Chapter Twenty-one

Running

Killian opened his eyes and smiled. He'd almost forgot what it was like to wake up next to his wife. Emma's hand was on Killian's chest and Killian had an arm around Emma.

Killian pulled Emma closer and kissed her head softly, hoping not to wake her. He failed.

Emma groaned. "Killian, go back to bed."

Killian chuckled quietly and rubbed Emma's arm. "The sun is up, my darling."

Emma turned more into Killian's side, tucking her arms between the two of them. "It's too early."

"You go back to sleep, my love."

Emma smiled and snuggled impossibly closer to Killian.

Suddenly, the door flew open.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Harper ran into the room and ran to Killian's side. She grabbed his hand and started pulling. "Get out! We need to go stop him!"

Confusion filled Killian, but so did worry. "What's going on, Harper? What do you mean?" Killian sat up, earning a groan from Emma who had fallen back to sleep.

"Mommy!" Harper screamed. "Wake up!" Emma's eyes shot open.

"Harper!" Killian said. He picked her up and set her down on his lap. "What has gotten into you?"

Emma sat up slowly and put her hand on Harper's back. "What's wrong?" Emma tried to fight the sleepiness out of her voice.

"He's coming!" Harper cried. "You have to stop him, Mommy!"

"Who's coming?" Emma asked.

Harper started crying. "He is!"

"Hey, hey." Emma pulled Harper over to her and hugged her. "It's okay, baby. Mommy and Daddy will protect you." Emma and Killian shared a worried look.

Harper pulled back. "But he's going to hurt Mommy and baby!"

Both Emma and Killian stared at Harper. What was she talking about?

"Harper, who is he?" Killian asked.

"Bad man. He bad man." Harper shook her head and buried her face in Emma's shoulder.

Emma wrapped her arms tightly around Harper and looked at Killian. He had a look on his face, like he knew what was going on. "What is it, Killian?"

Killian looked at her. "They're coming back."

"Coming back? What's coming back?" Emma was getting more worried by the second.

"When you were taken, while you were gone, Harper had these dreams. They were what helped us find you," Killian explained.

"What kind of dreams?" Emma asked.

"She dreamed about what was happening to you. She said you were hurt… she knew what was happening."

Emma looked down at Harper who was still holding on tight to her mom. "So-" she looked at Killian "-you think that those dreams are coming back?"

Killian nodded. It dawned on him. "We have to get up." Killian threw the blankets off of him and jumped off the bed.

"Killian, what's going on?" Emma asked.

Killian was going through the closet now, trying to find a change of clothes. "Harper said that he was coming. She must be talking about Dr. Facilier." He grabbed Emma's leather jacket and tossed it to her. "Come on, we have to get you somewhere safe."

Harper turned away from Emma and looked at her dad. "Where are we going, Daddy?"

"I don't know, love," Killian said. "Away."

Emma stood up, setting Harper on the bed. "Killian, we don't even know what Harper was talking about."

Killian pulled his jacket on over his shirt he just changed into. "Emma, please, trust me. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you or the baby."

Emma looked at her stomach and then back at Killian who was now fully dressed. "Alright, okay."

Killian walked over to her and gave her a quick kiss. "Thank you." Killian picked up Harper off the bed. "I'll go get Harper dressed, you get dressed quickly and then meet me in the kitchen."

Emma nodded and watched him take Harper out of the room to get dressed. Emma walked over to her dresser and got some clothes out.

Killian buckled Harper into her booster seat. "There you go, sweetheart."

"Daddy?" Harper asked, fear in her voice.

"Yes?"
"Is Mommy going to be okay?"

Killian's heart clenched. His baby girl was worried about her mom. "Yes, I promise. She will be okay."

Harper nodded. "Okay."

Killian wanted to comfort his daughter, to make her feel safe, but… they had to go. Killian kissed her head and shut the door. He looked up at the front door. Emma was walking down the stairs wearing her red leather jacket, grey beanie, and her hair down. Killian smiled. "Let's go."
Emma gave him a soft smile. She gave him a quick kiss. "Okay."

Killian opened the door for Emma and she got in. Killian walked over to the driver's side and got in. He started the car and drove off.

Emma looked outside, trying to figure out were Killian was taking them. Then, it hit her. Emma looked in the back and Harper was in her jacket with her blanket on her. There were two bags filled with food on one side and a duffle bag on the other. Emma looked at Killian. "Killian… where are you taking us?"

"Somewhere safe," Killian said without taking his eyes off the road.

"Killian," Emma said sternly. "Are you taking us across the townline?"

Killian didn't answer, which was all the answer Emma needed.

"Killian, stop. We can't leave. We have to stop Dr. Facilier. We can't leave our family in danger," Emma said.

"My family is in this car."

"What about Henry?" Emma asked. "And my parents and Neal?"

"Your parents can take care of themselves and Neal; Regina can take care of Henry."

Emma put her hand on Killian's arm and he finally glanced at her, but he looked back at the road. "Killian, I know you're worried, but… we can't go back to New York."

"I have to keep you, Harper, and the baby safe."

"I know, I know, but… it's like what you said to me back in the second curse. My family is in Storybrooke and they need me. They still do," Emma tried.

"I can't lose you, Emma. I can't. If we go to the Land Without Magic, then you'll be safe." Killian turned a corner and the townline came into sight.

"Killian, stop," Emma demanded. "We can't leave Storybrooke."

"I'm sorry, Emma."

Emma knew she couldn't risk using her magic. She reached over and grabbed the wheel, yanking it to the right. Emma heard Killian yell her name. The car jerked sideways and ran off the road.

Killian hit the brakes and the car skidded to a stop right before it hit a tree. He looked at Emma. "What the heck were you thinking? You could've gotten us killed!"

The memory of the first time Emma tried to leave Storybrooke with Henry filled her head. "I'm sorry, Killian, but we can't leave." Emma heard Harper cry. She unbuckled herself and reached back to grab Harper. When she had her, she went and sat back up at front. "I'm sorry, baby girl."

"Emma, we have to keep you safe!" Killian said desperately. "You and the baby!" Tears started to fall. "Please."

Emma's heart ached. "I'm sorry, Killian. I just… we can't leave our family." Emma swayed as best as she could in the car, trying to calm Harper down.

"You are my family. You, Harper, and the baby," Killian said.

Emma looked at him sadly. "I know. I'm sorry." She didn't know what else to say to make Killian feel better. "I'll be fine." Harper was finally starting to calm down.

Killian shook his head. "No. Remember last time? The only reason we kept Harper safe was because we went into the Land Without Magic."

"I spent my whole life running, Killian. I can't do it again," Emma said. "We will find another way to keep our baby safe." Emma took Killian's hand. "We always do. Together."

Killian looked down. "I'm so sorry, Emma, for this whole thing. I never should have considered leaving our family."

Emma smiled a little. Our family. "It's okay, Killian. I understand why you did it. I tried to do the same thing with Henry in the first curse."

Killian sat back in his seat. He started the car back up. "Let's go home."

Emma smiled. She looked at Harper. "You gotta go back in your booster seat."

Harper just nodded.

Emma turned around and put Harper back on her booster seat. She buckled her up and then sat forward.

Killian backed the car up and got back onto the road. He drove forward, towards the townline. He drove faster with every second.

Emma looked up. "Killian, what are you-" Then, it hit her. "No! Killian, stop!"

But it was to late, they were already entering the Land Without Magic.

I hope you enjoyed that chapter!