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Chapter Text

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.

Chapter Text

Emma sighed as she sat back in her bug, it had been a long day. She’d just called Killian to let him know she’d be home soon but she just needed a moment to herself. That guy - Ryan - his words ended up getting to her more than she cared to admit. He’d asked her “What the hell she knew about family.” While at one point that statement may have been true, she liked to think that in the last few years she’d gotten a pretty good idea.

She had her incredible fiancé, her adorable little girl. And a life she was proud of, that she wouldn’t trade for the world. So why were his words still getting to her?

He knew nothing about her. And yet his words took up a large portion of her thoughts on her drive home.

As she unlocked her door she couldn’t help hearing a quiet but unmistakable chatter of voices coming from inside the apartment. As the door swung open she called out into the empty hallway, before she heard a rush of footsteps and then suddenly there was a child in front of her.

A brown haired boy, who couldn’t be much older than 10, who looked just like… no.

“Are you Emma Swan?” The boy asked.

It couldn’t be… there was absolutely no way that…

Before she could even articulate a response the boy was speaking again. “My names Henry, I’m your son.”

The walls felt like they were caving in around her, the boy she’d given up a decade ago now stood before her. The boy that she’d thought about every single day without fail was now stood in front of her.

“What… are you doing here?” She managed to say, as Killian appeared in the hallway behind the kid, Hope in his arms. She so badly wanted Killian by her side right now, her knees felt like they could buckle at any second, she needed his reassurance that everything was going to be alright.

“I want you to come home with me.”

“Where’s home?” She asked, folding her arms. Trying to wall off her emotions. She’d given the kid up when she was in Phoenix now he’d shown up in the middle of Boston, something told her this wouldn’t be as simple as a five minute walk. This kid had obviously gone to great lengths to find her, especially given she’d asked for a closed adoption.

“Storybrooke, Maine.”

“Storybrooke, seriously?” This kid was seriously expecting her to believe that he traveled all the way from Maine to find her, and a place called Storybrooke? This entire thing sounded fabricated.

“Listen kid, I don’t have a lot that I am great at in life but I have one skill… let’s call it a superpower. I can tell when anyone’s lying. And you kid, are.”

“Emma love… I don’t think the lad is lying.” Killian spoke up gently from behind him, and she met his familiar blue eyes for a second.

He had to be. because if he truly was her son and he was here that means… she failed him. She’d somewhat made peace with the fact she gave him up because it was his best chance, but if he was here then…

“Please don’t call the cops, I just want you to come home with me.” The kid begged, she knew his name but it made everything feel to real. That if she got to know him she’d crumble and let him into her life. She’d never even looked at him when he was born, too scared that she’d get one glimpse at him and never want him to leave.

Her pregnancy with Henry had been rough, she’d spent most of it in denial till the point came when she couldn’t deny it anymore. She had to make a choice, and she chose to give him up. So he could have the life that she could never have provided for him.

“Alright kid, let’s get you back to Storybrooke.” She couldn’t just leave this kid to fend for himself, especially after he’d gone through all the effort to track her down. He deserved atleast a ride home, back to his life. The sooner she got him back to his life, the sooner she could get back to hers and they could go their separate ways.

The boy gave her a huge smile, before wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her tightly. She felt awkward at first, she wasn’t used to hugs from anyone other than Killian and Hope. Hesitantly she placed a hand on the boys back and patted it lightly. She hadn’t got a clue how to react and she definitely wasn’t planning on getting attached.

After a moment the boy pulled back, “I’ma go get a snack.” He added, leaving a still partially stunned Emma alone with Killian and Hope. She looked up at them then, taking her eyes off of… her son, for the first time since she’d first seen him. Killian was giving her a soft reassuring smile.

Shit. It wasn’t just about her and Henry, she had her partner’s and her daughter’s feelings to consider in this. She couldn’t expect them to drop everything while she drove the son she’d given up back to Storybrooke. It was like two halves of her life were colliding and she had no idea how it was going to go.

She made her way over to her fiancé, taking her little girl into her arms. “Hey baby.” She said softly, as Hope reached up to tugging on her hair. “Killian…” She started her eyes trailing along the floor, “I am so sorry about this. I had no idea. And…”

“Love… look at me.” Killian said, placing his hand on her chin and guiding her gaze so it met his eyes. “This is not your fault, and you know whatever happens I will always be by your side, no matter what you choose to do.”

“I love you.” She said softly, placing a quick kiss onto his lips. She didn’t deserve him. While she knew Killian had been far from perfect when she’d first met him, she now couldn’t imagine her life without him and their daughter. When she’d first met Killian her life was a mess, she didn’t do relationships of any kind. The whole Neal mess made her swear off everything, even friendships and no one had ever tried to break down her walls before, to even try and get to know her. That was until she met Killian.

She was at the bar that day, a few more drinks than normal hating herself and looking for a little… stress relief. Nothing more than a one night stand, just something to make her feel a little better in the moment and probably a lot worse the following morning. But instead of any of that she ended up meeting Killian.

When she first met him she never thought they’d become anything, sure she was definitely attracted to him at the start but simply blamed the alcohol, and continued to blame the alcohol when she accidentally ended up spilling her life story to him. He was easy to talk to, and she found herself wanting to open up to him. And in return he opened up to her, not at first but slowly through little things here and there, she got to truly know him.

That first night she never thought she’d see him again, and then she did, again and again. Until they formed an unlikely friendship. Which soon morphed into something much, much more.

Everything changed that night, she was supposed to be meeting Killian at her apartment but after 3 hours of him being a no show, she ventured out to the bar for a much needed drink, where much to her shock she ended up running into Killian. Much to her anger at being stood up. He was more intoxicated than she’d ever seen him, and looked like an absolute mess… and when she finally spoke to him. She learned through his slurred speech it was the night before the anniversary of the day his first love died.

She’d heard small fragments about Milah from Killian, how she was married when they met, how they’d ran off together, and finally how she’d ultimately died the same night he’d lost his hand. While she never knew the details, she knew how much her death had affected him in the years after. A dark look crossing over his eyes as he spoke about that night, so she never pressed.

She dragged him back to her place after that, trying to save him from himself. And she had to admit she was angry. She’d yelled a lot that day. About how he’d stood her up. About how he never told her. And about how she nearly lost him. That last one truly scared her, Killian was the only person in her world, her only friend, the only person she felt like she could trust. She wasn’t sure if he ever truly knew how close he came to dying that night, and she wasn’t about to tell him.

She couldn’t take loosing one more person she loved.

That was the night she truly realised that she loved him, she’d been aware that their friendship had been bordering on romantic since the beginning but realising that she was in love with him was something else.

They’d got together shortly after that and well, Emma never looked back. He was her whole world, or he was until Hope was born. Then he had to share that honour with their little duckling, but she didn’t think he minded. He truly was perfect for her. He never kept anything from her, and now she felt terrible that she’d got this whole section of her past showing up suddenly ready to complicate her perfect life.

“How long has he been here?” She asked, remembering that the kid had already been here when she arrived.

“He showed up on our doorstep about an hour ago, and invited himself inside.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” She questioned.

“This didn’t seem the type of news you’d want to receive over the phone.” She sighed, Killian was definitely right there. She didn’t know how she would have taken it, hearing this news in person was already a lot.

“Are you alright if I postpone whatever you got planned for my birthday until tomorrow? The kid needs a ride home, and I… The journey would only be a couple hours each way and then I’d be right back home.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“What?”

“You forget, I know you love. There is no way that you’d drive with that kid for four hours and not get attached, no matter how much that I can see in your face that you don’t want to. And I know you wouldn’t leave this Storybrooke without making sure he’s alright first.”

“So… what are you suggesting?”

“I’m proposing that we come with you.”

“You’d really do that?”

“Aye, I’d do anything for you, my love.”

Chapter Text

Emma was handling this remarkably well, he could see how much it was affecting her having her son appearing in their lives like this randomly.

And it wasn’t just Emma this was affecting, he’d always known Emma was far too good for him, but now… she was royalty, and the Saviour. She could do much, much better than him. And she deserved it, she could have her pick out of any of the dozens of Enchanted Forest royalty when the curse got broken. She’d probably be expected to, there wasn’t a change in hell her parents would ever accept him. But this was still the least of his worries. All of that was completely selfish to be thinking of, and he had bigger concerns.

In a few hours they would be driving into a town with the man that had taken his first love, the Evil Queen, Emma’s parents, and every other fairytale character he’d spent the last century pissing off. Great.

It was safe to say he was worried, even though he knew everyone in this town was supposedly cursed to not remember anything, all it would take was for one person to recognise him and it could potentially cost him his life.

And he had a strong feeling that Regina had her memories fully intact.

He also wasn’t willing to bet that the Crocodile wouldn’t recognise him on sight.

He didn’t want to bring his daughter into this town, Hope was so little, she didn’t understand all the dangers. He just wanted to protect her.

But he also knew that he didn’t have a choice.

If Emma truly was the Saviour, it was her destiny to arrive in Storybrooke on her 28th birthday to break the curse. Even if that wasn’t the case, she needed to do it for her son. And if it was the case, it meant that she’d be reunited with her parents. The people she’d searched for her entire life, and he wasn’t able to stand in her way.

Ultimately, this was Emma’s destiny. Even if she didn’t know it yet.

“Got everything packed?” Emma asked, strolling into the master bedroom holding 2 backpacks, containing everything their daughter would need for the trip.

“Aye, just a few more things and we should be ready to go.” Killian said as he finished folding the last of his and Emma’s clothes into a suitcase. While he didn’t have a lot of possessions when he first came to this world, he’d slowly gained quite a bit. But for this trip he was only packing the essentials for him and Emma, despite him knowing that once the curse gets broken and Emma finally has her parents - she won’t ever want to leave.

Only just now realising that this would be their last night - possibly ever - in the place that he’d come to call home. His daughter had taken her first steps here, so many memories had been contained within these walls. He would be lying if he wasn’t slightly sad to be leaving it all behind.

Emma walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. “Everything alright love?” He asked, placing his hand over hers.

She shook her head, burring it slightly in his shoulder.

“I know this must be a lot for you. And I want to promise you I’ll be by your side for all of it.”

“Do you know what he told me? He said that his mother was evil. Here I was thinking that he was out there being a happy young boy and yet here he is basically telling me that I didn’t make the right choice.” Emma said, her voice breaking.

“Emma love, you made the right choice. That boy out there from what I’ve seen is polite, respectful, kind and intelligent. And despite what he believes, clearly has a mother that cares for him, even if he resents his adoptive mother she still gave him a home, and that’s a lot more than some kids have.”

“I know… but I just want to make sure he’s ok.” Killian turned so that he was facing her, taking her hands in his.

“And we will. I promise you love we won’t leave this Storybrooke until you are sure that your boy is safe.”

Emma leaned over and kissed him slowly, like she was scared everything was about to change, that he could leave at any moment. He kissed her back with just as much emotion trying to convey to her silently that he’d never leave. When they broke apart Emma rested her head against his forehead, before pulling him back in for another quick kiss.

“I need to go get changed, I’m still in my work outfit and that guy flipped the table, ruining the dress.”

“Don’t worry love, you always look like a princess to me.”  He reassured her, finding it a tad ironic that while she had always looked like royalty to him, she truly was royalty.

“We both know I am anything but a Disney princess. Now I’m going to go get changed, mind seeing if the kids are ready to go?”

“Of course love.” Killian replied, pulling Hope’s bags over his shoulder and held his and Emma’s suitcase in his hand, setting them all down in the hallway next to the door before going to check on the kids. Henry was showing Hope his book, and Killian couldn’t help but glance at some of the pages.

The page Henry was showing Hope now, was of what he believed to be Snow’s and the Prince’s wedding, while his memory was a little fuzzy he believed he’d met the two of them once back in the enchanted forest. Snow, when she was trying to buy passage away from the Queen and then the pair of them together when they were trying to get to the Queen’s castle something about a ploy to try and stop her or something, he wasn’t entirely sure. He’d been preoccupied that day when he’d learned that they knew the Crocodile’s location, but now looking back he’d wished he payed more attention to them.

But from what he knew they were good people, who did everything they could to ensure their daughter’s safety. Which is perhaps how she came to be in this world herself.

“Dada!” Hope called out, spotting him behind her and reaching out for him. And Killian quickly picked her up into his arms.

“Hey, where’s your little octopus gone? Eh? How will you ever survive without him?” Killian asked, while surveying the nearby area for any sign of Hope’s toy, incase disaster struck and they accidentally left without him.

“You mean this?” Henry asked, picking up Hope’s small orange octopus plushie that had fallen onto the floor by the couch.

“Aye lad, thanks for getting that.”

“No problem.”

Emma returned a moment later wearing a familiar red leather jacket, a grey top and dark jeans. Before calling out. “Alright then… let’s go to Storybrooke.”

2 hours later and the most talkative person on this entire car journey had been Hope. Killian noticed that Emma never seemed to know exactly what to say around Henry, and he couldn’t blame her. Despite Henry being genetically her son, she’d never met the boy before in her life. And she was clearly torn between wanting to know both nothing and everything about him at once.

Emma and Henry were both sat in the front of the car, while he and Hope were in the back. Incase she started getting fussy and to allow Emma to better talk to Henry.

Emma clearly still felt guilty about Henry. He knew that she felt bad for having Hope, when she never had that with Henry. She’d chosen to keep Hope, whereas she’d given Henry up, and no matter the circumstances surrounding both of those choices, he could tell it still bothered her. She probably thought that Henry resented her for giving him up then having her own kid, but from what he knew about the boy, that was far from the case.

“What’s that?” Emma asked when Henry pulled out his storybook for about the fifth time already on the trip.

“I’m not sure you’re ready.” Henry said cryptically, and from what Killian had gathered about the book, he wasn’t sure Emma was either. From what he knew Henry’s book was an accurate recounting of the entire history of his world, including parts about Emma’s parents, himself and the Queen’s curse. And he already knew there was no chance Emma would believe Henry about any of this.

Emma had long ago unintentionally introduced him to this realms interpretation of himself, and annoyed would be a fundamental understatement to describe his reaction to it.

His point being, to her everyone in that book was little more than legend.

“Ready for some fairytales?” Emma asked.

“They’re not fairytales. They’re true. Every story in this book actually happened.”

“Of course they did.” Emma sighed, not believing him in the slightest.

“Use your superpower, see if I’m lying.” He had to give Henry credit though, that boy didn’t give up.

“Just because you believe something doesn’t make it true.”

“That’s exactly what makes it true. You should know more than anyone.”

“Why’s that.”

“Because you’re in this book.”

“Am I now?” She asked, in absolute disbelief. And Killian made sure to pay extra attention to what was said next.

“Yep, you’re the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Who escaped the Queen’s curse via a magical wardrobe, so you can break said curse on your 28th birthday.”

“Kid… I’m not some fairytale character. I’m a real person.” And he was right, there wasn’t even a hint of belief in her voice.

“I have a name you know, It’s Henry. And that’s what I’m trying to tell you, everyone in this book is real. Like your fiancé, he’s Captain Hook.”

“Listen kid, I’m not engaged to Captain Hook anymore than Peter Pan is your great grandfather. Just because Killian only has one hand doesn’t mean you can add it to your list of fairytale evidence.”

“Wait… his name is Killian? That’s Captain Hook’s real name in the book!” Henry said enthusiastically. Completely ignoring Emma’s point. He thought he saw Emma roll her eyes in the rear view mirror, clearly it was going to take a lot more than that to get her to believe in the truth.

But he wasn’t about to tell her. For the same reason he never told her at the beginning, she would never believe him. She’d think he was crazy, and now… he wasn’t about to risk the life they’d built together, even if it could help the curse get broken.

Selfishly he wasn’t here out of any form of nobility to help break the curse, he was only here for Emma.

Which if you’d told him that when he’d first landed here he’d never have believed it, swearing to himself that the only thing that he’d ever go to Storybrooke for would be his revenge. Which, after everything that happened was the last thing on his mind, especially with his little girl asleep in her car seat next to him.

A few more hours later, they drove past a Welcome to Storybrooke sign, this town truly was in the middle of nowhere. As they drove in towards the center of the town, Killian looked over at his sleeping daughter who’d been fairly quiet most of the journey. He knew it was long past her bedtime already, and she’d stayed up a lot later than normal. Meaning in the morning she’d be a little grumpy.

“Okay, kid. How about an address.” Emma asked, as they reached a clocktower, in what he assumed to be the center of the town.

“44, Not-Telling-You Street.”

Killian heard the breaks squeak as Emma pulled the car over. Her grip tightening on the steering wheel. Before she got out the car and ran her fingers through her hair, the stress of the day finally catching up to her. Henry jumped out too, running over to talk to her.

He let them have this moment, just the two of them. Not wanting to impose, nor knowing what to say. He couldn’t make out exactly what they were talking about, but assumed it was more about the curse. Moments later they were joined by a man that by the looks of things knew Henry, who also seemed to conveniently  know where he lived.

As they got back in the car Killian asked: “Who was that?” Both curious about his true identity, and relation to Henry.

“Jimmy Cricket.” Henry replied.

“Henry’s shrink.” Emma answered quickly after.

“Hey! You used my name.” Henry said excitedly.

“C’mon kid we’ve got to get you home.” Emma said brushing the remark off, but he could definitely see the kid was growing on her.

As they drove, Killian couldn’t help but ask a question that had been weighing on his mind for the past hour.

“Henry? Who was your adoptive mother back in the Enchanted Forest?”

“The Evil Queen.” And Killian felt his heart sink, they were driving to the house of someone that both had the potential to recognise him and kill him on sight. And now he finally got a grip with what Henry meant about his mother being evil, while he’d certainly done some horrendous things in his life, his acts could never quite hold a candle to Regina’s.

Killian’s heart went out to the boy, he’d never imagined the Queen the type of person to become a parent, let alone a good one.

They pulled up outside what was obviously the largest house in the whole of Storybrooke, evidently the Queen hadn’t given up much of her lavish lifestyle. It was her curse after all.

“I’m going to walk him in, are you alright to stay here with Hope?” Emma asked.

“Aye love of course.” Internally he was just glad Emma offered, he had no intention of seeing the Queen, and absolutely no plans to let her anywhere near his daughter. “Bye Henry.” Killian waved as Henry got out the car with Emma. While he was certain that he would in fact see Henry again, he still had a tiny amount of doubt that this could be the last time he ever saw the boy.

While Emma went with Henry, he couldn’t help but notice the lad had left his storybook on the front seat of the car. No doubt with the intention for Emma to find it. He pulled the book onto his lap and began flicking through the pages, and it soon became evident that this book held the answers to practically every question he ever had back in the Enchanted Forest.

There were story’s about the Queen, Emma’s parents and their love story. The Crocodile’s past, he couldn’t help but pause for a moment on a picture of Milah, it had been nearly a century since he’d seen her face. He found his section of the book easy enough, and was truly surprised about the level of detail and accuracy the book had. Things no one should have possibly known written right there on the page. After a few more minutes of looking he found the page he was most curious about. Emma’s page. And there in unmistakable detail was a baby, wrapped in what clearly was her baby blanket, her name embroidered on the side, placed in a magical wardrobe ready to take her to this world.

She truly was the Saviour.

Moments later Emma appeared back in the car, loudly slamming the car door. Before resting her head on the steering wheel.

“Everything alright love?”

“That Regina is certainly a character.” Emma replied, and he could tell she was definitely downplaying the situation. She did not want to leave Henry with her.

“Did she threaten you?”

“No, I think you may be buying too much into the whole Evil Queen thing. She seemed more cold and calculated rather than evil. But she seemed to genuinely care about Henry.”

“Think she’s looking out for his best interests?”

“I… don’t know. But he’s her kid, it really is none of my business. We should be heading home now… right?”

“You don’t truly believe that right love?”

“I don’t know, I wanted to make sure he got home safe. And now he is… I don’t know where exactly that leaves me. I just want to make sure he definitely has his best chance.”

“We could always stick around here for a little? I believe I saw a sign for a bed and breakfast a while back.” Killian asked, it would be wrong to take her away from the town that had both her parents and her son.

“I don’t want to uproot your life for little more than a hunch.”

“Swan, you and Hope are my life. I’m perfectly fine staying here until you feel ready to leave.”

“Alright then, guess we’re staying for a little while.”

They drove back to where Killian had seen the sign earlier. Parking outside this place called Granny’s bed and breakfast. Emma grabbed their bags while Killian took Hope and they headed inside, they walked in to find an older woman - presumably Granny - arguing with a younger woman who looked to be around Emma’s age.

Emma handled organising their room, conversing with the owner until they had a room with a square view. Just as the owner was asking for a name for the room, Killian felt another presence behind them and he instinctively held Hope tighter.

“Emma.” The man repeated, in a voice that haunted Killian’s nightmares. “What a lovely name.” The Crocodile. The only thing keeping Hope safe was Killian’s refusal to turn around, he wasn’t about to risk getting recognised. While he’d been willing to give up on his quest for revenge, he was still willing to bet the Crocodile would kill him on sight. Or worse, hurt Emma. He’d already lost one love to that man, and he’d be dammed if he lost another.

“Thanks.” Emma replied.

“And who’s this which you?”

“My partner.” Emma said, coldly, and he was grateful for her not giving anything away. Clearly not trusting him in the slightest.

Luckily they were spared by Granny handing over money to him and he left shortly after, thankfully without ever setting eyes on Hope.

“Who’s that?” Emma asked the second he left.

A bloody crocodile, he thought about saying. But didn’t, not ready to reveal his past connection to this town just yet.

“Mr Gold.” The younger of the two women responded.

“He owns this place.” The older woman continued,

“The inn?”

“The town.” Of course. Even in Regina’s curse, the Crocodile still has all the power. No surprises there. That man had always been a coward.

“So how long will you be with us?” The woman asked, quickly changing the topic.

“We’ll start with a week.”

“Perfect. Welcome to Storybrooke.” The woman said with a smile offering Emma a key. 

They made their way to the room in relative silence, Hope sleeping against his chest. When they reached the room, Killian rested Hope down on the bed, before turning to Emma. He needed to make sure she was definitely alright after her encounter with the Crocodile, no matter how ridiculous the idea seemed in his head.

“You seemed tense back there, everything alright?” Emma asked, meeting his eyes. While his eyes scanned every inch of her perfect face committing it to memory, in case the worst ever came to fruition.

“Aye, I’m fine love.” He nodded, but he could tell that she knew he was lying.

“You know you can tell me anything right?”

“Of course.”

“Good, I don’t want this to change anything between us. No secrets right?”

Killian nodded reluctantly. Emma deserved so much more than him, but he couldn’t tell her everything, at least not yet. He knew she’d be mad when she found out that he had known everything the whole time, but he knew if he told her everything now… she’d never believe him.

And it would cost him everything.

Across town, Henry stared out of his bedroom window. Hoping desperately that bringing his mother back to Storybrooke would be the first step in breaking the curse. He waited impatiently staring at the clocktower like he had so many times in the past, as if staring at it hard enough would make it move. But it always read 8:15.

8:16.

Things were truly beginning to change around here…

Chapter Text

Emma Swan awoke to a blinding stream of sunlight that was glaring at her from a nearby window, moving to shield her eyes from the light, she realised she didn’t recognise her surroundings. She was definitely not in her apartment in Boston, it took her a moment to recall the events of the day before. She was in Storybrooke, a small town in Maine, so she could be closer to the child she gave up when she was just 18 years old. More importantly, she was here to see if he was safe. 

From what she’d seen of Henry’s adoptive mother, Regina, on the surface she seemed to be a somewhat decent parent, looking out for Henry’s best interests and future. But that didn’t change the fact that Henry had run away from her. To go and find his biological mother who lived all the way in Boston, she hadn’t a clue how he’d managed it. His records were sealed, it was a closed adoption. He should have had no way to find her, and yet he did.

She felt Killian shift behind her, his arm tightening around her chest before she rolled over to meet his familiar blue eyes. “Morning love.” He said, his voice rough from sleep, before he placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Morning.” She smiled, it didn’t matter they were miles away from home, she would forever feel at ease with him by her side. She was glad to have him with her through all of this, she didn’t know how she’d make it on her own. She never expected him to be so willing to give up everything to come be with her in Storybrooke, even if it was just for a week. Killian truly was her biggest supporter.

A few moments after they woke up they were greeted by Hope calling out to them, sitting up in her little travel bed they’d brought for her.

“Hey, Ducking.” Emma smiled, getting up out of bed and strolling over to her, scooping her daughter up into her arms, and gently running her fingers through her hair as she sat down on the edge of the bed. With Hope giving her an adorable smile in return. It was a strange feeling knowing that she had another child just across town, that if she wanted to she could just go and see him instantly. She’d thought of her son practically every day since she’d given him up, but especially since having Hope. Hope showed her how incredible being a parent truly was. Making her doubt if giving up her son was the right decision after all, if in fact she could have risen to the occasion and been there for him after all.

Over the years as much as she tried not to, she couldn’t help but wonder about her son. If he’d taken more after her, inherited her looks, personality any of it really. She’d never had any parents to compare where she’d got parts of herself from, and she felt bad that her son didn’t have that either. Hope on other hand was a perfect blend of both her parents, inheriting Emma’s blonde hair, Killian’s blue eyes and Killian’s signature smile. While she was still young, Emma could definitely see parts of Hope’s personality that reminded her of her fiancé or at other times herself.

“So what’s the plan for the day?” Killian asked, letting her take the lead on whatever exactly this was that they were currently apart of. And honestly she hadn’t got a clue. She just wanted to make sure Henry was alright but she had no idea how to do that other than by just staying. And she highly doubted Regina would let her anywhere near him.

Killian, sensing the difficult question, insisted proposed something easier: “How about we start with breakfast?”

“Good idea.”

Given they didn’t know basically anything about this town they were grateful that Granny’s bed and breakfast had an attached diner. Killian held Hope in his arms as they made their way into the Diner, it was lightly crowded with a few different people rushing around as they begun their day. Nothing compared to Boston. But they slipped in without anyone sparing them a glance, choosing a booth near the back not wanting to cause too much of a problem if Hope got fussy.

A waiter with red streaks in her hair and a tight fitting, short skirt came up to them almost immediately, and asked them for their order and Emma recognised her from the night before. Ruby, her name tag that was pinned into the front of her white blouse read. They ordered their food, and then Emma heard the door of the diner swing open. Revealing the man she’d seen at Regina’s last night - the sheriff right?

He spoke briefly to the women at the counter before his eyes spotted her and made his way over to their table.

“Ah, Emma was it?” The man asked, sparing a brief look at Killian before looking directly at Emma, she shifted nervously under his gaze feeling as though she were under interrogation.

“Yes?” She questioned, not knowing what exactly to make of this.

“Have you by any chance seen Henry?”Graham asked, his causal tone doing nothing to diminish the sinking feeling that took hold of her stomach.

“Why is he missing?” She asked quickly, needing to get a decent understanding the situation before she worried herself into oblivion. So much for not getting attached to the kid.

“Mayor Mills reported him absent earlier today and it appears no one had seen him since.” Of course it had something to do with Regina, she couldn’t hide the roll of her eyes, still that did nothing to ease her concerns. Henry was missing. For the second time in as many days.

“Have you tried his friends?” She questioned,  knowing they might have a better clue than she does on where to start the search.

“The boy doesn’t have any, atleast not according to his mother.”

“Great. So your what? Going door to door looking for an answer?” She figured out quickly, realising Storybrooke probably didn’t have the best means of finding people given how a 10 year old made it all the way to Boston without anyone noticing.

“Just trying ascertain if someone’s seen the boy.” Graham replied, looping his thumbs through his belt loops.

“Did you check his computer? If he was close to someone he’d be emailing them.” She asked, trying to help the investigation the best she could without actually having any authority to do so. Every kid had friends, even if Regina didnt know about them.

“Think you know where he is?” Graham questioned, as if she’d lie about not knowing her son’s location.

“No, but I think I’ve got a decent idea of where to start looking.”

She turned her attention over to Killian, she didn’t want to leave him but she needed to find her kid. “Think you’ll be alright here by yourself while I go find Henry?”

“Go love, I’ll stay with Hope.”

She was on her feet in seconds, following Graham out of the diner ready to find Henry.

“So how exactly do you know all that stuff?” Graham asked, just as they left Granny’s, making light conversation, the bell on the door ringing as they walked out.

“Finding people’s just what I do.”

***

Emma found Henry sitting in an old wooden play castle, close to Storybrooke’s harbour. Just where Mary Margret said it would be. Making her way over to him- storybook in hand, that she’d purposely gone back to retrieve from their room earlier - she tried to form a plan in her mind.

By the time she reached him, she still didn’t know what to say.

She never knew what to say around him. 

Emma took a seat next to Henry atop his castle, swinging her legs over the side and sliding the storybrook onto his lap, “You left this in my car.”

Henry started off into the distance, looking solum, she didn’t think he was going to open up to her until… “I was hoping that when I brought you back things would change around here. But everyone still seems trapped, other than the clock moving today has just been the exactly the same as all the others. I thought that the final battle would begin but now… I don’t know if it has.”

“I’m not fighting any battles kid.” She responded, she’d fight for him. She could already tell that. But fighting against an Evil Queen to break a curse may be pushing it slightly.

“Yes you are.” Henry said with conviction, he truly believed this didn’t he? “You’re here because it’s your destiny, you’re going to bring back the happy endings.”

“Sure, I am kid.”

“You don’t believe me? I know you’re only pushing me away because I make you feel guilty. It’s ok I know what you gave me away… atleast I thought I did. You wanted to give me my best chance.”

“How do you know that?” She asked, she didn’t have that level of rational thinking about her parents when she was his age- or even now if she were being honest with herself.

“It’s the same reason Snow White gave you away.”

“Listen to me kid, I’m not in any book in a real person, and I’m no saviour. But you were right about one thing though I wanted you to have your best chance.”

“So why’d you do it?” Henry asked after a moment, giving her words time to sink in.

“Do what?” She questioned, not knowing exactly what he was referring to.

“Give me up and keep Hope.” She inhaled sharply, she knew this question was coming, she just didn’t expect it to be today. She thought she’d have time to prepare, to think of something to say or atleast be ready… not that she thought she’d ever be ready for this conversation. 

“Kid…”

“Was it something I did?” Henry asked, starting off into the distance.

“No. No, nothing like that. It’s just… when I had you I had no one Henry, no money, no place to live nothing. I couldn’t be good for you, I wanted you to have your best chance. And that wasn’t with me. I thought about coming to find you, a few times actually over the years.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“You’re asking all the difficult questions today aren’t you?” She chuckled drily, still she’d do her best to answer his questions, she’d waited her whole life for answers from her parents, and given the chance she didn’t think she’d ask the easy questions either. Henry definitely had her tact. “Honestly, I didn’t want to disrupt your life. I always hoped you had a loving family out there somewhere and I didn’t want to mess that up for you by coming to find you. Truth be told, there wasn’t a day that went buy that I didn’t think about you.”

“So with Hope?” Henry pushed.

She sighed before answering, needing a second to organise her thoughts. “Well I was older for one, I had a job a place to say and I had Killian. I felt like I could actually be a parent. Henry, I never wanted to give you up. I just… wanted you to be happy, and I knew I could never be enough for you.”

“But you’ll stay right? Now I mean, you’re here right now. That means you’ll stay? You don’t have to deny it I can tell you like me.”

She did like him. He was a good kid, she could tell that already. He reminded her a lot of herself when she was younger, which wasn’t too surprising given that he was her kid but it was different actually seeing it.

“We’ll see kid, we’ll see. But right now I’ve got to get you back to your mom.” She said finally, as much as she wanted to stay here and continue getting to know her kid, she had to get him back to Regina- she’d probably get her arrested or something if she caught her with Henry again. “Come on let’s go.” She continued, sliding down off the castle onto her feet.

Henry climbed down the long way, his precious storybook in hand. “Please don’t take me back there.” He begged, standing in front of her now, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

“I have to get you back to your mom.” She argued, knowing she didn’t have a choice.

“You don’t know what it’s like with her. My life sucks!” She sucked in a breath, it was everything she never wanted for him. She wanted to snap at him and tell him everything she’d gone through just to be here today but she didn’t. That would only make things worse. She’d moved on from her past trauma, she’d healed, thanks to Killian, she had him to lean on.

“I’m sure your mom is trying her best. I know it’s hard and I know sometimes you think she doesn’t love you but she wants you. And right now, as much as I’m sure you don’t want to, I legally have to get you back to her. I’m sure she’s got half of Storybrooke searching for you right now.”

Killian had spent the day basically hiding away from all of Storybrooke, his past captain self probably would have laughed at him. But that didn’t matter, he’d kept Hope safe. While he hadn’t helped on the search for Henry he knew Emma was more than capable of doing that herself. And from what he’d seen from her earlier when she’d came back to their room briefly to retrieve Henry’s book she’d already gotten a strong lead.

She’d also encountered him to go out and explore the town, but given his chance at encountering the Crocodile, he decided it wasn’t worth the risk.

He knew Emma would be back soon, until then he was perfectly happy with watching Hope play with her toys. That was when he heard the door to their room open, and given the size of it he only had to turn around to see his fiancé’s face.

“Hey love, did you find Henry?” He asked, as Emma walked over to him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Yep, he’s back with Regina now.” She couldn’t hide the smile in her face at Henry being safe but he could sense a hint of jealousy at him being with Regina. 

“That’s a relief, did she say anything?” Killian asked, worried slightly about her encounter with the Queen. Regina wouldn’t take lightly to seeing Emma with Henry again.

“You mean other than threaten to destroy me if it’s the last thing she does?” Emma said with a chuckle, running her hands along his jaw.

“I wouldn’t take a threat from the Queen so lightly love.” He couldn’t hide the worry in his face. He wasn’t about to loose Emma, let alone to the Queen of all people. He knew Emma was more than capable of handling herself but she had no idea who she was really up against.

“What?” Emma asked, noticing his expression, as her brow dipped in worry.

“Henry’s whole curse theory.” He saved easily, it was easier to play along than convince her they were all from another realm.

“You’re not seriously buying that are you?” She chuckled.

“What? You don’t think I’d make a devilishly handsome pirate?” He quipped, arching an eyebrow before placing a kiss to her cheek.

“You are ridiculous.” She joked with a roll of her eyes.

“All I’m saying is that just maybe for the boys sake we should go along with it.” He offered, he wanted Emma to believe, he truly did, but he wasn’t going to allow it to come between them. He couldn’t loose her.

“The last thing I want to is to kill his imagination, but he’s got this whole plan that I’m the saviour and my mom’s his teacher or something, it just seems a little far fetched.”

“Perhaps, but if it brings you two together it wouldn’t be a bad thing.” He countered.

“Yeah, but offering false hope to people… he told me that Snow White was my mother and today I just met ‘Snow White’ and now… you know how long I’ve been looking for my parents, it’s just a lot.” She sighed, this whole her parents being fairytale characters thing was bothering her more than he initially realised. She’d met her mother for the first time today without having any idea who she was other than what she’d been told by a 10 year old, and he knew exactly how long she’d been searching for her parents. They’d been a mystery her whole life.

“Who knows maybe they really are your parents?” He offered lightly, trying to lighten the mood. He knew she wouldn’t believe him, but it didn’t help to try.

“Yeah like that could ever happen, with me being basically the same age as her. Anyhow how was your day? I didn’t mean to be gone all day, turns out Henry’s pretty good at running off.”

He accepted the change in conversation topics easily, not wanting to push her about her parents. “Well love, the lad did make it all the way to Boston, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Where was he anyway?”

“His castle. It’s a little wooden play castle by the harbour. Huh, guess that’s something both of you have in common. Maybe when the whole curse thing gets broken you can take him out on your pirate ship and teach him how to sword fight” She giggled, and damn did he always love her laugh and today was no exception. 

“Momma!” Hope called out, and their eyes immediately darted to her. As Hope put down her toy she was holding and began crawling towards her mother.

“I believe I’m not the only one who missed you today, love.” Killian replied while Emma immediately went over to their girl, and hoisted her up into her arms.

“How’s my little Duckling? Did you have a good day with your daddy?” She asked, tickling Hope’s belly and he watched as her little face erupted into a fit of giggles, as Emma dawned a matching smile. He really loved his girls.

“Well I missed you too baby.” Emma said before taking a seat on the edge of the bed, Hope still in her arms. He took a seat next to her, sliding his arm around her waist.

They sat in silence for a minute both content with watching Hope, before Emma spoke. “It’s just different.”She sighed, and Killian already knew she was taking about Henry. “Hope’s my baby, she’s all mine. I’m her mother and it’s always been that way, and with Henry I had to drop him off back at Regina’s because she’s his mother, and it’s just well… with Hope I know everything about her, I know what she likes, her dislikes. That if I tickle this particular spot on her stomach she’ll laugh, but with Henry I don’t know any of that. And it doesn’t help that I’m sharing him with Regina, who would be perfectly content for me to just abandon him. Which I… don’t want to do. Henry’s a good kid and I want to make sure he’s got his best chance. But it’s still strange, he’s my kid but he’s also not my kid. I didn’t raise him, but I’m still his mother. I don’t know… it’s stupid.”

“It’s not stupid love.” He reassured. “You’ve only known him for a day, you’ll learn more about him with time. And while you missed the first 10 years of his life, you’ll be there for the rest of it if you choose to.”

“That’s a big decision, we’re talking about raising another child.” She admitted, her gaze trailing along the ground.

“But?” He asked, already knowing there was a but comming, he knew Emma, he knew she’d already made up her mind about this.

“Killian… I want to.” She sighed, meeting his eyes, as if in any way that confession came as a surprise to him or changed the way he felt about her. “I want to be his mom.”

***

The next morning Emma was up before him, already dressed rushing around the room grabbing a few things before he’d even fully woken up. “Morning love.” He yawned, his voice sounding every bit as tired as he felt. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and any sleep he did have was plagued with thoughts of the Crocodile destroying this wonderful life he’d built for himself.

“Morning,” Emma said with a smile, comming over to him to place a kiss to his cheek, “I’m going to go see if I can find Henry before school, see if he actually makes it there today.” That explained her hurry, and he was glad she was bonding with Henry.

“Want me to get you anything from the diner?” He asked, sitting up in the bed.

“I’d never say no to a bear claw, ok, I think I’ve got everything, bye Killian love you.” She said quickly, before heading out of the room, clearly worried about missing Henry.

“Love you too.” He called out after her, knowing she probably didn’t hear him. He got dressed himself after checking on Hope, and just as he was pulling on his back leather jacket, there was a knock at the door.

Assuming it was Emma back already, he went to go answer it.

The second he opened the door, he wished he hadn’t. Stood before him for the first time in years was the Queen, a basket of apples in her hand, no doubt intended for Emma.

Regina’s surprise was palpable. Her eyes lighting up instantly with recognition. “Who the hell are you?” She snapped, feigning ignorance. But it was clear she recognised him on sight.

“I could ask you the same.” He said coldly, folding his arms, he knew she was awake but playing into this whole curse nonsense, hopefully kept Regina away from Hope.

“What are you doing in my town? The owner said this room belonged to Emma Swan, I could have you arrested for trespassing.” She said coldly, her eyes narrowing as her mouth twisted into a scowl.

“Well then I believe you have the wrong room because she’s not here.” He answered vaguely, hoping she’d take his word for it and leave.

“It’s interesting that I’ve never seen you around town before. How exactly did you get here?” She questioned, and he knew he wouldn’t be getting out of this anytime soon.

“Same way as everyone else.” He lied, knowing Regina wouldn’t believe it, but it was still better than giving her any information she could use.

“Dadda?” Hope called out from behind him, and he muttered a curse under his breath.

“What was that?”Regina asked, her eyes snapping behind him, scanning the room. 

“Nothing. Probably just the wind.” He tried dismissing her, blocking the door so she had no possible way of seeing inside.

“Dadda! Dadda?”Hope continued her tone getting more desperate with every word, and Killian knew they were getting dangerously close to tears.

“Do you have a child in there? I’ll have you know kidnapping is a very serious offence Mr?” He wasn’t going to dignify that with a response. “As Mayor I’m demanding you let me into this room right now.”

Hope’s tears flooded the room then. And Killian muttered another curse under his breath. He could either reveal Hope to the Queen or worse she’d likely arrest him and take her. It wasn’t even a debate about the correct option.

Killian left the doorway, neither inviting her in nor shutting out. Immediately making his way over to Hope and picking her up into his arms and trying to subdue her tears.

“Whose child is this?” Regina asked from inside the apartment.

“Mine.” He said firmly, clutching Hope tightly. Regina arched an eyebrow in question, but his confidence didn’t waver. He would never be embarrassed of his daughter.

“Interesting.” She replied, narrowing her eyes. Before turning to leave the room.

He didn’t like that the Queen had seen Hope, not one little bit. He needed to keep Hope save, but staying in this room wasn’t going to help them in the slightest, not if the Queen already knew where to find them. He needed a new plan.

“Did you know that Killian is here?”Regina questioned, storming into Golds pawn shop, and slamming her hands down on the counter.

“Who?” He asked innocently, as if he didn’t know exactly who she was talking about. She knew about Rumple’s history with the pirate.

“Did you do this? Because he seemed pretty cosy with Emma.”She questioned coldly, talking about how Sydney had reportedly seen the two of them together at Granny’s.

“I’m sorry but I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” She sighed in annoyance, either Rumple was awake and playing her or worse, cursed and clueless. Either way she knew she wasn’t going to get her answers.

“Hook. He’s here. And I think he’s awake.” She said finally before storming off.

Chapter Text

“I’m so sorry about this. I knew she’d retaliate, just I didn’t expect it to be at the cost of you and Hope.” Emma sighed, her head falling back to the headrest in her car. They were staying in Emma’s bug, because Regina framed her for stealing Henry’s records - which Archie gave her - meaning that Regina had tried to get Emma arrested. Then before Killian got a change to bail her out, apparently Henry had shown up with Mary Margret, who much to Emma’s surprise was willing to help. Which brought them to the present, sleeping in Emma’s car because Regina got them kicked out of the room.

Just the first of many tactics undoubtably designed to get them to leave Storybrooke.

“Emma love, we’re crashing in your car until we find a place to stay, it’s not the worst predicament we’ve found ourselves in.” He reminded her, gently. He knew he could have gotten him a room for just himself and Hope but under no circumstance was he leaving Emma. And despite her best efforts to hide it, he knew she was glad he’d stayed. It wasn’t even a choice, he’d always be by her side.

“I know but I thought I was past the crashing in my car part of my life, and I don’t want this for Hope.” She replied, looking over to Hope, who was asleep in his arms. Killian thought she looked a bit cold so he adjusted her blanket slightly, he didn’t want this for Hope either but staying in this town meant Emma got to be with her son and her parents. So he’d put up with the chilly night air, he just hoped Hope didn’t get too cold out here.

“It’s only temporary.” Killian added, while Emma  had another look through the newspaper, scanning the pages for any vacancies they could take advantage off.

Just then, there was a knock on her car window, and a woman with short dark hair stood outside. “Hey, you ok?” She asked, clearly not having noticed Killian yet, and given the angle he couldn’t see who it was probably either.

“Oh, I’m the world of tight spots I’ve been in, crashing in my car doesn’t even rank in the top ten.” Emma responded, clearly trying to downplay the situation to the woman.

“You’re sleeping here?” The woman questioned, as if it was completely unheard of for them to be sleeping in a  car.

“Till we find a place.” Emma replied.

“You decided to stay. For Henry.” The dark haired woman said with a smile. And that’s when Killian recognised the woman, Snow White. And more importantly Emma’s mother.

“Yeah.”

Killian had never done a meet the parents thing. Something he’d learned from one of Emma’s Netflix things, was that it was a big deal. Even if right now she had no idea she was Emma’s mother.

That was when Hope started to get fussy, Killian began rocking her gently in his arms trying to lull her back into sleep, but it unfortunately didn’t work. And it soon caught Snow White’s attention.

“Who’s that?” Snow asked, suddenly aware Emma wasn’t alone in the car.

“That’s my fiancé and my daughter.” Emma answered, holding out her arms for Hope, and he gently passed her over and Hope’s tears quickly subsided. Favouritism at its finest.

“You have a baby.” Snow said in surprise.

“Yep.” Emma replied, getting out the car so she could talk to Snow better. Killian joined her as well, getting out of the car, placing his hand around her waist, a silent reminder he was always by her side.

“And a fiancé.” Snow White added, looking at him for the first time, and he definitely felt like he was being judged. “I’m Mary Margret, Henry’s teacher, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She said with a smile, holding her hand out for him to shake.

“Killian Jones.” He accepted her hand shake, and he could already see the resemblance between her and Emma.

“And you’re all staying in your car? It must be cold for your daughter. How old is she?”

“15 months.” Emma answered, rocking Hope in her arms, who much to Killian’s relief, was already back asleep.

“Oh that’s lovely. I bet Henry’s thrilled to have both his parents in town.” Mary Margret said nicely, and he could tell her cursed persona - given her happy and sunshine vibes - was definitely helping Henry to believe in the curse, maybe even giving him the storybook in the first place. But that didn’t change the awkward question she’d asked, because she definitely whole heartedly believed Henry’s parents were still together.

“I’m not actually Henry’s father.” He replied, nervously, scratching behind his ear. He already had a feeling this was going to become a regular question that he’d have to endure.

Mary Margret looked surprised for a moment before composing herself. “Well you know if things get cramped I do have a spare room.” She offered.

“Thanks, but we couldn’t impose. It’d be one thing if it was just me but…” Emma started, before trailing off.

“I don’t mind. I love kids actually.” He could already tell she was serious with her offer, something they really needed. It would be good to get Hope somewhere warm, and also it meant Emma could get to know her mother better.

