A gentle reminder as you proceed that this is a work of fiction, and as such, I feel entitled to take liberties with certain storylines. I 'think' you'll be pleasantly surprised…this has been the plan from the very beginning.

The final chapter…

Chapter 21

Full of Light

Time is a funny thing. While pleasant things like perfect bites of food or soulful conversations pass so quickly that even in the moment your fingers grasp at them like wisps of a dying flame, dread burrows so bone deep that each prolonged second stretches into tortuous eternity. But even dread can be catalogued by intensity. There's the innocent variety – that of a child mourning the end of summer – and then there's the kind that leaves a lasting impression…that somehow lessens the blow of whatever tragic event accompanies it because the worrying gouges a trench for the impending tidal wave of emotion. I'd spent most of my life lost somewhere between the varying degrees of dread, carefully balanced with enough cynicism to numb any particularly strong emotion. Until Killian. Until I understood the catalyst for the worst kind of dread: loss.

I'd felt alone almost my entire life; I'd rarely let anyone close enough to worry over their absence. But they knew. Killian and Rumpelstiltskin had both felt the vicious sting of losing someone who'd once been an integral piece of their lives. And they'd both suffered with that loss far longer than any soul should. I was an amateur compared to them, and already the descending dread scratched over my skin with its icy talons, scrambling my thoughts when I desperately needed to focus.

The dagger-like branch swayed in my vision. It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. The name of the person who'd said that escaped me, but the sentiment pissed me off more than ever. I'd finally…finally let someone past my walls; let someone crawl into that secret part of me I'd guarded more tightly than any personal wealth. Losing him now was just…ridiculous! This couldn't be the end. I was not a compromising woman, but I was sure as hell willing to learn if it meant saving what I'd only recently come to value so dearly. I met Killian's eyes resolutely, even as I spoke to Gold. "What will happen to him if I do this?"

"Emma, no!" Killian exclaimed. His thoughts were red. No other description matched the chaos and fear spiking across our link. His and mine.

"I assume he'll just go back to being your persistent suitor, minus all those pesky side effects of the bond," Gold replied. A hint of triumph shadowed his voice even as he let the branch slip forward an inch. "Now, I suggest you stop stalling."

My voice was quieter than I would've liked when I responded; "You know what they say about assuming. And that's a chance I'm not willing to take."

Gold shifted his stance, tilting his shoulders so he faced me more than Killian. "Where's your faith, Savior? Surely the product of true love believes in the power of her own?"

"You're bluffing," Killian shouted. "If you kill me you'll never get what you want."

Gold chuckled, but kept his attention on me. "The pleasure alone would be worth it."

His retort seemed almost too practiced, like a scripted line in an expected role. What could he possibly gain from this sudden game? Why even bother giving me a choice when all three of us were well aware the Dark One could take what he wanted when he wanted it? It just didn't make any sense. Why continue to drag this out? "You told me if one of us dies, so does the other," I insisted. "Why would you lie?"

Gold's face scrunched into a momentary knot of annoyance. His hand twisted in the air once more, causing the branch to jerk in place. "You're bonded by magic. Logic follows that it will be a death of magic, not of life."

He still wasn't sure…I was willing to lose my magic for Killian, but I was not willing to lose Killian on some theory. Maybe magic was the only price we'd pay, and maybe not; maybe the loss of a soul bond meant the soul itself. That slow drip of dread continued feeding through my veins, numbing my instincts. This connection – from the very beginning – had been a test of faith. Even the most powerful sorcerer in existence was working under the constraint of maybes and chance; what hope was there for us commoners?

"You are hardly common, love. Don't lose faith…This is not the end for us…" Killian's voice sounded soft and steady. He'd always been that way. Like the one-legged steadfast tin soldier, my one-handed pirate had never faltered in his love and faith for me: his paper dancer.* My eyes flickered to the magical fire burning above the well. The dancer and the soldier had both perished in flames at the end of their tale, finding death to be the only host willing to embrace the pair of them. Were we doomed to the same fate? Was Gold wrong when he first bound us, or was he wrong now?

I drew in a long, deep breath, willing the oxygen to fuel my stiffened limbs and clear my mind. My eyes settled on Gold, studying the faint lines of distress around his feral eyes. As if sensing my scrutiny, his face hardened, but it was too late. I'd already seen it. He wasn't bluffing, as Killian had suggested, but he was uncertain, anxious even. Desperation drives us to do things we swore never to do again. "You don't want to do this," I began.

