It's been awhile! I apologize for that, I just got really busy with school/exams, I didn't have time to write! But not it is summer and I have plenty :) Thanks for sticking with me! Welcome to Oz :)

And thanks to the lovely niniadepapa for being my beta for this chapter!

Chapter Fifteen

.

.

.

.

Emma sprinted as fast as she could across the roof of one of the buildings in the Emerald City. She and Killian had gone somewhat undercover when they had finally gotten a lead on the powder. To put it lightly, things hadn't exactly gone according to plan. She scaled down the side of the building, landing on the cobbled street below with a thud, and took off running again. She wasn't headed anywhere in particular, but she and Killian had gotten separated sometime during their flee, and she was going to keep going in circles until she found him.

As if said pirate could read her thoughts, she was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled into an old abandoned building. The windows were bordered up with wood planks, leaving just enough space that someone could peek out of it. She knew it was Killian without even having to look. He pulled her over to him, keeping his arm around her as he watched for any movement out of the window.

"They're gone," Killian said after a few minutes of watching. He kissed the top of her head, "Let's go."

"You just had to keep pushing, didn't you?" Emma grumbled at him before they got to the door to leave. She was the one who was suppose to go in there and charm the man into getting the information they knew he had regarding the powder, alone. But in true pirate form, Killian impulsively decided to improvise.

Killian glared at her indignantly. "He was holding back."

"Of course he was," Emma hissed, not as angry as she was exasperated, "thanks to you."

"I wouldn't have had to intervene if your charms weren't so bloody convincing," Killian countered, accusation and annoyance in his voice.

"You told me to flirt with him!" Emma shot back incredulously, poking him in the chest. She couldn't believe he was trying to put this on her, the whole thing had been his idea in the first place.

Killian flexed his jaw, sending her a dark look as he reluctantly grumbled, "Well watching it was a tad more difficult than I expected."

With that, he grabbed the top of her arm and pulled her forward, indicating that the coast was clear. "You've got to be kidding me," Emma muttered under her breath at him, keeping a hold of his hand as they tried to maneuver through the dark streets without being seen.

As they stealthily made their way back to the small apartment where they had been staying, they only ran into one of the men the rich business man they had tricked had sent after them. Killian quickly took care of him and they sprinted back to the building where they lived for the time being, the moonlight their only source of light.

They shut the door of their room, both breathing heavy and leaning against it, relieved to be back. And then before she knew it, Killian had her lifted up and pinned against the wall, kissing her like there was no tomorrow. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, pulling him closer. There were a few more minutes and hot, frenzied kisses and touching before they managed to get both of their clothes off, and when he finally slid into her, Emma was completely lost in him, just like she had been the entire time they had been in Oz.

After and when they had moved back to the bed, Emma remained seated on his lap, her arms wrapped around him comfortably. She leaned her head against his shoulder and surprised herself when she found that she couldn't stop herself from laughing. "What's so funny?" Killian asked, leaning over to kiss her, an amused lilt in his voice.

"You," Emma replied simply, pulling back to look at him with a teasing grin on her face.

Killian raised an eyebrow at her. "And what exactly have I done to amuse you?" he mused, his grin now matching hers.

"I can't believe you were jealous," Emma said, unable to stop the smugness that started to fill her demeanor. She replayed the look on his face again in her head and had to stifle another laugh. Trying to flirt with that man had been almost worse than watching Grumpy stare longingly at that fairy he always talked about.

"I wasn't… jealous," Killian claimed, sending her an eye roll before airily quipping, "What's mine is mine."

"Is that right?" Emma smirked, raising her eyebrow skeptically.

"You have no room to talk, darling," Killian countered knowingly, shaking his head at her, but still with a smile on his face as he teased, "As I recall, you stormed out of a tavern in Neverland because I happened to get a few free drinks from a particular red-headed barmaid."

Emma sent him an unimpressed look. "I was not jealous," she objected sternly, because she wasn't, not really… He brought the incident too many times anyway and seemed way too proud about it, also, "and calmly left because I wanted to see more of Neverland than just the inside of a run down tavern."

Killian clearly didn't buy it. With a haughty smirk on his face, he contended, "Whatever helps you sleep at night, love."

She hit his shoulder playfully, causing him to chuckle, before they were quiet for a few more moments. Tonight had been a close call, for both of them. It had been a half-hearted attempt to find any information about the powder; actually, the whole trip so far had been half-hearted. They had spent the entire time they had been there focused on everything but finding the powder. "We should have been more careful tonight," Emma said, her voice quiet and subdued.