“Yeah until they’re waking you up in the middle of the night, we appreciate the offer but we really couldn’t impose on your life like that.” Emma answered. She didn’t like accepting help, despite how much they needed this.

“Seriously, I insist. Atleast for tonight, to give you some time to figure things out.”

He watched Emma weigh the decision in her mind, contemplating it, then she looked at him for confirmation, and he nodded in return. They needed this.

“Thank you.” Emma sighed with relief, finally accepting the offer. “This town doesn’t seem to have many vacancies. None actually. Is that normal?”

“Must be the curse?” Mary Margret joked but Killian imagined that wasn’t far off the truth.

“Why you out so late anyway?” Emma asked, and soon the two fell into easily into conversation. Talking about Mary Margaret’s failed date, and making Killian wonder where Emma’s father was in this world.

“I guess if true love was easy we’d all have it. But from the looks of things you’ve found it?” Mary Margret asked.

“Yeah, I think I have.” Emma said with a smile,that made Killian’s heart pound, before he pressed a kiss to her forehead. True love was the rarest magic in the entire world, as much as he loved Emma and knew she loved him, it didn’t necessarily mean that they were true love.

But gods did he wish that was true.

***

“So you found him, love?” Killian asked, as Emma’s head rested on his shoulder. They were in Mary Margaret’s apartment, more specifically in her guest bedroom, with Hope set up in her travel bed just next to them.

“Yeah. Thanks to Henry.” Emma asked, “Found him in the forest, by the toll bridge. He’s with his wife now.”

“He’s married?” Killian asked surprised, but he couldn’t be too shocked, this curse was designed to fuel the Queen’s desires and what better way to do that than having Snow’s husband married to someone else.

“Yep, he’s got amnesia too.”

“So Henry was right, Snow White woke up her Prince, almost good enough to make you believe in fairytales?”

“Sometimes I think you might believe this whole curse theory as much as Henry,” she joked, “but yeah, makes you wonder about true love and all that.”

“Do you think we’re lucky enough to have that?” He risked asking, he knew Emma didn’t believe in the whole curse but he was still curious.

“Yeah, I think we might.” She placed a kiss to his cheek, “I don’t know about the transcending death, waking up from coma type of thing but I think we do have true love.”

He smiled to himself, he wasn’t sure if he believed it but for a moment he allowed himself to imagine what that would be like. True love. But then, he felt as though he already knew the answer, he didn’t need to imagine it, he just needed to look over at his fiancé and daughter. His true loves.

Chapter Text

Killian watched as Emma talked with her mother into not getting in a relationship with her father because he was cursed to be married to someone else. Storybrooke truly was a strange place to be in, without cursed memories.

They were still staying at Mary Margret’s apartment, despite Emma’s reservations about imposing, but he could see Emma was getting close to her mother. She was also settling into her role as deputy sheriff, something Graham had offered her a few days ago. He didn’t know who exactly Graham was back in their land but given that he hadn’t ever met him, nor heard of him, he couldn’t be the worst person to exist.

Still, all of that had left him wondering about his place in town. He was here for Emma, who was often off helping fairytale characters reunite with their families. Fulfilling her role as the Saviour.

But that didn’t change his priority, keeping their daughter safe.

However, knew he’d been staying in the apartment with Hope an awful lot recently.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, wanting to be helpful, Killian went to go answer it, and was immediately greeted by a sobbing Henry.

“Lad is everything alright?” He asked, immediately worried. Did Regina do something? Was henry alright? Henry brushed straight past him, running to go hug his mother.

“Kid, is everything ok?” Emma asked concerned, hugging him back, while she ran her fingers through his hair.

Through his sobs Henry told them about how his therapist had told the boy that he was crazy. And Emma looked pissed, he could already see she had strong words in mind for Archie.

“Killian would you mind dropping off Henry at Regina’s office? I need to go have a conversation with Archie.” Emma asked, her words tight, and he knew that look in her eyes. She was beyond angry.

He agreed, and soon Emma was off to confront Archie, while he got to walk Henry back to Regina’s, and Mary Margret was staying with Hope.

As they were walking to Regina’s office, Henry suddenly asked: “You don’t think I’m crazy right?” He’d been unusually quiet the walk so far, to the point Killian had started to get worried.

“No lad, I don’t, I think you really might be on to something there.” He responded, doing his best to sound supportive, without giving too much away.

“So you believe right? That you’re Captain Hook?” Henry asked, his voice laced with anticipation. His eyes lighting up at the mere possibility of another believer.

“I… I think our priority here should be to get your mother to believe.” He said, choosing his words carefully and deciding to changing topics, he didn’t know if revealing to Henry that he had his memory’s would be the best course of action here.

“I know she doesn’t yet, but I’ve got an idea on where we can look for proof.” Henry suggested.

“Oh and where’s that?” He inquired genuinely intrigued.

Henry dragged him to a taped off, incredibly dangerous looking, mineshaft thing. He remembered hearing Emma talk about it earlier, it had been unearthed a couple days ago due to an earthquake. “Are you sure this is the best place for us to find evidence of the curse?” Killian asked, despite wanting to be on Henry’s side here, risking the boys life definitely was not apart of the plan.

“Positive.” Henry replied confidently.

Emma would kill him if she found him encouraging her son to go into the mine, however he knew she’d also kill him for letting Henry go in alone.

And there was no doubt in his mind that Henry would go in alone given the chance.

Even if Killian managed to convince him to go back to Regina’s, he knew he’d likely come back here on his own to look for ‘proof’.

“If the curse is real lad, what makes you think the mine would have evidence?”

“The mine appeared when Emma changed something, when she became deputy. It’s got to be connected.” Henry answered, as he started walking into the mine, flashlight in hand, as he stepped cautiously past the warning tape.

Bloody hell, he was about to go into the mine, wasn’t he?

Killian followed Henry into the mine, and it was immediately clear to him there was nothing here that would prove the curse was real, it was in fact just a mine.

Henry, however, seemed convinced this place was magical, and gods did Killian hope it wasn’t. He’d seen magic first hand and it wasn’t something he was eager to see again. Magic had taken his first love, he didn’t want Henry anywhere near it, in the past couple weeks since their arrival in Storybrooke he’d become quite fond of the boy, and he’d hate for anything to happen to him.

Walking further into the mine Henry shone his torch along the wall searching for any sign of… something. “What are we looking for again lad?” Killian asked, needing an actual idea of what they were doing here.

“Proof.” Henry replied, as his eyes scanned another wall.

“Got anything a bit more specific?” He asked, hoping that if there was something in here, he could better help look and then they could get out of here faster.

“Nope, other than I’ll know it when I see it.” Henry said with a shrug. Bloody fantastic

Henry took a few steps ahead of him, starting to go around a corner, and Killian hated to think of how long this could go on for if Henry didn’t find any proof, this place was a death trap.

That was when an idea formed in his mind, if Henry needed proof, he’d give the lad proof. While he didn’t exactly carry around his entire pirate regalia these days, there was one thing he still always had on him. His hook.

He stepped back away from Henry slightly, up to the wall of the mine and took his hook from his jacket pocket, placing it down on the ground and covering it slightly with dirt, trying to make it look like it had come over with the curse.

“Hey lad I think I’ve found something!” He called out, pretending to dig out his hook from the ground, lightly brushing the dirt off. Henry was at his side immediately, staring down at the piece of metal as if it were magic. Henry bent down and picked it up, examining it carefully.

“It’s a hook.” Henry replied turning the item over in his hand, sceptically. “It’s your hook!” Henry realised suddenly, showing it to him with pride. “Wait, what’s it doing in here?”

“Must be the curse. Why don’t we go show this to your mother and see if we can get her to believe.” He was definitely in a rush to get out of here, firstly this place was dangerous, secondly Emma was going to kill him, and thirdly Regina was going to kill him.

“Good idea, but I want to see if I can find anything else first.” Henry answered, turning around to go deeper into the still very dangerous mine. “We’ve already found this, think of what else we could find!”

And bloody hell he didn’t think this through.

Much to his surprise, Henry did in fact find something. A piece of glass he claimed was from Snow White’s coffin. He wasn’t sure if he believed it was really from the coffin but he was glad the lad finally had some proof, meaning that they could finally leave this place.

That was when everything started to shake, another earthquake. He immediately grabbed ahold of Henry, doing his best to shield him from any potential falling debris.

“Henry we need to get out of here.” Killian said firmly, once the ground stopped shaking, placing his hands on Henry’s shoulders and meeting his eyes.

“But my proof…” Henry said dejectedly, looking down to the ground.

“Henry. You found proof. This is still an incredibly dangerous situation, one we desperately need to get out of.”His tone came out harsher than he intended, and he winced at the reminder of his past self. Henry didn’t deserve that, he needed someone by his side, to believe in him. But right now they needed to get out of here.

“So you don’t believe me?” Henry asked looking upset, and pulling sharply out of Killian’s hold.

He sighed, thinking about his options. Henry was a smart kid, and this was a very precarious situation. “Lad,” Killian started, bending down to Henry’s level, “I believe. All of it, the curse everything. It’s all true.”

“You’re just saying that.” Henry replied, still looking at the ground.

“I’m not. I have my memory’s lad, I was never cursed. I came over from the Enchanted Forest after the curse was cast with a magic bean, so I could get revenge on the Crocodile. But then I met your mother and I fell in love. And I’ll be happy to answer all of your questions, when we get out of this mine.”

“You’re awake?” Henry asked, joy lighting up his face, as he suddenly turned to face him.

“Yes, I’m awake, now can we please get out of here?”

Henry nodded and they finally headed towards the exit. That was when they saw their exit, or what was their exit, it was completely blocked by stones. The damn earthquake. How the hell were they supposed to get out of this now? As they drew closer to the stone wall, he could hear Emma calling out for Henry on the other side. She knew Henry was here. That was a start.

“Emma!” He called out, needing her to know he was here, and alive.

“Killian?” She called back, her voice pained and he could hear the genuine fear and confusion behind it.

“I’m alright love, Henry is too. We’re fine.” He answered, doing his best to ease her worries despite the situation.

“Killian you’re trapped in an abandoned mine. This is not fine.” Emma replied, through the wall, her voice muffled.

“I’ve told you before love, I’m a survivor. And we will get your boy out.” He promised, with more confidence than he felt.

***

“So we just wait for them to dig us out?” Henry asked, his back slumped against the wall of the mine, while they waited.

“Aye lad, that seems to be the current plan.” Killian sighed, as much as he wanted to help the effort to break the door down, he was fine with keeping Henry away from the danger.

He also had his hook back on, further proof for Henry that he was, in fact, awake. It felt strange wearing it again, he’d hardly worn it since meeting Emma, not wanting to scare her away nor hurt her. But Henry loved it. And that was enough for now.

“What if there’s another way out? That way we could get out ourselves.” Henry asked after a moment, his eyes lighting up, an idea forming in his head. As he rose to his feet.

“Henry…”

“It could work!” Henry said, enthusiastically. Already starting to run off back down into the mine. Bloody hell.

“Henry come back here!” He called out after him. Before he began to run, this place was far too dangerous for Henry to be on his own. He soon caught up to Henry. Who was continuing to explore the mine. “Henry we need to head back.” Killian said firmly.

“But we could find a way out.”

Killian sighed, they were in an abandoned mine, in a cursed town, trying to find a way out. This was not going to end well.

“Hey Killian, do you hear that?” Henry asked, after a moment. And a second later Killian heard it. A dog barking. “I think it’s Pongo. He’s Archie’s dog.”

“It’s coming from this direction.” Killian added, maybe they could get out like this after all. They followed the barking until they reached, a danger sign - as if this entire place was somehow safe.

Behind the sign was some sort of elevator thing, that by the looks of things went all the way up to the top. They truly could get out of this.

He worked with Henry to try and get the elevator to move, slowing turning the rusted metal, and just as it started to move. Then entire place began to shake again, differently this time. It was more violent. He immediately moved to shelter Henry incase there were was any debris, before the elevator started to slip and they were violently thrown to the ground.

The elevator didn’t fall far, but enough to get them trapped in the shaft. Worst of all Henry had finally lost that sparkle in his eyes. “I’m really really sorry.” He muttered, hugging his knees to his chest. After they’d been stuck in this shaft for a while.

“I know lad. It’s alright. We’ll get out of this.” Killian promised, he just wasn’t sure how.

“How?” Henry asked, missing his hopeful undertone that had been powering this entire adventure.

“I didn’t survive over a century without being resourceful, I’ve gotten out of tougher scrapes than this before.” He said, offering Henry a smile.

“You’re really over a century old?” Henry questioned, just without the same enthusiasm as earlier.

“Aye, I spent many years in Neverland. Time works differently there than it does here.”

“Can you tell me about it?” Henry asked. And he was more than happy to tell Henry about his pirating tales. They’d get out of this… somehow. But until then he’d do his best to keep Henry happy.

Emma was strapped into a harness, ready to be lowered onto an abandoned mine, so she could rescue her fiancé and son. Henry was supposed to be at Regina’s office and Killian was supposed to be with Hope, but since when did anything ever go how it was supposed to?

All that mattered was she got them out.

Regina had been yelling ever since she found out Henry was trapped, suggesting various methods to try and get them out, all of which had been unsuccessful. Especially the explosives. Lowering Emma down was currently their best chance.

As she began the descent into the mineshaft, she could hardly see anything, the light from above slowly becoming smaller, as the space grew darker. She wanted to call out to them, see if there was any chance they could hear her but she wouldn’t risk doing anything to make the mine collapse.

She continued downward until she spotted something, something metal. Some sort of mine elevator? She got closer, landing her feet on the edge. She saw Killian’s hair through the metal, he had his arm wrapped around Henry’s shoulder. They were alright. They were alive.

Relief flooded through her as she radioed for the people at the top to stop lowering her. “You guys alright?” She asked, instantly catching their attention.

“We’re fine love.” Killian said, and she was relieved just heading his voice. She was dangerously close to loosing them, she didn’t even want to think about that.

She lifted the roof of the elevator off, placing it to the side as Killian picked up Henry and passed him up to her. And she immediately tightened her grip around him. Scared she’d loose him, or worse scared he’d fall. “I’ve got you.” She said to him,  “I’ve got him.” She called out slightly louder to Killian.

That was when everything started to shake.

“It’s going to fall!” Killian called out in a panic, Killian never panicked.

“Killian!” She shouted out.

“I love you!” He called back.

Then the elevator fell.

Plunging downwards, into the darkness.

“Killian!” She screamed, her cry blending with Henry’s as they watched it fall. There was no way someone could survive that. She felt a tear on her cheek before she realised she was crying. He couldn’t just be gone. She couldn’t loose him.

The elevator landed with an almighty thud, the crash feeling like the end. A weight set heavy on her stomach. There was no way he could have survived that.

He was just gone.

“I told you love, I’m a survivor.” She heard Killian’s voice echo, and she would have sworn she had imagined it, if not for when she looked down expecting to see nothing but an empty void, she instead was met with Killian’s blue eyes. A hook connected to the carabiner on her harness, saving his life.

She couldn’t bring herself to question how this was possible. All that mattered was he was here.

“I love you too.” Her voice came out barely above a whisper but she knew he heard it.

They were alright. They were alive.

***

The second they got out the mine she pulled Henry into a tight hug. Then a second later, Regina was whisking him away from her, taking him as far away as possible. Then she turned her attention to Killian, immediately running over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him senseless. Before pulling him back into a hug.

She wasn’t normally one for public displays of affection but now with Killian in her arms, they felt like the only two people in the world. “You really scared me.” She whispered into his ear, not daring to let go of him. She could still see the elevator slipping away in the back of her mind.

“I’m sorry. I know I scared you. But I’m right here.” He replied, rubbing circles on her back. She wanted to shout about how scared she’d been, how she could have lost him. But she didn’t, just pulled him even close and told him that she loved him.

“Is Henry definitely alright?” Killian asked, after a moment, drawing back slightly from her embrace.

“He’s with Regina. Now that he’s safe, she’s back to hating me. Not that she ever stopped.”

Killian chuckled lightly, and they made their way hand in hand over to check on Henry. Regina shooed them away immediately, but Henry was alright. And that was enough.

A few hours later, after the sun set, Emma finally got her moment with Henry. Regina was still sorting out official town business, while she sat with Henry and Killian.

“So Killian are you going to show her?” Henry said enthusiastically, looking at Killian expectedly.

“Show me what kid?” Emma asked, looking between Henry and Killian as if they were hiding something giant.

“His hook.” Henry said, pointing to Killian’s hand, where his prosthetic normally was. In its place was a shiny metal hook.

“Is that how you got out?” She asked, running her fingers along the metal.

“Aye.”

“I like it.” She smiled, placing a kiss to his cheek, and she meant it. The cold metal didn’t seem harsh or unfamiliar, it felt like Killian.

***

A while after when they were back at Mary Margaret’s apartment, and Hope was asleep in her bed, Emma finally let her emotions overflow.

“You brought my son to an abandoned mine. In what world is that remotely safe!?” She whisper shouted at Killian. Letting all the emotions she’d been bolting up all day come to the surface, as she paced a hole in Mary Margret’s floor. “And worst of all you nearly died, both of you nearly died.”She continued, her voice breaking. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was thinking the lad needed someone to believe in him.” Killian explained weakly, scratching behind his ear, which she knew was his nervous tick.

“And you thought the best way to do that was to follow him into a mineshaft?” She asked, finally meeting his eyes.

“In hindsight that wasn’t my finest moment, but the lad would have gone in with or without me, atleast that way I could keep him safe.” She sighed, she knew this wasn’t on Killian. She really did, she was just scared.

Tentatively, she sat down next to him, a small gap between them, which she hated. “I don’t want to loose you.” She whispered after a moment.

“You won’t love. I’ll be at your side for as long as you want me.” Killian reassured her, placing a kiss on her forehead, before shuffling closer and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

“Forever?” She asked, resting her head on his shoulder, knowing she had absolutely no intention of letting him go.

He smiled softly at her, one of those smiles he saved exclusively for her or Hope. “Forever.”

Chapter Text

Emma was slowly getting used to life in Storybrooke. While there were things she missed about Boston, she definitely felt like Storybrooke had the potential to become home. Over the past few weeks she’d gotten closer with Henry, and become good friends with Mary Margret.

The only problem was that she could tell Killian didn’t feel comfortable here. He hardly left the apartment, and was basically always glued to Hope. She was getting worried about him, he still comes with her to Granny’s or to meet up with Henry sometimes. But he’s pretty insistent about staying inside here. Back in Boston he loved taking Hope to the harbour, to show her all the different boats. But here, he hadn’t been once with her.

It was starting to bug her.

“Hey Killian, why don’t we take Hope down to the harbour tomorrow?” She asked, Graham had her working the nightshift tonight. And despite her best efforts not to, she’d been roped into it, completely against her will.

“That sounds lovely.” He replied, kissing her cheek before she put her jacket on, already mentally preparing herself for the cold night air - she was not looking forward to this. Not only did it interfere with her precious sleep but it meant she was away from Killian and Hope overnight, she hated missing Hope’s bedtime. And she hated not sleeping next to Killian, which she’d be doing this morning when she gets back the apartment around the same time he gets up. She’d also miss walking Henry to school, unless she was playing on pulling an all nighter - which she already predicted would be the case. 

Despite the smile her fiancé was putting on, she could tell something was still up with him.

“Is everything alright?” She pressed, just because he agreed to go with her to the docks tomorrow, didn’t suddenly change things, she knew him too well for that.

“Everything’s fine love.” He said offering her a smile, one which she knew better than to believe. She didn’t want him putting on a mask with her, they were a team. She trusted him with her worries and he did the same.

“You know you can tell me anything right? I know you haven’t been yourself since we arrived here, you’ve been nothing but supportive but I can tell that you don’t feel comfortable here.” She admitted, holding his hands before leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek.

“Emma love, I’m honestly fine.”

“Was it something I did or said because if I did something to upset you Killian then-“

“No. Bloody hell no. Love you’ve done nothing wrong.” Killian added quickly, cutting her off mid thought, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

“Then what is it? Please, Killian, talk to me.” She pleaded, taking a step closer as she moved her hand to run lightly through his hair, before it landing on his cheek.

She could silently see the war behind his eyes, while her thumb traced the scar on his cheek. The one he always joked he’d gotten from a sword fight century’s ago, or something like that.

“I’ve always known you’re too good for me, and being here it just feels like you deserve so much more than what I could ever be.” He finally admitted, while she could tell it wasn’t everything, it was definitely a start. And it was something she can easily reassure him against.

“Killian…no, I chose you remember? I will always choose you , we’re a team. And honestly sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve you , you’re always so kind and patient with me and you’re an amazing father to our daughter. Killian you have nothing to be worried about.” She offered him her best smile, before taking a step forward and kissing him. Killian had always been a lot better with words and big romantic gestures, but she had affection. And any words she failed to convey she tried to show through the kiss. She was his. Forever. 

After a moment she reluctantly pulled back, “Ok, I’ve got to go meet Graham at the station before my shift. Call me if anything happens, and I’ll be back in the morning.” She didn’t want to leave but she knew she didn’t have a choice.

“Alright love.” Killian nodded but she definitely noticed the look he gave her when she mentioned Graham.

“What’s with the look?” She paused for a moment waiting for a response, then it dawned on her. “ Oh ,” her eyes widening in realisation. “you’re jealous of Graham? Killian, you have absolutely no reason to be jealous of Graham.” 

“If he keeps looking at you like that…” his words trailed off, his gaze directed at the floor rather than at her.

“Like what?” She pressed, crossing her arms, there was nothing between her and Graham. They were friends, nothing more.

“Like the way I look at you love.”

“Graham and I are just friends, you have nothing to worry about.” She promised, Killian wasn’t normally the jealous type, so this line was of questioning caught her off guard a little more than slightly, she wasn’t used to it.

“I’m not jealous love.”

“Clearly.” She tried to suppress her eye roll, he was clearly jealous. But there seriously wasn’t anything between her and Graham.

“How would you feel if I was spending all day with another woman?” Killian questioned, crossing his arms over his chest, mirroring her.

“I wouldn’t be thrilled but… Graham and I are just friends, thats it.”She was starting to get sick of repeating herself. “You trust me right?”

“Of course I trust you .”

“Then what’s the problem?” She asked, her tone coming out meaner than she expected, she knew she was just tired and still not at all looking forward to this night shift.

“It’s not you that I don’t trust” Killian answered, it wasn’t like Graham was going to try anything. He was fully aware that she was engaged. She knew Killian was just overreacting.

“Graham and I just work together. It’s really nothing. Look I got to run before I’m late. We’ll finish the argument in the morning, because I don’t have time for this right now.”

Anger radiated off her body as she closed the door to the apartment with a bit more force than necessary, she and Killian never fought like this. Not over little things.

They’d had their disagreements in the past- who hadn’t? But they always got resolved, this felt different. And she knew this wasn’t solely about Graham, Killian was still hiding something. And whatever that was it was eating away at him.

***

She was done working night shifts.

Never again.

She was tired, she missed her family and that wasn’t even including half the shit she’d gone through already tonight.

Graham kissed her. Graham kissed her knowing she was engaged to Killian. She knew he was drunk, she knew he was in a bad place and she still felt guilty. Killian was right. He said Graham liked her, and she told him he was imagining things. Boy was she wrong.

She’d pushed him away immediately, knowing full well that was not something she wanted in the slightest and Graham was far too drunk to be making any logical decisions. And that had just been the final straw in an overall exhausting night.

Firstly, Killian had called saying Hope had got fussy and was missing her. Which made her feel even worse about missing Hope’s bedtime. But she also knew that he was calling to check up on her because he didn’t trust Graham, which only served to piss her off more.

Not to mention she’d discovered Graham’s relationship - if that was even the right word for it - with Regina. That was when he kissed her, after she’d caught him leaving Regina’s, and he explained about how he needed to feel something , because he felt nothing with Regina. She got that but it didn’t make what he did better. 

She’d told him to go finish the nightshift himself because she was done working nights.

She arrived back at Mary Margaret’s at nearly 4 in the morning and she felt ready to collapse. Mary Margret was already asleep, and she expected Killian would be too. That’s why it came as a surprise when she spotted him awake on the couch, as she was taking her jacket off.

“Were you waiting up for me?” She asked, immediately catching his attention. Walking over and placing herself down on the couch next to him. And his arm immediately looped around her shoulder as his hand started playing with the ends of her hair - she didn’t even know if he was aware he was doing it half the time but she found it endearing none the less.

“I believe you promised me the other half of an argument and more importantly I don’t like going to sleep when we’re in the midst of an argument.” He replied, his voice devoid of any anger or rage.

She didn’t deserve him.

And now she had to break the news to him that another man had kissed her. She wasn’t going to try and hide it, she felt guilty enough as it was. She should have just believed Killian when he told her.

“Something wrong?” He asked after she didn’t respond for a moment, in truth she just didn’t feel like herself. And Killian could always read her. 

“You were right… Graham kissed me.” She sighed, collapsing further into his embrace, as he ran his hand along her shoulder. She shouldn’t feel like this. She felt as if she’d betrayed Killian, and in a way she had, she should have believed him. And yet here he was comforting her instead of the other way around, he truly was too good for her.

“I’m sorry.” She mumbled into his shoulder, she  didn’t know what for exactly, for the kiss, for not listening, for bringing him to this town in the first place. Everything.

“I know love, and I know you. You’d never do anything like that intentionally.”

A small smile tugged against her lip, “I love you.” She whispered, “and just so you know, you’re the only man I plan on kissing ever.” She knew it was cheesy, but she didn’t care. After toady she knew she had no intention of ever kissing another man, she just wanted Killian.

“Prove it.” He whispered, his lips ghosting over the shell of her ear, before he kissed her forehead. She knew he was teasing her, but she wasn’t about to decline a long overdue make out session with her fiancé.

In the morning they woke up to a blanket draped over them curtsy of Mary Margret, after they’d accidentally fallen asleep on the couch. It was one of the better ways to end her terrible night shift, if she does say so herself.

Emma had started to notice something was different with him, since they’d arrived here. Truthfully, he was struggling to balance the two parts of his life. It was harder than he cared to admit, having to constantly suppress who he was back in the Enchanted Forest, especially when he was surrounded by people that he knew hated him. Even if not all of them remembered it.

In Boston it was easy to blend into the surroundings, disappear into the crowd, no one knew him. No one knew his past, he got to just be Killian Jones.

But here, he felt the pressure to keep his past a secret, constantly surrounded by threats, to him and his family. Here just wasn’t his home. And given his fight with Emma the night before she definitely noticed that too.

He was just trying to figure out how to break the curse so Emma can get her parents back, because she deserves that even if it means she hates him. Then she could go be with one of those princes from back in his land, that was who she was supposed to be with. Not a wayward pirate stumbling through a redemption arc.

That was probably why he felt so threatened by Graham, he was more of the type of person Emma was expected to be with by her parents. For all he knew Graham was a prince back in the Enchanted Forest.

His thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on the door, Emma immediately went to go answer it, while he stayed supervising Hope for a moment. They were having peaceful family day, something that was far too rare in Storybrooke, and given the likelihood of something about to go wrong, Killian could already tell this would be the end of his peaceful morning with his fiancé and daughter.

“Graham? What are you doing here?” He heard Emma say from the doorway, more than a little surprise in her voice. Evidently she didn’t expect to see him this soon after everything either.

“I’m here to speak to Killian.” He heard Graham reply, which easily captured his attention. He had no idea why Graham would want to speak to him. Actually he had one idea but that was a conversation he’d rather not be having.

“Please it’s important.” Graham pleaded with Emma, and he could see the moment she relented, opening up the door wider and letting Graham into the apartment.

Emma walked over to where Hope was playing with her blocks, and picked her up into her arms. “Alright then, I’ll go pick up lunch from Granny’s, give you boys a minute to chat.” She said, taking Hope with her out of the apartment, leaving Killian alone with Graham.

The second Emma shut the door behind her Graham turned to him with this slightly crazed but completely serious look and said: “Henry told me you’re awake, and I could really use some help. I need to find my heart.”

While he wasn’t thrilled Henry was going around advertising he was awake, he was staring to get intrigued why Graham was, when the curse was still very much in effect. Perhaps this could be of use in breaking the curse?

“How exactly did you wake up?” Killian asked, ignoring Graham’s question, they’d circle back to that in a moment.

“It all started when I kissed Emma,” Killian cringed inwardly at the mere thought of that, and tried to not let it show on his face. “I stared getting these flashes of memory’s.” Graham went on to explain about how he’d talked to Henry which is what lead him here in the first place. Before circling back to how he needed to find his heart. And there’s only one person who would likely hold such an object. Regina.

And he already had a rough idea on where to start looking.

“Hey Ruby.” Emma greeted, taking a seat at the bar. Adjusting Hope slightly in her arms, so she was comfortable. She missed spending time with Hope like this, she hardly seemed to get alone time with her daughter anymore.

“Your usual right?” Ruby asked in her typical chipper tone.

“Yes please.” Emma replied, it was still strange that she’d been in Storybrooke enough to almost be considered a regular, where the staff knows her order my memory. Or atleast Ruby does.

“Babysitting are we Miss Swan? Always good to take up a new occupation.” A voice she immediately recognised as Mr Gold’s, spoke up from behind her. And she turned around to get a better look.

There was always something off about Gold, other than the fact he seemed to own the whole town. Something she attributed to Killian’s reaction of the man. Whenever Gold was around or brought up Killian visibly tensed. Something Emma first noticed when she was helping Ashley keep her baby and Killian had begged her not to make a deal with him. So she didn’t, she found another way to beat him, and ever since then he hasn’t exactly been her biggest fan. Still, Ashley had her kid, and she was more than fine with staying out of Gold’s way.

She was half minded to ignore him and wait for her food, but she didn’t. “She’s actually my daughter.” Emma said, there was no point lying to Gold but she also wasn’t going to tell him anymore information than needed. She also wasn’t ashamed of her daughter, nor the age gap between her kids, she wasn’t about to hide her daughter.

“Intriguing. I wasn’t aware that Henry had a sibling.”

“Yeah well he does.” She added with a shrug, not seeing what his point was. She knew the nearly decade long age gap between her kids was something people would criticise, but people always found something about her to criticise. She wasn’t about it get to her, not when her kids were her favourite part of her.

“What’s her name?” He asked then, and Emma felt the hairs in her neck stand on end. She was not answering that. She knew Gold wasn’t judging the age gap between her kids, but she didn’t know what he was doing either, he always had an agenda. She just hadn’t got a clue as to what it was this time. 

Luckily, Ruby appeared a moment later with her order. “Ok I’ve yours and Killian’s order ready.”

“Thanks Ruby you’re a life saver.” Emma replied taking the bag with her free hand, before getting up to leave.

“No problem.” Ruby answered with a smile before running off to go help another customer.

“Killian?” Gold asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as Emma went to leave.

“My fiancé.” Emma responded over her shoulder as she left. She was done feeding Gold’s agenda. She’d already managed to avoid owing him one favour, she wasn’t going to start now.

While Killian didn’t owe Graham anything, he was still trying to be a better person and do the right thing. Or atleast what Emma would do in his situation. It was a start.

He still wasn’t thrilled with helping the man who kissed his fiancé but if it meant irritating Regina he could get behind that. Killian knew about Regina’s heart vault and had a feeling it wasn’t something she’d leave back in the Enchanted Forest, and when Graham mentioned something about her family’s mausoleum at the cemetery and he knew that would the best place to start the search.

And given Graham’s reaction to being outside of it he was more than certain about this.

As the entered, Killian watched as Graham started looking around frantically for some kind of a lever or a switch, turning up nothing. He knew Regina, knew that she her secrets wouldn’t be easy to find, she’d take them to the grave .

“Give me a hand.” Killian said suddenly, eyeing the coffin in the centre of the room, and the scratch marks on the floor next to it, a hidden room perhaps?

With Graham’s help they were easily able to move the coffin, revealing a narrow, dimly lit, staircase that went deep underground.

“Well that looks inviting.” Killian joked but Graham was already going down, paying no mind to the potential that it could be a trap.

Fortunately, there was no such trap as they entered the vault, Killian followed closely behind Graham as they emerged in a small room, heartbeats echoing throughout. After a few years living in Boston he’d forgotten just how eerie that sounded.

“Do you hear that?” Graham asked, needing reassurance he wasn’t just imagining things.

“Aye. So which one’s yours?” He questioned, walking up to a wall no doubt lined with hearts, all contained in individual little boxes. Regina truly was a collector.

“That one.” Graham said, pointing to a box two thirds of the way up the wall. Which Killian pulled open, revealing a small chest. Inside was the glowing red item, know as Graham’s heart.

“So now what?” Graham asked, probably having no more experience with the taking of hearts, than when his was removed from him.

“My hook, it was enchanted back in our land to be able to remove hearts, I’d wager it would be able to do the reverse here.” Killian answered, as he took his hook out of his pocket, and replaced his prosthetic hand with it. Immediately feeling more powerful, but more like the villain he once was. And he wasn’t sure if he was alright with that anymore.

“What about magic? Doesn’t this whole process rely on that, what happens if it fails?” Graham asked, worry written all over this face for the first time since they started this endeavour.

Graham would die. The unspoken truth of the reality of their situation hanging heavily in the air. There was every chance this could kill Graham given the lack of magic.

“The choice is yours mate, you can have a life without your heart or you can risk loosing it to get it back.”

“This isn’t living.” Graham answered, the choice only taking a matter of seconds to make.

“Alright.” Killian nodded, picking up Graham’s heart into his hand. Slightly hesitantly, he transferred the heart into his hook, before pushing it back into Graham’s chest. The whole manoeuvre took second in reality but felt like hours. When it was done they started at each over for a moment. Graham was alive.

It had worked.

He had his heart.

That’s when they heard it, the unmistakable sound of footsteps above them. Regina was here. They didn’t know how exactly she’d found them, but given they hadn’t closed the exit, they only had a matter of seconds before she got here.

“Hide.” Killian hissed quickly, ducking around a corner and motioning for Graham to follow.

“Regina can’t know you have your heart back, or that you have your memory’s. She will try and kill you. You have to run. Atleast until the curse gets broken, or she’ll keep trying to kill you.” Killian whispered at Graham.

“There’s a cabin in the woods, I could stay there till the curse gets broken.” Graham said quickly, Killian could see a plan already forming in the man’s eyes.

“Who’s in my vault!” Regina called out somewhere from upstairs, reminding them of how little time they had.

“Aye, mate do that, Regina can’t know you’re alive. She would have killed you today.” They could hear Regina footsteps as she started on the small staircase that led down to the vault they were currently hiding in.

“Take care of Emma, she’s special.” Graham added quickly, sincerity lacing his voice, despite everything he did actually care for Emma, especially now that he had his heart.

“I know.”

“I’m sorry I kissed her I-“ Earlier he would have expected an apology, now he knew they didn’t have time for that nor did he need one, and there was one question that had been pressing on his mind the entire time.

“Who were you back in our land?” He asked quickly, interrupting Graham.

“A huntsman.” The second Graham said the words Killian connected him to Henry’s book.

“You spared Snow Whites life.” Killian realised, the revelation coming out in nothing more than a whisper.

He’s the reason Emma is here.

“Thank you.” He whispered quietly, knowing how close Regina was getting.

“Oh and take this,” Graham said, taking off his sheriff’s badge and handing it to Killian, “Emma’s going to need it more than I do.” Graham added finally, Killian nodded grateful for the gesture.

He whispered, as Regina walked into the vault: “I’ll keep her distracted, while you run. You saved Emma’s life, now let me help save yours.”

They heard Regina’s footsteps come to a stop the second she reached the room, before she called out again, her voice eerily calm. The only thing keeping them hidden was the corner they’d hidden behind, they would be seen in seconds if they didn’t do something.

Killian nodded to Graham to stay hidden while he emerged from their hiding place, pulling on a fake smile and strolled out with more confidence than he felt, effortlessly falling back into his past pirate persona.

“Nice place you got here your majesty .”There was no point in denying it, he was wearing his hook after all. It would only be a matter of seconds before she figured him out anyway and her surprise could be the only thing that allows Graham to escape.

“Of course it was you. And here I thought you’d gone and changed, Hook .” Regina used his moniker like an insult, he had changed. He’d worked hard to become a bette, honest man for his family, but given what he knew about Henry, he predicted parenthood might not have had the same effect on her as it had on him. “Now let me ask again, what are you doing here?”

“In this vault or the town?” He asked, toying with her. He had no intention of giving her any actual information. He positioned himself in a way that meant that she couldn’t see Graham if her eyes stayed on him, if she were to look behind her right now, they’d be in a completely different story.

“Surprise me.”

Graham was sneaking quietly past Regina as she spoke, and Killian just needed to give him enough time to make it to the exit.

“What I’m doing in this town is my concern, not yours.”

“It’s my town, and you weren’t apart of my curse - you were supposed to be but that’s a different matter - so what are you doing here? How do you remember? And why the hell are you in my vault?

Failed alliance with Cora, came here for Emma, was never cursed, and was helping Graham. None of which he was about to say out loud.

“You were looking for something? What was it?” Regina asked, her eyes narrowing after he didn’t answer her first set of questions, and he had no plan to answer these either.

He’d seen Graham reach the exit, and he knew that was his cue to leave. He had no intention of sticking around longer than needed.

The second he made a move to leave, Regina appeared in front of him, folding her arms across her chest, a stern frown gracing her face. “Not so fast. You broke into my vault, what’s to stop me from killing you, pirate, right now? You more than certainly deserve it, and it would definitely make things easier for me in the long run.” She said, a menacing smile taking hold of her face.

She reached over to his chest, ready to pull out his heart. And then… nothing. A smirk crept onto his lips. “You forget, there’s no magic here. You’re just as powerless as the rest of us, and I happen to know that when the curse gets broken, there is a pretty powerful Saviour that would want your head if you so much as touch me again.” He couldn’t resist mocking her, Regina couldn’t hurt him. Not without her magic. And he was pretty sure he could beat her in hand to hand combat.

“You and the saviour?” She mocked, making him curse mentally that he’d accidentally dragged Emma into this, but he already assumed she knew about them after the whole mine incident. “Who would have guessed? And here I thought she was just grateful to you for saving Henry, it’s not like the Saviour could ever love a pirate like you.” She paused for a moment letting her words take effect before continuing. “I don’t need to destroy you then, she’ll do that all on her own once the curse gets broken and she finds out who you truly are. And I think, that would be far more interesting to watch, so I’ll let you live. This time. Pirate.”

He felt his fingers dig into his palm as she spoke, about her twisted interpretation of his and Emma’s relationship. He. Loved. Her. It wouldn’t end when the curse gets broken… Right? He shouldn’t let it get to him and yet it had, just a tiny seed of doubt in the corner of his mind, that once the curse got broken Emma would leave.

It wasn’t a thought he’d never had before but it took an entirely different meaning being said out loud. It was a real possibility. One that scared him to his very core.

He didn’t have to stay here, he didn’t have to listen to this character assassination from someone who didn’t know him. So instead of dignifying her with a response he brushed past her on his way out.

And to Regina’s credit she didn’t try to stop him this time. “Oh and Hook, stay away from Henry. He’s my son. Because I’d hate for anything to happen to your darling Hope.” 

“Is that a threat?”He questioned swivelling around to look her in the eye, his own eyes narrowing. She did not just threaten Hope. 

“Stay away from my child and I’ll say away from yours.” She said simply as if it was nothing more than a business proposal between friends.

“Fine.” He agreed, storming out of the vault before Regina had a chance to argue or threaten him - or his family - anymore. She was powerless here, he knew that was the only reason he had been able to walk out of there alive. But he didn’t know if he’d be so lucky once the curse got broken.

Where is he? 

Where the hell is he? Emma thought for about the fiftieth time that evening as she paced around Mary Margrets living room. She hadn’t seen him in hours, not since she’d left him alone with Graham. That was at lunchtime, it was now long after dinner and she was more than worried.

Her calls had gone to voicemail atleast 20 times, and she’s left him far too many messages. Killian  never left without a note or a text. Ever.

It just wasn’t like him to disappear for hours with no explanation. She knew she was overreacting - Mary Margret had told her as much - but she was still worried.

She wanted to call the cops and report him missing but she couldn’t because she was the sheriff, especially with Graham not answering his phone either. Meaning she had to wait.

Almost 20 minutes later, there was a small knock on the door before Killian walked in.

She immediately made her way over to him, and tried to keep the worry out of her voice as she spoke. “Hey, your lunch has gone cold. Everything go alright with Graham? You weren’t here when I got back and I was starting to get worried. You’ve been gone hours.” She couldn’t help but pull him into a tight embrace, before she met his eyes.

“Everything’s fine love, just Graham’s decided to take some time out of town.” Killian said with a sigh, he looked like he’d had a tiring day.

“Is he ok? He didn’t seem right earlier.” She asked, curious about today had gone with Graham, and now hearing he’d gone out of town without an explanation.

“He’s fine, he just needed space, and he wanted you to know that he was sorry he couldn’t say goodbye in person.”

“Oh. What about the sheriffs station? Is he really just gone?”

“I don’t know love, he didn’t say.”

“Right.” She sighed, running her hands through her hair. She hadn’t got a clue what happened today. She knew Graham was in a bad place, she just didn’t realise he was just going to leave so suddenly.

Killian clearly sensing her concerns, reached into his pocket and pulled something out, “But he did leave this.” He said, passing her Graham’s sheriff badge.

“Is he really just gone?”she asked, turning the badge over in her hands. She wasn’t ready to accept that, it all felt too soon.

“Aye love, but…” he said, meeting her eyes, “I think he’ll be back. He just needs some space.”

“Right.” She nodded, trying to accept this. Graham was going out of town to sort through a personal issue, and given the way he was talking about his heart being missing, she could understand that he needed time.

After a moment of letting Killian’s words sink in, she suddenly remembered the strange conversation from earlier that she meant to tell Killian about. “Gold was hanging around Granny’s earlier asking questions.”

“What kind of questions?” He asked immediately, she could tell he was concerned, he really didn’t trust Gold. Something about that, had always made her curious, like Killian had known him in the past or something.

“Just who Hope was and stuff like that, it was weird, don’t worry I didn’t tell him anything. I know you don’t trust him, and honestly neither do I.”

Chapter Text

When Killian woke up that morning he could immediately tell something was wrong. He had a pounding headache and while he normally woke up before Emma and was typically greeted by a face full of her blonde hair, as she was cuddled up to him - always the heat stealer. However, ever since Graham left, she’d started having to work extra hours to make up for his departure, and now sometimes woke up before him, like today. Where her side of the bed was already cold. That in itself wasn’t out of the normal.

But what was, was how strangely quiet the apartment was. Mary Margret was likely already at work, while it was abnormal for him wake up after that, it wasn’t unheard off. But it was still too quiet, he looked over to Hope’s bed, and did a double take when he didn’t see her.

Hope wasn’t in her bed.

Panic settled through him immediately, Hope wasn’t here. It was too quiet for that, no one was here, years at sea had him well attuned to his senses.

He immediately opened his phone searching for a message from Emma saying Hope was with her, he knew he could just be overreacting, that Emma could have taken Hope out with her for a nice breakfast. But those hopes were shattered when there was no such message.

They always messaged each when they went out with Hope, while the other was asleep or away.

He knew Emma could have just forgotten to message but knowing the people in Storybrooke, he couldn’t help but worry.

Especially given the time, it was nearly lunchtime. And Killian never overslept to this extent. Something was really wrong.

He needed to message Emma and ask if Hope was with her, but if she wasn’t… he didn’t even want to think about that. If he told Emma that Hope was missing then she’d get worried too and he didn’t want to worry her over something he hadn’t had a chance to confirm yet.

That was when he suddenly remembered Regina’s threat from the other day, stay away from Henry. Because I’d hate for anything to happen to your darling Hope , a threat that he’d very much stayed true to, he hadn’t once gone near Henry since that. 

But the problem was Henry had gone near him , and he knew Regina wouldn’t care about that difference though. Henry was often with Emma when Killian was and Henry sometimes came here too. He couldn’t avoid the boy, not that he wanted too either. He’d found him quite fond of the young lad, who reminded him quite a bit of a younger Baelfire. But he had tried his best to stay away from him for Hope’s sake. 

That clearly hadn’t worked.

And he was going to kill Regina if she’d taken Hope. Consequences be dammed, he was getting his child back.

On the walk to Regina’s he received a text from Emma, that immediately tripled his worries. 

𝖧𝖾𝗒, 𝖨 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗀𝗋𝖾𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗉𝖺𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗎𝗉 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾, 𝗌𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝖺 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗅𝖾? 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖧𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌. 𝖷𝗑

Emma didn’t have Hope with her.

And he still didn’t have any idea where she was.

This was bad. Really bad.

He may have run the rest of the way to Regina’s, but he needed to find Hope. He pounded loudly on Regina’s door, half minded to break it down if it meant he got to Hope sooner.

A few tedious moments later, Henry opened the door and greeted him with a smile. “Oh hey Killian, what are you doing here? Is it about Operation Cobra?” Henry asked, in a way that any other day would have brought a smile to his face, he still wasn’t used to anyone besides Hope or Emma being happy to see him. But this wasn’t any normal day, Hope was missing. And that was the only thing on his mind.

“I’m here to speak to your mother actually lad, it’s important.” He said quickly, trying his best to keep the panic out of his voice in front of Henry, and he could tell he was failing miserably at that.

“Emma? She’s not here. I figured you’d know that more than me.” Henry answered with a shrug, luckily not picking up on Killian’s concern.

“I mean your other mom” Killian replied, still trying to keep the desperation out of his voice.

