I'll never try to predict how long my writing will be again. This just kept going, but it is finished now. I hope you enjoy. Thank you all for the reviews, follows, and favorites. This was very fun to write and to share with you. I hope we all have the opportunity for more greatness with this show and these awesome characters.

The light between the blinds and curtain was dim and if she had to guess, she would assume that the day was cold and gray. The winds had died down considerably, but still errant gusts rattled the shutters and let cold blasts seep through the uninsulated windows. She lay there with a magazine in one hand and the other on his arm. Feeling like a new mother checking on her infant, she found herself peering at him to make sure he was breathing, questioning herself about his color and feeling terror if he groaned or flinched.

There was something rather peaceful about the moment, she thought to herself. The unrushed feeling of lying there in his arms as the world around them stumbled to alertness. His rugged appearance softer in sleep and softened even more with his stubble adorned cheek resting on a floral covered pillow.

Emma could sense it when he woke up, his dark eyelashes fluttering against her shoulder, his breathing different than before. She watched the process, feeling his arm tighten around her and the sudden jerk of realization that she was there beside him in the warm bed at Granny's. Finally there was that untarnished smile of his that wasn't the one that dripped of innuendo and trifling with her emotions. It was a pure smile of adoration that he specifically reserved for her even without realizing it himself.

"Morning," she said, laughing softly as he peeked over her shoulder, opening one eye first and then the other.

"It's too early for you to be awake," he muttered, again tightening his grip on her. "You should be sleeping."

With one hand she covered his and the other pulled up the blankets to cocoon them against the drafty air in the room. She did not want to admit that she had stayed awake most of the night on vigilant watch for any sign of trouble. He had been right to say that they did not know when the Dark One would strike and her lack of sleep did nothing to lessen the threat. "I'll probably catch a nap later," she said, lifting up a magazine that had been on the bed side table. "I started reading an article."

"On agricultural techniques of the Northeast?" he questioned, looking at her suspiciously.

She tilted slightly to face him, tossing the magazine on the floor. "I didn't say it was interesting," she joked. "I just wanted something to read and you were looking too comfortable to disturb."

"You're insulting me," he responded, kissing her temple. "This was the first night we've shared a bed and you are seeking out alternative forms of entertainment? Don't divulge that secret to anyone, love. You'll sully my reputation."

She giggled at his mock annoyance. "Anything but that," she sighed dramatically. "But tell me. Who is it that you want to impress with your abilities in bed other than me? I think I should know what I'm up against."

"I'm just wishing to serve warning on any man who might try to earn your affections," he said, trailing the kisses from her temple in a meandering line to her mouth. "I wouldn't want them to think you are seeking alternatives already."

She returned the kiss softly, feeling the warmth of it increase with its intensity. His body curved to half cover her as her left hand cupped the back of his head, fingers ruffling the thick dark hair. "You worry too much," she said when they finally broke apart for air.

"Perhaps," he said, his fingers tracing down her silky golden hair. "But a pirate's life and livelihood depend solely on his reputation. It might be a hard habit to break." His eyes searched her face for something that he did not mention, but by the small smile on his lips she assumed he must have found it.

"Once a pirate, always a pirate," she joked, teasingly smacking his arm and remembering her earlier pledge to herself that she would be more open about how he made her feel. "But it is a fun side of you. And on that note, since it seems that we are already awake and not changing that any time soon, what do you say to breakfast?"

Agreeing to the suggestion, he reluctantly got out of bed and allowed her first access to the shower. She basically only had her clothes from the day before and mentally made a note to pack a few things up at some point that day. She was taking one last look in the mirror as she pulled her hair back into a low ponytail when she heard a crash from the other room. Her skin went pale and her mouth opened, dropping her hair clip to the ground as she rushed into the main room. She half expected to see him gripped with pain or lifeless on the floor.

"Sorry about that," he said, sheepishly grinning. "I dropped my hook." Standing up, he reattached it to the leather brace.

Feeling both relieved and a little silly that she had panicked, she leaned against the doorway. "Okay then," she breathed. "Ready to go?"

A few minutes later they were in her family's usual booth, trying to both order and avoid Ruby's knowing eyes and snickers when they practically finished each other's sentences. She leaned a hip against the table and pretended to care whether Emma wanted her maple syrup to be warmed or if Killian wanted extra butter. "I should have figured out a better plan than this," Emma muttered with the blush on her face growing as the waitress left them to put in their order.