Gold's mouth lifted at the corner. "I have no wish to see you dead, Miss Swan," he stated plainly. "I've told you as much before. But if it's a choice between us, well…" He let his sentence hang unfinished then seemed to gather whatever shroud of darkness he'd been warring with for centuries. On a normal person it would've read as renewed determination; on the Dark One it was a gathering force.

"You don't have to do this," I rephrased, my hand inching backwards toward the gun tucked in the waistband of my pants. I'd tried my magic and it had failed; time to fall back into familiar territory.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you there, Dearie. Much as I've tried, you're not the only one who's been fighting a losing battle with your true nature."

My fingertips brushed against cool metal, though I knew I wouldn't be able to draw the weapon while Gold looked on. "Killian, I need a distraction," I called in my thoughts.

Seeing the mental image of my plan, he shook his head sharply. "Use your magic, Swan."

"Tried that, remember? He's too strong," I argued.

Perhaps sensing he'd lost a portion of his captive audience, Gold tilted his head to the side, looking at me with peculiar interest. Then, turning slowly, he eyed Killian. "Plotting, are we?"

It was all the distraction I needed. The gun was in my hands and pointed at Gold's back before he'd even finished speaking. "Let him go," I commanded, my voice low and level.

"I see you've made your choice, Sheriff," Gold remarked. He glanced at me over his shoulder, noting the weapon with only a passing interest. A flash of regret glossed across his eyes, or maybe that was just my imagination.

As he raised his hand toward the branch, my finger began squeezing the trigger. "Don't!" I yelled. My pulse pounded through my body, joined in part by Killian's own distress. But rather than release the makeshift spear, Gold's magic turned on the gun, ripping it from my grasp with invisible fingers and tossing it away.

The jolt of dark power felt like stinging needles against my hand. I yanked it protectively to my chest as I cried out, "You can't do this!" Panic rose with the fluttering of wings, beating against my chest, frantic and bitter. After everything, was this really how it would end? Gold merely shirked his shoulder and raised his hand toward Killian again.

"You haven't bested us yet!" Killian growled. "Together, Emma. Together," his thoughts insisted. Together. That single word had become our mantra. A soft haze of white light seeped from underneath his skin, fighting against the bonds keeping him within Gold's spell. Killian's magic called to my own, but we'd only ever succeeded in fusing our power when we touched. I searched for my own spark of magic, willing it to rise and meet his. The deadly branch gusted sideways from some hidden wind, the crack of fracturing wood like a clap of thunder to my ears. Killian's shoulders fell forward as he freed his arms from Gold's hold. A tentative sense of joy swelled in his thoughts. "Just a little more, love," he urged.

Any momentary reprieve we might have felt was crushed as Gold suddenly laughed, eyeing his failed weapon with misplaced glee. "The bond's even stronger than I thought. Such a shame, really…I would've been most interested to see what else you two can do. But since you're still not willing to cooperate…" His words faded as he once again focused on his prisoner. With a twist of his wrist, Killian's body arched back against the tree, his hand ripping free from the spell to clutch his throat.

Killian's mouth gaped open as his eyes rolled back. I could feel his chest constricting as his airway collapsed beneath the weight of Gold's magic. Black spots danced in my vision as my own lungs scrambled for breath.

The sudden crash of hasty footsteps through the forest underbrush broke Gold's concentration. Killian slumped to the ground, gasping for breath just as Belle appeared in the clearing. "Rumpel!" she cried. "Stop! This isn't you anymore. You're past all this!"

"Stay back!" Gold shouted, raising an arm as if to shield his altered face.

Belle froze, her luminous eyes capturing the scene with painful clarity. A second body stepped around her slowly but with confident steps. "Papa," Neal spoke calmly. "Let them go."

"Bae," Gold exhaled, some of the vigor draining from his stance as he locked eyes with his son.

"This isn't right. You have to let them go," Neal reiterated.

Gold held his son's gaze for a long moment then nodded sadly to Belle. "It's too late…I have to do this."

