Wow...this took really long. Sorry. But I hope you're still interested in reading. Enjoy :)

Lily yawned and stretched her arms and saw that Henry and Emma were soundly sleeping. She noticed her dad was missing and decided to get up and look for him.

"Dad? If you're making breakfast can I help?" Lily said. That was weird. The kitchen was empty. Maybe he went to the bathroom. After waiting a few moments and hearing no noise coming from the bathroom she got up and knocked on the door.

"Hey Dad are you in there?" No response. Lily started to panic. She ran back to the kitchen and searched. Back home when her dad left to do something he would leave a note, but there weren't any notes here. She looked in the living room. No note from her father there either. He wouldn't just leave without warning, would he?

Lily shook her mother awake.

"Mom…Mom!" Emma woke up in full alert.

"What is it? What's wrong?" She said quickly looking around for danger.

"I can't find Dad anywhere. And there isn't a note or anything."

Henry woke up too. "What's happening? Did you say Killian is missing?"

"Okay. Let's not get carried away yet. He could just be at the store or something." Emma reached for her phone and pressed a button.

Silence, while the phone rang several times. No answer, so Emma tried again. And then again.

"Killian would have heard the phone by now wherever he is. He would have already picked up and he would have known we would have worried if we saw him gone so he would have left a note, a text, a voicemail…something." She said.

Lily looked up worried at her mother. "He's with Alex. He must have somehow broke the spell. I should have known he would."

Emma tried to hide the fear from her children and quickly got up. "We'll find him. Come on, let's go."

Henry and Lily grabbed their coats and ran behind her.

Killian struggled against the ropes. He had tried breaking them last night but he must have fallen asleep doing so. Now that he was awake he was trying to fight against the tightness yet again, but there was no use. They weren't moving. Why was he always tied up? He had to get out before-

"Glad to see you haven't escaped." Alex grinned.

Killian fought against the ropes and yelled.

"What do you want? You know what? I don't care what you do to me just don't lay a hand on my family."

Alex laughed.

"Relax. The only one I want to hurt is you. Oh just wait and see what I have in store for you pirate."

Killian gritted his teeth.

"I wouldn't expect less coming from the crocodile's offspring." He spat.

"Thank you. I just have to take care of you and then steal the rest of Emma's powers and all will be wonderful in the world."

Killian shook his head.

"Have you really taken no example from your father? He was a coward. The only way he protects himself is through his magic. And now you're doing the same."

Alex's face changed. He hadn't thought about looking like a coward. For it moment it seemed like he would stop to really think about what he was doing and then he shook his head. No, it must be done. He wasn't being a coward. He was doing what was right.

"Shut it pirate."

Alex lifted up his hands

"You're in for quite the surprise."

Killian shut his eyes not in fear but in acceptance of whatever was to come. As long as he knew his family was safe everything was okay.

"Lily! Wait for me!" Lily had let go of Emma's hand when she saw her father and was now running towards him.

Killian opened his eyes just in time to see Emma use the little bit of magic to untie him. What happened next happened too fast. The comet of magic had already been released by Alex. Lily couldn't let Alex hurt her father so she jumped in front of Killian. In that moment Killian felt as if the world had slowed down. He saw how the impact of the magic hit her chest and how her small body went limp and fell into his arms.

"No!" Yelled Killian as Emma raced to the scene using what was left of her powers to slightly knock down Alex and she fell on her knees besides Killian.

"Lily!" Both parents yelled in desperation. They shook her and continued to call her name but she didn't respond.

Alex was on his knees and recovering from being knocked out. He was only a few feet away from the crying parents and unconscious Lily. He stared in horror as he saw the young girl not responding. He hadn't meant to do this. He wanted to hurt her father not her. Never her. He lifted himself up and started walking closer.

"Lily. Please answer me." Killian cried. Tears fell from his face onto Lily's clothes. He looked up at Alex.

"What have you done you monster!" Killian snapped at Alex.

"What hell was that spell? And how do you undo it." Emma demanded.

Alex slowly kneeled down. For a moment all three stared at Lily's chest which was glowing where the spell had hit.

