Chapter 15: Return to Storybrooke

That night, everything hit Emma at once. The last few weeks had been an emotional roller coaster to say the very least, ranging from the unexpected euphoria of falling in love, to the devastation of the thought of losing a child, to the fear-hope-excitement concoction of new parenthood.

Hook had been going through his ship, finding things that were small enough to bring along and items that might be helpful. After all, he was relatively certain that he'd lose the Jolly Roger when they went back to Storybrooke, so this was quite an opportunity. She watched him as he prepared, and she could see in his eyes the determination, the dedication, and the resolve of a man who would not fail. For once, she didn't feel the need to be the lone saviour. His focus filled her with a sense of certainty that they would succeed. She felt her worry fade and the sad ache in her heart ease, replaced by the love she and Hook had for each other and something that she suddenly realized was faith in someone else…faith in him.

By morning, they joined the soldiers who'd been waiting for them, and attacked their mission with complete and total focus. They would get the talisman. They would get back to Storybrooke alive, together. They would save their son.

It took nearly a week to travel deep into the center of the island. The soldiers who accompanied them were vigilant and respectful, obviously trying to prove their loyalty and good intentions. Hook and Emma were focused and determined, resting as little as possible so they could reach their destination. They'd both expected to find an intimidating resting place for the talisman, but as they approached, they saw a small shack. "That's it?" Emma asked. "There are no guards, no lakes of fire, dragons or hundred foot cliffs? It's right inside?"

Maya shook her head. "Looks are deceiving. Once inside, we go to the back of the house and there's a door into the cellar. There are tunnels, like catacombs, that run under the house. It is guarded by magical creatures and, several of our own who have fallen from grace and been persuaded to assist this shadow."

"These magical creatures have weaknesses?" Hook asked.

"Light magic," Maya said. She pulled out a sword that she always seemed to carry with her but it had always been sheathed. She held it out to Hook. "This is my gift to you."

"Thank you, but my sword will do fine," he politely declined.

"This isn't an ordinary sword," Maya replied, pulling it out from its scabbard. The blade itself shimmered, and actually seemed to hum with energy. "It's enchanted. This blade can banish demons back to the netherworld. Your sword won't even touch them. Please. Take it."

Hook nodded his acceptance and took the sword, taking a moment to become used to its heft and the way it moved.

"Now," Marcel said, "we have no idea how many are hidden within the catacombs to protect the talisman. As far as I can tell, our best chance is to go in as quickly and quietly as possible, get that talisman, and get out into the open."

"Get in, get what we need, get out," Emma affirmed. "I like it."

"The soldier who'd survived the previous attempt to get the talisman has volunteered to lead you to it," Marcel explained. "Maya and I will also accompany you. The others will wait out here and be ready to help should anything follow us out. Remember, we were told that the talisman is protected, and cannot be retrieved by a person with magic. This was an attempt to guard it from beings like this shadow. Captain, either you, Maya or I will have to get it when the time comes."

There seemed to be no point in delaying this any longer. Hook and Emma had said all they could, and talking about it anymore would just be an emotional distraction from their mission. They had each heard the others' spoken words and seen the looks that practically begged the other to stay safe and come out alive. But now it was time to focus on the battle before them. Hook took one moment to press a kiss against Emma's lips as he said, "This is it, love. The last thing, and then we'll find our way back home."

They sneaked through the front door, quickly facing a human guard who was not hard for Maya to subdue. Then they all crept as quickly as they could through the door and down into the tunnels beneath the home. At first they seemed to quickly make their way through the tunnels undetected. When they reached a room at the end of the long tunnel, the hope that their presence was not known was dashed when they ran straight into four guards. Their eyes were inhuman, with bright red irises and dark black pupils that felt like they could bore a hole into someone. Along the edges of the room, wispy black shadows that slithered like snakes moved with such speed they were hard to follow.

And the whole room was filled with the sound of a faint, evil cackle.

The three soldiers, Emma and Hook battled the beings, the soldiers taking care of the human-like threats while Hook with his enchanted sword and Emma with her magic concentrated on the evil spirits around them. Hook took a slice through one of the things that charged at him, and he could hear a piercing scream as the spirit was sucked back down into the ground. Emma didn't even know exactly what to do, but as the different spirits came at her, as soon as she held up her hand, beams of white light would surround them and close in until the spirit evaporated with the same scream that could be heard when Hook sliced through them.

