1528 Words, this chapter
Chapter Eighteen, Dark Heart
"She wants you to shoot your boy!" cried Killian. "Do you need further proof of her malfeasance?"
Emma stood, shaken and confused. She stared at Meg.
"Shoot him! He's not your son!"
"Yes I am!" cried Henry. "Mom, I love you!"
"Emma, you can't!" cried Mary-Margaret.
Behind them there was a commotion as Regina, Robin, and the Merry Men ran in. "Oh, God! Henry! Emma what are doing?" yelled Regina, staring at the unbelievable sight of Emma Swan unsteadily holding a gun on her family.
"Emma, look, there's more of them!" cried Meg. "They're here to hurt us, to hurt me! They're using this boy against you!"
"Mom, no! I came...to help you, Mom. I love you."
Emma stared at him, the gun beginning to lower.
"Emma, no!" cried Meg. "Shoot!" Her whole plan was unraveling, moments before it would be perfected. She was very, very desperate. "Shoot them all!"
"No!" cried Regina. She held her hand up. If anyone dared to hurt her son, she'd have her magic ready.
"Henry, get back!" cried Gold.
Then Robin aimed his arrows.
"Whoa!" cried Emma, raising the gun. She wasn't sure who to aim at.
"No, stop!" cried Killian. With great pain, he ran in front of Henry. "Emma, if you must shoot, then hit me."
"Killian..." muttered David cautiously.
"You love your son, Emma, more than anything," said the pirate. He glanced to Meg. "More than anyone."
Emma stared first at her son. "Henry," she whispered. Then she looked back to the man who'd offered himself in the boy's place. "Killian."
"I will not allow you to harm your son. Even if it means my life."
She stared at his blue eyes. She felt something snap inside.
She dropped the gun.
David moved quickly and swept it out of the way.
Henry ran to her. "Mom!"
"Henry, no! She's infected!" yelled Gold but it was too late. Henry wrapped his arms around Emma and hugged her.
"Damn it!" screamed Regina.
Meg grabbed the pot, moving slowly to the back kitchen door.
Emma stood still, then she slowly relaxed and held her son. "Henry. Oh, God, Henry! You can't touch me." She tried to pull away, but Henry wouldn't let go.
"What's going to happen to him?" asked Belle.
"His heart will darken," said Gold solemnly.
"No," whispered Regina.
Meg edged closer to freedom.
"She must not leave here with that dark potion," snarled Gold.
Meg laughed. "You could try to hit me again with magic."
Gold conjured up another attack, as Regina readied a fire ball. Meg took one hand off the pot and readied magic of her own.
She didn't see the arrow that flew at the pot, knocking it out of her hand and spilling the contents over Emma's floor.
"No!" she screamed.
Gold laughed.
Meg hurled a wave of magic at them, but Gold and Regina easily deflected it. She ran out the door.
"Follow her!" cried Blue.
Robin nodded and he charged out after her.
Henry didn't pull away from Emma. He didn't change. He didn't yell or act mean. In fact, it was Emma who changed, her eyes faded from black to gorgeous green. Her hair lightened, the gold showing through shadow until it completely outshone it. The black mist left her skin, leaving it glistening.
Inside, Emma felt a dam burst. She could feel the darkness seeping out. Warmth filled her heart in it's place. She could almost feel the light filling her. She looked at the worried faces of her family and friends and smiled.
There was a huge collective sigh and several relieved whispers of her name.
She looked at Killian, who begun to sway, then he fell toward the floor, but David caught him.
"Killian?" Emma asked. "Oh, God..."
"I'm alright, Love," he said, gasping in pain. "I'm just...a bit...tired."
Emma felt dizzy. "I'm...so sorry," she whispered. She looked around the room. The dark haze she had been seeing things through was gone. "I'm so sorry."
"It's OK, Mom," said Henry.
"You'll be fine, Emma," said her mother.
Emma cried, hugging Henry tightly and whispering how much she loved him. "I'd never hurt you, Henry, never."
"I know, Mom."
She smiled through tears, kissing his cheek and his head. "I love you so much."
He smiled, hugged her close.
