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Hooked

Summary:

Everyone knows the story of how Henry Mills showed up on Emma Swans door on the day of the 28th birthday, to bring her to Storybrooke in hopes she’ll break the curse.

But…

What if it wasn’t Emma who answered the door that day?

Instead, what if it was Killian? Who’d been living with Emma for the past few years, ever since he’d come over to the land without magic in hopes of finally getting his revenge on the Crocodile. Who’d now, long since given up on his pirating vengeful ways in return for a peaceful life with the woman he loves.

Notes:

I may have killed the timeline for this.

But other than that it works.

(Oh and I aged Killian down slightly-like 1/2 years physically for when he meets Emma.)

I wrote this at 4 am instead of sleeping because this idea would not leave me alone!

Chapter 1: A Happy Beginning

Chapter Text

Title Page


There were a lot of things in Killian Jones’s life that he never expected. He’d never planned on falling in love with the brave and fearless Milah, only to loose her in the end. He’d never planned on spending a century in Neverland trying to get his revenge on the Crocodile. And now, finally, he’d never planned on outrunning a curse, giving up on his quest for vengeance and enjoying a peaceful life with the love of his life.

It wasn’t the first time Killian had contemplated on the strange series of events that lead him to this moment, but as he stood in the kitchen, washing dishes and putting them away, while his fiancé was away at work, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander back to how everything had almost been so different.

And he wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Many years prior when the Queens curse was imminent, and his alliance with Cora imploded, he sort out a new way to enact his revenge. From what he knew, the curse was going to take everyone to a new land - a land without magic - and in this land he would be able to finally get his revenge.

The only catch was that if he allowed himself to get sucked into the curse he’d loose his memories, and his one true goal of vengeance would be lost.

So, when the curse was on the horizon, he took his ship as fast and as far as he could and out ran the curse - he was a hell of a captain after all.

While still in the enchanted forest, when the curse was enacted, time was frozen for him and everyone else that remained, meaning, he remained in a state of un-ageing. But when he was finally out of the curses purview after 25 long years of searching, he finally found a region that retained some semblance of normal. And finally he was able to get the one thing in the world that would allow him to finally succeed in his quest. A magic bean.

One that would allow him to enter this land without magic and allow him to seek his revenge on the Crocodile - all without loosing his memories.

The only problem? The magic bean came with a price, one he easily payed for the cost of his vengeance. The Jolly Rodger. He traded his ship for revenge.

But looking back at it now, he couldn’t see it quite the same way. Yes, in the moment he’d traded his ship for the prospect of his revenge, but it had also lead him to the one thing he sought after most in the world… home. Albeit very indirectly.

For you see, the bean didn’t land him in Storybrooke, far from it, the bean brought him to a mysterious place- Boston.

Having survived for a century, one didn’t live that long without the ability to adapt to one’s situation. But that didn’t help the predicament he had found himself in, Boston was unlike any realm he’d ever seen before, and his quick wit and charms could only get him so far.

Not one person in the entire bloody place had ever heard of a Storybrooke, and he was starting to think that Cora may have just been lying to him about its mere existence.

And for the first time, he started to doubt his quest. He had no means to locate the Crocodile, no way to return back to the Enchanted Forest, no way to avenge his love. That’s when everything changed.

A month after his arrival in Boston, when he was just starting to understand this strange world, it’s people, clothes, and strange metal boxes known as cars. Something happened that changed everything. Or rather someone

Emma Swan. He’d met the stunning -at the time- 25 year old in a bar, and been immediately drawn to her charms, he admired her courage, her bravery and how she didn’t shy away from a challenge.

That first night at the bar, with more than a few drinks swirling around inside her she’d poured her heart out to him. About how she was an orphan, how she had bounced around in something called the foster system, got her heart broken and finally made a grand mess of her life. While she by no means told him everything, he definitely got a sense of her past and found himself relating to her story more than he cared to admit at the time.

While he still focused on finding his way to Storybrooke to pursue his quest, for one brief evening his thoughts were sidetracked by the beautiful blonde, as he listened to her tale.

And then another evening, and another.

