are we?" Derrick asked as they stood on what appeared to be a forest, in a clearing of a bridge.

"Somewhere you can focus." Regina told him. "It's the where I brought Emma to practice her magic."

"Emma can do magic?" Derrick asked, surprised.

Regina smirked. "She's the most powerful sorceress I've ever seen. But she needed to believe in herself, like you do."

Derrick shook his head. "Look, I'm not a witch, or warlock, or some wizard. I'm still half certain I'm hung over or dead."

"Which is why I am going to break you." Regina explained. "Emma's magic only came when she was emotional. It was her trigger. We need to find yours."

Derrick raised a brow. "And how the hell are you planning to do that?"

"Like this." Regina waved her hand and the bridge under them started to collapse.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Derrick shouted, trying to hold on to the rails.

"Your life is meaningless unless you can defeat Facilier!" Regina shouted to him.

"You crazy witch!" He shouted, trying to grip the ropes tighter.

"Focus on the magic within you!" She said, summoning more magic. The ropes began to unravel.

Derrick tried his best to gain some leverage, but with one hand, he was failing miserably. "Damn you, Regina! Pull me up!"

Regina snapped. "How are you supposed to save Emma, when you can't even save yourself?! You're pathetic!"

At her words, he grew cold. Whatever memories he had from his past, weren't pleasant All those years growing up on the streets, learning nothing but deception, and how to look out for himself. . He remembered his careless mother, and drunken abusive father. He would always beat him, claiming, 'You're weak…'

"I AM NOT WEAK!" He hollered, emitting a blast from his palm. The flanks of wood began to reassemble as he pulled himself off the cliff.

Regina watched in amazement, seeing the aura that surrounded him. "No, you're not." She agreed with a smile.

Derrick glared at her, his magic taking up most of his energy. "What the bloody hell are you smiling about?"

Regina crossed her arms. "Because, we might actually stand a chance."

Over the next 48 hours, Derrick went through intense training of sword fighting, arrows, and magic. His brain was in overload as he sat in Granny's diner, trying to unwind.

"It's been two, almost 3 fucking days, and still no sign of Facilier's hideout." Derrick told him. "Meanwhile, I'm getting a college course in fairytales!"

Jack lounged across from him, sipping on his scotch. "So…basically, the royal family kicking your ass?"

"More like torture," Derrick grumbled in admission, taking a swig of his own drink. "But they're calling it training."

"All in a day's work for a hero, I gather." Jack smirked.

"Some bloody hero." Derrick set his glass down a bit hard.

"Well, if it helps at all, you were once the most infamous pirate in all the realms." Jack said. "And a hell of a captain."

"So I've heard." Derrick told him. Henry had shown him the storybook, revealing his past self to him. The kid had explained the real reason Killian Jones died in the first place.

"He seemed like a selfish bastard to me. He succumbed to the darkness and almost sent Emma's whole family to the Underworld!"

Jack shrugged. "The darkness isn't as easy to fight off as one would think. He's probably been struggling with it his whole life. I admit being consumed with the power of the dark one wasn't the smartest move…"

Derrick snorted. "And this is the idiot she's in love with?"

"Was." James corrected. "Was in love with."

"She's not in love with me." Derrick told him for what seemed like the millionth time. "She thinks she can bring him back."

"Or," Jack offered another option. "Maybe she's not willing to give up on what you could be."

"And what man is that?" Derrick asked quietly, choosing to stare at the bottom of his now empty glass.

"Her happy ending." Jack reasoned. "Don't act like it's not what you want to."

"It's not." Derrick countered.

"So why did you come back to the ball?" Jack raised a brow.

"To say goodbye!" He snapped a little. "I'm not some shining knight, here to save her from a damn dragon, or whatever the hell Facilier is."

"And yet, you're training to defeat him." Jack's simple statement made Derrick run a hand thought his hair.

"I made a mistake when I gave Facilier the medallion. Once I fix this," He exhaled, his heart heavy. "I'll walk out of her life forever. She deserves better than some street punk from New York."

Jack rolled his eyes. "I knew who you were in New York. For the first time you saw her, there was something different in your eyes.

As he rose, he placed a hand on Derrick's shoulder. "You love her. And when you stop running from yourself mate, you will be the man she deserves."

Tinkerbelle came running through the diner, relieved to find them together. Jack smirked. "Where's the fire darling?"

Tink didn't bother with bantering. "We have to go-NOW." She panted.

"Like now, now?" Derrick asked, glancing down at his barely touched grilled cheese.

"Yes!" Tinkerbelle snapped. "We found where Facilier is hiding."

Everyone gathered outside what appeared to be a cave. Snow glanced around. "Where is Gold?"

Robin glared at her. "Coward said it wasn't his fight. Meanwhile, he and Belle are help up in the epitome of protection spells at his shop."