"It's over and done with," Killian said, waving his hand indifferently, "We got what we needed." Emma gave him a dubious look so he begrudgingly conceded, "…eventually."

"Which is still not a lot," Emma countered bleakly. It was a name. Nothing more. A person they would have to find in a world that wasn't theirs.

"It's enough," Killian replied, his voice reassuring as he placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him, "Emma, love, we will find the powder."

The look of determination and confidence in his eyes made her heart melt and nervous at the same time, so she just rolled her eyes, unable to look at him again. Forcing out a laugh, she quipped, "Since we've been trying so hard."

Underneath her jest, though, she was serious. There were days when they were so consumed with just being together they didn't even leave the room. It was beginning to feel like they were on some sort of extended vacation instead of a mission that was suppose to be a matter of life or death. Killian seemed to sense her hesitancy. With a waggle of his eyebrows, he leaned over to whisper huskily in her ear, "You've been doing something hard, at least, darling."

Emma stifled a laugh, he was seriously incorrigible, and playfully hit his shoulder, reprimanding, "I'm serious, Killian."

"There's not anything else we can do until tomorrow," Killian sighed, his hand trailing up and down her arm. She knew he was right. The tight bundle of nerves that had made its way into her stomach was still protesting, though. He suddenly shifted so that he hovered over her, his lips descending over her collarbone. "So in the meantime…" Killian's low voice suggestively trailed off as his lips moved even further down. Emma relented, her senses overriding any logic going through her brain, and she could already tell it was going to be another long night.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Emma woke up the next morning, facing Killian and tucked so much into his chest that he was practically on top of her. She glanced up at him, only to see that he was still sound asleep. It was hard for her not to just lay there and stare at him, since the only time his face ever looked truly relaxed and carefree was when he was asleep. There were no furrowed brows, no lines of anger and hatred carried for a certain crocodile, no hidden darkness in his eyes from a past she still longed to understand. None of the pieces of him that always seemed to be just out of reach from her, and perhaps always would.

Trying to ignore the sickening feeling that seemed to weigh in her stomach, Emma carefully pried herself from his arms and got out of bed. There were better things for her to do than lay there and be consumed with thoughts she didn't want to have. She halted mid-retreat when she heard Killian mutter something with a frown on his face, but his stirring soon stopped and with a heaving sigh, she made her way into their apartment's kitchen area, sitting down at the small table with her head in her hands.

Last night had shaken her up. Which was understandable, considering the circumstances, but now there was this knot in her stomach that seemed to be pulsing with anxiety, like it was trying to tell her something was wrong, but what exactly that might be, she had no clue. She didn't know why she would suddenly start feeling this worried over something. It was the exact opposite of what she had been feeling since they'd been here.

"Emma?" Killian's tense voice echoed from the bedroom, making her jump. She took a moment to let her heartbeat slow back down before heaving herself out of her chair. Walking back into the other room, she saw Killian halfway out of bed. He's had been reaching for his pants, looking slightly frazzled and anxious.

"What's wrong?" Emma immediately asked, her eyes furrowing in concern. Killian halted his movements and gave her an annoyed look before sighing and plopping back down across the bed. Emma stood there, waiting for an answer, but Killian remained silent, his arm propped on his forehead as he glared at the ceiling. "What?" she reiterated with some exasperation.

"I told you to wake me up if you went anywhere," Killian criticized sharply, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling.

Throwing a hand toward the kitchen, Emma indignantly argued, "I didn't go anywhere, I was in the other room."

"That is somewhere," Killian snapped, his glare now fully directed at her. Emma blinked, taken aback by his reaction, before guilt started to bubble up in her stomach as she realized what was going on. She knew he had nightmares, and that they had seemed to get worse if she wasn't there, that much he had told her. It was something they had talked about before. Not that he had actually told her what they were about, though. He always changed the subject before she could get it out of him. But it was not like she could be angry at him about it. She was still keeping things from him too.

A guilty look on her face, Emma rolled her lips together and made her way over to the bed. He was staring up at the ceiling again so she just quietly laid on the bed beside him, curled up on her side. "You can go back to sleep if you want, I'm not going anywhere," she murmured, studying his profile, wishing that she could make them stop somehow.

Killian shook his head, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "I'm up now," he grumbled under his breath.

