He made it out. He tricked the Fates into making him a deal that if he helped enough people move on then he could go back to her. Emma. He missed her so much. He didn't know how long it had been since she had to leave him in the Underworld because she couldn't save him and he couldn't stand to watch everyone she loved get hurt. He had wanted Henry protected and wanted David to be able to return topside to see Neal grow up. Now here he was at the town line. He figured the best place to start would be the diner so he could clean up before he saw Emma and her family.
He walked into the diner but it didn't have the feeling it used to. All he could picture was Emma sitting there waiting for him but he knew he needed to figure things out before he went barging in the door. He was only there a few moments sitting at a booth after Granny handed him a coffee when the bell on the door rang and he couldn't believe his eyes. There stood a almost fully grown Henry. How long had he been gone? He had 3 little children running around him. Had Henry had children of his own while he was gone?
Henry turned and made eye contact with him. "Hook!" He ran over. "Is it really you?" Henry said.
Killian stood up out of the booth and embraced the boy who had almost been like a son to him at one point. "Aye, It's me. I finally got out."
"Are you alright?"
"I think so. Are you? How is everyone?"
"We are…You have a lot of catch up on. One second."
Henry turned around and whistled to get the attention of the children that were with him. They ran over and climbed in the booth. "Neal, I know you don't remember him but this is Hook. It's the pirate that your Momma and Poppa always talk about."
Neal stuck out his little hand to Killian. "Hi Pirate. I'm Prince Neal Nolan."
"Well it's very good to see you. How old are you now?"
"Five. How old are you?"
Killian chuckled. "Too old at this point. So lad are these your friends?" He pointed to the two other children in the booth. A little girl with black hair and green eyes and a little boy with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.
Henry smirked. "Can you guys tell Hook what your names are?"
The little girl in the booth giggled. "I am Jayde and this is my brother Nicolas. He doesn't talk to anyone but me."
"It's very nice to meet you. Both of you." Killian said to the small girl.
"Jayde, tell him what your whole entire name is."
"Oh okay, Jayde Claire Jones." She replied.
Killian looked at Henry. "That can't be possible. How old are they? Where is your mother?"
"Relax Hook. I'll explain everything. I need to get them fed and back to Grandma's house but would you wanna go to the Rabbit Hole later with me? I usually got there on Thursday nights for a few hours. There is something I wanna show you too."
"I really need to see your mother. I haven't been here. I feel awful. She must hate me."
"Listen, have lunch with us and then we will go straight to the Rabbit Hole. It's been 4 years it can wait a little longer."
"Alright." Killian took a deep breath.
"Mister Hook. Do you know my grandpa?" Jayde asked.
"Aye I do. I haven't seen him in quite some time though." Killian replied.
"He is a police man. He keeps us safe." She said.
"Well that is lovely my dear. I'm so happy he does. Your grandpa is a very good guy."
"Henny, did you hear him? He knows Grandpa." Jayde said.
"I heard him Jay. Eat up cause you and Nicko are staying with Grandma and Grandpa tonight."
"Mister Hook, Nicko wants to know if you're a real pirate." Jayde said.
"At one time I was."
"Did you have your own ship and everything?"
"Yes I did Love, my own ship and everything."
"Henny, did you know that?" she asked.
"Yes Jay. I got to see his ship before when I was younger."
"I'm sure he will be our friend Nicko. He is so nice." Jayde said.
They were walking back to the loft of the Nolan's when Killian felt a little hand grab his and he looked down to see the little boy Jayde had said was named Nicolas to be looking shyly up at him. He bent down and looked at the little boy in the eye. "Lad, there is no reason to be afraid of me. You don't talk much do you? That's okay. I didn't talk much when I was young either. I had a big brother who always did the talking for me." Nicolas smiled at him.
"Grandma is gonna be so excited to see you Mister Hook." Jayde said.
"Jayde, my Momma loves everyone. Of course she is gonna wanna see her and Poppa's old friend." Neal said.
Henry opened the door. "Grandma, we are here."
Snow came around the corner from the kitchen.
"Momma look, we found you and Poppa's friend at the diner. He is gonna hang out with Henry."
"Hook!" Snow threw her arms around him.
"See, I told you Nicko. Grandma wouldn't make him leave. She likes him too. You don't gotta worry." Jayde said.
