Time Has Come
"Well?" Rumplestiltskin asks of Hook as he comes through his door, "And be quick about it."
"The engagement ring... Was returned to Prince ~Charming~ by Snow White, and they parted ways as they had in the Storybook. Now, where is Emma?" Killian says urgently.
"Not so fast, strumpet," Rumple says, baring his teeth, "I have something for you and I."
He raises his hands and conjures identical magic potions in each of them.
"These are Forgetting Potions. Nearly impossible to come by. Now, Emma previously disclosed information about my future that I had not foreseen, therefore, I must drink one," he explains, bringing one hand in to touch his chest, "This other. Is for Regina. No matter what, you must have Regina drink this potion. If she remembers last night, she'll never cease her search for Emma. And we will all pay," Rumplestiltskin warns sternly. "So, this one is for her. Also, I must give you this." With his now free hand, Rumple reaches into the air and summons a silver wand. "This Wand allows any who posses magic that have been through a world jumping portal to recreate it," he says matter-of-fact-lly. "Emma Swan is one of these people. You must collect her, and return here."
He then knocks Hook's forehead with the palm of the hand he holds the wand in. Killian stumbles back as a wall of magic enters his mind.
"That is a map for your use on how to get in my vault undetected. When you reunite with Emma, you must take her there to activate the spell. Future me can't go around wondering where the fuck I put my Portal Recreating Wand, now can he?" Rumple says as he holds the wand out for Hook to take.
Killian grabs it, but Rumplestiltskin doesn't right away release it.
"And, Captain," Rumple remarks darkly, "If you fail to give the Forgetting Potion to Regina, I will eat your heart in my soup. And you can count on me remembering that through mine."
~
"The roast was fair, wasn't it, dear?" Regina asks Emma as she slides into the loveseat beside her.
They've just finished lunch and have gone to the back garden's fountain to relax in the sun a minute more before leaving for the Evil Queen's castle.
Emma's heart beat uncontrollably fast, and anxiety-soaked rocks lay in her stomach, chest and head.
"It was," she responds flatly, staring into the shimmering fountain.
Regina sighs and gives Emma a concerned look, "What's the matter?"
Emma immediately brings her eyes to meet hers. She doesn't know if she can do this. Lie to Queen Regina's softened face, leave the past and go on living her life as though the bliss of the previous night never happened, denying her instincts when she sees Mayor Regina, again. All of these concerns swirl through her mind as she tries to concentrate on Regina's intoxicating gaze that is the cure for all her strife.
"I'm so proud of you, my love," Emma declares. "You're the strongest woman I know and you inspire me every day."
"What?" Regina asks with a confused giggle. "And you just may be the strangest."
"I meant it. You may not know, but I've admired you for a long time. And I'm proud to be able to say that I love you."
"Wh-" Regina starts, but Emma interrupts her with a heated kiss. Emma then reaches in and embraces Regina tightly.
It's then that she sees what she has been dreading; Hook waiting for her in the expanse of King Midas' shrubbery.
Her throat catches harshly and bitter tears flood her eyes.
"Regina," Emma says and holds her soulmate at arms' length. "You're going to think that I'm crazy, and that's what I want," she says as she begins to sob. "What I just said is all true, I promise you. But there's something I need to tell you. I cannot go home with you, Regina. Not today, not ever. I wish I could with every ounce of my being. But I have to leave you."
At first, Regina only gazes at her in a playful confusion, but eerily that puzzlement returns to wretchedness.
"You-" Regina growls viciously as dark clouds engulf the sun.
They both stand but Regina backs away to stare coldly at Emma.
Emma's cries are uncontrollable, and there's a ringing in her head she can feel in her eardrums. "Regina," she chokes out desperately.
She sees one tear roll down Regina's cheek, and then she vanishes in a cloud of purple smoke as loud thunder ripples through the air.
Emma cries out in agony, bending over to use the love seat as support for her weakened body.
Killian comes running to her, "Emma, we have to go. Now!"
He takes her waist and holds her hand as he leads her through the garden. Emma sputters and gasps for breath through her sobs. They move quickly, too quickly, and Emma pushes Killian away to vomit, twice. Once they reach outside of the King's land, they come upon a river with a boat to take them to Rumple's vault. Killian holds it steady as Emma climbs in, and he follows.
"So, uh-" Killian starts hesitantly as he paddles down the river, "We're heading to Rumplestiltskin's vault where you'll use this wand to re-open the portal we fell through."
Emma nods mindlessly, rubbing her nose on her sleeve.
"I have to ask, Emma... Why did you do that to the Queen? Why didn't you just leave?" Killian asks her tenderly.
"Because I couldn't live with myself if I left without her knowing the truth."
Hook grins deviously behind her back. He fingers the flask filled with a shot of rum spiked with Forgetting Potion in his pocket.
The two of them continue down the river in silence and arrive to the tunnel entrance of Rumplestilskin's vault.
Emma repeatedly sniffles loudly as they make their way through the dank and dripping wet tunnel.
"This route is as dense as your sinuses, Swan," Hook attempts to joke and falls flat.
They finally reach the center of the Dark One's vault, and Emma grips hard the wand to return them home.
"How the hell am I supposed to use this thing?" she asks, angry and overwhelmed.
"Just think of Henry? I suppose," Hook offers. "Don't forget to drop the wand once it's opened."
Emma breathes deeply and concentrates her eyes on the wand. Henry. Mom. Dad. Regina. She imagines their faces, focuses on the feeling of home and missing it so terribly- and a whirlwind of magic rips open the air from the tip of the wand.
"You did it!" Hook calls.
The portal spreads as Emma tosses the wand out of its range.
Killian grabs her hand and they both jump into it. They land together on the other side, in the barn where they had fallen through.
Hook laughs and stands, brushing himself off. He then extends his hand to help Emma up.
"Well done, love," he beams at her. He retrieves his tainted flask and offers it to her. "Cheers. You deserve it."
Regina can wallow all she wants, Killian thinks, and the crocodile can do his worst. Emma will be mine no matter what it takes.
Emma grabs the flask, and chugs every last drop as though her life depends on it.