"What was it about?" Emma asked quietly after a long moment of silence, knowing he would know what she was talking about and vainly hoping he would finally answer her.

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours," Killian replied as he glanced over at her searchingly.

It took her a minute to come up with an answer, completely surprised by the turn of the conversation because he usually shut her down, but also feeling hopeful at the prospect of him opening up to her. "Mine?" Emma stammered confusedly, her brows furrowed.

"The one you were having when I came back to you," Killian turned on his side to face her, his fingers moving up to the edge of her hair, "I think you still have it sometimes. You never told me."

She paused, surprised that he remembered that or was even still concerned about it. It seemed like another lifetime ago, one where she was determined to have nothing ever to do with him again, one where she was so hurt she wished he would have never come into her life. If someone back then would have told her this was where she would have ended up… Did she really still relive that nightmare? She never remembered having it again, but it was one that always seemed to haunt her when she was alone. Emma swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure, and had to clear her throat a bit before finally saying, "The Enchanted Forest is burning and there's nothing I can do to stop it." She took a deep breath and leaned into him, pressing her head against his chest. "I'm all alone and then a man appears," Emma involuntarily shuddered, the image of his piercing eyes was still in her brain and she felt Killian's arm wrap around her as he pulled her closer, "He has these piercing yellow eyes and he has magic, and it's almost the complete opposite of mine," Emma mused, voice faraway. Something in her memory itched at her to remember. Something about the magic felt familiar to her now that she looked back. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. "It's stifling, but then you appear," she added with a slight smile on her face, hating the way her voice had started to crack, "and I had kept hearing your voice, but now I think that was you trying to wake me up. Somehow I find the strength to stand, and I tell you to run, that I'll fight him off, but you don't move. I push you away, but the second I do, the man blasts you away," Emma confessed, her voice now wavering. Damn it. The last thing she wanted to do was cry. Especially in front of him. Taking a deep breath through her nostrils, she continued, "I fall to my knees and the man starts coming toward me and I know I'm going to die." Her words came out as quick as possible and she hurriedly wiped a tear from her eyes and vainly hoped that he hadn't noticed. "Okay, now your turn," Emma ordered, pulling away from him slightly so that she could look at him.

Killian abruptly sat up, turning to look down at her with a determined expression, "I want you to promise me something."

"Killian…" Emma trailed off, already sensing where his thoughts were going.

She had started to bury herself into her pillow when he grabbed her arm and made her sit up beside him. "Promise me that you won't sacrifice yourself in some kind of attempt to save the Enchanted Forest or in a fight that's not even yours," Killian pleaded, staring her down intensely, "Just because you're suppose to be the savior, doesn't mean you have to be. It doesn't mean you have to be the one to die for it."

The promise was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. Because she couldn't promise him that. Not if her dying meant that she would save the people she loved. "I can't promise that," Emma told him hoarsely.

That definitely wasn't the answer he wanted. "Yes you can," Killian proclaimed vehemently, his jaw clenched.

"Not when the Enchanted Forest includes my parents... and you-" Emma began to argue, her voice rising with conviction. There was no way she would be able to live with herself if she just let the people she loved die.

"I'm not worth it," Killian interjected briskly, cutting her off. His words felt like a stab to her gut, "and your parents wouldn't want you dying either."

"That's not fair," Emma croaked, sending him a dark look. Because he was worth it. He was worth everything to her. "Especially when I know you wouldn't do the same," she added crossly. She knew without a doubt he would be exploding in anger if she were trying to get him to promise the same thing, if she were saying the same things about herself.

"I'm not the one who is in some prophecy about a final battle," Killian shot back testily, his mood visibly darkening at her every attempt to argue back.

"Well the curse didn't happen," Emma stated smartly, glaring him down, "so it doesn't matter."

Killian shot her a blithe look before continuing, "But what if-"

Emma cut him off, heatedly musing, "Are you planning on letting Regina get her hands on that heart sometime in the near future?"

His eyes wide, Killian sneered indignantly, "Of course not."

"Then drop it," Emma snapped irately.

After rolling his head back against the headboard, still clearly wanting to argue his point, he finally turned to her with a defeated look on his face. Killian conceded, "Just promise me you'll try, at least."

"Fine," Emma muttered, not really meaning it. There was no way she would save herself over him if given the choice. Or let innocent people die because of her. Her being the savior might have been a bunch of nonsense she had heard all her life, but she had lost too much because of it. She hated talking about it and she hated how Killian always wanted to. "Now your turn," she requested, wanting to change the subject.

