Hell Hath No Fury Like the Devil Scorned

Chapter Two

Henry finally came down from the loft to open up to his family about what was really bothering him and now that the heroes have decided they were going to do what they could to figure out what it was Hades had gone through the trouble of hiding from them, both of the teenager's mothers and Snow White sat down with him in the living room to talk more about what David had gotten him to open up about. Now that it was more in the open, it wasn't so hard for the boy to talk with them as well.

Meanwhile, the Prince and Robin stayed in the kitchen to make them all something for dinner thanks to the food and supplies they had purchased in town, since they weren't too keen on going to Granny's so long as they remained in the Underworld and it was run by the Blind Witch.

Killian on the other hand had other things on his mind and since he had shared all he could in regard to his brother's actions and what little he knew about Hades, he chose this time to leave the Charmings' apartment in order to be alone for a little while, to find the closure he needed to move on from the pain he was still struggling with despite Emma's comfort and reassurance. The Savior saw him step out and was torn between wanting to go after him and staying behind with her son, who also needed her to be there for him right now.

Thankfully, David also saw him leave and quickly looked towards his daughter as he nodded by way of assuring her that he would go after the pirate, who had somehow managed to grow on all of them. Watching Hook die nights earlier had shaken him more than he ever thought was possible, especially since it took him the longest to see the good man Killian had truly become. Robin took over for him, while David grabbed his jacket and pulled it on, then followed after their friend.

He lost Hook briefly, but it wasn't long before Charming found him again thanks to having a pretty good idea what was troubling him. When he did, the pirate Captain was kneeling down above his brother's tombstone which was now tipped over as Liam's name faced upwards and Killian was tracing his hand over the letters carved into the stone.

"He has moved on you know," David said gently while he walked up behind the older man so as to not startle him. "You told Emma as such and Regina told Snow a tombstone tipped over means that who it belongs to has moved on to a better place. Your brother's at peace, thanks to you."

"Hardly," Killian uttered dejectedly, without rising or even looking back at the man standing over him. "He saved himself because he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect me from Hades' wrath. But nevertheless, you're right. It appears he is finally at peace."

When Hook finally rose back to his feet, the Prince kept his eyes trained on his friend while he asked out of concern, "How are you holding up?"

Killian glanced towards Emma's father when he stepped past him and responded, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Yes, you do," Charming replied as he immediately laid his hand down on Killian's shoulder to keep him from walking away from him. "Hook… you just lost your brother again for the second time. I can only imagine how hard this is for you, especially given the circumstances."

"Aye," the Captain answered despondently when he finally looked David in his eyes when he turned around to face him and offered him a fake smile. "At least I got to say goodbye to him this time."

David nodded and then responded, "Yet you don't seem to be feeling any better than before, even though you've finally received closure after all these years. What's really bothering you?"

When Killian didn't say anything after he turned away again and started walking among the tombstones as he carefully read each name that he passed, David tried to read his friend while he continued, "I'm guessing this has something to do with all you've spoken to Emma about. She told me you've been struggling to believe you're worthy enough to return with us. You're wrong."

"I know you're only trying to help, mate," Hook scoffed out of frustration, then stopped as he turned around to face the younger man again and David remained quiet so that the pirate could speak his mind. "But you needn't worry about me. I'll be just fine. I do trust Emma and all of you to do what you can for me. Believe me, I wish with all my heart to be able to live my life… a new life, with her. After the sacrifices you've all made to come down here to save me, I will do everything I can to help you succeed so we can return home. Perhaps it is possible for me to. And I hope I deserve it, as I've told Emma as such. It's just… I have lived my life shamefully. After our father abandoned Liam and me, my adoration and devotion fell on my brother and I made him feel like he had to be the perfect brother and father because it was how I suddenly saw him. I was young and foolish. I forced too much responsibility on his shoulders and it eventually caused him to make that deal with Hades, which in turn condemned his soul here in this hell for the centuries I only thought of myself and my lust for revenge. Liam could have been Captain long before he was were it not for me. He could have been a free man far sooner. His death was my fault, as were the men's deaths we once sailed with long ago, because I was weak. And now, after giving into the darkness in seconds and nearly condemning you all here too, for the sake of revenge… How do I just forget and live a life I'm not really sure I do deserve despite Emma's and Liam's belief in me? I understand why Emma's here even if it was reckless. She loves me. But why have the rest of you come here, for me of all people? I want to forgive myself for everything I've ever done, but I don't know how."

"By continuing to allow Emma and the rest of us to help you recognize what we all see in you," the Prince replied sincerely. "You've come a long way, Hook. And the fact that you're hating yourself because of your mistakes, deserved or not, shows that you're not the pirate and villain you were when we all first met you. You're not. Because you feel remorse. I remember telling you back in Neverland that I would make sure you never get Emma because of what you were. I take back what I said. I recognize now that you've made our daughter believe in herself better than any of us have ever been able to do. I'm glad you're in her life and have come to be a part of ours. That's why we've all come down here. To bring you home where you belong."

Killian stared at him with surprise until he spoke again saying, "I'm not exactly sure how to respond except… I appreciate that, David. Truly."

Charming smiled and then answered, "I know you do."

"Was there someone else down here you were looking for?" he then asked again as Killian continued to search the names engraved into the tombstones surrounding them.

"I fear there is someone else, who's also been trapped here because of me," Hook responded regretfully upon coming to the one with the name of the man he had murdered because he abandoned him well over two hundred years ago.

David glanced down at the stone standing upright and unbroken as he replied, "Brennan Jones. Your father?"

The Captain nodded without looking away from it and whispered, "Aye. I told myself then it was so the Evil Queen would see I was the ruthless pirate she wanted me to be so that I could kill Cora for her. I was only fooling myself. I killed him because I hated him. He's still down here somewhere. I feared he might be. I'm not sure how to face him, but I have to help him move on as Liam did… if I can."

"We'll help you find him," Charming replied assuredly. "Do you have any idea where we can begin to look for him?"

"If we can find the Jolly Roger, I have something that will help us locate him," Killian answered. "But that can wait until morning. It's late, and surely Emma and your wife are missing us. It's time we get back."