When the light receded, the petite committee looked around them and found themselves in a rather… odd setting.

One that only three there knew well.

"Oh… no." Emma shook her head and sighed. "We're back in here."

Killian huffed. "Why am I not surprised? Crocodile!" He turned to Mr. Gold. "Why in blazes are we now in your vault?"

They all turned to look at him simultaneously. Mr. Gold held his hands up. "Believe me, I don't have a clue."

Emma walked to him. "You must know something. We're not here randomly, that log led us here!"

Liam pushed his way to the wizard. "Speak, villain. The princess has given you command."

"And I am supposed to be impressed?" Mr. Gold chuckled. "You truly are a man of the army, aren't you?"

"How dare you! I am Captain Liam Jones, of the NAVAL forces! I am no bloody army man, and even if I were, Id…"

"Ok enough!" Belle cut in, turning to her husband. "Rumple, can you get us home?"

The wizard huffed. "I can get us out of this place to start with, but I reckon that once I do, our setting will no longer be Storybrooke."

"Please don't tell me we jumped in time again." Emma shook her head.

"To be honest…" Mr. Gold turned his face to Emma. "I truly have no idea, Miss Swan."

"Mrs. Jones." Killian cut in with a sassy grin. "Very well, I suppose the only way to find out what's really happening is for us to get the bloody hell out of ere; you'd better get on with getting us all out of here, mate, the sooner the better."

Rumple looked at him and grinned. "Have you the book, Captain?"

Liam cleared his throat. "That's Lieutenant, villain. I am the Captain."

Killian flushed and scratched the back of his ear. "Err, Liam? You rather…. Passed away in my story and that would make me… a…"

"Aye, but neither one of us is dead now, little brother."

"Younger… brother…"

"Whatever, Killian! I am captain. That's all there is to it. Understood?"

Killian swallowed saliva and maybe a rather sizeable pill of pride. "Aye, captain."

Mr. Gold smiled. Killian turned to him. "Well, well, I am glad my demotion amuses you, crocodile, now… GET… US… OUT!"

"You only live once. I had to watch." Rumple smiled, before flicking his hand upward and puffing them all out of the vault.

Indeed, when they looked around, the place was nowhere near Storybrooke. In fact, it was nowhere near earth; they were in The Dark One's rather ostentatious diner.

Emma rolled her eyes and huffed. "We're back in the Enchanted Forest. Great. What a honeymoon I'm having…"

"could have been much worse." Rumple nodded. "Question is, are we in our own time?" He paced to a sandclock he had on a round table beneath the window and ran a hand under it. Amidst cobwebs and dust, the clock came to life and the fine sand ran it's course, never finishing to pass. He sighed and turned. "Not to worry. It's the present."

"Nonetheless, I am rather curious as to how we ended up crossing realms and into your vault." Liam Jones quipped.

Rumple sighed. "That place is designed to hold magic that is too dangerous even for me." He turned his face from one person to the other. "It holds a spell that immediately places all dangerous items into its watch should the life of my wife or my own be in danger, and given that that book might fit into that category, we were instantly drawn. The only reason we were all there was because you are all with me." He looked at Hook. "I will ask you again… Lieutenant…" He smirked and Killian rolled his eyes. "The book?"

Killian reached out and showed the book. "Aye, tis here."

"Hold on to it." Gold nodded. "That book will give us the answers we need."

"What exactly… does the book do?" Belle asked, pacing to her husband. "And why do you have it, again?"

Like I told you, a gipsy woman regaled it to us. Why is that of any importance?" Liam shrugged.

"Because, my dear master Jones…" Gold walked to the older Jones brother. "The people who wielded these logs and this kind of magic are not to be trifled with. They, I'm afraid, are some of the most powerful sorcerers, wizards and witches in all the realms, older than humanity itself, and you two coming into possession of one of them is no mere coincidence. That witch is up to something and her time has finally come."

"Makes no sense, she saved my life!" Killian shrugged.

"It makes sense if your life was indispensable to her plans, pirate."

"But… why would she want these two guys?" Emma shrugged.

Belle sighed and reached out. "Here… hand me the book." Killian gave her the log hesitantly and Belle instantly began to study it. "If there's anything in the library about this kind of magic, I should be able to find it." She turned to look at Rumple. "Let me take it upstairs, Rumple. I won't try to open it. I just need to see it and see if I can find some information on it, anything."