"Embarrassed about your order?" Killian asked with a short chuckle.

"Yes," she said as stoically as she could. "Maple syrup makes me practically giddy." Unable to hold back, she rolled her eyes in her classic style and folded her arms across her chest.

He went to laugh, but grimaced and let out a short puff of air. He had not even fully recovered when she was up and at his side, stroking the back of his neck and reaching for the bag he had agreed to carry with them wherever they went. "Are you okay?" she asked frantically.

"I'm fine, love," he said, his hand fidgeting with his jacket. "This little shard of metal." He poked at the zipper of his jacket. "It poked me in my side."

Her mouth gaped open for a moment and she realized she had again jumped to conclusions. As gracefully as she could, she slid back into her seat in time for Ruby to deliver their food. Reaching to pour the syrup over her pancakes, she caught him looking at her with an amused expression. "What?"

"Are you going to keep doing this?" he asked.

"Keep doing what?" she asked him back, letting the lid of the syrup close and licking her thumb that had accidentally touched the sticky substance. "Put syrup on my pancakes."

"Become frightened each time I move or make a new noise?" he asked.

She sighed. "I'm sorry," she admitted. "I'm worried, okay. We're sitting here eating and he's out there with your heart. Regina's not 100% sure that this plan of ours is going to work. So forgive me if I am a little anxious about what's going on here." She looked up from her plate and saw him still staring at her with a little smirk. "What?" she asked again. "Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't you a little freaked out too?"

He shook his head slowly and swirled a bit of the pancakes on his plate in the syrup. "I trust you," he said, tilting his head slightly. "You will do everything you can to make sure he doesn't win. So that's all I need to know."

"But – " she began to protest.

"I trust you," he repeated. "I know that you'll be the first one trying to help me if he gets his way. And I know that you'll succeed because there isn't anyone who can best you at anything when you're determined."

She smiled, feeling herself blush yet again. "It's nice to have a fan club," she said. "But seriously. I am going to do everything I can to make sure you're always sitting across from me eating pancakes like there won't be lunch in a few hours."

They continued their breakfast like that for a while, teasing and laughing as they traded smiles and pretended to be insulted over silly things. She began to relax a bit more, feeling like there was time for them. They even discussed the future in a light way, planning a day trip sailing with Henry and talking about what some of her favorite movies were that she thought he should see. For a moment she felt like a normal woman talking to her normal boyfriend, but that feeling rarely lasted a long time.

"Emma!" called out a voice from across the diner.

The blonde's face dropped and her breath caught as she saw Belle running toward them. Breathless and with her coat gaping open as she ran, the brunette skidded to a stop at their table and shot each of them a worried look. "Rumple's gone," she said. "I went by this morning to get some more of my things and…he's not there and everything he needs is gone."

Killian shut his eyes, realizing that their passiveness as Emma had described it was the reason that his heart was now with a mad man.

"Any idea where he has gone?" Emma asked, thinking about the possibilities and logistics of find him. If he had found a way to cross the town line, he was as good as gone. But more than that she wondered what his next move would be.

Belle's head jerked up and she looked a bit guilty. "I've been staying at Regina's…I know…not my first choice, but I needed a place…anyway." She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I've been concentrating on figuring out this spell or plan of his. I haven't quite figured out everything, but he's close to having enough."

Emma stole a glance at Killian, seeing a shadow cross his face and guilt settle on his features. She said nothing to him, but reached out a hand to his. "I know this isn't easy," she said to Belle. "You've been…"

Belle held out her hands to ward off the comments. "If I would have paid more attention, trusted myself, or even just asked someone other than him a question, none of this would have been happening," she said. "He could have had you in that damn hat. And he's still got Hook's heart in his possession. I shouldn't have trusted him." She smiled a bit sadly at them, noticing the half empty plates. "And now I'm interrupting."

"No," Killian said. "We're practically done and if you have a way that we can fix this, we're all yours."

Belle nodded again and brought her arms in tight to ward off a chill that she alone seemed to feel. "I just spoke with Elsa," she said, trying to avoid her guilty tone by jumping in with both feet. "She and Anna suggested that between Emma, Elsa, Regina and the Snow Queen that there must be enough magic to take Rumple down and stop this plan of his. But we have to find him first." She reached into her bag and pulled out the long dagger. "For the first time, I wish this was real."