With a wave of Gold's hand, Killian flew from the tree toward the blazing fire over the well. Air invaded my lungs as I gasped, terror so thick in my throat that I couldn't even scream. I felt Killian's sudden surprise, his momentary confusion and then a flash of hopelessness as his skin registered the heat of the approaching flames. My love and raw need for him surged through my body and I reacted instinctively, reaching for him with tendrils of magic so pure that the clearing ignited in a wash of brilliant white light. Dimly, I registered the cry of several voices, but all my psyche could grasp onto was Killian. As before, cords of silver shot from my heart toward his, not stopping until his weight felt like a welcome anchor on my soul.

I wrapped my fingers around the manifestation of our bond, staring at the deceptively strong threads with a combination of awe and fear. I could feel the pulse of Killian's life force thrumming beneath my fingers, but his presence in my mind was distant and muffled. Raising my eyes slowly, I struggled to make sense of the images before me. The bond stretched tightly in a shimmering arc between me and Killian, holding him in a strange sort of suspension above the magical fire. And there – caught in the middle and pierced straight through the heart – was Gold.

A sickly sort of black ooze leeched from Gold's body onto the bond, coating the strands and spreading in both directions. "Emma," Killian's voice called in my mind, though it sounded like he was underwater. I blinked dully, seeing him but not feeling him. My steps felt sluggish and clumsy as I slowly staggered toward him. "Emma," he spoke again, even more distorted than before. The darkness slithered further along the cords like the threat of deep waters. I could almost sense the cool wash of death sliding over my skin and sinking into my soul.

"Killian," my thoughts whimpered. "What's going on?" My knees buckled and I collapsed to the hard earth. Gasping, I placed a hand over my chest as darkness pressed further against my vision. A persistent tug at my heart drew my gaze across the clearing, pausing on a shadowy figure wriggling in the air like a fish on a hook. "It's Gold," I cried out, frantically wrapping my hand around the cords at my heart and pushing against the encroaching magic. "Dark m-"

A sudden, piercing agony tore a scream from my throat. Hundreds of nameless faces, suffering and anguished flashed behind my eyes. Evil, thick as toxic sludge, burned through my veins like acid. The tugging of the bond sharpened as I curled into a ball, my palms pressed tightly over my ears. "Oh God," I gasped. Centuries of the Dark One's deeds assaulted my senses all at once, raking over each synapse and shredding my sanity.

"Emma," Killian's voice cut through the turmoil. My thoughts reached for him, tried to cling to him, but in my confusion he remained elusive. I was surrounded by misery yet lost in the darkness. "Come to me," he demanded, his tone gritty and determined. "You have to fight! You have to!"

A tremor of hope cut through the shroud of the Dark One's poison. Like a small stone cast into a pond, the ripple distorted the surface of memories and allowed me to gather a small reprieve from the onslaught of suffering. I pushed myself to my hands and feet, crawling toward Killian. Every movement was a struggle, sapping my strength even as my pulse beat faster. I placed my hand over my heart, willing it to slow down, only to feel the soft pulse of magic flowing along the cords which still connected me to Killian and Gold coating my fingertips. Expecting the oily black of dark power, my breath caught painfully in my chest at the steady stream of white magic leaking out of me and seemingly taking our bond with it. I watched the strands thin and darken with a strange sort of resignation, feeling my warmth drain like the last bit of bathwater in a tub. Where fire had sparked deep within my chest, a numbing cold took hold. "He's stealing my magic," I choked out through heavy breaths.

Killian's power flared, repairing the pearlescent shimmer of the bond with every inch, but the regeneration slowed before reaching me. "Emma, look at me!" He ordered. "Together," he urged again. "I can't do this without you."

Killian. Somewhere deep inside, beneath the protective barrier I'd constructed around my heart and nestled within the folds of dreams I'd once wrapped around myself as a child before cynicism became my trusted ally, lay the core of my heart. He was there. Beyond the bond, beyond the magic…embedded in my soul. For the first time, I knew I truly was the child of Prince Charming and Snow White; the magic and fantasy was ingrained within me whether I embraced it or not, and it wasn't something I could ever get rid of. I couldn't deny it, nor could I lose it. Love only strengthened it. I'd found love…true love…and I was never letting go. "You don't have to," I answered Killian out loud then staggered to my feet, pressing my hand over my heart and willing whatever power I had left to stay with me. Seeing the ashen faces of Belle and Neal, I nodded once toward Gold. "You should go to him; he's going to need you."

