Disclaimer: Reluctantly I have to admit that I don't own these characters. They are property of others far luckier than myself.
Storyline wise, this story takes place after the nastiness of the Snow Queen and the town has returned to normal, at least as normal as Storybrooke gets. One slight change, leaving Storybrooke is possible with no ill effects.
A/N – A sequel to Heat and Frozen is in the works. I hope to return to that series after I finish up this story.
Enjoy.
Emma was sitting at her desk, doing her best to focus on the paperwork in front of her and ignoring the snarky comments from their frequent prisoner, Will Scarlet. He'd been in Storybrooke for a several months. Every time he turned around he seemed to find himself in some sort of trouble. She couldn't help comparing his arrival with another rebel rouser that came to town only a few years earlier.
Emma's thoughts suddenly turned dark, and her father was quick to notice.
"Everything okay," David inquired as he got her attention with a sharp rap at her desk.
"Yeah, everything is fine," Emma quickly covered.
"Haven't seen a certain pirate around for a few days," David broached the subject cautiously.
"He got a lead on a new ship," Emma smiled wistfully.
Killian had come to her a few days earlier. He had an extra bounce in his step. He told her about how Belle had been working with him on finding a new vessel to replace the one he'd traded for the magic bean that brought him back to her world and helped restore her memories.
"That's a good thing, right?" David offered, "A pirate needs a ship."
"I don't really think of him as a pirate anymore," Emma spoke softly.
"Just because he's come to your rescue a time or two doesn't mean that he's ready to shed his bad boy image," David stated.
"I kinda like the bad boy," Emma bit her lip.
"How long was he expecting to be gone?" David inquired.
"Not long at all," Emma replied with a nervous twitch in her voice, "He left with a merchant two days ago that was sailing to Portsmouth. He was supposed to be gone a day or two at most."
"He probably just took his new vessel out to put it through its paces," David offered, "He'll want to ensure it's seaworthy."
"Yeah," Emma nodded.
"Have you heard from him?" David asked, "Did he bring his phone?"
"He called when he got into port," she confirmed as she glanced towards her cell phone hoping to see a missed call or a voicemail. She smiled a little at the memory of when she'd taught him how to use his own communication device. All he'd had the patience for was the 'Emma' button as he'd termed it. She hadn't minded as she was likely the only person he'd ever call anyways.
"And did he give any indications that anything was wrong?" David prodded.
"No, he'd been on his way to negotiate his deal," Emma replied, "He had wanted me to know that he'd made it safely."
"That's surprisingly domestic for the pirate," David chuckled.
"Don't laugh," Emma scolded him, "I asked him to call me with updates, but that's the last I've heard from him."
"Maybe he sailed back to his own bloody realm," their prisoner chimed in with his snarky accent, "Best place for that villain if you ask me."
"No one asked you," Emma turned around to shot daggers at Will with her eyes.
"He's fine, Emma," David was quick to reassure her, "He's proved over and over that he's very good at surviving."
"Yeah, in those other worlds, but this one is different," Emma replied, "People are much quicker to pull a gun to solve problems in this one, and I'm afraid his mouth could get him into trouble. He's not bulletproof."
"Why don't you drive down to Portsmouth and check things out? It's only a couple hours drive," David suggested, "I can handle things here until you get back."
"Yeah, as long as another psychotic witch doesn't show up looking for revenge," Emma muttered. Their dealings with the Snow Queen and the Wicked Witch were still fresh in Emma's mind. "Didn't you have male villains in the Enchanted Forest?"
"Yeah, one of them went by Captain Hook," David chuckled.
Emma laughed to herself as she grabbed the leather jacket off the back of her chair and slipped into it. "I'm going to pick up Henry at school."
"And…" he prompted her.
"Then I'm going to pack an overnight bag just in case it takes more than a day to find the elusive pirate," Emma replied, "I shouldn't be gone more than a day or so. I'll just track down this sailboat seller, confirm that the deal was successful, and that Killian was on his way back to Storybrooke…You're right I'm probably worried over nothing."
"It's hard not to worry when you care for someone," David replied.
"You know he's a pirate, right?" Will chimed in.
"Says the man that is Knave of Hearts," Emma rolled her eyes before they connected with the eyes of her father, "Give him a pop tart or something to shut him up."
David chuckled as Emma left the station.
"Hey, Kid," Emma greeted Henry when he left school for the day.
"Hey, Mom," Henry was mildly surprised to see her standing next to her yellow Volkswagen Beetle, "Did we have plans this afternoon?"
"No," Emma assured him, "I just wanted to stop by to see how school was."