“She’s at the her office. Why? Cobra stuff?” Henry asked curious but Killian didn’t say anything, he was already running to Regina’s office, he’d apologise to Henry later. He didn’t have time to waste.

Killian stormed into Regina’s office, “Where is she?” He shouted the second he spotted Regina, anger radiating off him.

“Emma?” Regina said calmly, which only served to irritate him more. How could she be so causal about his daughter? “Now if you’ve lost your fiancé that’s your business rather than mine, I did say she’d leave you, did I not? So if you don’t mind, I have an important matter to attend to.”

Fiancé?

“Let me repeat where the hell is she?” He yelled, trying not to let Regina’s comments about Emma get to him, not today.

“Your failing relationship is your problem.” Regina said with a roll of her eyes.

“She. Loves. Me.” He couldn’t help get getting distracted by Regina’s attitude about his relationship with Emma, not when he was already angry enough.

“Oh, because she’ll like you after the curse? Once she finds out that you kept all of this from her? Yeah, bet that will go great.”

“You don’t know do you?” He realised finally. Subtlety wasn’t Regina’s forte, if she had Hope he’d know, she’d make it his problem. Listing out her demands, one by one until they were met.

She didn’t have her.

Then who the hell did?

He didn’t stay to hear the rest of what Regina said, if she didn’t have Hope he didn’t need to know. Worry started coursing through him as he started to doubt himself, what if he didn’t find her? What if she was hurt? He shuddered the thought off quickly, he couldn’t think like that not if he wanted to find Hope.

Who could possibly have her if it wasn’t Regina?

Who hated him that much?

It wasn’t the lack of a list that was the problem, it was the length of the list, he’d made no shortage of enemies in his time.

But there was only one who’d resort to kidnapping to get his way.

***

Killian had never stepped foot in The Crocodile pawn shop before this, but from his first impressions of the place, it was filled with things from their world, things that had no reason belonging to the Crocodile.

Including his cutlass, something he spotted almost immediately as he was walking in, which he immediately picked up. He hadn’t a clue how it ended up in this realm in the first place, but he had a feeling he’d need it for the upcoming conversation. He would get his daughter back. The question was if the Crocodile would survive that conversation.

“Helping ourselves are we?” Rumplestiltskin called out from behind him, catching his attention as Killian glared up at him, immediately marching over to confront him.

“Where the hell is she?” He said threateningly, he had no doubt in his mind that this man had taken his daughter, and for that he would make him pay.

“Who?” He asked, annoyingly cryptic as ever. “I’m sorry but do I know you.” Killian’s anger boiled inside him ready to overflow.

“Cut the crap, you know exactly who I am and why I’m here, now. Where. Is. She.” He demanded, slamming his hands on the counter, the Crocodile didn’t even so much as flinch.

Gold paused for a moment, a calculating look on his face. “I assume you’re here on account of the child.” And for a brief second a wave of relief washed over him, for the first time all evening he knew who had Hope. Which was what made dread pool in his stomach, his greatest enemy, the one that he’d dedicated a century to destroying, the man that took his first love, the man who he’d worked so hard to keep his daughter away from, currently had his daughter.

“ My child.” He hissed, “Now where is she?”

A twisted grin crossed over the Crocodiles face, and Killian reacted in a second. Drawing his cutlass, walking swiftly around the other side of the counter and pinning the Crocodile against the wall, his sword pressing against his neck.

The Crocodile may have had magic, but here he was powerless just like Regina. Meaning Killian had an advantage, he was faster, he was an expert in hand to hand combat. Never before having had the magical advantage, meaning he wasn’t currently at a disadvantage.

“Ah theirs the pirate I remember.” He added with a sinister grin, that made Killian press the sword closer to his neck. “You do realise if you kill me you won’t ever see your daughter again.”

His eyes widened, as he drew the sword back slightly, but didn’t take it off his neck. “What do you want?” He asked, he knew right now he’d do anything to get his daughter back. And he was well aware of just how dangerous that was.

“What I want is my business. Now if you ever want to see your child again-“

“What?” He asked cutting him off, he didn’t have time for games. Not with his daughter’s life on the line.

“You’ll have to first stop trying to kill me, I have some business to attend to and I can’t keep watching my back for any possible assassination attempt.” Gold said causally, like he had every other part of this conversation. Like it was all a game. A sick twisted game.

“I stopped trying to kill you.”

“Evidently.” Gold remarked, his eyes looking at the sword pressed against his neck.

Killian reluctantly then sheathed his sword, knowing threats weren’t the way to go here, he was acting on emotion and that wouldn’t help Hope.

He wasn’t that man anymore, he wasn’t the pirate he was all those years ago.

“That was before you kidnapped my daughter. Now where is she?” He asked and he was getting tired of repeating himself, he needed an answer before the worry ate him alive.

“Now, as I’m sure you’re aware, Emma Swan is quite the special individual. Product of true love, and not to mention the saviour. I’m sure she possesses some quite powerful magic.”

“Your point?” He asked, annoyance lining his face, he didn’t understand where The Crocodile was going with this, and what the sudden change of topics was for? Always a game with him.

“But the product of true love twice over, and the Saviours daughter… now that is intriguing.” Killian’s eyes widened as the pieces clicked together in his mind.

“You kidnapped my daughter because you think she has magic? That is ridiculous, Emma might be the Saviour but she certainly doesn’t have magic. She’d know.” He’d know, Emma wouldn’t hide magic from him. They told each other everything.

Like how he’d told her everything. A nagging voice echoed in the back of his mind reminding him Emma didn’t in fact know everything about him.  

Would she really keep magic from him?

“Would she? Remind me what land we’re in again?”

“Land without magic.” He answered, realisation dawning on him. Emma could have magic, she’d just have no idea. So when the curse gets broken…

“I know how you feel about magic, are you sure you won’t up and leave the first sign of magic?”

He was offended at the mere notion. Magic may have destroyed his world once but now Emma was his world and if she had magic, then that was just another part of her for him to love. And he was a fan of every part of her.

“I love her.” He answered, he didn’t even have to think about it, he’d never leave her. And he was starting to get fed up of all these people questioning him and Emma, they loved each other. Captain Hook had fallen in love with the saviour, was it really that bloody hard to believe?

“Well then if you and your deep hatred of magic love her and her magic, it must be true love. And we all know how powerful that magic can be.”

“You were testing me.” His hand finding the hilt of his sword, “This whole bloody time, to see if my daughter could have magic. What the hell do you need more magic for, you’re the bloody dark one.”

“I have my agenda.” The Crocodile replied, cryptically as ever.

“And I have mine, now give me my daughter.” He was getting tired of this cat and mouse game. He needed to get his daughter back.

“Or else what, you don’t exactly have any leverage.” Damn. He was right, Gold held all the cards here, he was at his mercy. He needed something, anything… if he had the dagger… no. He didn’t have time for that. He needed something he could use now. Someone the Crocodile would want.

Then he got an idea. An idea that might just work. “I know something. Something you want to know. Something about your dear Belle.”

“She’s dead.” He could see the vulnerability behind his mask, he’d struck a nerve. And more importantly he didn’t know, Killian finally had his leverage.

“Is she?” He asked, toying with him like he had earlier.

“Tell me what you know!” He demanded, his carefully constructed mask finally breaking slightly.

“Give me my daughter!” He matched the his energy, they finally had something in the other wanted, he could make a deal. He would get Hope back.

“You’re bluffing.” Gold asked, narrowing his eyes as the mask reappeared in full force.

“Am I?” He questioned, grateful he finally had some leverage.

“If I give you the child, you’ll tell me?” Gold demanded.

“Aye.” And he was happy to agree, his knowledge about Belle was an easy price to pay to get his daughter back.

“Then we have a deal. Now what do you know?” He asked, and given his eagerness to get Hope back he was more than happy to get this exchange over so he could have his daughter back safe in his arms.

“Your beloved Belle isn’t as dead as the Queen made her out to be, she’s alive. I saw her back in the Enchanted Forest, Regina kidnapped her, and she’s been imprisoned ever since” He answered honesty, leaving out the part where he tried to kill her, he valued his life after all.

The second Gold got the information Killian saw the rage build up inside his eyes, as he immediately began to leave. “I have business to take care of stay out of my way pirate.”

“Where is my daughter?” He demanded, blocking his path. He did not get to leave until he got Hope back, they had a deal. One he was not going to let slide so easily.

“Not telling.”

And Killian could have killed him right then.

They had a bloody deal.

He should have never trusted the Crocodile.

“Well how do I know you’re not just lying? Pirates tend to do that. You’ll get your daughter once I check you’re not just lying.”

He’d been toying with him, and now the leverage he’d once had was gone. “What do you want from me?” He asked, he wasn’t about to back down. Not now. Not ever.

“A favour.”

“What do you want me to do?” He asked, wanting to know exactly what this favour would entail. Making a deal with Rumplestiltskin was far worse than making a deal with the devil.

“Let’s call it a blank cheque. When the time comes you’ll have to do something for me.”

“I won’t harm anyone for you.” Killian added, crossing his arms, and narrowing his eyes at him. Looking for any sigh of betrayal, he wasn’t about to let his desperation get the better of him.

“Fine. So do we have a deal then?” Much to his surprise Gold agreed, too easily.

What the hell was this favour? And why was it so important?

“Aye, we have a deal. Now where is my daughter?” He demanded, still not letting him leave, he’d get to his precious Belle as soon as he got Hope.

“First door on your left, she’ll wake up in about an hour.” Gold said simply. Hope had been here the entire time? Only a matter of feet away. Just a few steps.

He should have heard her.

She’ll wake up in about an hour. Golds words from a moment ago echoed through his mind. 

“What did you do?”

“Nothing that will cause permanent damage, just a little something to quiet the noise.”

“Why you.” He hissed, drawing his sword once more. He’d kill him for drugging his daughter, it was more than deserved. Not just for this but for Milah, he could finally get his revenge. He could finally kill the crocodile. Revenge had never been so close.

Then he could finally have peace.

“Would you rather kill me or get to your daughter? And here I was thinking you’ve changed.” The Crocodile mocked, edging him on.

“I have changed.” He argued, he had changed he’d become a better person since he’d had his daughter.

“Kill me and you’re still the same cold hearted pirate that took Milah from me.”

“ My Milah.” He responded quickly. 

“You have Emma now.” Gold answered.

“And you have Belle.” He retorted.

It had been centuries since they’d stated this fight and it clearly still wasn’t over. But…

He finally let his words sink in and the Crocodile was right… as much as he hated to admit it he was right. If he killed the Crocodile, and finally got his revenge… he would have gone back on the promise he’d made himself. He’d have let his daughter down. He promised himself he’d change for her, and now here he was reverting back to old habits the second he got a chance to.

He too a step back, putting his sword away, taking a breath.

“I propose an additional deal. I’ll stop trying to kill you if you stop trying to kill me. We leave each other and our loved ones alone.” 

As Gold said earlier he couldn’t keep watching his back for an oncoming assassination attempt, and he already owned him a favour, he wasn’t looking to owe him anymore. It about time they buried   the hatchet, they couldn’t keep having this fight. They couldn’t keep trying to kill each other, because one day Killian would loose. Either his life or his soul to the fight.

“A truths?” Gold questioned, obviously caught off guard by the abrupt change in conversation. Killian wasn’t aiming for a friend, he’d stick with loathing him, but he couldn’t keep watching his back like this.

“Aye. Because I know exactly where Belle is if you don’t feel like compromising.” He said sternly, effortlessly putting his pirate mask back on, it was easy to put up a front after centuries of practice.

“You’re bluffing.” So what if he was? It wasn’t as if Gold hadn’t spend this entire conversation manipulating him, and he was grateful to once again have the upper hand.

“Want to test that theory.” He argued back, hoping the Crocodile wouldn’t be willing to bet on Belle’s life like that.

“Deal.” He seethed and then they both ran. Killian needed to get to Hope, he’d wasted enough time already.

And Gold likely went to go confront Regina, but he didn’t care, he needed to get to his daughter.

He saw Hope the second he entered the back room. She was asleep on a small cot, towards the far end of the room, an old blanket draped over her. He breathed a sigh of relief, as he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. A weight that completely disappeared as soon as he picked her up into his arms, checking to see if she was in anyway injured.

Much to his relief she was unharmed. She was safe. And she was back in his arms. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to let go of her again after this. He’d been so worried about her.

He stared at her for a moment, his eyes tracing over her face coming every tiny detail to memory, he was so scared he’d lost her forever.

He slipped today.Stooping down to level of the people he now despised.

This wasn’t the example he wanted to set for his daughter. This wasn’t the man he wanted to be. It wasn’t the man he’d worked so hard to become, a man who could be good enough for Hope and Emma.

Despite all his efforts to change he still felt like the villain he once was.

He’d almost killed the Crocodile today, almost enacted his revenge, almost become the man he promised his daughter not to be. He’d do better. He had to. Otherwise, he knew he wouldn’t be worthy of her, or Emma.

Hope stayed asleep in his arms, as they left the pawn shop and went back to Mary Margaret’s apartment. He knew Gold said he’d done something to Hope, and that was making him start to worry again. What if she didn’t wake up? He forced the thought away, she would wake up. She had to.

Hope didn’t normally sleep like this, she was never this still and quiet it was unnerving. Hope normally moved around a lot in her sleep something he and Emma often joked she’d gotten from her, given Emma’s own tendency to do that. He remembered how once after a mild disagreement, Emma had gone to sleep as far away from him as she could get in the bed and then in the morning he’d woken up to her wrapped around him. He smiled lightly to himself at the memory.

Hope’s little breaths of air were the only thing keeping him steady, she was so still, he just needed the Crocodile’s spell to wear off soon. He knew it wasn’t magic, it could just be something from this world, but he didn’t have a clue what it would be.

How could he have let this happen? Killian’s normally a light sleeper, how could he have possibly gotten to Hope without him waking?

He would have woken up.

Unless… he’d been dosed with whatever Hope currently had. He remembered waking up that morning hours later than normal with hellish headache, not even stirring for a moment when Emma awoke.

He’d definitely been drugged.

But he was fine. Meaning Hope would be too, he was just scared.

That hour as he waited for Hope to wake, was one of the longest of his life. But then he felt her shift in his arms, her arm reaching out to grab onto his shirt, before she was letting out a yawn. And he was met with her beautiful blue eyes.

She was awake. She was finally awake, meaning she was safe.

“Dadda!” She called out, a bright smile on her face, a smile he was so worried he’d never see again.

He peppered kisses across her forehead, which ended up with her a giggling mess in his arms. She truly was perfect. And incredibly adorable.

“Momma?” Hope asked after a moment, looking around and not spotting her.

“She’s not here right now little lass she’s…”

Helping Mary Margret with the miners day preparations… like he was supposed to be right now. Damn.

He quickly helped Hope into her coat, as he knew they’d be out late that evening, and within moments they were headed out towards where the miners day festivities were taking place.

He was sure they’d missed all of the preparations, given that it was already dark when he left the apartment. As they reached the festivities, he was greeted by a sight of most of Storybrooke residents holding candles in celebration. The sight truly was beautiful.

He made his way through the crowd until he found Mary Margaret’s booth. She was selling candles or atleast she had been, a proud smile on her face, at the sold out sign that now sat on the table.

“Hey Killian, glad to have you joining us. I saved you a candle.” She smiled, pulling a single candle from a box, lighting the top with hers, before handing it to him. “It’s a shame Emma’s still caught up with work.”

He nodded, “Thanks for saving me a candle, it looks like you’ve had a busy day.” He replied, glancing around once more. It was mesmerising, so unlike his earlier day, and from the looks of things Hope was just as interested in the lights as he was.

“Oh I have, but it was definitely worth it. We managed to sell all our candles, thanks to Leroy’s help.” He nodded, he knew he was supposed to be helping today, but he’d completely forgotten about that, and he was glad Mary Margret hadn’t been alone today. Even if he didn’t know who Leroy was back in their world.

“That’s good, the celebration truly looks magical.” He replied a genuine smile on his face, which surprised even him.

After a few more moments he excused himself to go look around further, whereas in reality he just wanted to find Emma.

While he’d been living a fairytale adventure, life had gone on. And now he needed to find Emma. Toady had been one hell of a day, and he was more than ready for it to be over or at least spend it with his fiancé.

Chapter Text

Today had been a lot. Like every other day in Storybrooke. But today had been rough on a whole new level. It was supposed to be a nice relaxing day with Killian and Hope - something they’ve been starved of since coming to this town. Seems like every other day there’s another problem. Must be the curse.

Between Regina trying to get her fired, Kathryn Nolans disappearance, Sydney just existing, trying to help Mary Margret to sell candles and try and get information from David. It had just been a lot.

She’d planed to meet Killian after she finished helping Mary Margret sell candles, now she’d been roped into the Kathryn case, she hardly had a moment to think. Let alone tell Killian where she went, she’d sent him a text around lunchtime but other than that she hadn’t spoken to him.

She’d left early with Mary Margret to go help out with the preparations, leaving before Killian woke up, so she hadn’t seen him all day. It was already dark by the time she herself got to the miners day celebrations, and while she admired all the candles and the lights as she made her way through the crowd of people, her focus was on finding her family.

She found Mary Margret almost immediately, saying a quick hello, before going off again to look for Killian.

“Swan!” She heard Killian’s voice call out from behind her, and she turned around quickly, easily spotting his face in the crowd of people, as he and Hope walked towards her. He had Hope in one arm and a candle in his good hand.

“Hey.” She greeted with a smile, a hint of tiredness in her voice.

“You alright love?” He asked, immediately picking up on that.

“Tired.” She explained quickly, before taking Hope into her arms, who’d been reaching out to her since she’d gotten closer to them. She felt Killian tense up a bit as she did, before relaxing after a second. She raised an eyebrow in question, that wasn’t like him.

“I saved you a candle.” He said after a moment, avoiding her silent question, she was probably just imagining things.

“Thanks, they were all out when I got here.” She replied, while Hope was grabbing onto her hair.

“Momma.” She called out, looking up at her with her big blue eyes.

“Hey Duckling, I missed you today, did you have a fun day with your Daddy?” Emma asked softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead, Hope giggled slightly as Emma tickled her tummy, and she accepted that as her answer.

“How was work?” Killian asked, the last thing she wanted to think about right now was work, she needed a break from all of that.

“Missing person.” She sighed, trying her best not to go over the details in of the case again in her mind, she was off work now, she was supposed to be relaxing.

“Did you find them?”

“Nope. It’s been a lot, sorry I didn’t call.” She still felt bad about being gone all day, ever since Graham left, suddenly her workload had doubled over night, and now she was sheriff Regina hadn’t exactly been subtle about trying to get her fired. She missed how things were back in Boston when she still had some semblance of a work life balance, instead of a job that meant variable hours and missing people. Still, said job meant she got to spend time with her son, and it was the most stable job she’d had - well ever.

“It’s fine love, I imagine you had a hectic day, I’ve had a day myself.”

“Oh?” She asked, intrigued. Adjusting her hold on Hope slightly, bounding her in her arms when she started to get fidgety.

“Trust me love, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”She nodded, allowing him to have a bit of mystery, if it was important he’d tell her, if not she was just happy he had a nice day with Hope.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly said something, just as a little reminder for him. “I love you.”

“What was that for?” He asked probably curious about the sudden change in conversation.

“Nothing, just reminding you. Everything’s always so crazy in this town, and I want to enjoy this evening. Just the three of us, like how things used to be.” While this town definitely had its perks, her relationship with Henry, her newfound friendship with Mary Margret and a stable job. She did long for the simplicity of life in Boston, it was much less complicated. But she knew she couldn’t go back now, she wouldn’t just leave Henry.

“So after this want to head back to Mary Margaret’s apartment watch one of your cheesy romances movies, while you steal all the blankets and eat buttery popcorn?” Killian offered, as they began their walk, glancing at all the different stalls and basking in the atmosphere.

“I am not a blanket thief. and they’re not cheesy!” She argued back lightly, honestly she wanted nothing more, she loved their little date nights.

“You’re impossible.” He teased, squeezing gently on her hand that he was holding.

“And you love me for it.”

“Always.” He promised, and she grinned. It didn’t matter what her day had been like, Killian always managed to make her smile.

“Perfect it’s a date… who knows maybe after the movie ends and Hope’s asleep we could find some more enjoyable activities to end the evening with.” She offered, knowing it’d been awhile and she missed him, and she could tell he missed her too.

“With Mary Margret in the apartment?” Killian reminded her and she may have forgotten that little detail, they really needed to look into getting their own place, if they were planning on staying in Storybrooke.

“I can be quiet!” She said louder than she meant to, before dropping her voice, “Sometimes.” Killian chuckled.

“Sounds perfect love.” He smiled, kissing her cheek.

“C‘mon let’s go look at the stalls with Hope.” She added, while she was looking forward to this evening, she wasn’t about to waste the miners day festivities, they had all the time in the world.

She grabbed his hand and lead him through the crowd, looking at the different stalls as they went.

Killian didn’t know how to tell Emma about what had happened today with Hope. He hadn’t got a clue how to bring it up, not when they were having a nice evening. And Emma had already had a bad day already he didn’t want to make it worse by telling her Hope got kidnapped by an evil scorer, that had dedicated last century of his life to destroying Killian before he met her. That was sure to create more questions than answers. So he didn’t tell her.

While he definitely felt guilty about that, he wasn’t about to tell her toady, he’d tell her after the curse got broken, when she finally found out the truth. About everything. Just adding to the ever growing list of things he needed to tell her.

“Mom!” A small voice called out from behind them as a pair of arms wrapped around Emma’s waist.

“Henry? What are you doing here?” Emma asked, turning around to face her son.

“Mom’s still at work so I thought come say hi because I haven’t seen you today.” Henry exclaimed before looking up at Killian, and letting Emma go from his embrace slightly. “Hey Killian is everything alright? You seemed kind of panicked earlier.”

Right, because he’d gone to visit Henry earlier when he was looking for Hope.

“Yeah everything’s fine lad, just some Operation Cobra stuff.” He explained hoping that a mentioning of Henry’s favourite operation might just pass as a valid excuse. Before he lightly ruffled the boys hair. He was done avoiding Regina’s threat. He’d survived one the worst things that could happen to his daughter, he was done living in fear.

***

Overall he considered miners day in Storybrooke a success, despite everything that had happened that day. Once he’d met up with Emma everything had been perfect, they’d had a nice date night joined by Hope and Henry. While they hadn’t meant to spend the entire evening at the festivities but once they heard it was Henry’s first proper miners day - because apparently Regina never let him go in the past - they stayed until the end. Where the candles stared to burn out and people started to leave.

Henry had started to lean against his shoulder as they walked around for what would be the last time, he’d been really happy and excited the whole evening and Killian could tell he really enjoyed himself. But now the lad was definitely exhausted.

“If you want lad I can give you a piggyback home?” Killian offered, knowing they still had to walk Henry home and given the way he was leaning against him, he had a feeling he wouldn’t make it.

Hope had long since fallen asleep too, still in Emma’s arms, who currently had her head leaning against his other shoulder, and he didn’t know if it was to be endearing or because she was tired. Probably both.

Overall, they were all just exhausted. Henry nodded and Killian bent down to allow Henry to climb on to his back, before they began the walk back to Regina’s. He just hoped she wouldn’t be there when they got back, knowing his luck she would be.

It wasn’t long before Henry had fallen asleep, and they still had a ways to go before they reached Regina’s.

“You alright?” Emma asked after a moment.

“Aye, I don’t mind carrying your boy” he responded, honestly he didn’t mind carrying Henry home in the slightest. He really had grown to love the boy.

“You sure? I can take him if you want.” She persisted.

“Don’t worry I’ve got him, how’s Hope.” He asked instead, he still wasn’t over what happened today,  he wasn’t sure he would ever be. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to his daughter again.

“Still asleep, she made it longer today than I thought. Did she have a long nap today?”

“Something like that.” He answered, trying to keep it vague, he didn’t want to lie to her and he hated all the secrets. He just didn’t have a clue how to explain.

They walked the rest of the way to Regina’s in relative silence, Emma’s head still resting on his shoulder while her free hand brushed against his.

When they made it to Regina’s all the lights in the house were off, except for one in Henry’s room. Most likely purposely left on by the boy.

“I don’t think Regina’s here. If she was she’d probably have my head for spending time with Henry.” Emma said, looking around for any sign of Regina that they missed.

“So what’s our plan now?”

“If you hold Hope I can pick the lock.” She responded, passing Hope to him before she was bending down to pick the lock, where moments later the door flew open. Bloody amazing woman.

“I always knew there was a little pirate in you, Swan.” He teased, catching Emma’s eye roll as she took Hope back into her arms before holing the door open for him to enter.

“Let’s just get Henry into bed before Regina gets back.”

The Queen’s house was by far the biggest house in Storybrooke and its lavish exterior spread to the inside. It looked like a picture, like one of those houses in a magazine. Not like a house a 10 year old lived in.

It felt cold and empty, devoid of personal touches. It didn’t feel homely. He carried Henry upstairs with Emma following close behind, finding Henry’s room easily enough before setting him down on the bed.

Emma passed Hope into his arms so she could adjust Henry’s comforter and get his shoes off. “Goodnight kid.” She whispered after a moment, placing a kiss on his forehead. Before meeting him in the doorway, switching off the light to Henry’s room. “We should get going.” Emma said with a sigh, and he knew she didn’t want to leave yet.

She’d just put her son to bed for the first time ever, something she’d done nightly with Hope since she was born, that was something she’d never had the opportunity to do with Henry. He knew how important the moment was to her.

“Don’t worry Swan, you’ll get to do it again.” He whispered, confident in his thought. He had no doubt about it.

Luckily, they were able to leave Regina’s without running into her once, leaving without a trace of their evening with Henry.

As they began the walk home, Emma’s head found its place on his shoulder, just as it had all evening.

“Want me to take Hope, you look exhausted love.” He asked, a short while into their walk.

“I’m fine and we had plans for the evening, and I’d hate to disappoint you.” She replied, tiredness evident in her voice.

“There’s nothing in the world you could do to disappoint me.”

“So you wouldn’t hate me if we just crawled into bed and went to sleep when we got back?” She asked, looking up at him, meeting his eyes.

“Never.” He promised kissing her forehead.

“Thanks for carrying Henry home, I think he tired himself out.” She added after a moment.

“You’re welcome love, and I think he enjoyed the festivities.”She nodded, her gaze trailing upward to the sky, and he couldn’t help but follow it, it was a beautifully clear night.

“What’s that one?” Emma said after a moment.

“What’s what?” He asked, not sure exactly what she was referring to.

“The stars.” She explained quickly, “Which constellation is that?” She continued, knowing he knew them all. He didn’t spend a decade sailing without picking up a few things, and his knowledge of the stars was something he was more than happy to share. He’d tried teaching some of there names to Emma in the past, but she  could never quite remember all of them.

The one she was pointing to now was Cygnus or the Swan, and he knew why she was pointing it out. It was his favourite constellation. And on a cloudless night like tonight he couldn’t help but admire it.

It reminded him on one of a simple date he’d taken Emma on once, their first time stargazing. It was back when she was pregnant with Hope, and he’d taken her up to the roof of their apartment building at the time, just to show her the stars. And despite her protests about it being cold he knew she enjoyed the evening, he’d taught her a few of the names of the constellations before they finally reached Cygnus.

･*:

“What about that one babe?” Emma asked, her head resting on his shoulder, as they sat on a picnic blanket that Killian had brought up to the roof for this very occasion. Taking his girlfriend stargazing for the first time. She had hand resting on her swollen belly, where their unborn child currently resided. Something he could hardly believe at times. He was to be a father. And with someone as amazing, and as beautiful as Emma.

She pointed up towards the sky then, she was wearing his jacket like she had been since they got out here, mumbling something about it being too cold for this.

“That one’s Cygnus.” He responded gently.

“Like the swan?” She asked, meeting his eyes. He couldn’t help but smile, out of all the stars in the night sky not one of them compared to her beauty.

“Aye, exactly love.” He nodded, before continuing. “See the star at the top of the Swans head? That one’s Deneb, one of the brightest stars in our sky.” Emma didn’t respond for a moment, and he started to get worried slightly, was it too cold? Was the baby alright? “You alright there? You seem quiet, if it’s too cold we can head back inside I don’t want you or the baby getting cold.”

“No I’m fine, we’re fine. Just got lost in thought there for a moment.” He relaxed slightly, ever since he’d found out Emma was expecting he’d been a mess of nerves and worries at every slightproblem. So scared something would appear to take the incredible life he’d somehow found himself in away, he always knew he didn’t deserve this. Emma was the most amazing person, she was smart, kind, funny. And the absolute love of his life, he just had no idea what she could possibly see in him. But she did, she chose him. Loved him. And very soon they were going to be a family. 

And maybe sometime after that, he’d finally give her Liam’s ring that he’d been saving for a special occasion. Just waiting for the right moment when everything calmed down.

“Care to share?” He asked.

“Don’t you think it could be a cute nickname?”

“What Deneb?” He questioned surprised, it was an odd choice for a nickname for their child.

“No, silly.” She started, lightly hitting his arm, “Cygnet. For when the baby gets here, I know we don’t have a name picked out yet for her or anything but…”

“It’s perfect.” He interrupted, not needing to hear anymore. He was already sold. A fitting nickname for his baby Swan.

“So… her?” He asked after a moment, not even sure if she’d realised what she’d accidentally implied.

“I know we don’t know yet, but I just have this gut feeling. Who knows I might be completely wrong but, I started accidentally referring to the baby as she in my head and I guess it stuck.” She rambled quickly. A daughter. They could be having a daughter. He’d never given it much thought before, always just hoping for a healthy baby at the end of it all. But a daughter, that sounded incredible. He’d be happy with either honestly, but a small fraction of his mind was with Emma, what if they were having a daughter? His little Cygnet.

“Do you have a favourite constellation?” Emma asked on the way back down the stairs to their apartment.

In truth, he hadn’t ever given the question much thought, but after tonight he had a good idea of which one was his favourite.

“Aye. That I do.”

“Oh? Do tell.” She enquired,

“Cygnus.” He said with a grin.

“And why’s that?”

“Because it makes me think of you my love, and our little Cygnet .”

･*:

“Killian… was that a shooting star?” Emma asked, jarring him out of his thoughts. Quickly he looked up at the sky, and sure enough he saw a trail of a shooting star.

“Aye, I believe it was. You know what that means.” She could make a wish.

“You don’t really believe in that?” She asked.

“It couldn’t hurt to try.” He lightly bumped her shoulder in encouragement, watching as she thought of something to wish for.

When he was certain she’d made her wish he asked: “So what did you wish for?”

“Nothing…” She said with a contented sigh, “I have everything I want.”

Chapter Text

“Emma love, we can’t leave. Not yet.” Killian argued. She’d already talked to Regina, gotten everything sorted out, they had to leave.

“Killian, every time I go up against Regina I loose, and it’s hurting Henry. I can’t keep doing this.”

“You’ll win, I’ve yet to see you fail.” Killian promised with a smile she was desperate to believe, and she knew he believed in her. But that didn’t change the problem.

“But the price can’t be Henry.” All this constant fighting with Regina had to stop. All it was doing was hurting Henry.

“You’ll find another way.”

“Why because what? I’m the saviour?” She snapped. “Why are you so insistent this is real! I get encouraging this for Henry but Henry isn’t here right now… so why won’t you let this go?” She asked, her voice breaking. Killian couldn’t believe in this.

“Emma, what if Henry’s right? What if we’re all from another land?”

“Killian do you hear yourself? You’re not Captain Hook, Mary Margret is not my mother and David is not my father. None of this is real. And I’m… not a saviour. I’m just Emma, and I just want what’s best for Henry. And that’s not us staying.” She persisted, she’d thought this through. As much as she wanted to stay for Henry she couldn’t. Regina would never let her be his mother, they’d keep fighting. Henry would keep fighting for his fairytale theory, and he’d be the only one to get hurt in the end. This couldn’t continue.

They’d be better off just going back to Boston.

“I need some space…” She said with a sigh, she needed a moment to process everything. Turning to the door, and just as she opened it to leave she was greeted by Henry. “Hey Emma is everything ok? You sounded strange over the walkie.” He asked, walking into the apartment, and she knew she was going to hate this conversation. Killian went upstairs to give her some space so she could speak to Henry, something she was grateful for at the moment.

However less than 10 minutes later, Henry collapsed onto the floor after eating what he called a poisoned apple turnover, all because she didn’t believe him.  

“Henry!” She called out, desperation evident in her voice, hoping this was some sort of prank, but when he didn’t respond she knew this wasn’t a joke.

She heard Killian’s footsteps on the staircase before she heard him call out, “Henry!”

“What happened?” He asked immediately and she knew he’d heard her argument.

“I don’t know he just collapsed! He ate this, and…” She stuttered, Killian was already coming over to him and was checking his pulse, before moving to pick him up.

“Don’t, I’ll take him. Stay with Hope.” She said quickly, she needed to get Henry to the hospital and she didn’t want to drag Hope into the chaos, she wanted her baby to be safe so she could prioritise her son.

“I won’t wait on the sidelines while Henry’s life is on the line!” He argued.

“He’s my son, I can handle it.” She replied, picking up Henry into her arms. He’s her son, she’d do this by herself.

“We’re a team, you don’t have to do this alone!”

“This is not the time. Stay with Hope.” She practically begged, she needed to get Henry to the hospital and stop wasting time.

“Emma…”

“Killian, I need to get my son to the hospital now could you stop being so bloody selfish and let me go!” She regretted the words the second they left her mouth, her eyes widening as she realised what she’d said. 

“Fine.” He said through gritted teeth. But she didn’t have time to dwell on Killian’s anger right now, she needed to get Henry to the hospital.

“I have to go.”

***

Today had been… interesting.

That was the understatement of the century. Henry had nearly died. She finally believed in the curse. She’d set aside her feelings for Regina to team up with her to… fight a dragon. So she could get a vile of her parents true love, that Rumplestiltskin had then stolen. Before finally getting a call that Henry’s condition had worsened, so they rushed to the hospital. Where at last Henry had been woken up by true loves kiss. Her true loves kiss.

It was all a lot.

Truthfully her head was still spinning around from everything she’d learned today. Her parents were here. They were the same age as her. And they gave her up to break a curse. She truly was the saviour. That last one was going to take a lot of getting used to. Like everything else she’d learned.

As she and Henry made their way out of the hospital, she couldn’t help but take notice of all the reunions taking place around them. It felt like an entirely different town. Everyone looked so happy. Everyone with their perfect relationships.

She thought back to Killian, how could she ever explain this to him? She was a fairytale character from another world… she hardly understood it herself, how could she ever expect Killian to? Killian was a normal person, he didn’t have some alternate life, no fairytale memories. He didn’t belong here. He belonged back in Boston with the life they built together, the life she could never go back to. Not anymore.

She’d been ignoring his phone calls all day. She felt awful about it, but she had no idea what she could possibly tell him. She’d fought a dragon today. How could she even explain that?

That was when they reached the town centre and they were suddenly face to face with Mary Margret and David. Her parents.

That was definitely going to take some getting used to.

***

She’d managed to get a moment away from everything, after they went to go stop an angry mob from killing Regina. Somehow convincing her parents to give her space so she could talk to her fiancé. She hadn’t said a word to him since their fight this morning, and given everything that happened that was the least of her worries. Especially since the curse got broken, and now she hadn’t got a clue what to say to him.

“Emma, is everything alright? You hadn’t been answering your phone… is Henry ok?” Killian asked, immediately rushing over to her, the second she entered the apartment, placing his hands on her shoulders. He wasn’t angry, just worried. He hadn’t changed. He was still Killian.

But she had.

She’d fought a dragon, learned about magic, broken a curse.

“I’m fine, Henry’s fine. Everything’s fine.” She said quickly, trying to appease his worries. Before pulling him closer and pressing her forward against his, she just wanted one moment before everything changed.

“What is it?” He asked, immediately pulling back. Of course he knew something was up, he knew her better than she knew her self at times.

She loved him. She didn’t want to loose him, and yet now it felt like she was going to. No matter what she choose. She could either tell him and have him think she was crazy. Or worse push him away.

And her heart couldn’t take pushing him away, she wasn’t ready to loose him.

“Remember how Henry had this theory about how everyone here was a fairytale character from… another world and they were all cursed to live in this town…” She trailed off. How the hell was she supposed to have this conversation?

Killian nodded supportively, she couldn’t help but smile at his constant ability to ease her worries. He was too good for her. He deserved a normal life, he didn’t deserve all of this. But she couldn’t just push him away, she needed to atleast try and explain. She owed him that much.

They’d been together for years, it wasn’t supposed to end like this, it wasn’t supposed to end at all. But she couldn’t lie to him, he deserved the truth, even if it cost her everything.

She took a deep breath before continuing. “Henry was right. The curse… it’s broken.” So much for subtlety. She hadn’t meant to say it that quickly, she hadn’t a clue what Killian thought. He was staring at her, silently as if waiting for her to continue.

“I know it sounds crazy… but I need you to trust me. Everything Henry said about this town is true. My parents are Snow White and Prince Charming, Regina’s the Evil Queen, and you’re…” She trailed off… her eyes widening. Captain Hook.

Henry’s words came back to her suddenly, he said Killian was Captain Hook. He couldn’t be… right? That was ridiculous… she remembered the metal hook Henry had found while exploring the mines, how Killian had been supporting Henry’s fairytale theory this entire time. He wasn’t just supporting Henry… he knew.

Because he’d lived it.

She thought back to when she first met him… how he hardly seemed to know anything about this world, she’d always chalked it up to his upbringing but now she knew the truth… he wasn’t even from this world to begin with.

Her world seemed to crumble around her, for atleast the third time today. Killian was her rock. The one constant in this ever changing world, had betrayed her. He knew this entire time.

And he never told her.

He knew about the curse.

He knew she had been staying under the same roof as her mother this entire time and never thought to mention it.

Had he been manipulating her the entire time?

Was anything even real?

Thoughts darted across her mind, her eyes scanning his face for any hint of the truth.

He was a pirate after all. He could have been playing her right from the start. And she went and fell in love with him. And now everything felt like a lie. She swore she knew him and now… it was like looking at a stranger.

“Emma say something, please.” Killian’s words brought her back to reality, he was waiting for her answer.

“Are you Captain Hook?” She chocked out, talking felt impossible. Killian used to be so easy to talk to, now she didn’t even know where to begin.

“Aye.” The admission felt like a punch to the stomach. She knew it already, but having him admit it felt entirely different.

He was Captain Hook. He was a fairytale character like the rest of them, but the only difference was, he’d been playing her for a fool the entire time. How long for? Since they got here? Since he proposed? Since that night they met in the bar?

“And you knew this entire time?” She asked, wishing he’d just say no.

She took it back, she’d take rejection over this, she’d take him believing she was crazy. Anything was better than this. She wished she could go back, back when he was her Killian, the one she knew.

“Aye.” He nodded again. Another punch.

“So you’ve been playing me right from the start?” She asked, pushing his hands away from her, taking a step back, she couldn’t take him touching her right now.

“Bloody hell no!”She wanted to believe him, to cling onto his words but she couldn’t. She didn’t know if she even trusted him now.

“So why didn’t you tell me?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest, trying to seem more confident than she felt. Not wanting to let him see her vulnerability, not anymore. She forced herself back into her walls, putting them up higher than ever. It had all been a lie.

“Because I didn’t want you to look at me the way you’re looking at me now.” Killian answered, his voice no different than she was used to. Despite all of it, he was still the man she loved. “Emma, when I first met you I had no idea what we’d become, how much you’d mean to me. And I couldn’t risk loosing you. I never intended for it to go this far, I’m sorry.” She wanted so desperately to believe him, and a part of her did.

“We’re engaged Killian. At what point were you going to tell me? I thought we trusted each other, but you’ve just been keeping things from me this entire time.” She snapped. Everything was too much, her parents, now Killian. Her entire world had changed in a matter of hours.

They were engaged, they had a child together for gods sake, was he ever going to tell her?

Oh my god she had a child with Captain Hook.

And done other things too… Nope. She wasn’t about to let her mind go there. She pushed the thought down as quickly as it emerged.

“I never lied to you.” He promised, and she could sense a level of truth to the statement. She wanted to trust it. But she couldn’t, not when she hardly knew him, not anymore.

That when her phone started ringing, she picked it up instantly, needing a chance to breathe. It was David, taking about how they were going to confront Gold. She took a deep breath before placing her phone back down, her eyes looking anywhere other than at Killian.

She turned back to him after a moment, her tone sounding harsher than she meant. “I gotta run, Killian if that’s even your real name. Or should I call you Hook.”

His moniker sounded harsh on her lip, it was the last thing he ever wanted her to call him. A nickname that he once wore with pride now a sour reminder of his past misdeeds, which now cost him everything.

He’d seen the look in her eyes the moment she realised.

She looked at him like he was a stranger, like she didn’t know him. And from her perspective she didn’t, she knew nothing about his past. He should have told her. He should have risked her not believing, anything was better than this.

As Emma went to leave the apartment he immediately went to follow her, he couldn’t just let her leave like this, he needed to explain.

“No, stay with Hope.” She said coldly, her tone harsher than he’d ever heard and he could tell her walls were back up higher than ever.

He watched something shift in her eyes, as she stepped slightly back into the apartment, he knew it wasn’t for him. He could always read her, even now. He knew exactly what she meant. And he was appalled at even the notion of such an idea.

“I’d never hurt her love, she’s my daughter too.” He promised, trying to mask the hurt that she thought he would ever be a danger to their child. Hope was his world, just like Emma was. “Stay safe love.” He added after a moment.

“Oh trust me in nowhere here done with this conversation. I’m just going to talk to Gold, then I’lll be right back.” She said firmly, taking a step towards the door.

“Absolutely not.” He replied, he wasn’t about to let her anywhere near the Crocodile.

“What you forbid it? Killian, I can make my own choices.” She sounded pissed.

He grabbed her hand, “Love, that man took everything from me, I won’t allow him to do it again. Look if you’re going then… I’m coming with you.”

“I don’t need your protection, I can handle myself.”  She said before storming off.

He knew she didn’t need his protection, but he still wasn’t letting her anywhere near the Crocodile by herself. And he still owed Rumplestiltskin a sword through his heart, if he dared to attack Emma. There was no magic here, the Crocodile was still very much weakened.

He grabbed Hope into his arms, carrying her downstairs, he couldn’t leave Hope here by herself, as much as he didn’t want to bring her, he didn’t have a choice. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He also picked up his cutlass, tucking it into his belt as a last resort.

Before rushing off to catch up with Emma.

“I told you not to follow me.” Emma said when he caught up with her outside, her parents not in sight just yet.

“You didn’t actually.” He replied, now at her side. “Emma, I’m done waiting on the sidelines for you while you go break the curse. I knew that was your destiny, I knew that was something you had to do by yourself. Now, you trusted me with your heart love, and that’s not something I plan on letting go of. So no, I’m not letting you confront the man that killed my first love, and kidnapped our daughter by yourself. I’m coming with you.”

“I’m sorry, he did what to Hope?” Emma asked, immediately turning to face him. Her eyes sparking with anger.

“I’ll explain on the way.”

***

“So Gold thinks Hope has magic?” Emma asked in disbelief after he finished telling her about Hope getting kidnapped, and Emma was rightly pissed.

“Aye.”

“Is that some sort of fairytale pirate thing?” She continued, her anger had died down a little - or rather has now been directed at Gold. “Is having magic something else you lied about?” Or maybe she was still justifiably mad at him.

“No love, that’s a saviour thing.” He replied, he wasn’t going to get angry at her, she had every reason to be mad and ask questions, and he’d do his best to answer them all.

“So Hope has magic because I’m the saviour?” She questioned, he could tell she was still struggling to process all of this. And adding all this new information at once wasn’t remotely easy.

“No, Hope has magic because you have magic.”

“I have what now? I don’t have magic. I’m pretty sure I’d know if I had magic.” She stuttered in disbelief.

“The Crocodile - Gold - seems to think that you do, and you wouldn’t realise because we’re in a land without magic.”

“Of course. Just because I’m the saviour doesn’t mean I have some sort of fairytale magic.” She nearly laughed, she could hardly believe any of this.

“There’s something else, it’s because your parents are true love. That’s why you’re the Saviour and why you have magic.”

“So you’re saying that if Hope has magic we’d be…”

True love.

The unspoken words hanging in the air, if Hope had magic they would be true love.

***

It was a miracle the Crocodile was alive and breathing.

The main reason for that being the fact he refused to kill anyone with Hope in the vicinity, he also didn’t think murder would be a good expression on Emma who was still struggling to come to grips with him being Captain Hook.

And she wasn’t the only one. David had been keeping an eye on him constantly, never letting him within a meter of Emma, ever since Snow had recognised him from the Enchanted Forest. And now a century of building up a reputation of one of the most dangerous pirates out there, didn’t seem so helpful. Not when his fiancé’s parents currently despised him. (They loved Hope though, no surprises there.)

Still, the looks Emma’s parents were giving him were nothing compared to the way Emma was looking at him, those looks felt like a knife to the heart. She still doesn’t trust him.

He’d finally been able to tell her about Hope’s kidnapping, which only increased her anger with Gold. He knew her, she was focusing on her anger instead of dealing with things. She’d barely said a word to her parents this whole time, and they’d been silently begging her too, with small looks and smiles. He knew how difficult this was for her.

That she felt betrayed by everyone in her life all at once, he should have told her. Let them have a change to talk things out before everything got crazy. But he couldn’t change the past, only look to the future. Which he wasn’t sure he had at the moment, atleast not with Emma.