Before he knew it he’d fallen into a routine, meeting Emma after long days of searching for a way to Storybrooke at the bar, and sharing a drink or two, he found himself baring parts of his soul to her that he’d never thought capable of sharing. From how he’d lost his brother to the loss of his beloved Milah. While he didn’t mention the more magical aspects of the tales, he never lied to her either.

And for once in his life, he started to feel complacent, he was truly happy to just be around her.

By this point he’d been stuck in Boston for nearly 5 months, he’d tied down a job - working on boats down at the harbour - got himself some form of accommodation, which was what Emma called his shoe box apartment on the one time he’d invited her over.

Emma was doing better too, she’d gotten a job as a bail bonds person and was really improving her life, and he couldn’t be more proud of her. He’d watched her grow over the past few months, watching her slowly build up her confidence. While he by no means considered himself responsible for this, he definitely felt as though he’d helped her in some way. She’d crashed on his couch when she was between apartments, he’d helped her out when she was struggling slightly financially. And in return - not that she knew it - she helped him slowly build his understanding of this world, helping him to become the man he is now.

It wasn’t until nearly 4 months of this strange friendship the two had formed that things finally shifted, when they finally shared their first (and what he believed at the time) last kiss.

They tried to in the following weeks play it off as nothing, Killian forcing himself harder into his quest to find the Crocodile, but now whenever he lie awake at night it wasn’t Milah’s eyes that he saw but rather Emma’s.

In truth, he’d never thought he’d be capable of letting go of his first love, and yet here he was falling completely head over heels in love with another.

The turning point came when Emma dragged him back to her apartment after he’d nearly passed out at the bar, on the eve of the anniversary Milah’s death having almost drank himself into an early grave. She’d yelled at him a lot that night, and the day after. But she never took her eyes off him.

That was the moment when things truly started to shift, after she’d told him in a moment of weakness that’s she couldn’t loose him.

They stopped dancing around their feelings shortly after that, and things truly began to change.

They became each other’s priority, in a way they never had before, each other’s family.

They celebrated Emma’s 26th birthday together, Emma revealing that for the last 25 years of her life she’d only ever wished for one thing. Not to be alone. And now… she wasn’t. And Killian was going to make damn sure she never felt that way again.

Shortly after they got together, they moved in together, more than a financial choice more than a romantic one, but it still felt good to be around the woman he loved constantly.

They started to build up a life together.

Killian got a better job, Emma honed her skills as a bail bonds person and was soon targeting the more valuable skips. And after a few different apartments they finally landed on their current one- home.

Over that time Killian’s quest for revenge slowly took a back seat, slowly beginning to take less and less of his focus. It wasn’t until nearly 4 months after Emma’s birthday, when she finally broke down and told him everything. About how she’d had a baby when she had just turned 18, and how she’d given him up for his best chance… and then proceeded to tell him the news that would change the course of his life forever. 

It was that day he swore off his revenge, promising himself he’d be a better man for Emma.

And then on July 21st 2009, Killian set his revenge down for good. Because that was the day…

 

Killian was suddenly jarred from his thoughts by a strong pounding on the door of his and Emma’s apartment. Not expecting Emma to be back from her honey trap scheme yet, but still hopeful that she might be, especially given that it was her 28th birthday, he set the washing up down and rushed to go answer the door. Albeit slightly disappointed that he hadn’t got time to set up his surprise that he had planned for her.

When he opened the door he was greeted by a small brown haired boy, who looked to be a few years younger than Bealfire had been when he was about his ship. The boy looked stunned at his mere presence for a moment as if he was expecting someone entirely different. “Can I help you?” Killian asked, with a slight raise of his eyebrow, not doing a great job at masking his surprise at a random child appearing on his doorstep.

“Oh… hi? My names Henry, sorry I must have the wrong door, I’m looking for Emma Swan.” The boy paused for a moment before adding, “She’s my mom.”

The shocked look on Killian’s face a moment ago was nothing compared to the look of surprise that must have dawned on his face now. He quickly composed himself, trying not to look too shocked in front of the kid, and quickly chocked out an answer. “She… um.. lives here.”

He had no bloody clue what to say.