Killian sighed tiredly, quietly murmuring, "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes," Emma exclaimed incredulously. There was no way she was letting him off the hook now… so to speak.

"They're never the same," he stated, not looking at her, his words quickening so much that she could barely understand him, "like yours, just different scenarios of you dying and nothing I can do to stop it." Emma opened her mouth to speak but Killian interjected with a dark, silencing look, "don't ask me to specify that."

A warm feeling spread through her at the thought of him being that worried about her, but she immediately chided herself for thinking like that when it was something that obviously bothered him. Not needing to say anything, Emma curled her body up next him and rested her head against his chest, smiling when his arm moved to wrap around her, his hand lightly tracing lines on her back. After a few more minutes of laying there with him, Emma mumbled, "We need to get up."

Killian sighed and rubbed at his eyes, grumbling, "Why?"

"We need to find the powder. We need to go back soon," Emma declared, her voice pleading as she tried to convince him to listen to her. He threw his hand down on the bed, forceful enough to get her attention and noticed that he was staring up at the ceiling again. "Stop trying to avoid it," Emma instructed with some annoyance, "we've been here almost eight weeks."

It had definitely been an amazing eight weeks, but amazing for the reasons they weren't even there for. Her mother's words before they had left were suddenly ringing in her ears and she couldn't get them out. "Exactly," Killian argued, a mischievous glint in his eyes like he knew where her thoughts were, "why the sudden rush to get back?"

"Because that's where our lives are," Emma told him, exasperation filling her voice. She looked up and saw him giving her a dark and dubious look. "Don't give me that look," she warned, trying to send him her own glare, but guilt still started to make its way into her chest nonetheless.

Killian tried to pull her closer. "Maybe I just like having you all to myself," he whispered, but she could still hear the edge in his voice, "I didn't realize that was so wrong."

"It's not," she said quietly. The festering knot of nerves that had been in her stomach all morning suddenly flared up, so much so that Emma had to lay back on the bed and slow her breathing in order to keep calm. What the hell was wrong with her? She knew she was anxious about wanting to get back, but not to the point where it felt like it was crippling her.

"Don't you dare," Killian growled, thinking she was pulling away from him, as he rolled back over and on top of her. "Emma, look at me," he softly ordered as he grabbed her chin, eyes full of concern, "What's going on?"

Emma took another deep breath, reaching a hand up to rub her forehead. "I don't know," she replied, completely honest, trying to hide the panic that was starting to creep up inside of her.

"Everything's going to be fine," he whispered gently, his lips descending on hers as he reassured, "We'll go back as soon as we can." She started to fervently kiss him back, hoping that would make everything disappear like it usually did, but her heart jolted and constricted painfully in her chest, causing her to cry out. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong. Killian pulled back, but her eyes had reflexively scrunched close and it was taking all her strength to keep breathing. "Emma?" Killian's concerned voice was faint as she was suddenly taken somewhere else.

There was fire everywhere. And panic. It was home. Something was wrong at home. Her mother's face flooded her vision, she was writhing in pain…

And then it ended. Feeling groggy, Emma slowly opened her eyes and found that she was back in their room in Oz with Killian. Realizing that the top half of her body was now dressed, she squinted down and saw Killian trying to pull up her pants. "What are you doing?" she mumbled, still a little disoriented.

Killian's eyes darted up to her, looking disheveled and panicked. He bowed his head as he let out a deep breath. "What the hell just happened?" he demanded after he composed himself, moving up so that his face was level with hers, his hand brushing back her hair, "are you okay?"

"Yeah," Emma muttered dismissively, feeling embarrassed, but touched, at his concern. Her vision hit her like a ton of bricks and her eyes shot open as she tried to sit up and move off the bed as quick as possible. "No, something's wrong, I need to get home," Emma said worried and fearful. Something was wrong, that much she knew. She had to get home as soon as possible. Her heart racing, she noted with confusion once more that she was already almost fully clothed. "You were putting my clothes on?" Emma asked, her brows furrowed as she reiterated her question from earlier. What the hell had he been doing?

"Excuse me for wanting to protect your modesty before I sent for the doctor," Killian snapped, something normally she would have been mad at, but she knew he hated not knowing what was going on. She hurriedly pulled up the rest of her pants and once they were buckled, he grabbed her wrist, demanding her attention. "Not so fast," he growled, eyes focused anxiously on her, "Something's wrong with you?"

