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CHAPTER FIRTY-ONE
SWAN SONG
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AFTER REGAINING THEIR MEMORIES, EMMA HAD LEFT, DEAD SET ON STOPPING HOOK AND CURING HIM OFF THE DARKNESS THAT SHE PLACED WITHIN HIM. Emma's steps were long, determined strides as she moved down the middle of the road. They had to almost jog to keep up with her. Above them, shining, was the moon. The entire town was silent, in exception of their feet moving against the pavement.

"Emma, slow down," David said. "We need to talk about this. We need a plan."

"The plan is find Hook before he resurrects all of the Dark Ones. You think dealing with one is bad."

"He can resurrect every Dark One?" Teresa asked with wide eyes.

"Yes."

Suddenly, the dwarves were joining them. "There's more than one Dark One?!"

"It's a long story," David replied.

"Well, no matter. There's seven of us."

"Six." Happy corrected Leroy. "Dopey's still a tree."

"We may be down a dwarf, but we're ready to fight."

"You won't have to. I'm going to take care of this."

"You think you can talk him out of this?" David asked.

"There's no talking. We have to hit him with everything we've got."

"Why? It's not his fault he turned out like this," Teresa said, shooting Emma a glare. "He didn't want to become the Dark One."

Emma sighed. She knew it would be a while before Teresa approved of her presence being around. "But he did because of me. None of that matters anymore."

Suddenly, Emma came to a stop and whipped around to face them, causing them to stop. "Regina's right. We need to hit him with everything."

Snow stared at her daughter in disbelief. "This is a man you loved."

Emma frowned, her eyes saddening. "That man died back in Camelot. Now all there is, is the Dark One. So, no matter how hard this might be...we need to split up, find him, and stop him...no matter what it takes."

➳

Teresa didn't hesitate to pair up with Henry as everyone went off in sets of two — in exception of the dwarves — to find Hook.

They walked in silence down the street, their eyes sweeping over every inch of the town for any sign of him.

"You know, my mom is starting to change."

Teresa rolled her eyes. "I'll believe that when I see it."

Henry caught her wrist, causing her to stop walking. "She proved it to me, Teresa. She just wants this all to end, she's returning back to the old Emma."

Teresa glanced down at their hands before snapping her gaze up to meet his. "That doesn't change anything. She still..."

Henry frowned. "I know. And I honesty don't expect you to forgive her, I'm not even sure I do yet. But she she's willing to change, than I'll help her. I'll do anything to get my mom back."

Teresa said nothing, she didn't know what to say. Instead she simply held his gaze. As they stood there, in the middle of the street, with his hand loosely wrapped around her cold wrist, she felt a strong urge to close the space between them.

Since she remember their first kiss, that's all that's been on her mind. Teresa didn't know what a kiss was supposed to feel like, for it had been first kiss, but it had felt really good. She regretted pulling away that day, but she understood why she did; she was in shock after having learning about the candlight dinner, and of him finally kissing her, something that she had wished — deep down — for it to happen since their first meeting.

Suddenly, movement caught Teresa's eye. She furrowed her eyebrows and stepped around Henry. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of two dark cloaked figures closing in on them.

Her veins felt cold as her hand began to glow a bright white color, ready to protect them.

Before she could do anything, it happened so fast, they had rushed through both their bodies before disappearing. A cold sensation had ran down their spines and they gasped at the feeling of darkness that had washed over.

"What the hell was that?" Teresa said, gripping at her chest, as she turned to Henry with wide eyes.

"I...I have no idea."

Soon, everyone was running toward the pawnshop, where Emma was running out. With one look at each other, Teresa and Henry ran toward them.

"What just happened to us?!" Regina asked.

"I think I may have the answer to that," Gold said, walking up beside Teresa and Henry. "Check your wrists."

Teresa pulled up the sleeve of her jacket and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she peered down at her wrist, where a glowing white mark now rested.

"What is that?"

'That...is the mark of Charon."

"Charon?" Henry's face lit up in realization. "He was the ferryman in the old myths. He navigated a boat...to the Underworld."

Gold nodded. "Smart lad. You see, the Dark Ones only have a...a temporary pass into this world, like a like a tourist visa. The only way for them to stay...is to trade places with living souls."

"Meaning us?" Teresa said.

"Exactly." Gold looked up and pointed to the moon. "And when the moon reaches its peak, the ferry from the underworld will arrive...and drag us down there."

"That doesn't sound good."

"No shit David," Teresa said. "Dark Hook wants to literally drag us to hell, it's not going to be a party."

