Killian regretted the moment he took her onto his ship, Emma had never been on a ship in her life and certainly couldn't survive on a pirate one. Right now that didn't matter, Saving Emma did. He ran to the extended plank on his ship and irrationally dove in after her. The waves were beginning to get rougher as the storm enhanced, which made they harder to swim over. He could see Emma continuously sinking in the water. She looked almost unconscious so it was comforting to see her arms were still thrashing above the water. He swam rapidly to make it to Emma before she was pulled fully underneath.
He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her upright, keeping her head straight so she wouldn't drown, a minute later she would have disappeared beneath the water. "Emma, Love," he yelled over the crashing waves and closing in thunder clouds "where's the bean?" When she didn't respond in any way he tried shaking her lightly to make sure she hadn't fallen unconscious "Emma? Emma pay attention, this is important. If you don't feel like dying just yet, then tell me where you put the bean."
Emma stirred in his arms, only half aware on what was going on, the bitter cold gripping her was enough to make her blackout. "Killian?" she spoke, reassuring herself that he was actually there. As she did so she felt him grasp on to her tighter and somehow she felt safer in his company then she ever had with anyone. She had enough energy to reach out and brush the small black pouch attached to her blue pants.
Killian followed her gesture and realised what she was indicating. He untied the pouch whilst still holding Emma protectively close. "Okay, sweetheart, we're going to do a bit of travelling." He pulled the bean out of the pouch and threw it several feet into the water.
The ocean opened out into a massive spiral portal, Killian's ship was sliding into it first, a bit like the Bermuda triangle. Emma felt her unresponsive, freezing cold body being pulled toward it by Killian.
The last thing she seen before she blacked out was him reaching the edge of the portal. She could only hope he knew what he was doing.
Killian's ship bobbed softly in the ocean. They reached Neverland safely. It was just as he remembered it, perhaps even better.
The sand was soft and warm around his body as he lay in the position in which he had landed in. It was almost enough to make him stay there but a sudden realisation washed over him. What happened to Emma.
During the journey through the portal, they were separated. He assumed she landed near enough to him but as he sprang upward from the sand Emma was no where to be seen. It was possible she ran of when she realised they had landed. She had a son to find and did really only need Killian to take her there and back again.
After rising to his feet he realised that his clothes were surprisingly dry considering the splash in the water. Before leaving to explore his home he decided to put an attempt toward finding Emma. If she didn't run of and just happened to land somewhere else then it would be better to tell her he tried then didn't bother whatsoever.
Emma awoke drastically, gasping for air. The last memory in her head was a massive blur, the last thing she remembered was arguing with a very clingy Killian on his ship and she fell, she was in the water, well underneath the water if anything.
She pushed herself up from the ground to take in her surroundings. She was in a forest and not to far from her was a sandy beach surrounded by the ocean, glistening brighter then any ocean she had ever seen. That's when it occurred to her "Oh, this must be Neverland." She breathed.
Finally realising where she was, the memory of what had happened earlier began to come back to her. She was drowning and Killian risked his life to save her. Emma was dumbfounded that he, a pirate, would even bother to save her, especially after their past. She recalled the words he'd spoken to her on the beanstalk, the whole trust speech. Maybe, just maybe, he did deserve to be trusted.
Her eyes darted around the area searching for Killian. He had completely disappeared. She walked out of the forest to inspect the beach. The beach went on forever, both ways. Even if Killian wasn't far away she would never find him, Neverland was a completely new world to her and he had left her there to figure it out herself. There was no other conclusion, he may have saved her life but he also abandoned her and Emma didn't no why that bothered her so much. Killian leaving her felt like a massive weight had started crushing her.
Emma made her way over to the shore and sat down beside the water. She scooped up a handful of water and splashed it over her face. She had no idea how long she had been out for. Her clothes were bone dry so she could possible have been there for hours.
In the distance she saw a redheaded woman swimming deep in the ocean. The woman waved over to Emma and she felt herself waving back. She picked a piece of threading on her blue top as she thought of her next plan of action. Save Henry no matter the consequences, find fairydust to get home and then find Killian and kick his ass for leaving her unconscious and alone in the woods.
A young woman's voice startled her and she looked up to meet the eyes of the redhead that was swimming in the distance. She lay in the water infront of Emma and propped her head in her hands, A long green tail caught Emma's attention as it swished the shallow water. "Hello." She chimed sweetly.
Emma took note of the tale and subtly smiled to herself "You're a mermaid."
"Last time I checked, yeah." She smiled in unison with Emma "I'm Ariel?"
"Ariel?" she repeated surprised, "Of course you are. I'm Emma."
Two other mermaids swam silently up to Ariel. The one on her right, mostly violet in colour with a tinge of purple hair watched Emma with curiosity, shared with suspicion and evil. The other one, with the red tale was whispering something to Ariel.
"So sorry, I have to go." Ariel apologised, but something occurred to Emma making her think she was apologising for something entirely different. "I wish you luck on you journey." She smiled wearily at Emma and swam away.
