Disclaimer: I obviously don't own anything...

Also, minor implications of stuff, I don't think it really needs a warning but it never hurts.

Chapter 19

You can take the Dark out of the Swan

She wakes up in frenzy, gasping crying pleading. Emma remembers her dreams, every horrifying moment of them. But the worst part is the voice, the cold hatred she heard in such a usual loving voice.

"I want to hurt you like you hurt me."

Emma doesn't know if the image was a fevered dream or an ominous premonition, and she prayed she never found out. It just keeps echoing in her head and makes her tremble in fear. She slowly tries to sit up, but feels her chest seize in pain. It makes her glance down at her chest, finding bandages and herbs spread on her skin, a shirt that she recognizes as Killian's covering her up.

Killian.

She rises on unsteady feet, rushing from the tent. She has to find him, even in pitch black darkness. She wants to look at him and make sure she sees his light, make sure he looks like her sailor and not…

"You did this to me."

She sees people in this…camp? They were in a camp? People were looking at her in fright, hands on their weapon; it makes her tense as she looks around for a familiar face. The world is spinning, but she doesn't care she needs-

"Miss Swan?" Says a voice. She recognizes the voice; it makes her whirl around in confusion as her balance sways. The person catches her arm righting her.

"Regina." She slurs, recognizing the woman. She can hear her swallow in fright. "You can kill him if you want." She says mind still foggy. "My father, he means nothing to me anymore, you can kill him" She insists, pain radiating in her chest, feeling something start up the bleeding once more, but all she can think to say is to allow this woman to kill her father.

She must really be a monster.

"I never wanted to kill him." The woman insists. "I never wanted to cause your mother unhappiness." Emma opens her mouth to respond, when her balance tips again, but it is not Regina who helps her find her balance. She hears him moments before she feels strong arms catch her.

"Swan." Emma turns and looks at him. Blue eyes light with delight and relief, he looks a bit pale and exhausted, but he's fine. He's here. "You're awake."

He's still him. He's still Killian. He pulls her close, head resting on her shoulder in a relieved hug.

She nods, pulling away slightly to look at him, to rest her hand on hsi face, make sure it's warm rather than frigid. "You saved me." She breathes. "Again."

He chuckles, pulling her up bridal style to keep her from losing her balance, she finds herself looping her arms around his neck nuzzling deeper into him. He's ok, they're ok.

"One day Swan, you're going to realize just how much you saved me."

It's not a confession of love, but to her, it's enough.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Killian brings her back inside the tent, settles her down onto the pillows, talking about changing the bandage before they can go about any other activities. She asks about Henry, but its night time and he must be asleep by now.

She manages to wrangle a gentle kiss from her strict caretaker. It's hot and warm and cool and soft all at the same time, but Emma's greedy, she wants more, she want it all. He pulls her in close as she pushes at the buttons of his vest. It makes him pull away.

"Not again!" She sighs. "I thought we got past the whole-" Killian shakes his head.

"Not that Swan, you're still injured; I don't want to hurt you." He reminds her, something unfamiliar in his voice. Emma rolls her eyes, pressing a hand to the wound in her chest and it disappears without a trace. Her heart flutters at the look of relief that crosses Killian's face.

"You won't." She insists. She's never felt safer than in his arms.

This was it, she realized, her happy ending. It was him, the life they could build together.

"I want a future with you." She admits suddenly. It catches him by surprise. She can see something flicking across his face, but eventually he just smiles.

"And I want a future with you too." He replies. "Its just-" But Emma doesn't let him respond, doesn't let him damper her good mood with words of self-doubt and fear.

She wants him.

Right now.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They are wrapped up in blankets, clothes thrown to the side carelessly, kissing all the worry away, when she hears the patter of familiar little feet.

"Hell!" She shrieks lowly, pulling away from his grip finding the sheet that was once under them, throwing it over them both, grabbing some clothing and stuffing it under the sheet, she didn't have time to get dressed completely, but she didn't want it to seem too obvious. Killian looks up in alarm, not understanding, but mimicking her movements just the same, pulling on his pants with due haste.