The kid - Henry -  nodded before brushing past him and walking into the apartment like he owned the place - and given his relation to Emma he wasn’t about to stop him.

He knew Emma had a kid, but it was one thing knowing she had a son out there somewhere but entire another to have him show up at their front door with no prior warning whatsoever.

And from the looks of things Emma didn’t know either.

This was definitely not, the birthday surprise he had in mind. He had no clue how Emma would react to having her son show up randomly out of the blue - and he had a strong feeling he was here to do a lot more than wish her happy birthday. 

“So where’s my mom?” Henry asked, standing in the kitchen surveying the apartment, as if Emma could appear at any possible moment.

“She’s at work right now.”

A look of visible disappointment crossed over the kids face, “She’ll be back soon right? I need to get going?” Henry asked a hint of desperation lying in his voice.

“Going where?” Killian asked, crossing his arms over his chest. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the kid, he just had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to be doing in this situation. 

“That’s on a need to know basis and umm, you don’t need to know.” Henry replied, before looking at Killian with a quizzical look and asksing: “Hey, do you have any juice?”

“Um… sure lad we have juice.” Killian replied, not sure where he was expecting this conversation to go. But he retrieved the carton of orange juice from the fridge and poured Henry a glass, which he drank in seconds. The kid must have been thirsty from his trip.

Speaking of, “If you don’t mind my asking, where are your parents?”

Henry sighed looking over at him, as though he’d rather be revealing this to literally anyone else right now. “I don’t have parents. I just have a mom and she’s evil.”

Evil. That’s a bit of a far fetched for one’s mother. He’d met with evil in the past and he wouldn’t exactly call the Evil Queen the type to go out and adopt a child.

“Hey, what happened to your hand?” Henry asked, taking in the prosthetic that now replaced where his hook had once been.

“Boating accident.” Killian replied with a practiced ease, from a century’s worth of quizzical looks.

Henry stared at him for a moment, as though he was gazing into his soul before reaching into his bag and pulling out a large brown book, and placing it down into the kitchen table in front of him. Before flicking through it trying to find a certain page. When he finally landed on a page his gaze darted between the page of the book and Killian, and he couldn’t help but feel scrutinised.

“Have you ever captained a ship.” Henry asked, arching an eyebrow. Out of all the questions he expected Henry to ask, that wasn’t one of them. It was like the kid could see into his soul, as if he had his life story written out on the book before him.

The question was too specific, too close to the truth for Killian’s liking. There was definitely more to this kid than meets the eye. And he had to say: he was impressed.

Instead of answering Killian chose to deflect the question, turning the focus to the thing he was most curious about. 

“Where did you get that book?”

“What part of need to know basis don’t you understand.” Henry replied, closing the book, the pages making an audible thump sound as they did.

There was something else about this kid, and Killian wasn’t sure if it was the fact he wasn’t around many kids this age or something else entirely but this kid definitely reminded him a lot of Baelfire.

That’s when he heard it, a small, increasingly loud chanting of his… absolute favourite monicker. Dada.

“Who’s that?” Henry asked with an inquisitive look.

“That lad… would be my daughter.”

“You have a daughter?” Henry asked surprised, his eyebrows shooting up to meet his hairline.

“Aye, that I do. Best thing that ever happened to me.”

And the reason he gave up his revenge for good. He wanted to be the best possible man not only because that was what Emma deserved but it was because it was what his daughter deserved.

While Killian didn’t have a bloody clue what parenthood entailed at the time, he’d been more than been willing to step up to the role. In the months since first finding out that Emma was with child, to his daughter’s birth Killian did everything he could to prepare. He read all the parenting books, decorated her nursery, and made sure Emma was safe and happy. That last one had been his main priority.

Of course he had been scared out of his mind at the time, not sure he could ever be a good father after the example his own father had left him… but with Hope being 15 months old now, and a happy, smiling young babe that made everyday a blessing. He knew he must have done something right.

However, during Emma’s pregnancy his nerves weren’t the highest, that honour belonged to his beloved fiancé, scared out of her mind that she’d screw up this kid by keeping her for herself. While Emma was expecting, they’d discussed at length the options, while this was something neither of them expected at the time, they both knew one important thing. They wanted to keep the baby.