"No, not me," Emma said reassuringly, shaking her head, "My parents, I think. I felt this pang in my chest and then there were all these flashes…" her voice trailed off as the confusing images flashed before her eyes again. The only other time she had felt that kind of pain before was when Regina had stuck her hand in her chest, and when she had stuck her hand in Killian's when she had been watching. "I know that something is wrong," Emma said, her voice determined and panicked.

"Okay," Killian replied, still looking confused but wanting to help, "we'll go."

No. They hadn't found the powder. And Regina was nothing but cruel. If they both showed up in the Enchanted Forest with nothing, she would do something to retaliate. They were looking, but she wouldn't see that. She would think they were tricking her in an attempt to save their own lives. Killian had to stay in Oz to reassure her that they were still looking. She could handle Regina, she would have to look at her and know that she was telling the truth if she left Killian here. Because there was not a chance that she would just leave him here willingly or without a reason. "No," Emma breathed, already looking up at him apologetically. Her heart was already throbbing. He was going to be so mad at her for this.

"But you just said-" Killian insisted confusedly, his arms plopping down to his sides in frustration.

"You can't go," Emma relayed painfully to him, "you have to stay."

There was a long pause. "Come again?" Killian asked, blinking multiple times while giving Emma a look that clearly said he must have heard her wrong.

"We're so close to finding the powder," Emma explained desperately, trying to convince herself as much as him. She was right, though. This was the only way to keep him safe. It was their only chance to find the powder, also. "You have to find that man before someone warns him and disappears and then we're back to square one. Besides, Regina will kill you if we both come back without anything," she added desperately, "She'll think we've been lying to her. At least with you here, she'll know that we're still looking."

"No," Killian stated, his voice quiet, but the coldness and finality the radiated off of him was so intense it was almost suffocating.

Emma ignored him. "We'll knock out a Munchkin to take with me and then bring him back through with me," she ranted, her words coming out fast as different plans flew through her head, "It'll be fine. I'll just go see if everything's okay and then come straight back-"

"I said no," Killian roared, his voice echoing off the walls of the room, making her stop her movements completely. His turbulent and vexed demeanor made her see red. How dare he think he could just order her around. Or that's what she was telling herself he was doing.

"This decision isn't up to you," Emma spat, her anger rising to match his, "It's mine. It's my family."

"And I couldn't give a rat's ass about them," Killian scathingly replied, his words cutting her deeply, "It's only your life I have any interest in."

Her anger flared even more. She was so glad he had an interest. "I said I wouldn't go for long," Emma fumed with disbelief, "What do you think is going to happen?"

"Would you prefer the short or the long version?" Killian spat with biting sarcasm, taking a step toward her, "The list of people who want to kill us grows every day, it's hard to keep track."

Emma crossed her arms defiantly, giving him a indignant look, "I think I can handle myself for a day."

"We go together," Killian ordered determinately, his voice fierce and unwavering.

"No," Emma countered, frustrated, "you're safer here."

"I don't give a damn about my safety," Killian replied incredulously, glaring at her like she was daft.

"Well I do!" Emma vehemently bellowed, her voice turning hoarse and cracking, "So stop fighting me on this!"

Killian let out a short, mirthless chuckle as he waved his finger at her, coldly relaying, "That's really rich coming from the girl who has fought me on everything since day one."

"I have not," Emma stubbornly protested, ignoring the nagging voice in her head that was telling her he was right.

"Besides," Killian sullenly continued on like he hadn't heard her, pointing a finger at her, "you owe me."

Emma scoffed, dubiously sputtering, "For what?"

"For blocking me out of your room and making me watch you almost kill yourself by trying to fight the crocodile," Killian bellowed, wrathful and enraged.

She would be lying if she said it didn't feel like a slap to the face. There was no regret or remorse in his features and she let out a short, humorless laugh. "How did I know you were going to use that against me one day?" Emma lowly spat venomously, adding, "And are you forgetting that you knocked me out and left me in the middle of nowhere without any explanation?" Her voice had risen considerably again, unable to control the emotion spewing out of her. Rehashing the memory only brought back the festering sting the betrayal had left her, but she couldn't help it. If he was going to bright up her past acts, she was going to bring up his. Emma acidly hissed, "We're even."

