Author's Note: Thank you all for your continued support. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post this. I've been pretty busy with work and other activities. I'll try to post faster so I'm not leaving you guys in the dark.

Chapter Seven: Memories

"Before we leave, I suggest you keep my sister locked up in your dungeon. It's for the safety of your people as well as ours." Regina wasn't about to leave Arendelle until she was sure Zelena would cause no problems for their host. She looked over at the red head being held by Granny.

"I'll see to it myself then we can be off." Elsa lead the way with two of her guards flanking the woman. She didn't look dangerous, but Elsa had learned looks could be deceiving. Take her Aunt Ingrid for example. She'd allowed her magic to make her a monster determined to kill anyone she saw as ordinary. She was glad Ingrid realized her mistake but Elsa wished it hadn't cost her Aunt her life. There was so much she and Anna could have learned from Ingrid.

"You don't have to lock me up. I can't hurt anyone as long as I wear this cuff my sister put on me." Zelena was tired of being in a cage. It was boring with nothing to do all day. She tried to remove the cuff but found it wouldn't budge. She even tried bumping her wrist against the nurse who delivered her food. But the damn thing still wouldn't move. It was then she realized only Regina could remove it since she'd been the one to put it on her. If she didn't all ready hate her sister, then she'd loath her now for taking her magic away.

Elsa opened the cell door and stepped aside to allow the woman to enter before locking the door behind her. "You may not be able to use your magic against my people, but you're still dangerous. I can see it in your eyes. No, the safest place for you is in here, so you can in fact not hurt anyone."

Zelena huffed dramatically as she sat down on the bed. "Well, you can't keep me locked up forever."

"I can put you in a colder prison if you aren't happy with you current accommodations." Elsa didn't bother to stick around to hear the woman's reply. Once she was out of her ear shot, she turned to face one of her guards. "I want someone posted here at all times to make sure she doesn't try to escape. And make sure it's not anyone who will fall asleep at their post."

"Yes, my Queen, I will see to it."

Elsa nodded her head before returning to her waiting friends. "Your sister is very...whinny."

"Yes, she is," Regina said agreeing with Elsa's assessment of Zelena.

"Anna, Kristoff, stay safe and watch over our people while I'm gone."

"We will, Elsa. You just be careful and save Emma." Anna hugged her sister close then released her.

"I will. I promise." Elsa smiled as she turned away seeing they were a few people short. "Where's Hook, Henry, and the girl?"

"They went to prepare the ship for departure." David rubbed Snow's back as she kissed Neal goodbye. He'd tried once more to convince her to stay behind. But the glare she gave him stopped him in his tracks. She was stubborn, but also very determined to help save their daughter.

"He really missed his ship."

"No, he really misses Emma." Snow wiped the tears from her face as she stepped away from Neal.

Elsa nodded her head in understanding. She'd see the man rush to Emma's side time and again when she was in Storybrooke. It reminded her of how Kristoff did the same thing for Anna. She knew Hook was in love with Emma, and Emma was in love with him. She only hoped they could save Emma before it was too late. "How did this happen?"

"Emma was being a hero. She saved me from the darkness so my happiness wasn't destroyed." Regina breathed in the salty sea air as they walked down to the docks.

"But why did she have to do it in the first place?"

"Because I was dying and once that happened the Dark One would emerge unchallenged from it's host." Rumple still couldn't believe the events that transpired after he passed out in his shop. He understood Belle wanting to help him, but not the rest of them. He supposed Ms. Swan meant what she said about the happy endings. She was there to ensure everyone got their happy ending.

"So, what's happening to Emma?"

"She's fighting the darkness inside of her. The Dark One, I think, tried to kill me today and she stopped her." Snow watched Killian, Henry, and Lexi move around on the ship's wooden deck like they'd been sailing together for years.

"Then there's still hope to save her?"

"There's always hope, but the Dark One isn't patient. She will find a way to break Ms. Swan. And once that happens I'm afraid our hope will be gone." Rumple watched the pirate work vigorously. He made up his mind right then and there. He would do whatever it took to save Emma Swan. He'd made that pledge before to save Henry from Neverland, and now he would save Ms. Swan for the pirate. He'd taken so much from the man over the years that Rumple realized he had to start making amends somewhere, and Hook was a good beginning.