"Mom! You're awake and…what are you doing in bed, I thought you just woke up?" Henry asks barreling into the room. "Its like nearly noon!"

Her cheeks turn red. On one hand she wants to sweep her son into her arms and never let him go, but on the other hand, considering what she was currently doing and what she was currently wearing—or more specifically, what she wasn't wearing-it may not be a good idea.

"Resting?" She tries, before nodding thoughtfully. "Yes, Killian was very tired from taking care of me, so I was helping him rest." She assures him, touching his sleep ruffled hair. Killian nods in agreement, a wide smirk on his face.

"So very tired." He drawls, including a fake yawn for effect. "Swan, maybe we should…rest some more?" He snickers, one hand twirling a strand of her blonde hair, the other snaking around her other side, resting on her hip, it just makes her flush deepen.

"Henry! Roland is-" Lily says as she enters as well, a small boy following behind her. Her eyebrows shoot up in alarm as she whirls around grabbing both Henry and the child by their shoulders and pointing them away. "Henry, why don't we leave them to their…"She trails off, shooting them daggers.

"Resting." Killian supplies. "Emma's here, helping me rest."

Emma hits him on the back of the head lightly. Lily leads Henry and the child out of there.

"Next time, do something! Hang something on the tent, paint a red X on it I don't care!" Lily seethes, retreating from the room.

Killian laughs. Emma scowls.

"Back to bed pirate." She snaps with a smirk.

"If the lady insists."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Killian finally rested.

(Like seriously this time, because her sailor practically looked half dead when she'd first seen him.)

Emma, who'd learned she had had way too much sleep lately, was pretty content watching him drift off. She used her magic to put their clothes back on, just in case anyone else saw fit to interrupt them, and watched as the tension eased from his face and he just slept.

"Hey Killy?" She whispered, knowing he couldn't hear, "I had a bad dream about you, that something bad had happened to you." She admitted, hand on his cheek. "Worse than watching you die, worse than anything." She couldn't even speak the words of what she'd seen. In an almost unconscious knowledge of her distress, his head moves to press against her palm nuzzling deeper, a sleep ridden sigh escapes. She smiles at him.

"I promise you Killian, you've saved me loads of times, now I'm going to protect you from this ok? Trust me, if it's a premonition I'll stop it. I won't let you suffer anymore." They've both gone through a lot, now all they needed was a little bit of peace, of happiness. She kisses his forehead to seal her promise.

"Killian! I brought you-" Said a voice, making Emma's head snap up, looking over. A woman with light red hair entered, arms full with things. The second her eyes met Emma's her grin fell.

"Oh, you're awake." Emma smiled; The woman hadn't even bothered to hide her disappointment.

"I am." Emma confirmed, eyes scanning the things she was holding. The first was a plate of food, some herbs, bandages along with a book. "Who are you?" She asked.

The woman grinned, putting the things down on the desk, holding out her hand. "My name is Zelena, this camp you're in? Its mine, everything you see is mine." Emma noted the way her gaze flickered to Killian's unconscious face. She barely kept from bristling."I'm also the healer here." She informed her. "So I brought over some medicine."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, save it for someone who needs it." She instructed.

Zelena met her gaze evenly. "Oh, I am. I'm changing the bandage on his hip" She said slowly going to Killian, indicating it before moving towards the offending injury.

Emma didn't like watching this, she didn't like the idea of anyone tending to Killian. She moved her hand, settling it over Killian's wound, healing it instantly. He stirred momentarily, muttering under his breath before easing.

"I have it covered." She said in a controlled voice.

Zelena scowled, backing away, before placing a plate on the desk. "I also brought him something to eat, a nice stew to keep up his strength, poor guy's been wasting away taking care of you."

Emma pretended she hadn't noticed the backhanded comment. She didn't like this Zelena woman, not one bit.

"It's also his favorite." Zelena insisted.

Emma scowled. Killian and her hadn't had a calm moment to discuss favorites, what was his favorite color? Favorite flower? Did guys have favorite flowers? Her eyes narrowed on the woman. Somehow this woman knew this little thing.