"So you can't summon him?" Emma said.

Belle scanned the dagger's surface, running her fingers over the etchings. "Someday," she said with a shy smile at Killian, you're going to have to tell me how you did it. How you knew he was lying about the dagger."

Killian nodded affirmatively and ran his thumb along Emma's extended hand. "So what are we thinking?" he asked. "There's that locator spell of Regina's that might work. It helped Elsa find Emma the other day. Or there is a chance that Emma can find him by using his phone somehow. Or maybe some sort of crystal ball or something?"

Belle smiled sympathetically at him and twisted to look directly at Emma. "I know you're not going to like this, but all of the traditional ways we find people might tip him off that we're close," she said. "We…and by we I mean Regina, Elsa, and I, were thinking that maybe the Snow Queen or Killian could draw him out. He loves to taunt them both."

"What?" Emma said a bit too loudly. "There is no way."

Killian squeezed her hand. "Darling I know you don't want to think about it like this, but it makes sense. He's not going to see me as a threat. He's got my heart and can control me. I'm a burden to this effort no matter how we do it."

"No!" Emma said again, forcing herself to be moderate in pitch. "I am not…"

"Just hear the plan," Belle said. "Just hear me out."

True to her word Emma listened to the plan and proceeded to argue against it the whole way to the wooded area where Ingrid met them near the town line. The woman's sad face greeted them fondly, but she held herself back and just watched as the two sisters argued for a moment.

"Emma," Elsa said. "This is going to work. Anna, Belle, Regina and I will be hiding over there." She pointed to a dense area just a few feet away. Belle's going to attempt to summon him here and you're going to handcuff Killian and Ingrid to the trees over there."

"And just leave them here for Rumple to do with what he pleases? This is a bad idea." Emma looked to Killian for support, but he dipped his chin and refused to look directly at her. "What if he…"

Regina burrowed into her thick black coat, the only color showing was the red collar of her sweater. "There are a lot of what if's, Ms. Swan," Regina said. "But we need to do this. We need to fix this."

"And if we fail?" Emma asked.

"Then we go with our plan B," Regina reminded her. "But this can work." Emma noted that she didn't say it would work, only that it could.

Emma nodded again, feeling all the eyes on her. "Are you sure about this?" she asked Ingrid. "I mean you don't have to…"

"Don't worry," she said in her soft agreeable voice. "I know how to summon him." The blonde woman smiled softly and backed herself up against the tree. "Let's go," she said. "I'm ready." The woman looked tired, her eyes bleary from the night before. Emma noted that Anna and Elsa both took care to make her as comfortable as possible. She realized she should ask about that, but most everyone would assume she was stalling. Elsa held out both hands and shot forth a chain and cuffs of thick ice that glistened even under the muted sky. Taking her sister's hand, she walked back, whispering a good luck in their general direction.

Emma grabbed Killian's upper arm and spun him to face her. "You're going to be careful, right?" she asked. "You're going…"

"I'm going to be fine," he said firmly, leaning his forehead against hers. "But I will say that I won't do anything to thwart your dashing rescue." She couldn't help but let out a few notes of a melodious laugh when he said that.

"Just promise me," she said. "When this is over, you're going to come back to me. If you have a choice. You're coming back?"

"I swear to you, Swan," he said. "We're going to be together."

Without preamble, she threw her arms around him and pulled him toward her, crashing her lips on his. It wasn't their sweetest kiss or most tender, but she was determined that it would be memorable. Teeth nipped at lips and tongues played ferociously for what seemed like eternity until Regina's throat clearing broke through the display. Emma knew she was taking too long and pulled back. Breathing a bit raggedly, she gestured with one hand to the tree and clasped his willing arms backward around it. With what felt like a deafening pop, she clicked the handcuffs around him and walked back in front of him.

"I love you," she said. "I just want you…"

"I love you, Emma," he interrupted. "But no confessions. I don't think the Dark One will believe it if I'm over here mooning over you when he tries to kill me."

She nodded. "Be careful," she reminded him, walking to the area where the others were located and crouching down beneath the thick underbrush that pricked and poked her mercilessly. She could feel Elsa's hand on her arm, the warmth of something that had just shot out ice was ironic and startling.