Snow turned her attention from Gold back to Killian and gasped slightly. "And what better way to break Emma than by killing the one she loves."

"Aye, but that isn't going to happen." Killian had looked up from his work after hearing the gasp. The idea wasn't a new one for him. It bloody made sense. But he knew the Dark One would attempt to do the deed herself so Emma would be forced to watch. He wouldn't allow Emma to go through that again. He would survive this threat and save her in the process which would save Alexis and Liam.

Lexi felt her father's intense gaze on her, and she lifted her head. She'd heard his words and knew he'd meant them but words weren't enough. She knew that first hand. Most children couldn't remember things from their life before the ages of five to ten, but she did remember. She remembered every embrace, every soothing word, and she remembered the day he died.

"Henry, you have to take them and run. I'll hold her off to allow you to escape."

"Killian, she'll kill you. I can't do this by myself."

"My boy, you are stronger than you think. I know you can do this. You and these precious babes are the only one's who can. Here take these and give them to my children when they're old enough."

Henry looked down at the necklace and hook in his hands and shook his head. "No, I should be the one facing her while you take Alexis and Liam."

Killian smiled at the boy he was proud and honored to call his son. He finally had the family he'd once dreamed of having before Milah was murdered. Now he had to do what was best for them and let them go. "No, son, your best chance is with me staying behind to fight."

"Dada..."

"It's all right, Lexi. You go with your big brother Henry. Dada has to keep you safe." Killian wrapped his arms around both Lexi and Liam. He couldn't hug them as close as he wanted without his other hand, so this would have to do. "Now go with Henry." Killian roses to his full height and gently pushed the two year olds toward Henry. He nodded his head then froze feeling something sharp jabbing him in the back.

"You can't send my children away, Hook. I have a right to see them."

"They aren't yours, Dark One. They're Emma's children. Henry, go!"

"No, Henry stay or I'll kill him. You've all ready lost one Dad are you willing to lose another?" The Dark One pressed her dagger a bit deeper into the pirate's back breaking the skin.

Killian cried out at the sudden pain and squeezed his eyes shut. He took several deep breaths and blinked his eyes to clear the black spots of unconsciousness. He wouldn't allow the Dark One to harm Emma's children. "Henry, go! I'm not important. You, Liam, and Lexi are important. Please..."

The Dark One sighed as Henry's feet remained planted where they were. She was tired of playing games and she was tired of the pirate. She shoved the dagger between his ribs reveling as his life's blood pooled on the ground. She laughed hearing the girl scream fro her Dada. The poor pitiful child was now an orphan, and she was now free from her fighting host.

Killian gasped then coughed as his lungs filled with his blood. I'm drowning in my own blood he thought. His eyes found his children before glazing over. "I love you..."

Lexi screamed as her Dada's body hit the ground. "Dada..."

Henry didn't waste another second. He grabbed Lexi and Liam and ran. Tears blurred his vision and his heart ached, but he couldn't think about it right now. He had to get himself and his siblings to safety.

Lexi blinked back her tears and quickly turned away. She forced her legs to walk taking her to the bow of the ship. She knew everyone was watching her but she needed to pull herself together. She had to be ready when the Dark One came. It was her turn to save her family.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain." Rumple knew they needed to leave before the Dark One tracked them to Arendelle.

Killian's blue eyes remained on Lexi's hunched shoulders as he nodded his head. "Yes, Gold, you can come aboard. All who's going get below deck until we are away form Arendelle." He would wait until they were in the relative safety of the ocean before allowing anyone to roam on deck. Then he would have a talk with his daughter.

Lexi took a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and rose to her feet to help with the shove off. She refused to look either Henry or her dad in the eyes. She understood their concern, but they couldn't help her with her pain. It hasn't happened for them or her yet, but that didn't mean she didn't remember it. Once they were on their way she made her way to the stairs leading below deck.

"Where are you going, Lass?"

"I'm going to do an inventory in the galley. If we're going to be on the Jolly Roger for three days, I want to make sure we're fully stocked."

"I'm sure we are, Lass. Lexi, we need to talk..."