"Your fairy friend also sent this for him as well." She said, placing a purple vial on the desk. Emma opened her mouth, ready to cut her with a sharp reply when Killian moved besides her, an obvious dream taking place on his suddenly serious face, he thrashed lightly, gasping.

"Liam." He moaned. Emma placed a hand on his cheek, cooing soft nonsense, instantly calming him, before returning her gaze to Zelena.

"Thank you for taking care of my sailor." She said with a genuine voice, choosing to be kind rather than possessive. "But I can take it from here. It's not the first time he's worn himself out trying to be strong for everyone." She said dismissively.

Ok, she was still the Dark One, possessiveness was part of the package. Could anyone really blame her? She'd nearly died and before that she'd gotten maybe an hour with her love after thinking him dead for over a week.

Zelena scowled before exiting.

She looked over at the things she had directed Killian ingest, with a wave of her magic, she judged its contents to be safe an innocent, if a little confusing.

"She means no harm Swan." Killian said softly, one eye peaking open to look at her. He must have been slightly awake when Zelena left. "Truly, she and Lily have just been making sure I'm here when you awoke." He told her. He grinned sitting up, pressing a kiss to his cheek

"Morning sailor." She greeted as he sat up with a yawn.

"Morning love." He replied.

She debated waiting, and easing into what would indeed be some unpleasant conversations.

But Emma Swan, was still Emma Swan, waiting and being anything less than blunt just wasn't her style.

"She said Lily wanted you to take these." She said pointing to the vial. He flinched at the sight, eyes trailing to her face. "I know what it is, it's for pain." She said pointedly. "Judging by how concentrated it is, a lot of it." She didn't understand, the wound on his hip didn't look that bad, was it more painful than she thought?

"Swan…" He said with a sigh, eyes closing as he sighs.

She takes a moment to look at him, he is paler, and the day time nap didn't look like it helped the circles under his eyes. He's thinner and he looks like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Something is going on." She observed.

"Aye." He said nervously. He averted his eyes. "Emma, love. It's not good." Her eyes widened. He seemed to be forcing out the words.

"Whatever's going on, we can fix it." She assured him. "It's not going to change anything between us." She promised, reaching over and uncapping the vial.

"That's a lot of faith you're putting in us Swan." He warned.

"There's a reason for that." She assured him, holding it out to him. He took it in trembling hands, drinking it in one foul swoop. "I love you, and whatever is bothering you, you can tell me on your own time. I trust you to know when that is, but if you're in pain-."

Killian shook his head. "I just want us to enjoy a moment of peace, you deserve it love. When I tell you, it'll disappear." He warned, not touching the vial, instead pushing it away. "I'm not in any pain, I promise."

She nodded, standing up, getting the bowl of stew, offering it to him.

"Then eat up sailor, we'll stay here a couple days, then you can tell me all about whatever has you sick with worry." She concluded. Emma didn't want to be that person, the person who forced him to tell her something, she wanted her sailor to tell her because he wanted to.

"Aye love. Just a couple days." He agrees, digging into the bowl.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The second they leave the tent, hands linked, she sees him, speeding over to her.

"Emma!" Her eyes water as she embraces him in a tight grip.

"Henry, oh Henry, my sweet, sweet Henry." She murmured rocking slightly with her little boy in her arms, her sweet, sweet boy. "You're ok right? Not in any pain? The infection's gone?" She fretted.

He nodded. "I'm fine. Killian brought me here, took care of me and kept me safe, then Zelena took care of me, and now I'm back with Lily, really, I'm fine." He insisted. "I'm just glad that you're awake, I thought-"

She sighed into him, before loosening her embrace.

"I'm perfect. Killian's really good at taking care of us isn't he?" She looked around, seeing him exchanging casual words with Regina. There was slight chuckling between them until a little boy approached the woman and Killian began talking to the lad.

"Yeah, he is." He leaned in whispering. "He really, really, is."

It brought tears to Emma's eyes. Tears because she finally found a home, a home that Henry could be a part of. She looked back over, seeing Killian talk animatedly with the boy, tying his shoes.

"That's Roland." Henry told her. "Gina rescued him from the castle, it was why she tricked Sydney and took Killian to rescue you. None of the others wanted to help her, and she knew she needed help getting there." He told her. "He was really quiet that first day, but Gina made sure he knew he was safe."