“What can I do for you?” Gold asked as the five of them entered his shop, putting a lid on a silver kettle, that he was poring a drink from.

“What you can do is tell us what you did?” Emma demanded, her hands resting on the counter, taking the lead. While Killian waited with her parents a step back.

“I’m sorry you’re gonna have to be more specific.” He replied cryptically as ever.

“You know damn well what we’re taking about.” David cut in.

“You double crossed Emma, you, uh, took your potion from her.” Snow continued crossing her arms.

“And did who-knows-what to this town.”

“And worst of all you risked Henry’s and Hope’s lives.” Emma finished, her voice cold. While she may have only known her parents a short while they already worked incredibly as a team.

“Well, that’s quite a litany of grievances, now isn’t it?” His voice level, never letting his emotions show, always as unreadable as ever.

“Maybe I don’t need answers I just need to punch you in the face.” Emma replied coldly.

“Oh,” He laughed, “Really dearie? Allow me to answer your questions with some of my own, all right? Did your dear boy, Henry, survive?”

Always a game with him. Say a few words and come out the hero.

“Yeah.” Emma bit back.

“Is the curse broken? And let’s see here, Miss Swan, how long have you been searching for your parents? Looks like you’ve been reunited. Seems like instead of a punch in the face I deserve a thank you.”

“Twist my words all you want, what was that purple haze you brought here?”

“Magic.” Killian interrupted, knowing he’d likely try and dodge the question. Gold brought magic here, always a coward, hiding behind his power.

Gold has his powers back.

His grip tightened around Hope who was still asleep in his arms, his slight advantage over the Crocodile was gone.

“Why?” Snow questioned, her eyes widening.

“Not telling.”

That was when the room shook violently, a rumbling noise outside followed by a car alarm. Emma grabbed onto the counter to stable herself, while he held Hope closer.

“What the bloody hell was that?” Killian shouted, he was done waiting in the background while the Crocodile was toying with his love, he made his way over to her and placed his hand on her back in silent support. Before realising the precarious situation between them at the moment and removing his hand, he wasn’t going to push her.

Emma’s parents went to investigate the situation outside, while he stayed by Emma’s side. Just as Hope stared to cry, jolted awake from all the commotion.

He bounced her in his arms trying to get her to settle, lightly shushing her and trying to placate her.

“Now your starting so see why I used that potion on her, I have some more if you want.” Gold said causally, like it was any form of justification.

“You’re not drugging my daughter.” Killian replied in a voice that left no room for argument.

“You drugged my daughter?” Emma interrupted, “And what the hell was that?” She asked, instantly blaming Gold for the commotion.

“That would be my gift to you, that is going to take care of Regina.”

There was another explosion outside then, the ground shaking once more. Before Emma’s parents called out: “Emma, come on we need to take care of Regina.”

“We’re not done.” She said coldly to Gold.

“Oh I know, he still owes me a favour.” He replied, pointing directly at Killian.

“You made a deal with him? After you begged me not to?” She hissed, directed at him.

“I had to, he took Hope.” He whispered back.

Another burst of light came from outside.

“Killian, get Hope to safety.” Emma said suddenly, before going to catch up with her parents, he knew she was worried about Hope. But…

“Emma I’m not leaving you.”  He replied, grabbing her arm, so she’d turn to look at him.

“Don’t you get it? I’m not asking you to leave me. I’m asking you to protect our daughter, I want you to come with me but we need to get Hope to safety. That’s what I’ve been saying all day. And despite everything I still love you Killian, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. So please… go.” Her voice breaking as she spoke.

She still loved him.

“I don’t want to see you hurt either.” He replied, he couldn’t let her go off into danger, he knew just how dangerous monsters from their world could be, he couldn’t watch her get hurt.

“Then close your eyes because I have to do this.” She replied firmly before walking away to meet  her parents.

***

He didn’t want to do it, but he needed to make sure Emma was ok, while he had no doubt she could defend herself he… He needed to be by her side. He couldn’t let her do this on her own.

It killed him leaving Hope with Ruby, but she was already looking out for Henry. And from what he knew about her in the Enchanted Forest, Hope would be in capable hands.

He needed to go find Emma.

He knew she’d likely gone after Regina, who was currently at the sheriffs station, but when he didn’t find anyone there. The next place to look was Regina’s office.

“I don’t understand I thought our land was gone.”

“It’s not.” Killian said from the doorway, walking in to meet them. His eyes were on Emma immediately, she was safe, that was all he could think about.

“I told you to stay with Hope!” She shouted, the second she saw him. She looked angry, but he knew that was just a mask for her worry.

“She’s safe.” He responded, Hope was far away from the danger, Emma however was walking right into the fire.

“Is she? You’re supposed to be protecting her.” She argued as he got closer, and he could truly see the worry on her face. she’d nearly lost Henry today. He wasn’t about to forget that.

“I’m protecting you .” He told her, brushing the hair out of her face. 

“I don’t need your protection.” She replied, pushing his hand away.

“I know you don’t.”

“Then why are you here!” She snapped.

“Because I love you and I’m not leaving you!” He replied matching her energy, he wasn’t leaving her. He’d always stay by her side.

“You don’t even know what we’re up against!” She yelled.

“Oh and you do?” He retorted, crossing his arms.

“Would you two quit the arguing I need to get this portal open.” Regina snapped, drawing him and Emma out of their bubble. There was a very real threat on the horizon.

“You’re opening a portal to our land? How the devil is that supposed to help?” He asked the Queen.

“By sending it to a place that no longer exists.” That would be a decent plan except…

“Well contrary to your belief, your majesty, our land still stands.”

“It shouldn’t.” She replied, not bothering to listen to his explanation.

“Your mother protected it.” He said simply.

“Cora’s alive? You had one job pirate.”

“Aye and our alliance became null and void the second I found out I’d be cursed, you failed to mention that important detail.” The lights flickered in the room, the sound of electricity cracking filled the air. Ready or not the beast was coming.

David lit his torch in preparation, as the monster roared. A wraith. He’d never encountered one in person before but he’d read about them in the past.

The doors flew open, as if pushed by an invisible force, it was here.

It appeared then, a shadowy monster with glowing red eyes. Floating above them, coming straight for its prey.

“Regina!” Emma encouraged, as David went forward with his torch in an attempt to fend it off. Hitting it with fire, while Mary Margret prepared a trap. It wasn’t long before the room was ablaze with intentional fire.

“Sometime today.” He pressed, this wasn’t looking good, they didn’t stand a chance if she couldn’t open the portal. While he didn’t think her plan would work, it was still one hell of a lotbetter than nothing.

“It’s not working.”

“That’s bloody brilliant.” He sighed, this wasn’t going to end well. “Are we sure we can’t let it just kill you? Then it disappears right?” He knew how this worked, and Regina seemed like an easy price to pay for their safety.

“Killian.” Emma admonished, reminding him that as much as he wanted to let her die, this redemption thing needed him to also protect Regina. He wasn’t by any means a hero, but for Emma he’d try his best. Even if that meant not letting the wraith kill Regina.

“It’s not working!” She repeated, and Killian grabbed a broom, lighting it on fire to help David fend off the monster.

“What is the problem?” Emma asked, crouching down to help Regina.

“Magic. It’s different here.”

“Now would be the time.” David called out, still battling futilely with the beast. Killian joined him, not knowing how much this was really helping, they needed to get the portal open.

Emma put her hand on Regina’s shoulder, somehow boosting her with her magic and then the portal opened. And a glowing purple vortex filling the room.

The wraith flung both Killian and David to the side before going to target Regina - who was stood next to Emma.

“It’s coming!” David shouted.

“Regina!” Emma yelled, pushing Regina out of the wraiths path.

Just as the wraith got sucked into the portal.

Then it dragged Emma in, and he felt his world crumble.

“Emma!” He called out, he couldn’t loose her. Not like this. His cry’s blended with David’s and Mary Margaret’s.

“I’m not loosing her again.” Snow shouted before jumping after Emma into the portal without a second thought.

He had to jump, he couldn’t loose her.

“Neither am I.” David called out, jumping over the barricade into the postal, just as it closed. They were gone.

They were stuck in the damed Enchanted Forest.

A heavy silence filled the air, as David examined the now destroyed hat for any chance at making another portal. He already knew they wouldn’t be so lucky. Transport between worlds was near impossible.

“Where are they?” David growled, rising to his feet.

“I have no idea.” Regina replied, her voice as cold and stoic as ever, but he could sense a little surprise. She didn’t expect Emma to save her. Of course she did, because she’s a bloody good person. And now because of Regina, she was trapped in another world. “The curse, it destroyed all the lands.”

“Are they dead?” David replied, his voice laced with grief stricken anger.

“I don’t know.”

“I should have killed you myself.”He yelled, moving to pin Regina against the wall. And for a second Killian was reminded of his younger self, when he first lost Milah, when he would have done anything for his revenge. David was about to walk down that path, a path laced with pain and suffering.   

“Well then what’s stopping you?” Regina tested him. Ready to strike back.

“Enough!” Killian interrupted, “As much as I hate to advocate for the Queen’s life, killing her is not a good first impression on your daughter for when she gets back.” He couldn’t let David do this, for Emma’s sake. Because she would get back.

“We don’t even know if they’re alive!” David yelled, the pain written in his voice.

“They are.” He replied, his voice coming out more steady than he thought possible at the moment.

“How do you know?”

“I just know.” Even if he didn’t know the Enchanted Forest was still standing, he’d know. He’d know if something happened to them.

“Would you to quit the fighting, I need to find my son.” Regina interrupted them.

“Emma’s son.” Killian corrected.

“He’s my son and I’m taking him with me.” Regina responded, like it was up for debate and she’d already won.

“No. I’ll take the lad, I know for a fact that Emma doesn’t want him with you, just because she saved your life doesn’t mean you get Henry.”

“You?” Regina practically mocked, “Absolutely not, I’m not having my son staying with some pirate.”

“For once I agree with the Queen.” David said backing her up. Before putting in his own argument. “Henry will stay with me, he’s my grandson.”

“He’s my son.” Regina bit back. 

“Why don’t we see what Henry wants?” Killian suggested, knowing they wouldn’t reach an agreement like this, at least not anytime soon or with any sort of guarantee a murder wouldn’t occur.

“He’s 10 he doesn’t know what he wants.” Regina argued back.

“You just know he won’t choose you.”

***

“Mom? Grandpa, Killian? What’s going on? Where’s my mom?” Henry asked the second they entered Granny’s, running up to ask Regina who’d taken the lead.

“They’re gone. They fell through a portal. Henry I’m sorry.” She said, bending down to his level. Meanwhile, Killian made his way over to Ruby, taking Hope back into his arms. Infinity grateful she was safe.

“No you’re not.”Henry replied to Regina, drawing his attention back to the two of them. “You really are the evil queen. I don’t want to see you agin.” Henry shouted, his voice think with grief.

“Don’t say that, I love you.”

“Then prove it. Get Emma and Mary Margret back. Until then, leave me and everyone else alone.” Henry replied, before running over to Killian and hugging him tightly.

“Can I stay with you?” Henry asked, looking up at him, his eyes beginning to sparkle with tears.

He smiled before answering, “Always, my boy.”

***

David had decided to put his feelings for Killian aside to join them at Mary Margaret’s apartment, and Killian couldn’t blame him. He’d only just gotten his family back after 28 years, only to loose them again in a matter of hours. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how that felt. To miss 28 whole years of his daughter’s life.

The second they entered the apartment Henry went and sat down on one of the stools starting hopelessly at a picture of Emma and Mary Margret.

“I thought when the curse got broken we could all be together. But now...” Henry whispered, sniffling slightly.

“Henry don’t worry Emma and Mary Margret they’re alive?” David told him reassuringly.

“How do you know.” Henry pushed.

“I have faith.” David replied.

“But…” Henry’s voice wobbled.

“Henry come here.” He said, bending down to meet Henry’s eyes.

“I will find them. I will always find them.”

Killian had read about the infamous charming family motto in Henry’s book, it was something else hearing it in person. Emma’s parents really were true love. He remembered when there was a time when he’d been thinking he and Emma might just have that and then he remembered how angry she’d been earlier and now… he didn’t have a bloody clue. He just knew he loved her, and probably always would.

“But what if they…”

“Lad, do you want to know how i survived this long?” Killian offered, taking a different approach, bending down to the boys level, Henry shook his head in response. “Well, you know lad that I’m a survivor, and I have this ring which is the reason why. I’ve had it for many years and it’s the reason I’m alive. It once belonged to my brother and now it belongs to Emma... She will come back lad, like your grandfather said, we will find each other.”

Henry jumped down from the chair to hug him, and he wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulder.

They’d get them back.

***

“You really love her don’t you?” David asked later that evening, when both kids had fallen asleep for the night.

“Aye I do.” Killian nodded, surprised that he’d managed to get something other than a glare from David.

“Do you think you could tell me about her, about Emma?”

“Of course.”

Chapter Text

A loud pounding on the door, interrupted them from their peaceful morning. Henry was watching tv, Hope was playing with her toys and Killian was supervising. Meanwhile, David had temporarily taken over Emma’s responsibilities as sheriff.

“Is that them? Are they back?” Henry asked, looking up at Killian expectantly. Like he had whenever someone knocked on the door. And just like everytime before, he knew Henry would be just as disappointed. They weren’t back yet.

He knew how difficult transport between the worlds was, and he didn’t want to give Henry false hope. He didn’t know how long there’d be gone for. But he knew it would be awhile.

But no amount of rationalisation could hide the desire in his own heart for them to be back. No matter what the chances were every time someone knocked on the door he hoped it was Emma, just as much as Henry.

“I don’t know lad, I’ll go investigate.” Killian responded, it had only been a couple days since Mary Margret and Emma had fallen through the portal, and every day was harder than the last.

Much to Killian’s disappointment, it wasn’t Emma and Mary Margret at the door, he knew it wouldn’t be but that didn’t do much to ease his worries about them. Instead it was probably the last person in this, or any realm, he wanted to see. Gold.

“What are you doing here?”Killian demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. “If you’re here for Hope then-“ he seethed, if he was here for Hope he didn’t know what he’d do, Hope hadn’t showed any signs of magic yet. So there still was a chance he was wrong, and Hope wouldn’t be of any use to him.

“Fortunately, I’m not here for the child, I’m here for you. I need your help.” Gold interrupted, as a wave of new questions flooded Killian’s mind, the most predominant being- Why?

“And why should I help you, you kidnapped my daughter.”

“Now I do believe you owe me a favour for that, now if you want to go back on that, I’m happy to repossess the child.” He’d almost forgotten about that deal, but even a reminder of that sent a chill down his spine and a sinking feeling to his stomach.

“She’s my daughter who you kidnapped.” Killian replied coldly.

“Semantics. We had a deal, you still owe me a favour. Now, if you help me with this I’ll consider your debt to me payed and we can go our separate ways. What do you say pirate?”

“Done.” He didn’t have a choice, he knew that. Hope couldn’t be the price, he’d begrudgingly do whatever the Crocodile asked for his daughter to stay safe.

“Wonderful.”

“Now what exactly do you want me to do?” He questioned, narrowing his eyes. Knowing the monster stood in front of him, it could be any number of evil things.

“I need to find someone, so we’re leaving today. Pack a bag.”

That was… unexpected.

“Who are you…” He started, who the hell would the Crocodile be after - especially in this world. The only person he could be after would be… “Baelfire is here?” He asked, his eyes widening. He hadn’t seen Baelfire since he was a boy, he’d probably be all grown up by now. At one point he’d been like a son to him and now… “You do realise the only person Baelfire hates more than me is you? What makes you think he’ll come back with us?”

“You know my son how exactly?” Gold retorted.

“That’s my business.” He replied cryptically knowing he now had information the Crocodile desperately wanted, despite their agreement to be civil, that didn’t erase a century of built up resentment. “Now do tell me, why do you want me for this?” He asked, he knew there were probably much better people for this, namely Emma with her years of bail bonds person experience.

“I thought you’d now understand the lengths a father would go to, to rescue their child. And I need someone who can leave without loosing their memory’s, someone who knows this world.”

“And that’s me?”

“Given the time you spent in this world, yes. Pack a bag, we leave at noon.” Gold said finally before turning to leave, leaving no room for argument.

There were much worse favours for him to ask, atleast this way he got to see Baelfire again. But that also meant leaving Hope and Henry, because there was no chance in hell he was taking them on a trip with the Crocodile as their guest of honour.

He hated how he’d have to leave them in town with Regina, she was still a threat, but given the towns current status against her, he didn’t expect her to cause a hassle. Even if she did, he knew she’d never hurt Henry. She may have been misguided in her ways but she clearly loved the boy.

Hope on the other hand was a different story.

Would Regina go after Hope in his absence?

Then there was the other issue, this was the first time Hope would be away from both her parents for a prolonged amount of time, and even now she was missing Emma greatly, it didn’t feel fair for her to be separated from both of them, even if it was just for a few days.

“What was that about?” Henry asked, running up to him a moment after The Crocodile left.

“Golds son.” Killian replied, he didn’t want Henry to get wrapped up in all the details about how Hope got kidnapped and the fact he owed that monster a favour.

“Baelfire? He’s here, in this world?” Henry asked inquisitively.

“It appears so.” Killian replied, surprised Henry knew his name, that book must be a hell of a lot more extensive than he first gave it credit for.

“Awesome, I want to meet him. Can I come?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to sit this one out lad.” Killian replied, Henry coming on this trip was absolutely not an option. He and Hope would be staying with David. He’d come to trust the prince over the past few days. He knew they would be in good hands with him. Even if it killed him to have to leave.

“Awww, are you sure?” Henry pressed.

“Lad, you just broke a curse, I think that’s enough adventure for a while.”

***

The flight had been luckily uneventful, other than Gold threatening security, that had been an unnecessary complication with nearly ended with them on the no fly list. But Killian managed to smooth things over and now finally after what felt like an eternity, they reached Manhattan.

“So did your magic crystal ball give us an apartment number?” Killian asked, they’d made it this far off of some sort of magical device, and he still wasn’t sure if he trusted it. When Gold didn’t answer he continued, “I’ll take that as a no, I’m also assuming you don’t have a name. So do any of these mean anything to you?” He asked, gesturing to the panel of names next to the gate.

“Unfortunately not.”

He scanned the list of names looking for some sort of hint, “What about that one?” He asked, pointing to the only blank space.

“It could just be vacant.” While Gold was probably right, this was still the best chance they had. Slightly hesitantly, he pressed on the button.

“Hello?” He said cautiously into the microphone.

No response, then they heard a rattling of the metal stairs outside. He was running.

They both heard it and it wasn’t long before they were outside, immediately spotting a hooded man making his escape.

“That favour you owe me, find him and get him to talk to me. I can’t run.” Gold said desperately, and it wasn’t long before Killian began the chase.

He had to do this.

He chased the hooded man, that he hoped was Baelfire, across the road and into a more built up area, chasing him around corners. He may have had a slight head start but Killian was faster, he was slowly gaining on him. Before he eventually caught up to him and tackled him to the ground.

And moments later he was face to face with Baelfire. This was no longer the same boy that had been aboard his ship all those years ago, but he definitely recognised him, he was still undoubtedly Baelfire. He felt a tug of familiarity as he stared at him but he couldn’t place where, he felt as if he’d seen the adult version of Baelfire before, but he knew that was probably just nothing, he shrugged the feeling off, right now Baelfire was starting back at him with the same level of intensity.

“Hook?” He asked, his voice different from when he was a lad, he still couldn’t believe how much he’d grown, he knew it had been so long ago and yet, it felt like nothing. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I’m here for you, more specifically because of your father.” Killian answered, as he stood up, offering Baelfire a hand, which he flat out ignored.

“You brought him to me? Why the hell would you do that?” Baelfire yelled, as he rose to his feet.

“Because I owe him a favour.” Killian replied, keeping his voice level, he wasn’t in the mood for a fight. 

“Why would you make a deal with the Dark One? I know how much you hate that man.” He questioned, angrily.

“He kidnapped my daughter.” He said simply enough. He understood Baelfire’s anger, but that didn’t change the fact that he needed to get Baelfire to talk to Gold. As much as it was nice seeing Baelfire after all this time, Hope was still back in Storybrooke and the reminder of her only made him miss her more.

“Captain Hook has a daughter?” Baelfire almost laughed, as if this was all some elaborate joke.

“Aye, that’s why I need you to come with me, to Storybrooke.” He knew Baelfire would decline, he’d built up a life in this world and going to some small town in the middle of nowhere to see a man you’ve spent years avoiding wouldn’t be something he’d be willing to do either. Except Killian had, he’d left his life in Boston and to come with Emma to Storybrooke. So there was a tiny chance Bae would too, for the right price.

“Storybrooke.” He repeated, as if he’d somehow heard the name before. “The curse is broken right? That means the Saviour’s there, correct?”Bae asked, firing questions off rapidly, and Killian could tell he was missing something important.

“The curse has been broken, but the Saviour’s not there at the moment. Why do you ask?” He did his best to answer Bae’s questions, before throwing in one of his own. “Why do you care about the Saviour?”

“What happened to her? Did she leave?” He asked, completely disregarding Killian’s question.

“No, she got sucked into a portal back to our land. But she’ll be back.” He replied, he didn’t like thinking about Emma being so far away from him and their daughter, but he had every confidence that she’d be back. She had to be.

Just then his phone bussed, and he opened it up to see a text from David, he only looked at it for long enough to verify that it wasn’t something urgent before moving to put his phone away.

“Who’s that?” Baelfire asked, grabbing Killian’s hand before he had a chance to put his phone away. “Let’s see the photo?” He was talking about Killian’s wallpaper, a photo of Emma he’d taken ages ago, before they had Hope. He’d kept the wallpaper as a reminder that she was his, and that incredible woman has somehow chosen him. (He also didn’t know how to change it, and even if he could he wouldn’t.) He’d asked Emma to set it for him years ago, and now it would feel strange to have it as anything else.

“Is that the Saviour?” Bae asked, staring intently at the photo.

“Aye, she is.” Killian answered, before putting his phone away. He still wasn’t quite used to Emma being the Saviour but he’d come to terms with it. It was her destiny after all. It was just sometimes strange that his Emma was also a princess from his world. After he’d spent so long thinking she’d never understand the full extent of his past because she was from this world.

“So why is the Saviour your wallpaper?” Baelfire asked, his tone accusatorially and Killian couldn’t place the reason.

“She’s my partner.”

“You’re seeing Emma?” Bae practically yelled in his face.

“How do you know her name, I never mentioned it.” Killian demanded, folding his arms. How the hell did Bealfire know Emma?

“Emma and I were close back in the day, I’m surprised she never mentioned me.” He answered like it was common knowledge, and Killian felt a twinge of jealously that there was this huge part of Emma’s life he didn’t know about.

“Guess you weren’t that important to her.” He retorted, letting his emotions overpower him.

“Trust me, I was. Emma and I were like this,” he crossed his fingers, “she would have meantiond me.”

He knew he shouldn’t be jealous of Emma’s past friendships, especially not Baelfire, who’d once been like a son to him.

He tried to calm his emotions slightly, this was Baelfire, not one of Emma’s exes. If this were Neal he was talking to right now that would be a completely different story, but this was Bae.

“Sorry mate, no such luck. But if you were such close friends I’m sure she’ll remember you when you get back.”

After a few more moments Killian did manage to convince Bae to accompany him back to Storybrooke, for the main reason of getting to reunite with Emma.

“So you fell in love with the Saviour? I’m guessing the feeling wasn’t mutual, Emma wasn’t big on love back when I knew her, stuff about her parents and all that.” Bae asked as they began the walk back towards the Crocodile, and Killian could already tell that wouldn’t be an easy conversation. Bae was returning for Emma, nothing else.

One thing was definitely clear though, Baelfire had feelings for Emma. And Killian wasn’t sure what the hell he should do about that. But one thing was for sure, he wouldn’t let Emma go without a fight.

“Oh the feeling is mutual, I’ve been with her for the past few years. And I assure you the feelings aren’t one sided.”

And maybe, just maybe Killian was a little jealous of him.

Killian had been gone for a few days, and in the meantime David had been juggling responsibilities as the sheriff and looking after both Hope and Henry. It was no easy task, given the mayhem the town descended into after the curse. Families being separated and the people in desperate need of a leader, which he knew wasn’t him.

Still despite it all he was managing.

Keeping Storybrooke safe for the inevitable return of his family.

There was just one new thing that he’d noticed in Killian’s absence, that he had forgotten to warn him about.

Hope had magic.

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since Gold and his son returned to Storybrooke, and from what Regina could tell he was in a similar situation to her and Henry.

Baelfire wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.

Still, right now they had other issues to worry about, and that being Cora. Who was alive. Just another issue the pirate couldn’t solve, and with Gold’s help they’d finally come up with a plan to finally get right of Cora for good. Or Emma and Snow White.

They had to take the risk of loosing them, if it meant stopping Cora.

It was better for Henry, this would protect him.

It had to be worth the risk, Regina knew the consequences this would have and how this could all go wrong, but she had to risk it. Cora couldn’t get to Storybrooke.

Regina watched as Gold summoned up a storm of magic crafting it into an impenetrable trap, coating the once harmless well. It was sure to kill whoever comes through the portal.

The well cracked with green light, a swirling vortex of doom. This would either be the end of Cora or Emma and Snow.

Moments later the portal crackled again, a flash of light ripping through the air and then suddenly it was just gone. The magic spell disappeared after completing its goal.

It had vanished its foe.

But whether that was Cora or Emma remained to be seen.

“So. What do we do now?” Emma asked Mary Margret as the portal closed in front of them. They’d lost. Cora had taken the compass and gone through the portal. They never stood a chance. Mulan had taken Aurora’s heart back to her leaving Emma alone with Mary Margret.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll figure something out. We just have to have hope.” Snow offered, infuriatingly optimistic as always. They’d lost. This couldn’t be solved by a few nice words.

“That’s the problem. I don’t have hope, because Hope is all the way back in Storybrooke, with Henry and Killian and we’re here! And we don’t have any way back, so sorry if I’m a little pessimistic.” She snapped, before taking a seat down in the sand. Her head slumping into her hands, she had no clue what to do. And everyone thought she was the saviour, some brave hero but she wasn’t.

She was just Emma.

And all she wanted to do was get back to her kids.

And her fiancé.

But even if she got back he was still Captain Hook, he’d still lied. About everything. She didn’t even know if she could trust him anymore. She just wished she could go back to her blissful ignorance of her life back in Boston, when everything was simpler.

“Emma I know I haven’t had a lot of time to be a parent but I promise you, we will get back. You just have to have ho… look on the bright side. We’re still together, we’ll find another way. You know your father and I have this saying that we’ll always find each other, and it’s never failed. You’ll get back to Killian, then you guys can be together.” Mary Margret offered, taking a seat a respectful distance away from her, even if she could tell in her eyes she wanted to be closer.

“I don’t know if there even is a together anymore. I was pretty mad when I left, he’d known the entire time and well… I snapped.” 

“Do you want there to be a together?” She pressed. And Emma was still far from used to this persistence, it reminded her of Henry. Unsurprising after all, since apparently they were all related. She’d gone from orphan to having one of the largest fairytale family trees in history practically overnight.

“It’s complicated. He lied to me for years about everything, I don’t know what’s real with him anymore.” She sighed, she didn’t want to think about this now. She’d spent the entire time they’d been here thinking about the mess that awaited them back in Storybrooke.

“Do you love him?”

Despite everything she’d said to him, she did. Of course she did. She didn’t think for a second, she could ever stop loving him.

She nodded slowly in conformation, unable to articulate her feelings.

“Did you ever doubt that he loves you?”

She thought back to some of her favourite memories of just the two of them, back to when their life was simple. And even some of the moments from their time in Storybrooke before shaking her head.

She never doubted Killian loved her.

“So he didn’t lie about everything.” Mary Margret continued and a gentle smile graced Emma’s face as she thought back to something Killian said right before she left.

“Before we left Killian had this theory about us being true love.” She said quietly, her voice not much more than a whisper. As if saying the words made it real.

If Hope had magic they were true love, atleast that’s what Killian believed.

And a few months ago she would have believed it too, now she wasn’t so sure.

“He promised that he’d never lied to me but what if that was just another lie.” She admitted, she didn’t want to think that. But she couldn’t help it.

There was this whole giant part of Killian’s life that he never told her about, he never told her that he was from the Enchanted Forest, that he was Captain Hook and he never told her any of it.

“But what if it wasn’t.” Mary Margret encouraged.

“He should have told me.” If Killian wasn’t hiding this for any nefarious reasons he should have just told her.

“Would you have believed him if he had?”

She sighed, giving her words a moment to sink in, “I don’t know. Maybe.” She answered. But she already knew she wouldn’t have. It took Henry nearly dying for her to see the truth.

“Emma you were planning on marrying this man and-“

“I don’t exactly have the best track record for guys I’ve dated.” She cut her off, Mary Margret and her perfect view of love was clouding her judgement, Emma had real world experience, she knew things didn’t always go well. “How do I even know if Killian’s one of the good ones?”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Emma, I lived with the two of you for months during the curse, he looks at you like you hung the stars in the sky, like you’re the most important thing in his world. He really loves you Emma. You can’t fake that.”

Mary Margret paused for a moment before continuing, “Have you thought about that maybe the reason he didn’t tell you was because he thought that you wouldn’t believe him, and he was afraid of loosing you, rather than keeping it from you as some kind of manipulation? I think he would have told you after the curse. Don’t you?”

“I don’t know what to think.” She admitted, slumping her shoulders. “It’s all a lot. I just don’t know if he’s still my Killian.”

“Maybe he’s not the one that changed? Unlike the rest of us Killian wasn’t cursed, he’s had his memory’s the whole time, he didn’t wake up from the curse to an entirely different life. He’s still the same person you agreed to marry, only now you know the truth. Maybe you’re the one who changed.”

She tried to give Mary Margaret’s words a moment to settle in, but it was still a lot. It was hard to reconcile the man she agreed to marry with the pirate she knew from the story’s. If the story’s were even remotely close to the truth.

In reality, she knew nothing about his past.

Even if he had always been truthful while he was with her, she still didn’t know his past.

“How did Killian do it?” Snow asked after a moment, her tone changing as she rose to her feet.

“What?”

“Killian wasn’t cursed, so how did he get to your realm?” She asked, as she began pacing across the sand.

Emma shrugged, soon catching on to Mary Margret’s train of thought. “I don’t know I never got a chance to ask him.”

“Maybe we could find a clue on his ship? I believe Pirates keep log books, his ship is here right?” Snow was definitely on to something, and Emma stood to join her.

“I assume so, I don’t remember seeing a pirate ship in Boston.”

For the second time since they arrived in this world they finally had a plan, Emma just hoped this one wouldn’t end in disaster.

***

“That explains why he always loved talking Hope to the harbour. He used to say in another life he owned a boat like this,“ Emma chuckled, gesturing to the boats around them as they walked into the harbour, “I guess he wasn’t wrong.” The journey hadn’t been too long, but Emma’s legs definitely hurt and she was long overdue for a break. But seeing all of the ships around them, gave her hope for the first time in a while.

This plan might actually work.

But it could also be a massive waste of time, landing them further from getting home.

“Are you sure about this? Like how do we know which boat is Killian’s?” Emma asked, as they passed another large ship that people were frantically loading stuff onto.

“The Jolly Roger.” Snow answered confidently.

“And you know that how exactly?” Emma questioned, her arms crossed over her chest,

“I met him back in the Enchanted Forest, tried to secure passage on his ship, to get me away from Regina.” Snow answered with a shrug.

“You met Killian?” Emma asked, her mouth agape.

“Once.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I saw how happy he made you and I didn’t want to say anything to spoil it and I didn’t exactly get a lot of chances too before we got thrown here.”

Emma bobbed her head in agreement and a few moments later they stopped in their tracks.

“There it is.” Mary Margret said, gesturing to what was easily the largest ship in the entire harbour.

The ship itself was impressive to say the least but that wasn’t the only thing Emma noticed. “Small issue, it looks occupied. Sure you got the right ship?” Snow nodded in response. Great. They’d have to fight off a whole pirate crew, she’d fought an ogre in their brief time here, this couldn’t be too hard. “So what’s the plan?”

“Sneak about and look for a clue.” Mary Margret replied as if it was somehow going to be easy. And Emma knew it wouldn’t be, pirates were dangerous and unpredictable. Atleast that’s what fairytales taught her, but she still couldn’t think of Killian like that. He’d never been a pirate to her, always just Killian.

***

They waited for nightfall to finally put their plan into action, and lucky for them the stocky man Mary Margret identified as Blackbeard seemed to make his way into the nearest tavern the second dusk came. Blackbeard appeared to be the captain of this ship - temporary captain rather, it was still very much Killian’s ship - but that didn’t mean the ship was by any means empty, he could still have crew remaining inside.

While they didn’t exactly blend in with anyone here, their clothes drawing a lot of unwanted attention, that had been greatly reduced since darkness fell. Now their main issue was the drunken sailors hitting on them, that was more annoying rather than anything.

Mary Margret had punched a few of them, she had to making her wonder something about this place… did they even have laws here? Regina killed countless people during her reign here, so she was guessing the answer to that would be a resounding no.

Somehow, they made it into the ship without too much hassle. She never thought she’d be thankful people thought she was a prostitute. (Who was she kidding, that wasn’t much different to a big part of her old job.) Still, she was glad they didn’t get questioned.

Luckily, the ship was fairly empty, not a person in sight as they made their way below deck, and into the captains quarters. Even from the first look at the room she knew it was decorated by Killian, everything about this place reminded her about him. It had centuries of clutter and memory’s filling the space, other than the bed it didn’t look like Blackbeard had touched the space in the slightest.

Mary Margret walked slightly ahead of her into the room and began searching for a captains log of some sort, reminding Emma that they only had a short amount of time to do this.

While Mary Margret began flipping through books, Emma started looking herself. Pulling out a faded green leather bound book, the title long since worn with age. She opened the first page, the writing somewhat smudged with age and read the hand written note.

𝒯𝑜 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓊𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒶𝓃𝓉, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒦𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓃.    

The note began, the next few lines were smudged and hard to make out but she recognised the word stars, before reading the final line.

𝒞𝒶𝓅𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝐿𝒾𝒶𝓂 𝒥𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈

Killian’s brother.

Killian’s brother had given him a book about the stars, no wonder Killian always knew so much about them. She looked again at the smudged writing in the middle, it wasn’t just faded with age, it was faded with tears. She knew how much Liam’s death had affected Killian, but it was different seeing like this.

She popped the book back down, remembering their limited time and opened another, a guide on how to tie knots, then two different map books, then a book about different sea monsters. Before she opened the next book, a piece of paper falling out before she even had a change to read the title. She picked the piece of paper up, and saw there was a hand drawn picture of a woman on it. She didn’t need the inscription to know it was a drawing of Milah.

She tucked the drawing back inside the book, skimming the shelves looking for something that could be of use.

That’s when they heard footsteps above deck. Blackbeard was back. She exchanged a worried glance with Mary Margret, verifying she’d heard the noise as well. She motioned for Emma to follow her into a small corner of the room so that they’d be hidden front the entrance, they ducked behind the table so that they had enough time to hopefully form a plan. They still weren’t any closer to finding that magic bean, and now they were about 30 seconds from enduring the wrath of a pirate captain.

“Who goes there?” Blackbeard demanded as his footsteps grew closer, they clearly hadn’t been as subtle as they intended.

They heard a clattering noise as Blackbeard flipped a small table sending trinkets cascading across the floor. Blackbeards footsteps echoed around the cabin growing closer with every step.

“Got ya.” Blackbeards voice echoed, filling the small room as he grabbed Mary Margret by the wrist, violently pulling her to her feet. “Well if it isn’t Snow White, I’m sure you’ll fetch a pretty penny at the next market.”

“Leave her alone.” Emma demanded, rising to her feet her hand instinctively resting on her gun - shit - she was out of bullets. 

“On whose authority?” Blackbeard mocked, and Emma grabbed a sword she’d had her eye on for a  few moments holding it up to Blackbeards throat. She’d fought a dragon before but she was by no means an expert, she had no idea what she was doing.

“You’ve clearly never held a sword before, but if that’s how you want to play it I’m more than happy to change you to a duel for her life.” She knew she didn’t stand a chance in an actual duel, instead she lowered the sword, pulling out her gun. She knew it was empty. Blackbeard didn’t.

“Give her back or I shoot.” She threatened, instead of the fear she was expecting Blackbeard smiled, a sick twisted grin.

“Ah feisty, I like my women like that.” She cringed internally at his words, trying not to let it show on her face.

“I’m more interested in the vessel, what would you be willing to part with it for?” She could tell from the memories in this room alone how much this ship meant to Killian, if she could get it back for him then…

“I’m not interested in selling.” He replied, disappointment settled in her stomach, she wanted to do this for Killian. He’d talked about wanting to teach Hope how to sail in the past, for when she was older, on one of their many walks at the harbour, she’d just nodded and bumped his shoulder reminding him he’d need to get a boat first- something they could never afford at the time. He had nodded in response, getting a far off look in his eyes. She now knew why, he had a boat. She would love to get it back to him.

“We’re here for a magic bean.” Snow piped in, doing her best to wrestle free from Blackbeards grip, shooting Emma a look because she completely got sidetracked trying to help Killian.

They were here for a bean, not a ship.

“Now that I can help with, for a price.” Blackbeards sinister smile was back, his eyes darting between them, curious as to what they were offering.

“Gold.” Mary Margret said quickly.

“Ah but I could get that by ransoming you and keeping the ship.” Blackbeard retorted, as Snow tugged against his grip.

“Revenge on the person this ship truly belongs to, because we both know it’s not yours.” Emma offered quickly, an idea forming in her mind.

She didn’t know the details, but she had a feeling Killian and Blackbeard did not get along in the slightest, she was willing to risk being wrong for the chance she was right about this. And she would wager Blackbeard would kill Killian on sight, even if he had to cross realms to do it.

A pit opened up in her stomach at the mere thought of endangering Killian’s life, no matter how mad she was at him she didn’t want that. But she knew Killian was in no real danger, all she had to do was get back to Storybrooke, then she knew she’d be able to find and warn Killian before Blackbeard got anywhere near him. He’d be safe.

“From what I’ve heard he’s not in this realm.” Blackbeard replied, his surprise at Emma’s offer caused his grip to loosen on Mary Margret enough for her to slip free.

“He’s in the realm we wish to seek passage to.”

“You will take me to this realm.”He demanded, his eyes narrowing.

“Then we’ll need that bean.” Snow replied.

“Not how this works. Tell me the name of this realm.” This wasn’t going according to plan, they were supposed to have the upper hand, they were supposed to be in control of the situation.

They never stood a chance.

“Storybrooke.” Emma said through gritted teeth, they may not have the upper hand in this realm, but Emma knew that once they were in Storybrooke, she’d be able to find Killian long before Blackbeard ever found him.

“Tie ‘em up!” Blackbeard called out, and soon two muscled men in black clothing and an eye patch made their way below deck, and grabbing Emma and Snow respectively, holding them with a grip they had no chance of escaping. As they bound their wrists with rope, before dragging them above deck and tying them to the mast.

The men left then, as the pair of them struggled futility against their restraints. It was no use, they were trapped.

“I know you’re mad at Killian right now Emma, but selling him out won’t help your situation.” Snow hissed, keeping her voice low.

“I know that, I’m planning on double crossing Blackbeard the second we get to Storybrooke, I can guarantee I’ll be able to get to Killian before Blackbeard ever sets eyes on him.”

“Alright. I trust you.” Snow nodded, and Emma still wasn’t used to the level of unwavering faith Mary Margret seemed to have in her.

Moments - or what felt like hours for them - later the ship departed from port, Blackbeard smirked wickedly as he grabbed a bean from atop his hat and tossed it into the water, a giant swirling vortex appearing in front of them.

Blackbeard captained the ship through the portal, the boat rocking violently it did, the world seemed to shimmer and morph around them until they were thrown out violently back into the sea.

They were back.

Emma could faintly make out the edge of Storybrooke on the horizon, the view becoming more clear as they got closer. Her mind a mess trying to come up with a solution to get her and Mary Margret out of this, and get Blackbeard thrown in jail, a suitable enough punishment for tying them up. More importantly it would keep him away from Killian.

As the ship drew closer Emma could make out the edge of the harbour, and could see the clocktower in the distance. They were truly back. Hope flooded through her, for the first time since they fell through the portal.

All she had to do was make sure she got to Killian before Blackbeard. Then everything would be perfect.

Then she saw it, a dark figure stood on the edge of the harbour, she was too far away to make out who it was but judging by the sinking feeling in her stomach, that had swallowed her hope whole, she knew exactly who it was.

As the ship approached she finally saw him, clear as day.

Killian was stood at the fucking harbour.

With Hope.

Chapter Text

Killian knew about the celebration party at Granny’s they were hosting for Baelfire, he just had no interest in attending. Not without Emma. Not when she was stuck back in his land, not knowing how much he loved her. Their last words to each other before she left had been in anger, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could take being away from her.

He knew her mother was capable of making sure she stayed safe, and teaching her about their realm but he wished he could have been there with her. He couldn’t help but wonder how things would have been different if he was there with her right now. What would have changed?

He’d been missing Emma more lately, he knew she was alive thanks to Henry’s nightmares where he could talk to Aurora and Snow, but it was nothing compared to being able to speak to Emma herself. That’s what brought him here.

The harbour.

Emma had suggested a while ago that, he should take Hope to see the Storybrooke’s harbour, a trip that never ended up happening. But now with everything calmer, he seized the opportunity to take her out to visit it.

He’d often taken Hope out to visit the harbour when they were in Boston, and he’d point out all the ships and tell her story’s about his pirating days. Now, he was here in Storybrooke’s harbour because it made him think of Emma. As if everything else in this entire town wasn’t doing that enough. But here felt different.

He felt closer to her. Maybe it helped that the sea had always calmed him, maybe it was because it was that Emma suggested that he come here. He didn’t know. He just knew he felt closer to Emma here.

Hope seemed to like it too. Pointing out all the different boats. Calling out loudly “Boat!” every time she saw one. Hope was growing up fast, her vocabulary had improved greatly while they’d been here and she was almost 2 now. He could hardly believe how fast the time had gone.

She was walking a few steps ahead of him now, pointing and jumping whenever she saw something exciting, her blue eyes widening with excitement at every new sight. Killian was constantly within arms reach making sure she never ventured too close to the edge, or tripped on a coil of rope.

Still, Hope was happy. Which, in turn, made him happy, he knew how hard it was for her to be away from Emma like this.

“Daddy! Daddy! Boat!” Hope called out excitedly  pointing frantically out to sea. Running back over to him and pulling him by the hook over in the direction she was pointing in.

That was something else that had changed. Hope loved his hook.

Whether that was holding onto it while they were walking, wrapping her little hand around it while he was holding her, anything really. Hope truly loved it. Which scared the hell out of him.

Hence why he’d found this pink rubber ball that he’d been using on the end to make sure he never actually hurt his little girl. The only problem with that was, Hope didn’t like it, whenever she saw him wearing it she’d always tug on it till it came off. Which she’d done enough times for Killian to finally give up on wearing it.

Still, it meant the world to him that his little lass accepted this part of him so easily and openly.

He’d stared wearing the hook because Henry practically begged him to, curious why he wasn’t ever wearing it before the curse got broken. David on the other hand didn’t trust the hook in the slightest. But Hope loved it. And so since then he’d worn it every day just to make her happy. It no longer served as a reminder of his past, after so long of wearing it, it had just become a part of him.

Hope tugged on his hook again, zoning him back into the present. “That’s the sea lass, but there are more boats over there.” He guided her gaze over towards some more of the moored boats, but she seemed entirely transfixed on looking out into the distance.

“Daddy! Boat!” She continued pointing back out at sea. That’s when he spotted a ship on the horizon, a pirates ship. One that reminded him of his own ship back in the Enchanted Forest. But that was impossible, this realm didn’t have ships of that type, especially not here in Storybrooke.

Hope kept pointing as the ship grew closer, and he pulled out his spyglass in order to get a look.

Blackbeard.

He did a double take, expecting to have been imagining it, but there he was clear as day. Sailing towards him, on the Jolly Rodger no less.

“Mommy!” Hope called out as the ship grew closer. And Killian had to pick her up into his arms to keep her away from the edge, as well as to keep her away from Blackbeard. He had no idea what he wanted, but he knew it wouldn’t be good.

“Mommy!” Hope shouted again, as Killian peered through his spyglass, looking from Blackbeard to the other members of his crew before he saw her. Emma. His Emma, tied to the mast of his ship. Her eyes trained onto him.

He was going to kill Blackbeard.

As the ship drew closer he had to face a choice, keep Hope out of danger or rescue Emma, he couldn’t risk either of them but he had to save Emma. Even if she hated him for it after.

The ship docked onto the harbour, Blackbeards men coming to tie the ship to the dock, not sparing Killian a glance. Giving him a moment to climb on board, a very fidgety protesting Hope in his arms because he wasn’t about to let her run free into a dangerous situation.

“Well, well if it isn’t Captain Hook. Long time no see.” Blackbeard mocked, immediately spotting Hope, it made his stomach twist when Blackbeard stared at his daughter. She shouldn’t be here, this wasn’t her fight.

“If you’re here about our last deal, then I believe we’re even, you got the ship.” Killian said coldly, he thought he’d feel something being back on his ship after all this time, and yet now it was just pieces of wood, the attachment he once felt to it paled in comparison with his love for his daughter.

