Welcome to my AU Canon Divergence! Is that even a thing? Well, it is now for my own purposes. A month or so ago, the idea was tossed around to create a reversal of the movie Hook, where it was Killian who left Neverland and Pan came after him. And this was born. I'm estimating this will be either 4 or 5 parts.
He shifted nervously from foot to foot. He had barely escaped Neverland, the shadow almost succeeding in ripping out his own. It was by sheer luck, and a fairy intervention, that he even survived that last encounter. Now he stood outside the door of the only person he knew in this land, and there was a very good chance she would turn him away. He knocked on the door and heard a muffled 'I'll get it' before a shuffle and the door slowly creaked open. Instead of who he was expecting, he was met by a pair of startling green eyes framed by black spectacles.
"Are you lost?" The young woman before him asked.
"No, no, I need to see Lady Darling, does she still reside here?" His voice was quiet. This was the home he had always come to. This is where he had dropped off all the lost boys he had rescued from Pan over the years. Wendy had taken them in, given them homes. She was uniquely qualified for the task as she had experienced the horrors of Neverland first hand, when she had bravely quested to rescue her brothers. Time moved differently in the land without magic compared to Neverland. Sometimes what felt like years to him was only days here, and sometimes it was the other way around. By the look of the woman in front of him, more time had passed than he had anticipated.
"Yes, but she is resting now. Maybe you can return in the morning." The woman made to close the door, but he put his arm in the way. He watched as her eyes went wide when she noticed there was a hook where there should be a hand. "If you are here to threaten her in anyway, I warn you right now, I carry a gun at all times, and I know how to use it."
"I assure you, I have no wish for violence, I've had enough of it to last me a hundred lifetimes. I just wish an audience with Wendy. I deeply apologize for the lateness of the hour."
With a sigh, the woman opened the door and backed away so he could come enter. "Take your jacket off and hang it on the rack over there, you are not dripping all that rain water through the house. Wait here, I'll let her know she has a visitor."
With that the woman walked away, leaving him to follow her instructions. Shrugging out of his leather jacket and removing the scabbard with cutlas, he looked around. The house was exactly as it had always been, warm and welcoming. The walls in the hallway were filled with pictures of the boys he had helped rescue, all looking happy.
"Are you a pirate?" a small voice called to him. Looking around he saw a boy of no more than 3 on the stairs, staring straight at him. The boys eyes looked strikingly familiar. It was unsettling.
"Aye lad, that I am. And who might you be?"
"Henwy." The boy greeted and held out his hand. With a smile of amusement, he shook the boy's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Master Henry."
"Henry," the woman had returned and called to the young boy.
"Mama, he's a pirate! A real one! You said they wasn't any pirates no more and I can't be one, but there is, so I can!" The boy bounced excitedly into the woman's arms who smiled affectionately at the boy.
"You can pretend to be a pirate tomorrow." She calmly told the boy while she affectionately ran a hand through his hair. "Now it is time for bed. Let's go. I will met you up there." With a gentle shove, she herded the boy back to the stairs. Henry trudged up the stairs, pouting the whole time. Once he was out of sight, the woman turned to him, all softness gone from her body. "Wendy is in the study, last room on the right. I am going to tuck my son in. If anything happens to her, you have no idea what I will do to you. Am I understood?"
"Lady Darling has nothing to fear from me. Go see to your boy." She seemed to hesitate, before following the boy up the stairs. He had no idea who this woman was, but he was impressed by her. He could tell that she was scared, but refused to be intimidated.
Making his way down the hall, he found the room easily. It was exactly as he remembered it last time he was here. Complete with a fire blazing in the fireplace. Lost in the moment of why he was here, he took a moment to relish in the feel of hominess. This house always felt warm and welcoming, he knew a lot of that had to do with the woman residing in the chair facing the fire.
"You don't have to lurk in the door, Hook, come join me." Stifling a chuckle, he joined her by the fireplace taking the seat across from her. She motioned to the tumbler of rum in front of her, and he gladly helped himself to a glass. The burn of the rum in his throat helped to calm his nerves.
"I'm sorry for the late hour, but I didn't know where else to go," he began but cut himself off when he got a true look at her. She had aged. Well into her 60's. "How long has it truly been?"
