"I never remember New York being so busy." It was strange to hear the sounds of people, hordes of people staked on top of each other and filled with a metallic grating disjointed beat that seemed to leap from the pavement ever since he had come off from the plane.
As he sipped the beer that had been handed him from the bartender, he had quietly chatted with his seatmates over what was new and happening in America. You wouldn't think that a few years would change much about a city, but after the hellish years he had spent outside of the states he couldn't decide if the apocalypse or the second coming had happened to his beloved home.
"How long has it been so you have been here?" The dark bearded gentleman next him was perhaps a little slimmer than expected from a bar belly, belching businessman. They had been chatting ever since the he had arrived at the bar, the businessman, Kevin I think he said his name was, had approached and offered to buy him a few rounds to thank him for all he had done.
I don't think however if you knew all that I had done, you would want to thank me. All of you would run from me, just like how I want to run away from here.
It tasted wrong, this beer, he had much harder stuff in the past and his tongue could tell, he was used to the dregs that were pulled together from a dozen different liquors combined into a horrible witches brew, effective though.
"I left when I was eighteen." He stretched himself slowly out of the seat, hearing more creaking and popping than a man his young and vibrant age should ever hear from an abused body. And as he tipped his hat to the gentleman, he spoke quite softly and chuckled, "Crazy how life gets away from you, one second you're a whole man, the next your blasted to bits with your heart going crazy. I'm glad I left all those years ago, and now, I'm leaving again. I'm going to find myself a quiet place, far away from everything in this world. And I'm going to make some new memories while I forgot all of the ones I have spent a life making.
-xx-
After his short sojourn in New York he had climbed aboard the trains and ridden from the top of the East Coast to the tip of the South, It was a great journey that month. One of his favorites, he was able to experience the taste and flavor of dozens of little villages, places that no one ever visited.
On the journey back up he had stopped to visit the Croatan Forest, nestled at the entrance of the Goose Creek. He supposed that after years of desert vistas and sand stuck in every crevice of his belongings, even stuck in the planes of his skin, with all that time in the desert it was only natural to desire to be surrounded by trees, to see the beauty of the Earths towering greens and blues, to feel moisture in his lungs.
And it was here that he put down his roots, the Town of New Bern, and he opened up his business. And no one asked to much about his backstory, they saw the outside signs, and that told them all they needed to know, he would be part of the community, but unless he choose- he would be left alone.
Those next 8 months were the most boring of his entire life, but in all honestly, Its been the thing I have crave my whole life.
I don't have to pretend to feel anything here.
This is the home I have searched my life for.
-xx-
"It's been ten months!" Henry yelled at the computer! "I know he is out there, and I can find him but where is he?!" IF anyone had taken up the search of Killian Jones with a vehemence in the Charming Family- it was Henry. He even surpassed his mother- Emma- who though involved was still in the process of figuring out magic and what it meant to be the Savior, and trying to fix everyone else to even focus all her time on her happy ending.
Henry had searched every book in the Authors library, who though helpful with many things, couldn't even begin to tell you what had happened to the pirate as what had happened was no longer under the writers jurisdiction. It broke the rules was the idea, so their was no magic fixation.
Henry had also been searching with all the newspapers and precincts in New York, which was more than any child should have time. But everything was a dead end, there were no clues other than what Robin had given him previously.
A description of what the Captain looked like in the time they had spent together, and the conversations they had had. They had even finally gotten every bit of information out of Belle and Regina over what had transpired and what they had given Killian.
Which had brought up whole affair between the three woman in regards to their partners, it had started with huge fights- magic everywhere, dents on the yellow bug, fires and what not and ended in the 3 collapsed into each other crying over the heartbreak all had experienced.
They had gave everything to support Emma as she searched for Hook now, especially since they learned of what Emma concluded.
"Whenever you two have happiness, mine disappears, and when you lose yours- I have mine. Don't you see, one of us s always doomed to darkness and sadness and all those stupid things that come with Happily Ever After."
Henry was bound and determined; no one in his family would end up hopeless. And if Henry believed, you knew something was bound to happen.
Charming who supervised the entire affair at the police station, finally had an idea of what to do.
"Henry, I don't remember any other time in Hooks life when he liked to stay where he was. Maybe he isn't in New York. We need to broaden our search."
-xx-
"I know it seems like a huge affair, but once we widened our search two weeks ago we have come across a lot of possibilities." David was pointing over a bulletin map of the United States where there were hundred of pin dots.
"David, no, there is no way that I can put myself through all of that to find him, and even If I do and I find him I know he won't know who I am! I have to accept he is gone, and move on."
She was shocked back into place as David towered above her with the most disappointed solemnity she had ever experienced; she was prepared for his yelling and his anger, but the whispered voice of disheartenment an sadness was more than Emma ever expected.