Gold touched Belle's cheek. "As beautiful as she is smart. Oh and dear, you might also want to see if your old clothes are still intact." He gave her a friendly nod. "You're… in your bed robe."

Belle nodded and disappeared up the stairs, holding the book in her hand. Killian and Liam exchanged looks before the younger Jones finally turned to him. "Whatever magic took place…" He huffed. "I do not wish to lose my brother ever again."

"Nor do I." Liam added.

"Should this magic be undone and we return to Storybrooke… might… either of us perish?"

Emma instantly looked worried. "Wait. So which of these two realities is.. like… the REAL reality?"

Rumple cleared his throat. "Soul splitting creates an alternate reality; but neither one is more or less real than the other." He looked at the brothers. "Whichever the outcome, the two of you are to remain alive, unless some unfortunate event of a more physical nature come to pass. Captain?"

"Aye?" Liam sneered.

"What, pray tell, is the last thing you remember, before you washed ashore in Storybrooke?"

Rumple walked around the table and sat down on his chair at the very end, puffing three more chairs for his not so welcome guests. The three exchanged weary looks and sat before him. Liam cleared his throat and spoke. "The waters were calm. Not a cloud hid the sun and the Jewel made a record time of thirty five knots from Fisherman's Cove to the South gate of King Gorge's old realm."

"Ugh, he's still alive?" Emma huffed.

"As we set sail yet again, headed for the Northern shores, your old kingdom, milady.." He nodded acknowledgement in Emma's direction. "We ran into a storm… or rather, more of a curse." He heaved. "I tried turning sharply, dropped anchor then cut loose, but when I saw through my spyglass what was heading our way, I came into realization that this was a storm that even the finest vessel would never outrun. Nobody…" he tapped his finger on the wood. "…can ever… outrun a curse… and that was a curse."

Killian cleared his throat and Liam looked at him. "I have." He smirked.

Liam frowned. "How so? With what vessel?"

Killian shrugged. "Same one." His smile was so cocky it even got under Emma's skin. "The Jolly Roger."

"You mean the Jewel." Liam looked back at his brother in defiance.

"The Jolly."

"The JEWEL!"

"THE JOLLY ROGER!"

Liam stood and knocked the chair back. "That's a pirate vessel's name, Killian!"

"Aye, well, aren't you the brightest torch in the hall! Guess what I am?" Killian grinned back, equally defiant.

"And what makes you think, that a fully trained naval Captain would be outrun in the SAME vessel by a man who's still unqualified to be in my rank?"

"Don't you DARE patronize me, Liam, I am one HELL of a Captain!"

"Not now you're not!" Liam barked back. "You will stand down right now, and end this folly… Lieutenant!"

The two brothers held each other's stare, and Killian huffed hard. "Aye… captain." Killian whispered, his lips pressed hard together, before pushing back his chair and storming out of the room.

"Well, that was rather… awkward." Rumple smiled. "I'm glad the two of you are… so glad to be back together."

Liam ran his hand through his hair and sighed hard before sitting down. He shook his head. "I… apologize for this outburst. I suppose you are right, Villain. I do have some strict rank training in me."

Emma shook her head. "I'll go find him. We need to figure all this out together."

As she passed beside him, Liam reached out and grabbed Emma's arm. "Princess, I do apologize."

Emma looked at the older Jones brother, seeing the same apologetic, legitimate regret in his eyes that she often saw in Killian's. She sighed and turned fully to him. "Do you want to now why he outran a curse?" Liam stared back, attentively. "He was coming to find me. A curse had been cast and he was warned with a bird message, that he should find and save me to come and break it again. He ditched his crew and headed as far away from the storm as he could, a one-man crewed vessel. He made it on his own." She shook her head. "It's no lie."

Liam looked down and swallowed. "So wanting to live and save the lives of my crew, that wasn't enough motivation, Highness?"