"It's been 15 years since you brought Baelfire to me. That was his son you met in the hallway." With a shaking hand, he took another sip of his rum. Baelfire was Milah's son. His love. When he first escaped to Neverland, he had wanted to take his revenge on Rumpelstiltskin for killing her, but then Bae had shown up, and his goal had changed. He knew a better way to honor her memory would be to protect her son at all costs. He had fought many years against Pan and his devout followers, rescuing lost boys, and giving them shelter on his ship.
When Wendy had shown up, the first girl to ever grace the shores of Neverland, and begged his help rescuing her brothers, he had helped on the condition that she would help find homes for the children that did not have families left. It was how she began her orphanage. With the help of Lady Bell, they had transported the children between realms.
15 years, it had only felt like a week to him. But a week in the depths of hell to be sure. There was something about the loss of Baelfire that had made Pan crazy. More so than normal. Hook had been marked for death. And not just any death, Pan had sent his shadow to rip out his own. It was a sentence worse than death. Not only did you die, but your soul was lost as well.
Knowing that Bae had had 15 years to grow and be happy was worth it. He would endure that hell all over again to ensure Milah's son was safe.
"Is he here? Is he safe, happy? Can I see him?" Tears filled Wendy's eyes and he had his answer.
"I'm so sorry Hook. He became a policeman, wanting to protect the innocent. You would have been so proud of him. He was killed in the line of duty, protecting a family. 2 weeks later, Emma found out she was pregnant."
The weight of it hit him and he gripped his tumbler so tight he was afraid the glass would shatter. "So it was all for nothing. All of it. 200 years of fighting, struggling, for nothing." The rage overtook him and he hurled the glass into the fire before raking his hand through his hair.
It wasn't fair. That was not how Baelfire's story was supposed to end. He was supposed to have a long life, filled with happiness. It wasn't supposed to be cut so short. What was the point. Why did he even try?
A gentle hand touched his shoulder, before lightly grabbing his hand. He looked at his hand in both of hers, not able to meet her eyes. "It wasn't for nothing. He was happy, so very happy. He chose to be what he became because of you." Startled, he looked at her and saw the sadness of what happened, but also the truth in her eyes. "He wanted to help those who were too powerless to help themselves. He learned that from you. You were his hero."
"I'm no hero my lady. I've done terrible things. I don't deserve to be called a hero."
"Maybe not, but you have done many heroic things. Do not argue with me. I'm physically your elder now. And I'm always right." He choked back a laugh and reluctantly smiled. "Enough of this for tonight. Tell me what lands you on my doorstep this time."
Hook told her the tale of Pan's rage and his narrow escape. Of Tink's miraculous surge of magic they used to transport him and the Jolly to safety. And how Tink had managed to cloak the vessel before she was forced to return to Neverland. She could only leave for short bursts of time as a curse had made it impossible for her to permanently leave. No matter how many times she left, she miraculously reappeared within a few hours.
"Well, a simple phone call in the morning, we can take care of the Jolly. My brother John owns a shipping company, and he can store your ship for you. Keep it hidden and safe. Let's sleep tonight, and figure the rest out in the morning. But Hook, are you sure you are safe in this world?"
"Pan's magic is dying, he can no longer leave Neverland. I am as safe here as I am anywhere. His shadow is even powerless outside his realm." He reassured her.
"You are welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Thank you Lady Darling." He stood and offered his hand to help her up as will, she accepted with a smile.
"None of that lady stuff now, you are a guest in my house. Please call me Wendy."
"Killian Jones," He replied and shook the hand he still held. She smiled up at him. "It is my name, if I'm going to live in this realm, I should start going by it again."
6 years later
"John, yes, yes I understand the merger is happening, I also know that you are very busy getting ready for the company to go public. I get that, but the structural integrity of the design is sorely lacking- Yes yes, I get that the contract has the potential for millions- John, do you remember the Titanic?- Yes I bloody well know what the Titanic is- I take offense to that mate. I have watched a movie or two in the past few years- oh sod off already- look at the end of the day, the design is a mess and I don't care if that is what the client wants. It is not seaworthy. Have R&D relook at it and see if they can fix the disaster."
"Killian, we're here." He glanced up from the passenger seat of the SUV and smiled as they pulled into the driveway.
"Look, we can discuss this at dinner later. We just got here. Aye, we'll tell her. Give our love to the kids. See you later." Killian hung up the phone and glanced over to his smiling wife before glancing in the back at the sleeping kids.
"Do we wake them or carry them in?"
"Love, I don't think they will forgive us if we don't wake them up." Emma smiled, parked the vehicle and killed the engine. He reached back and shook the boy, "Henry, Henry we're here."