"Grandma I'm taking Hook with me to the Rabbit Hole cause I'm gonna fill him in on everything and I imagine it is easier to just do all that in one clean break." Henry said.
"Hook, I'm so happy you are home. Before you go though, did you tell Nicolas and Jayde who you are?" Snow asked in a whisper.
"I… Henry just introduced me as one of your friends. Should we even tell them? I mean I haven't been here and they wouldn't understand possibly."
"Come on Hook. Be good for Grandma you guys."
Killian was already lost in what little information he had when Henry and him started walking towards the Rabbit Hole. "Where is your mother?"
"She is around. After we got back from the Underworld she was in a shell for weeks afterwards. Then she found out she was going to have the twins and she was so excited. Well, she really wished you were there. Grandma had her having hope that some how they would find a way for you to get back before she had the twins. But we just kept hitting walls. She eventually had the twins and had everything ready for them at home. That's where I live now. In the house you and I picked. I take care of the twins. I mean Grandma and Grandpa help me a lot but when the day is over it's just the three of us at the house."
"What happened to Emma?"
"She…When she had the twins. She got really sick and went into a coma. When she woke up she I guess… well the doctor calls it selective amnesia. She was really upset by the fact of losing you and know that she was going to have to raise them by herself and that you were going to miss it."
"Why doesn't Nicolas talk?" Killian asked.
"He just never has."
"Jayde. She said that he was talking to her. She kept replying."
" Jayde says she he talks to her. It's like telepathy or something. When he needs something he makes it known. I was really shocked he was drawn to you today. He doesn't even like me to touch him. He just kinda is there. He wonders around with Jay."
"So Emma didn't leave town?"
"No she is around. In fact I normally see her when I'm here. She knows me and just thinks I'm an adult now and do my own thing. She doesn't remember anything about you or the twins. I guess it was her way of dealing with it all. The doctor said it can come back at anytime. You'll see when you see her."
Henry took a seat at the bar and Killian sat beside him and Henry nodded over to the pool tables in the back of the bar. Killian could hear Leroy's voice. "Jeeze Princess you think you could give us a break for once." There she was, but it wasn't the Emma he remembered. Her hair was brown now and she was wearing it different. She just stood differently.
Henry turned towards Killian. "Leroy kinda keeps an eye on her. She won't talk to Grandma or Grandpa ever since."
"Where does she live at?"
"Wherever she can find a place to rest her head for a few hours. I think some times she even sleeps at the tables here."
Killian and Henry sat there for a while. Henry was drinking a water and eating some fries. When Emma walked up behind him. "Hey kiddo. Sorry it took me so long to get over here. I was playing till I lost."
"That's alright. How are you?"
"I'm good. Real good. This guy with you?" Emma asked as she nodded towards Killian.
"Yeah, he is someone I ran into today."
"Hi I'm Emma. I'm Henry's mother." Emma stuck her hand out.
"Pleased to meet you Love." Killian replied.
"I need to get going. Grandma and Grandpa said you could crash at their place till you figure yourself out or my house is always your house. Are you coming?"
"Henry leave him be. I wanna have a chat with him about some stuff." Emma said.
"oKay. Love you Mom. Just stop by when you leave here if you wanna stay. I'll be up."
"What's your deal?" Emma said.
"I don't know what you are talking about." He replied.
"Well for one you are in a bar drinking water and two I have seen you looking at me since you walked in here. I have this feeling about you and I can't quite place it. As if we have almost met before."
" Do you pick up most guys in a bar this way? Being rude to them." Killian asked.
Emma just stared at him. "What are you doing hanging out with my son? You are a lot older than him."
"You're right I am. But he was the first person to be nice to me when I got into town and invited here. Also I'm sure by this point every man in this bar has told you how amazingly beautiful you are so I can't help but look at someone like you. But I am going to go so that way you don't have to feel uncomfortable." Killian stood up.
"Wait. Have you and I met before?" Emma asked.
"I would hope that if we met it would be something you'd remember. You seem like the type of person I'd wanna know and go to the end of the earth for. Good night miss."
"What's your deal?" Emma asked.
"Don't worry about it Love. I'm just a man here fighting for what he wants." Killian replied as he walked out.