It seemed, at first, that they would be successful. Once the first room and wave of defenses were taken care of, the team continued deeper into the ground, facing a few enemies along the way as they continued their descent. When they finally reached the room with the talisman, spirits swirled all around them, and the soldiers who were once thought to be defectors all had the same demonic eyes that made it clear that they had been possessed.

The battle was intense as all parties fought as best they could. After several minutes of fighting, Emma realized that Marcel had been badly wounded. Emma called to Maya to help Marcel escape, take him to the surface and get help. Maya hesitantly left, dragging Marcel with her. Hook, Emma and their guide continued to fight, suffering a few bruises and scrapes, but overall faring quite well.

Finally, exhausted and weary, it seemed they'd taken care of most of the threat. Their guide pointed to metal plate on the wall and said to Hook, "Place your hand there. It's been protected against those who possess magic so they can't use it to become more powerful. If your intentions are worthy, you can open up the door to the talisman. We'll guard your back."

Hook walked up to the plate, putting his hand against the cold metal and watching a burst of light emanate from the space he touched. The rock around the plate crumbled into powder and opened to a storage space in the wall. Within the storage space was a little metal chest. Without hesitation, Hook reached in and grabbed the chest, tucking it under his arm. "Is this it?" he asked the guide.

Emma kept her back to Hook, obliterating any demon that came into the room. The guide tilted his head and held out his hand and said, "May I see it, sir?"

Hook was about to turn over the object, but at the last second hesitated. "Is this it or not?"

Emma yelled over her shoulder as she kept scanning the room for threats, "Do you have it?"

When the guide didn't respond, Hook became suspicious, but before he could warn Emma, the guide flipped his wrist, and some unseen force seemed to hit Emma in the head, dropping her to the ground. Hook screamed her name and watched with horror as the guide who had led them there transformed.

First the guard's eyes turned red, and his form stretched until his stature was taller and thinner. He had a white, skull-like image painted on his face, like a voodoo witch doctor, and his wide grin of victory was enough to make a man's blood run cold. With a deep, threatening voice, he said, "Give that to me, and I'll allow her to live."

Hook choked down his terror and answered, rationally, "Of course you'll allow her to live. Because I know what you want. And for what you want… you need her alive."

The shadow shrugged and grinned, "The souls of infants…so pure…untouched…delicious. But your offspring, created from the true of love of two saviours," the shadow clasped his hands together excitedly and cackled, "The perfect feast. Your sweet, innocent little babies will make me more powerful than you can even comprehend."

Hook tucked the chest more tightly under his arm, grabbed the sword and thrust at the shadow, watching it twist easily out of the way of the blade. The shadow seemed more amused than worried, like he was just allowing Hook to attack him for the fun of it. As the shadow laughed, Hook flicked the blade and managed to nick the shadow. The beast screamed, his eyes glowing brighter red with rage as he said, "Perhaps I'll consume her soul as well, once she gives me those powerful little beings who are growing inside her, but you…well, you're useless to me. You've done all I need."

Hook realized the nick must have weakened the shadow. The demons that were flooding into the room went straight to Hook since Emma wasn't conscious to help him. He slowly worked his way toward Emma, holding the chest, and just hoping that he could pick his love up from the ground and somehow drag her out to safety. He got closer, saw that she was still breathing, and felt some hope that at least she hadn't been killed. "Emma," he shouted, hoping but failing to wake her.

He swiped several of the spirits that came at him, and was fighting well enough to annoy the shadow. Hook managed to get Emma over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, having more and more trouble fighting off the spirits while trying to carry her and the chest, but he started down the hall. For a moment, the spirits disappeared, and Hook tried desperately to hurry, but as he rounded a bend, so close to escape, he ran right into the shadow. As he turned back, a wall of the demonic spirits blocked his escape behind him.

Holding the sword in his hand, Hook carefully put Emma down and said, "Fine, mate. You want a fight? Let's fight."

The shadow laughed and threatened, with a booming voice, "I'll take you apart piece by piece. And when Emma wakes up… Can you imagine her face when she sees her beloved pirate, father of her children, turned into a human jigsaw puzzle? I think I'll wait here to see it."

Hook lunged forward again, managing to get a glancing blow at the shadow, but still not enough to destroy it. It screamed with rage and then a powerful voice echoed loudly through the tunnels, "Enough!"

The demonic spirits all dashed away, fleeing from whatever was coming, and the shadow sneered as he stepped aside. Odalee was standing behind the shadow. "You can't destroy me," he gloated to her.

"I don't need to destroy you," she answered, walking past him without any fear at all. "I just don't want you to destroy them."