Emma grinned. "Willing with all your heart to be with the ones you love, that's some pretty powerful magic. Putting your own life on the line to reach that one person that means the universe to you, finding her in a city populated by millions… takes courage and a lot of heart. But selling your most priced possession… for a single bean to get you there, Liam… that's as strong as it gets. Never underestimate the tug and impact true love has on a man's will power." She grinned. "He may be a pirate… but he's also a hero. MY hero. It was totally out of place to humiliate him and publicly underestimate his efforts. He's been through a lot."

Liam stared back at her, looking contrite, and finally nodded. "Right you are, lass." He stood up. "Please, remain seated. It is I who should find my brother. I will apologize and return to our meeting shortly." He clacked his heels and bowed before her before turning to the door to find the younger Jones.

Rumplestiltskin sat with a smug smirk on his face. Emma turned and sneered, raising her arms. "What!"

"That was quite the speech."

"It's the truth."

"Perhaps... it is THIS kind of conflict that the witch craves for… It draws attention."

"What do you mean?"

"Like I said…" Gold smiled and tapped his fingertips against the fingertips on his other hand as he leaned forward on the table. "These are demons of an ancient world. They feed and prey on every unsuspecting soul they can gather. Alas, that also incudes corrupting brotherly affection; fights generate energy, Emma, energy draws them to their target. It would indeed be a cruel joke of the fates if either one of them should cross that line." He stood up. "We need to know more about the woman who gave our two resident sailors the book. It is vital."

Emma agreed in silence as she sat down.

Seconds later, the brothers re-entered the room, arms entwined around their backs. "All is well now." Liam smiled and took his place as Killian pulled his chair from the floor and sat down.

"That is enchanted Oak… Lieutenant. Pray you don't storm out like a glam queen again and damage my chairs." Rumple grinned at Killian, who only addressed a vicious stare back at him.

"Let's just get on with it." He mumbled back.

Emma reached out for his hand and he grabbed hold hard.

"As I said, it is primordial to know our foe. Captain Jones, what exactly did this… Gypsy lady look like?"

Liam sighed and looked at his hands atop the table, trying to recollect. "She was… blonde, rather beautiful. Eyes greener than the meadows…" He scratched his brow. "But wait, yes…" he grinned. "Yes, there was that!" he turned to Rumple, looking victorious. "A rather sizeable scar crossed her face. From right to left."

Rumplestiltskin paled. "A scar… Oh, devils…" He whispered.

Everyone instantly looked terribly concerned. "Wh… who are we dealing with, Gold?" Emma frowned, looking determined.

Rumple sighed and stood, walking to his old cabinet. "There was legend…of a witch that lived in these very woods. It was to her that all aspiring wizards and sorcerers would come to for tips and training… and all who ever found her, it is said, would disappear. She'd train them, make them powerful, and then, she'd challenge them."

"Challenge them to what?" Killian sneered.

"A sorcery duel." Rumple opened up the cabinet and withdrew a glass orb. He then went back to the table. "Not one wizard was ever able to beat her… until one finally did." He sat down and swirled his hand around the little glass ball. Within it a blue puff of smoke began to form. "A magician of the old world. Of your world, Emma." He laughed. "The irony is, he did not defeat her with magic… rather, he gave her the flu. She was bedridden for many months, humiliated and angry, her envy and despair gaining on her, while the wizard that had challenged her went on to become legend."

The little ball displayed a face. "Captain, Lieutenant… " He summoned the brothers with his hand. Liam and Killian stood and walked to him. "Is this the woman?"

Liam smiled. "Aye! Aye that is her!"

Killian nodded. "I remember her now, clear as day! Aye, she'd be the one!"

Rumple flicked his hand and the smoke disappeared, together with the image. "Then we're in an even bigger pickle than I suspected. Or at least, some of you are…"

"Why?" Liam sneered.

Rumple sighed. "I ask you to remember what I just explained: this woman thrives on competition… and revenge, a little something you should be familiar with, Lieutenant." Killian rolled his eyes again as Gold continued. "She lost that challenge and went mad, mad as bat. Swore she'd find the descendants of that accursed wizard that defeated her and challenge them, to beat them and be great once more." He looked at Emma. "After winning, the wizard remained in the Enchanted Forest. I believe your realm, Emma, had taken to eliminating all traces of sorcery by means of fire and persecution. That… lovely inquisition of yours. Anyway, he became a big legend. Went on to serve the court of Camelot and…"

"Wait, WAIT!" Emma held her hand up. "You're talking King Arthur…" She sighed. "I met Lancelot once. Cora killed him. Was she Cora?"