"Speaking as one who's died and been there, it's not."

"So, how do we stop it?" Regina asked.

"We can't," Gold said. "The Underworld is worse than you can possibly imagine. It's gonna make you wish the old stories of fire and brimstone were true. It's gonna make you wish for death."

Teresa reached for Henry's hand, grasping it tightly as she listened to Gold's every word. Henry gently ran his thumb across her knuckles in attempt to comfort her, but he knew it wouldn't; they were both scared of being dragged to hell. Everyone was. It was written clear as day on their faces.

"And then the realization will hit...that death has already come, and this fresh torture is all that's left. This is Death itself. This is a fight we cannot win."

"No," Emma said. "I'm not marked. I'm not going to give up. There has to be something we can do."

"You're right. There is something. Use this time wisely. Use it...to say goodbye."

Teresa gripped Henry's hand even tighter.

➳

"Gold has to be missing something, right? There has to be a way to escape this mark," Henry said. They were no searching through Regina's vault, searching for a way.

"Maybe Gold's right," Snow said. "Maybe this is a fight we can't win."

Teresa snapped her head up from the book that she was reading to at her friend in shock. The woman that she always knew had hope, no longer had any.

"Mom, you're Snow White. You don't know how to give up. Hope is in your blood."

"And I do hope, Emma, but..." Snow sighed, shaking her head.I don't want to spend what could be my last moments with my nose in a book. I want to make the most of my moments with my family."

"Dinner at Granny's. That's what we should do."

"Yeah." David slammed his book shut. "Dinner at Granny's. That's a great idea."

Emma wore a deep frown as she stared at Baby Neal, who her mother was softly rocking. "What about Neal? He'll be left here all alone."

"He won't be alone, Emma," Snow said. "He'll have you."

"I will not give up on my own family."

Snow turned and handed Neal to David before walking up to her daughter. "Emma, we're almost out of time. And time is what's most important...time with those we love." She kissed Emma's forehead. "I know you won't stop trying. And I hope you succeed, but...promise me that you'll...come meet us at Granny's, come say goodbye."

"I promise," Emma cried as her mother pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I love you, Emma."

"I love you, too."

Henry moved toward Teresa and held out his hand. She took it, sadness in her eyes. She wasn't ready to die, she still had so much to do. Her and Henry...they were finally beginning their lives, and now they would never have a chance at anything.

With her hand in Henry's, the pair left the vault.

➳

Teresa sat at next to Henry at the table, a plate of untouched French fries placed in front of her. She had absolutely no desire to eat. She couldn't. Not after learning the mark on her wrist was a death sentence.

A sentenace given to her by someone she considered a great friend. Together, her and Hook were always joking around with sarcastic remarks, or on secret missions. By far her favorite mission would be when he came to her and Henry for help on Operation Light Emma; they had helped him choose a house from a newspaper ad so that when they would rid Emma of the darkness and return how, they could begin their life together.

Unforutantly, now that day would never come.

The thought of knowing you are going to die was absolutely horrifying. She imagined a life here, in Storybrooke; having a future with her soulmate.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Henry reached under the table and took her hand. He brought it onto his lap, intertwining their fingers together. The sweet gesture caused her to finally look up from her untouched plate. She gave him a weak smile, her eyes sad.

"Teri, would you mind?" Snow asked, drawing her attention away from Henry, as she held up Baby Neal to her friend.

Teresa released Henry's hand and reached across the table to take Neal. She gave the baby a smile as she placed him in her lap, bouncing him softly.

When Baby Neal began to laugh, she couldn't help but grin. Baby Neal always seemed to make her smile even in her saddest moments. Perhaps that is why Snow had handed him over to her, she always seemed to know what Teresa was feeling.

As Henry watched Teresa bounce Baby Neal up in down, and listened to both their laughter, he couldn't help but smile. His heart began to race as images of a future he would now never have with her appeared in his mind. He could see Teresa doing the same thing with their baby; whether it be a boy or a girl, he wouldn't care. All he would care about is that Teresa had given him the greatest gift one can give another: a child.

But now that future was gone. All they had is right now, and that was it. They barely got to live.

"David." Snow's voice held urgency and panic, as she stood at the jukebox with a letter in her hands.

David stood and made his way over to his wife, leaving Teresa and Henry with the giggling Neal.

After a moment, the suddenly the door opened. They expected Emma to walk in, or perhaps Regina and Robin, but instead it was three former Dark One's.

All the happiness they had been feeling just moments ago disappeared completely. Teresa was quick to get up from her chair. She held Baby Neal close, as Henry gripped her elbow and pulled her back to stand with him.