Killian knew he could never let any child of his grow up in the hellish place that Emma had, nor would he abandon them like his father had. So he always knew that somehow, he’d be in his child’s life. For Emma on the other hand, the pregnancy brought up a lot of old emotions Killian hadn’t been privy to in the past. About how giving her son up could have both have and haven’t been the right choice. Hoping to god that he never ended up in the system, hoping that he got the loving family that she believed she could never be. But now she had been given a second chance.

They decided to keep the baby, and raise her together. It wasn’t too hard of a decision to make, but it meant that they did have to get their lives sorted out a lot quicker then they initially planned, speed running some of the earlier stages of their relationship and then suddenly… Hope was born.

And his entire world changed.

Nothing else in the entire world was as important as keeping his little girl safe.

He knew the day Hope was born was slightly bitter sweet for Emma, wishing that she could have had this with the son she gave up, but as Emma held their little girl. Everything felt right in the world.

A long time later, Killian had suggested that she try and reach out to her son, and try contact him. But she told him in no uncertain terms that she didn’t want to complicate his life, especially if he had a loving family. She could be content with knowing, he was out there somewhere with his best chance.

So, they focused on raising their daughter together, but sometimes he swore he saw a look on her face that made him wonder if she was truly alright with never knowing the child she gave up.

The very child that was stood in their kitchen, looking up at him expectedly. “Can I meet her?”

Killian paused for a moment, feeling as though this should be a moment reserved for Emma, her two kids meeting. But alas he had a feeling Henry wouldn’t be content with that answer, neither would Hope. Whose cries have started to become more desperate when her father hadn’t appeared.

“Of course lad, you can meet your sister.” Henry’s eyes lit up with a sparkle he’d never seen before.

“I have a sister!?”

“Aye. I suppose you do.” He’d never imagined his little girl having an older brother to look out for her, but seeing Henry’s awestruck expression, he couldn’t help but get a little reminded of Liam.

He showed Henry into Hope’s room, where Hope was staring up at them expectantly. She stood upright in her crib her arms holding onto the side for balance, her big blue eyes widening as she took in Henry for the first time. “Dada! Dada! Ups!” She chorused, as he lifted her into his arms, placing a kiss on her short blonde hair.

“Hi… What’s your name? I’m Henry. I’m your brother.” Henry said softly, as Hope stared at him curiously.

“Her name is Hope, and she said she’s very pleased to meet you.” Killian replied, knowing full well how delicate this moment was.

“I know she didn’t really say that, I’m 10 not 5.” Henry said, and Killian tried to suppresses a laugh.

“Aye lad, but I happen to be fluent in baby, and by the look on her face, she definitely likes you.” He wasn’t just making it up for Henry’s sake either, Hope was very clearly just as intrigued as he was. Reaching her little arm over to him.

“Momma?” Hope asked suddenly looking between them, withdrawing her arm to clutch onto his top.

“I told you my Cygnet, Momma is at work right now.” Killian soothed, knowing full well that Hope had no idea what he was saying. She still did the adorable confused face when playing peek-a-boo, at thinking her parents vanished.

“Cygnet?” Henry asked inquisitively, taking note of the nickname.

“Aye it’s my little nickname for her.”

“Oh. Because of my mom’s name right? Cygnets are little Swans!” Henry said excitedly, and Killian truly didn’t expect the kid to be so excited at the prospect of having a younger sister, but he could tell the excitement on the boys face was genuine.

“Aye lad you’re right. Does your mom have any nicknames for you?” Killian asked, slightly trying to get a picture of the boys home life. Knowing that children likely don’t run away from their parents to find their biological parents for no reason.

Henry shook his head before answering. “No. Like I said before, she’s evil. She doesn’t love me… she only pretends to.” Killian felt his heart break slightly at his words, no kid deserves to feel like that.

They stayed in silence for a moment, the only noise breaking it was Hope’s occasional babbles from Killian’s arms.

“Are you my dad?” Henry suddenly blurted out after a moment. Before quickly rambling, “The website I used to find my mom didn’t have a section for my dad, and I need my mom to help me… with something. And before I was disappointed that she wasn’t here, I didn’t stop to think that you are probably my dad… so are you?” He said nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he awaited Killian’s response. Expectation etched into his eyes.