"Even?" Killian repeated, his eyes wild, "We're not anywhere bloody close to even," he snarled. Emma reflexively took a step back as he advanced toward her. Killian venomously roared, "Not when I still see your blood all over my hand every time I look at it."

His words made her flinch and she knew it wasn't like she didn't have this coming. The pain and desperation in his eyes almost made her cave, but the vision was still fresh in her memory and she couldn't just go on without knowing if her parents were okay. "I'm sorry," Emma apologized, her voice hoarse with everything that was always unsaid between them. The words seem to calm him briefly and he took a deep breath through his nose. "Killian," Emma hesitantly reached up and cupped his cheek, breathing a sigh of relief when he leaned into it, "please just trust me. Just give me one day to go and make sure everything's okay," she pleaded, "one day and then I'll come back."

"What if something really is wrong, hm?" Killian mused caustically, a subdued anger still radiating in his eyes, "What then?"

"I'll still come back," Emma stated confidently. She knew something was wrong, she could feel it, but there was no way she could just leave him in Oz for more than a day. Going for a day was already going to be hard enough, especially knowing that he was so angry at her about it.

"You're determined to go without me, aren't you, darling?" Killian said with a resigned sigh. He reached up and grabbed her hand that was still on his cheek, removing it, but still kept it in his grip, "You haven't listened to a word I've said."

"Yes I have," Emma softly objected, and she had, and she hated that she was upsetting him, "I swear I'll be back, no matter what," she promised and wryly quipped without thinking, "even if it does take my dying breath." As soon as the words were out of her mouth and she saw the look on his face, she immediately regretted it. "I'm kidding," Emma said with a little exasperation.

Killian glowered at her, his jaw clenched as he growled, "That isn't funny."

"I know, I'm sorry," she said, subdued, calmly reiterating, "It's just one day."

"One day," Killian repeated sternly. He studied her face calculatingly for a long moment before he slowly began to back away, still facing her. Killian pointed a finger at her, lowly warning, "Don't make me regret this, darling."

.

.

.

.

.

.

Emma stood behind Killian as he peeked around the corner of the alley they were hiding in. The streets of the Emerald City were bustling with various vendors and patrons as they waited for a lone Munchkin to make an appearance. It was the only thing they had been able to agree on all day. A Munchkin would be the easiest body for her to take; they were small and easier for her to carry, especially when she wouldn't kill anyone for this. They soon spotted a fiery, red-headed, middle-aged Munchkin male survey the streets for awhile when they decided he was it. She had tried to make a joke about gingers but Killian remained stoic and acted like he didn't even hear her. His bad mood was getting worse by the minute. "Where's the poppy powder?" Killian asked tersely, keeping his eyes on the wandering Munchkin.

She reached into their satchel, pulling out the small bag of powder and placing it in his outstretched hand. "Here – " Emma began to say, but was cut short when Killian snatched it from her and took off without another word. She repressed a sigh, biting her lip, her heart sinking. So he was definitely pissed and had no qualms about letting her know, which was typical of him, but it wasn't like she had any other choice. It was her family, she had to know if they were okay, but she didn't want to risk him in the process, either.

She casually walked to a different alley, trying to blend in as much as possible, and still had to wait a few more minutes before Killian arrived back with the now passed out man. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen him before he unceremoniously dumped the Munchkin down in front to her. "Your traveling companion, mi'lady," Killian sneered coldly, "I hope you're as courteous with him as you have been with me." Emma stared up at him, outraged. Letting her know he was mad was one thing, but now he was just deliberately trying to hurt her. And it worked. With pain and anger warring in her chest, she felt like she was going to be sick and suddenly she couldn't wait to get out of Oz. Trying to keep her face blank, Emma stayed silent, ignoring him as she bent down to pick up the man and place him inside a covered wheelbarrow so that she could move him to where the opening to the hat was, still a ways away. "Emma, I'm sorry," Killian said after a short moment, regret filling his voice as he reached down and tried to help her.

Emma shot in front of the Munchkin, guarding the unconscious man from Killian's grasp. "I don't need your help," she hissed, blinking back tears and refusing to look at him as she heaved the man into the covered wheelbarrow by herself.

"I didn't mean it," Killian pleaded somberly, his hand brushing across her back.

"Just go back to the room," Emma snapped, flinching away from him. She couldn't stand him touching her right now. "I'll see you when I get back," she muttered under her breath, not caring if he could hear her or not, and started to push the wheelbarrow toward the portal opening.

