Have to say I was quite shocked by the response to the prologue given how short it was. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! Two pieces of good news: This chapter is considerably longer than the last and I now have a good idea of where this is going. Enjoy!

~The Last Ronin~

"Emma! Look out!"

I'd barely begun to turn, to face the oncoming threat when his body crashed into me. Heat had flared through me at his closeness, the scent of leather and salt and rum – his scent – enveloping me and I'd instantly relaxed. When had that even started? At what point had Captain Hook become synonymous with my definition of safety?

I reached up to cup his cheek, trace the line of his jaw, revel in the feel of his stubble. He watched me with that same awe filled look that had become something of a permanent fixture on his face of late – the one that made me melt a little inside each time he sent it my way – and I couldn't stop myself.

Leaning in, I kissed him. He tasted like he smelled – leather and salt and rum and…copper?

The distinctive sound of flesh splitting apart filled my ears and he was torn from my grasp. All I could do was stare as he was dragged into the jungle.

Gone.

I hadn't even been able to scream.

x-x-x-x-x

I scream.

A pair of hands grab me by the shoulders and I thrash about, trying to shake them off. It doesn't work though and instead I try to push them away but my arms are pinned to my side. White hot panic burns through me and I scream once more as I try to throw off my attacker.

"Emma!" A voice fills my ears, chanting my name over and over.

Killian!

I relax instantly, his hands tightening on my shoulders as…wait, hands? With a shake of my head the worried face of Dr. Hopper fills my vision, two large men flanking him – one with a needle poised above me like a serpent ready to strike.

"Archie?" I ask, more than a little confused as I take in my surroundings: a small room devoid of furnishings save the bed I'm sitting on and a light somewhere over my head, "Where's Killian? And where am I?"

"Emma," Archie sighs and waves the two men back, "why don't you tell me what you remember."

"What's going on?" I ask instead – why does my voice sound so hoarse?

"You started screaming in your sleep," Archie steps back and pulls off his glasses to clean them.

One of the men returns – when did he leave? – and hands a chair to Archie which he accepts with a smile. Both the men nod once and leave the small room as the former conscience takes a seat in front of me.

"Now, why don't you tell me what you remember," he prompts once more and my eyes snap back to him.

With a sigh I stretch and run my hands through my hair before settling back on the bed – where am I?

"Neverland," I say – it's both an answer and a curse. Killian had said it was a horrible place and now, having been there, I agree wholeheartedly.

"What about Neverland?"

"We went there – Killian, Mary Margaret, David, Regina, Gold and myself – to rescue Henry," not that Gold had been much help considering he took off before we even got ashore. I'm not even sure if The Dark One made it back or not as he wasn't on the ship with us when we returned.

"Emma, what happened in Neverland?" Archie asks and jots down something in a notebook – did he have that before?

"Nothing too exciting. We fought The Lost Boys a few times, thought David had been poisoned by Dreamshade – though it was really just a bad cut that got infected -, spent what must have been weeks tromping around the island before finally catching up with and defeating Pan. Then we all came back except for Gold."

That's definitely the abridged version but it answers the question. Now the cricket better start talking himself.

"Everyone other than Gold came back?" Archie quirks an eyebrow at me, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" I snap, "Now are you going to tell me what's going on?"

I'm tired of this. I just want out of here – wherever here is – so I can go home and spend time with Killian and Henry. After so long away from my son I need to just hold him so that I know he's safe. And then there's my new – or rather, newly advanced – relationship with Killian. It's been years since I let anyone get so close and as much as I fought it – fought him – there's a growing part of me that's eager to remember what I've been missing.

"Emma…there's no good way to say this so I'm just going to say it," Archie hesitates, fidgeting in his chair and I narrow my eyes at him, "Hook didn't come back with you guys. According to everyone else, he was killed by Pan."

The breath catches in my throat and my eyes widen. What is he…? A vice squeezes my heart and for a moment I can't breathe but it passes quickly.

"That's not funny Archie," I snarl, "we all came back. Don't you dare joke about something like that!"

"Emma, I would never…"

"Don't lie to me!" I leap off the bed and advance on the man, "Where is Killian? I want to see him!"

"Emma, please, you have to understand," Archie jumps up and backs away, "he's…"

"Now!" I roar and grab him by the collar.

The door bursts open and I spin to face it, expecting to see my pirate waiting, arms open. It's not Killian though, but the two men from earlier. I let go of Archie to defend myself but they're huge – and surprisingly fast – and before I can so much as throw a punch one of them has me pinned against the wall.

A sharp prick stings my arm as the other man jabs me with a needle and ice begins to flood my veins.

I scream.

"Let me go! Killian! I want to see Killian!" I thrash around and continue screaming for my pirate but the injection has already taken hold of me and I'm quickly dragged down into oblivion.

x-x-x-x-x

"I thought you said she was doing well Archie? That video does not scream 'doing well' to me," I can't hide the pain in my voice – this is yet another bullet on the list of ways I've failed my daughter.

Besides me, Snow squeezes my hand and I pull her closer, offering what comfort I can. I know she feels the same. As much as we both love Emma, we've been horrible parents.

"She's grieving David," Archie says quietly, "from what you told me, Hook was killed right in front of her and whatever your own feelings for the man, your daughter obviously cared for him. Denial is just part of the healing process – I'd be more worried if she hadn't reacted as she did."

"But what can we do?" The way Snow's voice breaks on that question is like a dagger to my heart and I pull her against me tighter still as tears leak from both our eyes.

"Give her time," Archie says, after allowing us a moment to gather ourselves, "it's the only thing you can do."

Time. Why is that the answer to everything? How much more time must we give before our family is finally whole?