I scarcely noticed Belle's movement, so concerned was I in reaching Killian. Each step felt mired in the weight of past regret as if I were truly shedding some other life. At last, I reached the fire, placing my palms in front of me and letting some of my magic extinguish the flames. Then, reaching up, I clutched Killian's hand and tugged. Hard. The sagging cords of our bond snapped to life with almost painful accuracy, yanking Killian's body into mine and sending us both crashing to the ground for the second time in a single day.

His face was suddenly only inches from mine; those startling eyes of his brimming with emotions too big to speak of, but exactly what my soul was craving. "Seems this is becoming a familiar position of ours, love," he joked, then smoothed his fingertips over my cheek. I drank him in, letting his own brand of magic heal the frayed edges of mine. "Mine," his thoughts whispered.

The chocked sob of Belle broke our focus. "Rumpel!" she called desperately, shaking Gold's chest. "Please come back to me!"

Killian and I pushed to our feet, approaching the couple cautiously. The bond was no longer visible, nor had it left any noticeable mark on Gold, but he'd obviously been affected by it. The harshness of his features softened into his human mask, leaving behind the aging businessman. "Is he dead?" Killian asked with perhaps a touch of hopefulness, not that I blamed him. Not anymore.

Shaking her head, Belle responded; "He's breathing." She clutched his hand then looked to me. "What happened?"

Neal crouched beside her, running his palm over Gold's chest, likely seeking some sort of physical proof of what he'd just witnessed. "The bond?" he questioned.

I honestly didn't know how to respond. Obviously the bond had done something to Gold, but what exactly? I could still feel echoes of his dark magic trailing across my skin as if seeking a way in, though the bond of white magic pulsing between me and Killian was regaining strength by the second.

With a sudden gasp, Gold's eyes flashed open. "Belle?" he spoke softly, blinking the last remnants of his personal nightmare away. He reached a hesitant hand toward her then paused, staring at the smooth, pale skin. "It's gone."

Belle draped herself over him, taking his head in her palms. She waited for him to look at her before smiling. "Thank goodness."

Gold stared back blankly for a long moment. Then, returning her smile, he pulled her into his arms and inhaled sharply.

A slow burn of wary relief wound itself around my heart. The sensation grew stronger as my own feelings joined in, relieved to find Killian's presence filling my soul once more. I felt, rather than saw him step behind me, my attention still fixed on the couple before us. "What shall we do about him now, Swan?" His hand wrapped around the curve of my waist. "I doubt the lady librarian will acquiesce to surrendering him to us."

"Nor should she," replied an unfamiliar voice. Killian's grip tightened as a new body stepped into view.

My eyes widened as they recognized who'd spoken. "Merlin?"

"You!" Gold exclaimed at the same moment, rising swiftly to his feet. Only, where I was genuinely surprised, he sounded furious, and not a little bit unsettled.

The old man swept into the clearing with an unexpected air of playfulness. Swapping a humble priest's robe for a long navy cloak and a tall staff, he now looked more or less like what I'd expected a real-life version of the cartoon to be.

"Simply marvelous," he commented, settling his ancient gaze first on Killian then on me. "It worked!"

"What in the blazes are you getting on about?" Killian spoke roughly, stepping to my side and angling his body so as to shield me.

"The cure!" Merlin replied with delight. He turned on his heel, cloak billowing about, and pointed his walking stick at Gold. "It's finally over."

Looking around the clearing, I noted the collection of confused expressions decorating our strange group.

"The Dark One's curse," Merlin began. "…it was never meant to leave its original host. Through the years, it's become twisted and vile, furious at being parted from the only one capable of containing its tenacious nature without succumbing to its madness. But even then, the darkness took its toll." He sidled closer to Gold, assessing the man from head to toe with a shrewd eye. "Rumpelstiltskin…yes…you fared remarkably well. Never before has one contained such dark magic for so long a period of time and retained his sanity. The dark power must've found something truly inspiring within you." Merlin's thin lips pulled back in sardonic grin.

Gold's expression darkened. "And who exactly is this original host?"

"Me." A petite young woman stepped out from the trees. She was barefoot and clad in a similar robe as Merlin, though an abundance of rich, mahogany hair cascading over her shoulders hid the top half of her outfit. At first glance, she seemed no more than twenty, but that same ageless quality Merlin possessed radiated from her shocking green eyes.