"So much for family." David retorted. Turning to Tinkerbelle, he asked. "Are you sure this is the right place?"

Tinkerbelle nodded her head vigorously. "I'm sure. Mother Superior had the fairies do a summons."

"What is that?" Derrick asked her, not liking the sound of it.

"It's when the fairies channel all of their magic into a single force, and spreading it over the land. Whatever part of the land turns black…" Jack trailed off, not needing to finish as everyone stared at him. He cleared his throat, pointing a thumb to Tink. "She told me."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Well, glad to know fairy magic does the same trick as urine reactors in swimming pools."

Snow contained her smile, but sent Regina a laughing glance.

Derrick approached the cave carefully, sensing energy in it. "He's here. But I think it's blocked."

"Protection spell." Regina clarified. "One that I cannot break. It's up to you."

"Me?" he asked doubtful. "Why me?"

"Because you're the only one here with black magic." Regina barked it as if it were obvious. Derrick remembered his lesson on magic blending and balancing sources. "Alright."

"Just focus on the barrier, and how to get through." She instructed more calm.

Derrick nodded, and raised his hand to the cave's entrance. He waited, and nothing appeared to be happening. After several moments, the spell sparked, but faltered.

He sighed, feeling useless. A gentle hand touched his shoulder. Glancing behind him, Snow White nodded encouragingly, her supportive stance, telling him to try again. David joined her. Jack came on the other side of him and did the same.

With a small grin, he raised his arm again, and closed his eyes. He focused on getting to Emma-on no barriers blocking their way. He focused on how she made him feel.

The black magic crackled like electricity and the barriers came down. David smirked. "You did it."

Derrick nodded. "Aye. Now let's go kill this son of a bitch."

"Gladly." Regina agreed, summoning her fire for makeshift torches. Robin handed each couple one. Derrick led the way.

They wandered the caves silently, hearing whispers in the darkness.

"What is that?" Snow inquired. Tinkerbelle felt the black magic surrounding them. "I think it's the souls from the Underworld. Tortured, and forced to do his dirty work."

"WATCH OUT!" David yelled, covering Snow. The shadows began to charge, swarming around them rapidly.

"It's the shadow man!" Regina hollered over the wailing. "He knows we're here!"

Robin, David, and Jack began to fight off the shadows with their torches as Tinkerbelle shouted to Derrick, "Go! We got this! Get to the Shadow Man!"

Snow covered them with flaming arrows as Regina and Derrick went further into the caves.

However, they didn't get very far, as a pale woman in white stood guarding a tower of steps. She stood in hooded wrags and visionless eyes.

"What the hell is that?" Derrick asked.

"A wraith. Scavengers of the Underworld. They work directly for Hades." Regina informed him, not taking her eyes off the demon.

"My congratulations for you reaching this far." She said the most collected manner. "But I cannot allow you to stop us."

"Us?" Regina questioned dryly. "You mean you're not a servant of Facilier?"

"I am a willing participant of this undertaking. Once Lord Facilier has reached full power, the lost souls will finally be free to roam this earth." Her tone went menacing as she smiled. "And you all will burn in the hottest flames of hell."

"We'll see about that." Regina barked, releasing her magic.

The wraith raised its arms at the same time, the magic coming to a crackling standoff. "GO!" Regina shouted to Derrick. Her voice strained as she instructed. "Get to Facilier. Save Emma!"

Derrick wasted no time, climbing the steps as the wraith flung Regina against the wall. As he disappeared through the hall, he saw her stand, wiping blood from her chin with a leer.

Derrick found the entrance to the belly of the beast. It wasn't hard, seeing as everything was either glowing with different colors of voodoo or on fire.

Facilier stood in the middle of it all, with magic surrounding him. Light mixed with black.

Derrick took a cautious step towards him, summoning his magic.

"You really think you're a match for me Mr. Norrington?" He called back without turning around.

So much for the element of surprise. Derrick raised his sword. "I'm willing to find out."

Facilier turned to him with a skeleton mask and a cheeky grin, raising a brow. "So be it." He raised his bone covered hand.

Derrick went flying into the rocky cave walls, coughing as he crumbled to the floor. He stood, facing the Shadow Man with pure determination. "is that the best you can do?!"

Facilier blew a dust, and disappeared. Derrick braced himself, sensing that he was close. Regina's voice appeared in his mind. Find your strength, that flame that keeps you going. And when it burns bright as an inferno-STRIKE!'

"ARRHHH!" Derrick gave a warrior cry and swung his sword, as Facilier appeared, slicing him along the cheek. It was an impressive blow, but hardly fatal.

Faciler stumbled back, feeling hot liquid pour from his face. His hand touched his cheek, before examining the damage. "Been a long time since I've seen my own blood."