"You don't have to worry. Captain Hook's already seen to that. Which means there's no way to stop your trip to the underworld."

As the one Dark One that seemed to be in charge of this small group of them waved her hand, their marks began to glow.

Teresa, Henry, Snow and David let our cries of pains the brighter the marks got. It felt like a hot iron was being placed against their skin.

Teresa held Baby Neal closer to her, as to not stop him as she hunched over her in pain. She squeezed her eyes as tight as she could, hoping that maybe that would get rid of the pain. It didn't.

Suddenly, Teresa no longer in Granny's Diner, and she was no longer holding Neal to her chest. They now all stood before the same lake that the Fury had brought the unconscious Robin Hood to.

"No, no, no, no..." Teresa looked around in search of Baby Neal. Her heart began to clench in worry for the baby she had once been clutching to her chest for his protection.

"Henry? Are you alright?" Regina asked, rushing over to her soon.

"I-I-I think so." His eyes then found Teresa's and he silently asked if she was okay; she gave him a nod.

"Neal's back at the diner!" Snow said, eyes widening in panic.

David caught Snow's arm before she could run off. "Roland and the baby where are they?" he asked Robin.

"They're safe. They're with the fairies. They'll take Neal, as well."

Suddenly, dozens of Dark One's began to walk up to them. Teresa's eyes widened, her heart dropping.

"So this is really it..."

Hook then emerged from behind the Dark One's and walked towards the others, carrying Excalibur. "I'm afraid it is. Look. The S.S. Purgatory."

They turned around, and Teresa's hands began to shake in fear as the fog began to roll in, the boat soon arriving right after.

"Mom, Dad! Henry!" Emma ran over, emerging from the tree, and pulled the three of them into a large hug. "I'm sorry! I tried!"

"We know. It's okay."

"It's time to drop the act," Regina said as she walked up to Hook. "You can't just sit back and watch another family be destroyed to get your revenge."

"What makes you think I can't?"

"Because of what we swore to never speak of again." Teresa furrowed her eyebrows, wondering just what Regina had against Hook. "I know the real reason you don't want to talk about what you did to your father."

"I believe we've already had this conversation," Hook sneered.

"But this time you're going to listen because if you don't...you're gonna regret it for the rest of your life, which, in your case, means forever. So, you have to ask yourself the same question you did that night. What kind of man do you want to be?"

"It's time," one of the Dark One's suddenly said.

"No!" Emma stepped forward. "You're not taking the people I love!" Emma moved forward, ready to fight the love of her life, but is stopped when she was suddenly being choked with magic by one of the former Dark One's.

"I might not be able to kill you, but I can stop you from interfering."

They felt helpless — Teresa, Henry, Regina, Robin, Snow and David — as they watched Emma fight for breath. Hook was doing nothing but watch her suffer. Henry had reached over and gripped Teresa's hand in fear, as he watched his mother gasp in pain.

After a few moments, Hook's eyes widened. "That's enough!"

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Being the man I want to be," Hook said.

"You can't stop us."

"Yes, I can." Hook raised Excalibur, and slowly, all the Dark One's began to absorb into the sword. All the darkness swept around sword until it was left flowing a bright red.

"Killian, you can't do this," Emma pleaded.

"We both know there's no other way, love. We have to hurry. The darkness won't stay trapped in Excalibur much longer. Take it." Hook turned stretched the sword out toward the love of his life, his hand that was flipping the sword was shaking as he struggled to keep the darkness under his control.

"No!"

"You have to help me, Swan. Take it."

"I can't. It should be me." Teresa knew that she was crying by the sound of her voice.

"Your family needs you," Hook said. "If anyone deserves to go to the underworld, it's me. You were right. I was weak. So let me make up for it now by being strong."

"I don't want to lose you."

"And I don't want to lose you! But you have to let me go. Let me die a hero! That's the man I want you to remember, please!" His hand was still trembling, even as Emma took the sword from his hand.

Emma then kissed his, before taking a step back.

It happened so fast. One moment, their eyes were staring into each others, and the next, Emma's hand was no longer holding the struggling to keep the darkness contained as she thrust the sword through his abdomen.

Teresa closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. Her heart was clenching tightly in her chest as she could hear Emma's pained sobs.

Killian Jones...was dead.

A/N: This episode killed me watching it again 😭😭😭 His love for Emma and her family is the best thing on the show

Also, #ArchBeliver is adorable! Henry picturing a baby with Teri, I mean, come on!! 😍😍💘💘