“Oh no, I’m not here about that. I’m here on another matter, I’m here to kill you. See it works out much better for me to get rid of my Hook problem once and for all, then this ship is truly mine. And from what I can see that will be easier than I first intended. Captain Hook has gone soft.”

“Mommy!” Hope shouted, blissfully ignorant to the conversation around her, her arm reaching desperately towards Emma. And Killian had to force himself to pull his gaze away from her, back to Blackbeard.

“You’re with the bar wench? Captain Hook truly has gone soft. I never pegged you as the family type, too much of a cold hearted villain for that if you ask me. Still, it’ll be much more fun watching you bleed out in front of your loved ones.”

Killian wanted to punch him. He was not about to let this man kill him in front of his family.

Contemplating his options, he took a step forward dangerously close to Blackbeard, and pulled Blackbeards sword from his sheath. He’d left his back at the apartment, never expecting his simple outing with Hope to take such as sadistic turn.

“Killing a man with his own sword is just too good of an offer to pass up, especially a monster like you.” Killian hissed, pointing the blade at Blackbeard, holding Hope close to him with his hooked hand.

“Me? A monster? Compared to you I’m nothing.” Blackbeard retorted, pulling a different cutlass from a sheath because of course he had two of them.

This was about to get messy.

Rage bubbled through Emma. Killian was not a monster. She didn’t know his past but she was damn sure of that fact. She watched helplessly as the two men argued, Hope caught in the crossfire. She was so close and yet completely out of reach. 

She needed to do something, she couldn’t just watch hopelessly as her daughter was in the middle of the fight. Killian had a tight grip on Hope as Blackbeard moved his sword to attack, Killian blocked it, moving to attack. But it was clear to Emma even from all the way over here Killian wasn’t playing to attack. He was playing defensively. His priority on keeping Hope safe. He didn’t stand a chance like this.

She tried to force her wrists free again, the ropes seeming to tighten more with every struggle, until she was sure her wrists were red. It wasn’t just her hands that were bound either, the rope around her waist that secured her to the mast was severely limiting her options. It didn’t help Mary Margret was in the exact same position next to her.

She heard the swords clatter once more, and she looked up to see a thin line of blood across Killian’s cheek while Blackbeard remained unharmed. Killian was loosing. Badly.

She needed to get Hope out of this or atleast untie herself, something.

“Got it.” Mary Margret whispered from next to her, and Emma turned her attention to her, her eyes widening as Mary Margret had managed to escape from this. The question of how was on the tip of her tongue as Mary Margret began untying her wrists.

Between them the managed to struggle out of the rope that tied them to the mast - entirely grateful to a dagger Mary Margret had on her that made this entire thing possible. The second they were free Emma’s eyes immediately focused onto Killian and Hope.

The steady clashing of metal had been a constant, Killian and Hope both looked fine, much to Emma’s immediate relief but she could see this duel wouldn’t go well if she didn’t get Hope out of it. Despite Killian clearly being more skilled she knew he was at a disadvantage.

Blackbeard drew closer to Killian, his blade ready to strike. But Killian seised the opening, kicking him to the ground Blackbeards sword, clattering next to him, but instead of using the opening to finish him off. He used the opportunity to place Hope down on the ground whisper something to her and then Hope bounded towards her a full force, and Emma bent down and hugged Hope tightly to her chest. She was safe.

“I missed you so much baby.” Emma whispered into her daughter’s hair, and for a moment it felt like just the two of them, the world didn’t exist outside of their little bubble.

Then she heard Killian grunt, she looked up as horror filled her vision, as Blackbeard had Killian pinned to the side of the ship, hanging slightly over the edge, cutlass to his throat.

“Take Hope, go find David.” Emma told Mary Margret, passing Hope over to her as much as it killed her to she needed to save Killian.

“Emma I’m not leaving you.”

“Please, go make sure Hope stays safe. And go check on Henry.” She said quickly, they didn’t have time to argue.

“They’re at Granny’s!” Killian choked out, over hearing their not so quiet conversation, as Blackbeard pressed the sword closer to his throat.

“Please.” Emma practically begged, placing a kiss on Hope’s cheek who was already reaching out to her. It already killed her to make this decision.

“Alright.” Mary Margret nodded, running quickly off the ship with Hope to go find the rest of their family. But for now Hope was safe. Only now Killian wasn’t.

She didn’t have a plan as she charged over there, only anger. This man had tied her up, risked her daughter’s life and was now about to kill her fiancé.

“Leave him alone.” Emma shouted, picking up the discarded sword from the ground, and holding it towards Blackbeard with more confidence than she felt. It didn’t matter that she’d never used one before, she was pretty sure she could still kill him if she so desired.

Blackbeard turned his attention to Emma for a brief second, and Killian took advantage of the situation to push him back, shoving him against the ground, knocking the air out of his lungs.

He used the opportunity, punching him once, then twice, knocking him unconscious. Then his gaze darted up to her, his eyes softening as he released his fist.

He walked over to her then, stepping away from Blackbeard. His eyes studying her face for any injuries, or just that she was there, she couldn’t tell. And she didn’t mind it, felt good just seeing him again.

There was so much that needed to be said between them.

Her hand went up to cup his cheek, her thumb running along the cut that he’d gotten during the fight.

“Are you alright?” She asked, her eyes locking with his. It was the first words she’d spoken directly to him since she’d returned. And there was still so much she wanted to say.

He nodded, leaning into her touch. “I’m fine love, I’ve given my self worse cuts scratching my nose with the wrong hand.”

She ran her fingers over the cut again, wishing that she could somehow heal it, that he wouldn’t have to be in pain. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, basking in his touch, and her fingers started to tingle.

When she opened her eyes, the cut was gone. It was like… magic.

“What was that love?” Killian asked, moving his hand to touch his cheek, surprised when it came away without blood.

“Magic.” Emma whispered, her voice awe struck. She had magic.

“That was bloody amazing.” Killian said with a grin, his arms wrapping around her waist before picking her up and twirling her in his arms before landing her back on the ground.

His face was inches away from hers, she knew exactly what he was thinking. So she leaned up and pressed her lips to his.

“I missed you.”she whispered, pulling away after a moment. His hands still wrapped around her waist, she missed the intimacy of moments like this soo much.

“I missed you too.” He replied, running his fingers through her hair.

“What?” She asked after a moment, sensing something off in his gaze.

“It’s nothing… I just didn’t expect I’d ever have this again, I’m sorry I never told you and I-“

“I don’t care about that now. I’m just go glad to have you back.” She said cutting him off, and she meant it. Everything else could wait, right now she was just so glad to have him back.

He pulled her in for another kiss, her hand finding purchase in his hair while his hand and hook rested around her waist. As much as she wanted to get lost in the kiss she couldn’t, she pulled back after a moment, her hand tracing along the cool metal of his hook.

“Hey, this is new.” It suited him, she wondered if it’d been different not wearing his hook for all those years back in Boston. It looked like a part of him, as if it’d always been there.

“Yeah… Henry wanted me to wear it and Hope loves it but if you don’t then-“

“I like it.” She grinned, as she rested her forehead against his.

And for a moment he wasn’t Captain Hook he was her Killian once more, the one she knew all too well. She’d had time to think, and at the end she could only come to one conclusion. She missed him.

A lot. 

There was still stuff to figure out, they weren’t going to go back to them over night but she knew she wanted to try.

“So sailor we have a few moments before we have to meet my parents at Granny’s…”

“What did you have in mind, lo-“ She pulled him in for another kiss.

“I’ve got a few ideas.” She whispered, a wicked smile on her lips.

***

They dropped black Blackbeard off at the sheriffs station on their way to Granny’s, they’d spent longer than they meant to aboard Killian’s ship but she couldn’t find herself to mind. She’d missed her fiancé more than she would ever admit.

They walked hand in hand towards Granny’s as Killian started telling her about how he went with Rumplestiltskin to rescue Baelfire.

“He was like a son to me at one point, oh and that reminds me, he said he knew you.” Killian said, immediately catching Emma’s attention.

“Huh, strange I never knew a Baelfire, maybe if he went by an alias?” She asked, Baelfire wasn’t exactly a common name in this world.

“Probably, he seemed pretty insistent that he knew you.”

“You know all my friends, all like 2 of them before I met you. That being Lily, and if you can call an ex that got me sent to jail at 17 a friend .” She shuddered slightly at the reminder of Neal, grateful that she’d never have to see his face again. She’d moved on long ago, and she couldn’t be happier to have Killian by her side. 

“We’ll see love.” Killian replied, placing a kiss on her cheek as they finally reached the diner. Emma walked in, with Killian’s hand resting on the small of her back, a constant reminder he was beside her.

“Emma!” David called out the second she entered, rushing over to her and pulling her into a hug, his hand going to cup the back of her head.

She still wasn’t used to the affection from him, but she could tell he needed it more than she did right now, and anyway it felt good. It was reassuring to know she had people that cared about her other than just Killian and Hope.

“Mom!” She heard Henry’s voice next, before Henry appeared in her arms, hugging tightly to her waist. She wrapped her arms around him, she missed him so much. It felt so good being home.

“Emma!” A voice thundered from across the diner, a voice she instantly recognised. A voice she never expected to hear here. It couldn’t be. There was no way.

David and Henry gave her a little space, looking over at the man who’d just called out, as Emma’s shoulders tensed.

The room went dead silent.

She looked over at Killian for some kind of reassurance but…

He was fucking smiling.

She looked over then, and her eyes met him for a split second. She felt like she was going to throw up. How the actual fuck was he here?

Neal.

Neal Cassidy, the man who ruined her life was stood across the diner, waving at her as if they were old friends.

No.

No.

No.

The room started to spin, everything felt like it was upside down.

What was he doing here?

She looked at him once more and that was when her heart stopped.

He had Hope in his arms.

She didn’t care she was in the middle of a crowded diner right now, she didn’t care about making a scene, all she cared about was that Neal was holding her daughter.

“Give me back my daughter!” She yelled, storming across the daughter, ignoring the several inquisitive stares.

She stood an arms length in front of Neal, her arms crossed.

Oh god, he was really here, this was really happening.

“I’m sorry your daughter? You’re with Hook now?” His tone sounded accusatory, but he did pass Hope over to her, and a wave of temporary relief flooding through her. 

“Neal…” She started, she didn’t have a plan of what the hell she was going to say, she wanted answers for a start. Why the hell did he leave?

And why the fuck was he back?

“How do you know Hook?” He spat Killian’s moniker like an insult.

“He’s my fiancé. Now what are you doing here?” She answered, doing her best to keep this civil, they were in a diner with half the town, Emma’s entire family were watching them. This couldn’t be real.

“You’re engaged to that monster?”

She didn’t dignify him with a response, “What are you doing here Neal?”

“So you really picked the pirate over me? C’mon Em’s I thought I meant something to you.” She always hated that nickname of his, it always made her feel young and naive.

“You left me over a decade ago, you don’t get a say on my life. Neal, I’m not having this conversation with you, not here.” She didn’t want to do this, not now. Not here. Not ever.

She took a step away from him, turning away from him only to be met with David. The entire Diner had heard their conversation. She wanted to run away. She passed Hope to her father, not trusting her legs not to give out at the moment.

“Mom? What’s going on?“ Henry ran up to her and asked, as a light chatter started to echo around the room.

Henry. He was here, he’d heard everything.

And his biological father was stood just 5 steps behind them. This was a nightmare. She’d told Henry that Neal was dead for so many reasons, the main one being she never wanted to see him again. She never wanted Henry to go through all the hell she’d gone through when he left. Because she already knew he’d leave.

Leaving a wave of destruction behind him.

“How do you know Baelfire?” Henry asked, looking up at her as if she held all the answers in the world.

Bealfire.

Henry said Baelfire.

Meaning… Neal was Baelfire.

Neal was a fucking fairytale character.

Was this all just some sick twisted plan?

Did he know this whole time?

Was he just using her this whole time?

She wanted the truth. All of it.

She was fed up of half truths of people thinking she couldn’t handle the truth. She just wanted the full story.

…Killian.

Killian. Killian brought Neal back.

Killian brought Neal back to her.

Did he know?

Did he know this whole time?

Was he just playing her?

Could she even trust him?

This was worse than her worst nightmare.

Killian had betrayed her in the worst way possible, and Neal was here acting like he was something other than the villain in her story. And Henry… Henry was here.

Looking at her desperately for an answer.

“Wait, Who’s this?” Neal asked, cutting through her thoughts.

“My son.” Emma said, without sparring him a glance, she could still feel his gaze on her.

“What?!” Neal half shouted, as every conversation in the diner stopped at once, all heads turned on them. “How old are you?” Neal demanded.

“Don’t answer him.” She whispered to Henry, Neal didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve to be in Henry’s life.

“How old are you?” Neal repeated, only louder this time. Everyone was still staring.

“Eleven.” Henry replied, “Now why is everyone yelling?” He asked, looking between the adults in the room, desperate for an answer that seemingly everyone else knew.

“He’s eleven.” Neals voice repeated, and Emma turned to see the surprise on his face. He knew.

“Emma, what’s going on?” Snow asked her voice soft, an unwelcome reminder they were in a room full of half of the town. A bloody spectacle.

“Is this.. is this my son?” Neal asked, as Snow gasped, and the diner fell into a heavy silence.

“No… my dad was a fireman he died. That’s what you told me. You said…” Henry stuttered, the feeling of betrayal heavy in his voice.

“Is this my son?” Neal repeated.

More than anything she wanted to say no, to stop Henry getting hurt. But the only thing that came out of her mouth was…

“Yes.” Her voice came out as nothing more than a whisper, and yet everyone heard her.

Henry ran, running out of the diner without another word. And Emma immediately went to go after him, fuck everyone else.

“Henry!” She called out, racing to the door.

“I’ll go after him.” Regina interrupted, moving to stand in front of her, blocking her from leaving. “I believe you have some unfinished business waiting behind you.” She said before turning to run after Henry.

She felt a strong arm tug around her waist and she didn’t need to look to know it was Killian. She met his gaze, he was still looking at her if she were perfect and yet all she saw was betrayal. He brought Neal back. He did this.

“Why didn’t you tell me Em! I deserved to know!” Neal demanded and she turned around to face him.

“Because you left me!” She snapped. 

“And now what… your with the pirate?”

“Killian loves me.” She answered, she didn’t know where she stood with Killian right now but it was sure as hell better than anything she ever had with Neal.

Neal betrayed her.

…

Killian also betrayed her.

Fuck.

Was Killian really any better? Neal may have just left but at least he didn’t lie to her for years.

“Does he?” Neal retorted, “He killed his first love, he killed Milah and blamed it on my father.”

“Is this true?” She asked, looking up at Killian. Pulling out of his embrace, she didn’t know what to think anymore.

“Emma you can’t really believe that I’d-“

“I don’t know what to believe! I hardly know you!” She snapped, did she really know anything about him anymore? Did she ever?

“Who do you believe Em? Me or the pirate?” Neal pressed.

And she took a step further away from both of them. “You both lied to me, neither of you told me the truth, neither of you told me anything. This whole time!” She snapped, she felt the sting of betrayed heavy on her heart.

Killian tried reaching an arm out to her, he could tell he was loosing her. He had no idea when he brought Bae back it would end like this… he didn’t know.

“Emma…” He said softly, but she pushed his arm away.

“Did you Kill Milah?” She asked, her eyes narrowing, she was interrogating him as if it was apart of her job, as if he were no better than any of the jerks that skip bail.

“No.” He replied simply, and it crushed him that she thought he could ever be capable of such an act. He loved Milah. 

“He’s lying Em. He’s a heartless monster that dousnt care about anyone.” Bae- no Neal argued, as anger pulsed through Killian. He wasn’t about to loose his family to the man that ruined Emma’s life, to the man that caused her so much pain.

Before he could even think his he curled his fingers into a fist, and punched Neal in the face.

Killian smiled to himself, about managing to cause him even a fraction of the pain he’d put Emma through, as Neal’s nose started to drip with blood, he didn’t think he’d broken it.

“Killian!” He heard Emma’s voice call out to him, she sounded pissed. He didn’t think he’d ever heard her so mad.

He’d just proved to everyone he was the monster they thought he was.

But he wasn’t…. Not anymore.

He’d changed.

He’d become a better man for Emma, he’d worked so hard, and now she was stood staring back at him, as if he were nothing more than a stranger.

Hope’s cry jolted him back to his senses, he hadn’t just punched Neal in front of Emma, he’d punched him in front of everyone, including his daughter. The one person he never wanted to see him act this way.

She was the reason he changed.

But between Emma looking at him like he was the monster he felt he was and Hope cry’s, he didn’t feel like he’d changed.

He’d lost everyone. Again.

Not because of the Crocodile, not for their own choices. No. Because he screwed up. He lied. He betrayed their trust. He hurt them. It was all on him.

He went to go comfort Hope, that felt like it was the one thing he could control but as he approached David flinched away, holding Hope away from him.

He’d lost his daughter.

And Emma in the same night.

“I’ve got to go find my son.” Emma told Neal, this entire thing was a mess.

Henry hated her.

Killian betrayed her.

Neal was here.

And her parents were looking at her with what she could only assume was disappointment.

“Our son!” Neal corrected, and that was the final straw.

“You don’t get to do that! You don’t get to come back into his life just like that. You left me to go to prison! I loved you!” She yelled not caring that her voice was breaking. She needed to leave.

She sighed, forcing herself to take a breath. “I need to go find my son.” And with that she left. Not caring about the mess she left behind her. She needed to leave. She needed to get out of there.

***

A few hours later Emma sat on an empty table outside Granny’s, everyone had long since gone. And she was glad for it. She’d tried arguing with Regina to let her see Henry, but apparently he wanted nothing to do with her. So Emma was left wondering around Storybrooke not knowing what to do. Neal was here, Henry didn’t want to see her, she couldn’t handle facing her parents and she didn’t know what the hell was happening with Killian.

“Emma!” She heard Killian’s voice call out to her, because of course he was here.

“Are you alright? Where’s Henry?” He asked, his voice gentle. As he walked over and stood a safe distance away.

“He’s with Regina. He doesn’t want to speak to me right now.” She replied, getting to the point, there was no point in lying. She’d had enough of those.

“I’m sorry love.”

“Oh, you’re sorry well that makes everything better.” She let out a dark chuckle. “An apology doesn’t fix this Killian! Now tell me. Did you know?” She demanded, rising to her feet so she could look him in the eye.

“Know what?” He asked, either actually clueless or acting it.

“That Bealfire was Neal, Killian. Did you know? Did you bring him to me?” She demanded.

“No. Emma I would never. I’d never betray you like that.” She didn’t know if she believed him, but her super power told her he was telling her the truth.

“If you’d known would you have told me?”

“Of course.” Killian replied.

“Well why don’t I believe that?” She asked, taking a step closer to him, “Did you kill Milah?”

“No, I’d never hurt her, I loved her. Gold killed her, I never once hurt her. And I’d never hurt you, or our daughter. I love you Emma and I-“

“Not now. Killian, I can’t.” She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t take Killian standing there telling her he loved her when all she wanted to do was fall into his arms. She’d done that earlier and well… it didn’t solve anything. She needed to trust him, and now she didn’t know if she did. And what was the point in a relationship without trust. “I can’t do this. Not now. Not with everything going on.” This was all too much, especially with Neal running around town, her parents, Henry. She couldn’t handle it all.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I need time.” She needed space to work through everything, to think about where she truly stood with Killian. “I can’t do this, not with how things are at the moment.”

“Emma…” He tried arguing, but she stopped him. Before she let his words reach her. She was one touch away from crumbling into his embrace, letting him wash all the pain of the day away, but she couldn’t. That wouldn’t actually solve anything.

“I think we should take a break.” She said, working to keep her voice level, it killed her to have to say it. She couldn’t even look at him as she said it, too scared of what she’d see in his face. She never wanted to hurt him.

“Because of Neal?” Killian asked in dismay.

“No! Not because of Neal! Because I don’t fucking know you!” She shouted, this wasn’t about bloody Neal. This was about her and Killian. “My entire world changed overnight! The curse is real, my parents are bloody Snow White and Prince Charming. Magic is real and some how I have it, my ex boyfriend is the Dark Ones son. And you were supposed to be my constant, and your…You’re a pirate Killian!”

She’d seen what pirates were like first hand today,  and before today she would have said that never in a million years would Killian be like that and yet he was or he had been. How much did she really know about him?

She saw the hurt on his face the second the words left her mouth, and she almost wanted to take it back. She didn’t mean it like that. Hell she even didn’t know what she meant.

“I never lied to you, love I-“

“But you weren’t ever honest with me either. You didn’t tell me anything, Killian you knew this whole time who I was and where my parents were, that this was my destiny. You’d been plotting it this whole time!”

“I didn’t know! I didn’t know until that day Henry showed up on our doorstep, everything between us is real, don’t tell me you don’t feel something.” Killian argued, stepping into her space, his hand on her chin forcing her to look at him. So she could truly feel that he meant it.

Of course she felt something.

She loved him more than anything but love doesn’t solve this.

“What I feel now is anger, Killian, even if you didn’t know this whole time, we’ve been here for months you had every opportunity and yet you didnt? Why?” She demanded, seeking the answer to the question that had been on her mind since she fell through the portal.

“Because I couldn’t bare to loose you!”

“I… think you already lost me. I’m sorry Killian.” She replied, as she reached down to her hand and slid off her engagement ring. She didn’t know if they could recover from this. Ever since the curse it had been one thing after the other and now… she didn’t even know him.

“I need time.” She whispered, I’m sorry.” She walked over to him and placed a kiss on his cheek. She knew there was a very real chance it would be their last. Before she forced herself to walk away.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she left.

I’m sorry. 

Chapter Text

When Emma woke up alone 2 days later she thought about how she missed Killian. How she missed waking up to seeing his face, how she missed being curled up into his arms as she slept, how she no longer got her morning kiss and she missed how safe and secure he made her feel.

When Hope called out for her father she thought about how she missed Killian. And Hope was always asking for her father. She missed how she had Killian to help with Hope, she missed how he could always make their daughter smile, she missed how good he was with Hope.

When she came downstairs to see her parents making breakfast she thought about how much she missed Killian. How he’d always make sure she’d had something to eat even on the days when she really didn’t have time to, she missed how he always managed to make her laugh.

She missed him so damn much.

Even though she knew it was her fault. That she pushed him away. It didn’t change the fact that she missed him, or atleast missed the man she knew.

She missed the Killian she’d woken up beside to every day for the past few years, she wasn’t sure how she felt about the pirate captain sleeping on his ship across town. But if he was anything like her Killian, she already knew she loved him.

“Mommy! Pway?” Hope asked, pointing to her toys that were currently making a mess of David and Mary Margaret’s lounge.

“Sure Duckling, after breakfast.” Emma agreed, she was too tired to argue, she hadn’t slept well the night before. And even without anyone pointing it out she knew her eyes were red from her crying.

“Daddy pway?”

“Not right now baby.” Hope pouted, and Emma could tell she was moments away from tears. She started bouncing Hope in her arms, but it didn’t work Hope burst into tears a moment later.

And honestly Emma felt like crying too.

***

Emma couldn’t sleep. A quick glance at her clock revealed it was just after four in the morning. She knew she was exhausted, but she couldn’t get to sleep. Hope had been fussy too, asking for her dad more tonight than the previous, it took 4 different bedtime story’s to finally get her to fall asleep.

She missed Killian.

She remembered how back in Boston if she couldn’t sleep she’d just snuggle into Killian and he’d mumble sweet nothings into her hair until she eventually fell asleep.

But Killian wasn’t here, and her bed never felt so cold.

She glanced back up to the clock, she’d have to be up in a few hours, even if she knew her parents would let her sleep in a lot longer, she knew Hope wouldn’t. Hope was an early riser just like her dad, and then Emma was back to thinking about Killian once more.

Her gaze landed to her engagement ring that was currently sat on her bedside table, staring back at her.

She wished she’d never taken it off.

She rolled over and grabbed the ring into her hand, studying its details. It truly was beautiful. She wanted to slip the ring back into her finger, even just for a moment to pretend it never left. But she’d taken it off for a reason.

Instead, she made the decision that she’d put the ring on a chain and wear it as a necklace, that way she’d always have a reminder of how good things were on her. Of her Killian.

Even in her head it sounded pathetic.

But she wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet.

***

Killian was stood at the door, not Mary Margret’s door, but rather their one from their apartment back in Boston. Emma was surprised to see him, as Neal stood by her side his arm around her waist as Henry chatted to himself somewhere in the background.

“Do you still love him? Is that why he’s here? If you tell me you don’t love me I’ll leave, and I’ll never bother you again.” She heard Killian say, and she wanted to tell him more than anything that she loved him but the words didn’t come out.

“That’s not a yes.” Killian replied coldly after she didn’t respond.

“I loved you.” She answered.

As Killian turned to walk away, she knew she needed to go after him, but her feet were frozen in place.

“Let him go Em’s.” Neals voice echoed from beside her. Like who was he to tell her what to do? But for some reason she followed Neal back inside never telling Killian that she’d always love him.

Emma woke up suddenly from her nightmare, sitting bolt upright in bed a line of sweat on her forehead.

She rubbed her head with her hand, Why the hell was she living with Neal in Boston?

She tried not to dwell on the morals on her dream, if she did she knew she’d likely end up down at the harbour begging Killian to take her back. Telling him that she loved him.

But she knew if that scenario were indeed real life, she would have definitely gone after Killian.

***

Hope was crying out for her father, something that had because the norm over the past few days. No matter how much Emma hated it, she loathed the idea of her daughter hurting so much.

She was doing her best to soothe Hope but right now the tears just wouldn’t subside, as Mary Margret came over and sat down next to the two of them, “Is Hope alright?” She asked, and they both already knew the answer. “Do you want me to help?”

Emma nodded, she really needed it.

She wasn’t used to being a single mother.

A single parent - is that what she was now? It felt strange, she’d always had Killian by her side, he’d been there every step of the way. And now…

“Can I borrow your phone?” Mary Margret asked, and if Emma wasn’t so tired she would have questioned it further, instead she simply just passed Mary Margret her phone. Emma had had nightmares nearly every night since Killian had gone, ones of them together, ones of them apart- a really strange one where they climbed a beanstalk together - the only constant, they always made her wake up missing Killian.

Mary Margret pressed some buttons on the screen, while Emma bounced a still very upset Hope on her lap. She was still thinking about Killian, she wondered what he was doing now, did he miss her as much as she missed him?

When Emma heard the phone ringing she looked over at Mary Margret, dread filling her as she realised what Mary Margret had done. She snatched her phone back from her immediately but it was too late.

“Emma?” Killian’s voice came through the phone, his voice sounded rough, she hadn’t heard his voice in 3 whole days. She knew they’d been apart longer than this but this time there was a finality to it that made it feel like an eternity.

“You called him?” Emma hissed at Mary Margret, her hand blocking her phones microphone, she couldn’t believe she called Killian.

“Emma, you haven’t left the apartment in 3 days. You need this, and even if you don’t think you do. We both know you can’t keep him away from Hope, he’s her father.” She couldn’t argue with that no matter how much she wanted to, she knew exactly how selfish it was keeping them apart. She didn’t want to hurt them. But she didn’t know what to do either, she wasn’t ready to see Killian. Didn’t know what she’d say. She knew it was wrong but she couldn’t do it, she wasn’t ready to let him back in.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Killian around Hope, she never doubted that he loved his daughter, just she had no idea what she was supposed to be doing in this situation. She needed time, but all the time was getting her was the realisation that she’d messed up, and that she missed him.

“I’ll give you three a moment.” Snow said before leaving them alone with Killian.

“Daddy!” Hope’s voice called out as she clambered across Emma’s lap to get closer to the phone. Hope’s tears disappeared in a second, a bright smile gracing her face- the first proper one in the last few days.

She shouldn’t have kept him away from Hope.

No matter what her feelings on this were, he was always going to be her father.

“Cygnet?” Killian’s voice echoed through the phone. He sounded surprised, as if he didn’t ever expect to have this again.

“Daddy! I missid you.” Hope shouted, looking around as if her dad was hiding around here somewhere, that truly broke her heart.

“I miss you too little love.”Killian replied, and Emma could tell how much being apart was hurting him.

“Home?” Hope asked, and Emma knew exactly what she meant. When was he coming home?

“Not right now lass, but you’re being a good girl for your mom right?” Killian asked, Emma watched as Hope nodded not quite yet understanding how a phone call works.

“I love you my Cygnet, so much.” Killian said after a moment, and she knew he meant it. Out of all the doubts she had about Killian she never doubted he loved Hope.

“Wuv you too.” Hope replied with a smile, snuggling herself into her mother’s arms. She knew her baby was tired, she’d been fighting sleep every night without her dad, even last night she knew Hope hadn’t sleep well. “Story?” Hope asked after a moment, who was basically holding the phone at this point, desperately trying to be closer to her dad.

“Alright lass, I’ll tell you a story. Once upon a time…” and Killian launched into a story about a pirate who changed his ways when he met a beautiful princess. Emma knew it was instantly a metaphor for the two of them but that went straight over Hope’s head. As soon as the story ended Hope requested another one, then another. Soon, Killian had told Hope a few different pirating tales, which made Emma wonder if Killian had always told Hope story’s about his past for her bedtime story’s. She already had a feeling that the answer was yes. She never realised he’d been so open about his past even if he never directly told her, he’d been hinting at it practically since they met. She felt a wave of regret wash over her, he’d tried to be honest with her in his own way. Then she’d gone and reacted the way she did. He didn’t deserve that.

“The end. Would you like to hear another one? Killian finished, he never got tired of telling Hope story’s. No matter how late it was or what was going on he always made time for Hope.

“She’s asleep.” Emma said quietly, knowing it was the first thing she’d said to Killian since she’d basically ended things. Truthfully, Hope had been asleep for most of the last story but Emma found she liked hearing Killian’s voice just as much as Hope did. He was so gentle and caring with Hope.

And well, he always was with her too.

She was careful not to wake Hope, not wanting to start Hope’s story routine again, especially since she was finally getting some well needed rest, and she had a feeling that Hope wouldn’t go back to sleep if she were to be woken up.

“Ah, I’m sorry for keeping you.” Killian replied, his tone changing fom the soft way he spoke to Hope, she could tell he immediately had his guard up. She knew it was her fault.

“Thank you. For talking with Hope, she needed that.” And I did too. 

“Anytime love.” and she couldn’t help but smile, and she had to bite back her reply.

I love you.

Emma had left him.

He knew it was only a matter of time once she found out the truth, but nothing could have prepared him for the look for pure betrayal on her face, for facing the reality of loosing her. And Hope.

Because he didn’t just loose Emma, he lost Hope too. She no longer trusted him to be around their daughter, and that stung most of all.

He’d been staying on his ship since Emma ended things, and now he didn’t know what the hell he was supposed to be doing.

Emma said she needed time, and he was giving her that, but it still hurt. A lot.

He knew there was a very real chance he wouldn’t get her back.

Which is what had lead him to The Rabbit Hole, Storybrooke’s only bar. He used to have a decently high tolerance, which had since plummeted since he had his daughter, he no longer had a reason to drink. But now without his family, he felt like he was missing his purpose.

He’d spent the first couple nights at the bar, having a few drinks to help numb the pain, never going too far, not wanting to be in bad place should he run into Emma, he couldn’t go back to how he was.

Then on the third night he’d gone to the bar, mad at the world, more so at himself and drank himself till he blacked out. Something he promised himself he wouldn’t do again, not after he’d nearly died doing just that before. He never wanted to put Emma through the pain of almost loosing him again. Then he’d gone and broken that promise.

He woke up alone on his ship, a pounding headache pulsing through his head, a piercing ringing noise beating against his skull. As the sunlight stabbed him through his window, he grabbed his phone, desperate to make the noise stop.

That’s when he saw Emma’s name on the screen.

And any thought that he could just go back to sleep and recover from his hangover disappeared. Emma was calling him. He answered the phone immediately, with a cautious “Emma?” Wincing at how rough his voice sounded.

“Daddy!” He heard Hope’s voice on the phone and he immediately felt himself sober up.

Even just hearing her voice, a reminder of everything he still had was enough to make him regret his actions. He still had a family out there. He still had his daughter.

He hadn’t lost them yet .

But he knew he would if he continued like this, he should never have gone back on his promise. He’d do better, he’d earn them back.

***

Without Emma his bed felt empty, he always woke up to a face full of her blonde hair with her arms wrapped around him, it was one of the only times she completely let her guard down.

He hadn’t seen her in nearly 5 days, but it was different than when she was away in the Enchanted Forest, this time it was by choice.

Atleast now he got occasional calls with his daughter, that was the only thing keeping him sane. It hurt him to hear her so in pain being away from him, and he was still doing his best to reassure her that he’d always be there for her and he’d see her again soon. But it still wasn’t the same.

This morning, he was making his way to Granny’s, trying to get out of his own head and perhaps talk to someone. He didn’t have any friends in this town, at one point he considered David a friend, but after everything that happened with Emma he knew the prince likely wouldn’t want that anymore. Still, it was good to get some fresh air.

It felt peculiar going to Granny’s without Hope holding onto his hook skipping along beside him, on their way to pick up lunch for them and Emma, so that they could drop it off to her at the station. Now that felt like another life, as he walked up the steps alone.

Making his way over towards the front counter, he took a seat atop one of the bar stools, he hadn’t got a clue what to order. He just wanted to be here because it reminded him of Emma, he could almost hear her laugh now.

There it was again, so close it was like he could turn around and see her.

He turned around, his eyes landing on the table behind him, where Emma and Henry sat chatting happily, while Neal sat across from them.

She looked as breathtaking as he remembered, her golden hair flowing down past her shoulders, and her arm wrapped around her son.

Was she on a date with Baelfire?

Her gaze narrowed when she spotted him, her laugh cutting off instantly as she turned and stared at him. But he couldn’t bring himself to look away.

Instead, Emma was the one to look away, turning back and saying something to Henry before she stood up and walked over towards him, pulling up a chair. “What are you doing here?” She asked coldly.

“I could ask you the same.” He replied, not expecting an answer. They were in a public place, she had every right to be here, just as much as he did.

“Neal wanted to meet up with Henry, and he’s finally speaking to me again so we’re just having lunch together, so Henry can get to know his dad.”

Her and Neal…

He didn’t even think that was a bloody option, he knew how Neal had hurt her in the past. He didn’t want her to get hurt again.

But if that’s what she wanted then…

“I’ll let you get back to your date, because if that’s what you want, I’ll back off and I’ll let the lads parents have a fair shot together without a devilishly handsome pirate getting in the way.“

“Is that what you think I want?” She asked, her eyes widening, as if she couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“Is that what you want?” He retorted, he didn’t know what she wanted, here he was giving her space and here she was on a date with her ex.

“I… have to go.” She mumbled retreating back to the table and wrapping her arm around her son.

Emma had been back as sheriff for a couple days now, even if it meant leaving Hope with family it felt good to leave the apartment and get her mind off of Killian. She’d reluctantly called him a couple times over the past few days, just to make Hope happy. And a bit because it made her happy just hearing his voice. She’d run into him once at Granny’s, a few days ago and that had all just been too much for her.

Firstly, she was with Neal, who had absolutely nothing good to say about her and Killian’s relationship, and gave her a smug look when she mentioned they were separated. The only reason she tolerated being around him was for Henry’s sake, he deserved to know his father. But Neal did not deserve to know Henry. It was complicated to say the least.

Then Killian showed up for the first time in nearly a week, assuming she was on a date with Neal- which was ridiculous for so many reasons. Even if they weren’t together (or separated technically), she still wouldn’t be on a date with Neal.

Honestly the second she saw him, all thoughts of why she split up with him disappeared from her mind. She missed him. Then he thought she was on a date with Neal, like she would move on from him that quickly. It was all just a lot.

There had been so much she wanted to say, but she didn’t.

Hadn’t spoken to him since.

But now she was out on another matter, she’d gotten a message from David earlier that day, that Blackbeard had escaped from jail, and Emma had volunteered to go and track him down and haul his ass back to his cell.

She’d been driving around for the past half an hour looking for any signs of where the hell Blackbeard could have vanished to. She knew that was a very real chance that he could have just used a magic bean and escaped back to the Enchanted Forest.

Just when she was about to give up she thought she saw a shady black figure, she wasn’t sure if she was just imagining things but it was better to check. She was on the outskirts of Storybrooke, basically in the middle of nowhere. She pulled her bug up, and got out of her car, gun in hand. She wasn’t making that mistake again.

She headed over towards the field where she thought she might have seen Blackbeard, she wasn’t sure if she’d seen anything or not due to the giant hedge blocking her vision. She made her way around the hedge, and then she saw him clear as day. Blackbeard.

With a bloody gun.

But it wasn’t pointed at her, worse. Much worse. It was pointed at Killian.

She started sprinting over before she realised what she was doing.

Killian was already lying on the ground- was he unconscious?

She didn’t have time to dwell on what the hell Killian was doing here, she hardly had time to think. Using the fact neither man had noticed her to her advantage she raced over towards them.

She needed a way to get rid of Blackbeard for good. And despite the gun in her hand, it didn’t change her opinion on murder. She couldn’t kill him.

Looking around at her surroundings, nothing immediately jumped out at her, they were in the middle of a bloody field.

Until she saw Blackbeards hat lying just a few feet away- could there be another bean? He’d kept the last bean in the hat.

That way they could just send him to another world, problem solved.

She searched the hat quickly for a bean, and soon found one, a sparkly silver bean that was currently resting in the palm of her hand.

She wasn’t sure how exactly magic beans worked but she thought about her time in the Enchanted Forest, and how she wanted him to get back there, so he would leave them the fuck alone, and threw the bean.

A swirling gold vortex appeared on the ground, and both Killian and Blackbeard looked towards it.

He wasn’t unconscious, a breath of relief washed over her.

But she pushed the feeling away, as she rammed into Blackbeard. Knocking him off his feet as he fell into the portal. She stumbled backwards, determined not to get caught back in that realm, instead falling to the ground. As the portal closed in front of her.

He was gone.

She stared at the air where the portal had been just moments ago, before she heard Killian’s voice cut through the air. “Swan.”

She turned to look at him, and - oh god he was injured.

She immediately went over to his side, checking on his ankle. Blackbeard had clearly shot him, and the lim was a mess of blood. “I thought you were mad at me?” Killian asked, his voice rough with pain.

“Doesn’t mean I’d let you die You’re still the father of my child.” She replied, he needed a hospital. Now.

“Is that all?” He asked, as Emma ripped off the shoulder of her long sleeve teeshirt to use as a makeshift bandage. There was so much blood.

“We both know it’s not.” She added before she could stop herself. “let’s get you to the hospital, can you stand?” He nodded. Killian wrapped his arms around her shoulder, and she worked with him to try and get him onto his feet. He barely managed a step before he learned heavily onto her, wincing in pain, as his hand went to clutch his side. She lowered him to the ground so she could get a better look at his injury.

There was a giant bullet wound in his side. How did she miss this? There was no way he’d make it to the hospital like this, she couldn’t even get him off the field. Backup would take too long to get here, they were in the middle of bloody nowhere.

No.

No.

NO!

This couldn’t be it.

She pressed her hands to his side trying to stop the bleeding. She couldn’t loose him like this. She couldn’t loose him at all.

“Did I ever tell you how beautiful you look today?” Killian asked, his voice strained. But even without looking she could tell he was smiling.

“Now’s not the time Killian, I need to…” stop the blood. He was bleeding out rapidly. She didn’t know how long he had. Hours? Minutes?

“Emma, love if something happens to me then-“

“You’re not dying today!” She cut him off, this couldn’t be happening. Killian was a few centuries old, he couldn’t be undone by a simple bullet wound. He always told her he was a survivor and now…

“The giant cut in my side begs to differ.” He quipped, now wasn’t the time for him to be funny. “It’s alright love, I’ve lived longer than I was ever supposed too, and believe me when I say it was all worth it because I got to meet you. And… tell Hope I love her.”

“You’re not dying. You can tell her yourself.”She hissed as more blood pooled into her hand, she was loosing him. “I’ll tell her.” She whispered. “I’ll tell her you love her.” Her voice breaking, as she promised him.

“Killian?” She asked when he didn’t respond.

“Killian?” She shook him, begging him to stay awake.

“Killian!”

He didn’t respond.

She finally moved her hands away - they were stained red with blood - she shook his shoulders again begging him to wake up. It couldn’t end like this.

Tears flooded down her face as she hugged onto him, not ready to loose him. She couldn’t do this without him.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered.

She wished she could go back in time, or that she could magically heal him or something, anything to save him.

… magically heal him. 

She’d done it once before, on his ship after his duel with Blackbeard. She’d healed his cheek. It worked before, it could work again. It had to.

She pushed her hand against the cut on his chest, pouring her emotions into it, begging him to get better, thinking about their life together. How she wasn’t ready to loose him.

Her hand started to tingle but she didn’t dare move it.

Only once the tingling completely stopped that she finally risked removing her hand, and his side was completely healed. As if it never happened. She looked down to his ankle, also completely healed… but Killian still wasn’t awake.

No . 

Her head dropped to rest on his chest, he couldn’t be gone. He just couldn’t. Not like this. Not after she healed him.

A rhythmic beating sound echoed through her, his heart. Killian’s heart was still beating.

He was still in there.

“Please come back to me.” She whispered, “I can’t do this without you.” She picked up his hand, holding it closer to her, before placing a kiss on it, he had to wake up.

She felt Killian’s hand move slightly against hers, the smallest thing but she felt it. “Killian?” She whispered looking down at him, it felt too good to be true.

She saw his eyes flutter open, as relief cascaded over her. He was alive.

“Emma?” He asked, his voice strained. As he moved to sit up, but she didn’t give him a chance to as she leapt over, hugging him tightly. She didn’t care that they were in the middle of a field or that they were currently in midst of a fight, all she cared about was that he was alive.

His arms went around her back holding onto her as if he was the one to nearly loose her . And they just stayed holding each other for a moment, scared that if they were to move the moment would end, and they’d loose each other once more. 

“You’re alright.” She whispered, more confirming it to herself than telling him.

“Aye, love I’m alright.” He nodded, reaching up to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear with his hook. Before he moved to sit up, Emma still mostly on top of him. She scooted to the side and helped him to sit, a part of her always touching him, scared he’d vanish if she dared to let go.

“Good.” She whispered, she could hardly believe she’d come this close to loosing him. “For Hope’s sake, I mean.” She clarified, releasing his hand from hers. She couldn’t do this.

Not now.

She couldn’t just fall back into his arms just because she nearly lost him.

He’d nearly died, and she couldn’t take loosing him. Loosing him wasn’t an option. It was easier to push him away than risk loosing him. This way she got to control it, she got to let herself down easily. She couldn’t take being abandoned again.

She couldn’t survive another broken heart.

It took everything in her to recover from how Neal had burned her and she wasn’t ready to go through all that pain over again.

Neal being back in town was just a reminder of how much she’d been hurt in the past.

“Aye, love, for Hope’s sake.”

(They both knew it was so much more than that.)

“Can you walk?” She asked, they were still in the middle of a field. And she didn’t know how reliable magic healing was, she still wanted to get Killian to the hospital just to be safe.

He nodded before rising to his feet like he’d never been injured. As if she wasn’t moments away from loosing him. “I’m alright love, I promise.” Killian reassured her, as if seeing the worry on her face. she hated that she loved how he could still read her perfectly.

“Alright, my cars just behind the hedge, I’ll drive you to the hospital.” She added, as they began walking, the small gap between them feeling like a chasm.

“Emma I don’t need the hospital, I’m fine.”

“You’re going to the bloody hospital. I just watched you nearly die Killian, you’re going to the hospital. I don’t care if you think you’re fine, I don’t know how the fuck magic healing works but I’m not letting you die just because I didn’t heal you properly or something.”

“Alright, we’ll go to the hospital. But I trust your healing love, I’ve yet to see you fail.” He replied in his way that made her relax, instantly at ease. Even when she was mad at him, he still knew her better than anyone.

“You’re flirting with me again, we’re separated remember.” She answered, she couldn’t take him flirting, not when she wanted to be with him more than anything.

But she knew she had her reasons, she needed to push him away. She couldn’t let him in so easily, he still betrayed her. He brought Neal to her, lied about everything, possibly been playing her since the beginning. There was one thing she’d ruled out though, she knew he hadn’t been playing her. She would have been able to tell, you can’t fake that kind of love, looking back that was obvious. She just knew she wasn’t ready to fully forgive him just yet.

“I’ve always flirted with you lo-Emma, even before we were together. But if you want me to stop I’ll stop.”

She nodded in agreement, wishing she’d never said anything. She honestly couldn’t even imagine Killian without his constant flirting and endless persistence. She knew he’d follow her through time if it came to it.

They walked the rest of the way to her car in relative silence, with Killian holding her door open for her because he’s “ always a gentleman ” and it’s “ not technically flirting.” 

The drive to the hospital had this strange tension in the air that she wasn’t used to, at least not around Killian. Getting out the car and talking to the nurses felt like a breath of fresh air, and it wasn’t long before Killian was sat in a hospital bed a pleather of wires hooked up to him. While Emma sat in a chair next to the bed listening to what the doctors were saying.

Killian had tried to insist that she could go home but she stayed with him. Never once leaving his side, Killian had never really understood doctor’s appointments, back in Boston when they had them for her pregnancy. He’d always smile and nod along with the doctors and then ask her what it all meant as soon as they left, she understood why now, that he didn’t ever have hospitals back in his world, so it was still a strange concept to him.

The nurses had done a few tests, before overall just confirming that he was fine but they wanted to keep him for observation overnight. Killian had tried to protest but Emma shut that down immediately, she didn’t want to risk him.