"Certainly not, my love." Killian sighed.

Gold smiled. "Merlin and Cora never crossed paths, Emma. He had such a fantastic reputation from beating the forest witch, even Cora knew better." He leaned forward.

"Merlin. Yeah, why am I not sur… Wait… a magic duel? And she fell ill and went mad…" She frowned again, and moaned. "Really? She is also real? Where the hell does this stop?" she clasped her own hands together and allowed her forehead to drop on top of them. "I think I know who she is…"

"You do?" Killian smiled at his wife. "Well, aren't you a fantastic little piece of work, love?" He turned to his brother and winked. "And I married her."

"Pray tell us, Milady…" Liam pleaded.

Emma raised her head, her eyes closed. "I can't believe I'm even saying this out loud." She opened her eyes and bit her lip. "Sounds like Mad Madam Mim. Henry adored her in the movie. To be honest…" She sneered. "So did I."

"And there's more, dearie…"

They all turned to Gold as he continued to talk. "Merlin, like I said, went on to become a powerful and legendary wizard. He managed to keep the people at bay from Mim's wrath. As a reward, he was asked to live in Arthur's castle, become his personal councilor. He was loyal to the king till his demise and then… won the heart of the King's daughter, Gwydre, and they wed. Camelot went on to become his home, and they bred for many generations. Seemed that his streak of magic had died out after so many years had passed." He looked at Emma. "Until you."

Emma stared at him wide-eyed and then a smile cracked her face. "Wait, what?" she shook her head and chuckled. "Are you saying that I am the descendant of Merlin and King Arthur and… No, no way."

"Should I produce the family tree pertaining your mother's side, Emma?" Rumple smiled. "You will find that if you go back exactly one thousand years, this is the truth."

Emma's smile disappeared. "Great." She whispered.

"It doesn't make any sense." Liam held his hand out. "Why would this old witch want to gift my brother and I, when Milady Emma hadn't even been born, and why not wait to challenge her, directly?"

"She had no way of finding her; and true love is fated." Rumple nodded. "It was fate that your brother had to live, to become the savior's groom. Hence, he'd lead her to the heir. Astute woman…" Rumple stood up. "And I have every inkling that, the moment your wish became a reality, Captain Jones, and you and your brother were reunited, that is when Mim learned the time had come. Tis not the two of you she is after…" He looked at Emma. "It's you, dearie."

Emma gulped hard and Killian squeezed her hand.

Belle then came back down. "I believe I've found it!" she placed the log on the table and then produced a rather heavy looking book. "Look." They all peered around the book and she read out loud. "The magic of the three wish logs is older than anyone can account for. The first log, bound in dragon scales, belonged to the Lefay family, and it's main magic was the revival of the dead for army use; said log was destroyed with the great fires. The second, one bound by leather from the golden fleece, was property of the goddess Cyrce, and was used to turn tides and alter the course of crops and harvests. But the third log held the power to grant the owner the possibility of reuniting with those he or she had lost to the whims of death. The cost for this magic would be to forever hold on to the book and never allow anyone else to peer inside, for that would undo the magic and the lives of the grantees would fizzle; it is also said that the log was made from the skin of the firstborn child of the great sorceress that wielded it, known to the world as Mim. The darkest and most dangerous, this last book has one weakness: since it is able to split souls and grant a parallel existence, it cannot give the asker any gift of material value, hence giving its use a pure and selfless meaning. However, it carries a curse, which will always make the book return to the hands of the great sorceress who created it." Belle looked at Emma. "That book wants to return to its owner, Emma. Rumple is right, your husband and his brother were merely the bait. It is you she's after… and the log is leading her to you."

Everyone was silent. Stone silent, staring at the log on the table.

It was made from baby skin. Human baby skin.

"That's it, I'm not touching that thing again." Emma sneered before looking at Rumple.

Why did she always have to wind up battling something or someone with both serious sociopathic traits and unbelievably powerful magic?

"Remind me to thump my mother in the arm for telling me about my precious heritage when we get back, baby." She smiled humorlessly at Killian.