"And you are?" asked Neal as he inched slightly away from Gold. I glanced at him quickly, curious at the odd note in his voice.

"Morganna," the woman responded, those unearthly eyes sweeping over all of us.

"The witch!" Belle exclaimed with excitement. "I've read all about you."

Morganna's lips twisted wryly. "Yes, well…I'd be careful believing what you read."

"Or see, eh love?" Killian mentally commented. I frowned at him. So not the time.

Before anyone could respond, two more visitors appeared from the woods…two fairies to be exact. Tinker Bell was accompanied by none other than the Blue Fairy herself, looking just as smug as always.

"I'd be careful hosting such ungenerous thoughts, Savior; uncontained dark magic seeks any excuse to form a new bond," Merlin commented, turning his wizened gaze on me.

"You can read thoughts?" my mental voice shrieked.

"Only those of my magical kin," he responded, and then winked.

I swallowed down a sudden knot of unease. That was one branch of my family tree I could've happily lived without discovering, though I did wonder how much Mary Margaret, or for that matter David, knew about their ancestry.

"All right, love?" Killian's thoughts soothed over my mind.

I nodded stiffly then gestured toward Gold, letting my sheriff's instincts cover any lingering discomfort. "So we're expected to believe this was all some sort of master plan?"

Merlin leaned on his staff, amusement twinkling beneath his bushy brows. "Yes and no," he answered vaguely.

I was beginning to realize this was his method of evasion. Unfortunately for him, I was well versed in all tactics of denial and avoidance. Maybe you inherited that from him, too? Yeah…not going there. I cleared my throat. "And Hook's heart? Smee?" I questioned. "You seemed conveniently ignorant when we spoke this morning." My gaze swept over Blue, assessing her expression for any clues. That part of me which could detect untruths was blaring in warning, convinced that the fairy nun was involved.

"As I recall, you merely wished to know the location of Mother Superior." Merlin motioned toward Blue, "and here she is."

Tinker Bell crossed to where Killian and I stood. "I found them at the police station talking to Smee."

At the mention of Smee's name, both Killian and Gold tensed, shifting their stances and gripping imaginary weapons.

Merlin leaned once more on his staff, eyeing both men with amusement. "Quite the memory spell you invoked on that one," he addressed Gold. "Interesting bit of a challenge to reverse it. The poor fellow was frightened nearly to his grave when I stripped it from him. Incidentally, I returned his heart. I expect you're wondering why he suddenly ceased his obedience to you."

"What is he talking about?" Neal turned on Gold. "What have you done now?"

Gold's face was uncharacteristically flustered. His eyes vacillated between his empty hands, his son, and Merlin. "He was acting erratic. He needed controlling. I couldn't have him coming after Belle again, so I made him forget." he paused and looked at Belle, taking her hand in one of his. Then, meeting Merlin's stare he added: "But I never took his heart. Even after he failed to take his," he pointed at Killian.

"You expect us to believe that?" I charged.

"He's being quite truthful, as you can probably determine," Merlin commented. "Our line has always been talented in detecting deception," his thoughts whispered.

"It was Merlin. And Blue," Tinker Bell stated hastily. I could almost see the outline of her missing wings lifting her to her toes, so fidgety and anxious was she acting.

"What in the blazes are they talking about?" Killian's thoughts radiated across our link, whether intentional or not, I couldn't be sure; I definitely wasn't alone in my confusion.

Blue placed a hand on Merlin's back, a silent conversation passing between them before she approached our small gathering. "You must understand; we meant no harm to anyone. But given the chance to save Morganna, difficult decisions needed to be made." She nodded once to Killian. "I must ask your forgiveness, Captain, for the unfortunate role you've had to play. May it bring you some peace to know your heart is quite well protected."

"It was you?" Belle cried, her wide eyes pinned accusatorily on the fairy. "You set them all up?"

"I prefer to think of it as helping the inevitable along its path," Merlin interceded. "Though, we can't claim responsibility for all the troubles which have befallen you." He looked seriously at Gold.

Gold met the other man's stare, but didn't reply. His one hand remained clutched in Belle's while the other flexed uselessly by his side. Mirroring my observation, Killian remarked; "Why isn't the crocodile biting back?"