"He crossed realms for you and he searched through millions of people, he never gave up on you even though you didn't remember him anyway, that man has done more for you than any man should have to put himself through. He never complained, and now when it comes to your turn, you never even give him a chance."
As David got up and left the police station he turned at the door and told Emma the words she had feared for herself ever since Gold had returned to town with his Mariachi band of Disney Villains.
"Maybe you don't deserve True Love- because it takes a hell of a lot more than hat you are willing to give Emma, it requires you to give everything. And if you can't do that- you don't deserve True Love. But that's okay; millions of people have happy lives without it. You just have to choose what you are willing to do for a Happy Ending."
As he left and turned and walked out she heard his final whisper, meant only for himself: " God knows Killian would do anything for your Happy Ending, even when it's not him."
With the stunned silence she was left in the Sheriff Savior-of the World of Fairy Tale nightmares and shenanigans- contemplated her two options. She could either get angry or beat this into a pulp or she could sob and let al of this escape and finally get a move on with her life.
And Swan was never more successful than when she was moved by anger, it made her…. Effective.
8 hours later she presented Henry and her family with the board in a new format, everything that was not a town connected to the ocean was removed, as well as the environments that Killian Jones was never found of. She had assumed distance with what Killian would be comfortable doing, and she now had honed down to 12 possible Captain Hooks. One of those being a man residing in New Bern North Carolina, he fit the description, and Emma was a pro at finding people- especially those who were avoiding her.
"I'm going to find him, and he is going to remember me so when I punch him in the face he will know exactly why."
-xx-
"Can you tell me where I can find this man?" She showed the picture that Henry had taken, what felt like years ago. It was of Henry and Killian on a sailing boat, Killian confused by the object and Henry ecstatic with the fun use of a selfie while sailing with an ancient pirate.
What kid could say that was how they spent their free time.
She was on her number 7 man, and she was starting to become more dejected in her search than fueled by anger, and as much as she hated it, she was really missing Storybrooke, a thought echoed by her mother. Her one companion for this trip, she almost had begun to wish she had invited the hormone induced Evil Queen instead of her eternally hopeful mother.
"Well, that looks rather like James, he owns a restaurant in town. But James isn't really a fan of going out on the water, and he definitely doesn't dress like that." The old woman was giving a look to Emma that could be easily be read as I would love to know how you know this man though and why you are looking for him. Gossip, the only thing keeping old woman in small towns from killing their husbands.
"Where is this restaurant?" It was hopeful again. She could never stop her heart lately from getting hopeful lately at any idea that was given by anyone of this possibly being her pirate. But it was only so many times she could have her heart crushed from it not being him, again.
They were directed to a rather large restaurant, with mostly open air seating and when you entered inside it was rather quaint where the bar really was the main focus and the seating was close and comfortable, definitely a place built for couples and families, and beginning meetings of strangers to be induced to get to know each other better, while luxuriating in the drinks from the bar.
It was rather Ironic to Emma that it was name The Hungering Heart.
She and Mary Margret grabbed seats at the Bar, good timing as it was Six o' clock and with the people that had begun to gather in, it looked like it would be crowded.
A younger than he looked college student slid up to them from the backroom and grabbed their orders, a conversation directed mostly by Mary Margret as Emma was particularly busy with looking through the faces for anything familiar.
"Hey, Joshua!" So that had to be her servers name by his quick reaction. "Where is Collins? I have a few people asking about renting this place out for a party next week?" The voice saying these things came from a short, homely teen, probably a senior in High school, and from the looks she was giving Joshua- crushed in her heart with her love for him but knowing he would never feel the same.
"He was brining up last nights shipment of drinks into the backroom. Excuse me, I will put this order in while I talk with the boss."
Both Mary Margret and Emma had their eyes glued to that door to see who Joshua would com out of it with, Emma knew that by the black spots appearing her vision- that breath would be required from her body or she would not get the opportunity to see who this both was.
But it was knocked out of her, any desire to breathe ever again, or to even contemplate what was required of living when He walked through those doors.
Robin was right when he said he was different and Emma was shocked by his new look. It was him, the pirate she was in love, but hidden underneath this cool collected business man who was obviously very comfortable in the modern world.
A cold draft of air hit her could then when his eyes passed right over them with smiles and greetings of politeness, a man who had no idea who they were. No idea who she was.
Of what she used to mean to this man.
And he had no idea of just how much he meant to her.
Because in all of this- he had forgotten her, forgotten how much he loved her, and also forgotten everything in his long life that created the way he loved her. He was the same man from the outside, but she knew that everything on the inside was wiped away, a clean slate.
Without the pain of her etched into its fragile glass.
She was going to need a lot to drink tonite.