"It was fine," Henry shrugged, "Is that all?"
"No," Emma conceded, "I'm heading out of town for a couple of days. I wanted to give you a heads up."
"Oh, okay," Henry replied, "Are you going back to New York?"
"No," Emma replied, "But one of these days we really should pack up our belongings and bring them back here since we're staying for good."
"At least until college," Henry agreed with a bright smile.
"Whoa, slow down there, Kid," Emma felt her heart flutter at the prospect. She wasn't ready for her son to grow up yet. In her mind, he was still that little boy she'd opened the door on back in Boston. Yet in reality he'd grown several inches since then and his voice was much deeper.
"So what's going on?" Henry asked as he threw his backpack in the back seat and climbed in the passenger seat of her beloved bug.
"I'm heading down to Portsmouth for a few days," Emma replied as she jammed the keys into the ignition and revved the car to life.
"Isn't that where Killian was going?" Henry asked after a moment of thought.
"Yes," she confirmed, "I'm just a little worried seeing as how he hasn't checked in for a few days, and you know his knack for finding trouble."
"He does seem to be a magnet for it," Henry agreed, "But I'm sure he's fine. He'll probably be back tonight or first thing tomorrow."
"You're probably right," Emma agreed, "But I'm just going to check it out for myself."
"Can I come?" he asked.
"It's a school night, Kid," Emma shook her head while throwing the car into gear to drive towards Regina's manor.
"Come on, I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind if I missed a few days," Henry groaned.
"Your other mom might not, but I do," Emma held her ground, "School is important. If you want to get into that college you mentioned, you're going to need good grades, and to do that you have to go to class."
"Fine," Henry conceded with a heavy sigh, "But you'll call with updates, right?"
"Of course," Emma was quick to assure him when she pulled up to the curb in front of Regina's home.
Emma's mind went to crazy places while she drove the few hours down the coast from Storybrooke to Portsmouth. It was a beautiful time of year when all the trees had begun to wake up from their winter naps and sprout their leaves. It was second only to when the leaves began to turn in the fall.
The conversation she'd had with Killian just before he left was replaying in her mind.
"Look what the cat drug in," Will announced Killian's arrival before Emma had a chance to spot him, "Punch anyone else in the face lately, Mate?"
"Just you, Mate," Killian's voice had a bit of an edge to it. He'd confessed his crime to Emma. She'd been a bit sour with him for keeping something like that a secret from him, but she'd forgiven him after a few days of groveling on his part. "What's he in for this time?"
"Breaking into the diner. He was passed out in one of the booths when Granny went to open up this morning," Emma explained to Killian before turning to address Will, "For a man that breaks into a lot of places, you don't seem particularly skilled at getting away with it."
"Perhaps I wanted to get caught," Will chimed in, "So I can look at your lovely face day after day."
"Well, you'll get to look at David's face for the rest of the day," Emma chuckled as her father arrived to start his shift, "So I hope the few hours was worth it."
"It would be for me, Love," Killian leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Both Will and David rolled their eyes at the bit of affection that Killian bestowed upon Emma, but for every different reasons. Will abhorred anyone's displays of affection because of his inability to find a way back to his true love. David simply couldn't tolerate any displays made towards his daughter, even knowing how happy Killian made Emma.
"Taking Emma out to dinner?" David inquired as a way of reminding the pair that there were others in the room.
"If she'll do me the honor," Killian raised a confident brow in Emma's direction.
"That depends on where you're taking me," Emma entire face lit up as she smiled.
"With the weather warming, I was hoping for a stroll by the docks," Killian inquired, "And that marina establishment has reopened."
"The Fish and Chips Shack is open," Emma's smile widened, "Let's go, Pirate."
Killian helped Emma into her jacket before offering his arm.
"Enjoy your night," Emma sent a teasing grin towards her father. She knew how much the Knave of Hearts could irritate him.
"Yeah, right," David muttered as he removed his coat and made himself comfortable in his seat.
"You have an extra bounce in your step tonight," Emma noticed as they strolled towards the marina.
"I have a beautiful woman on my arm," he gave her his most charming smile.
"There's more to that bounce than being with me tonight," she prodded him, "Out with it, Hook."
"Why am I always Captain Hook when you're prodding me for information?" he challenged her.
"Because it's Captain Hook that I find so irritating," she responded without missing a beat, "And you're dodging the question. Out with it."
"I've received a bit of good news today," Killian began.
"The guyliner you wear is on sale for half price?" she quipped.
"Do you want me to tell you or not?" Killian's smooth accent became a little heavier like it always did when she said something that irritated him.