“I’m sorry lad but I’m afraid I’m not your father.” Killian said, sympathetically. From what he knew about Henry’s biological father, none of it was good. And he half wanted his head for all of the crap he’d put Emma through when she was still a child.

“Oh, but your Hope’s father? Right.”Henry asked, looking disappointed at the revelation.

“Aye, that I am.”

“So how do you know my mom then?”

“She’s my fiancé.” Killian said, a note of pride in his voice. They’d been engaged for a while now, and they didn’t have much of a rush to get married, having rushed into other aspects of their relationship and they were happy with the way things currently were. But Killian always felt pride when referring to Emma as his fiancé, that the beautiful women he loved with all his heart had chosen to be with him.

“How long is she at work for?”

“It varies, but I reckon it wouldn’t be too long.” Henry simply nodded in response. “How about in the meantime lad, I make you a snack?” Henry nodded again and led the way into the kitchen. Killian following close behind, with Hope still in his arms.

He got Hope settled into her high chair, while Henry pulled out his storybook again and began thumbing through the pages.

Just then Killian’s talking phone started ringing from his jacket pocket. Despite his original protests, he’d managed to learn how to use the device, finding it quite useful at communicating with Emma when she was away.

“Hey love, how’s work?” Killian asked, if Emma was calling now it meant things were either going really well or really terribly.

“Eh it’s been better?” She replied, something about her voice had him instantly alert.

“You alright?” He asked, worried. Knowing the dangers of her job. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d to hold an ice pack to her head while she complained about the people at work.

“I’m fine.” She said quickly, and his worries crumbled.

“I’m guessing you caught the guy, otherwise you wouldn’t be calling.” Killian asked, fighting the pleading look from Henry to tell her everything. But this was definitely not over the phone news.

“I did, it’s just…”

“Just what?” He asked, his brows creasing, worried that there was something she wasn’t telling him.

“It’s nothing… he just said something that got to me, that’s all. I’ll explain later. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be home in 15, oh and Killian, don’t worry about doing anything much for my birthday- really it’s not that big of a deal.”

“How about this love.. I promise I don’t have anything massive planned.” 

“I better not see Hope holding a giant cake and balloons when I get home.” She said with a chuckle.

“Alright my love, I’ll see you soon.” Killian said, before Emma hung up the phone.’

“So?” Henry asked, more than a hint of excitement on his tongue. As he looked at Killian expectantly.

“That was your mother lad, she’ll be home in 15 minutes.”

“Awesome. I can’t wait to meet her. What’s she like?”

“Well…” He tried to think of something, out of all the amazing things he loved about Emma to start with. He ended up telling Henry a few story’s about her, and he listened with full attention, eating up every word.

Killian finished preparing some snacks for both kids, while he spoke, setting the food down in front of them. After a few story’s about Emma, Killian paused before asking. “If you don’t mind my intrusion, what made you come find her in the first place lad?”

“I need my mom to come home with me.”

“Oh and where’s that?” Killian asked, feeling hopeful that he might finally get an actual answer.

“Storybrooke Maine.”

And Killian blanches. He felt the colour drain out of his face the second he’d said that. He’d spent months trying to find anything about this mysterious Storybrooke, and now here Henry was… with all the answers he’d been searching for the past few years.

“I need her to help me do something…” Henry continued.

“What’s that lad?”

“I need her to help me break a curse.”

To break a curse... oh god.

He knew there was a rumour about talk of Snow White and her Prince more importantly their unborn child- the Saviour they called her- who was going to break the curse on her… 28th birthday. 

Bloody hell. Emma was the Saviour.

And he had no idea. The woman he had blindly fell in love with, ultimately turned out to be the key to his revenge. What a sick twist of fate that was. The problem was… he didn’t want it anymore. He was perfectly content to live the rest of his life here in Boston, and now that was all about to change.

He just hoped that this sudden revelation wouldn’t cost him everything.

But right now that was the least of his priorities because he’d just heard the apartment door open… meaning Emma was home.