I shrugged slightly, not willing to make assumptions just yet. If nothing else, I had learned not to underestimate Gold's conniving nature.

"Your long-running animosity toward one another was the perfect foil." Merlin gestured between Gold and Killian. "You've been so fixated on your mutual hate that you blinded yourself to the bigger picture. That's really a fault you should work on, if you ask me."

"I didn't bloody well ask you," Killian grumbled.

"You still haven't answered my questions; who is responsible for the attack on Hook?" I asked pointedly.

"We all are," Blue gestured to herself, Merlin and Gold. "…though 'attack' is a rather harsh word. I was interrupted in my attempt to assess your bond by Mr. Smee, who then tried to abduct you once I fled." She met Killian's eyes unflinchingly, still the very picture of confidence and authority whether it was warranted or not. "I suspect the charm I placed on you wore off as he was moving you, hence the injury to your head."

"So Rumpel didn't try to take Hook's heart?" Belle questioned, perhaps a bit hopefully.

Gold turned to slowly meet her eyes. His voice was quiet as he admitted, "I would have. I needed proof of the soul bond. When I heard an attempt had been made, I assumed the rat had acted on his own accord before turning tail and running." Directing his attention on Merlin he continued; "Your handiwork, I assume?"

"We couldn't have the fellow telling all and sundry about what he'd seen. A brief possession of his heart was enough insurance; your additional memory potion certainly finished the job." Merlin moved to stand with Morganna, placing a gnarled hand on her sleeve. Devotion and love poured from his features as he gazed upon the young woman. His focus stayed on her even as he kept speaking to all of us. "I am sorry for any pain or inconvenience this caused all of you, but it couldn't be helped. The curse had to be eliminated. This was simply the first time that the cure and the curse existed in the same time and place. We've been searching, waiting for this moment for more than a millennium."

"We're not giving you the bond," I stated pointedly. No matter their intentions, the fact remained that their ultimate goal had also involved using the magic Killian and I had created. I was no more willing to trade it for them than I'd been for Gold.

Blue smiled, for once showing a genuine kindness rather than her usual glower. "You've already done more than we could've hoped for. Your bond can never be taken. Not while at least one of you lives."

"But Gold said if one of us dies, so does the other," I spoke cautiously, squashing down the glimmer of hope trying to wrestle itself free from the stronghold of unease.

Merlin murmured something to Morganna before turning toward us. "The soul bond is made from true love. Eternal love. Even when one soul passes from this world, the love does not die; it waits to be reunited on the other side. No earthly force can break the link formed between your two souls."

"But how-" I began only to be cut off by Morganna.

"He is the father of magic. He created both the light and the dark. One cannot exist in the presence of the other. Your bond is the purest manifestation of light magic, and I…the dark. In sharing your bond with Rumpelstiltskin, you've finally freed the dark magic from its false host. And now, it must return to where it belongs."

Spreading her arms wide, Morganna tilted her face toward the crescent moon and closed her eyes. With her palms facing upwards, she motioned her hands from side to side and turned in a slow circle. Ribbons of dark energy appeared in the air, swirling around her and then absorbing into her until her hair darkened to the color of midnight. When her eyes opened, a tiny flame burned within the emerald irises. She was magnificent and frightening all at once. Against my control, the familiar burn of my magic flared to life in my palms, seeking to defend against the presence of its adversary. Seeing it, Morganna smiled. "There's no need for concern. To me, the dark magic is as familiar and dear as your own bond. It does not control me or taint me; it is natural…necessary."

Merlin and Blue approached Morganna with reverent steps, each embracing her in turn. From her pocket, Blue pulled out a black, twisted stick and passed it to Morganna. At the touch of her hand, the stick thrummed with power. Not a stick then, a wand.

"The black fairy," Tink breathed out beside me. "I can't believe it."

"Believe it, Sister Green," said Morganna. "But fear not. I am no more evil than any of you."

"I suppose someone has to be the wielder of darkness," Killian mused. "But do we trust her, love?"

"About as far as we can throw her," I commented, eyeing the new 'Dark One' with blatant suspicion. "What are your plans now?" I asked her.

Morganna slipped the wand beneath the sleeve of her cloak then assessed each of us in turn. "Much as they've always been, I suppose." She smiled at Merlin. "We are travelers, seeking the knowledge of the realms."