She walked toward the center tower in the Emerald City. While she had tried not to get too involved in all the politics of Oz, she knew the building was important and housed some of Oz's most important people. The portal opening was behind one of the green curtains that lined the entryway. Once she left here, she would gladly never have to see the color green again. As she walked, she knew Killian hadn't listened her and had kept walking behind her, his eyes practically boring holes in to the back of her head. And as much as she was upset right now, she loved him for not just leaving her be. Not that she would admit that right now, to him or herself.

When she came to the farthest curtain, situated discreetly underneath an awning so dark, you almost had to squint to notice it, Emma propped the wheelbarrow against the wall, taking a moment to gather her bearings. The fluttering in her stomach almost became painful as the realization that she was really leaving Killian here hit her with full force. It would be fine, she would just be gone for a day, and then she would come back. Nothing was going to happen. This was the right thing to do. Reassurances were flying like mantras through her head. What was she even going to say to him? She was suppose to be mad at him, and she still was, though mostly hurt, and could still feel him standing behind her. Her pride was yelling at her to just walk through the portal without a backwards glance, but…

Killian decided to make the decision for her. She was spun around and he crashed his lips to her before she could protest, not that she ever would, though. His mouth was fierce and relentless against hers, conveying the words she knew he couldn't say, and it left her breathless. She was briefly reminded of the way she had kissed him the night of her ball, when she wasn't sure what was going to happen to them, but she pushed the thoughts back as far as possible. Nothing was going to happen. Killian reluctantly pulled away, breathing heavily as he murmured against her lips, "Please don't hate me."

Emma kept her forehead resting against his, her hand brushing through the hair on the back of his head, not wanting to let him go just yet. "Like you're hating me for leaving right now," she whispered back, doing her best to keep her bottom lip from trembling.

"I could never hate you," Killian replied, his voice so quiet she could barely hear him. Minutes ago, she was so hurt she couldn't even look at him, and now he was making her feel like absolute mush. This man was going to be the death of her. She had to leave now or she wasn't going to leave at all.

"I'll be back, I promise," Emma vowed, leaning in to kiss him lightly one more time. Trying to lighten the mood, she wryly quipped, "Don't get into too much trouble."

Killian let out a small chuckle, a tiny smile gracing his face, but it was half-hearted at best. "I wouldn't dare," he said.

Emma pulled away from him, and with his help, she lowered the unconscious Munchkin from the wheelbarrow, slinging him over her back to carry through. She looked back at Killian one last time to find out he was already watching her. His face remained impassive, though she guessed he was feeling anything but. She opened her mouth fractionally but quickly closed it. 'I love you' was on the tip of her tongue, and how she wanted him to know how much she did, but it took all of her will power to refrain. It was something they had never spoken to each other before and she hated that fact more than ever at that moment. Too many things had been going unsaid between them and she didn't know how much longer she could take it, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She loved him, with everything she had, and deep down, she knew he loved her too, but there was still that part of him that belonged to revenge. She wanted Killian Jones and Hook, not just one or the other. So instead, with glossy eyes, she reached over to him and placed her hand over his heart, hoping that one day she would finally get to be the owner of it, before turning back around and stepping through the green curtain.

The second she was through the portal, she was surrounded by roaring flames. Emma flinched backwards, coughing and confused, the flames surrounding her like her nightmare. Her home was being destroyed by and sucked into by roaring flames, the heat sizzling her skin. It couldn't be happening. It couldn't be real. She looked ahead of her where the hat should be and saw her father standing before her with the hat in his hands and his jaw hanging slightly open, looking stunned.

"Dad?" Emma had to yell over the roar of the fire to be heard, her voice filled with fear and worry.

"Emma?" Charming yelled back, the flabbergasted look still on his face. He shook his head and then glanced down at the passed out Munchkin beside her. "Where's Hook?" he demanded, his brows furrowed confusedly, panting.

Emma flinched when a flame flung up beside her. "He's-"

"Later," Charming interjected, sensing her distress. He thrust the hat into her hands and pushed her toward the door, "Get out of here."

Standing her ground, Emma implored, "What's going on?" Her heart faltered in her chest. Where was her mother? Her mother should be here.

"Grumpy," Charming called across their disintegrating home, ignoring her protests altogether, "Take Emma."

