Penance is a Sacrifice
Chapter One
In the Enchanted Forest…
Upon leaving the castle after his disagreement with Regina's plan to get them all back home to Storybrooke, Hook swiftly made his way through the forest to where he knew the beanstalk he and Emma once climbed together years ago still stood, with a firm plan in his mind and the hope that it would get him back home to his wife as quickly as possible. Patience wasn't ever one of the strongest qualities he possessed, but Emma's life was at stake and he wasn't willing to stand by waiting for the former Evil Queen to come up with a plan of her own.
Once he arrived just feet away from the beanstalk, the pirate captain stared up at it warily and in frustration while he grumbled, "Bloody hell. It's taller than I remembered."
He was about to step forward again, until David suddenly appeared behind him upon following him from the castle and Hook crossly turned around to face the Prince, who then walked towards his new son in law while he shouted, "Hey! Next time you sneak off on a secret mission, you might want to make sure there's no Munchkins around. They're easily bought."
"Honestly, stealth wasn't a priority…" Killian curtly stated when he faced the beanstalk again. "Speed was."
"So this is your theory on how to get home, huh?" David asked curiously as he too stared up at the height of the beanstalk winding up into the clouds between the earth and the giants' castle. "Hoping there's a magic bean up there?"
Hook continued walking towards it while he darkly responded, "There's only one way to find out."
Charming sighed worryingly when he glanced between the Captain, as well as the beanstalk, then he quickly followed him again while he sternly replied, "Hook, that beanstalk's over a thousand feet high. You really think you can climb that alone?"
"I think I want to get back to my wife," Killian curtly answered once more.
"But making her a widow is not what I'd call a good plan," David retorted out of growing concern. "You're gonna get yourself killed."
Hook quietly, yet anxiously responded, "I'll have you know I've scaled this before."
The sheriff turned to the pirate again while he uttered, "Really? When?"
"With Emma," Killian whispered despondently, as his thoughts fell back to Emma and the time they spent climbing the same beanstalk when they first met. "It was our first adventure together, though my motives were less than chivalrous then."
"Yeah, I seem to recall you trying to kill her and Snow," David then bitterly replied upon remembering how Hook had betrayed his wife and daughter back then as well.
As his anger in regard to his decision to make the climb continuing to be questioned grew, Hook vehemently answered, "Granted, it was hardly love at first sight. But… things changed. We changed."
Without sensing his son in law's frustration, David attempted to state, "I know, but…"
"Look, we made each other better!" Hook responded out of anger when he couldn't contain it any longer, and David finally realized how he had made him feel as his eyes softened while he looked over at Killian again with remorse. "All right? Emma and I were never a predestined love story, guaranteed a happy ending. We fought for our love, and we won. And you… You of all people should understand that."
"But now… you saw into that mirror," Killian continued out of despair, after he took a moment to quickly reclaim his composure and to soften his voice. "She doesn't even remember who I am. So, yes… I'm gonna climb this beanstalk, and I am gonna find that bean… because I'm not gonna lose everything I have just because some bitter fairy cast another bloody curse! Our story began on the beanstalk, and I'll be damned if it ends there, too."
At last, David nodded while he reached out to grasp his son in law's arm in an effort to comfort him and looked him in his eyes in understanding, then replied, "All right. You're scared of losing Emma. I get that. Just…"
He sighed, then added, "…take a deep breath. All right, calm down. Let's go get that bean together."
Killian's thoughts were interrupted and his memory from earlier that day faded, when Emma suddenly appeared beside him as she carefully sat down with her husband on the docks overlooking the ocean once she finished spending some time alone with her parents and son, as well as their friends upon their reunion. She had encouraged him to stay with her because she didn't want to leave his side again. However, he had told her she needed to spend some time with the rest of her loved ones so they could talk without him around. That he would wait his turn.
He just failed to tell her that the reason why was so he could to try to cope with the trying events the Black Fairy's curse had forced upon him as well, but mostly so he could cope with being forced to watch as the woman he loved was killed right in front of him while he had been held back by his father in law.
"I thought I might find you here," the Savior whispered gently, as she reached out to take his hand within her own and then turned her head to face the man she loved so she could look into his eyes once he too was looking over at her. "I wish you stayed with us. You're family and not just because we're married now. You've been family for a long time, Killian. Why do you still feel so uncomfortable with being involved in family gatherings at certain times like this?"
"It isn't that, Swan," he answered softly, while he turned his head to look out over the ocean once more when he realized she could tell he had been crying from the redness in his eyes and quickly rubbed them using the side of his hook, then released her hand so he could take another sip of rum from his flask he'd been drinking from since he sat before he continued. "It's just… I've never felt so helpless like I felt tonight, when you died as well as earlier today while we were separated by the curse. Actually, that's not entirely true, since it's the same way I felt when the Crocodile murdered Milah. Only… watching you die was much worse. You're my true love, and now my wife as of one day ago. You saved me from the villain I once was when even Milah couldn't. I thought I lost you tonight, Emma. And I'm not sure what I would have done had I…"
Emma finally cut him off before he could finish once she understood his fear, as she leaned in to kiss him, then when she finally pulled back again, she tenderly responded, "You would have remained the hero you are because you're a good man. And even without me, you're no longer alone. But I'm still here with you, Killian. I'm alive. And while Henry was the one who brought me back with true love's kiss, I could feel your love flowing through me too. You are not that man you were back when we first met and climbed that beanstalk together… before I was the first one to betray your trust."