"And what of him?" Killian motioned to Gold, still appearing shell-shocked and holding on to Belle. "Are we really going to allow him to walk away without any repercussions?" he asked, disbelief clear in his tone.

Merlin looked Gold up and down once more. "Punish him if you will, though I suspect he's already suffering more than your human law could enforce. He's lost his magic. He is, once more, a mortal man filled with insecurities and a sense of powerlessness."

"And love," Belle interjected. "You forgot love."

The old wizard's lips lifted in a smile. "Ah…well…perhaps not so powerless after all." He offered his arm to Morganna. "Shall we?"

She wrapped her innocuous, delicate fingers around his arm, nodded to Blue and then…they were gone. No sound, no spell, just gone.

"Wait!" Neal shouted, but it was too late. A strange silence fell upon us accompanied by a light brush of air, like the forced exhalation after holding your breath in panic. "Where did they go?" Neal questioned to no one and everyone.

"Who knows?" Blue commented, drawing our attention. She held her hands before her in supplication. "No true harm has been done. In point of fact, you've succeeded in ridding our time from a great evil," her pointed glare fell on Gold. "Worry not over those things that are best left in the hands of others." She gathered her coat tighter around her frame and marched from the clearing.

Tink turned to me, taking mine and Killian's hands in her own. A brilliant smile lit her face as a shimmer of white magic floated above her head. "It's so beautiful," she sighed. Blinking rapidly, she clasped our hands together and stepped away. "Be happy." I watched – a bit dumbfounded – as she ushered Neal, Gold and Belle toward the tree line. "I'll sort them out," she called to me. "See you tomorrow?" Without waiting for a reply, she stepped into the woods.

The abrupt stillness amplified my spinning thoughts. What the hell just happened?

Killian's fingers tightened around my own just as his hook smoothed a strand of fly-away hair away from my face. I flinched in surprise, still too stunned to process that we were the only two left in the clearing. "It's just me, love," he spoke into the night.

I lifted my hands to his chest, smoothing them over the worn leather of his coat and pressing to feel the steady beat of his heart. Taking several long breaths, I met the seriousness of his eyes. "You're alright." It wasn't a question, more a statement meant to convince myself.

"Aye. We've won again…I think?" He lifted our clasped hands to press a tender kiss to my knuckles. "Likely there's more for us to sort out." His thoughts drifted to the recent memory of seeing Rumpelstiltskin renewed.

"What are you going to do to Gold?"

Killian smirked. "I can think of a few things…now that he's just as mortal as I."

I glared half-heartedly at him. "But for now…" my voice trailed off, fatigue and waning adrenalin muddling what I wanted to say.

"For now all's well that ends well," Killian supplied.

I quirked my brow at his phrase. "When did you become so optimistic?"

He grinned. "I've always been cursed of a hopeful disposition. Stubborn you might say."

I made a non-committal noise then stepped back, looking around the deserted clearing. The well was returned to its normal state, any traces of the magical fire erased as if it had never happened. I really wasn't too surprised; the waters were known to restore what once was lost. It was almost too poetic, really. I entered this clearing afraid to lose the person who'd come to mean everything to me. And now? I looked back at Killian, smiling at the sight of him texting with amazing dexterity, the cell phone anchored against his left arm while his fingers flashed over the buttons. Now I had lost something, but I'd gained so much more…I was no longer the lost girl.

"Who are you texting?" I asked.

"Dave. I thought it prudent to let him know where things stand." His lips twitched as he read something on the screen.

"What is it?" I stepped nearer to him, feeling his amusement leak across the bond.

He slipped the phone into his pocket. "Nothing, love. Your father and son extend their well wishes and said not worry further this evening."

"They did, huh?" I felt my brow lift again.

"Aye. Seems they trust the pirate to take care of their girl."

He pulled me into his arms and I let him, marveling at the beauty of his face in the pale light streaming into the clearing. Be it sun, stars, or moon, the light never failed to reveal the truth of him. "I guess you really are part of the family now."

He smoothed my hair again, letting his fingers trace across my cheek. "Happy Anniversary, love."

The corner of my mouth ticked up in a slight smile. "What are you talking about?"

"It's after midnight. It's exactly one week since we returned from Neverland."