“I’m going to message my parents and see if they’ll bring some stuff for me to stay overnight, want them to grab anything for you from your ship?”

“You’re staying?” Killian’s question caught her off guard, she never thought for even a second she wouldn’t. But thinking about it, they technically weren’t together she didn’t have to stay. But she wanted to. And she already knew she would. Leaving him here alone felt wrong.

She nodded, “I’m staying, besides you’ll need someone to interpret whatever medical nonsense the doctors tell you.”

“You do have a point lov… Emma.”

She hated him doing that. She took it back, the flirting was better. The flirting was so much better, this had a weird edge of finality she hated.

She didn’t want them to be over.

Emma wasn’t looking forward to spending the night in an uncomfortable hospital chair, but she had a feeling she’d sleep better even simply being in the same room as Killian, even if it was stupid.

She got Mary Margret to drop them off some decent pillows and blankets, offering her a quick explanation about what happened earlier and asking her how Hope was. Hope was apparently fine, missing her parents but fine.

Returning to the room, Emma offered Killian some of the pillows helping him get comfortable before setting herself back down on the chair. Debating pushing it closer to the bed. When Emma was in the hospital for Hope, Killian’s chair had practically been glued to the side of her bed, his hand never once leaving hers. Now, however, Emma’s chair was pressed against the wall of the hospital room.

“Back then why did you do it? Why did you save me?” Killian asked, Emma looked up meeting his eyes. Did he really think that had been a choice for her?

“Because I couldn’t let you die. Did you think I’d ever let you die?” She couldn’t believe he had doubt about that, did he really think so little of himself that he assumed when she found out the truth about him she’d just leave him to die? When he didn’t respond she continued. “Seriously! If you don’t trust me then what the hell are we doing.” 

“I don’t know would you like to tell me? All I’ve been doing is following you, giving you space to work through everything and I…” Killian’s explanation was cut off by the ringing of Emma’s phone, she glanced down at the screen. It was David, and he was with Hope. “Can I not have a single conversation without that bloody device?” Killian snapped.

“It’s David it could be important.” She muttered.

“Isn’t this important?” Killian asked, and she once more met his eyes. This was important. She pressed the decline button, slipping her phone into her pocket and slid her chair nearer to his bed. This was more important.

He looked surprised for a moment, before he paused for a moment clearly in thought, then asked a question. “Are you mad that I’m a pirate or are you mad that I didn’t tell you?”

“Both. I’m sick of all the lying.” She sighed, truly letting his question sink in. “I don’t care that you’re a pirate Killian, I don’t want you to change for me.”Killian was always going to be a pirate, he always had been, she just didn’t know it. She would never make him change who he was for her. He accepted her at her worst, and she would accept him just the same. It just caught her off guard when she found out, but looking at him now he was the same man he’d always been. The same man she’d fallen in love with. “Why did you think I’d hate you when I found out the truth?”

“Is that not what this is?” He asked gesturing to the purposeful space Emma left between them.

“I don’t think I’ll ever hate you.” She replied honestly. “Friends?” She asked, a temporary solution, until they could work their way back to more, this seemed like a alright idea.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be just friends love. You showed me I could have a happy ending. And I don’t intend to let that go. So Emma, no matter how long it takes… I will win your heart back. Because you my dear, are my world.” 

You’re my world too. She thought, before thinking carefully about her response. There was still a hell of a lot to work through. But he was right. They couldn’t ever be just friends. “Hope misses you.” She responded, because it was safe, easy, and true. 

“Tell her I miss her too, and that I love her.”

“You can tell her yourself, I mean if you want to… do you want to come see her once you get better? It was wrong of me to try and keep her from you. You’re her father and… I’m sorry.” She continued, looking to the ground.

“You were just trying to protect her.” Killian rationalised.

“But I know I don’t have to protect her from you , I know you love her. And I don’t think there are enough apologies in the world for my trying to split you two up. It was selfish, just because I didn’t want to talk to you doesn’t mean I should’ve pulled Hope away, it was my fault, you did nothing wrong and I-“ 

“Aye love, I’d love to come and see her.”

“You don’t have to ask permission. You’re her dad. You’ve just as much right to her as I do. It’s just… I lost Henry and you in one day and… who am I kidding that’s not a good explanation. I just…”

“I get it love. You didn’t do it to hurt me, I know that. I’m not mad at you.”

“You should be.” She admitted, he had every right to be.

“Emma, you have always deserved so much more than me. You’re a princess, you deserve some prince from back in our land who has a castle and will sweep you off your feet in a way I never could.”

A prince? She didn’t wasn’t some bloody prince, she wanted her pirate. 

“But I chose to be with you. And I don’t care that you’re not some prince from back in our land. I love the life we built together and I… would do anything to get back to that.”

“Aye love, as would I.”

“Do you think we can? After everything that’s happened between us.” She asked, somewhat hesitantly.

“I bloody hope so.” Killian answered, and Emma shuffled her chair the last bit closer to his bed, taking his hand and running her thumb across it. There was so much more she wanted to say, but now she was glad they’d atleast taken the first step.

Emma fell asleep that night with her head on Killian’s chest, and his arm draped over her back. Despite the uncomfortable chair and the constant beeping of the hospital equipment it was the best Emma had slept in a while.

The next morning the nurses deemed Killian was clear to leave, as it turns out magic healing is pretty damn effective. The first thing they did upon leaving the hospital was go straight back to Mary Margaret’s and David’s apartment so they could check on their daughter. Together.

The second Emma opened the door they heard footsteps before an overly exited soo-to-be-2-year-old launched herself into her father’s arms.

“Daddy!” Hope shouted as Killian picked her up twirling her around in his arms like she was a princess.

“I’m home Cygnet. I’m home .” She heard him whisper into her hair, before he kissed her forehead. 

“I missid you.” Hope said loudly, before she wriggled out of her dad’s arms and ran over to Emma.

“Momma mommy lookie, daddy’s back.” Hope called out as she climbed into her mom’s arms, hugging her tightly. “I missid you too.” Hope explained, as Emma hugged her daughter.

She was definitely home.

***

2 weeks later:

Neal was dead.

He fell through a portal, with a gunshot wound, he was dead no matter what realm he landed in.

And yet all she could think about was how that could have been Killian. How she could have lost him again. And how he nearly died.

And how if he’d fallen through, he would have died not knowing how much she loved him.

Because when she finally had a chance to breathe she lost him again.

She couldn’t take loosing him, she couldn’t… so instead of pulling him closer and letting him in, she did something a lot more difficult. She pushed him away.

Completely.

Chapter Text

They made camp in the forest for the night, much to the Queen’s complaints but Killian knew they wouldn’t get to Pan today, the least they could do was get some rest. Everyone was exhausted, but he could tell it was effecting his fiancé the worst, if he could even call her that anymore. She’d made that pretty clear when she’d all but thrown the ring back at him when she found out he brought Neal back. And just when he thought he was finally getting through to her… Neal went and bloody died and she had hardly spoken to him since. David was giving him judgemental looks while Mary Margret looked at him with pity and honestly he didn’t know which was worse.

Actually he did, it was being away from his daughter, so he could come back to this infernal island that he’d spent a century trying to escape from. As much as he loathed this place they needed to get Henry back, and that was currently the most important goal. He could handle being away from his daughter, if it meant that he could help get Emma’s son back.

Gods Emma, he had no idea how she was even handling it. It was killing him being away from Hope, but he didn’t know how she was managing to stay strong while being away from both her kids. And Regina wasn’t exactly helping, snapping at anyone who took the focus of Henry for even a second. This entire trip had basically been boiled down to a bunch of worried parents + (for some ungodly reason) the Crocodile.

Still, from what he’d seen from Emma, despite her best efforts to pretend he didn’t exist, she looked exhausted. Which was why when she offered to take the first watch, he quickly shut that down and offered to take first watch instead. She shot him a glare in response. (Hey, atleast she was looking at him.)

Emma made camp as far away from him as possible, while everyone else got their sleeping arrangements set up. Even the Queen reluctantly complied, David agreed to take second watch, and rolls were distributed around after that. It wasn’t long before everyone except Killian was asleep.

He was no stranger to keeping watch like this, many nights out on the lonely sea made him quite adept at this. Still, things were different now, much different. He couldn’t help but let his gaze wander over to Emma, who was most definitely not asleep. He didn’t spend years sleeping next to her without picking up on her sleeping habits, for one she was tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. And when that subsided he just knew she was awake, he could practically feel it. 

A big part of himself wanted to go and talk to her, a bigger part of himself felt that she wouldn’t want that. So he stayed where he was. Sitting down on a large fallen tree, taking a sip of his rum. A habit he’d mostly got rid of since Hope was born, something that was aided by the fact that the enchantment on his flask didn’t work back in Boston. He’d got it enchanted decades ago so that it never ran dry, something he’d been thankful for on numerous occasions.

He let his gaze trail up to the stars, as it had so many times in the past. The only constant in this crazy world, his personal favourite constellation staring back at him, reminding him of his Swan.

Moments later, he was jarred out of his thoughts by a faint rustling of the bushes behind him, instinctively he grabbed the hilt of his cutlass in preparation should he need to attack. He spared a glance in Emma’s direction only to find her gone. Pan. If that monster had kidnapped Emma... Gods he didn’t know what he’d do. 

The bushes rustled again as a person emerged from them, and he turned around to face them, only to be met with… his favourite green eyes. Emma. He breathed a sigh of relief. His hand relaxed and he dropped his cutlass back into its holder as his eyes gaze met her eyes.

“Mind if I sit?” She asked, her voice soft, like how she used to speak to him when they’d just got Hope to finally fall asleep after a long while of her being fussy.

He nodded, and she quickly joined him in the log, shuffling closer to him, before thinking better of it and shifting the tiniest bit away.

“Care for a drink?” He asked, it wasn’t by any means what he wanted to ask, cursing his mouth for saying that when there were infinite questions he desperately sought an answer too.

“Sure.” She nodded and he handed her the flask, taking a generous swig before passing it back to him. While he tried not to focus on the spike in his heart rate as their fingers touched. He was a grown man, and he’d been a lot closer to her than he was now… but that didn’t change the swell in his chest that she was finally acknowledging his existence.

“Something wrong love?” Killian asked, immediately picking up on her unease. It wasn’t like her to be near him, not like this. Not anymore.

“Do you know what day it is?” Emma asked simply, and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in question.

“Seventh of June.” He said easily, not quite getting her point.

Then it hit him. June seventh. The day they were supposed to be getting married, they’d had everything planned out, the venue, the dress, the date. Everything. It was going to be their perfect fairytale wedding. Then well… life happened.

They’d spent months picking out the date, and now it was finally here. Just now it was… missing the overall joy they’d expected this day to bring. And now instead of their dream wedding they were stuck on a dreary island, with Emma’s son kidnapped and in an entirely different realm from their daughter.

“This wasn’t how I’d expected this day to go.” He admitted, scratching nervously behind his ear.

“Definitely wasn’t in my plan either.” She sighed looking at the ground, her boot kicking at the mud. “I’m sorry.” She mumbled quietly still determined not to look at him.

“For what love?”

“For ignoring you, for being a pain, for taking my anger about Neal out on you, for pushing you away after I lost him, because I was so scared that I would loose you too. And after everything that happened with you almost dying I couldn’t bear to not have you in my life, I could go on but I think you get the idea. I know I screwed up and a simple apology won’t fix that, fix us. Hell I don’t even know if there is an us anymore, but I know I want there to be. And I’m sorry I ever took this off.” She pulled out a ring from around a chain on her neck, that had been previously hidden by her tank top. Her engagement ring. She’d kept it all this time.

She continued after a moment. “I never should have taken it off, I never should have tried to push you away, I’ve thought about this Killian, more than one sane person really should, and I… overreacted, I shouldn’t have pushed you away for bringing Neal back, you didn’t know and I know you would never do anything to intentionally hurt me, you never told me because you were scared to loose me and now… I’m sorry. I should have always had the ring on, talked to you and maybe then instead of being on this stupid island, we might have been somewhere different. Because despite everything, I still love you. Always have, and I probably always will. I love everything about you Killian, how you’re never afraid to be vulnerable around me, how you’re a wonderful father to our daughter, how you encouraged me to stay in Storybrooke for Henry. And I love how even when we were struggling to make ends meet in Boston you still saved up enough to buy me a beautiful engagement ring- one we definitely couldn’t afford- to surprise me with for my 27th birthday.”

He couldn’t help smile at the fond memory, he’d thought about proposing to Emma ages before he actually did, and settled on her birthday. And then when he finally proposed it was perfect, he didn’t do anything overly dramatic, knowing Emma wouldn’t have wanted any of that. Just something simple between the 3 of them. And it truly was perfect.

“You know there’s one detail you’re missing of that tale love?”

“You mean how our adorable little at-the-time 3 month old had tried to eat the ring?” She giggled slightly at the memory and Killian was reminded of how much he desperately missed her laugh. The way her face scrunched up in joy as she laughed, truly was adorable.

“No love, I don’t know if I ever told you this but… I didn’t go out and buy you an engagement ring, the ring you’re holding in your hand right there belonged to my brother. Before that it belonged to my mother, it was her wedding ring.”

“Killian… I had no idea.” She admitted, turning the ring around in her hand, as if admiring it in a whole new way.

“You had no reason to, I never meantiond it. It was always too painful to talk about Liam, especially since I could never tell you what really happened, I promised myself I’d never lie to you, my love.”

“Your brother was a captain in the Royal Navy… right?” She asked carefully, her voice laced with hesitation.

“Aye love, but it was this very island that took him from me… dreamshade.”

“That’s why you didn’t want me coming here, that’s why when the lost boys attacked you were so adamant about pushing me away from that sword.” Her eyes widening in realisation.

“I couldn’t bare to loose one more person that I loved. I’m sorry I never told you this sooner, about the truth. About everything.”

“It’s not like I would have believed you anyway, it took Henry nearly dying to get me to see sense, and now… he’s somewhere on this island.” She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder, a movement that was all too familiar, that he hadn’t felt in so long.

He wanted to continue this, work with her to get back to where they were before, but he couldn’t, at least not right now. “You look exhausted love, try get some rest, we’ll talk more in the morning.” He promised, knowing Emma desperately needed her rest, and he wasn’t about to take away from that, no matter how much he needed this conversation.

She shook her head. “I haven’t had a good nights rest since Neal came back.” She finally admitted, the concession feeling like a weight of her shoulders, he assumed by the way her shoulders relaxed.

“He’s gone, he won’t hurt you love.” Killian promised, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Gods how much he missed her.

“It’s not that it’s… I guess I got so used to you sleeping next to me that… as ridiculous as it sounds I can’t seem to fall asleep without you by my side.” She looked embarrassed by the conversation but as always, she looked beautiful to him. The way the moonlight was lighting up the clearing, shining on her hair, lighting up her face. She was truly breathtaking.

“Do you want to know a secret love? I can’t sleep without you next to me either.” He hadn’t realised it until that moment but it was true. Every night away from Emma, cast out onto his pirate ship away from her and their daughter, was slowly killing him. He missed Emma, the way she clung onto him while he slept, the way he’d wake up to her hair draped messily over his pillow, the warmth of having her next to him. Without Emma his bed felt cold and empty, too big for just him. He needed her.

He met her eyes for a moment, before she dropped her gaze to his lips. She didn’t need to ask for permission, before he was leaning over to kiss her.

He waited for rejection, for her to suddenly push him away, but that never came. Instead she learned into him, deepening the kiss and letting her hands run through his hair.

His hand ran along her back tracing every curve he’d come to know perfectly, better than he knew the back of his own hand. As her hands made their way to his shoulders pushing his jacket aside. He shrugged the useless piece of clothing off. “Eager are we?”He teased, as his fingers dipped below Emma’s tank top, finding the clasp of her bra and unhooking it with practiced ease. While she made quick work of his shirt buttons.

Her heated gaze raked over him, as she began kissing his neck hungrily and he had to pull back slightly to stop her from leaving a mark. “Something wrong?” She asked, her eyes instantly alert, he saw a brief flicker of rejection in her eyes, before her gaze trailed off to the sleeping camp beside them. They were far from alone.

“God forbid a lady wants a moment alone with her pirate.” She sighed, and she had a point, their sex life had seriously taken a hit since they started living with Emma’s parents. She stared at him a moment, their current predicament not dampening the way she was looking at him, a way that had him 30 seconds off from ripping off her clothes.

“C’mon.” She started, grabbing his hand and began leading him away from the others, “There’s got to be some place on this entire island that I can safely rip your clothes off without scaring my parents for life, that reminds me, we’re never having tacos again in our lives - long story. Now if Pan has a problem with me fucking my fiancé on his island then he’s got another thing coming.”

“So romantic love.” He gently mocked, as she lead them to a clearing a short distance away from the others.

“Fine. Making love to my fiancé. Better?” 

He took a step forward bridging the gap between them, his lips capturing hers before she had a second to protest. She relaxed instantly, kissing him back with the same passion that accompanied them earlier, only now without the risk of waking the others.

Her hands went up to finish undoing his shirt buttons before it was discarded into the floor, and he did the same with her tank top, pulling it over her had and removing her bra.

“They’re still within earshot, so we’re going to have to do our best to keep quiet.” He whispered against her ear as he began placing kisses down her neck, trailing across till her breasts, savouring the little noises she made as he devoured her.

“I’m not the one you’re going to have to worry about there pirate.” She replied between gasps as he worked at a very sensitive spot on her skin. She got her way with him after a moment, pushing him back until his back was pressed against a tree, as she kissed him passionately, her fingers dipping below his waste band letting him know that she knew exactly how much he wanted her.

They were going to enjoy this…

***

They lied on top of Killian’s jacket in the after glow of their lovemaking, Emma’s fingers playing with the hair on his chest while he stared awestruck at her. That really just happened.

“Killian?” Emma whispered after a moment, her gaze trailing softly over him. He waited for the rejection with bated breath until… “I love you.” She whispered, snuggling closer to his side.

“I love you too.” He promised, placing a kiss to her forehead.

They got dressed quickly after that, exchanging little kisses and glances, before Killian draped his jacket over her shoulders when she looked slightly cold and she met his eyes.

Holding his gaze for a moment she pulled out the ring, holding it out in front of them, and slipping it off the chain, “Killian Jones,” She started, and he felt his heart pound against his chest in anticipation of how this was going to go, “love of my life and honourable pirate captain. Will you do me the honour of staying engaged to me?”

“ Always .” He practically beamed as he slipped the ring back onto Emma’s finger, kissing her palm as he did so. 

It felt right seeing it back in its place after so long, Emma was looking at him with a giddy smile gracing her perfect face. As he learned in to kiss her slowly, in a way that he hadn’t done in so long, savouring every second like it could be their last. Knowing perfectly well they would get many more moments after this, this wasn’t the end.

Moments later they broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other as they struggled to catch their breath. “I’m glad I met you” Emma whispered breathlessly. Her golden hair positively glowing in the moonlight. “But we should be getting back.” And he knew she was right, they walked back hand in hand to the clearing, Emma’s ring sparkling in the starlight.

They were grateful to see a murder hadn’t occurred in their absence - they were supposed to be keeping watch - as all the members of their party were still sleeping soundly. Except for one.

David was waiting for them, his arms folded, “Do I even want to ask where you’ve been?” David sighed, looking at Killian like this was some cheesy romantic comedy and the father had just walked in on him making out with his teenage daughter. As David caught sight of Emma’s jostled hair and Killian’s slightly disheveled appearance.

“Nope.” Emma replied, “Goodnight David.”He couldn’t help smile that his fiancé had her parents back, and he knew how much that meant to her. And that was more than worth a little embarrassment.

Emma lead him by the hand over to her makeshift bed, and motioned for him to sit down beside her. They got comfortable - or as comfortable you can be, sleeping on a forest floor. Before Emma leaned closer to him, and Killian could tell she was missing her kids, he knew- he felt the same way.

“We’ll get to Henry soon love, and I promise you we’ll get him back when we do.”

“And then we’ll go home, and we’ll all be together again, You, me, Hope and Henry.” She replied, hope evident in her voice. But she was wrong about one thing… he didn’t need to be in Storybrooke to be home.

“Sounds beautiful my love.” Killian whispered, his lips ghosting over the shell of her ear, before placing a kiss on her forehead. Emma snuggled into him, in the way the she had earlier, the way he’d been craving for months. And he wrapped his arm around her waist, making sure she was truly there, and for the first time since he’d stepped foot on to this infernal island… Killian was home.

Chapter Text

Emma had been living in New York for as long as she could remember, she had her two amazing kids, three year old Hope and her twelve year old son Henry. Her life was pretty good, she could never remember a time when she was doing better. While her life had never been perfect, things for once were going well.

And that included the guy she was currently seeing. Walsh. She had her reservations about starting a new relationship, especially with Hope being so young and she’d only just (sort of) recovered from the heartbreak loosing Hope’s father had caused. A man she could never truly quite remember, but knew she still loved, his blue eyes haunting her as she slept, dreams plagued with memory’s of him that vanished the second she awoke.

Hope’s father died when she was still very young, too young for her to remember him. But while Hope couldn’t remember her biological father, she definitely took a strong dislike to Walsh. Hope absolutely hated him, always refusing to be left alone with him even if it was only a moment, that’s when the tears started.

Hope was the reason things with Walsh never went too far, Emma constantly kept him at arms length. One of the main reasons she hadn’t ended things already was that Henry said he wanted her to be happy, so she was selfishly clinging to the hope that one day her daughter might come around on her feelings towards Walsh.

That had yet to happen.

But she remained hopeful. She was set to be meeting up with Walsh later that evening for a special date thing at their first date restaurant, and she’d managed to persuade her neighbour into watching her kids for the evening. At present she was working on putting her final touches on her date outfit, much to Hopes amusement.

“Mommy! Can I have da sparkles.” Hope called out from beside her, her eyes trained on Emma’s glittery eye shadow pallet.

“Maybe next time baby.” Emma said, clearing her make up away, before scooping Hope up into her arms. Her little girl was getting so big now, her slightly above shoulder length blonde hair, was currently being tamed by two hair bows, and she was wearing her favourite pyjama set, her pirate themed one. She placed a kiss on each of Hope’s cheeks before walking her out to the main room where Henry was just getting started on his video game.

She placed Hope down next to Henry, and she immediately went and leaned on his arm. She could already tell her baby was getting sleepy, at this hour. “Remember to be good for Mrs Cuse.” She said, not to either kid in particular, they probably didn’t even need the reminder, her kids were truly amazing, and the best part of her life.

“Ok mom, enjoy your date.” Henry added, already starting to get engrossed into his game.

She playfully ruffled his hair, and did the same to Hope’s before saying a quick goodbye and rushing off to meet Walsh, knowing Mrs Cuse would be over in a minute to keep an eye on them.

She met Walsh at the restaurant with a smile and a kiss to his cheek, desperately hoping that this would be a good evening.

･*:

Storybrooke, one year ago: 

“There’s not a day that will go by that I won’t think of you my love.”

“Good.” She gave her fiancé a watery smile, tears brimming in her eyes that she refused to let fall. She wanted to say so much more than good, he was everything to her. He needed to know how much she loved him, how much she’d miss him how much she wished their daughter would grow up with him. But she didn’t. She couldn’t articulate her words, she just stayed there barely holding herself together. Her world coming apart at the seams as the clouds drew closer. 

She’d only just gotten him back, and now she was about to loose him again.

She forced herself to step away, she could hardly do it. She wanted to take him with them, but she couldn’t, and she wasn’t about to abandon her kids. No matter how much she wanted to stay with Killian, she couldn’t.

She knew she might never see him again.

She knew that was how this was going to work.

She would get new memories, she wouldn’t in a few minutes even know his name. But for right now, he was her everything. She was his and he was hers.

The smoke crackled on the horizon, as she let a single tear fall into her cheek, forcing herself to step away. She barely made it into the car, but she continued. The curse was nearly here. She didn’t have a choice.

She looked at the worried faces of her parents, Regina and him in the rear view mirror forcing herself to drive away then. 

Hope and Henry wouldn’t be alone. That’s all that mattered.

She drove past the town line, watching hopelessly as the smoke consumed them. Then suddenly…

What the hell are we doing in Maine?

The curse took effect.

･*:

He proposed. Walsh fricking proposed, here she was thinking she was taking things with him slowly, not willing to rush into another relationship. And then he went and pulled out a bloody wedding ring.

And then had the nerve to get pissy with her when she politely told him that she wasn’t ready for this, going on and on about how expensive the ring was. She’d ended things right there.

She wasn’t about to put up with his bs, no, instead, she was going to return home to her beautiful children and try to forget about the mess Walsh had caused. Atleast she knew Hope wouldn’t be sad, she didn’t think Henry would care much either. Walsh had never made an effort with either of her kids.

She returned home shortly after, taking the long route home, so she had enough time to clear her head. Walsh was in the past now, she’d focus on the future instead. Just keep moving forward, Walsh was now nothing more than a name on her list of failed relationships.

When she returned home her apartment was strangely quiet, she thanked Mrs Cuse greatly for watching her kids before checking on Henry who was sat playing video games on his PlayStation.

“Mrs Cuse said you were quiet tonight.” Emma called out as she took her red coat off, placing it down on the table. She’d sort it out later.

“Not quiet. Concentrating.” Henry replied without looking up from his game. “I finally reached level 23.”

“Is your sister asleep?”

“Yeah, but she was missing you so I doubt it’ll be for long.” Henry answered, still absorbed in his game. She went to check on Hope briefly, who was asleep in her bed, she placed a gentle kiss on her daughter’s forehead careful not to wake her, regretting not being there for Hope’s bedtime. She returned out to Henry after, taking a seat next to him on the couch and pulling out a controller. “You mind if a fifth-level wizard joins you?”

“At level 23? Good luck with that.” Henry said with a smirk, while she got loaded into the game. “So what did you say? To Walsh.” Henry asked after a moment.

“You knew?” She asked, her eyes narrowing, a little warning from her son would have been nice. “How?”

“Come on, Mom. Your first date restaurant. Special night out. Writing was on the wall.”

“Technically, the writing was in the dessert.” She grumbled back.

“So, what did you say?” Henry asked inquisitively, looking at her expectantly.

She paused for a moment, taking in the hope in his eyes. When she didn’t answer Henry came to his own conclusion. “Poor guy.”

“We’ve got a good thing going here, just the three of us.” She replied, about to tell him that she’d ended things, not wanting to drag this out for longer than she needed to.

“Yeah and we’d still have a good thing going if it was just the four of us.”

“Besides, you know how your sister feels about him.” She added after a moment.

“She’s three Mom, just because she has an opinion about everything, doesn’t make her right.”

“Honestly kid, I think it’s going to just be the three of us for a while.” She sighed, she wasn’t going anywhere near a new relationship anytime soon, let along one she was dragging her kids into. They were her priority. Always.

That’s when there was a loud pounding on the apartment door, that interrupted them from their conversation.

“You expecting someone?” Henry asked curiously, putting the game on pause.

“No.” She muttered already going off to investigate. It better not be Walsh, she hadn’t got a clue what would happen if she saw him right now. Probably a punch to his stupid face, if she got her way.

Instead of Walsh, she was met with a pair of dazzling blue eyes, belonging to a dark haired man. Who was depressed in some form of medieval regalia, smelled faintly of rum but despite all of that was still impeccably attractive, some might even describe him as dashing.

The man stared at her with a mix of awe and longing, his blue eyes tracing up and down her. “Swan.” He said breathlessly, as if her mere presence had taken his breath away.

Who the hell was he?

“Umm, can I help you?” She asked, cautiously.

He didn’t say anything, he looked as if he was at a loss for words. Then she realised why.

“Mommy?” Hope asked, staring up at her from the floor. Her hair all messed up from sleep and she was still in her pirate pyjamas, clutching onto her toy octopus. “I hadda a mean dream.”

She’d hardly noticed Hope appearing, too captivated by the man before her.

“Stay behind me baby.” She said softly, motioning Hope behind her. She didn’t know this man. Not at all. And she wasn’t about to let her toddler anywhere near a stranger.

To Hope’s credit she actually did as instructed, for a whole two seconds. Hope went from peering out at the man from behind Emma’s leg to standing in front of her, staring intensely at him.

Taking in every feature of the man stood in front of her. Hope had never looked at anyone like that before, normally she was pretty shy, and closed off around new people. But now, she was looking at this man if he was practically family.

“Who are you?” Hope asked, her eyes not leaving him for a long moment before she turned to her. “Momma who is that?” She continued, her blue eyes pleading with her. And that’s when Emma realised why something about the man felt so familiar. He had Hope’s eyes.

Chapter Text

There was nothing for him in the Enchanted Forest, he’d figured that out a long time ago.

That’s what made him go in search of a magic bean in the first place, and now he was about to do it again.

He’d done it once, before he met Emma and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to see his family again. He will get them back. Crossing realms was never easy, he’d crossed through them enough to know that by heart. But he would do it, he would get back to them.

No matter how long it took.

He would find his way back to them.

New York: Present time

He remembered what it was like the first time in an unfamiliar city all too well, and New York luckily wasn’t too much different from Boston. But that did create one fatal flaw in his plan, this place was bloody huge.

He wasn’t sure if his family even was in New York, magic beans to this world and proved to be… unreliable to say the least. But he hadn’t spent the last year working to get a way back to this world for it all to be for nothing.

He would get them back.

A promise that he’d repeated to himself every single day without fail, while he was away from them. And everyday hurt more than the last.

After hours of walking around town for a sign of them, that was when he finally saw it. Emma’s yellow bug. It was unmistakably hers. He had found them, almost. His heart swelled with anticipation, they had to be around here somewhere.

Emma’s car was parked on the curb, near what he desperately hoped was her apartment building. He waked in to the lobby, scanning the names of the residents. No Emma. He forced himself to breathe, just because her name wasn’t here doesn’t mean that she wasn’t close. He tried the next building then, then the next. Still no sign of Emma.

Then finally on the third building he tried there it was. Emma Swan . Apartment 311. He’d found her. 

He immediately rushed up to the apartment, taking the stairs two at a time. He was finally getting his family back.

He paused outside the door for a moment, hesitating slightly. He knew she wouldn’t remember him, that’s what the memory potion in his jacket pocket was for. He just needed to get her to trust him enough to be willing to drink it.

He couldn’t wait a second longer, he pounded on the door. Waiting for Emma to open it and then she finally did.

Gods she was breathtaking, his memory didn’t do her justice. Her golden hair flowing in waves down her back, her green eyes studying him intently.

“Umm… can I help you?” She asked, not opening the door to her apartment more than necessary. He’d known she wouldn’t remember him, but seeing her like this, all closed off and guarded was something else. She was a stranger to him. And that hurt more than any curse.

Spotting movement out of the corner of his eye, he directed his gaze downward. He saw her blonde hair first, it was longer now, all messily knotted from sleep, sticking up in odd angles not quite in the same way it had before. She was dressed in dark fuzzy pyjamas, and her favourite octopus in her hand. Hope. His Hope. She was here.

She was taller now, gods he’d missed so much, she was walking properly, more than just a few steps occasionally. He’d yet to see her face, her back turned to him as she looked up to her mom.

“Mommy?” Hope asked, her voice beautifully light. And he watched Emma flinch for a second clearly caught by surprise. Before Hope started talking again. Talking. Full sentences. He’d missed so much of her life already. “I hadda mean dream.”

Sympathy crossed over Emma’s face in a heartbeat before her eyes flicked over to him like he was an outsider, intruding on their precious family moment.

“Stay behind me baby.” Emma said firmly, a hint of caution in her tone. He watched as Hope shuffled behind her, and then he finally got to see her face. She still had her blue eyes, his blue eyes. She looked truly perfect. Like a mini version of her mother.

Hope’s eyes widened as she looked at him. Looking at him with as much detail as he looked at her. She took a step back in front of Emma, until she was close enough that he could reach out and touch her.

“Who are you?” She asked, staring up at him expectantly. And he knew it wasn’t just the curse talking. He’d missed too much of her life, even if she got her memory’s back she likely wouldn’t remember him, and it was that thought that was truly killing him.

“Momma, who is that?” Hope asked, running back to stand in front of Emma, pointing at him.

“I don’t know baby.” Emma responded picking Hope up into her arms, before narrowing her eyes at him. The warmth and affection she looked at her daughter with a moment before, was gone the second she looked at him.

“Is that my dad? Hope continued, her gaze flickering between them.

“No honey, he’s not your dad. We lost your dad a long time ago, I know you don’t remember baby.” Emma said softly, her hand running up and down Hope’s back. He still wasn’t over how much his little girl had grown in his absence.

“What if he comes back tho? Like in hide n seek?” He could see the pain in Emma’s eyes at Hope’s words, he knew that while they were cursed to be happy, they were still cursed. And a curse couldn’t make up for everything they really had.

And little did they know Hope’s father was stood right in front of them.

“Hope baby, why don’t you go find your brother a moment while I see what the nice man wants?” Emma offered.

“But I wanna stay with you.” Hope grumbled clutching tightly on to Emma’s shirt. It appeared that his little girl was still up to her antics. He wished he could go back and spend this time with them, that he’d never lost them.

Emma turned her attention to him then, clutching onto Hope slightly tighter as if she needed protection from him. “I’m sorry about all of this, but umm… can I help you?” She asked, doing her best to give him a smile but he could tell that she just wanted this conversation to be over so she could get back to her life.

He started with a smirk, a trade mark move of his that he’d used back when he’d first met her. “My names Killian Jones, milady. And I was wondering if…”

“I’m going to have to stop you right there. Whatever this attempt at flirting with me is right now, it’s not going to happen. I don’t have the time or a place for a man in my life right now. So if you’re just here for a piece of ass..istance,” She saved quickly, catching Hope out the corner of her eye. “please leave right now and let me get back to my life.” She glared at him coldly.

“I’m here because your family is in grave danger.” He added, immediately changing tack ticks, after his initial attempt didn’t work, hoping instead to capture her attention in a different way.

“My family is right here.” She argued, her gaze looking on Hope for a moment.

“Your parents…” He stared before she cut him off abruptly.

“My parents abandoned me when I was a baby, if they’re suddenly reaching out right now because they need something. I’m definitely not giving it to them, they abandoned me on a side of a freeway. They can go to hell for all I care.” He knew she didn’t mean it. But he could tell that angle wouldn’t work, she still hand no intention of letting him in.

“Momma? What’s a hel?” Hope chimed in, looking up at Emma with curiosity. Clearly listening into their conversation.

“A bad place baby.” Emma said softy, her tone completely shifting as she spoke to their daughter.

“Emma love, please give me a moment to explain.”

“I’m not your love and how the hell do you know my name.” She asked, and he believed he may have finally managed to capture her attention.

“I believe I know you better than you know yourself.”

“Prove it.” The challenge egging him on in the same way that reminded him of a very competitive game of darts they’d played near the time they first met. (He’d won. By that he meant Emma absolutely destroyed him at darts but they went home together after, so he’d definitely won in his eyes)

He thought through everything he knew about her,  he had enough to go on for hours, he maybe had seconds here at most.

“I know that your favourite colour is red because of your red leather jacket, someone told you once that it was your armour. And you were at a point in your life where you needed that protection the most, needing answers about your past, and then you found something to help protect you.” He watched her eyes widen as he spoke, but he continued nonetheless.

“I know you sleep on the left side of the bed, even when you’re alone. While I don’t know why you started, I know it’s one of the few things, as a kid, you felt like you could control. I know you stole your bug when you were 17, and despite the gears sticking you could never bring yourself to replace it. Because it was one of the first big things that you did for yourself, even if that day resulted in one of the biggest heartbreaks of your life you wouldn’t go back and re-do it given the chance, as ultimately it gave you your son. And finally I know how scared you were when you were pregnant with Hope. Scared that you’d never be a good parent after how your parents left you, scared that you’d mess her up simply by being in her life. But that couldn’t be further from the truth, you’re an amazing mother. You prove that through your actions, how you always kiss her forehead and remind her how much you love her before she goes to sleep, how you’d never abandon her. I know you don’t remember me my love, but I know you. And you’ve always been an open book to me.”

She stared at him eyes wide, for a heartbeat, letting his words sink in.

He’d just picked four random facts he knew about her out of the millions. He knew she always took her hot chocolate with cinnamon, but if it was before 10 in the morning she would only drink coffee. He knew that she preferred quiet nights in to big nights out but despite that she always enjoyed their date nights. He knew she loved grilled cheese and onion rings, gods he knew so much about her but that all meant nothing if he couldn’t get her to talk to him.

… And that her favourite part of him, was his eyes. 

That was always one of his favourites.

“That’s not perception. That’s eavesdropping.” Clearly talking about his point about Hope. “And if that’s all you’ve got then you don’t know me at all.” She said, firmly. Confident in her words but he knew her better than that. He’d gotten to her, chipped slightly at her walls. While the curse could have changed parts of her past, it didn’t change who she was at her core.

But that person, his Emma, was being blocked out by walls a mile high, and a so cold that it nearly killed him coming from her. She didn’t trust him, she hardly even knew him.

There was no sense of familiarity in her eyes, if he didn’t know every part of her, it would be like looking at a stranger. Which was how she saw him.

Hope let out a yawn, her arms rising above her head before she flopped down in triedness into Emma’s shoulder. (His daughter was so adorable.)   But as she did her octopus plushie dropped to the floor. And Killian was quick to pick it up and return it to Hope’s arms, a gesture while helpful earned him a stern look from Emma. An expression that told him simply, she didn’t want him anywhere near her child. 

“Look I don’t have time for whatever the hell this is. I’ve got to get my kid in bed, and I don’t even know who the fu- hell you are, so if you don’t mind I’ve got to go now.” She said finally, already beginning to close the door. She was right, she didn’t know who he was. He was just some man who’d showed up on her doorstep, and desperately tried to get her to listen to him. She had her priorities, her children.

And he had his. Getting his family back.

He watched as the last remaining view of the people he loved most in this world, slowly disappeared from view.

He wanted to break down that door and try true loves kiss on the woman he loved.

But he didn’t.

Instead he went, he didn’t have a plan of where he was going now. He just knew he needed something big, to help him get through to them.

He would get his family back. And then they could all be together.

Chapter Text

Emma closed the door on the stranger, an unexpected feeling of regret crossing over her, as if she’d made a huge mistake. But she needed to get Hope to bed, her little angel was almost passed out in her arms.

She tried to push the thoughts of the strange man away, as she made her way into Hope’s room, and began tucking her daughter back into bed before placing a kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight baby, I love you.”

You prove that through your actions, how you always kiss her forehead and remind her how much you love her before she goes to sleep. 

The man’s words suddenly came back to her.

Out of every wrong thing he’d said, there was one piece of truth that stood out among the lies. A piece of truth he had absolutely no way of knowing.

His points were so strange, so specific. In truth he was closer to reality than she would ever admit. It was true red used to be her favourite colour, then Hope was born. Then it became blue. After her daughter’s eyes that she remembered matched her father’s, that always reminded her of the sea on a warm summers day.

He was nearly right about her side of the bed, she’d slept on the left for years, then after Hope’s dad died she moved to the right, telling herself it reminded her of him, and she needed to feel closer to him. Even if it only made her miss him more.

The only part about the story about her bug she could fault, was how she’d gotten her gears fixed 7 months ago when she got a bonus from her job and when she could finally afford to get them fixed, especially since they’d started to really annoy her. Meaning her gears no longer stuck.

He’d got everything about Hope right.

She didn’t like that he could read her- an open book she believed he called it. And that scared the hell out of her. 

His words stuck with her to the next morning, as she was making breakfast, especially with what he said about Hope. It was too accurate to be a coincidence.

His words still echoed through her mind,  while dread sunk into her stomach for an entirely different reason. Henry had organised a sleepover for himself at a friend’s house, nothing out of the ordinary except for the fact he’d invited Walsh over to her place by stealing her phone. Reminding her that she’d never officially told Henry they’d broken up. Something she found out when Walsh greeted her at her door holding her a big bouquet of flowers and an endearing smile.

She wanted to slam the door on his face right then and there.

But she didn’t, she put on a fake smile gritted her teeth and somehow, 10 minutes later he was sat on her couch offering apologies and telling her everything she wanted to hear.

She wanted to believe him, she nearly did.

That was when someone pounded loudly on the door, and she immediately recognised the pattern from the night before. This could be her chance to finally get some answers. But Walsh was here, and this really wasn’t a great time.

She excused herself from her conversation with Walsh and went to go answer the door. Unsurprisingly, it was Killian, looking more dashing now than he did the prior night. She was annoyed at herself for even remembering his name and more annoyed at herself for finding him attractive, to be fair she had just spent the last half hour talking to Walsh, and this was definitely an upgrade on her eyes.

Gone were his elaborate leathers from the night before, replaced by a back leather jacket and dark jeans. He looked simple mesmerising in both. And she should definitely not be attracted to the strange man at the door when her sort-of-well-basically-at-this-point-might-as-well-be-boyfriend was sat on her couch. But with Hope tucked away in her room, she couldn’t help admire him.

“Sorry this isn’t a good time right now. My boyfriend is here right now and I…”

“Boyfriend?!” The Killian’s eyes widened, as he repeated the word as if she was lying. But she wasn’t, Walsh was her boyfriend, sort of. But she wasn’t about to mention that last part to a stranger.

“Yeah. Walsh. My boyfriend. He’s in my apartment right now if you don’t believe me.”

Killian stormed in like he owned the place, brushing past her, paying no attention to the fact it was her apartment.

“Hey. Hey, hey!” She called after him, but Killian showed no signs of stopping.

“Who the bloody hell are you?” Killian demanded, staring at Walsh with what could only be described as pure unbridled hatred, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Emma, who is this?” Walsh asked, as he turned to face them.

“This is Killian he’s…” she hadn’t a clue who he was.

“Are you cheating on me? Is that why you turned down my proposal?” Walsh started, listening off accusations like it was his job.

“Proposal?” Killian asked, his eyes darting to her with… was that? Jealousy? Heartbreak? Betrayed?

“Yeah Walsh… proposed, none of your business. Now get out of my apartment.” She justified, not sure why she felt obligated to explain anything to him.

“Are you Hopes dad? I thought you said he died?” Walsh asked, turning from Killian to look at Emma accusingly, as if she’d lied about something so important.

Walsh stood up, and marched out of her apartment, not interested or even open to an explanation.

“Walsh!” She called out after him, debating chasing after him.

Walsh didn’t even give her a second to explain, but for some reason she felt obliged to follow him. As if she was missing some major piece of information.

But that would mean leaving Hope, even if only for a moment, with Killian.

Could she trust him?

Somehow she already knew the answer.

“Stay here with Hope, there’s something I need to take care of.” She called out to Killian, she needed to end things with Walsh.

“Wait love… are you sure he’s worth going after?” Killian argued, grabbing onto her wrist to stop her from leaving.

“I have to do this.” She explained, jostling her wrist free and started going after Walsh.

“Alright. I’ll stay with your girl.” Killian called after her.

She found Walsh on the roof of her building, looking mad as hell.

“Who is he Emma? Who the hell is he?” He accused, looking at her coldly. As if they hadn’t been together for eight whole months.

“I don’t know!” She shouted.

“Not good enough. I trusted you and this is how you repay me?” He accused.

“Look Walsh, I don’t want to have this fight right now. I thought I’d made myself clear at the restaurant last night, but there’s no point dragging out the inevitable. Whatever this was between us is over. It was never actually going to last.” She’d said her piece. The only reason she’d come up here in the first place was to end things.

It was like a switch flipped in Walsh’s head, gone was any softness in his face, replaced with a cold calculated stare. “Huh, he’s been back a day, and you’re already in love with him. Guess he couldn’t leave well enough alone. That’s too bad. I actually kind of liked you.”

“Who are you?”

His eyes flashed red, like something out of a movie. And he started to charge towards her- he was going to push her off the building!

She ducked instinctively, hiding behind the short wall hoping it would protect her, and Walsh tumbled straight over the edge.

Instinctively, she went to check over the edge and what she saw next changed everything. He was coming back, with wings. Fur and a blood curdling scream. What the actual fuck?

This does not happen in real life.

Any moment now she’d wake up, be safe in her bed. But right now the flying monkey/ Walsh was still approaching rapidly.

She looked around quickly for something, anything that could be off assistance before landing on a metal pipe.

She grabbed the pipe as Walsh landed on the wall where she’d been stood seconds ago, letting out another scream.

She hit him when the pipe, like she was the main character in her own tv show and she’d just undergone a 2 minute training montage. In reality she’d never even so much as taken a self defence course.

She hit him a few times, before finally she had him cornered, the pipe pressed up against his throat and soon she watched as he fell over the edge of the building disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

He turned into a flying monkey. What the hell?

This was not real. This was a dream. This was not real. She repeated futilely to herself.

The only thing that got her downstairs, was the thought of Hope in her apartment, as her entire world seemed to shift and break apart around her.

Walsh was a flying monkey.

And she was somehow not dreaming.

When she made it back to her apartment she wanted to collapse, the weight of what she’d just learned seated heavily on her shoulders.

“Emma?” Killian called out, “Gods what’s wrong?” She barely registered him, as she stumbled into her apartment. She didn’t even remember falling into his arms but a moment later he was the only thing holding her up as her knees felt ready to collapse.

“Walsh… he he. Turned into a flying monkey thing… and…” She stuttered, he probably thought she was crazy, he didn’t even know her. And yet she was rambling about flying monkeys and holding onto him as if he were her only anchor to this world.

“Sit love. I promise you there’s a perfectly logical explanation.” He guided her over to the couch, and she reluctantly sat down.

How could this ever make sense?

