Author's Note: I'll be posting the first few chapters all together until I'm current. This is also posted on Ao3. I've made it so my AN is the same on both. I hope you enjoy. This is the first piece of fiction that I've tried to write in a long time. I'm only hoping to get better as I get back into the swing of things. :D

I do not own OUAT or any of the characters involved.


Tinkerbell came crashing through the foliage, running as fast as she could, a jar in one hand. "Run!" she shouted, nearly colliding with Killian and Emma. Behind her, there were shouts. Lost Boys.

Killian hooked his arm around Emma's waist, restraining her. "Emma, love, we have to go. You are going to have to trust that damned crocodile."

"No, Killian! Let me go! I have to get Henry!" She struggled to get past him even as he hauled her backwards, trying to drag her after Tinkerbell. The sounds of the Lost Boys crashing towards them got louder.

He crouched, dropping his shoulder so he could lift Emma up, trying not to curse as she swung elbows and knees at him. "Emma, love. We. Have. To. Go." He grunted as her knee connected. He gritted his teeth and lifted her up, just as Snow and Charming nearly careened into them. Charming looked worse for the wear.

Snow was grinning from ear to ear as she ran up to them. "He's got Henry. We can go now." She practically laughed as she ran off, following the same path that Tinkerbell had taken moments before. Charming trailed behind her, his face almost ashen, but still smiling.

"You heard your mother." Killian started to follow the others, carrying Emma over his shoulder. She still struggled and got another well placed knee in, enough to make Killian put her down. "Come on, love," he said through clenched teeth, taking her arm to haul her back to his ship.

"Not without Hen-" Emma stilled suddenly and Killian stopped, feeling her frozen in his arms. He didn't let go, just leaned back to get a look at her face. Surprise, hope, and something else. It wasn't just happiness. Joy? He looked over his shoulder and saw a ghost.

Neal Cassidy was running towards them, Henry in his arms and his father hot on his heels. He looked a little haggard as he slowed in front of Emma, but there was a smile on his face. A big, bright smile. Rumplestiltskin stopped next to him and urged, "Bae, we need to get to the ship. If Pan catches us, none of us will make it out of Neverland."

Killian couldn't believe it. Relief flooded through him. Baelfire was alive. It was more than any of them could have hoped. A smile was blossoming on his face, until he looked back at Emma. It was definitely joy on her face. He looked again at Baelfire and then back to Emma and set his jaw, feeling his world tilt. "Reunions later," he said and gave Emma a shove, a little harder than intentioned. Killian let her arm go. Her eyes met his and there was an apology in them for just an instant until Neal ran between them.

As Neal passed them with Henry, Emma turned and ran with them. Killian took a deep breath and followed after them, Rumple hot on his heels. Behind them, the Lost Boys whooped and continued their pursuit.


There was barely a swallow left in the bottom of the glass. Killian was staring at it like he could will it to be a full glass. They had come back from Neverland only two days ago. Two days that were entirely too long for someone who felt like they had any chance of happiness ripped from them. Again.

He drained the last of the whisky from the glass. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Emma. He saw her smiling, her arms sliding around his neck, her face close to his with love on her lips. Her promise a whisper in his ear. He felt hollow. The whisky was to drown her out.

Killian looked at the bartender of the Rabbit Hole. The big man shook his head and pushed a piece of paper across the bar to him. "Giving up on me too, mate? Killian said, standing and wobbling on unsteady legs. The bartender just shook his head and tapped the receipt. Killian fished out a few bills from his pocket and dropped them on the bar before heading for the door, his head still full of Neverland. And her.

It was late enough that the night air was cool against his skin. It made him think of Neverland. Of the Lost Boys crying in the night as he sat next to Emma, his hand so close to hers that he ached to reach out and touch her, to hold her hand. He thought of the night that he did, he held her hand and she smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back at her.

He coughed, his throat getting tighter. Killian wanted to be back on his ship, in his cabin where he could fight the ghosts of what could have been with burning swallows of rum. If he drank enough, he wouldn't dream of the past or the future. If he drank enough, maybe the darkness would swallow him whole.

"Hook!" a cheery voice stopped him in his tracks and he nearly rolled his eyes as he took a deep breath and turned around. The woman hadn't stopped fighting for her kingdom and he knew that once someone was in her sights, she wasn't just going to let them walk away. Not even a scruffy, rude pirate that didn't want her help.

"Snow," he said, trying to put a smile into his voice and knowing he fell far too short. She had her happy ending, or at least the beginning of her happy ending. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your attention?" he tried again, the leer falling out of his words as quickly as he tried to put it into them. Too much whisky, he thought and forced the corners of his lips to turn up.

Snow gave him a curious look, tightening her hold on Charming's arm. "We haven't seen you since we got back. I thought you might have left." Charming was standing tall and relaxed next to her, happy to let his wife do the talking. Killian made a note that he was doing well. The pixie dust has cured the poison and he seemed to be recovering quickly.

"No, I'm not so lucky, I'm afraid." He held his arms out and smirked. "This world isn't exactly a place for a pirate like me." He saw Snow's confused look, like no one could hate this place because they should be as happy as she is, and moved his attention to Charming so that he wouldn't be tempted to glare at her. "How are you feeling, mate?"

Charming smiled and nodded. "Well." He paused and Killian knew what was coming next. "I wanted to thank you for everything you did in Neverland. We never would have made it out of there without you."

Killian waved him off and looked past Charming, not wanting to focus on the happy couple. It burned in his gut and he wanted another drink. He could see Emma in both of them. "Well, I should be going. Glad to see you are well, mate." He inclined his head slightly to both of them and started to walk past them.

"Hook," Charming said, stopping Killian before he could get too far. Killian turned around, looking at the father of the person that meant the most to him. Snow had walked a few paces away from Charming, giving them some privacy. "I know why you did it. For what it's worth…" He paused and pressed his lips together. "For what's it's worth, I think she does love you. I'm sorry."

Hope raced through his heart, following by the sharp cut of pain. Killing closed his eyes and took a breath. It would be easier had he not heard that. "Thank…" He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "Thank you, mate, but it doesn't change anything. She loved him first and we all know how our first love goes."

Killian took his leave and hurried down the street, trying to ignore the pity? No, sympathy he had seen in Charming's eyes. He didn't stop for anything, nearly falling over Grumpy. The lump in his throat was making it hard to breathe again. He needed the emptiness of his ship and the oblivion that a bottle of rum would provide.