"So it is." I exhaled then turned into Killian's embrace, mumbling into his chest, "It's been a hell of a week. And I suspect there's still more waiting for us."

"There will always be something waiting for us," he laughed.

"But not right now," I smiled against his skin. My incongruous pirate who knew about dates, sexting, anniversaries and tokens of affection…who would lay down his life for me…who waited for me. "I love you, Killian Jones."

"And I you, Emma Swan." His arms tightened around me. "Or perhaps you're ready to consider Emma Jones?" he teased, only, I knew he wasn't teasing. It was there in his voice, that tendril of hope lacing his words just as tenderly as the feeling creeping into my heart.

"It is the twenty-first century; I kind of like the sound of Killian Swan," I replied in monotone, waiting a moment before meeting his blue gaze with my playful green.

His face broke into that sinful smirk I'd come to adore. "Is that a yes then?"

"That depends; was that really your proposal?" I raised my eyebrow in challenge even as my pulse began to pound against my ribcage.

Killian stepped back, his hand sliding down my arm until his fingers captured mine. Slowly, he lowered to his knee, keeping his suddenly serious eyes locked on mine. He licked his lips once then began to speak. "Emma Swan. From the moment I saw you, it was as if my life began again. I lived in darkness for centuries, believing my life had but one purpose. In that, I was right, but it wasn't until you pulled me back into the light that I realized that purpose was to love you. You are my everything…I never knew I could feel this for another person." He paused, shaking his head softly and smiling shyly. I squeezed his fingers once, blinking rapidly and trying to swallow past the swell of emotion in my throat, willing him to keep going. With a cleansing breath he continued; "I have naught to offer you save this…bond or no bond, I will love you with every breath, every beat of my heart, and every part of my soul forever. Would you grant me the highest honor and consent to be my wife?"

"Yes," I whispered, stunned at how absolutely sure I felt in my reply.

"Yes?" He echoed.

I tugged him to his feet. "Yes," I said again before throwing my arms around his neck and pulling his lips to mine. I kissed him with the same things he'd offered me: my heart, my soul, my life. Someone once said tears happened when the soul had too much emotion to hold. As the taste of salt appeared in our kiss, I knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that that person was right.

We rested our foreheads against one another for a long moment after our lips parted, so close that our eyelashes feathered together This close, and in the darkness of the night, it was impossible to make out the color of Killian's eyes, but I could feel the weight of them just the same. One week ago we'd stood aboard the deck of his ship, bathed in the moonlight and contemplating our relationship. And now, we were ready to embark on yet another journey, one that would surely encounter its fair share of stormy weather. But we'd face it together, and that was a condition I could accept.

"You know, Swan…I distinctly recall specifying a list of requests for this momentous occasion," Killian said, his breath teasing against my lips.

I grinned, thinking back on his demands. "I'm pretty sure the flowers and the choir were your conditions if I was the one doing the asking."

He chuckled. "And how about your…conditions? Did I handle it alright?"

I threaded my fingers through his hair, then moved to whisper in his ear, "Play your cards right, pirate, and there's more for you to handle tonight."

I felt the tip of his hook press into my lower back as he shifted closer. "Is that right, Mrs. Jones?"

"Swan-Jones," I corrected, nipping gently at the earring in his right ear.

He sucked in a breath before pulling away. All teasing stripped from his eyes, he held out his hand. "Well then, Mrs. Swan-Jones...what now?"

I took his hand without any hesitation, lacing my fingers with his. His smile seeped into every part of me. Looking into his love-filled eyes, I simply said: "Take me home."

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*The Steadfast Tin-Soldier, Hans Christian Andersen

A/N: I don't even know where to begin. This story, while meant for Emma and Killian, has taken a part of me with it. I actually cried while writing this chapter, lol. Thank you for all the support you've shown, dear reader, and for your patience as the story has unfolded. I've met so many amazing people through this fandom, and I am grateful to call you friends. Yettoseeyoufail, this story would not have made it without you!

An epilogue is probably in the works…eventually. I believe Killian still owes Emma a particular 'fun time.' But for now, this tale is mostly complete. As for Captain Swan, the adventures are just beginning! I would be very honored to hear your thoughts about this story, this chapter, or anything you still want answered in the epilogue. Thank you again!