A/N: Well, this is the last whole chapter to this story. There will be an epilogue to wrap it all up, however. I apologize for not finishing off this story sooner, it really was not my intention for it to take this long to finish. I hope that all of you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the major characters in this story as they belong to Once Upon A Time.
Chapter 26:
Robin couldn't believe what actually happened. The kiss might have just worked. Energy had shot out from Killian and Emma in a wave almost knocking him from his knees. "Killian?"
The other man raised his head from Emma's. Confusion lined his features. "What the bloody hell was that?"
Robin, who had barely held back his tears all this time, could no longer keep them at bay. He smiled as a tear slipped from his eye and he lifted a hand to wipe it away. "I think that was True Love's Kiss."
"No," Killian denied. "It couldn't be. We've kissed before. Nothing ever happened then." He shifted so that Emma's head rested against his shoulder. "She's dead. I was too late, even if it could have worked."
Killian closed his eyes. Robin studied his friend, worried that he might be right. A movement on Emma's face caught Robin's eye. Her eyelashes fluttered. It was the first real movement that Emma had shown since Robin had come to the church. "Killian, look."
"Emma?" Killian gazed down at Emma, cradling her closer to his chest. "Love? Come back to us."
Robin helped Killian lift Emma from the floor, before he ran over to retrieve the bench. It was narrow but long enough to hold Emma so long as they placed her upon it carefully.
Killian lowered her down, while Robin steadied the bench. Each took up a side so that Emma wouldn't roll off. As Killian caressed her face, Robin pulled back the edge of her shirt to examine her wound. Robin pulled out his own shirt and ripped off a section. Wetting it with his mouth, as he would to clean his son's face, Robin carefully wiped around the edges of the wound so that his saliva wouldn't be exposed to the open area. As he swiped at the blood surrounding it, he realized the blood had stopped flowing. For a brief instant, Robin was concerned that Emma had lost so much blood that it had stopped. Instead, he found that the wound seemed to be healing itself from the inside outwards. It was as if Emma was somehow magically healing herself.
"We should get her to a hospital or at least to Signora Assante's so we can get her some medical attention, but I think she might come back from this," Robin told his friend. "The wound seems to be mending."
"Aye." Killian seemed distracted and Robin couldn't blame him. The man was having a hard enough time dealing with all that had happened, let alone his returning memories. At least Emma seemed to be getting better. There was hope after all. Mary Margaret was due another quarter.
A semi-conscious Emma moaned, drawing both men's attention back to her face. Her eyes seemed to open barely before they closed again.
"Love?" Another moan. "Will you be okay if I carry you to the boardinghouse? The journey may hurt."
A brief nod was all the response Killian received. For them it was enough. Emma would be okay.
"I love you," Killian told her before he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Robin, can you help me lift her again?"
Robin did as he was asked and aided his friend on the journey to Signora Assante's. What should have only taken twenty minutes, ten by taxi, if one was lucky enough to find one in that part of town, took them almost an hour. One of the longest of Robin's life. Yet, Emma's safety meant so much more and he was happy to know he wouldn't have to call Emma's family and tell them that she was lost to them forever.
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When Killian and Robin entered Signora Assante's with a still limp Emma, she took one look at them and guided them to Emma's room. Rapid Italian flew from her lips as she directed the other priests and nuns staying with her to do her bidding. No sooner had the two men laid Emma upon her bed then fresh towels and a jug of sterile water arrived.
"I clean her. You clean yourselves. Go!" The two men jumped to obey, while the others filed out from the room.
"Alone at last, Miss Swan." Signora Assante wet a towel and slapped it upon Emma's chest once her shirt was stripped from her body. "I seemed to have left the party too early the last time we met. Never leave a priest to do the devil's work."
Emma's eyes began to flutter. Signora Assante roughly scoured at the wound, pressing deep into the flesh. "Not even bleeding. You are apparently tougher than I first believed. And a purveyor of strong magic. A worthy foe. Though I should have expected that after all I have learned from you over the last few months."
Taking the bloody towel off, Signora Assante grabbed another. It was rougher than the other she had used. Not even bothering to wet it, she scrubbed hard at the knife wound, her ministrations leaving Emma's chest red and raw. "I've encountered people like you before." The older woman nimbly rolled Emma onto her side and prodded at her back around where the knife wound would be. "Poison hasn't worked properly in ages, so that's out. Too detectable by this age's medicine. Stabbing you hasn't worked in my favor thus far. It must be something else. Something faster. Something even you wouldn't be able to have time to fix. Hmm… I need to do something unique, special."
The old woman rolled Emma so she was once more on her back. She used a gnarled fingers to pull back Emma's eyelids. Emma's eyes pulsed back and forth as if lost in a dream. "I could crawl into your mind and have you destroy yourself. Just one little sliver of the darkest part of me and you'd pull your own skin from your bones to try to escape."