That was kind of her; Emma knew that taking in a child that wasn't your own was a difficult thing to do. She wondered if anyone knew that he wasn't her son. Emma had unfortunately made sure of that. After learning that Regina wasn't actually plotting to destroy her family…Emma felt guilty.

"He's actually pretty fun, he likes stories, I told him my favorite one, he's probably asking Killian to tell it now." She looked at him curiously.

"And which one is that?"

Her kid smiled mischievously. "Why the tale of the Deckhand rescuing the Princess of course." Emma laughed.

"You're spending too much time around him, kid." She teased. "You sounded just like him."

Another knowing smirk. He said his goodbyes before going over to where Killian and Roland were. She was about to go over, when Lily approached her, smile bright and wide, like usual.

"Hey Emma, glad to see you and your sailor," She stopped, leaning in close. "Are fully clothed."

Emma blushed violently. "Sorry, we were…"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, resting. I know." She crossed her arms. "But we have more pressing things to talk about don't we?" She asked.

Emma nodded. "Thank you for taking care of Henry and Killian." She smiled, nodding.

"Henry's my son, and as for your sailor, I'd keep an eye on him, he's been…under the weather, dizzy, barely eating, thankfully I'm the only one who noticed." She said carefully. "Mom wants to make sure he took what Zelena gave him this morning." Emma shakes his head.

"It's for pain and he said he wasn't in any." She inquired. "He wouldn't tell me about it." Lily huffed, looked in his direction, and summoning it. She then pressed it into her hand. The unspoken order of 'make him take it'

"Doesn't matter if he isn't in any pain now, he needs to take it. Keep an eye on him, he told me when he had to, but you should hear it from him." She explained softly, hand on her shoulder.

"He doesn't want to ruin the peace, but how am I going to help him if he won't tell me? Is it really this bad?" She pleaded.

Lily sighed, nodding towards one of the tent. "Mom knows more about what's going on, more than I do. Maybe ask her what you can do…without knowing? Trust me, he has to tell you."

Emma frowned; she wasn't really excited with having a chat with that woman. She crossed her arms. "Am I going to have this little chat with Aurora's banter in the background?" She sighed.

Lily shook her head. "Aurora ran off. Mom tried to find her, but it's like she was never here, no trail, no anything. Mom's a wreck." Emma nodded in understanding, just the latest in Aurora's stunts. "I know she made the wrong choice, I think you'd do her some good."

Emma sighed in defeat, giving Killian a wary glance before heading towards the tent.

She spotted her immediately, folded hands, staring blankly at the tent wall, a wall obviously sliced. "Hi." She said softly, nervous. Mal looked up, looking at her with a grin.

"Emma, you're awake." The woman said standing, regaining her regal look, despite the slight redness in her eyes. "Henry and Lily said but I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me."

Emma nodded. "I didn't." She admits honestly. "But now I do. Now I want to understand." She says sternly. "Everything, how I have light magic, why you gave away the curse, what's wrong with Killian, what can I do to-"

The woman sat on a chair, bringing another across from her, patting it gently. Emma sat watching Mal intently. "I don't have all the answers." She began. "But I'll tell you what I know."

Emma nodded. "I don't know where you get it, just that your light magic is weak, but pure; it's the complete opposite of the Dark Curse." Emma rolled her eyes, no duh!

"But more specifically, the stronger your light magic means that your dark magic is weakening. You cannot have both at full strength. Its why you've never shown it before now." Emma blinked.

"I don't understand, why-"

Mal gave her her signature 'really' look. "Light magic is fueled by the purest of love, as you know." Emma felt a blush reach her cheeks. Thankfully, Mal changed the subject.

"Emma. I gave your mother the sleeping curse because I had faith you'd be alright." She confirmed. "Between Henry and Mr. Jones, I knew you'd wake up. It's no excuse, but I had faith. I had to try to save all my girls."

She shook her head. "Killian hasn't told me yet." She admitted. "That he loves me." She wasn't sure if it work without them both knowing for sure, she wasn't sure about the whole True Love nonsense to begin with.