Rumple nodded and smiled at Emma. "We should get you ready."

"What?" Killian sneered.

"You don't actually believe lady Emma will confront this monstrosity!" Liam stood up.

"Gentlemen…" Gold sighed. "Only one person in this whole room has the power to even have a chance to beat this sorceress. Emma wields white magic. Only her magic will be able to defeat Mim and completely deprive the log of any harmful power it may have."

"Will that… destroy the spell? Separate Killian and Liam?" Emma pleaded. "They're so happy, I don't think…"

"Magic always has a price, dearie. But I truly don't know the precise workings of this particular brand of sorcery. My only task now…" Rumple said as he stood up, "…is to protect everyone in this castle until Mim arrives. I'll place a protection spell around the Joneses, Belle and myself. As for you, savior…" he huffed. "I shall do everything in my power to provide you with training, although I have to say that my area of expertise is not white, but dark magic. However, in view that Regina trained you already, I suppose that whatever you learn, you can apply with your own magic."

Emma huffed. "Fine. Is there any way we can get in touch with my mom and dad and my son? Last thing they knew was that I was about to go away with Killian… to Paris… on my friggin' honeymoon." He ran a hand through her hair. "Talk about wasted airfare…"

Killian squeezed her hand again. "We'll have our time, love… For now we need to get this done."

"I'lll send a message to Regina." Rumple nodded. "I have my ways of communicating; she can inform your family."

Emma nodded. "Ok."

Belle sighed. "Well, since you're all to be here for a while, I suggest you each get a sleeping quarter, at least while you train Emma, and until this… sorceress gets here. Not to mention…" She smiled and winked at her. "…you probably do need to get some alone time with your new husband."

Emma turned with a wince. "You're kidding, right?"

"Knowing of an imminent attack from a mighty and evil witch does not make for a very good evening of romance." Killian chuckled.

"Nonsense, Killian. You and your bride need at least one full day." Liam smiled. "Make us look good, brother."

Belle gave Rumple a nudge, and the dark one grinned sarcastically. "Alas, never thought I'd see the day my greatest foe were to use the premises of my very castle to breed more little pirates. What irony." Both Emma and Killian blushed as he stood up. "I shall see to it that nothing bothers the two of you, at least for this night. Consider it part of your training, Emma."

"Seriously?" Emma held her hands out. "Do you really believe that after what we just heard, we're gonna be in the mood to…?"

Puff. Gold flicked his hand and Emma and Killian wobbled slightly, stunned and dizzy, before breathing deep and finding each other's faces.

Two goofy smiles ensued. "Well, hello, pirate." She smiled.

"Hello, Mrs. Pirate." He smiled back as he grabbed her, waltzing her around the room, tahdah-ing the melody of the first waltz they had ever danced to, their gazes locked into each other and both smiling like a the lovesick idiots they actually were.

Liam smiled and cackled, and Belle grinned while Gold pinched his brow. "Wonderful. Belle, please lead the lovebirds to their room before I vomit."

Belle laughed and paced to the dancing couple. "Come along you two…"

Killian grabbed on to Emma's hand, still fully smiling, and turned to the Dark One. "Never thought I'd ever say thank you for your hospitality, Crocodile, but… Thank you!" He laughed as the doors closed behind them.

"Well, that was a rather nice thing for you to do, especially for a foe." Liam smiled.

Rumple sighed and stood up. "I did not do it for the pirate, dearie." He paced to Liam. "Magic is drawn from raw emotion and in the savior's case, her strongest appeal is love, a love she's not only craved for her entire life, but one that she was born from and that feeds from your darling little brother. Her heart may be strong, but she still needs all the love she can get if she is to beat Mim." He sighed and smiled. "Love is the strongest kind of magic you will ever find. Think of this as a way of cocking her full of power."

Liam nodded. "Fine ay to train. As for myself, I'd like to help in any way I can. How can I be of any assistance, during this ordeal?"

Rumple thought for a minute until a macabre looking grin finally burst on his face. "I think I might just have the perfect use for you, sonny boy…"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They held each other, desperately gasping for breath as they stared into each other's eyes, transfixed, sweating and their hearts pounding so insanely that they both thought it must have been a single heart beating for both. He lay on top of her, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest, still feeling the final drops of his seed and soul dripping inside of her, his completion filling her inside, as she gifted him with the now final mild contractions of what had probably been the single most fantastic, blind sighting orgasm she had ever experienced.