Signora Assante released Emma's eyelids, taking pleasure in seeing them slam shut. She sat on the bed next to Emma's unconscious figure, letting her old, veined legs swing back and forth. "That could be fun, especially if your lover was there to watch as well." Signora Assante turned to face Emma. "Don't think I don't know about what happened between you and your priest. I know all sin. I live for it. You must as well. You were the one who led him down that path. In his mind he was as pure as Christmas snow until you arrived and tempted him. You were Eve and your love the apple he could not resist. It really was delicious to watch." Signora Assante licked her lips with a warm wet tongue before a youthful smile spread across her face. "Did you know I actually stood there and watched? I stood at the door. Not one of you noticed this frail body gazing at you. Judging you."
A deep chuckle escaped her lips. "I bided my time inside this frail image waiting for you and your dear Captain to arrive here in Rome. The wind had turned and I could smell his soul in the air. The old ones are so ripe. That very night this poor dear woman breathed her last. Probably happy to join her husband in God's clutches." Signora Assante spat on the ground in distaste. "Only he knows of their whereabouts. The two of them were too good for the likes of me. But her body, oh, her body was mine for the taking if I was quick enough. And I was in the room awaiting her last breath."
Signora Assante ran a finger down Emma's bare arm. "At first it was my hope to exchange this sickly body for the youthfulness of your own, but this woman was much more helpful. No one really takes note of an old woman, but everyone is willing to help. Not even you noticed. No you were too concerned for your lost love. Ha!" A devious chuckle escaped the woman's lips. "But it appeared that I chose well. Not even I would have guessed that the two of you could have possibly have been related. To think your world collided with my own so perfectly." The woman prodded at Emma again with a distasteful smile.
"I slip through to your world every so often. Did you know it was me who created the original Dark One? No? Well, I did. If it wasn't for my influence the Dark One would have never felt the lure of evil. It was so strong they didn't even bat an eyelash at turning to the Darkness. How is the newest Dark One? I smell him upon Killian. The sweetest smell, evil." The woman licked her lips. "Oh, I wish you could taste it. The aphrodisiac qualities are beyond enticing. But all that doesn't matter now, if I play my cards right, I could turn you to evil. Take possession of you. Your body would be so much easier on my own eyes in the mirror. Or better yet, maybe the Captain will be willing to trade his body and his soul in exchange for yours. What do you think, Miss Swan?"
"Or there is the last option where you will receive none of those."
The older woman began to change to the demon it really was as it turned to face Killian at Emma's door. "So which persona do I have the pleasure of dealing with? The lieutenant? The prince? The pirate? Or the priest?"
Killian stood tall as he stared down the demon. "I am all of those, but I'd gladly give up all those titles for one."
"And what's that?" the demon mocked.
"Emma's love," Killian announced with sincerity.
"Too bad I will see to it that she is lost to you forever."
"I wouldn't count on that."
The demon whipped around to find Emma sitting up on the bed. "You can't stop me. Your powers are weak and puny against me, especially in your state."
"My powers are at their strongest when tied to my emotions. You haven't even come close to seeing what I can do when my family is threatened." Emma rose slowly from the bed and faced down the demon.
"Oh! And to think we are family ourselves."
"I am not family to you," Emma declared.
"Then I will kill him before I kill you, just to see you wither in pain." The demon's eyes began to glow red with its anger. How dare these puny mortals threaten him? They were nothing in the grand scheme of things. He only made them important because he craved to own Killian Jones, body and soul. Oh, the temptations he could lead people on if he possessed that man. It would be an absolute pleasure to see humanity fight to claim his attention as he plotted to steal their very souls. But one man and woman didn't matter. There were millions more he could use. No, these two needed to learn a hard lesson. No one deals with the devil and hopes to win.
He lashed out with his hand and sent Emma flying hard against the wall. Seeing her slide down the surface brought a satisfied smile to his face as he turned to Killian. Only Killian had refused to wait his turn. He shot forward with the sacrificial knife the demon had placed on his person earlier. The gleaming silver sliced through the air and plunged deep into the devil's own chest. Normally, it would have meant nothing, but it seemed that the metal had been cleaned with holy water. It burned through the borrowed skin as a flame would take to tinder. The devil screamed as he let his soul escape from the shattered body.
Killian couldn't believe it was over. Not wanting to take any chances, he lifted the knife and plunged it back into the demonic body as the screams grew louder until they stopped abruptly.
It was Father Bastian who had realized who Signora Assante was. The older priest had arrived only moments ago to discover all that had happened to Emma. With dire warning, he told Killian of his suspicions. And Killian knew a tingle of fear. He had left Emma alone with Signora Assante without thought, without question. Father Bastian led Killian to clean the sacrificial knife with holy water in an attempt to shield him from the demon should he attack. It was a good thing he had or else Killian would have been helpless against the devil who threatened Emma's life.
