The next morning came quickly. David called around nine and told him the meeting would be held in about an hour.

After bathing and dressing, he jogged down to the town hall and yanked open the door.

He hadn't expected the entire town to show up, but they had. David and Mary Margaret stood at the front of the room, chatting animatedly with Granny. Upon seeing Killian, the princess handed her son to the older woman, who took a seat in the second row.

David slapped the pirate's back and pulled him in close for a little powwow. "Hook, what's going on?"

"You'll see, mate."

The prince shrugged and called for quiet in the room. Once everyone had settled down, David extended a hand to Killian.

He cleared his throat and glanced around, a little unsure of how to begin. "So, I know the rule now is to freeze Emma out. And I was all for it."

Another glance round the room revealed Mary Margaret's irritated glare. Shit. How was he going to say the next part without getting murdered?

"Last night I returned to my ship in the midst of the storm. My sails had unfurled and my leg was injured as I tried to secure them. Emma appeared on my ship and protected it, as well as healing my wound. When I asked her why she did it, she became anxious and left."

Leroy stood up. "So what you're saying is you've been seeing the Dark One while the rest of us have been told to keep our distance?" He yelled. "The whole point of this was to have a town united against her!"

"I have not been seeing her, and you're missing the point!" Killian fired back. "If Emma was evil, truly evil, why would she have helped me?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Granny asked. "You're screwing the Dark One!" Many other townspeople chimed in with their agreement. It had been no secret that the two of them were together before Emma tethered herself to the darkness. However, that was out of line, and Killian angrily told her so.

"Alright, settle down!" David roared over the noise. "Either listen to the man or leave."

No one moved, but the sea of irritated faces was enough to throw him over the edge.

"Look, I know she's wrecked half the town, and you should be angry about that. But, are you just going to forget all the good she's done? She saved each and every one of us. More than once! So, yeah, she's a little screwed up right now, but damnit, we have to do something! Emma is still in there!" He shot a desperate look at Mary Margaret, who looked down at her lap. David refused to meet his eye.

Leroy, however, had a lot to say. "We are supposed to be united. So I guess it comes down to this: Are you with us or with the Dark One?"

"Enough!" David said, grabbing Killian by the bicep and hauling him outside. "I get that you had good intentions, but this way not the way to handle it."

"What?" I was supposed to go to Mommy and Daddy for permission to speak about their precious daughter?" The other man sneered. "I don't think so. Don't you believe there's good in her anymore?"

"Honestly, Hook? I don't know. But I'm keeping my distance and you should too." David turned away to go and collect his wife and son.

Killian stormed to the docks, body shaking with anger. He climbed the ramp and made a beeline for his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

Emma was propped up on his pillows, legs crossed at the ankles.

"I assume you were listening." He said dryly.

"Oh, yes." She said. "And I'm here to tell you you're wrong."

"About?"

"Me. I like being the Dark One and have no plans to change. Love is weakness, as is affection. I helped you last night because I was in the mood and I didn't want you out of commission."

"Right. If that was the case, then you wouldn't have run when I asked you why." He raised an eyebrow, silently daring her to come back with a lie.

"Be careful, Pirate." She growled. "You've yet to hold up your end of the deal, and you don't want me to grow tired of you too. You've seen what I do to things that hold no interest. I destroy them."

"Try it, Dark One! Take my damned heart!" He hissed, yanking open his jacket. "Go ahead! Prove them right. Prove me wrong! Show me that the old Emma is gone!"

"Gladly!" She lunged across the room, shoved her hand into his chest, wrapping her fingers around his heart. His face contorted in pain and his breathing became shallow.

Then she hesitated.

"Do it." He panted. "Rip it out."

Her jade eyes locked onto his sky blue ones.

And released her grip, pulling her hand out of his chest.

"What the hell, Swan?" He gasped, falling back against the door.

She blinked, eyes clearer than they had been in weeks. "Killian?" She asked in a small voice.

"Emma?" He straightened up and reached for her. "Is that you, darling?"

She nodded. "Killian, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's happening…" Her voice trailed off and her head dropped forward. When she looked back up, her expression was murderous.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" She bellowed. "How did you do that?"

"I didn't do anything, Dark One, except expose the truth. The old Emma is there!" He grinned, despite the burning in his chest.

"Oh, she's there all right. But not for long. Every time I do something evil, she gets just a little bit smaller. You just wait. You poked the bear, Pirate. And now everyone is going to pay."

She swirled a hand in front of her face, a cloud of smoke enveloping her once more. As always, when it cleared, she was gone.

He yanked his cell phone out of his pocket and tapped a contact. When the recipient answered, Killian spoke quickly. "I need your help. Please. I'll be at your shop momentarily."

A/N: Thanks for all the follows and favorites. You guys rock my world! Reviews get another update tomorrow!