Odalee knelt down by Emma, placing one hand on Emma's arm and one hand on Hook's boot and suddenly they were gone and reappeared in the jungle, just the three of them.

Hook didn't care about how the old woman had found them, or what had just transpired. The only thing he could think about was Emma. He dropped on his knees next to her and cradled her in his arms, "Wake up, love," he pleaded. "Please."

"She'll be fine," Odalee answered waving her hand slowly down Emma's face.

Emma's eyes fluttered open as she asked, "What happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. You?" he answered.

"Where in the hell are we?"

"I don't know," Hook answered. "For the time being, we're safe."

Emma stood as he helped her find her footing. He put her arm over his shoulders because she seemed unsteady, and he lifted her into his arms. She didn't even fight him, her head falling against his chest.

Hook looked at the old woman, "Thank you for helping us," he said.

Odalee picked up the small chest, holding it with the utmost reverence, and gave it to Emma. The old woman didn't look victorious. Odalee looked worried and angry. "You just couldn't leave well enough alone," she admonished. "Do you have any idea the risks you've taken?"

"I won't apologize for what we've done. We couldn't let our son die. Not for this town, or you, or anyone," Hook argued.

The last thing Odalee said was, "Well, you've got your talisman. I hope you know what you're doing. When he comes back, you better be ready."

The old woman held out her hand, and blew on her palm, spraying a sparkly, powdery substance on Hook and Emma.

For a few moments, there was nothing but darkness. As Hook became aware of his surroundings again, he realized they were standing outside of Granny's Diner, just a foot away from where they'd been when they'd first been taken from Storybrooke. "How'd she return us without a portal?" Emma asked. "No bean, no mirror?"

"I have no idea," he began, and then he grinned at the woman in his arms and said, "Nor do I care. We did it, Swan!"

She looked at the box, holding it for a moment before she said, "We did, didn't we?"

"We did," he affirmed, before he covered her lips with a passionate kiss, the talisman safely between them.

They'd begun and ended this journey at Granny's, kissing beneath the stars and hanging outdoor lights. He put her feet on the ground and stepped back. Looking down at her stomach, he said, loudly, "Allow this to be a lesson to you about exactly who your parents are, and the lengths they will go to in order to protect you!"

Emma smiled widely, tears full of joy in her eyes. It was the first time he'd talked to their children. The stoic focus and determination that he'd found to keep himself from being overcome with emotion was gone, and she could see the celebration in his eyes. He could finally allow himself to really acknowledge their existence.

"What are you doing?" she chuckled.

"I'm talking to our children," he announced. Even through the happiness and celebration, she looked tired. He helped her into one of the chairs at the outdoor table and asked, worriedly, "Are you alright? In any pain? Are they alright?"

"I'm fine, Killian. This isn't over, though. You know he'll come."

"It will never be over. There will always be some threat," he replied. Holding up the chest, and sitting next to her, he added, "But we have what we need. And we'll be ready when he comes."

Hook opened the chest and the two looked inside, finding a strange little wooden talisman with a face carved into it that looked almost like a tiki face. "All this fuss over that?" she asked, amusedly.

"Tomorrow I'll start to figure out what in the hell we need to do with it," he answered, closing the lid and holding the box close to his body.

When the door to Granny's opened up and someone came out, Emma quickly said, "Henry. I need to see Henry."

She stood and rushed inside, Hook following protectively. The first person to turn toward them was Regina. She seemed to notice their presence before the couple even came inside, and she studied Emma suspiciously. Emma ran to Henry, wrapping him up in an embrace as she said, "God, I missed you, kid."

Henry's brow furrowed, "You were only gone a few minutes."

Emma smiled, holding her son's face for a second as she shook her head. There was too much to try to explain quickly. Her legs buckled a little, and Hook was right behind her to catch her. "Easy, Swan," he whispered, pulling her arm back over his shoulder. "You need to rest."

The remaining crowd at Granny's started to notice that Hook and Emma had returned to the diner a bit worse for the wear. They were bloodied and scraped, dirty and tired, and minutes earlier, at least according to those in Storybrooke, they didn't appear nearly so weary.

David was the first to react, darting over to his daughter's side. "What's wrong with her? What did you do?" he yelled at Hook.

"He didn't do anything," Emma answered, "except save my ass."

"In the last five minutes?" David argued.

"Five minutes?" Emma asked.

"You were only gone a couple of minutes," Mary Margaret said as she approached, still holding baby Neal. Looking at Hook and Emma's disheveled and dinged up appearance she asked, "What happened to the two of you?"

