Author's Note:

I'm trying a CS centric story this time around. And I'm really hoping this is WAY shorter than my last story. Enjoy and please leave a review :O)

The Storm's Beginning

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Attack

A lazy southern breeze gently blew through Storybrooke, Maine bringing with it uncharacteristically warm temperatures for mid-January. The mild weather, over the past six weeks, had eased the minds of the residents of the small seaside town. Six weeks without incident since the defeat of the last curse and the banishment of the Dark One.

It was a Wednesday evening and Granny's Diner was bustling, every seat and table occupied. Raucous laughter could be heard several storefronts away as the breeze made its way through the community. Seated at their usual corner booth, enjoying their dinner, was the Charming family accompanied by Regina and Killian.

"But seriously, Killian, cowboys or pirates, who would win?" Henry asked between vigorous bites of cheeseburger.

"Come now lad that isn't even a valid question. Pirates would prevail over cowboys any day," the Captain responded easily, a mischievous grin displayed on his lips.

"Henry, you know he's going to pick pirates every time!" David insisted.

"Sorry Gramps I had to ask," the teenager replied with mock indignation. "Okay then, what's the better movie – The Lone Ranger or Pirates of the Caribbean? And don't pretend like you didn't like The Lone Ranger."

"You did find it pretty entertaining," Emma piped up from the other side of her son.

"That may be, Swan however I did find the brunette from Pirates of the Caribbean to have more gumption," he winked playfully at his girlfriend causing the blonde to blush.

"Well, look at the time!" Regina interjected loudly, smacking the table lightly for emphasis.

"It is getting pretty late. It's probably time to get Neil home," echoed Mary Margaret, a similar rosiness coloring her cheeks as she recalled the last time she heard Hook use that term.

"Yeah Kid, it's a school night and I'm going to take a wild guess that you still have some homework to finish."

"Okay, you got me. I still have one small paper to write for World History. But don't forget I'm staying with Mom tonight."

"I haven't forgotten," Emma ruffled Henry's now shaggy mop of hair.

The group slid out of the oversized booth and said goodbye to Regina and Henry. Killian, throwing his left arm around Emma's waist escorted her out of the diner's front door, followed closely by Snow, David and their infant son.

"Since Henry's at Regina's tonight, did you want to come over and watch Netflix?"

"I would be happy to join, Swan. Could we perhaps watch that one show with the Headless Horseman? I don't believe we finished."

"You liked Sleepy Hollow?" Emma asked surprised. "Oh, you just like the actress who plays Katrina," she scoffed.

"I promise you, love she barely holds a candle to your…what's the word this realm uses? Sexiness?"

"Ugh, I can hear you, Hook!" David groaned from behind the couple, using the moniker in mock annoyance.

Killian and the Charmings walked to a small parking lot where both cars were waiting when Emma turned to the pirate, "I need to stop at the station real quick to check on Will Scarlet. He's locked up again for drunken disorderly. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, love. It's a nice enough night out. I think I might take a walk along the docks."

"Meet at the loft in half an hour?"

"I will be there," he pulled open the door of her yellow bug, giving her a light peck on her cheek. Turning to the royals, he bowed slightly at the waist, "Milady, Dave." With one last wave at Emma he slowly made his way east to the docks.

While he walked along the old wooden planks, Killian couldn't help but mull over the past several weeks in his mind. After his heart had been returned and Rumpelstiltskin was banished the pirate confessed to his love. They had found a quiet moment the following day and without any hesitation the once feared Captain Hook laid everything on the line about all that he had done since their return from the past.

Emma had been furious. She had shouted profanities, thrown a few things, and called him an idiot more than once. In the end, she held him tight and repeated that she couldn't lose him like the others, he had grown to mean more to her than she had realized. Since that moment the reformed pirate was trying to make up for his transgressions. He was truly working on being a more upstanding citizen, only falling into a little gambling and excessive drinking on occasion.

A warm breeze ruffled the captain's raven hair, his name whispered along the gentle updraft, "Killian." Hook paused in his stride and glanced around the empty harbor.

"Swan?" he called out. Hearing nothing else he continued, the water on his left and the cannery flanking his right.

"Killian," the wind called again.

This time he ignored it and kept his pace, an unsettling feeling slowly blossoming in his stomach. Just past the cannery he heard it a third time, louder and more insistent. He stopped again, faced the ocean and gazed out into the dark waters as though entranced.

Before he could fully react, something reached out of the bay and wound its way around his right leg. With the force of a sumo wrestler Killian was yanked toward the frigid water, his head smacking against the wooden dock with a sickening thud. The last thing he sensed before blackness overtook him was wetness and an unending cold.