Her world seemed to stop spinning for a moment as she looked at him, he seemed so sure and confident. She held on to his words as she met his eyes using them to tether her to reality.

“I need you to drink this.” He pulled out a small vile of a blue liquid, it looked like some form of magical potion. Or something that would kill her. She couldn’t tell.

She’d already done enough crazy for one day. What was one more thing? As she looked into his eyes, she felt compelled to trust him. As she uncorked the bottle, drinking the potion without a second thought.

Immediately, she was assaulted by a wave of memories.

She remembered meeting Killian.

She remembered meeting Killian in the bar that day, how he’d won her over with a smirk and kind words. She remembered their first dance, their first kiss. The day they moved in together, the day she found out she was pregnant. All of it. When Hope was born, the look of pure joy in Killian’s eyes. The day he proposed, and then she remembered meeting Henry, and everything that had come after that.

She remembered everything, even the green clouds that whisked her away from the man she loved.

“Killian?” She looked at him now, really looked at him, and she no longer saw a stranger. She saw her Killian. The man she loved, who was looking back at her with a look of relief, and a warm smile.

She immediately hugged him, pulling him into her arms and holding him. The last year felt like a nightmare, one she was finally free from.

“Emma.” He breathed, holding onto her just as tightly as she was him.

“Is Hope alright?” Killian asked suddenly, pulling back from her slightly, his eyes searching hers for an answer.

“She’s fine, she’s asleep right now.” She explained simply, her thumb rubbing against the palm of his hand.

“Can I see her?” He asked, not doing a good job at hiding his desperation.

“Of course. She’s grown up so much.” She added, her tone turning sad as she realised the implications of this. He’d missed a part of his daughter’s life, a big part. A whole year. Hope had grown up so much in that time, it broke her heart knowing that he missed out on soo much.

“I saw.”

“Right… yesterday. I’m sorry about that. I had no idea who you were and Hope was crying, and I’d just ended things with Walsh and it’d just been a day.” She summarised, feeling guilty. She hadn’t known. She had no clue that was her Killian outside her door yesterday. 

“You ended things yesterday?” He asked, his brow furrowed.

“He proposed, and when I told him it was too soon he got mad. So I ended things, then Henry invited him over today, which was why he was here. Henry didn’t know we’d broken up, I was just telling him that when you showed up and… yeah.”

“Speaking of your boy, where is he? I haven’t seen him since…” He trailed off, not wanting to think about the curse. And she was glad he stopped asking about Walsh, even though she could see it in his eyes it was still eating at him.

“Henry’s at a friend’s house right now, he set the whole thing with Walsh up because he thought a proposal would be good for me, that I needed to let someone in more, that wasn’t just him or his sister. But I now know why things always felt wrong with Walsh. He wasn’t you.”

Killian didn’t say anything for a moment, and she used the opportunity to study his face, he looked exactly like her memory. His hair was a tiny bit longer now but other than that he remained physically the same. Except for how tired he looked, that she picked up on immediately.

“You look tired, wait… where did you go last night? I’m sorry I didn’t let you in, but I didn’t remember you and…”

“It’s perfectly alright love, you had our daughter to prioritise. And to answer your question… I spent the night on a bench under the stars.”

“Sounds uncomfortable.”

“Aye that it was, nothing I wasn’t used to though.”

Talking a page out of his book she arched a brow at him.

“When I first got here from the Enchanted Forest… long before I ever met you, when I didn’t know anything about this realm. Where did you think I slept? I didn’t have any money and people here don’t tend accept doubloons as a currency.”

“I don’t know. Honestly I never thought about that, how did you ever get used to this realm?”

“Easy. I met a charming lass who taught me everything I know.”

“And who was that?”

“You. You taught me everything I know about this realm.” He said with a grin.

She smiled, “Do you want me to make you a drink? You look thirsty, and well I definitely need a drink, it’s been a hell of a day.”

“Thanks for the offer love.”

She made her way over to the kitchen, and immediately missed having his arms around her But she made them both a drink of hot chocolate, while Killian stayed on the couch, glancing around the apartment.

“This place is nice.” Killian said, continuing to look around taking it in for the first time, but she knew that wasn’t what he really wanted to ask.

“Yeah, it’s bigger than anywhere we could have ever afforded. I guess some parts of the curse had its perks, Hope and Henry both got their own rooms.” She explained as she finished making their drinks, and sat back down next to him, handing him his drink as his arm went around her shoulder. She leant back into him, as if no time at all had passed between them.

“I know you don’t really want to ask about my apartment, what do you really want to ask?” She questioned.

“Did you sleep with him?” That was not what she expected him to ask. “I don’t want to know actually, you were cursed. Whatever happened between you and the man you almost married can stay that way.” She picked up immediately on the jealousy in his voice and she couldn’t blame him, if he were cursed and she had to walk in on him talking to his girlfriend she’d have definitely lost her control.

“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were jealous.” She teased lightly. “And the man I almost married turned out to be a flying monkey who had just been manipulating me, so if you ask me there’s really nothing to be jealous off. And to answer your question, No. I never slept with Walsh. Near when we met he talked about saving himself for marriage, and so that was kinda it for that. In the entire time we were together we were together we never even shared a bed, Hope didn’t like him enough for me to let him in anywhere near that close. He wasn’t even that good of a kisser, nor that attractive. And no, I’m not just saying that to make you feel better, Walsh was a lot of things. Secretly evil the main one I can think of now, but he cared… or atleast I thought he did. And well I was weak, brought down by kind words, when I just needed help with the kids. I’m sorry I let him near Hope, I had no idea, he never hurt her I swear. Honestly Hope didn’t even let him hold her, she was always particular about that.”

Killian still looked hurt and she could understand why. He’d been on his own for the last year, and she’d finally gotten him back only for him to have found her with a boyfriend, and their daughter having no memory of him whatsoever.

“She asked about you. You know that right? She was always asking about her dad, calling out to you at odd hours of the night. Then, I guess it just fizzled out. I know you don’t want to hear that, but she never stoped thinking about you. Every so often she’d ask for stories about her dad, or for me to tell her something new about you. While I couldn’t remember you because of the curse, I… had enough cursed memories of a version of you… it’s all hazy now. Like waking up from a dream.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m sorry you had to go through the whole last year on your own. And I’m sorry I broke our promise, I promised you I’d never abandon you and yet…”

“Hey, you can’t seriously be blaming yourself? You got to us as fast as you could.”

“Not fast enough. My own daughter doesn’t have a bloody clue who I am. So yeah I think I messed up.” She could see the pain etched into his face, the last year may have been rough her but it was nothing compared to what Killian had gone through.

“Stop that right now. I know you. You’ll start blaming yourself for things that weren’t even remotely in your control. We did what we thought was best. And because of that our children didn’t grow up alone. Hope and Henry had one of us and while I wish they had you too, we can’t change the past. We didn’t have time to come up with a better plan that day. We got them out, that was the priority.”

“You’re right… I just missed you, and our family. And I’m just disappointed I missed out on so much.”

“I know.” She whispered, pressing her forehead up against his. “Oh and Killian. I love you. I know things have been hectic and things have been a mess today and well…” Her words got cut off as he captured her lips into a fierce kiss, one she gladly returned. They broke apart a moment later when they felt it, a wave of pure light rippling away from them, something she’d only felt once before. When the first curse was broken.

“I love you too. There wasn’t a day that went buy that I didn’t think of you.” Her lips curved into a smile, she hadn’t felt this happy since the curse was cast. She finally had him back.

Her life had felt incomplete for so long and now… she finally felt whole.

“Mommy!!” Hope called out, jarring her from her moment with Killian.

“Is she alright?” Killian asked immediately concerned.

“Nightmare.” Emma said quickly in justification, realising Hope only started having them since the curse.

“Our lass is having bad dreams?”

She nodded, before grabbing his hand and leading him into Hope’s room.

Killian stayed in the doorway while Emma went to comfort Hope. She hated that he didn’t feel as if it was his place to comfort his daughter.

Hope immediately climbed into Emma’s arms. “Hey baby, what’s wrong?” Emma soothed running her hands through Hope’s hair in an all too familiar way.

“Mommy! There was this green smoke, and and… and we had to leave daddy. And I want my daddy back.” She sobbed into her chest. Did Hope remember? She was only 2 at the time, she shouldn’t remember that- right? Wait, if she remembered then… true loves kiss.

She pushed the thought to the side for a moment needing to focus on her baby for a moment, who was crying out for her father.

She scooped her crying daughter into her arms and carried her over to her father. “I believe this moment belongs to you.” She’d already taken a lot of moments away from Killian this year. Him finding out his daughter remembers him should definitely belong to him.

Killian stared eyes wide for only a second before he was reaching out to take Hope into his arms. Rubbing circles in her back as if the two had never been separated. “Daddy.” Hope whispered into her father’s chest, clutching tightly to the fabric of his shirt.

“She remembers me.” He whispered awe struck.

“Of course she does. You’re her father.”

Chapter Text

･*:
Boston: Years ago:

“Have you got any ideas about a name yet?”Emma asked, folding some clothes they’d brought recently for their baby, putting them away in a drawer. They didn’t have loads of money between them but they would be damned if they weren’t going to spoil their child rotten. They’d both had crappy childhoods, and they’d do everything to make sure their baby never knew what that would feel like. They would always know that they were loved.

Emma was getting towards the end of her pregnancy now and they still had yet to pick out a name for their child. They didn’t know what gender their baby would be yet, choosing to keep it a surprise. Meaning they would need to pick out two possible names. “Have you thought about doing something to honour your family? Like maybe Liam if it’s a boy?” She continued, as she picked up a tiny baby hat folding it and putting it away, so small, and soo cute. She couldn’t wait for her baby to arrive, and not just because it would mean she could go more than five minutes without needing to pee.

Killian shook his head in response, her boyfriend was currently working on putting together a crib. Which apparently had far too many steps, and looked to be a great struggle for him. Even with two hands Emma found stuff like that hell to build.

“Maybe as a middle name or something. Something Liam Jones?” She asked, tempted to go over and give him a hand with the crib. But she didn’t want another reminder from Killian that she should be resting and not to strain herself. He had been than a little overprotective since he found out that she was expecting, but she honestly found it endearing, she’d never had parents before so it felt nice to having someone constantly looking out for her, even if at times it got on her nerves.

They had decided on a nautical theme for their baby’s nursery, given Killian’s love of the sea it felt like the obvious choice. So far, they didn’t have loads for the room but they were working on it slowly, and Emma could already the room was going to be adorable. One of Emma’s personal favourite items was the cute little octopus plushie, that she had found when shopping for baby supplies.

“What makes you think our little lass or lad would rather be a Jones rather than a Swan? You’re doing all the hard work here, it’d hardly be fair for them to take my name.” Killian replied, staring intensely at the instruction manual. (Which was upside down.)

“We could always hyphenate? Jones-Swan or Swan-Jones, they’re your kid too, they deserve to have this part of you.” Emma continued, walking over to where Killian was sat on the ground and picked the instruction manual from him turning it over and pointing to the first step, and then a corresponding piece of wood and screws. Before she took a seat back down on the rocking chair, folding another pice of tiny baby clothing and setting it into the chest of draws. The rocking chair, they’d gotten second hand from someone in the building who was desperate to get rid of it, Emma claimed they didn’t need it at first but but Killian insisted that they could read bedtime story’s to their child there. Anyhow, Emma had now taken a strong liking to the chair, as it was impeccably comfortable. “So Liam Swan-Jones?”

He smiled, looking over to her. Before turning back and screwed the piece of wood together- in the wrong place but she wasn’t about to correct him. She’d let him figure it out. “That sounds perfect, love. What if it’s a little lass though? I don’t think Liam would work as a middle name. Maybe Lilith or Lillian?”

Emma shook her heard. “I knew a Lily once, I don’t wasn’t to be reminded of that every time I see my daughter.”Killian nodded, before she continued, “Is there anyone else in your past you’d like honour?”

“I’ve only ever known one person good enough to pass on their name. My mother.” Emma looked over to him in surprise, Killian hadn’t ever really mentioned his mother before. She knew how his father abandoned him and his brother in the middle of the night but he never talked about his mother.

“Oh, I don’t believe you’ve meationd her before. Do you want to tell me about her?” She asked, curious.

“There’s not much to tell, she died when I was young. I only vaguely remember the lullaby she used to sing to me. But she… she tried to stay with me as long as she could.”

Emma immediately went over to Killian, struggling to sit down before she wrapped her arms around his shoulder, she could see how much that story affected him. “What was her name?” She asked rubbing her thumb across his cheek.

“Alice.” He replied with a sad smile. It was truly a beautiful name.

“Something Alice Swan Jones? Emma asked. Unless you’d want to use it as a first name.” She already had a good feeling about this, it sounded right. The perfect name if they have a daughter.

Killian shook his head at the suggestion of using it as a first name. “I’m honoured enough that you’d even consider naming them after my family to begin with.”

“Of course I would, they’re important to you. And it’s important to have hope.” She smiled, as Killian placed a kiss on her forehead.

“I didn’t peg you for the hope speech kind of person.”

“I’m not but Killian, you changed my life, made me feel whole again like I could truly do this. Be more than just an orphan. You brought hope back into my life and for that I’m eternally grateful.” She wasn’t vulnerable around people basically ever, at least that was the case until she met Killian. And he’d come and broke down her walls, brick by brick until she trusted him completely with her heart.

Killian smirked, “What?” She questioned, knowing that look he was currently giving her meant something.

“Hope.” He whispered. “You brought hope back into my life too my dear, what could be a more fitting name for our child?”

“Hope Alice Swan-Jones.” Emma repeated, trying the name out for herself. And she had to admit she loved it. She felt the baby kick as if in conformation, and she took that as a good sign.

Hope.

“It’s perfect.” He whispered, a little awestruck. Hearing it out loud for the first time. “If we have a daughter.” He continued, reminding her they still didn’t know their baby’s gender.

“Well then I guess we’ll just have to hope for a daughter then.” She joked.

“Pun intended?”

“Pun always intended, now do you want me to give you and hand putting together the crib or do you have it?”

･*:

“You guys going to finally tell me the name of my little brother? Or should I just keep calling him, “Hey, there.”” Emma asked, thinking back to when she and Killian had picked out their daughter’s name. Speaking of, her pirate walked down the stairs of the loft, Hope in his arms before making his way over to her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

It had been an eventful couple of weeks since they returned from New York, having to battle an evil - sorry wicked - witch tends to have that effect. But with that threat vanquished, things had just started to go back to some semblance of normal around here. 

Things with Killian didn’t go back to the way it was overnight, but they both wanted this, and they both worked damn hard to get back to the place where they are now. And for once, things were perfect.

“How did you two decide on Hope’s name?” Snow asked, looking towards at the four of them.

She shrugged, Hope’s name always just felt right, from the moment Killian suggested it she knew it was the name for their daughter. “Hope Alice Swan-Jones.” Emma answered, saying her daughter’s full name, not something she had reason to do often.

“Alice?” David questioned, a proud smile on his face as he looked between his children.

“After Killian’s mother.” Emma explained quickly, running her hand through Hope’s hair.

Snow nodded, before David continued. “Well, the thing is, there’s sort of this tradition, back in the Enchanted Forest, when a new royal is born, you usually announce the name in a coronation ceremony.”

“We would have done it with you if we could have.” Snow continued, putting away some of the new baby’s things.

“You’re not going to hold him out in front of the clock tower and present him like in lion king are you?” Emma joked, as Killian held Hope out like that making her erupt into a fit of giggles.

“Daddy that tickles!” Hope exclaimed, a bright smile gracing her face.

“Of course not. In fact we’ve decided to forgo all pomp and circumstance for a nice potluck at Granny’s. The important thing is to mark the occasion. Remind ourselves that after all that we’ve been through, we’re still together as a family.”She looked at Killian then, their eyes meeting. After everything that happened they were still together, and now stronger than ever.

All the curses and commotion may have almost broken them but they never stopped loving each other. And now they were together, planning their lives. It wasn’t the life she’d envisioned they’d have back in Boston, somehow it was better. They had each other, their incredible daughter, wonderful son, amazing parents, and now, she had a younger brother.

“Hey, check it out! I think I found us a place.” Henry exclaimed as he burst into the apartment, newspaper in hand.

“You’re looking at apartments?” Emma asked as Henry appeared in front of her, pointing eagerly to an apartment shown in the newspaper.

Truthfully, since they’d gotten back from New York Emma and Killian had been looking at getting a place for themselves as well. As much as it had been nice living with Mary Margret and David, the small two bedroom apartment was more than a little cramped with 2 kids, 4 adults and a new baby. And they’d found a stunning house by the sea, which they both agreed was perfect, but they were still waiting for the right moment to bring it up. She didn’t want to hurt her parents, but she did miss having space to breathe as well as having alone time with her fiancé. Continually, this meant that both Hope and Henry could once again have their own rooms, something both kids wanted again.

Furthermore, this house came with a back garden, something they always dreamed they’d have for Hope and her seemingly endless amounts of energy.

“So mom, what do you think?”

“I think your Grandparents can’t decide what to name your uncle and they are using a fairytale tradition to buy them selves some time.” She answered deflecting the question, she and Killian wanted to make sure they actually had the house before they told anyone about their little plan. It was going to be a nice surprise for Henry and Hope. They decided long ago that Storybrooke was their home and now it was finally time to make things official.

***

They all sat around a table in Granny’s, once more hearing the story of how her parents fell in love, Henry, Snow, David and the new baby on one side with her, Killian and Hope on the other.

Hope was sitting between her parents, more interested in picking off the whipped cream off of her pancakes rather than listening to the story. As much as they’d found Hope loved story’s from the book, especially ones about her dad, as it turns out, that doesn’t remotely compare to a plate of pancakes with her name on it.

Killian swiped a little cream off of her pancakes and dabbing it on his nose before pulling a silly face, making their little duckling smile.

“Silly Daddy. You’re supposed to eats the cream.” Hope replied, standing up on the chair before flopping down on her dad, wrapping her arms around his neck, as Killian let out an exaggerated “oof.” sound. Before he dotted some cream on her nose too.

Hope turned around to her after a moment, a big smile on her face, so Emma could get the cream off her daughter’s face.

Killian still had a little whipped cream on his nose, “Killian you’ve got a little something,” She gestured to his nose, “Want me to grab it?”

He nodded and she leant over Hope kissing his nose, and suddenly wishing they weren’t in the middle of Granny’s so she could do a hell of a lot more than just kiss his nose.

They turned back to the conversation with her parents after that, looking through the storybook and showing both Hope and the baby the pictures.

It wasn’t till the ground suddenly shook, a bright orange beam emerging in the distance that everyone turned to stare at, that their meal was interrupted. What the hell was that?

Already rising to her feet Emma asked, “We should go investigate, Killian?”Wanting him by her side for this, he nodded quickly as she turned to her parents. “Can you watch Hope?”

“Yeah, Emma be careful.” David replied. As Emma and Killian left the diner in a hurry to investigate. They had no idea what the hell the giant orange beam was, but given the circumstances it couldn’t be good.

The beam of angry light erupted from the barn roof like a giant lightning strike. A pulsing vain of electricity that crackled as they drew closer,“Whatever’s going on in there can’t be good.” Killian said as they approached.

“It’s Zelena’s time portal, David left a message. Somehow, she died and triggered it” Emma replied, reading a text she’d just received from David.

The barn doors moved with the wind, the single light flickering above, “Wait, we have to get out of here!” Killian called out, grabbing Emma’s arm and pulling her back, a worried expression coating his face.

“Not until we fine a way to close it.” She argued.

“Have you got your magic back?” Killian asked, already aware of the answer. She’d lost her magic a little while ago saving his life, she didn’t even have to think about the risk, she’d nearly lost him once before. Never again.

“No.”

“Then we’re not bloody well messing with any of this. Let’s go!” Killian said firmly as he started to pull her back.

“Mommy?” Hope’s little voice called out from beside them, and Emma looked over to see her baby girl stood just behind Killian, a determined look on her face, that didn’t quite manage to hide her fear.

“Baby, what are you doing here?” Emma asked, worry consuming her as she brushed past Killian to pick up their daughter. She shouldn’t be here. She was supposed to be at Granny’s, safe, with Mary Margret and David.

“I wanna help!” Hope called out from her mother’s arms, already trying to break free.

“Cygnet, we need to leave now .” Killian added, from beside Emma, his hand brushing over Hopes curls, the fear in his voice was mixed with his determination just like their daughters. 

That was then the barn doors swung open, golden light filling the air, Killian got jolted off of his feet, flying backwards as he began slipping towards the portal. Using his hook to stab the ground, so he didn’t fall all the way in.

“Daddy!” Hope cried out, as Emma held on to Hope tighter, it was a miracle they hadn’t been dragged along too. She couldn’t allow Killian to fall into the portal. She couldn’t loose him.

“Killian!” Emma yelled desperate for Killian not to fall, her voice raw. She looked down at her daughter for a second to confirm she was safe before Hope disappeared in a cloud of pale blue smoke. Emma’s arms immediately empty, she turned frantically looking for her daughter, who the hell had taken her at now of all times?

Emma looked back over to her fiancé who was barely struggling to hold on, when suddenly a the pale blue smoke appeared back at Killian’s side. “Daddy!” Hope cried out next to her father, before the portal began to drag her, she immediately lost her footing and soon the only thing keeping her from falling was Killian’s hand wrapped tightly around hers.

“Hold on!” He called out, his voice fiercely protective.

Emma watched in horror as her family was about go get sucked into the portal, powerless to do anything about it, without her magic and the fear of making it worse, knowing she was one step away from being dragged in herself.

“Daddy! I can’t!” Hope cried, as her hand finally slipped from Killian’s. Fear overtook Emma’s Hope got pulled into the portal. No.

Killian followed suit instantly, releasing his hook without a second thought, following their daughter straight into the portal.

Emma had started running the second Hope stared to fall, jumping into the portal after her family. She wouldn’t loose them again, she wouldn’t ever loose them again. She would never stop chasing them. 

***

Emma awoke suddenly, the world spinning around her. It took a moment for her to adjust to the strange place that now surrounded her and for everything to stop spinning, her eyes widening with horror as she realised where she was. The Enchanted Forest. She was back. It took her a second longer to recall what the hell she was doing here, then it hit her and she immediately rose to her feet ignoring the moment of dizziness that washed over her.

“Hope!” She called out, her voice an equal mix of pain and desperation. She remembered Hope falling into the portal, she remembered racing after her in sheer desperation not to loose her. And now she was gone, “Hope! HOPE!” Her volume increasing with every shout. There was no sign of her baby.

“What the bloody hell are you doing you’re going to get us caught!” Killian whispered loudly, his tone harsher than usual.

“I’m trying to find our daughter.” She hissed back at Killian. What was up with his attitude? Their child was missing, nothing else mattered.

“Aye, but if you keep yelling like that someone’s going to find us and it sure as hell won’t be Hope. We’re in the past love, we need to avoid making a lasting impression.” Killian argued, his tone softening.

“I’ll worry about that after we find our child.” she replied before she called out again. “Hope!”she continued as Killian placed his hand over her mouth, which she replied by elbowing his side, as he let go.

“Love, don’t think for one moment that I’m not as desperate as you to find our daughter, but getting ourselves killed won’t help anyone, especially not Hope.” She understood it then, he was just as worried as she was, just had a different way of showing it, coming out as a short temper that she wasn’t in the mood to deal with right now. But he did have a point, as much as she hated to admit it she was being reckless.

“How the hell do you propose we find her then?” She retorted, hating every second their daughter was trapped in this unfamiliar world.

Their slight argument was interrupted by the sound of a twig breaking in the near vicinity, Emma’s hand immediately went to her gun as Killian drew his sword. The pair of them preparing for attack. Even in their worry induced anger, they still operated in perfect sync.

Whatever or whomever was approaching was near, hidden just out of sight behind a huge tree.

They heard another footstep before…

“Daddy! Mommy!” Hope called out, her face emerging from behind the tree, as relief washed over her parents. As they immediately dropped their weapons, she heard Killian’s cutlass clatter to the ground as he ran over and scooped Hope up onto his arms. She followed suit, wrapping her arms around the both of them. “It’s really scary here. I wanna go home.” Hope whispered, not trying to fight out of her parents embrace as she sunk into them.

“So, when do you think we are?” Emma asked after a moment, now Hope was safe she finally allowed her mind to process the reality of the situation, they were trapped in the past. With no way back to the present. This was a mess.

She looked around for any obvious signs, and her eyes landed on a wanted poster for Mary Margret, or rather Snow White. “I have a pretty good idea.”

Killian following her line of sight added, “I suppose we’re lucky we ended up in this time. We could’ve appeared in the middle of the ogre wars. Or smack dab in the belly of a whale.” He deflected with humour, but his tight grip on their daughter proved he was every bit as worried as she was.

“When we fell through I was thinking about Henry and the story we were all reading at Granny’s.” She realised after a moment, still staring at the poster. It was so strange seeing it in reality, this all felt like nothing more than fairytales, something straight of out of a book, because that’s all it ever had been to her. And now suddenly she had been pulled headfirst into the story.

“You think that time portals work like any other sort? They take you back to where you’re thinking of?” Killian asked, catching onto her train of thought.

“Not where. When.”

“Extent deduction. Alas, it appears they share another quality, they don’t stay open for the return trip.” He added, stating the obvious. They were trapped.

“Nope.” She said with a sigh.

“We’re trapped in the past.”

A thunder of hoofbeats echoed from nearby, before Killian was suddenly pulling them both behind a tree, out of sight from a nearly road. “Black nights.” He whispered quietly, as they ran past, thankfully without seeing them.

“We should go.” Killian whispered, his hand covering over Hope’s eyes, so she didn’t see everything that was going on. But Emma had her gaze focused on Regina, who’d now emerged from the carriage, and had began to terrorise civilians.

She looked so different.

Gone was her sensible pantsuit, replaced but a fancy red outfit with black accents, and an overarching aura of power- which in a way she supposed Regina always possessed.

“Listen to me very carefully. Whatever squalor and despair your pathetic little lives have been able to tolerate until this point, is nothing compared to the pain and misery I can inflict, if I leave here unhappy.” Emma couldn’t help but to eavesdrop, she knew she was supposed to be getting the hell out of there but it was so different seeing this scene from the book play out in front of her.  

She hardly realised she’d crept forward to investigate until she and Killian were tucked behind a bush watching the scene in front them unfold.

“That’s Regina?” She whispered to Killian who was crouched next to her. Still processing the difference between Storybrooke and this world.

“Not Regina, love. The Evil Queen.” Killian corrected, following her gaze.

“She’s even worse without the sensible pantsuits.”

“Uh-huh”

“Is that before or after you teamed up with her?” She asked, remembering something he’d told her a while ago.

“Before I believe.” He answered, his gaze going back to Regina’s.

“Please. Your Majesty, we are a peaceful village. What do you want from us?” Marco pleaded, as Emma continued to watch, her desire to step in slowly growing.

“Justice.” Regina seethed. “If I find out anyone in this village has helped the bandit Snow White,” She exchanged a look with Killian, “they will suffer dearly. Here is what helping Snow White looks like.” Regina said before she gestured to a pair of her knights as they removed a sack from a dark-haired woman’s head.

“Help me! She’s going to kill me!” The woman yelled, her voice raspy and pained.

“Who wants to be next!” Regina shouted , as the crowd shrunk back in fear.

“Please!” The woman begged, her voice dripping with fear.

Emma moved to stand until she felt Killian’s hand gently pulling her back. “What are you doing?”

“I’m gonna help that woman. She’s just an innocent person-”

“No, Swan. When Belle figured out that Zelena wanted to change the past, she warned us it was dangerous. Messing with events could do unfold damage to all of us.” Right, time travel nonsense. Actions having consequences and all that.

“I’m just supposed to let her rot or die?” She asked, not wanting to watch an innocent die. Especially not when she knew she could stop it.

“Whatever her fate, we can’t interfere. Not if we want a chance of getting back to the world we know.” Killian reminded her, and she knew he was right. The future was good, really good. If something happened here to jeopardise that, she didn’t know what she’d do.

Her meeting Killian was a miracle, the best thing that ever happened to her. And they had their wonderful daughter. She knew how rare them meeting was and how one tiny change could stop everything. That couldn’t happen. Not if they wanted to get back to their life.

They needed to proceed with caution to be sure they got back to the world they knew and not let anything…

“Leave her alone!” A little voice demanded, as Emma felt her world rock around her. She’d know that voice anywhere. Hope.

She looked over in horror as Hope stood facing Regina, her hands balled into fists at her side.

Hope was supposed to be with Killian, he was supposed to be holding her, she looked over to him and his face was as white as a sheet. He was just as worried as she was, she instantly squeezed his hand in comfort to let him know she was with him. They now faced an impossible choice.

Save Hope.

Or risk loosing her forever by messing with the timeline.

“Whose child is this?” Regina demanded, her voice cold as ice. “Don’t make me ask again.”

“I said leave her alone!” Hope repeated, her voice angry, a tone neither of her parents were used to.

Despite everything Emma couldn’t help but feel pride in her daughter, standing up for the innocent. But that didn’t diminish her fear for even a second.

“You’re brave, I’ll give you that. It takes courage to stand up to me. And you have magic, don’t think that little teleportation trick went unnoticed earlier. You my dear, with proper training could prove to be a valuable asset.” Regina said, walking over and resting her hand on Hope’s chin looking her over.

Teleportation? Was that how Hope got to the portal? Hope had magic, proper magic. While people had been saying since they arrived in Storybrooke that Hope could have magic, it was difficult seeing it in person. They’d seen Hope do a few minor magical things before but nothing like this. And Emma was only just now realising just how dangerous this could be… 

“I’m getting our daughter.” Emma whispered, that was fine final straw. She couldn’t let anything happen to their baby.

Emma emerged from behind the bush, she was done hiding. “Back, the hell, away from my daughter.” She shouted firmly to Regina, to hell the consequences, she’d face those after she had her child back.

“So you’re the child’s mother, I expected more.” Regina replied dismissively, hardly sparing Emma a glance. “Now, let me propose a deal, I’ll take her off your hands for you, I’ll train her in magic myself, she could be truly great.”

“Nuh Uh, not going to happen.” Emma replied instantly, as she took as step towards Hope, her arms folded.

“You see, that’s not how this works. You see I make the demands. And you follow them or else.” Regina hissed as she raised her arm, instantly Emma was pulled off the ground, held up by an invisible force that was slowly choking her.

Regina’s hand twitched and Emma felt the grip tighten around her throat as black crept in around the edges of her vision.

“Mommy!” She heard her daughter call out, and she could just about make out Hope running over to Regina and start frantically hitting her leg.

“Why you!” Regina seethed as she dropped Emma and turned to face Hope. Emma gasped for breath as Regina stepped closer to Hope, grabbing her arm. “Let’s go.” Regina called out as she began dragging Hope towards her carriage.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Hope called out, fear echoing through her voice, as Regina pulled Hope into the carriage despite her kicking and screaming.

And Emma was already running towards them. She was not about to lose her daughter.

“Mommy!” Hope’s terrified scream echoed from the carriage as Emma nearly caught up to them, just before Regina threw her back with magic and she was flown backwards crashing into something, or someone.

She looked up to see Killian looking more angry than she’d ever seen him in the entire time she’d known him.

They watched in horror as the carriage pulled away, taking Hope with it.

“She took our baby.” Emma mumbled, her voice nothing above a whisper, and she felt a tear run down her shoulder which she quickly wiped with her sleeve. They were supposed to be working towards their happy ending and now… they may have irreparably damaged the future.

“We’ll get her back.” Killian promised, pulling her closer and she felt the anger behind his voice.

“How?” She heard how defeated her voice sounded, she didn’t want to keep having to fight these battles. She just wanted to go back to her peaceful life with her husb- fiancé.

“We’ll find a way.”

“Let me repeat how! An evil sourcer kidnapped our child how the hell are we going to solve this. Oh and not to mention we’re trapped in the fucking past. How the hell are you so calm?” She argued, the situation finally getting to her. They were in the past. Hope was missing. How the hell do they fix this?

“Because getting angry doesn’t solve anything!” Killian yelled, “I’m bloody furious. But that won’t bring our daughter back, we need a plan. To get our daughter back, and to get back to the future.”

“How would I know how to get back to the future? Who do I look like Marty McFly?” She retorted.

“I don’t think that movie’s going to help us now? Not unless you’ve got a DeLorean hiding somewhere.” Killian replied, running his fingers through his hair trying to calm him down. She knew he was stressed, they both were. They needed a solution. Killian was right, anger wouldn’t solve this.

“We don’t need a flying car we need… magic.” She realised, “If we had magic we could use it to get back somehow.” She continued thinking out loud.

“Isn’t magic how we got in this situation.” He retorted and she knew about Killian’s complicated relationship with magic, but she also knew they didn’t have a choice.

“Yeah and it’s how we’re going to get out of this… Rumplestiltskin. We can find Rumplestiltskin! And he get can help us get back to the future.”

“The Crocodile? You know him and I have never seen eye to eye. What makes you think he’ll help us?” Killian replied In disbelief and Emma was reminded of how he’d taken Hope back when they’d first arrived in Storybrooke. Could they even trust him? He’d double crossed them who knows how many times.

“We have to try. It’s our best change to rescue Hope and get home.” She argued, trying to convince both herself and Killian.

“Alright love. Well try.” Killian sighed, this was their only option at the moment. They didn’t have a choice. “There’s just one thing we need to do first.”

Killian gestured over to a clothes line, and Emma suddenly realised how out of place her and Killian’s outfits were in this world, they didn’t belong here. And neither did Hope. They needed to find her and get home.

***

The walk to Rumple’s castle was long and arduous, made easier by Killian knowing the route by heart something she was eternally grateful for, they’d already been away from Hope for a couple hours and this corset wasn’t doing her any favours. (Except for the way Killian was looking at her while she wore it, that almost made it worth it. Almost.)

They heard hoof beats behind them and a familiar feeling of dread settled into Emma’s stomach, “Could be the Queen again?” Killan suggested, as he started lightly tugging her to the side of the road.

“I owe her a punch in her pretty face for taking our daughter. Do you think she still has Hope? Think we can get her back?” Emma asked, turning around trying to spot Regina’s carriage. They needed to get Hope back, the worry was eating her alive.

“Let’s figure that out before we disrupt the timeline anymore, we should hide love.” Killian replied, pulling her out of the road and behind a fallen tree. As the hoofbeats drew closer and a white carriage appeared, coming to a stop before a fallen tree across the path.

And a Prince exited the carriage flanked by guards, and he began to examine the tree. “Worry not. It’s but a fallen tree.” He exclaimed to his guards.

“Is that…” She asked hesitantly, already knowing the answer.

“Your father. We should go.”

She looked up awe struck and there, just as in the book, was Snow White. This was the moment her parents met, the beginning of their incredible love story.

As she stared, her hand suddenly slipped and the branch it was wresting on snapped. She met eyes with Snow for a brief second as the noise echoed through the air, watching as Snow realised she wasn’t alone, right before her foot slipped causing her to tumble down from her perch. Landing harshly on the ground. That wasn’t in the book.

“Look at these markings.” The Prince continued, catching Emma’s attention, “This tree didn’t fall. It’s been cut. It’s an ambush! We need to get this log moved, now!” He said capturing the attention of his guards, as they all sprang into action.

Her eyes darted back to Snow as she weighed the pros and cons of this decision in her mind before running off into the forest.

She could faintly hear her father continue his conversation in the distance over the sound of her heart pounding in her chest. They’d messed up the past, in the worst way possible. She stopped her parents from meeting.

As the carriage finally moved away Killian emerged from their hiding place, as she followed behind him, having no idea how she was going to break this to him.

“You know that thing about small changes having consequences?”

“Uh huh.” Killian nodded.

“What about big changes?” She continued solemnly.   

“Well what did we do?” He asked, and if this wasn’t a life or death situation she would have took a moment to think about he said we instead of she , they were always a team. 

“That bandit was Snow White. This is the moment my parents first met.” She informed him.

“And because of us, now they didn’t.” He realised, catching on quickly.

They needed to find Rumple. Now. Before they disrupted the timeline anymore. Hopefully the dark one knew a spell to fix this.

***

In the hours that followed they made it to Rumplestiltskin’s castle, managed to get him to not kill Killian, and finally enlisted his help to get them back to their time. It wasn’t perfect but it was a start.

Rumple showed them about how Snow was trying to secure passage on a pirate ship, so they made a plan for Killian to help her, in return she would steal him the ring. And hopefully in the process, end up meeting David and then finally they would meet for the first time. And the timeline would be restored.

Then they could get Hope.

The only reason they hadn’t gone after Hope first is that neither Emma or Hope would exist without Emma’s parents meeting, hence that being their first priority. But the worry about their daughter never left their minds for a second.

“There I am. Rather dashing, don’t you think?” Killian asked, gesturing to his past self, they’d just arrived at the tavern and slipped into a seat near the back, mostly out of sight and more importantly with a good view of past Killian.

“Is this even a good idea? What about preserving the future?” She asked, hating this was taking the focus off of Hope and potentially messing up the timeline further.

“It’ll be fine. Given what I’m drinking. If I remember anything I’ll simply blame the rum. Just make sure that I… he remains occupied and doesn’t return to my ship. I’ll take care of the rest.” Killian concluded.

She sighed, removing her hood and adjusting her corset. Seducing past Killian was something she definitely could do.

“Wha… what are you doing?”

“Making sure he stays occupied. Shouldn’t be difficult. You and I both know I’m his type.” She teased, she’d gotten him to fall for her before, she knew she could do it again.

As she moved to stand up, Killian did the same, blocking her path. “Swan, that man sitting there, you don’t know him... So be careful.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d day you’re jealous. I’ll be fine Killian, I’ve seen you at your best, and at your worst, there’s nothing any version of you can do to surprise me. I love you Killian, now stay safe and let’s get our future back.” She promised, then she quickly kissed his cheek, before sauntering over to past Killian.

She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t going to enjoy this.

“What are you boys playing?” She asked, leaning over the tables revealing in past Killian awestruck expression. She truly was going to enjoy this. Finally get back at him for his relentless flirting.

Hours after he’d first parted ways with Emma at the tavern Killian and Emma were now back together waiting around for Snow to steal the ring at the ball. It had been a long day already and it was still far from over. They’d been separated from their daughter for hours and they were hardly any closer to getting her back.

Atleast they’d almost solved one of their problems, that was a start.

“Hope’s strong love, she’ll be fine.” He whispered to Emma, wrapping his arm around her. He knew she’d had a rough day, they both had.

“Are you reminding you or me?” She asked, and she had a point. He was equally worried, and he knew he was just reminding himself. As much as he claimed to always be able to read Emma, she also had the ability to do the same for him.

He took a look through his spyglass, after a moment, at the castle in front of them, “A predictable excess of pomp and grandeur. Snow should have no trouble sneaking inside.”

“What about us? Are we supposed to just sit here and hope she pulls it off? And what about Hope? I don’t like leaving things to chance.” She replied.

“You know I feel exactly the same way.” Rumplestiltskin added his voice annoyingly light, as he appeared suddenly in a puff of smoke, making Killian immediately tense. “Which is why I never do. See an invitation to the ball.”

***

Killian had been to a few balls in his time, back when he was still a man of honour serving in the navy along side his brother, but how he felt more than slightly out of place. But Emma, now she truly looked like she belonged, she was a princess in every aspect.

They made their way into the ball easily, under the alias of Leia and Charles, something Emma came up with spur of the moment that he was grateful for. And he had a feeling Henry would like it when they got home.

“Mary Margret and David are always going on about this ball and that ball. What’s the big deal about these things?” Emma asked before her eyes landed on the people waltzing and she stared for a moment, her mouth agape.

“You were saying?” He whispered against her ear.

“Care to dance?” She asked before he even got a chance too.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you?”

She rolled her eyes at this, “You asked me last time.”

“Alright love, let’s dance. There’s only one rule-“

“Pick a partner that knows what she’s doing.” She answered for him, a light smile on her face. And he couldn’t help but think back to the night when they shared their first dance.

･*:

Boston was the strangest realm Killian had ever been to, but it was all worth it to see the absolutely breathtaking woman who was sat on the seat next to him.

Oh and the chance to avenge his true love Milah, that too.

Killian Jones had been hanging out with the charming Emma Swan for the past few weeks, she was a needed distraction from his seemingly endless quest for his revenge. When he was with her he felt complete again, like he was no longer searching for something. He knew it was the alcohol talking, making him feel lighter, they were in a bar after all. But right now he wasn’t chasing after some dream of vengeance… he was chasing her.

He had no expectations of anything from Emma, they were friends that was it. They’d go their separate ways soon enough, until then he was grateful for the company.

“So love, care for a dance?” Killian asked as the music changed to something slower. This realms idea of music was strange to say the least, it was like nothing he’d ever heard before, but as the music switched to something similar to what he was use to back in the Enchanted Forest, he couldn’t resist asking Emma to dance.

“Yeah, I don’t really dance. Sure we can’t just go for another round? Work was shit today.” Emma answered, swirling the golden brown liquid in her glass around.

“One dance, that’s all I ask.” Killian pressed, it had been far too long since he’d danced with anyone. He’d learned back when he was in the Royal Navy, but hardly ever had a change to use it, Milah wasn’t ever one to dance.

“One.” She repeated, her eyes narrowing. “Also why’d you pick the worst song to ask me to dance? Where’s the fun music gone when you need it?” She asked, naturally Emma was used to the strange music customs of this world, but for the most part he still wasn’t.

“I believe you’ll find it’s hard to waltz to whatever the hell you call music.” He replied, the first time he heard this realms idea of music he thought he was going insane as the loud noise filled the room from something he later learned was called a speaker.

“Waltz? Seriously? What are you from the 1800s? Since when do people Waltz, especially at bars?” Emma asked, her eyes lighting up with surprise.

“Humour me.”

“Fine. But you should know I can’t dance.” Emma answered. Looking over at the mostly empty dance floor, before looking down at her hands.

“Luckily for you, love, there’s only one rule. Pick a partner who knows what he’s doing.”

He smirked as he offered her his hand, which after she reluctantly took, he brought it up to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles and lead her towards the dance floor.

He showed her where to place her hands, one on his shoulder and her other hand resting on his prosthetic, while his hand went on her hip.

They danced slowly to the music Emma following Killian’s lead, slowly getting the hang of it. She appeared to be a natural.

She smiled at him while they danced, and he thought it was one of the first times he’d seen her smile properly, she was truly beautiful when she smiled. He’d love to be the one to make her smile like this more.

“Out of all the other couples here, we’re the only one waltzing.” Emma teased, mocking him about their choice of dance, but she still appeared to be enjoying it.

“Are you implying we’re a couple?” He retorted, before she playfully hit his shoulder. “That’s because, love, were the best ones here.” He continued, answering her initial question, as he guided her through a twirl.

“Sure, not just because you’re secretly 300 years old.” She quipped, as his mouth slipped open. Did she know? “It’s a joke Killian, you don’t look a day over 200.” She said with a laugh, as the song changed to something else, with a much faster beat.

Emma pulled out of his hold, a smile still on her face. “Oh now this one I can do. So I know you’ve been living under a rock your whole life but you’ve got to atleast know this one.”He offered her a quizzical look as the song started playing, people slowly filtering onto the dance floor. “The Macarena? You’ve never heard of it?” When he shook his head in response she let out a sigh. “Well then, I’ll teach you. You start with your arms out like this.”

She walked him through the dance steps, leaving him more than a little confused. And realising this world had a completely different idea of what was considered dancing. He tried copying her dance steps but he was sure he was doing it completely wrong.

Emma sighed when she saw him failing the dance for the 3rd time, “Try like this.” She offered, taking his hand in hers and guiding him through the steps. He finally stared to understand it. Just not completely in time with the music.

She chuckled at another one of his failed attempts, guiding him once more time through the steps. By the time the song ended he had finally made it through one almost successful dance. As hellish as he found it to learn, it made Emma smile so it was more than worth it.

Which was what made him follow her into the next strange dance, then the next. “I thought you only said you’d do one dance?” He asked when they were halfway through something called the YMCA.

“Yeah well I changed my answer.” She shrugged as she continued dancing, not scared to admit she was enjoying herself. They danced together for a few more songs until Emma finally said, “I don’t know this one, wanna go sit down?”

“I haven’t know an any of them love.” He replied, not wanting this fantastic evening they were having to end.

Someone bumped into Emma as the floor got more crowded, and she stubbed into his arms, even if Emma didn’t know the song it appeared others did. “Alright there love?” Killian asked.

“Fine.” She replied curtly, before the song started to change. “It’s another one of your strange slow dance songs, do you want to do it with me?” She offered, already placing her arm on his shoulder.

“I’d love to.” He replied, setting his hand on her waist, as they began to dance.

They kept dancing together well into the next song as well, not caring about the strange looks they were receiving.

“Let’s make this interesting.” Emma said after a moment, a devilish smile gracing her lips.

“Oh do tell.” He asked intrigued.

“How about a little wager?” He raised an eyebrow at her suggestion, “If the next song after this is another one of your slow dance ones, I’ll… kiss you.”

“And if it’s another one of your ones?”

“You kiss me.”

“Alright then love, it’s a deal.” He agreed, before bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it.

There’s a bloody power cut and the music goes dead before the current song even ends.

He watched Emma roll her eyes, because looking up at him. “Please, it’s not like you could have handled it.”

“Maybe you’re the one who couldn’t have handled it.” He quipped right back, daring to take a step closer.

She leaned forward, teasing him, “Shame there was a power cut.” She whispered in his ear, before patting his chest, and making her way back to their seats. Adding a little more sway in her hips than normal.