"We were gone a hell of a lot longer than that," Emma answered.

"No," her mother said. "You just walked outside a few minutes ago."

Regina was busy still studying the pair and came over and asked, "What's in the box?"

"A talisman," Emma whispered, saying as little as possible about what they had. "It's very powerful. We need to hide it somewhere."

"You look exhausted," Mary Margaret interrupted. "Let's get you home."

Hook's arm immediately tightened around Emma. After everything they'd been through, he wasn't about to leave her side. "No. I'll take her to my…back to…," he began, until he realized he didn't have ship or anything else but a room at Granny's that he hoped was still his, or he'd be sleeping outside. Not that it would be the first time since he came to Storybrooke that he'd have no home. As impractical as it seemed, he wasn't about to let Emma out of his sight for any longer than necessary.

"We're taking her home," David announced.

Emma looked at Hook, also clearly unhappy about the prospect of separation, and she argued, "Wait…," while she tried to think of an alternative. She was just going to suggest staying with him in his room at Granny's Inn, but when she looked at Henry, she wanted to be near him too.

Henry asked, "Mom, are you sure you're alright?"

"I am. You would not believe everything that just happened."

"Try me," Henry offered.

"Maybe another time," Emma replied. "For now, we need to find a safe place to keep this. And then I need some sleep."

When she turned, she saw David threatening Hook, "What exactly did you do to my daughter?"

Hook seemed bored with David's display and replied, "Do you really think a woman as powerful as your daughter couldn't fend me off if she wanted to? Emma can take care of herself. Even if you don't trust me or my intentions, I'd think you'd trust in her abilities."

"Something obviously happened," David responded.

"I love your daughter," Hook said, very directly. "I'd do anything to protect her. And I'd rather die than do something to harm her."

David actually seemed to step back, surprised by Hook's calm but very earnest assertion. David nodded, temporarily satisfied with the pirate's response.

"David…Dad," Emma said as she touched his arm, "It's like I said. He saved my life. Killian is not our enemy. Believe me."

"Can we delay this conversation for a few hours?" Hook asked. "As much as I'd love to discuss this with you, give you a chance to question my motives and provide adequate intimidation…Emma and I have just come from a somewhat taxing battle, and we have some things we need to secure before they fall into the wrong hands."

Regina had been studying the pair the entire time, and it seemed clear she knew something pretty serious was going on. "I can help with that," Regina offered. "And…if you'd like, you and the pirate and Henry can stay with me tonight. I have plenty of room."

"Why would you do that? I mean…I don't want to inconvenience you," Emma answered.

"It's just for the night. And I insist," Regina said, and, stepping closer, added, "Besides…I think you and I need to talk."

Emma's eyebrows lowered and head tilted, wordlessly questioning exactly what Regina meant. Suddenly remembering the things that had happened before they left, Emma said, "Wait…the woman I brought back…I completely forgot. She has nowhere to stay!" Emma said, suddenly worried.

"What woman?" Henry asked.

"The woman Killian and I brought back from the Enchanted Forest."

Henry and Regina exchanged confused looks and Henry said, "I didn't see any woman, Mom."

"Killian?" Emma asked, looking for confirmation that she hadn't gone crazy, "you remember her."

Hook nodded subtly but said, "We'll worry with that tomorrow."

"I can't let her sleep in the street."

Hook looked at Granny, handing her a few doubloons and asking, "If a woman comes, someone from our old word, will you give her my room and let her know we'll get her acclimated tomorrow?"

Granny nodded, "Sure."

"Problem solved," he said to Emma.

"I really think you should come home," Mary Margaret said, stepping in.

Emma smiled at Mary Margaret and David. "The loft is too small for all of us. I need to find my own place. I'll talk to both of you tomorrow. We have few things to take care of…and we have a lot to talk about. For tonight, I think it's best if we get this to a safe place," Emma said, pointing at the chest that held the talisman.

"Okay, honey," Mary Margaret said. "Come for breakfast, tomorrow, at the loft?"

Emma looked at the time, "Can we make it lunch?"

Mary Margaret's face tilted, and it was obvious she could tell something was going on. "Are you okay? You look exhausted."

"Because I am exhausted," Emma said. "I promise, I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

As soon as Emma was done hugging her parents, Hook wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered, "Let's get you somewhere to rest, love."

David and Mary Margaret definitely noticed the way Hook seemed to be guarding Emma, and the tender way he kept his arm around her. More interestingly, perhaps, they also noticed that Emma didn't seem to mind. She curled her arm around Hook's waist, holding him close to her as they left.