Emma continued to cry. "The things I said, Henry..."
"Don't, Mom. I know it wasn't you."
"It wasn't. I didn't mean any of it, I don't know why I said those things...I love you. I do want you, Henry."
"I know," he said softly, smiling.
"Emma, you couldn't help it," said her mother.
Emma shook her head. "I should have. I should have fought more."
"The darkness had you in its grip," said Blue kindly.
"Hmm, it is quite difficult to shake off darkness," said Gold. "I know, believe me."
Emma gave a slight smile and nodded. "Still, I'll never forgive myself for what I said and did..."
A soft moan caught her attention. "Killian," she whispered. She looked at Henry. He nodded. She let go of him and went over to the pirate, crouching beside him. "I'm...so, so sorry."
He smiled weakly. "Don't worry, Love. I've had much worse."
"I can't believe...I shot you!"
"Admit it, Love. You've been wanting to do it for a while," he teased.
She shook her head. "No, never," she said, shaking her head. She couldn't stop the tears. "God, Killian, I'd never hurt you." She sobbed. "I'd never..."
"Sh, Love. It's OK. I know."
She shook her head more. "No...I did. I did do it."
He grabbed her chin. "Emma, it wasn't you. I know that."
She nodded, hanging her head. She then put her arms around him.
Regina shook her head. "We're supposed to be stopping the spread of this thing, instead they keep touching her."
Emma stared at Killan, Henry, and her parents. Then Mary-Margaret gasped at Emma.
"Bloody hell, Swan, you're...glowing."
"I am?"
Blue chuckled. "Yes, not to worry. It's the rose hue of pure love."
"That sounds so...rainbow kisses and unicorns," muttered Regina. Henry chuckled and elbowed her. She hugged him and laughed.
"I...feel different," said Emma. "I feel...like me." She fell carefully into Killian's arms and held onto him.
"It's OK," whispered Killian.
She shook her head. "I'll never forgive myself."
"Don't say that, Love," he pulled back slightly and flashed that smile. "I've forgiven you."
"I don't...deserve..."
"Yes, you do." He held her again. "Although, I'm sure we can think of some way to make it up to me."
She laughed and moved to look at him. "I'm sure we can," she said, leaning in and gently kissing him.
"There now, that makes it all better," he said, but then he moved his arm and groaned. "Nearly that is."
"We need to get you to the hospital," Emma said.
"If you wish."
"Yeah, I do."
"There is still the matter of the sister," said Gold.
"We can now address her. The crisis with Emma is over," said Blue. "I feel it."
"So do I," said Emma. "I'm me. The hate is gone. I...I can think clearly."
"How?" asked David. "I'm extremely glad, but how did it happen?"
Blue looked at Emma, helping Killian up with the help of her mother and her son. The mother superior smiled. "Through the acts of unconditional love," she said with a smile.
Emma blushed. She stroked Henry's hair and looked at Killian. "I'm very lucky that you didn't give up on me." She looked to her parents and the others in the room. "None of you did. After everything I said and did you still came after me."
Mary-Margaret smiled. "Of course."
"Always," said David.
"Come on, Mom," said her boy. "Like we would ever give up on you."
"Never," said Killian with a slight groan.
Emma smiled but looked at him with worry. "Mary-Margaret, would you and Henry take Killian to the hospital? We have a nun to find."
"Emma, I don't like you going without me," said the pirate.
"I'll be with her," said David.
"Me too," said Regina. "No one threatens my son."
Killian looked uncertainly at Emma. "What if...she touches you again?"
"Don't worry, touching that...woman...is the last thing I will ever do. Let's go," she said to the others.
Blue moved after them, so did Gold. Belle grabbed him briefly.
"Be careful," said Belle.
Gold took her hand and kissed it. "She'll pay for attempting to hurt my grandson."
"Yes, she will," said Emma. "Among other things," she added, looking at Killian. She walked back to him and gave him a gentle kiss. "I'll be back."
"Make sure of it, Swan. I'll be waiting."
"Me too," said Henry, smiling.
Emma looked at him, then Killian, and her mom. She sucked in a sob. "Good."
End of Chapter Eighteen