A/N: Songs used:Lover's Eyes by Mumford & Sons, Unbeliever by You & Me, and Babel by Mumford & Sons. I do not own any of the characters, those belong to the creators of Once Upon A Time.

I originally had pieces of lyrics in the story but due to potential copyright issues I have omitted them. But I did list them above just so you guys can get an idea. Hopefully you'll enjoy it, still. Reviews appreciated.

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Their words had stung. Hell, he rather have his heart ripped out again than to feel the shame and guilt that gnawed at him at that moment. Ariel had come back to Storybrooke with Prince Eric and once she laid eyes on Hook she lost it, slandering him to everyone at Granny's as she recounted what truly happened during the missing year. He could see Snow's disappointment, David's complete disapproval, and Emma's hurt expression at the realization that he had let her believe something different all those months ago. Ariel's accusations made mostly everyone in the diner glare at him, and he could feel all the progress he's made almost completely vanish. One mistake. Apparently that was all it took for everyone to see him as a villain once again. Maybe they never stopped.

"Once a pirate always a pirate, right?" David had remarked when Killian tried to speak.

"Maybe we were wrong about you." Snow murmured under her breath but he heard her loud and clear, it felt like a knife cutting straight through him because those words sounded so familiar.

'I can't take a chance that I'm wrong about you.'

The words Emma had once said bounced in his head in that moment, and maybe he hasn't made as much progress as he initially thought. He looked at Emma, watching for her reaction, and he saw the inner turmoil; the push and pull of whether or not to trust him and that broke him. Because wasn't all he has done for them, for her, without asking for anything in return, enough? Yet he was still being treated like the same pirate they first met. They were still wary about him as if he hasn't proven time and again that he was on their side and he would fight to his death beside them, with her—for her. All he felt in that moment was pain and betrayal. And just as before in the giant's lair he was left behind, unable to be trusted, even when he has done everything asked of him. That feeling made him respond rather unpleasantly.

"Right, because I am the only one in this room who has done something they regret," he had said, his head tilted to the side slightly as he felt the sting of their mistrust. "Yes, I was, and still am, a pirate but at least I have never claimed to be anything I am not. You all knew who I was from the start and since Neverland I have done nothing but fight by you, but alas, once a villain always a villain."

He turned to walk away avoiding everyone's gaze, especially Emma's, but as he moved closer to the door he hesitated by Regina, "Maybe we have wasted our lives."

He shoved the door open and stepped into the crisp air, the bell ringing loudly behind him, going to the only place that would calm him down.

Now he sits on a bench on the docks, inhaling in the salty scent of the beach. He has been breathing heavy since he arrived, trying to calm his trembling hands, but unlike most times he fails to find the comfort he needs in the sounds of the crashing waves below. He knew he hadn't made anything better for himself, yelling at everyone, but he couldn't contain his frustration any longer. He truly thought that Emma and her family had finally come to see the man he was now, or trying to be in any case, but he was wrong. His past would always come back to haunt him. It's as if he was stuck in the cage that was his past and whenever he believed he could finally get through the bars they compressed and trapped him inside once more. He's afraid he'll never have the chance to set himself free. Maybe he deserves to be there; his actions in the course of the last couple centuries have been less than honorable, and maybe he has never ever truly been honorable. When he looks back to his life he feels like he has never been enough, never been enough for his father, never enough to all those who only took pity of the young lad roaming the streets for food; maybe he was destined to be a villain, his life only a cruel joke, giving him everything he wanted only to rip it from his hands and make it seem like it was never there to begin with. Just as it had been with his mother, with Liam and with Milah.

He was tired. He was beyond exhausted of just being the villain who tries to be the hero, exhausted of being the pirate seeking for revenge, exhausted of being the young boy struggling to survive. He was exhausted of this life that only seems to give him flashes of light only to be then consumed by darkness. He has lived three hundred years and in that moment all his failures and short comings over the course of that time were dense on his shoulders.

Maybe he deserved this.

Killian laid down on the bench and peered up at the sky, drowning in self-doubt and loathing. He didn't hear when someone laid down on the bench next to him, mimicking his exact position, one hand under his head the other resting on his stomach. He was pulled out of his obscure thoughts when he heard soft music playing beside him. He slowly, lazily turned his head towards the source and his eyes widened in shock, mouth agape marginally as he stared at the person who silently offered their support.

Henry turned to look at Killian and smiled brightly. "Thought some music would lighten the mood," he said nonchalantly, as if he didn't just witness everyone turning their backs on him. "I know I showed you some of my favorites last week so I thought we could listen to some more."