"No, we don't. I'm fine, Dad. I'm dealing with it." Lexi darted below deck before he could question her more. The memories of his and Liam's death were hard, but talking about it would be so much worse. She reached the safety of the galley as the first sob rocked her body.

"Lexi, we can take her. I know we can. It's three against one."

"Liam, that's what she wants you to think. She's got magic on her side and we don't."

"Yes, you do. I've seen you use it. I say we fight her."

"And I say we don't. You know I can't control it and half the time it doesn't help us."

"Henry, you're the oldest. You're the tie breaker. Do we stay and fight or keep running like cowards?"

"I'm sorry, Liam. I agree with Lexi. She's too powerful to take on without magic. Give me a chance to help our sister control her magic then maybe we'll have a chance."

"You're both bloody cowards. I'll face her alone if I have to."

"It's suicide, Liam. You know that." Lexi couldn't believe what she was hearing from her twin brother.

Liam shrugged his shoulders as he sighed. "I'd rather die a man than a coward."

"Liam, there's a difference between survival and cowardices."

"Maybe there is to you sis, but not to me. Everyone we loved and knew died a hero. I'm tired of running. It's time to stand up to her." Liam rose to his feet before stalking to the door of Granny's dinner and shoving it open.

"He's right, Lexi. We can't run forever."

"I know we can't, Henry. I just can't lose the two of you. You're all I have left."

"Well, then you and I need to fix your non-control on your magic." Henry rose to his feet smiling slightly.

"How are we going to do that, Henry?" Lexi also rose to her feet and followed her big brother toward the front door of Granny's.

"Easy...we use my Mom's old spell book. The one Rumplestiltskin gave to her."

"You want to turn my magic dark?"

"No, I just want you to be able to control it. It can help us, Lexi."

"I know it can." Lexi opened the door and step out into the night only to scream. "Liam,...let him go!"

"Now why would I want to do that?" The Dark One snarled at the children around her.

"Because he's your son just like I am." Henry knew the Dark One didn't like being called a mother, but it was the only weapon he had. He had to reach Emma before the Dark One killed Liam.

"He's not my son, nor are you. I only have one son and Arthur murdered him!" The Dark One didn't even think as she ripped the boy's beating heart from his chest before dropping him to the black asphalt.

"Liam! No, don't hurt him! Please!"

The Dark One smiled as she faced the girl. "Well since you said please." She squeezed the heart in her hand laughing with glee as the boy cried out in pain.

"No!" Lexi felt a wealth of emotions overwhelm her at that moment. She wouldn't stand there and do nothing. She threw her hands in the direction of the Dark One and a blast of light magic flew from them.

The Dark One waved her free hand absorbing the blast with a tisk, tisk coming from her lips. "You aren't strong enough to beat me yet, girl. And you never will be. Just like this boy will never grow to be a man." Without another word, she squeezed the red organ until it turned to dust. She glared at the two children before vanishing in a cloud of purple smoke her echoing laughter was the only thing left behind.

"Liam!"

Lexi shook her head and wiped the tears from her face. She would change that future if it was the last thing she did. Her family deserved their happy ending and that also included Regina. She was apart of her family too and Lexi refused to allow her to suffer.

"Lexi...Alexis, where are you. Love?"

"Please leave me alone. I'll be up on deck in a minute."

"I can't do that when my daughter is in so much pain."

"Well, I can't talk about it. It could make things worse."

"But didn't you come to change the future for the better?" Killian slowly made his way around the galley following the sound of her voice.

"I did, but I still can't talk about it."

Killian came to a stop spotting Lexi hunched over in the corner of the room. He walked over to her, pulled her gently to her feet, then brushed her hair out of her eyes. "So, I'm expected to do nothing while this pain torments you? I might be a pirate, but I'm also a gentleman."

Lexi laughed in spite of herself as she looked up into his blue eyes. "Thank you for caring, Dad. It helps, but I still can't..."

"Yes, you can. You've all ready changed the future by coming here, so you can tell me what's tormenting you."

"I watched you die."

"You were two, Lexi. You shouldn't..."