" I don't know how to undo it. It's a torturing spell. It's supposed to hurt your heart and drive you insane from the agony, but it was meant for you." Alex replied slowly and still in shock.

"Then what the bloody hell is it going to do to her." He stared at Lily as she started to grow colder in his arms and her breathing slowed even further.

Alex didn't answer and just looked at Killian and Emma, his eyes filled with fear.

"No." Killian whispered.

"There's gotta be a way to save her." Emma said determined.

She raised her hands slightly above Lily and used every bit of her magic to try and heal. Lily's glowing chest dimmed as Emma struggled to keep the magic in her hands going. Suddenly they heard a cough.

"Lily!" Killian propped up Lily against his arm so she could sit up better.

"Are you okay?" Emma asked holding onto Lily's hand.

"It hurts." Lily was barely able to reply.

Gold was walking through the forest. Alex had told him to meet him here, but why? As he bent over under a low branch he looked up to see people in the distance. Not just any people.

"Oh no." Gold whispered to himself. He walked as fast as possible to see what was going on only to have his suspicions confirmed. The young girl, Lily, she was in her father's arms looking extremely pale.

"What happened here?"

If Killian hadn't been holding Lily he would have strangled the man.

"Your son used some magic and now it's killing my daughter. I always knew the Dark One would never change. Look where the dark magic you've taught your son has ended up." Killian yelled with passion.

Gold looked at the child and at her parents.

"I knew nothing of this. Alex what did you do?"

Alex had tears forming in his eyes.

"I wanted to get revenge for you. The spell was to hurt him not her. She got in the way and it hit her."

Gold took his hands and flicked them over Lily's heart. The glow seemed to almost fade away and everyone began to sigh in relief. Then the glow returned and Lily grunted in pain once again.

"Why didn't it work?" Emma's heart was pounding. She had only met this girl a few days ago but she felt the strong connection. She could not lose her. Not now. Not ever.

"I don't know. I don't understand this magic that Alex used."

Killian couldn't help it anymore. He freed his arm from under Lily carefully and pushed Gold away who didn't fight back.

"If I could save your daughter I would. Believe me. I know what it's like to lose a child and I would never want that burden on anyone. It's the most awful and most painful suffering."

"So she's just gonna leave us. But she's from the future? What will happen?" Emma asked.

"I suspect she will perish in this moment. Her life would go on as it was until the age of 12 when she will ... Disappear."

Emma and Killian looked at each other and back at their daughter. Tears were everywhere and they both hugged Lily tightly.

"I'm so sorry Lily. I'm sorry we failed in saving you. We failed you as parents."

Lily reached out to touch her father's cheek.

"Don't say that." She struggled talking but continued.

"You guys don't see, that to me you are the most amazing people I know. When I look at you I see two brave heroes and I'm not just saying that because you're my parents. I've seen and heard so many stories of the things you've done for others. I've also heard the stories of your mistakes. And that you both have been hurt. Your hearts have been broken again and again. Despite all that you learned to keep fighting for the people you love. I don't think you realize it but all of that makes you the greatest parents. You've been left alone and damaged, but you never ever wanted me to feel that way. I've always felt like I belonged. I grew up knowing I had people who loved me, cared for me, who would always forever be there and would never ever leave me. Thank you."

There was silence among the group as Lily seemed to be taking her last breaths. Killian and Emma squeezed her tightly wanting to believe it was all a lie and that she wasn't actually leaving.

"The glow." Alex pointed out.

"What?"

Alex gently pushed Killian's body away from Lily's chest. The glow that was getting brighter as Lily breathed slower was now diminishing. Confusion filled the air until suddenly Lily gasped for air as if she her lungs hadn't felt fresh oxygen in forever.

"The pain! I don't feel it!" Lily exclaimed sitting up.

They all looked at her chest that now looked perfectly normal. No hint that magic had hit her.

"But how?" Emma asked.

Gold laughed. "Well I guess being the daughter of a pirate and a savior has its perks. She seems to have some sort of healing power within you. Looks like you're magical, Lily."

"She has magic?" Emma asked. Her daughter had inherited her magic capabilities, but in a whole other way.

"I guess that makes me a survivor huh, Dad?"