Killian laid frozen as he watched the boy search for a more specific type of music on his talking phone, or was that his music box that looked like the talking device? He didn't know what to say nonetheless; what could he say? It's true him and the lad had been spending a lot of time together lately, whether it was in Emma presence or not, but he never thought Henry would search him out and try to comfort him the only way he knew how. His heart clenched painfully at the thought, at how Henry seemed to care enough about him to try and lighten his mood. When Henry finally decided on what to play, muttering that Killian should like what he has decided on, he looked at Killian, not with pity or distaste but with reassurance. Showing him that he hadn't turned his back on him, that he believed in Killian despite what was said and what his family thought at the moment. It warmed him to his very soul, because maybe—just maybe—he wasn't completely alone. Henry was there with him, playing music and just giving him the company he needed, not asking or demanding, or reproaching him for anything. There was no accusation or disappointment in his eyes, just hope and encouragement. He was amazed that he had apparently proven himself to him, and maybe he was just a young lad but he did have the heart of the Truest Believer and it meant the world to him that the lad trusted him nonetheless.

He smiled then, eyes crinkling as he looked back up at the sky twinkling with stars. "I'd be honored to learn more from you, lad," he said softly. Henry played the first song. It broke the silence with it soothing melody.

"What is this, lad? I don't believe you have showed me this type of music before."

"It's Alternative music. It's by Mumford and Sons. Sorry, I didn't think the lyrics would hit so close to home. I-I thought you would like them but maybe it's too soon—"

"It's alright, lad," he interrupted Henry's stammering apology. "It's quite comforting actually. As if this Mumford fellow knows my woes."

Henry laughs. And it's genuine and that makes Killian smile, even if the gesture does confuse him.

"It's not just one guy. It's a band named Mumford and Sons, with multiple guys in it. My mom and I listen to them a lot. I always thought you would like them too. I guess it sounds like what a pirate would listen to."

And again he can't help but smile. When he says pirate there is no disgust or shame in his tone, like the way David had said it earlier. Then again Henry always thought him being a pirate was, as he says, "cool".

"Well by all means my boy, show me more."

"Okay, how about this one? It's by You and Me; it's new."

"The music in this world always so relevant to everyone's circumstances?" Killian asked only half-jokingly. It really did express how he felt in that moment. He never thought himself as much, which is why he puts on such a bravado, that much he will admit. The melody and the lyrics combined with Henry's presence relaxed him to the point where he could simply enjoy the moment with the lad. They started talking about the kind of music Killian liked when he lived in the Enchanted Forest, he promised he would show Henry a few of the sailor's songs he grew up with another day. Henry showed him various music artists, but he mostly played Mumford and Sons and You and Me, explaining that he recently preferred to listen to them the most. They're conversation lulled briefly as they lost themselves in the music, another Mumford and Sons song playing, and Killian couldn't help but to be surprised at Henry's music preference. It seemed a bit mature for him to relate to the stories but Henry explained it was like listening to someone else's story. Whether or not he had experienced it himself did not stop him from connecting with the words. And he found that the lad was right, he did like the music. He could easily picture his crew singing along as they sailed through the sea on the Jolly Roger.

"Well that sounds oddly familiar," he chuckled mirthlessly thinking on how the lyrics of the songs reminded him of how he had to patiently fight through Emma's walls and how he constantly thought himself unworthy of seeing what was inside.

Henry sits up straight then, Killian following suit. He looked thoughtful for a second before contemplating him quietly, his features sobering for what he was about to say. The lad may only be thirteen years old but he is quite wise and mature, especially when it comes to his mother(s).

"I saw how my mom reacted at Granny's when everything was said. And I know she may put up walls but you can't let her do that. This is the happiest I have seen my mom in… well ever," he said with a small smirk. "I know you love her, and I think she loves you too, so you can't give up on her. I know you have a dark past but so does half of the people in Storybrooke. If they were able to forgive my mom, the Evil Queen, I think they can forgive Captain Hook too. I did. And I know they will too, in time. You've been more than a friend, the closest thing I've had to a father since my dad died. You've been there for me and my mom and I know you care about us. That's how I know you have changed. My grandpa chose power over his family but you have chosen us over and over. And we needed that, my mom especially needed that. She needed to be put first for once. And you've done that, so don't give up."