"But I do. I watched my mother take the Dark One's dagger and stab you in the back. I couldn't even save my brother from her. She ripped out his heart and crushed it! I tried to help him, but I wasn't strong enough to stop her. I'm sorry." Lexi couldn't stop the sobs that racked her body.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, my sweet girl." Killian's heart ached for Lexi and he gently pulled her against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her blinking back his own tears and held her close while she cried. He silently vowed she would never go through this torment again. Her life and the lives of her brothers would be happy and healthy. He rubbed her shoulder as her sobs subsided and kissed her forehead before she took a step away from him.

"Who's steering the ship?" Lexi hated this side of her personality. It made her feel weak and vulnerable when she cried. But trying to hold the pain inside made it worse, because it slowly ate away her defenses. She couldn't give in to the pain not when her family still needed her.

"Your brother," Killian said smiling. "He's a very good student."

"Well, he has a wonderful teacher. Speaking of teaching, I've got a student of my own to teach." Lexi stepped around her dad and headed for the stairs.

Killian caught her arm with his hook before turning her around to face him. "I'm here for you any time you want to talk."

Lexi nodded her head in understanding. "I know you are, and I appreciate it. I have to get used to the idea that I've got a family here who'll listen to my problems and put me first."

"That's right you do, Love. You don't have to hold it inside or deal with it alone. I'm here so is your grandparents, and your older brother. We all care."

"I know. I see it, but I've been alone for a long time. Henry was there and he cared about me, but I still felt alone."

"You were constantly running for your lives. It makes sense to feel alone in the world. But you're not alone now. Is that understood?"

"Understood, Dad," Lexi said giving a sloppy salute and cracking a smile.

Killian raised an eye brow before spinning her around to face the stairs. He leaned forward so he could whisper in her ear. "I could have you swabbing the deck for that sloppy display."

Lexi turned her head slightly and looked up at the man behind her. "But you wouldn't do that to your daughter."

Killian raised his eye brow again and smirked down at the teenager. "Wouldn't I, Lass?"

"Crap...I'm out of here." Lexi laughed as she headed up the stairs to the top deck of the ship. She felt ten times better and breathing in the salty smell of the ocean invigorated her.

"Lexi, are you all right?"

Lexi turned toward her grandmother and nodded her head. "I'm fine, Grandma. I just had to let out some pain. Speaking of letting out, I've got some dark magic I need to strip from me."

"Dark magic...The magic Emma used to keep you here was part dark. How do you strip it out of you?"

Lexi moved around her grandmother to stand beside Regina. "It's hard to do since it's mixed with my own magic, but I've tried to keep it isolated. As you know magic is energy and that energy feeds off of what we do. If you focus on doing evil deeds with it that energy becomes dark which in turn blackens your heart, but by focusing on good deeds the magic is light and it in turn becomes stronger. By not giving in to it's dark influence, I've been able to keep it locked up inside me. Now I'm going to let it out so it can be destroyed."

"Won't it seek me out like the darkness did before or Gold?"

"I won't give it a chance to do that." Lexi took several steps away before waving her hand creating a barrier between herself and everyone else. "This will protect you from the darkness." She closed her eyes and concentrated on pulling the darkness from her. It resisted as she knew it would, but she was stronger than it was. She encased it in her own light magic before forcing it out of her body.

"Did it come out where your heart is?"

Lexi caught her breath and nodded her head. She extended her hand and wrapped her fingers round the black orb in front of her chest. "Yes, since darkness wants to blacken the heart it was the most logical place to isolate it. It was near my heart, but it never touched it. And now it's time for it to be destroyed." She closed her eyes and focused her light magic into her closed hand.

Regina watched as Alexis's hand began vibrating and glowing a solid white. In a matter of seconds the glow was so bright she had to shield her eyes. As soon as it began it was over. She blinked her eyes and looked at Alexis. A smile graced her lips as she opened her hand revealing nothing but black dust. "You did it."

Lexi brushed the dust from her hands smiling at Regina. She brought down the barrier and nodded her head. "It was a very small piece of the darkness inside Mom. I can't do that to the whole entity. It's too big and too powerful. That's why I told you to focus on your light magic. Merlin and Rumple will need your help."

"And you said you'd teach me how to do that."

"Yes, I did, and I meant it. It's time for the student to become the teacher."