Months ago, before Killian and Emma arrived, a parishioner of Father Bastian's had come to him with complaints of an old woman who would come late at night and feast upon the stray cats outside his home. The parishioner had trembled at the sight knowing the devil must be involved. For that reason he refused to say anything. But the other evening, the man was out and he saw the same woman at the market. He had followed her to Signora Assante's boardinghouse. Fearing for the lives of the priests inside, the parishioner finally approached Father Bastian about the demon only that morning.
Father Bastian rushed into the room as Killian released the blade. Killian knew the demon had to have escaped. True evil never seemed to die. Holy water splashed Killian's face as Father Bastian sprayed it around the room as he recited Holy Scripture banishing the demon from the premises.
Killian rose from where he was and rushed towards Emma's collapsed form. "Emma! Emma! Stay with me." He pulled her onto his lap and stroked her hair, afraid that these new injures would only harm her more. "The demon is gone. Everything is going to be okay, so long as you stay with me. You have to get better so we can go home to Storybrooke. Robin called Regina and everyone is looking forward to seeing you. Henry is eagerly awaiting your return."
Father Bastian approached and knelt down next to the two of them. His hands were swift and sure as he examined Emma. "She appears to be healing from her earlier wound. And with all good things that God has blessed us with, she will be well soon. Then you can bring her home."
"Thank you, Father."
"Knew you were too cocky and pretty to be a Padre. I knew," the older man said with a knowing smile as he patted Killian's cheek.
Some of the other priests from the boarding house came in and removed the body from the room upon Father Bastian's orders. A nun came in and began to straighten everything. For all their help Killian was grateful. His main concern right now was Emma. As everyone filed out, Robin entered. He lifted Emma from Killian's arms and placed her back on the bed and under the sheets.
"I'll stay with her," Robin told him. "You get some rest."
"I can't. I don't think after what just happened that I can let her out of my sight. I'm sure you'd be the same if it was Regina."
Robin smiled and reached out to shake Killian's hand. "I understand. I'll see what I can do about getting a doctor to make a house visit and make some adjustments to our flight arrangements. I think we will all find we sleep better once we are back in Storybrooke, in our own beds."
Killian agreed and watched as Robin left the room. Once they were alone, Killian sat gently on the bed and tucked Emma into the covers like a small child. He knew he wouldn't be able to rest for a while. He was afraid that if he did he'd find this had all been a dream and Emma was well and truly lost to him.
"I love you, Swan." Killian kissed her brow and rose from the bed. He reached the chair, his body about to collapse on itself with all the strain from the day when he heard a small, "I know," rise from Emma's lips. A smile rested on Killian's face most of the night. He had his memories and his Swan. Now all he needed was to get them all back home.
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"Killian, wait." Emma tugged at Killian's coat so he'd stop.
"Are you okay, love?" His worried gazed searched hers for any sign of weakness despite the fact that she had been healing nicely if not slowly.
Emma nodded. "Go ahead with Robin and load the taxi. I just want to talk to Father Bastian. I will only be a minute."
He studied her for a moment before he pecked her on the cheek and released her arm so he could do as she bid. Emma smiled at him and waved to Robin who was loading his own luggage into the taxi before turning back to the priest who had helped them so much the last couple of days. She reached out to take the priest's hands into her own.
"Thank you so much for everything, Father."
"You are most welcome." He gave her a kind smile and squeezed her hands.
"I have one question. I don't know if you will be able to answer, but if anyone knew, I figured it might be you." Emma released the man's hands and began to fiddle with her fingers unsure of how to proceed.
"Ask me. I am good with secrets."
"If Signora Assante was that…"
"Santana," the priest finished for her.
"Si. If she was that, why did Signora Assante help us? How was it that there were times she was there while that thing seemed to possess someone else?"
"Even Santana cannot maintain one form for too long. Too much as you say… energy." He shrugged. "I think an angel watch over you and your Killian. It was this that helped you, in the form of Signora Assante. God gives us miracoli. Miracles. His angels are but one." This time it was him who reached out to take Emma's hands. He patted them with his. "Go with God, my child, as he will continue to watch over you."
Emma knew she couldn't' ask anymore from the older man. He didn't know any more than she did. She smiled wanly and reached out to hug him. "Grazie, Padre."
He blushed as she released him. He made the sign of the cross and blessed her before she turned to go. Emma walked toward the taxi thankful it was all finally over and they were heading home. But she watched out the rearview window as the taxi drove away with a tear in her eye. She would always be a little regretful of the fact that she never had gotten to know the real Signora Assante.