Killian and Emma exchanged glances of relief as they laughed at the familiar line.

"I'd like to tell you two something. After listening to your daughter talking about you like that, it made me realize that it's all I ever wanted from my son Baelfire. But I let power get in my way." Gold looked over towards Alex.

"I'm not going to make that same mistake with m'boy here. I want to do the right thing...for you" He said playfully poking his chest with his thumb.

Alex looked to the ground ashamed of everything that had happened.

"When I was thinking of this whole plan I never thought I was just making the mistakes my father made in his past. I thought getting revenge was the best way."

Alex looked at Lily in the eyes and sighed.

"You were right. I let my anger get in my way and let it make me a monster. A villain. I'm really sorry that seeing you hurt is what made me finally recognize that what I was doing was wrong."

Lily smiled.

"It's okay. You just made a mistake. And you're not a villain. You're just a kid waiting to become someone: a hero. Even heroes make mistakes. We'll find our way."

Alex hugged Lily. He was lucky to have a friend like her and he wasn't going to let go of her again.

"Well I think we should probably inform the others that everything is fine." Emma said getting up from kneeling next to Lily with Killian.

"But before that, I think there's something that rightfully belongs to you. Your powers." Gold said reaching for the shackles that had once taken away the power.

"I once thought that magic was the only thing that was worth fighting for. I thought power is what I needed but not anymore. Seeing all of this just showed me I don't need all the power in the world to make me happy. I have love. With Belle." Gold put an arm around Alex.

"And right now the future seems brighter than ever."

They all smiled looking at the two kids that didn't quite belong just yet. Gold was right. The future seemed brighter than ever. There would be struggles coming, but there would also be something wonderful.

A few hours later...

"This is kind of weird. I'll be seeing you in a couple of minutes but I still feel like I'm going to miss you." Lily laughed hugging her parents.

They squeezed her tightly.

"Well we're not gonna see you until a few years so we're gonna miss you till then, kid" Emma replied.

"Remember to stay beautiful and and be good to those wonderful parents you must have." Killian smirked and Lily rolled her eyes. Just like her mother would.

"Goodbye young Henry. It was pretty awesome being around your age for once."

"It was a lot of fun. I'll see you in a few years little sis." Henry hugged Lily who then continued to go and hug her grandparents.

"Goodbye, Dad." Alex said hugging Rumple.

"Say hello to mom for me. Granted she'll think you're playing a joke on her or maybe she'll believe you."

"I will son. Hey listen, I know you wanted to spend more time with me learning magic. I know I wasn't there when you needed me, but I'm not as innocent as you. I can't live with my magic. I've done too many wrong deeds and it's going to take a lot to redeem myself. Soon I will let go of my powers and I won't have them anymore. Can I trust that you learned your lesson and you will use that magic of yours to be the hero you want and I know you'll be?"

"Yes father. And don't worry I have a good friend keeping me on the good path." Alex smiled and looked over at Lily who was walking his way.

"Are we ready to go?" Lily asked Alex.

Alex nodded. "All set."

With her powers newly restored, Emma used her magic to create the portal using the instructions Alex gave her.

Soon a blue swirl appeared in front of them.

Alex extended his hand to Lily.

"Ready?"

Lily's face lightened and turned around.

"Just one more thing." She walked over to Killian who bent down to her level. Lily whispered something unheard by the rest into Killian's ear. Whatever it was that she told him it made Killian smile and nod. Lily hugged him one last time, smiled at the rest of her family and ran back to take Alex's hand.

"Together." She stated as if to remind him that together they could do anything. Just like they promised when they were much younger.

Together they jumped and disappeared in the blue portal.

"What did Lily whisper to you?" Emma had her arm holding onto Killian's arm.

Killian kissed her on the head.

"A secret." He said raising both eyebrows.

Emma leaned her her head against his shoulder as they walked home.

"Come on! You can tell me." She insisted.

Killian laughed.

"Patience, love. I'll tell you when the time comes."

Emma shrugged and smiled. As long as everything was back to normal and no evil was over their heads everything was fine.

So that was my story...Lily's secret you ask? The world may never know. Just kidding. There's an epilogue where we get to see :)