"Get used to it." Derrick growled, before striking with accelerated precision. Faciler furrowed his eyes in concentration as he summoned his magic. Two lost souls held Derrick down as he took the sword.

"I admire your efforts, but I'm too close." Facilier said, turning back towards the swarming light magic. "In a few hours all of the Swan's life source will be consumed and I will be their savior!"

"NO!" he shouted. "I'll kill you, I swear to God!"

Facilier just chuckled. "And how are you going to do that?"

'A touch of destiny….' Derrick thought about what the witch had said. Maybe this was what she meant-his purpose. He wasn't destined to be with her, he was destined to save her.

"You like making deals." He remembered. "Take me in Emma's place."

Facilier eyed him as carefully. Derrick persisted struggling against the shadows. "The witch doctor gave me power."

"Mama Oldie gave you power?" Facilier scoffed, but he did release the shadows from holding him to the ground.

"Yes." Derrick stood. He then summoned the magic, his pride glowing as the black flame appeared. The magic dissipated as he closed his hands.

"However much magic she gave you," Faciler said casually, trying not to feel utterly betrayed. "It still isn't enough to defeat me!"

"No." He admitted. "But it is enough for you to use the medallion. You wouldn't have to wait hours. You could rid yourself of Hades, now."

"Hmm…" Facilier stroked his chin. Once he was immortal, he'd be invincible. Not even the Savior could defeat him-which is what the boy was probably naively counting on.

"Deal." He finally agreed, extending his hand.

Derrick took it, feeling the power instantly leave his body. Facilier laughed, as Derrick fell to his knees, weak.

He laughed, using his magic to send Derrick into the wall. "You really are pathetic." Derrick laughed too, smiling maniacally.

"I am a crazy son of a bitch." He admitted, coughing up blood. He stood slowly, facing his death like a man. "But people always do crazy things, when they're in love."

Facilier raised his hand to kill him, having wasted enough time. "Anything else?"

"It was good doing business with you." Derrick panted, holding up the amulet.

Facilier's hands went to his neck, in panic. He tried to conjure his shadows, but nothing came. "NO….NOOOO!"

Derrick took the glass amulet, dropping it beneath his feat. He smashed it under boot. A swarm of shadows escape, attacking Facilier at once, dragging his body to a piercing hole.

As the portal closed, Derrick saw the medallion fall to the floor. Before he could pick it up, a searing pain clutched his heart. Then another.

His eyes shot to his wrist. The python holes appeared on his right wrist this time, turning a dark poisoning blue.

"Derrick?!"

Regina called out, seeing he was hunched over in pain. She caught him as he fell to the floor. The others were running in after her, closing the distance.

"What happened?!" Snow crouched down, seeing his face.

"My…my heart." Derrick panted, wincing in pain.

Tinkerbelle saw the black holes on his wrist. "Come on, we have to get him to Blue!"

Regina waved an arm, transporting them all to Emma's house.

Tink called Blue, and she appeared by Derrick's side instantly. "It's the poison." Blue examined. "The witch tricked you!"

"Not the witch!" Derrick panted, his eyes shut tight. He coughed ugly, retched breaths. "It was Facilier…Its part of the deal."

"Whoa, what deal?" David asked.

"I offered him a deal…"Derek said through ragged breaths, not being able to catch enough air.

"What?!" Snow asked. "Why would you strike another deal with Facilier after everything that's happened!"

"It was the only way to save her life!" Derrick rasped. "If the bastard would have absorbed all of her magic, he would have killed her."

" Wait." Robin interjected glancing at Regina. "Can we use the medallion on him? You said it yourself, only a person of true strength. "

"Strength of the heart." Regina uttered.

Blue nodded in agreement. "It's the strongest muscle in the body, but the poison is moving too fast. I can't slow it down."

"Maybe I can help."

Everyone turned to see a glowing figure before them. Hercules stood, there, smiling brightly at all of them.

"Herc!" Snow ran to hug him. She examined his golden robes and suit of armor. "So you did it…you're really a god."

Hercules nodded. "Thanks to you. That's why I've come." He took a step towards Derrick. "And because of your bravery, my father has decided to grant you clemency."

"You can stop the poison?" Regina asked hopefully.

Hercules assured them all. "Yes." He then kneeled to Derek's side. "You've proven to be a true hero. And for that, your suffering will be more."

Raising a glowing hand, Hercules hovered over Derek's wound, the poison dissipating. As he rose, he turned to the rest of them. "The poison is gone..."

"Why am I sensing a caveat?" Regina asked out loud.

Hercules nodded solemnly. "Because there is. The medallion can only be used once."

"We only need it one time." David told him. "Yes. If Derek returns to the person you once were, there is no debt to repay, because he would have never existed."

"It could work." Tink assured them. Blue shook her head sadly. "But it won't."