"Of course I want to know," she responded instantly.
"I shall tell you after our meal," he replied as they approached the food shack. The smell of freshly fried fish and potatoes assaulted their senses immediately. Neither would be able to concentrate until their bellies were full.
Emma gave him a quick pout before he went to procure their meals while Emma found them a vacant table. It was the first nice day of the spring. She could hear the birds singing, the waves lapping against the docks and the happy banter of the fishermen returning from their daily voyages with their best catches.
There were a number of other residents that had the same idea as Killian and Emma. News that the fish shack was opening for the season was a welcomed sight after the winter chill trapped everyone indoors.
"I couldn't remember if you wanted vinegar or whatever tartar sauce is," Killian set down their meals, "If you do, you'll have to get it yourself. I was a hand short."
Emma rolled her eyes at his joke. He managed just as well with a hand and a hook as most people did with two fully functioning hands, and he had a sense of humor about his disability that she found endearing. While he'd been disappointed at losing his hand a second time, he hadn't let it get him down for long; especially since Emma was quick to assure him that the hook didn't bother her.
"So, belly is full," Emma wiped at her lips after inhaling her meal, "How about you fill me in on that extra bounce in your step?"
"Not one for patience, are we, Love?" he gave her a wide grin.
"You know we well enough to answer that all on your own," Emma leaned in for a chaste kiss on his lips. She could taste the batter of the fish on his lips, and it drew her in for a second kiss. Once she knew she had his full attention, she whispered her question against his lips. "What's your good news?"
Killian pulled away with a dreamy look in his eyes while licking his lips. They tasted of Emma, his favorite treat. "I found myself a new ship."
"I…ah…" Emma stammered for a response, "I didn't know you were looking for one."
"I'd casually mentioned it to Belle one morning as I had breakfast at Granny's. It was mostly small talk on my part, but she mentioned her library had a way of locating items available for trade or purchase."
"She did an internet search," Emma hazarded an educated guess.
"That's what she called it, yes," he confirmed, "A retiring sailor in Portsmouth is willing to negotiate terms."
"And what are you going to do with a new ship?" Emma inquired as her stomach flip-flopped expectantly. She didn't know how she'd feel if he went back to pirating, or worse if he used it to return to the Enchanted Forest.
"I haven't thought that far ahead," he admitted, "Perhaps I could become a fisherman and catch lobsters or cod or any other tasty treats the sea has to offer or perhaps I could ferry tourists out and about on those sight-seeing tours I've read about…"
"Storybrooke doesn't get a lot of tourists," Emma snorted.
"It wouldn't have to be in Storybrooke," Killian shrugged.
"Would you leave Storybrooke?"
Killian caught the panic in her eyes, and it broke his heart. "I wouldn't leave Storybrooke for an extended period of time," he was quick to assured her as he reached for her hand and entwined his fingers with hers, "I'm just looking at options. If I did those tours, I would simply sail to a nearby tourist town each morning to pick up my passengers."
"Oh," Emma sighed in relief.
"Everything that is important to me is here," he looked deep into her eyes.
Emma swallowed hard. She felt the same flutters she did months ago when he'd first told her that he'd traded his ship so he could find her. "I like hearing that," Emma spoke softly.
"You know how I feel about you," Killian brought her hand to rest against his chest, to feel the steady beating of his heart.
"Old demons," she gave him her standard response.
"We both have them," he nodded.
"So when are you going to Portsmouth?" she tried to lighten their conversation with her airy tone.
"Next week," he replied, "I was able to negotiate passage from one of the sailors this afternoon that sails out of there. He'll be returning to Storybrooke next Monday afternoon."
"So you'll be a captain again," Emma tried to sound happy with the prospect, but everything about him returning to the sea scared the hell out of her.
"I've always been a captain," he stroked the hand she held against his chest lightly, "Now I'll be a captain of a new vessel."
"No more Rolly Joger?" she teased.
"I traded her fair and square," Killian replied, "There is no point in looking back. I'd rather look forward. I'm here, Emma, and I need you to know that I'm not going anywhere."
"Old demons," she tried to wave off the feelings she was having for a second time.
"Emma," he gently guided her gaze with his hook under her chin until his ice blue eyes were looking deep into her emerald depths, "Storybrooke is my home now."
Emma was pulled from her thoughts as she drove past the sign saying she'd arrived in Portsmouth. She didn't know where to start first. Killian had never mentioned the name of the sailor he intended to negotiate with, and the docks of Portsmouth were at least ten times larger than those of Storybrooke. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
TBC...
How's this for a start? Thoughts?