Her father quickly strode toward all the other guards who were trying to subdue the flames and move as much people and stuff out as quick as possible. "Dad!" Emma bellowed hysterically, trying to follow him.

"You heard him," Grumpy roared authoritatively, gripping her arm tightly and stopping her from moving any further. He pulled her back toward the exit, "let's go."

"No," Emma whispered to herself. The heart. Regina's father's heart was still upstairs in her room. She couldn't leave it here. That was her and Killian's only leverage left against Regina. "No," Emma repeated to him, finally finding her voice. She tried pulling away from him, "There's something I have to get."

Grumpy didn't even flinch at any of her attempts. "Whatever it is, it's not more important than your life," he growled.

"It is," Emma begged, almost sobbing. It was Killian's life. He had to let go of her. "Please just stay here or wait outside," she bargained pleadingly, "it won't take me long."

Cleary displeased, Grumpy begrudgingly conceded, ordering, "Hurry," before letting her go. She passed him the man she had brought with her, and immediately felt guilty about bringing him. His life was in danger now and he had absolutely no idea. Grumpy muttered a "who is this" but she ran off without answering. She kept her hands gripped around the hat, and with her, though; there was no way she was letting it out of her sight, it was her only way back to Killian. Dodging falling beams and growing infernos, she finally made her way to the room. Thankfully, the fire hadn't done much damage in there yet, and she easily flew under her bed until she found the locked box containing the heart. Realizing she wouldn't be able to carry both the box and the hat, she pricked her finger and let her blood drop onto the enchanted box. It soon popped open and she hurriedly grabbed the heart and placed it inside one of the loose pockets inside of her cloak.

Emma sprinted from her room, coughing roughly now as the smoke started to effect her, before she heard a cracking above her and barely managed to move before the falling beam fell completely over her. She let out a cry as it still managed to fall against her arm, pinning her momentarily to the ground. Shielding the hat, her arm was licked in flames as she heaved the beam off of her. Her arm felt heated and sizzled, and she almost wanted to slap herself when her first thought was Killian is going to be so mad. There were more important things to worry about, like getting out of there. Emma hobbled her way downstairs and saw Grumpy waiting for her by the door, looking alarmed and anxious.

"Let's go," Emma motioned for Grumpy to follow her as she caught up to him but suddenly froze, seeing a figure step straight into her path across the hallway. Realization slapped her across the face. No, no, no. It couldn't be. She knew him. "It seems my clumsiness has gotten the best of you" The words echoed in her head. It was the same man from her ball. The one that had run into her. And now that he was standing in a wake of flames, she could see that he also had another identity. It was him. The man who had starred in her recurring nightmare. The one that destroyed everything she loved. She would never forget those eyes, the ones that seemed to shoot fear straight into her soul. "It's him," she said, her voice faltering as horror filled her. She was going to be sick.

"Who?" Grumpy asked as he shook her gently, studying her with concern now.

Emma kept her eyes on the man. She couldn't breath or move. It was a living nightmare. Her dream always ended with everyone dying and she couldn't let that happen now. Apparently, she was not as significant to him as he was to her. He casually took a few steps forward, a smirk on his face. "It's your lucky day, princess. One of my colleagues said I'm not allowed to touch you," he rotated something in his hand and a black, hooded creature suddenly flew down beside him with an echoing cry, leaving a ringing in Emma's ears. With an excited flick of his eyebrows, he looked directly at Grumpy, "but him – "

After another flick of his wrist, the black, hooded figure moved straight for Grumpy at high speed. Determination filling her, Emma deftly used her magic to form a globe like shield around them, much like she had with the mermaids in Neverland, and the creature rebounded off of it with a piercing wail before retreating swiftly out of the burning castle. What the hell was that thing? The man tensed and looked shocked. "No," he whispered. Staring at Emma with dread filled eyes, he snarled, "you."

Emma was more than confused. So it was only after she used her magic that he seemed wary of her? And who the hell was this colleague who seemed to be protecting her? "Who are you?" Emma demanded, pushing back all fear. She was a princess. She was true love incarnate. She was the Savior. This was who she was. And she would stop him if it was the last thing she did.

The man didn't say anything, only stared menacingly and hatefully at her before he swiftly turned his body and disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

.

.

.

.

A/N: Hope you all liked it! Please review and thanks again :)

Next Chapter Summary: Emma receives shocking news; someone unexpected asks to go back to Oz with her, but when she tries to make her way back there, she dreads what she might find.