"He told Henry, Gina, his sister as far as Henry's told, his reasons for holding back from you are significant and all his own." She insisted. Emma recognized the lack of 'must', implying that she knew his reasons.

"Something's wrong isn't it?" She asked. "The potion. I knew what it was. He didn't tell me what's wrong but I know it's bad." She just could figure out what had him so scared? What had him so worried that he was getting ill over it?

Mal nodded. "I promised I wouldn't say." She replied.

"Then tell me what I can do to help. I don't…I want him to be ok." She pleaded. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost him again." She said softly.

"Keep an eye on him." She began. "Keep him from pushing himself too far. Rest is good, and not the kind of rest you two would prefer to engage in, also skipping that is not a good thing." She said with a smirk, eyeing the vial. "I'm here for you Emma, so is Lily and Henry."

She nodded. "I'll take care of him, now everything is ok, we're all ok now." She said surely, not waiting for her to refute, it wasn't denial in her voice it was faith that everything would be ok.

She could make it ok.

Emma said her goodbyes before exiting the tent and returning to him, he looked so happy entertaining the child, children, he seemed to have gathered a crowd as he paced around, telling his tale.

She ventured over to them just in time to see Killian talking about Elsa, chuckling at the high pitched voice he used for the Ice Witch's voice and the sappy words he used to describe 'the Dark Princess'.

"I see you two reunited." Said a voice besides her, she sighed, another person . "I honestly thought you two wouldn't leave that tent for a week." She snickered. Emma looked over, seeing Regina. She was hesitant, trying to get a proper read on her know that she knew her identity.

"Yeah, maybe later." She said simply, crossing her arms.

"So?" She prodded, turning towards her slightly, gaze firm. "Lay it on me, what rumors has she spread about me?"

Emma hesitated.

"Look, we're both adults here, I'm going to tell it to you straight. I knew your mother when I was young. We were friends, did I get her boyfriend killed, yes. Did I mean to do it? No. She told me that she was going to have him murder someone, an innocent girl, my sister's friend. So I told someone. I thought they would stop him, sweep it under the rug. I never thought they would hang him." She admitted sadly.

"My mother said you killed him, that you were jealous that she was in love with someone who mattered and you weren't." She said softly.

Regina clenched her jaw. "Is that why you killed them? Cora and Henry? Vengeance for your mother? Why you cursed us to never age? Why I could never have my own child?"

She remembered it. She remembered appearing in their home, everyone looked so happy. There was music, the father was dancing with a young Regina and the mother was teaching a woman that looked like Zelena how to sew.

Their behavior, Regina's fear and Zelena's silent hostility finally clicked for her, they remembered her. She had entered, ripped out the hearts of the two adults and crushing them to dust in her hands. Her first assassination, she had been sobbing the whole time, hearing their bodies fall, it caused her to tune out for an entire year.

"I know. She tricked you. Its fine." Regina said, crossing her arms, avoiding her sight. "You thought you were defending your-" She stopped her, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the group. This wasn't a conversation Emma wanted overheard.

"I was not tricked, I was not fooled, I was controlled. I killed them not because I wanted to. Not because I was doing anything for a good reason, understood?" She snapped.

Regina flinched.

"I remember them. Your mother told you to run, Zelena took your hand and you did, but when the house caught on fire you two were separated. Your father told me that there was another way, that I could take the right path. He loved you so much." She said softly. She could see the tears in the woman's eyes.

"I wish I hadn't done it, and this isn't me trying not to take responsibility. This is me telling you the truth. My power, it comes with a price."

Regina nodded a level of understanding passing between them "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. I always thought you were just…an out of control child."

Emma chuckled. "I was never 'out of control', at least not as a child, after I turned 18, then you can say I was…out of control."

Regina smiled softly. "You don't seem to out of control, and you don't seem like the scary Dark One I've been told about." She reasons.

Emma shrugs. That's what Killian said too.

"I can remove the curse if you'd like." She said instead. "Or at least try to." turning back to where Killian sat, completely consumed by the story.