Hook smiled at her sadly and then replied, "It's funny you should mention that beanstalk."
"Why?" she questioned with amusement upon seeing him smile at her.
"Because your father and I spent most of today climbing it again and in the giants' castle in order to get the bean which brought us back home to you and Henry," her husband answered, then wrapped his arms around his wife to hold her close to him. "He even called me his son. Before a dragon appeared and chased us from the castle, then we both fell from the beanstalk that is. We were both alright, even when it practically fell on top of us too."
Killian grew serious again when he paused, then he continued somberly, "I wasn't going to give up trying to get back to you. Regina looked into her magic mirror to see what had come of you because of the Black Fairy's curse. I saw you inside that madhouse and how… how you had forgotten me. Just like before after Pan's dark curse was cast, when I came to New York to bring you home."
Emma reached up to caress his cheek and then she whispered, "I only forgot you for a moment. Henry reminded me I had fallen in love. When he brought me to where we stood as we were married, I remembered you. I saw a vision of our wedding. Believe me, I understand how you feel. When we were trapped in Isaac's alternate reality and you didn't remember me… But you still protected me then despite having no memory of who I was. You trusted me when you had no reason to and then you sacrificed your life to save mine and Henry's. I couldn't protect you then either and I was forced to watch as you died after the evil version of my father stabbed you in the back, then I fled. I had to leave you behind and I hated myself for that. I've watched you die three times now… once because I had to be the one to kill you after my mistakes made you become that which you hated and feared more than anything else. Not to mention having to watch you die nearly a dozen or so times more because you were protecting me and my family."
"I'll always continue to do what I have to do to keep you safe, as well as to remind you just how much I truly love you, Emma," the man she loved responded in sincerity, then he leaned in to kiss her again while she kissed him back.
"What do you say we head home for the night and enjoy our wedding night even if it is a day late?" the Savior then said when she pulled her head back again a few minutes later to look up into his eyes like before. "I promise you, tonight we won't be interrupted by anyone or anything. Henry's staying with Regina and my parents assured me they wouldn't be coming over any time soon either."
Hook smiled again as he replied quietly, "I'd say that sounds perfect. As for our honeymoon… When and where would you like to go? Anywhere… Name it and I will take you there, whether it requires the Jolly Roger or your own vessel."
He rose again to his feet and leaned down while he reached out his hand for his wife to take hold of so he could help her stand as well, then they started walking towards their home hand in hand, arm in arm as she answered, "It might be a few weeks before we can go anywhere since Mom and Dad want to celebrate the breaking of the Black Fairy's curse, our victory over her, and winning the final battle tomorrow night at Granny's. It won't be with everyone. Just our family, and Granny too of course… since we're having the celebration in her diner. And then next week is my Dad's birthday. There's going to be an even bigger celebration with everyone. I think there's a few other things going on, but I'm not really sure. But once things become settled here again, you and I will be free to go anywhere. And honestly, I hoped we could take your ship out into the ocean and sail for however long we can. The two of us… together."
"I would love nothing more, Swan, but are you certain it's what you really want?" he questioned her. "I mean… Please don't tell me so if you just wish to please the pirate in me who longs to return to the open seas.
"It's what I really want, Killian," Emma responded sincerely as she tightened her grip on his hand. "You've taken me out a few times, but you lived on the Jolly Rogers for centuries and I'd like to experience a little of what you love so much. To be able to feel the calm these waters give to you. We've both been through so much lately. We deserve to feel that peace now more than ever."
Hook nodded sadly and then he replied, "Aye. We're together again. Right now, that's all I need. You're all I need to feel that kind of peace anymore. I told you when we married that my heart now belongs to you completely. And it does. If you truly wish for me to show you this world of yours aboard the Jolly Roger, then you and I can see it for the first time together. I truly love you, Emma Swan."
The Savior laid her head down on his shoulder, then she answered, "The perfect honeymoon. I love you too, Killian Jones. And… don't stop calling me 'Swan', but now that I'm your wife, I'm Emma Jones. You didn't think I wouldn't take on your last name, did you?"
This time, Killian didn't say anything. Instead, he turned his head towards her once more and looked into his Savior's eyes, then smiled before leaning in again to kiss the woman he loved so deeply. Instead of walking home, Emma used her power within her to transport them back and when they arrived, they continued to kiss while they made their way up to their bedroom. As their passion grew, Killian slowly undressed her while Emma did the same for him and then they finally laid together as husband and wife within each other's arms.