Henry grumbled but opened his eyes, after a moment his eyes filled with excitement when he saw the house. He leaned over and gently shook his sister. "Ava, Ava wake up! We're at Granny Wendy's!"
"I can stay sleeping, Daddy will carry me." She grumbled. Emma couldn't help but laugh as she and Killian climbed out of the vehicle. Leaving the bags behind, they all walked to the stairs, Henry reaching the door first, not bothering to knock.
"Granny Wendy were here!" He announced.
"Oh my darlings, I have missed you so!" Henry ran to her arms and Ava decided to wake up. She wiggled out of her father's arms and ran for Wendy. "You've gotten so big. It feels like it's been years!"
"Silly Wendy, it's only been a month." There was a twinkle in Wendy's eye when she glanced up from the kids to Killian. It was a small joke, the passing of time, that had built between them over the past few years.
"Well my doves, it has felt like years. Go get your stuff, and get settled in your rooms. It's been a long day and we have lots of adventures planned for the week." Henry nodded and ran back outside.
"Are you the real Wendy from Peter Pan?" Ava shocked everyone with the unexpected question.
"Why do you ask dove?" Wendy asked leaning down to her level to look her in the eyes.
"Because you tell the best stories, and you have two little brothers named John and Michael. Just like the Wendy from the stories."
"Well, if you figured out that I am Wendy, then you must know that you're papa is Captain Hook." Wendy reasoned with her. Ava laughed.
"That's silly Granny. If Papa is a pirate then Mommy gets to be the Swan princess."
"Ok, munchkin, that's enough silly talk for now, let's get our stuff and get ready for bed. We have a long day tomorrow." Emma steered back to the door, but threw a look over her shoulder and mouthed 'really you two'. With laughter Wendy pulled Killian into a hug.
"Hello Wendy Lady." He greeted into her ear. She smiled as she squeezed him before taking a step back and looking him in the eye.
"You know, you have extremely smart children. They will eventually figure out the truth."
"But not today, and don't you go be helping them out either." Killian just sighed at the look of mischief in her eyes. "Now, let us celebrate your birthday and not get caught up in those nightmarish fairy tales from another lifetime." Her laughter followed him outside.
The dinner honoring Wendy was a great success. An entire wing at the hospital was being dedicated to her, for her continued help with foster children. Being a mother to the lost. He was beyond proud of her, and so thankful to have her in their life. He had won his argument with John about the blueprints being faulty, and he had just received a confirmation email that the Jolly would be sail ready tomorrow morning so he could take Emma out for a day cruise while the children stayed with Wendy. Everything was perfect.
"Killian-" The worry in her voice made him look up. All the lights were off in the house and the front door was cracked open.
"No," he murmured and jumped out of the vehicle before it had completely stopped, running up the stairs, Emma hot on his heels. The window was broken, as was the lock. Risking a glance at Emma, he slowly opened the door as she pulled her gun out of holster under her skirt. The hallway was a disaster. All the photos were ripped and scattered everywhere. Glass shards from the busted frames littered the floor.
"Henry! Ava!" Killian called out, as he followed his wife down the hall. In the study, they found Lily, a childhood friend of Emma's who lived with Wendy and helped her out after Killian and Emma moved away. "Lily, what happened?"
She was holding a cloth to her head. There was blood. She was shaking and the look in her eyes becoming more hysterical with each passing moment."The lights went out, and the pictures shattered. Moments later the door shut, locking me in here, I couldn't get out. And then the children starting screaming. The children were screaming!"
Turning around, they left her there and ran for the door, calling the names of their children. Sprinting up the stairs, they were met by silence. The door to the balcony of their room was wide open, the glass shattered. There was no trace of the children. With a broken sob, Emma hurled herself into Killian's arms. He held her.
"We'll find them. They'll be ok." He whispered to reassure her, but he didn't know if he even believed it. Emma could spot a lie, and he didn't want to give her false hope. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for the task ahead. "We will find them Emma, I promise you." She couldn't do anything but nod into his chest. He vowed he would do everything in his power to find their children for her.
"Killian!" Turning at Wendy's terrified yell, he held Emma's hand and pulled her with down the hall. Wendy stood in the doorway to their bedroom, hand holding her chest as if she'd seen a ghost. Gently touching her shoulder, he moved her out of the way to see what had her so spooked. It wasn't hard to find.