" David." Snow whispered. "If Derek uses the medallion to rid himself of a deal with Facilier…"

"…then we lose Emma?" David concluded, heartbroken for his daughter.

Hercules confirmed their suspicions. "A deal made in the Underworld cannot be undone. Even by my father. "

"How long do I have?" Derek asked quietly.

"Till sunrise." Hercules answered.

"A touch of destiny." Derek mumbled to himself with a small chuckle of irony. He grabbed the medallion, he headed out the door.

"Do you think he'll change his mind?" Robin asked.

"No…" Jack finally spoke up after a lengthening silence. "He's just going to say goodbye."

Derek approached the shore of the lagoon, clutching the medallion in his hand. The sun would be up any moment. He didn't have much time-ten minutes at most.

"Here goes nothing." He uttered, placing the medallion in the water. The coin glowed bright, creating a wavy path to the swan that gracefully sat on the lagoon waves.

The glow grew brighter as the swan spread its wings, the water swirling in a bluish hue. The winds blew, and the trees swayed. The light grew bright, too blinding to witness much else. Derrick covered his eyes, bracing his feet as the magic push him back.

When the water cleared, he could barely believe his eyes. There she was, standing there, in an all-white gown, beautifully woven. The bodice consisted of swan feathers that sparkled like diamonds. 'She's alive.' he thought, with relief.

Emma could barely move in the elegant ball gown she was in, but she felt eyes on her as she tried to make sense of what was going on. 'What the hell…?'

"Emma."

Her gaze shot up at the sound of his voice. Derrick stood in the distance, staring as if he's never seen her before. In a way he hasn't.

"Derrick." She answered back, seeing the worry in his eyes. It was near dawn, the barely breaking. She smiled at him, remembering their dance.

"So it is true." He took a careful step towards her, examining the gorgeous tiara she was wearing. She was standing there, sunlight behind her, glowing in white. "You really are a princess."

Guessing her family had filled him in, Emma nodded, looking down at the dress. "Yeah…something like that."

"Your family will be here in a moment." Derrick told her, taking her hands in his.

She looked around the lagoon. "Where the hell are we? What happened?"

"You're safe. The Shadow Man has been…defeated." He announced, trying to think of words used in fairytales. Defeated, vanquished, conquered…

"How?" She asked.

Derrick sighed, staring into her big green eyes. He would miss them. "Your family will be here soon, and they'll explain. I just came to make sure the curse was broken, and to say goodbye."

Emma took a step back. "You…You're leaving?"

He nodded sadly. "There was a price to pay for what had to be done." He raised his arm slightly to show her his hook.

She gaped at the familiar hook. "What was the price?"

Derrick touched her cheek. "That I can never see you again."

"No!" Emma choked out. "I found you! I mean, we…"

Derrick quieted her with a finger on her lips. "It's alright. I was never going to be the man you really wanted anyways."

But Emma just shook her head. "It doesn't matter if you're or Derrick Norrington, Killian Jones, or even Captain Hook. I love you."

He nodded, smiling miserably. "That's why it hurts so much."

"There has to be a way to save you too!" She insisted.

He confessed. "They told me what you did for him. Now I get to return the favor."

"Don't!" She snapped, not willing to hear the end of that sentence. "Don't go! Just…stay with me!"

Derrick's voice cracked a little. "I'm sorry; you have to let me go."

"I can't!" She shrieked. "I belong to you!"

At hearing her words, tears formed in his eyes. She had no idea how hard she was making this. How could they feel so strongly for each other? It was almost like…like magic.

Emma couldn't calm her high pitched voice, as she confessed, "I have no more walls because you've shattered every brick! I gave you my heart, and I cannot lose that again! I will NOT ever let go!" she vowed, her voice hoarse with tears, eyes determined, if teary.

He didn't bother to argue with her. It was either her life, or his own, and he'd already made the choice. Seeing the sunrise behind her, he whispered. "Goodbye Emma Swan. I love you."

He pulled her to him, pressing her lips fiercely to his. Their tears mingled as he deepened the kiss, committing the feeling to his last memory.

Emma felt something powerful erupt. A magical aura surrounded them as energy surged through the entire town. It was so prevailing, the water lapped rapidly in swells out of the lagoon.

When she finally ended the kiss, she opened her eyes, finally ready to let go. But her breath caught in her throat as a new light shined in Derrick's eyes. It was familiar, and warm. She gasped, "…Killian?!"

A/n: Thanks so much for reading! IT was a long chapter that honestly should have been two chapters but I didn't want to leave you waiting anymore. I added a bit of Ursula in the mix because I just love her for a villain. What did you think? Oh...you didn't think ended the story like that, did you? The Epilogue is a separate story! Read what happens next in the mini epilogue which I don't have a title for! Please help me with a title! Post it in the reviews.

Review/ Favorite/ Follow-me!

-R.