Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time.

Chapter V: Hope

It was true though, wasn't it? They always did seem to find a way back to their loved ones. Emma knew they would make it back. Some of her parent's hope speech had made an impact on her. She had hope.

Emma woke suddenly, remembering the events of last night. She took a moment to absorb all that had happened since yesterday, but also since they had arrived in the Enchanted Forest.

How long had they been here, exactly? It was hard to tell. Emma was just glad that she was not alone in this. Killian was here with her. Emma was not usually one to admit it, but she did not like to be on her own. At least, not after finding her family.

So. Rumpelstiltskin. Or Mr. Gold. Whomever he is called. Emma had heard the stories. He was not going to be easy to bargain with.

And all magic came with a price.

At breakfast, everyone, with the exception of Emma and Killian, seemed perfectly at ease, as if nothing was out of sorts. Except it was, and only the two of them knew it. Killian and Emma stole frequent glances at each other from across the table, Killian giving Emma a reassuring smile.

"Emma?" King Leopold said. He had been addressing Emma on a matter, but Emma was too out of sorts to even hear the conversation.

"Sorry, what was that?" Emma stuttered. She wasn't doing too well a job at acting normal.

Everyone laughed, and after blushing out of embarrassment, Emma joined in.

"Someone did not sleep well last night." King Leopold chuckled.

Emma smiled at him, then looked down at her empty plate. "Excuse me-" she said, "I'm going to go for a walk in the gardens." Emma hoped to be alone with her thoughts. She had so much to comprehend and lots of planning to do.

"May I come as well?" Killian asked.

Emma was hoping he would. "Of course." she said.

Everyone at the table smiled to themselves, obviously thinking that Emma and Killian had feelings for each other. Liam looked almost jealous for a second, but then his face broke into a wide smile. He was truly happy for his brother.

Ava and Leopold were the ones most happy of all. They exchanged a glance that lasted much longer than normal. The two may have finally started to admit to themselves the feelings they felt for one another.

Killian followed Emma outdoors and into the garden. There were many different kinds of flowers and brush in the garden, as well as fountains and a stone bench. Emma was standing admiring the red roses, her mind hard at work.

"How should we go about this, love?" Killian asked Emma.

Emma thought for a moment, then answered: "I say we leave the kingdom tonight, and make up something about eloping. We can't stay here, and if our plan works, we will never have to return anyways."

"Alright. Sounds like a plan, and a good one at that." Killian said.

"We are obviously going to need supplies. We can take my horse-it was a gift to me and we wouldn't be stealing. We also need food, and maybe some weapons." Emma stated.

"Does your power work in this land, love?" asked Killian.

Emma had not thought of that yet, with all that had been going on. "I'm not sure." She closed her eyes and held her hands close together. A moment later, light emerged from the space between her hands. Killian and Emma both smiled in relief.

"Well that's going to make things a whole lot easier." Killian said.

Emma nodded, a smile still on her face.

Emma and Killian spent the afternoon and early evening gathering supplies for their journey. Emma kindly asked the cook for food, explaining their plan to elope. The kind old woman did not argue, and packed enough food and water to last them a week.

Emma knocked on the door to one of the guest chambers, where Killian was staying.

"Yes?" Killian answered curiously from behind the door, not knowing who it was.

"It's Emma." Emma stated.

Killian opened the door, smiled, and stepped back to let Emma enter.

There were things strewn about the room. Killian had been in the process of packing.

"Unfortunately, I do not seem to possess the leather garb I so ardently love." Killian said with a sigh.

Emma laughed, amused. "Almost ready?" she asked.

"Just about." Killian answered.

They went to dinner and played their roles well, then excused themselves to their separate chambers. Emma dressed in her riding trousers, the only pair of pants the princess Emma owned. She gathered her bag and quietly crept out of her room and down the hall. She and Killian had agreed to meet outside by the stables.

A few minutes later, Emma reached the stables and found Killian waiting with her horse, Starlight.

"All set, love?" Killian asked with his cheeky smile.

"Yes." Emma replied, smiling to herself at his appearance in the moonlight.

Emma had left a letter under Ava's door, explaining that she and Killian had run away to be married, believing that Leopold would not approve of her marriage to a lieutenant.

Emma secured her bag and mounted the horse. Killian mounted the horse as well, sitting behind Emma. Then Emma gently jerked at the horse's sides, and they went off into the dark and starry night.

The pair stopped at local villages to inquire about the Dark One's location, receiving looks of horror and disdain from the villagers. One brave soul said all one needed to do was call his name, and he would appear.

They found a stream in the woods, and stopped to give the tired horse water. Killian went to gather some wood to make a fire. Then Emma wound up all the courage she could muster and called out the name of Rumpelstiltskin.

For a moment, everything was silent. It seemed as if it did not work.

But then there was a voice behind them: "Hello dearie. What can I do for you, hmm?"

Emma was at first startled by the contrasting appearance and voice of Rumpelstiltskin compared to that of Mr. Gold. "We need your help." Emma started.

Just then, Killian returned from the wood with arms full of firewood.

"You!" Rumpelstiltskin muttered with hatred in his voice. "I'm sorry, dearie. I'll be right with you, after I get my revenge on this one." he said. Killian's eyes grew wide with concern.

"Rumpelstiltskin, don't. I need him. He's no longer the man he was. Please forgive him." Emma pleaded.

"No can do, dearie." Rumpelstiltskin said, forming a ball of fire in his hands. He was just about to launch it at Killian when Emma jumped in his path and formed a shield of light magic, protecting herself and Killian.

Rumpelstiltskin was astounded: "Who are you?" he asked.

"I am the savior." Emma replied, lowering her shield, "Now leave him alone."

"The savior, hmm?" Rumpelstiltskin pondered.

"Look, it's a long story. In short, we are from the future, in a different realm. We fell into a portal that took us here, the land of my birth. We need to get back to our own realm and time. Can you help us?" said Emma.

"Time travel. Impossible." mocked Rumpelstiltskin.

"So you thought, but it has been achieved." Emma said.

"Why should I believe you?" Rumpelstiltskin said.

Emma was silent for a moment. "I..I knew your son, Bae." Emma said.

"Baelfire." Rumpelstiltskin said quietly.

"Yes. You find him in this realm, and he forgives you." Emma said, her voice faltering.

Rumpelstiltskin was silent. Then he said: "If you do not belong in this realm or time, you have to leave it. Or else you could make changes which would alter the future you know."

"Aye. Now will you help us or not?" Killian asked, impatient.

"What I want to know is why I did not kill this pirate in said future realm?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"Will you help us?" Emma repeating Killian's question.

"All magic comes with a price." Rumpelstiltskin sung.

"We know." Killian sullenly replied, "What is it that you want?"

Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts-I want to know! Thanks for your continued support!

~readinglover120