In the middle of their bed was his leather jacket. One he hadn't worn in almost 7 long years. Above the bed, sticking out of the wall was a his old cutlass. His heart sunk as his head filled with disbelief. But there was no mistaking the message.
Hook
You're presence is required at the retrieval of your children.
We have some unfinished business you and I,
And if you ever wish to see them alive again
You know where I will be waiting.
Don't make me wait too long
Pan
"Is this some sort of trick? Some game? Killian, what is going on. Who has our kids?"
"A bloody demon that's who." His voice was low, filled with anger and self loathing. He pulled the cutlass from the wall, letting the parchment fall to the ground. It felt so right to hold the sword, like shaking hands with an old friend. "This is all my fault. I should never have thought I could escape him."
"Pan," Emma mumbled. He turned and saw that she had picked up the parchment. "As in Peter Pan? It's real? All those stories are real? Wendy, please tell me, those stories Neal told me. They're real aren't they? And you," she rounded on Killian, her voice growing angrier with each word. "You're really Captain Hook? How- what- Somebody better explain to me right now what the hell is going on and where my children are."
With a sigh of regret, knowing that he may very well lose not only his children, but his wife as well, he led her down to the study and began the tale. Telling her everything, from his days in the royal navy, the death of his brother, turning to piracy, falling in love with Milah, the circumstances of her death, Baelfire, his fight with Pan, his escape. Wendy chimed in and told the story from her perspective, where she came in, how she enlisted his help to save her brothers and their deal with the rescued orphans.
At the end, he saw the fear in her eyes, but also the belief.
"I need a moment, to process this." She stood up and headed up the stairs. Watching her walk away in that moment was the hardest thing Killian had ever done in his life. He wanted nothing more than to follow her, but he knew she needed a moment to herself. It was a fantastical tale, one he would be hard pressed to believe if he had not lived it himself.
"What are you going to do?" Wendy asked. Taking a breath, he shook his head and shrugged.
"I have no idea. This is the Land Without Magic. I have no beans, no slippers, no potions. I have no way to realm travel. I don't know Wendy. I just don't know." She squeezed his shoulder in reassurance.
"Don't give up. This land has a saying, where there's a will, there's a way. You will figure this out." He shook his head. It was hard to have hope, when all the odds were stacked against him. "You have overcome so much in the fight against that monster. You have saved so many, I can't see you fighting any less for your own children. Go to Emma, be with her tonight, reassure her that you will figure this out. She is going to need you now more than ever." He watched her stand up from her seat, walk over to him and place a kiss on the side of his forehead. "Sleep tonight Killian, tomorrow, you'll figure this out."
She left him then and he sighed. He felt so lost. His worst nightmare had come to life. It shouldn't have been possible for Pan to reach into this world anymore. His magic was dying. Neverland was dying. How had he done this? Why now? Why not come for him the moment he had left?
Slowly he made his way upstairs, taking a breath he readied himself for her rejection, but as he opened the door, he was met with her tears. In the middle of their bed, she held Henry favorite bear that he still slept with. Ava constantly tried to steal it and more often than not, he let her. His heart ached when tear filled eyes met his. "That night we first met, when you showed up here, that was the night you escaped isn't it. I remember that jacket."
She had lain the jacket over the arm chair next to the bed. "Aye love, it was."
"Did you know? Did you know then, that he could do this? Did you know this whole time that my- our children were in danger?"
"I swear to you Emma, I had no idea. He had not been able to leave Neverland for years. His magic was fading, the entire island was slowly dying." Breaking eye contact she nodded and looked back at the bear. "Do you want me to go? I understand if you want to be alone."
She shook her head and reached out a hand. He took it gratefully and she pulled him onto the bed next to her. Without prompting, he wrapped his arms around her. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. "If I fall asleep, can I just wake up and this will all be a dream? Some horrible dream? And I'll find them tucked into their beds, peaceful in their slumber."
"I'm afraid not love. I wish I could make this right for you."
"You will, when we rescue our children. Whatever happens, we do this together." She said into his neck.
"Aye love, I wouldn't have it any other way. The first thing we need to figure out is how to get there."
"I may be able to help with that." They both snapped up at the unknown voice. Standing on the landing of the window was a woman. She looked half covered in dirt, her hair in the messiest bun Emma had ever seen, and her mottled green dress had definitely seen better days.
"Tinkerbell." Killian breathed her name like a prayer. She smiled and held out her hand. In her palm was a small translucent bean.