She heard Ingrid's voice, subdued from that location, calling for the man three times. Killian had shut his eyes, seemingly willing the man to show himself. The five women in the brush barely breathed as they waited. Regina seemed poised to say something when a poof of smoke materialized and there he stood before them. They could not see his expression, as his back was to them.

"Well, well, well," the impish man crooned. "What have we here?"

Ingrid looked pained as she mockingly struggled against the ice. "They froze my powers and have left me here with that pirate," she said with more fear than they had heard her use before. "Rumpelstiltskin, you must help me. Free me from this and we'll be able to finish your curse together."

He paced a few steps before stopping in front of her, his back still to the hiding women. "What's that got to do with me?" he asked. "You got what you wanted. You got your two new sisters. Don't tell me that didn't work."

"It didn't," Ingrid said. "The magic in the ribbons wasn't strong enough…not for them." She practically whispered these words to beckon him closer. "Please, you have to help me."

"Oh but I'll offer," he said, glaring at Killian. "I just have to determine the price. For you see if I was to have your powers I wouldn't need anything else other than to kill him. I'm that close."

Emma felt her stomach churn, a burning in her throat. She wanted to jump out there and force him to give back the heart, but she knew that with one step he'd crush it in his hands. Killian would be gone and she'd still have to fight Rumple to get to him.

"Help me now and I'll pay whatever you desire," she said softly. "You know I will keep my end of a bargain."

"There's only one thing I want from you," the man said, pulling out the hat that Emma had been hearing about. Even Regina seemed to lean closer to see it in person. Elsa's hand clutched Emma tighter and Anna strangled a gasp that could have given their position away. Only Belle was unmovable, her eyes glistening with tears and whatever hope she had for a future with her husband crumbling before them.

"Wait," Ingrid said, slightly betraying her usual demeanor. "Don't you need…"

"No," he said, not bothering with pleasantries or banter. "I only need your power."

"But they stripped me of it," she said a bit desperately. "Elsa left me here without anything. Why else would I be chained in ice like this?" She cringed as he turned the hat toward her, swallowing and trying to conceal the fear that was becoming more obvious.

"You don't want to get your hands dirty, do you, Crocodile?" Killian sneered for the first time. Emma could see a bit of pirate springing back in him, a cold and calculated look on his face. "You haven't actually used that hat on anyone without my assistance at least."

Elsa leaned toward Emma and whispered, "We need him to put the hat down," she said, as though Emma could do anything about it from their position. "Why won't he do it?"

Regina's eyes brightened. "I've got an idea," she said, whispering quickly to the two blondes. "Ready?"

Elsa and Regina each slid back and stealthily scurried to positions away from the other three. Anna looked ready to protest, but a stern look from her sister sent her back to her watchful waiting. Emma looked to both women and nodded, directing her eyes and focus toward the pointed hat. She thought about the last time she had done this, the evening at Granny's when she made the hot chocolate disappear and then reappear in front of Killian. He hadn't seemed impressed, but Emma had been thrilled at the new skill. Now she tried again.

Rumple was preening in front of the Snow Queen, the giggle of Rumpelstiltskin overshadowing Gold's formal demeanor. Emma pushed that out of her mind and narrowed her eyes almost to the point of closing. The hat wobbled slightly, not drawing the man's attention, but Killian saw it immediately. She sucked in her breath and her mind imagined it flying out of his hands. She could almost hear Regina's voice chastising her for hesitating, but she let her mind erase that voice and replaced it with Killian's telling her that she could do it. Counting back from three, she forced it. The hat flew from his hands and landed with a plop only inches from Emma. Anna could barely contain herself.

"What the hell did that hat do?" Rumple questioned the air. He turned to reach for it.

Regina moved it again, the hat flying and landing between the two prisoners. Ingrid's face lit up as she realized what was happening. "Troubles?" she asked her adversary? "Anything I can do to help?"

Rumple mumbled lowly and watched as it again flew away from him. The three women kept it up, flinging it away from him each time he got within five feet of it. Regina could make it fly the farthest, but Elsa usually sent it higher than the other two. Emma's efforts were good and kept him always turning and searching for the hat. He chased it, ignoring Killian's laughter and Ingrid's sweetly toned questions. Emma watched as Elsa sent it toward a tree on the path to the road. The wind picked it up and took it even farther. He laughed maniacally as he chased it, tripping on roots and rocks in his way. Emma prepared to send it in another direction when Regina overrode the attempt and beat her to it. She sent it straight toward the road and Emma realized what she was doing. Nodding at Anna, she sent the girl scampering toward the clearing to where Rumple's bag sat. Like a cat, the young woman scampered back with it tucked beneath her arm. "Got it," she whispered triumphantly.