And his as well.

"B… bloody h… hell, Emma…" he finally managed to speak, breathily, though a smile. "That w…was…"

"Un… f…friggin' believable." She laughed with equal breathiness. "I don't kn… know what the hell Rumplestiltskin did, b… but remind me to bake him a pie or something when we go home."

"Aye, sweetheart." He chuckled and swallowed, still fighting to regain his breathing rhythm. "I'll gladly help you pick out the berries with my own hook, I sadly daresay…"

She laughed and ran both her hands through his now dripping wet hair. "I'm pretty sure we'll always find ways to enhance this… not that we need it." She smiled. "We did nicely back there before your brother showed up."

"That we did, my love."

She stared into his eyes and grinned. "I love you Kilian."

Killian smiled at her and bit his lower lip. He looked adorably vulnerable, human and every inch the devilishly handsome pirate he claimed to be. "Gods, Swan… do you know there was a time when I would have personally carved through my wrist and cut my other hand off just for a chance to hear you say that to me?"

"No need for the drama, Captain…"

He blinked and touched her cheek. "That's Lieutenant now…"

"See if I care… Captain." She insisted, pulling him in for another kiss.

As they pulled apart, Killian drew a deep breath and withdrew from her. Her mild, displeased moan made him grin as he placed himself behind her, holding her to him, not one inch of their bodies apart from each other.

"Do you think I have it in me?"

"What?" He whispered into her hair.

"To beat this Mim. I've been using magic for really trivial stuff, I have no idea if I can…"

"Swan, stop." He leaned up on his handless arm and with his good hand, turned her face to his. "I have never, ever doubted you for a single second, my darling. Not once. I saw you, I saw how you repelled Cora merely by believing in what you have here…" He pressed his hand to her left breast, referring to her heart. "Cora was no trinket, either, she was quite a mighty witch, we both know that, and you didn't even move a finger to knock her." He caressed her hair. "Why must you doubt yourself?"

She turned flat on her back with a sigh, looking at his face. "You never do."

He shrugged and sneered. "I've no reason to, darling."

"Why the hell do you love me so much?" She grinned, touching his earring gingerly. "You could have just about anyone you want."

He grinned at her. "I know that. And have a guess, sweetheart? It was you I wanted. So there, that should suffice."

"You are one arrogant son of a bitch, Killian Jones." She laughed.

"Busted again, Swan. But I am YOUR arrogant son of a... Well, that, although I'm quite sure that's not entirely true."

"You're probably the only pirate who doesn't swear, Hook."

He laughed. "Who says I don't? But never in front of a lady… Especially, not MY lady. I told you this once and I'll say it again: I am ALWAYS a gentleman." After staring into her eyes for a few seconds, a mild upturned grin appeared on his face. "I will never be able to fully convey my gratitude to the gods in all the realms for allowing me to win your heart, Emma." He ran a finger down her face. "I love you more than what words will ever say. No learned poet in this or any realm will ever be capable of writing a poem that will accurately describe what my heart, my soul and my body feel for you."

She smiled and placed her hands on his cheeks. "Killian…" he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, lovingly, passionately, before moving away and once again just loosing himself in the vast green fields that were her eyes. "Well, I believe that kiss just spoke volumes… you're quite my poet."

He giggled and rubbed his nose against hers. "I will be anything you want of me, Swan. Always. Never question it; never question my resolve, my love… or yours. You have it all in you, every ounce of power you posses is nothing but light. You are the product of true love, sweetheart, never, ever let go of that, and you will always emerge victorious."

Emma just smiled and peppered his lips with gentle kisses, suddenly feeling his sex once again harden and grow, pressing against her skin.

"Wha… Really?" She turned a stunned, happy face to Killian, who had also turned to look at himself in surprise before turning an excited smile to his wife.

"I believe the Crocodile should very well get both a pie and a dinner party, Swan… And let's make use of his bloody magic while we can. Care to make love with your pirate-gone-lieutenant-gone-poet husband once more?"

"Need you ask, CAPTAIN Jones?"