"We'd like that." Regina admits sheepishly, "But is there a price? Will we suddenly revert to our true age?" She asks. Emma shakes her head. Her hand glowing with black magic, she summons a pair of necklaces from her secret vault. They look identical, a large square crystal pendant, one purple, the other green. She can see the recognition dawning on the brunette.

"Talismans have much power." She begins. "I take it you recognize them?" Regina nods.

"Mother gave them to us on our 16th birthday." She explains. "I went back to find them after…I thought looters had…are you telling me these were the source of the curse?" She accuses.

Emma nods. She waves her hand over them, they glow briefly and she hands them back to her. "Take them back, the curse will slowly fade." She explains. "But you have to wear them constantly for a while." Otherwise the curse won't fade.

She narrows her eyes.

"How do I know that you aren't trying to trick me?" She accuses.

"Because you saved Killian and Henry, I owe you a debt, several actually. I have to keep up my side of the deal, call it a compulsion." She explained.

"The same kind that got my parents killed?" She asks. Emma admires her bold question. Emma nods. Regina slips the purple one on. Emma smirked.

"What?"

"I've always wondered which one belonged to whom, I picked right, green, not your color." Regina rolled her eyes.

"Come on, I need to make sure your pirate isn't filling my boy's head with fairytales." She muttered.

Emma returned to stand beside him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. He reaches up to cover it.

"Oh Swan, you're just in time to tell the part where the dashing Deckhand saved y-er the Princess form the fierce Wolf demon!" He says with a laugh.

She smacks him lightly in the back of the head.

A fluffy chapter with some set ups for the hell that's coming. Sorry folks. I don't write much fluff. I also wanted Emma to get some scenes with a few different people, especially Regina.

I realized I had her and Zelena age a little inconsistently, so this little curse dialogue was my way around it. Sorry if it seemed a little out there, I'll try to flesh it out a bit more later on. There are only so many plot holes I can catch before someone falls through.

(To see more about Regina's backstory with Snow, see Love of All Kinds, 'The Fairest of Them All' in particular)

Ok, so I was planning on announcing this after last chapter, but it was too long.

The Purple Fairy isn't exactly JUST a sequel. I'm not stopping here, I'm having too much fun with this universe, too much fun imagining other flipped characters.

I'll leave it at that.

Guest Reviews:

Anna: Confusion at this point is good, there's still a lot of things that are going to happen very soon and very fast. Liam is a very interesting character. I'm glad my story has you interested enough to want to walk around with them, as a story teller, that's an amazing compliment. I'm glad you liked that part, the Zelena war will be very interesting and sort of important soon. I actually fell in love with Lily writing this, especially her bonding with Killian. Yes, I'm back to weekly updates, hopefully they won't be too bad. Trust me, I understand the torture, I fallow nearly 100 fics on this site, some of which are not weekly updates. I only do it because the story is complete and I want to space it out.

andria: Killian is in a lot of trouble for sure. But Emma's awake now, what could possibly go wrong?

Guest: I'm glad you liked the chapter, the pacing for things like this always worries me. I'm glad you thought it was good. My reasoning for why Mal didn't know Lily could do that is because its magic and poison, she knows a bit about it, but not everything. I may address it a bit later.. Whether Killian changes his mind is anyone's guess.

I'm only going to do a minor rant about the finale, although I don't recall where the episodes broke up, so I'm going to do them together...

First of all, if Robin HADN'T died, I don't think Regina would be feeling any of this conflicting emotions, which I see as the driving force behind this arc, so even though its sad, its not pointless. It caused Regina's doubt, which let her split herself in two, which will create a lot of awesome tension. I understand Henry's motivation for destroying magic, and I love him and Violet together! so cute! (And Violet's parents being from this realm? I'm predicting Lily is her mom right now. Go ahead and quote me) Rumple chose power AGAIN. Parellel from him and Bae anyone? The second volume of the story book had characters I loved! Guliver's travels! Paul Bunian! I can't wait to see how that happens.

I've never read Mr. Jenkin and Mr. Hyde before, but it was definitely an interesting twist. It was much better than spoilers hinted, which speaks volumes at their ability to manipulate us through the press.

Sorry for the long Author's note.

~Luna

~Luna