Emma nodded approvingly and attempted to move the hat back to a wooded area, but Regina kept it moving toward the pavement. "Regina," Emma hissed. "Stop it."

Regina stepped out from her hidden spot and waved her hands in the direction of the hat. "He deserves it," she hissed back. With one final fling, the velvety hat landed in the right hand lane and sat still. Rumple dove for it, his fingers touching the tip just as Leroy's van rounded the curve.

Later when David would question her about it, she would say she wasn't sure who made that final move. They all would tell him that they were just trying to get him away from his bag that contained Killian's heart. She was sure her father didn't believe them. Why would he? But he focused his attention on Ingrid and was planning to escort her for more questioning.

Belle had stayed at the hospital, refusing to actually see him, but unwilling to make that final separation. While Regina and Elsa both suggested taking turns, Belle had refused and then been shocked when Killian came to her defense. So they left Belle sitting there with a blanket over her legs and book in her hands in the waiting area. Elsa promised to return in a few hours, as did Regina. Emma used that moment to grab Rumple's bag from Anna and follow her father Ingrid, and Killian down the corridor toward the parking lot.

They were discussing late night snack ideas and whether or not to wake Henry when he collapsed. She heard him cry out and every nerve in her body went into over drive. Pitching forward, she tried to stop his fall, confused and scared. His eyes were still open, but he did not focus on her or anything, the pupils rolling back in his head.

A flash of light sprang from the second floor of the hospital. She knew it then. Rumple had not put the heart in the bag. He had tricked them and crushed it, just as he gloated he would. Inside that hospital he was smiling, knowing that he was causing pain.

"What the hell?" she asked no one, digging into the bag of Rumple's that hung off her. Her fingers closed around the dagger and immediately jumped to the next item. Bottles and bags of ingredients brushed the palm of her hand, but no beating heart was in the bag. She turned it over, dumping the contents on the ground and fumbling for what she knew wasn't there. It had never been there. It wasn't there.

Regina was at her side, scanning the contents and doing a quick inventory in her head. "This isn't good," she said. Turning to Elsa and Anna, she practically screamed in a manner very unlike herself. "Go get Belle. She needs to know."

Turning back to Emma, she questioned where the other half of Emma's heart was and reminded her that this was their plan B. Emma grabbed the worn bag off of Killian, trying not to think of how motionless he was at that moment. Inside was the box was the still beating half-heart. Emma sent up a silent prayer and curled her fingers around it. With a push and a whispered plea of love, she sank her hand and heart into him. Pulling back, she sucked in her breath and waited. His gasp came quickly. "Emma," he whispered, his fingers flailing to reach out to her. "Emma."

"I'm right here," she said, hovering closer to him and feeling the gravel of the pavement on her knees. "I'm right here."

"What the bloody hell happened?" he asked, shaking his head slightly.

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "But you came back to me. I love you." She rained kisses down on his skin, wanting to hear his thick accent in her ear.

"You shouldn't doubt me," he said weakly but almost teasingly. "I seem to recall a few people who said I follow you around like it is my new vocation." The smile she loved was back. The audience that had gathered was fading away along with their discussion about what to do with Rumple and how to handle this latest crisis. She didn't want to know. She didn't want to join them yet. Instead, she wanted him to know that he was more important to her than any villain or job. Her lips were on his in a second, both seeking and giving reassurance. Reluctantly she broke away.

She laughed when he frowned at their parting, her hair falling to curtain them as she leaned down and kissed him again, lighter and more playful. "You better not stop being there with me because I'm going to make sure I'm everything you need too," she said with a laugh. "I need my partner. We make a good team."

"A bloody great team," he said back, running his fingers across her cheek. "I'll never leave you."

She pulled back her head for a second and arching an eyebrow, she gave her best impression of him. "Good," she said. "I'd despair if you did."

Thoughts? No, I didn't resolve the Rumple thing. I wasn't aiming for that, as this isn't that kind of story. Please let me know what you think.