Henry looked so bloody serious and sincere that it was easy to forget that he was merely a young boy. Killian took his words to heart, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. He made a silent promise to Henry and himself that no matter how much he believes he doesn't deserve it, if Emma will have him he will do his bloody damnedest to make her happy. He shakes his head slightly to himself; it's not enough to silently promise, he has to make sure Henry knows. He deserves to hear it. He holds Henry's gaze and tries to convey how serious and sincere he is.

"I've never given up on your mother, lad. It was more my inner demons that made me lose faith in myself. Nothing in any realm can make me give up on your mother. And I do love her; I swear to you that as long as your mother will have me I will dedicate my life to making her, and you, happy. No matter what it is I have to do, I will gladly do anything for the both of you."

A happy grin breaks on Henry's face. "Good. We'll call it Operation… Ever After. I know my mom wants everyone to have their happy endings because she's the Savior and that's her job, but it's up to us to make sure she has her own."

"Sounds like a plan, lad," he replies with his own smile, ruffling Henry's hair. "Now why don't I walk you back to your mothers and you can show me more songs along the way."

They got up together and walked towards Granny's, where he was sure everyone still remained. They walked along the side walk as they sang along to Bohemian Rhapsody, which Henry had presented him with the week before, when someone called Henry's name. They turned towards the voice that was coming from the other side of the street. Emma walked towards them, crossing the street carefully.

"Where the hell did you go? You know there's been a lot of baddies lurking around since Gold came back," she reminded Henry, and while she was referring to Ursula and Cruella, Killian couldn't help but wince a little at the implications of villains lurking about.

"I'm perfectly fine, mom. I was with Killian," he shrugged.

Emma looked at Killian then, the doubt in her emerald eyes had cleared but she still hesitated. Henry rolled his eyes at his mother. Henry knew that Emma didn't doubt Hook, she was more upset that he didn't tell her the truth about Ariel. But after he eyed her carefully as she looked at Killian he realized that she had already forgiven him, if the doe eyes she was making at him said anything.

"I'm going inside," he sighed amused as he crossed the street to the diner where Regina came out to wait for him. He looked back at Killian and smiled knowingly, a sign that Operation Ever After was in motion.

"Killian—"

"It's alright, Swan. You don't have to say anything. I, on the other hand, need to apologize for my outburst. Bad form," he says with a curt nod and a raise of his eyebrow. "It was a natural reaction to learning the truth about what transpired with Ariel. I'm not proud of what I did –"

"Killian, really it's okay. I'm not going to lie, it hurt that you kept it from me. But if you wouldn't have done that then you wouldn't have been able to out run the curse and bring me back home. Besides Ariel found Eric after all. And I get why you did it. The Jolly Roger was the only thing you had, I don't blame you for wanting to fight for it." Emma cupped his face with her hands and pulled him closer kissing him softly. "You have nothing to apologize for. I overreacted, it just— caught me of guard. I know the man you are, Killian. And you are one of the best men I have ever met." She kissed him once more and caressed his check lightly as she pulled away. He couldn't help but love the way she was looking at him; as if he truly was worthy of her. In that instant he thought he couldn't love her more. "And don't worry about my parents, I think Regina is on your side, talked some sense into them."

He chuckled softly as he thumbs the dimple on her chin. "Well, villains that are trying to redeem themselves have to stick together. There are not many of us, you know? Small club and all."

"I think you've redeemed yourself a while ago, pirate."

Emma wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer, looking up into his eyes teasingly. There was no disgust or disapproval in the word pirate, only love and adoration, even if she wouldn't admit it. He hummed contentedly in her embrace.

"I love it when you call me pirate," he growls. He dipped his head to capture her lips with his. He tangled his fingers in her hair and turned her head slightly to deepen the kiss. They were both breathless as they pulled apart. He rested his forehead on hers as they stood in comfortable silence, her eyes closed as she absentmindedly rubbed his back. After a minute they heard the ding of Granny's door from across the street. Henry announces that everyone was leaving and that he wanted to go home. Emma chuckle's at her son's bluntness and entwines her fingers with Killian's. "Come on, let's go home."

He smiled softly, still not used to the fact that they live together now, and puts his arm around her shoulders, her hand still firmly in his. Henry ran towards them and fell in step next to Killian. Killian put his hooked arm loosely around Henry's shoulders too for good measure. Henry's threat of taking his hook and using it as a hanger if he rips his shirt making him smile fondly and Emma laugh heartily. Henry looks over at his mother a smile on his face when he hears her laugh and then at Killian who gives him a wink and a knowing smile. Maybe this time the light will keep the darkness away.