Bloody minx.

And bloody hell he’d nearly kissed Emma.

･*:

“You remember that from the last time we danced?” Killian asked, as he twirled her in his arms, despite the circumstances Emma found she was enjoying herself.

“The last time we danced was last Tuesday in Mary Margret’s and David’s apartment with Hope, of course I remember. But if you’re referring to the first time we danced, I remember that too.”

They heard a noise at the side of the ballroom and they both looked over in time to see the doors fly open as Regina stormed into the room.

They seriously needed to find Hope.

***

Alone. That’s how things started and that’s how things were currently going. She knew her fiancé was currently doing everything in his power to come rescue her, but it didn’t make this any easier.

She’d failed in her goal to make sure Snow had the ring, she’d rode off without it and despite her best efforts to return it, Regina had still won. Arresting her, throwing her in this cell for even daring to try and help Snow White.

Her being locked up was just taking time away from Hope.

Regina had Hope for nearly an entire day, and they still didn’t have a plan to get her back, nor for their way back to the future. And she was holding her parents ring in her hand, so much for being the saviour. She couldn’t even do this right.

She missed her daughter so much, she wished she could see her now or something, prove she was safe. But alas she was alone, as always.

It had been a few years since Emma had felt this alone, at one point in her life she considered herself an expert at it, living her life behind walls built up to high they were almost impenetrable, never showing emotion, never letting anyone in.

Then everything began to change, she’d met Killian and slowly over time he’d broken down her walls and she’d fallen for him. And then suddenly… Hope.

･*:

Emma stared down at the 2 pink lines on the test, that she’d taken on a whim after feeling something was off for the last couple days. She’d been pregnant once before, she knew what it felt like, but now staring back at the test she realised just how thoroughly unprepared she was for this new reality.      

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Killian was her best friend.

And just now maybe something more, but they weren’t anything serious yet, but she hoped they could be… someday.

But this couldn’t be happening, not when things were finally starting to improve.

She knew Killian would leave the moment he found out, and she definitely wasn’t ready for that. She could keep this from him right? Atleast for a little while? Give herself some time to figure things out.

She knew how ridiculous that sounded even to herself, she just wasn’t ready to loose him. And she knew that he would. People always leave her.

She threw the test in the bin, making a mental note to throw it out properly before Killian saw it. Splashing some water on her face to try and clear her emotions, at least pretend she hadn’t cried. God this was a mess, she really didn’t want to loose Killian, he was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

She emerged from the bathroom doing her best to plaster a smile on her face, pretend her entire world wasn’t falling apart at the seams. Killian was still watching the same movie they’d just started when she left. It was supposed to be date night and now… she didn’t even know what to think.

How could as she supposed to go out there and pretend everything was fine? Killian could always read her like a book. He’d know the second she sat down something was off. She bravely made her way over to him and sat down on his lap, wrapping her arm around his shoulder.

“Everything alright love? You were in there a while.” He asked, instantly picking up that something was off with her.

She nodded, because speaking felt impossible. She knew she would crumble if she did, and that would cost her everything.

Being pregnant again was a hell of a lot different from the last time. She’d done it once before so she had a rough idea of what to expect, when she’d been pregnant with her son things had been different. She’d been alone, in jail, and still an emotional wreck form Neal betraying her. He was supposed to be her forever, and he wasn’t, just tossed her aside like she was nothing.

And now here she was thinking Killian might just be her forever, then this happened.

She’d never had to tell anyone she was pregnant before.

Had absolutely no experience how they would react.

And she wasn’t ready to tell Killian everything yet, while she knew she had to tell him at some point that didn’t mean she had to tell him today.

When her morning sickness started she played it off as food poisoning, which she then shifted into saying it was a stomach bug when her symptoms persisted.

She could have sworn her stomach was growing a hell of a lot quicker than last time, a quick Google search told her that women typically start to show earlier in the second pregnancy, which was just great. She was already struggling to keep it from Killian as it was. Which was nearly impossible with them living together. They moved in together just before Emma found out she was pregnant, as a way to save money more than anything, when her lease expired it had felt like the natural progression between them.

But damn did it make this more difficult. For starters when Killian found out and subsequently broke up with her she’d be homeless, meaning she’d also stared to research apartments on the side. It also meant that Killian was constantly around, meaning she had to put on a show the entire time he was around, which was always.

As she started to outgrow her clothes, she swapped to oversized hoodies, preferably stealing Killian’s, all to try and keep her ever growing bump a secret.

She’d started pulling away further, withdrawing from his random hugs, trying to sleep as far away from him in the bed as possible, just trying to avoid him touching her, and finding everything out.

She’d taken sex off the table completely, she knew Killian noticed but he didn’t say anything. He’d been giving her space.

He probably thought she hated him.

Whereas in reality she loved him more than ever.

She just wasn’t ready to loose him.

It didn’t help her case, that Killian tried to take care of her because he thought she was sick, making her rest and taking over cooking completely. (Not that she did much before, her life before she met him was a concerning amount of take out and ready made meals.) She hated all the lying. Hated that she had to keep this from him.

At present Emma stood staring at her stomach in the bathroom mirror. Still completely unprepared for the reality for what that truly meant.

She was nealry 4 months along. She wasn’t going to be able to hide it for much longer. But she didn’t want to loose him. He’d become a huge part of her life, as much as she tried to pull away from him, make it easier for herself when he eventually leaves but even now… she still wasn’t ready for him to leave.

She heard some music out in the kitchen, dropping Killian’s hoodie back over her stomach, she went to go investigate. Finding Killian with a single rose in his hand, stood in the kitchen looking nervous as hell, playing music on his phone.

“Care to dance love?” He asked, moving towards her, placing a kiss on her hand. She was hesitant at first, worried about him finding out, but decided it was worth the risk. It had been far too long since she’d last danced with her boyfriend.

“What’s all this for?” She asked after a moment, while Killian was no stranger to big romantic gestures, he typically had a reason behind each and every one of them.

“You my love. I know I haven’t been doing as much as I should have for you and I’ve felt you slipping away, and I don’t want to loose you my dear. So I thought this would be a nice surprise, I know it’s not much and-“ He stared to ramble.

“It’s perfect.” She cut him off, hating the fact that she’d made him feel inadequate for something that wasn’t his fault. He’d been nothing but amazing.

“Just one more thing, I’m sorry love, if I’ve done something to upset you, I’m sorry.”

“Killian, no.” She said softly, running her fingers through his hair. “You haven’t done anything wrong, you’ve been nothing but incredible. And I…” Was she really going to tell him? Because as much as she wanted to, it would risk loosing him forever, but she knew she couldn’t keep this from him much longer. He’d find out one way or another. And it was better he heard it from her.

“You’re what love?”

“Killian there’s something I need to tell you.” She said seriously, moving to stop the music. Before leading him to sit down on the couch. She honestly had no idea where she was supposed to begin. “Remember how in the past I told you about Neal?” She stared, without meeting his eyes. “And how he left me… well there’s one part of that story that I left out. When I was 18… I-” She paused, she’d never told him this before, she’d honestly been to scared to, no one but her knew about this. “I had a baby. A little boy, and I gave him up, I knew I couldn’t be good for him… and I wanted him to have his best chance so I gave him up for adoption. And now… I… we…” she took a deep breath. As Killian wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Giving her the reassurance she needed to continue. “Killian… I’m pregnant.”

She looked down the second the words left her mouth, petrified of his reaction.

Killian stayed silent for a moment, and every tick of the clock felt like an eternity apart. She was going to loose him.

“You’re with child?” He asked, his tone sounded more shocked than anger, but she knew he’d be angry. He had every right to be, she’d kept this from him, and she was pregnant, he’d leave. She just knew he would.

She nodded but she could bring herself to look at him.

“I’m to be a father?”

She nodded again.

Before she felt his hand on her chin guiding her to look up at him. She reluctantly meet his eyes and instead of the rejection she expected to see, the hate, the anger, instead she saw something she never expected… joy.

He looked… happy.

Out of all the reactions she’d planned for this was the one she’d never expected.

He lifted his hand up, and hesitantly guided it towards her stomach, pausing before he reached it. “Is it alright if I…” he started, his tone soft, nothing more than a whisper. She nodded, not knowing exactly how to respond.

His hand came to rest on her stomach and she subconsciously placed her hand over his.

“You’re not breaking up with me?” She asked then, her voice rougher than she wanted.

“Why the devil would ever do that? We’re a team love, we’ll do this together.”

“So you’re not mad?” She asked, finally meeting his eyes. Not finding a trace of anger.

“Mad? I’m bloody thrilled, aren’t you? We’re to be parents.”

Parents. They were having a baby. At the end of this they’d have a child. A baby that was half of him, and half of her. She’d never realised until this moment they’d be having a baby at the end of this. She knew how pregnancy worked, obviously, but this time at the end of it, they could very much have a child. And the thought didn’t scare her as much as she initially expected.

There was still so much to think about, if they could truly do this. If keeping the baby was the right decision, if they could actually be parents.

But for one moment she would allow herself this, a little moment of happiness thinking about what could be.

“Yeah,” she nodded. Before pulling him into a kiss, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She knew it was be a bumpy road, and she was still on fence about keeping the baby, they’d have to be financially ready, and she knew it would be a test to their relationship. But for a moment she allowed herself to be happy about the news.

They were having a baby.

･*:

Emma hardly slept that night, any rest she did have was short lived and plagued by nightmares. She needed to get out of this cell. She didn’t know how long she had been trapped for, the thick underground walls and the lack of sunlight were disorienting. She could have been in here days or hours without any idea how much time had passed.

She assumed she’d been in this cell for almost a day, but in truth it was impossible to tell. And all that time Regina had Hope. She was just hoping in that time Killian would rescue Hope and then they could all be together again. She so desperately wanted her family back.

They were her everything, and now her everything was split up by time, prison cells, and a ruthless Queen.

She toyed with her parent’s ring in her hands, reminding herself that she needed to get it back to them, so they could have some hope of preserving the future.

She missed them too. If Mary Margret were here she’d tell her to have hope.

She sighed, her head resting against the cold stone of the wall, she missed Hope. She stared at the ring again, her eyes drifting down to her ring finger where her engagement ring sat. Still just that, an engagement ring. She and Killian were supposed to already be married, but after Neverland and that whole curse threat and then the year apart, it had kind of been postponed indefinitely. 

Her and Killian’s relationship had survived a hell of a lot, it had taken hit after hit and yet, they were still together, they had their daughter and so maybe, just maybe, once they figure out a way out of this crazy situation she might see how Killian feels about finally making things official.

She just needed to get out of the cell first.

She just wished she had a way out of the cell. If she had her magic perhaps she could have done something with that, maybe teleported out? Picked the lock? Something.

There really wasn’t anything here she could use to open the door. A rocky floor, impenetrable walls, and a spoon they’d given her for her food… a spoon with metal wrapped around it.

Maybe she could get out of this after all.

She found another spoon in the empty cell next to hers, and stole the metal from that one as well. From there it was easy to open the old metal lock that had been holding her prisoner these past few hours, using an old trick Neal had taught her- it was all about the tumblers.

She didn’t pause for a moment as she ran out of her cell, desperate to find Killian. To the point where she nearly ran into the pointy end of his sword.

“Swan?” Killian asked, his eyes widening, as he quickly sheathed his sword.

“Killian!” She called out, as relief washed over her, he was here.

“What are you doing here? You’re depriving me of a dashing rescue.” He replied, as she rushed over to his side.

“Sorry Killian, but you know the only one who saves me is me. Now, please tell me you have our daughter?” She asked, not waiting any time. She needed to know if Hope was safe.

“Afraid not love, but we’ll get her. She’s likely in the castle now, and I believe Snow has got the Queen sufficiently distracted.”

“Now what are we waiting for? Let’s go get our girl.” She replied frantically, Killian’s didn’t have Hope, Regina did, they needed to get her.

She looked down at her hand for a second after she started walking, remembering that she still had her parents ring. “Oh that reminds me, I believe this belongs to you.” She said handing the ring over to David before falling back into step with Killian. “Now, do you guys have a way out of here once we rescue Hope?”

“Follow me, Snow told me where to meet her. And I believe I know where you’ll find your daughter.”

***

Killian and Emma split up from the rest of the group outside the room that Ruby believed Regina was keeping Hope in, while everyone else went to go find Snow, the plan was that they’d all meet up in the forest after. And for the first time since she’d been trapped in that dingy cell - hell since they got here - they finally had a plan.

They could truly do this.

They could get home.

They walked into the room quietly, Emma’s heart pounding in the chest, Regina could be here right now. But as they rounded the corner, they appeared to finally have some good luck, the Queen must have been otherwise occupied.

Keeping silent still, they looked around the room, scanning for any possible sign of Hope. The room was huge but scarcely furnished, if Hope were here they should be able to see her. Regina had her desk, mirror, and a few other items but nothing that was truly big enough to hide Hope.

She wasn’t here.

A sinking feeling took hold of Emma, this castle was huge, it was a very real possibility that they might never find Hope. Especially not if Regina doesn’t want them too.

Emma heard a sudden clattering noise and whirled around to see a few items fall off of Regina’s vanity, as if the leg had been bumped by some kind of invisible force.

That’s when they heard footsteps, not the heels clicking against the stone kind, the sound of trainers squeaking against the floor. Hope?

Killian looked around in confusion as well, clearly also hearing the footsteps, but just like her neither of them could see where they were coming from.

“Hope!” Killian called out, before the footsteps came to a sudden halt. And seconds later a puff of pale blue smoke appeared where they’d just heard the footsteps.

Hope appeared from the cloud of smoke, her arms folded and a fearful look on her face. “How you know my name?” She asked, looking up at them with a now determined look, and Emma internally cursed the glamor spell. Not even her own daughter could recognise her. “Mommy says not to talk to strangers.” Hope continued, and Emma couldn’t tell is she was proud or annoyed at Hope listening to her advice.

“Hope, it’s me, your mom. I know I don’t look like me but I promise you baby, it’s me.” Emma replied, bending down to Hopes level, her arms wide ready for her daughter to rush into them for a hug.

“Liar.” Hope called back firmly, and Emma felt a weight of disappointment crash over her. Hope had no idea who she was, and that stung more than any curse.

“Who you?” Hope continued her gaze directed to Killian.

“I’m… Charles, and I know your parents quite well little lass. And I can help you get back to them.” Killian said quickly, not knowing what exactly to say. Hope was here, she was safe, but she had absolutely no idea who they were. And they needed to get out of here quickly before Regina got back.

“There’s no way she’s…” Emma started to say from beside him.

“Promise?” Hope whispered, running over towards him, looking up at him expectedly.

“Aye, I promise. We’ll get you home.”  He continued, bending down and picking Hope up into his arms. “Did the Queen hurt you? Are you alright?” He added, looking at her for any obvious signs of injury’s.

“I gotta learns magic! I learned how to invisible and how to go poof!” Hope shouted back, the excitement evident in her voice. Both he and Emma knew Hope had magic, but it was different seeing it like this. Before this trip the most Hope had been able to do was make spoons levitate and the lights flicker. But now she could teleport - something that had terrified them half to death when she used it in a way that put herself in danger, and now she could turn invisible. They were definitely going to have their hands full with this one, that’s for sure.

As Emma took a step closer to him, Hope instinctively learned into him, and he saw the undeniable hurt in Emma’s face as she did so. It killed him that she didn’t recognise them. “Leia’s not going to hurt you, little love.” He whispered.

“But she lied about my mommy. And… and I wannna see my mommy.” Hope sniffled, hugging onto him tighter, as she began to sob uncontrollably.

“I’m sure you’ll get back to your parents soon.”

“I miss my daddy and my mommy.” Hope cried into his shoulder, as he began rubbing her back. She was exhausted, Killian had no idea if she’d slept at all the night prior, he knew he hadn’t, and he doubted Hope had either.

“Let’s get out of here before Regina gets back.” Emma whispered after a moment, reminding him that just because Regina wasn’t here right now she could still return at any second. They needed to meet Snow and the others in the clearing before Regina found out they had Hope back.

Hope’s cries soon evened out to the sound of her breathing as she fell asleep against Killian’s shoulder, despite Killian’s best efforts to sooth her, she didn’t stop her sobs. They needed to get this bloody glamor spell off so they could comfort their daughter.

They made their way out of the castle without incident, made easier by there being some sort of mass commotion in the courtyard. As they made their way into the forest. The second they entered the clearing they knew something was wrong, the air was heavy with the sound of silence.

They felt something change the second they entered, now the only noise was Hope’s soft snores against his chest. “It looks like a funeral here, what, did someone die?” Emma joked from beside him, attempting to lighten the mood. They didn’t know what happened but they assumed it couldn’t be that bad.

But as Killian looked behind the solum faces of Red and David there was one key member party that was missing. “Where’s Snow?” Killian asked tentatively, already fearful of the answer, he’d had too much experience with death to not recognise the signs.

“She’s gone.” Ruby whispered, her words curt. “The Queen finally got her.”

He felt Emma lean heavily onto him before he even had a second to process the words. He immediately wrapped his free arm around her and started rubbing his hand across her shoulder, knowing any comfort he tried to give her paled in comparison to what they just learned. Her mother was dead.

***

The return to Rumples castle was anything but a walk in the park.

For starters Snow White was alive, she turned herself into a bug to avoid being burned but the queen, then the blue fairy returned her to her natural state. Without also revealing Emma and Killian’s true identities, and for that Killian was eternally thankful.

From there they had a little scare about Snow not being able to defeat the trolls at the bridge but after racing to catch up with them, it turned out Emma’s parents didn’t need their help after all. True love and all that.

So, after far too long of being trapped in the past they were finally heading back to the Crocodiles castle.

Killian still had Hope in his arms, she’d managed to sleep through most of the commotion, but now she was awake and insisting she could manage the walk to the castle by herself. “Pwease Chawles, my Daddy lets me walk. I pwomise I won’t run off.” Hope begged, already trying to weasel her way out of his hold. While he had no problem with letting her walk around Storybrooke, it wasn’t safe here and she’d already proved she couldn’t be trusted not to run off. “Pwease.” She replied, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes, and Killian sighed before resting her on the ground where she happily skipped along a few feet in front of them.

Emma had been fairly quiet on the walk so far, he knew, she was still sorting through her thoughts. She’d been through a lot, from Hope’s kidnapping, to being locked in jail, to loosing her mother, to the untrusting looks Hope had been giving her. He knew this was all a lot.

“Hope, stay close to your da- Charles. We don’t want you getting hurt.”

Hope grumbled something back, taking a purposeful step away from her.

“She just doesn’t recognise you because of the glamour spell love, I’m sure the second the spell comes off, you’ll go back to being her favourite person again.”

“You think?”

“I know.” He confirmed, as she smiled softly at him, taking his hand in hers.

“Look! Lookie! Castle!” Hope shouted enthusiastically from in front of them, as she spotted the dark one’s castle upon the horizon. They were almost home.

***

“Hope I need you to promise not to touch anything. This is very important, alright.” Killian asked, bending down to Hopes level and looking her in the eye. It wasn’t very often he had to be stern with her, but this was important.

“Oki.” Hope nodded, not understanding the gravity of their situation.

Still the three of them finally entered Rumplestiltskin’s castle, Killian’s hand remained firmly attached to Hopes as they made their way to the dining room where they promised the dark one they’d meet him. Hope stared in wonder at all the artifacts on display, but for once she didn’t try to run off.

There were many reasons Killian hated the Crocodile, to many to be named on just his one hand. But them currently being locked in a basement to avoid disturbing the timeline was rapidly creeping its way to the number one spot.

The Crocodile didn’t even give them a chance, just forced them into a dingy room and threw away the key. They were trapped. Still stuck in the bloody past.

“Mommy?” Hope asked hesitantly, in all the commotion Killian hardly realised the Crocodile atleast had the decency to remove the glamour spell, meaning their daughter finally recognised them.

“Hope!” Emma beamed as Hope ran forward and leaped into her arms, “I’ve got you baby.” Emma mumbled into Hopes hair as they hugged tightly.

“I missed you!” Hope whispered back, “Daddy?” Hope asked after a moment looking around desperately.

“I’m right here little lass.” Killian replied, walking over and wrapping his arms around his family, pulling them in for a group hug. Despite everything, they were still together. Still a family.

“What bout Henry? And Granny and Gramps.” Hope continued, reminding him just how much their little family had grown in the past 2 years.

“We’ll get home to them, I promise.” Killian whispered, knowing they’d find away.

***

The portal threw them violently out the other side and they landed with a thud on the ground but Killian couldn’t care less. They finally made it home, and they were together nonetheless.

He quickly rose to his feet and helped Emma up too, before they were nearly knocked over by Hope rushing over to hug them.

“You’re a bloody hero, Swan.” Killian reminded her, it was Emma who’d opened the portal home, she had her magic back after all.

“So are you.” She added, bumping his shoulder. “Now, there are some people I need to see.” She added quickly, he saw the moment things changed for her. When they were no longer Mary Margret and David but her parents. And he wasn’t about to hold her back.

Then they walked hand in hand, with Hope skipping in between them to Granny’s, and the second they got closer Emma rushed ahead of them to go hug her parents.

Killian and Hope followed behind to allow her to have this time with them. “Mom, dad.” He heard her whisper to them, and he couldn’t be happier for her.

Later that evening they did finally announce the name of Emma’s baby brother.

Prince Leo. 

After a long, long day - or probably a couple given how time travel works, honestly she had no idea and right now was too tired to care - they were back at Mary Margret’s apartment.

Henry was already asleep and they’d long since said goodnight to her parents, and right now they were just finishing tucking Hope into bed. Giving her a little extra attention after everything that had happened. They were both so relieved to have her back and home, safe in bed.

Emma ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair, she was sleeping peacefully already, given the day they had, she’d practically fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

“She’s alright love.” Killian said softly. She knew he was reminding himself as much he was telling her.

“Yeah.” Emma said softly, kissing Hope’s forehead before she turned to look at Killian, he was staring at her like she was his entire world.

“Killian…” She started, she’d been thinking about this for weeks, she knew this probably wasn’t the best time but there was never going to be a perfect time, so… “I don’t want to keep waiting… There’s always going to be something here in Storybrooke going wrong, and I don’t want to keep waiting for the perfect moment. Our lives have never been perfect and yet we’re still here, still together.”

“What are you saying love?”

“I want to get married.”

Chapter Text

“Emma what flowers were you thinking about having for the wedding?” Snow asked as part of her seemingly endless list of wedding planning questions, today alone they’d covered table cloths, possible venue ideas, and at least 10 more things before finally moving on to flowers. As much as Emma knew this day was important she still couldn’t bring herself to care about the smaller details, she truly didn’t mind what colour flowers decorated the still undecided upon space. As long as she got to marry Killian at the end of the day, she would be happy.

When Emma didn’t say anything for a moment her mother continued anyway, her energy not dampened in the slightest. “I was thinking maybe roses or perhaps middle mist flowers? What do you think? Emma?”

“What? Sorry, must have spaced out there for a second. Ummm, what’s a middle must flower?” Emma replied suddenly, she swore she’d been listening, just it was a hell of decisions to make, and it didn’t help that she’d never even heard of this type of flower.

“There these lovely flowers that grow only in Camelot, they’re truly beautiful.” Snow replied enthusiastically, like she had every part of this process. That made Emma feel a little better, this wasn’t some sort of fancy flower ignorance, instead this was some sort of fictional fairytale flower that she’d never heard off. That made more sense.

That was when Emma heard footsteps behind her, and she was relieved to possibly have a break from her current conversation.

“Aye, they truly are,” Killian’s voice echoed through through the air, before she felt his arm wrap around her waist, and she leaned into his embrace. “just not as beautiful as you my dear.” He whispered, kissing her cheek.

“Hey, we were just discussing flower arrangements. Any thoughts?” She asked, desperately needing a second opinion, (that didn’t come from her googling things the second her mother looked away.)

“Whatever you decide my love.” Killian replied, beautifully sweet but tragically unhelpful. She knew he didn’t mind either, and before her parents got involved this truly wasn’t going to be the town wide celebration this was snowballing into to.

“Where’s our little duckling?” Emma asked, remembering Killian was supposed to be watching Hope and their little Cygnet wasn’t in sight. Definitely not because she needed a break from wedding planning.

“She’s off at the park with her grandpa, who insisted I come and help you with the wedding planning.” Emma was suddenly very grateful to her father’s foresight in the matter, she supposed she wasn’t the only one to notice Snow’s overwhelming eagerness to help out.

“So, flowers?” Snow chirped in, reminding them of the life threatening choice. Yeah, the colour of the flowers at their wedding seemed a little less important after they’d nearly destroyed the fabric of time.

“Mom, I honestly don’t mind. Whatever flowers you’re thinking of will truly be perfect.” Emma said, taking a step forward and taking her mother’s hands with her own.

“But it’s your special day.”

“And it’ll be just as special no matter what colour the flowers are.” She reminded her. Emma knew her mom was just trying to make up for lost time with her and wedding planning was one of the first things they could do properly together, but she also knew there would be other times for that. “I know how much the little details matter to you, but honestly I’ll be happy as long as everyone I care about is there to celebrate, together. So if you want to make some of the smaller decisions yourself then go for it.” For a moment she felt bad about putting so much pressure on her mom, but as she saw snows face light up into a smile she knew she’d made the right choice.

“I won’t let you down.” Snow promised, determination lighting up her eyes.

“I know mom.” Emma replied, pulling her mom into a tight hug.

“We’re still on for dress shopping next Tuesday though right?” Snow added, pulling back enough to look her in the eye.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Emma replied with a smile.

***

Emma had never been wedding dress shopping before. Well technically that was a lie, she had been. Once. Back when she and Killian were still living in Boston, but that was a completely different story compared to dress shopping with her mom and friends.

That was a completely different world to this.

While Storybrooke didn’t have many wedding dress shops, it did have one. And the one it did, had what felt like thousands of options, and her parents promising to cover the cost. This truly was a different world.

She’d brought along her mother and Ruby and Ashley. While she didn’t have millions of friends in Storybrooke she had a few and that was more than her past self could say for herself. She’d become closer with both Ruby and Ashley after the whole craziness of Neverland and the subsequent year. Ruby and her chaotic energy that always seemed to bring a smile to Emma’s face, and Ashley who she’d come to trust as a fellow mom friend (something she didn’t know she needed until she actually found herself with one.)

Still, she’d come to greatly value the girls options and so decided to invite them dress shopping with her. Ruby had practically squeezed the life out of her when she asked her to join her and promising her she’d find her the perfect dress and Ashley felt honoured to be invited and promised to help out the best she could.

When they first arrived Emma tried on a couple dresses that weren’t perfectly her taste but were the cheapest, and that was a valid factor. She didn’t want to take advantage of her parent’s generosity, but after the 3rd cheaper dress there was a resounding agreement from her group (mostly Ruby) to ‘fuck the price tag.’

Ruby suggested for her to try on a tight hugging fish tale dress with a sweetheart neckline, while the dress was pretty, it wasn’t Emma’s style.

Ashley suggested a lacy dress with a flowing skirt, and for a moment Emma thought that was the one.

Then she tried on her mother’s suggestion, a princess dress with lace details a sweetheart neckline. And then Emma knew, that was her dress. 

“You look beautiful.” Snow whispered, the room in complete agreement. And for a moment Emma felt the like the princess she was destined to be.

“Henry! Henry please can I see the ring again!” Hope pleaded with her brother, jumping up and reaching with her arms to grab it. Henry knew she’d been fascinated with her parents wedding rings ever since their mother had shown them to her, and now she was completely, utterly and totally obsessed with them. Currently though, Henry was in change of supervising, and he had no intention of letting his parents down.

“Hope for the fifth time, you already got to hold them, and last time you dropped one, so no you can’t.” They were hanging out on the Jolly Rodger, as Killian was working on some last minute preparations for the upcoming wedding, that was happing on this very ship tomorrow. And Henry knew that if Hope had already managed to drop the ring once before when they were on dry land, she could absolutely not be trusted to keep them safe on a rocking boat. As much as he loved his sister, it didn’t change the fact she could be a little trouble maker at times, even accidentally.

“Please! I pwomise I’ll be careful.” Hope argued, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

“Fine. 2 seconds.” Henry relented, handing her the ring. He’d keep a close eye on her, and he wasn’t ready to have this fight for the next hour.

Hope tried the ring on her finger, the ring far too big for her small hands. “Look it really pwetty.” She exclaimed, showing him the ring like he wasn’t the one who had just been holding it. “And it sparkles. It looks like a princess.”

Henry couldn’t help agree, while he wasn’t infatuated with it like his sister was, he still thought it was a nice ring, and he knew his mom deserved her happy ending.

Hope still hand the ring on her finger as she started her princess twirls, beginning to jump around the deck of his soon-to-be-stepfather’s ship.

And Henry got a sinking feeling in his stomach.

She was going to drop the ring again he could already see it, “Hope be careful with-“

Plop. 

Henry watched with horror as the ring he’d been trusted to guard fell overboard, the day before the wedding. He instantly ran to the side of the ship staring over the edge looking for it, but it was already long gone.

“Henry… it fell again.” Hope mumbled from behind him, looking at her shoes, a guilty expression plastered all over her face.

“Hope!” Henry shouted, “They’re going to notice if the rings are gone! Killing trusted me to do this.” His anger subsided quickly into guilt, this was his responsibility. 

“Sowry Henry.” Hope replied weakly, her voice wobbly.

“It’s alright,” he sighed, “it wasn’t your fault.” An upset 3 year old wouldn’t help, what they needed was a plan. And until then, it was vital that his parents didn’t find out.

“Henry! Hope! Are you guys ready?” Killian called out, emerging from below deck at possibly the worst time.

“Yeah!” Henry called back, in his best attempt to sound causal, trying to maintain the illusion that everything was fine. “Don’t tell him.” He whispered pointedly to his sister, as Killian walked over to them. Hope still looked guilty as hell, so he knew he’d have about 30 seconds before he was grounded for life.

“I’ve got everything set up for tomorrow, so if you two are ready we can head to Granny’s to meet your mom.” Killian said happily, blissfully clueless.

“Daddy, I-“

“Is going to come back with me to my other mom’s,” Henry cut in quickly, earning him a curious look from Killian, he couldn’t have Hope telling on them already. “yeah, there was something I wanted to show her, something really important. And it couldn’t wait.” He explained quickly, feeling bad about the lie but this would give them enough time to hopefully come up with a plan.

“Ah, I see. Do you want me to walk you?” Killian asked, rightly confused.

“No! I mean, we’ll manage, it’s only a short walk. C’mon Hope.” He concluded, as he took Hope’s hand with his and began leading her notably not towards Regina’s.

There had got to be somewhere in this town that sold an almost ideal ring. Right?

And what better place to start than with Henry’s grandfather. Mr Gods pawn shop.

“We can’t tell Killian.” Henry reminded her on the short enough walk, that Hope was still complaining about. Walking slowly behind him, her feet dragging with every step.

“Why?” Hope asked, skipping slightly to catch up to him as she looked at him curiously.

“Because we lost the ring!” Henry hissed, knowing Hope still didn’t understand the importance.

“But I tell Daddy everything.” Hope argued back.

“The wedding is tomorrow, we need that ring.” Henry muttered more to himself than Hope, before they finally reached the shop.

Where they didn’t find a ring.

Well they found many, just none that looked even close to the one they lost.

And Hope had nearly knocked several items off the shelf while he was looking so he had a feeling it would be prudent if they tried elsewhere.

They tried 2 other shops. And the only ring that was even remotely similar to the lost ring cost more than Henry’s whole lifetime savings, so they left disheartened and ring less.

They wondered around town for a bit, Hope now in Henry’s arms, complaining about the fact she was hungry. Reminding Henry that they were missing lunch. They decided to head back to the Jolly Rodger not willing to run into their parents at home or at Granny’s, there they could snag a snack from the galley without anyhow noticing.

The Jolly Rodger was thankfully empty when they arrived, and they were able to grab some food to appease their appetite, still they didn’t have the ring and the wedding was drawing closer with every minute. They needed to fix this. Emma and Killian would notice soon. Henry was starting to get desperate, he felt like he was letting everyone down.

“Henry?” Hope asked, pausing from her snack to state at him, “Why don’t you just go get the ring?” Hope asked like it was simple, and not at the bottom of the ocean.

“Because it’s at the bottom of the sea.” He replied with a sigh.

“Swim?” Hope asked innocently.

“No, I’m not going in the ocean to get the ring.” He argued.

“Why?” Hope asked in her absorbable 3-year-old way.

“Because…” He trailed off, why couldn’t he do it? The Jolly Rodger had ladders for occasions kind of like this, he’d be able to get back up if he jumped in. Then from there he’d probably be able to locate the ring, it couldn’t have gone to far in the time. It’d still just be at the bottom of the sea, he could jump down, grab the ring and then climb back aboard a hero. This might actually work, they knew exactly where the ring dropped from.

“Hope, I’ve got a plan. But I’m going to need you to play lookout. Alright? I’m going to go get the ring but it’s vital that you stay here and look out for our parents, understand?” And Hope nodded determinedly in reply, Henry was well aware the most risky part of this plan was Hope jumping in after him.

Henry quickly got to work grabbing a rope ladder and getting it positioned over the edge of the boat, before removing his hoodie. He didn’t need to be weighed down by the extra weight, this plan was risky enough as it was.

“Stay here.” He told Hope firmly, as he walked over to the edge of the boat, looking hesitantly over the edge. He gulped slightly at the thought but he proceeded, standing on the edge where Hope was playing next to earlier and bravely jumping over the edge.

And soon he was completely underwater.

He wasn’t prepared for the bitter sting of the ice cold water as it surrounded him, he wasn’t prepared for the salt water assaulting his senses that limited his vision massively, and finally he wasn’t prepared for the current that pulled him away from his target.

His jump had done most of the work getting him to the bottom, but the vicious current started pulling at him, he soon couldn’t tell up from down. Opening his eyes, wincing at the pain of the salt stinging them, he saw the light from the sky above, before he swam further. Making contact with the sand below, he searched desperately for a few moments. Then his lungs started screaming desperately at him for air.

He pushed off the sand, using his arms and legs to push him towards the surface, his mission long forgotten as his survival instincts kicked in.

His arms felt heavy as he continued, each stroke getting harder and harder as he made his way upwards, black stared to cloud the edges of his vision, as he seemingly made no progress. Held down by an invisible force, at the mercy of the current.

This thoughts blurred into the pure need for air, until he suddenly felt it. Like a strong arm wrapping around his wait pulling him upwards at a pace much faster than he could have managed. Not an arm. Magic.

The invisible force pulled him above water and he inhaled sharply, rapidly gasping for air. The force pulled him further, before landing him back on the deck of the ship.

His joints felt heavy as he struggled to open his eyes, the sting of the water making them feel glued shut.

“Henry! Henry!” He heard a familiar voice call out desperately, and he didn’t need to open his eyes to recognise it.

“Mom?” He chocked out, coughing up water, before opening his eyes a crack. He’d never seen her so fearful in the few years he’d known her.

She pulled him into her arms immediately, and he hugged her back just as much, eternally grateful for her saving him. He felt another pair of arms slink around his side, and he pulled his sister into the hug.

Moments later Emma drew back, her eyes fierce with worry, “What the hell were you thinking! You could have drowned!” She practically shouted, and he winced because he knew she was right. It was an idiotic thing to do, he knew he could have died, he just… wanted to help. His reasoning sounded ridiculous now, he knew that.

“We lost your ring,” He said weakly, he couldn’t keep the lie up anymore, there was no point trying to deny it. “I’m sorry mom I tried to get it back and- it’s still gone.”

“Henry…” She said softly, he thought she sounded disappointed but honestly he had too much water in his ears to tell.

“I sorry mom, I understand if you’re angry…. I just-“

“Henry what happened! Are you alright?” He heard Killian’s voice from the distance, before the frantic running of footsteps pounded towards them, as an equally worried Killian appeared next to them.

Killian never looked this scared, not even when faced with the dark one and the evil queen during operation cobra. That was when Henry knew he fu- messed up.

“Yeah,” cough “fine.”

“I thought you knew better than to-“ Killian started  saying before-

“It’s my fault.” Hope said firmly, looking toward her parents determinedly.

“Hope?” Emma asked, her eyes flickering towards her.

“I wanted to pway with the ring and it fell. I’m sorry mommy.”

“No it’s my fault, I let you hold it near the edge.” Henry argued, knowing this was on him.

Emma glanced between the pair of them, and Henry was sure he was going to be grounded until, “It’s just a piece of metal, you two are what matters, do you understand me? I don’t want you guys risking your life for trivial things like this ever again.” 

“Yeah, if something like this happens again, tell us, please.” Killian continued.

“So you’re not mad?” Henry asked in disbelief, looking up at them.

“No, kid I promise we’re not mad.” Emma promised, before she pulled them into a tight embrace once more.

“So what are we actually going to do?” Emma asked Killian later that evening, pacing around their shared bedroom. She wasn’t mad at Henry, nor Hope, it was an accident (she was honestly more worried about Henry) but that didn’t change the fact that the ring was still lost, and the wedding was rapidly approaching.

Both Henry and Hope were tucked away in their rooms fast asleep ready for tomorrow, While she talked with Killian - before he was going to head to his ship for the night, something about it being bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.

Killian responded after a moment, standing up from his seat on the bed, and walking over to her placing his arms on her shoulder effectively stopping her panic. “Would you believe me if I told you I predicted something like this could happen and gave them a fake ring to look after?”

“You didn’t? Did you?” She asked in disbelief, not sure if he was messing with her.

Killian walked over to his sea chest, that he kept at the base of their closet, opening it up with his hook, and reaching inside to grab something, before he returned over to her, revealing a ring in his hand.

“I love you.” She whispered, pulling him into a kiss, he truly was incredible. “I can’t wait to marry you tomorrow.”

“Aye love, tomorrow can’t come soon enough.”

***

A few years ago, if you had asked Emma and Killian what their dream wedding entailed they would have said something like a small ceremony with just the two of them and their daughter, and to them, it would have been perfect. Just a chance to show their love. And now… their wedding looked like nothing they could have ever imagined. And it was much much better than either of them had ever dared to dream.

Emma’s parents had insisted on planning it, something big and grand that they felt she deserved, there had been much debate about where to hold it. And in the end they decided on the Jolly Rodger, Killian’s ship all decorated and adorned with flowers and middle mist flowers, and styled to perfection. It was truly stunning.

Killian had asked Henry to be the best man, and Hope was going to be their flower girl.

Everything set for a perfect day.

***

She could see Killian looking dashing from the other end of the isle, all dressed in a perfect black suit and bow tie. He spared a quick glance at Archie who was officiating the wedding, before turning back down the aisle, and she could tell he was slightly nervous. He knew he was worried about something going wrong, but she somehow knew it wouldn’t, today was going to be perfect. But that didn’t change the fact she was nervous too and also bubbling with anticipation, she couldn’t wait to marry him.

The many chairs that had been set out on the Jolly Rodger for this very occasion were all completely full, Emma’s family taking up the majority. In less than an hour it would be their family, but in a way she supposed it has always been theirs. 

Henry went up first, while ethereal music played in the background, walking up to Killian and handing him the ring box, which luckily after yesterday’s fiasco she knew contained 2 rings. As Killian patted Henry’s arm she could practically see the pride radiating off him, before Henry went and found his front row seat next to Regina’s.

Killian turned to stare down the aisle as the crowd rose to their feet, all looking in Emma’s direction. She had her parents at her side, both of them walking her down the aisle.

“Ok baby, it’s your turn now.” Emma whispered to Hope who’d been standing next to her the entire time, holding a basket of flower petals ready to scatter them across the aisle. Hope nodded, before she began to walk in front of them, she stared cautiously at first, taking a few steps and stopping to throw the petals but she quickly got into the rhythm of it and soon was at her fathers side. She watched as Killian bent down to Hope’s level kissed her cheek, before pointing to an empty seat next to Henry, which Hope soon ran across too.

Then, at long last it was Emma’s turn. Bouquet in hand, veil draped over her face, and her parents by her side. She saw Killian’s proud gaze waiting in front of her as she walked towards him, and she knew there was a huge smile on her face.

When she got closer her dad lifted her vail, and placed a kiss on her cheek, and her mother did the same a moment after. Out of the corner of her eye she saw David shaking Killian’s hand. Then she felt David’s hand on her back as she met Killian’s steady gaze, and she took his hand, moving to stand next to him as her parents sat down.

Killian had been looking at her as if she was perfect the whole day, and she couldn’t help but smile more. Her hand never leaving his.

“Are you ready to recite your vows?” Archie said, and she could see the pride in her parent’s faces for the second she glanced their way, it meant more than they could ever know to have them here today.

“Killian,” She started hesitantly, she’d gone over this thousands of times already just this morning, but she was still nervous, something that slowly began to fade as she continued speaking. “a few years ago I knew everything I was going to say. But then Henry found me and brought me to Storybrooke, and our lives changed forever. I found the rest of my family, but just because you learn that you come from true love, doesn’t mean you believe that you will ever find it. But thanks to you, I always have.“ As she finished, she took his ring from Archie and slipped it onto his finger, before taking his hand back in hers.

“Emma, when we met, there was just one thing that mattered to me: getting my revenge. And you did something that no one else ever could, you showed me that a heart full of love was the most precious treasure of all… and one that I don’t intend to lose.” She felt happy tears prick in the corner of her eyes as he spoke, so softy and full of care, she knew he truly loved her. “They say that a captain’s heart belongs to his ship, but mine has belonged to you, since the moment I met you, my love.” He promised, taking the ring from Archie and delicately sliding it onto her finger.

“Do you, Killian Jones, take this woman to be your wife… and to love her for all eternity.”

“I do.”

“And do you, Emma Swan, take this man to be your husband and love him for all eternity.”

“I do.” She replied without a moment of hesitation, and it was the easiest thing she’d ever had to say.

“Then it’s with great pleasure that I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Emma beamed at the news, stepping forward wrapping her arms around his neck, as his went around her waist as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

“You did it Swan, you got your happy ending.” Killian whispered, so only she could hear.

“That’s not what this is. It’s something else.”

“What then?”

“A Happy beginning.”

***

They did go on their honeymoon, two weeks away from the craziness of Storybrooke, spent alone together somewhere nice and sunny. They FaceTimed with Hope and Henry at least twice a day but it wasn’t the same. When they did return to Storybrooke they were greeted by a humongous hug from both kids.

Then, they went on a week long sailing trip with the kids, Killian taught both Hope and Henry how to sail, while Emma never once left his arms. And everything was truly perfect.

A happy beginning. Or a second chance, whatever you wanted to call it was theirs. It was far from the end of their story, they still had to battle the Snow Queen, A trio of villains, then get the darkness out of Emma, then Killian. Then finally rescue Killian, defeat Hyde, an evil version of Regina. Defeat countless alternate realities before the final battle. Which they won. Like they faced every battle, Together.

Then, they lived happily ever after.

15 years later: 

“Hey dad, want me to help out front as we’re busy?” 18 year old Hope called out from the front of Killian’s bar. He’d opened the place nearly a decade ago when his little girl started to grow up, and he found himself with more time on his hands. While he still always made time for his daughter, he had finally found his calling here in Storybrooke, the proud owner of his bar. The ugly duckling.

Hope worked there part time in the summer holidays, and today was one of those days. She typically worked in the back, helping prepare food and drinks but on busier days helped out front. He wasn’t a huge fan of Hope going anywhere near possibly rude and drunk customers but as his lovey wife often had to remind him, their baby girl was all grown up now.

He didn’t notice they were busy today, assuming it would just be another slower day, but he’d been helping unload a new shipment. So it was entirely possible there was mass of customers waiting out front for them, that Smee couldn’t handle on own.

He’d hired most of his old pirate crew to work here, giving them flexibility hours, fair pay and a change to be apart of something once more. Some of his crew now had families of their own and he was more than accommodating about that, but it also meant that he had the freedom to spend time with his family.

“Sure Cygnet, just…”

“If anyone gets annoying I’ll call you, I know.”  Hope replied with a role of her eyes, she truly was her mother’s daughter.

Nearly fifteen minutes later he emerged from the back, ready to help with the customers, only to be greeted by a relatively empty bar. Except for his wife sat on one of the many bar stools, staring at Hope who was enthusiastically chatting to a girl, that he recognised from her class at school.

“Hey love, why didn’t you say something? I would have come out sooner. Did you finish work early?”

“Just got off work a few minutes ago, thought I’d come say hi, since both you and our daughter are working today. Sorry I didn’t call you, I’ve just been watching the show.” She finished, gesturing  towards where Hope was, laughing about something the girl said. “I think they’re flirting.” Emma whispered, leaving over the counter so Hope couldn’t hear.

His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Someone was flirting with his little girl, and she appeared to be flirting right back. Since when did she grow up so fast? He could have sworn that yesterday she was his precious little toddler he was tucking into bed with her blanket and octopus stuffie promising her that the nightmares wouldn’t get her.

Now, he could see why she was so eager to help out the front of the bar. He’d made her promise no boys until she was 30. Which at the time she’d just rolled her eyes at, and reluctantly agreed to. And now he could see why.

“I’m going to go say something.” Killian whispered back to Emma, he needed to say something.

“Don’t,” Emma started, placing her hand on his forearm until he relaxed slightly, “you can give her your overprotective dad speech later, for now let her have this. Need I remind you, we met in a bar.”

He couldn’t help but smile at the memory, it would always be one of his favourites. And she did have a point, he’d let their daughter have this, (and the overprotective dad speech later). But for now he couldn’t resist teasing his wife. “What can I say love, you were truly hooked .”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love me for it.”

“Always.”