The violet coloured mermaid pushed herself up on her arms so her face was in level with hers. "Who are you?" she asked, obviously enhancing the bitterness in her voice.
"Emma Swan. What's it to you?" she snapped at the ill-mannered mermaid.
"Swan? That would explain your necklace." She observed. "I'm Ebony, that's April, she doesn't speak to humans."
Before Emma could react the mermaid tore the necklace harshly from her neck. "Hey!" Emma exclaimed, clutching her chest where the necklace originally sat "Give that back."
"Or what?" Ebony mocked.
Emma thrust a hand out for the silver object the mermaid held in her clutches. Ebony threw the necklace to the other mermaid. Emma made another grab for it but April didn't hesitate to launch into the sand somewhere on the beach.
"You little-" Emma cursed, turning to collect it.
She was stopped abruptly by Ebony grabbing her wrist forcefully. Emma had enough of the vile creatures and swung for it. She never even made contact with it because Ebony had pulled her into the water.
Ebony sent April ahead to alert the underworld of mermaids that another prisoner was arriving. Luckily for Emma she was being pulled only slightly underneath the water, giving her the opportunity to take sharp breaths every few times. She tried to reach the dagger in her boot but it was ineffective. Emma kicked up again to gasp for air when she noticed a rock sticking out of the water. As they passed, Emma grabbed a death grip on the jagged rock and launched herself out of the water and on to the top of the rock. She only managed to get a few deep breaths before Ebony dove from the water and took a firm grip on her ankle. Emma used her other foot to kick the mermaids hand away. Ebony fell from her ankle and began to slip back into the ocean until she felt herself being painfully pulled back out by her hair.
"What have I done to you?" Emma asked breathlessly.
"Mermaids are lonely, Swan." She answered bitterly "We don't care who we hurt in the process of recruitment."
"Recruitment?"
Ebony turned her face from Emma in effort to stop herself answering. "We don't just randomly kill people, its usually only pirates. They're easy victim. Well most of them. We took this pirate once, capturing him ended in many mermaids deaths." She frowned "If it wasn't for that damn Hook of his he never would have got away."
"Hook? You mean Killian Jones?" Saying his name made the corners of her mouth surprisingly curve into a smile, as much as she tried to repress it.
Ebony felt Emma's grip in her lighten and her smile at the mention of the pirate's name gave her a slight edge in pulling her under again. "Do you like him?" she asked.
"I wouldn't say, like." Emma snapped remembering the desertion.
"But you have feelings for him don't you. Mermaids have great perception you see, Swan. And I can see…..abandonment, a shared loss, a friendship, and of course…Love" Ebony continued to crawl up the rock as far as she could. Her hand snaked up the top and grasped and large rock.
"I don't feel like that." She said softly with doubt in her voice.
"That's a lie, Swan." She laughed before forcefully pounding the rock to the side on Emma's head.
Emma felt her hands come in contact with top of the rock she had been sitting on. Anger pounder in her and she reached into her boot and pulled out the spare dagger she kept and pressed the blade to the mermaid's neck. "Let me go, leave me alone and you can swim away."
Ebony chuckled slightly and thrashed uselessly and the blade "Mermaids don't back down." She snapped.
Emma didn't want to kill the girl, but it really was a matter of her or Ebony. "Then this is your fault." She choked. She twisted the blade around and smashed the end against Ebony's head. A hand grabbed Emma's shoulder and she shot around looking for the source. Who the hell had found there way to the middle of the ocean? She turned with the blade pointed out but before she had the chance to use it, it was painfully kicked from her grasp.
"I see you killed my mermaid" The hovering boy stated "That's pretty rude."
"Rude!" Emma screamed "What I did to her was nothing. She momentarily unconscious, that…thing tried to kill me for no god damn reason. So please tell me how I am rude?"
"Calm down." The boy laughed "I'm Peter."
"Emma." She sighed, realising she had another swim in the water to get back to land. "Looks like I'm in for another swim."
"Well, no." he smiled weakly "I can help you over."
"How do you suppose you do that?"
"Lady, did you not see I could fly." He joked, jumping into the air again and holding a hand out for Emma.
"Yep, fine." She answered exasperated and grabbed the boy's hand. If the story had been correct, mentioning to Peter that she had been travelling with Captain Hook wouldn't exactly be safe.
Killian had been walking along the beach for approximately 10 minutes and no sign of Emma. He was on the verge of giving up when a glint of silver on the ground caught his eye. Once he picked up the object he realised it was the little swan necklace Emma wore, it had been ripped from her. He observed the mermaids swimming in the distance, If Emma was stupid enough to associate with them then she was already as good as dead.
He clutched the necklace in his hand feeling a pan of anger and worry. He ran to the shore line and yelled "Ariel." about 3 times before the mermaid met him at the shore.
"Killian. You're back?" she gasped
"Yes, but no time for social niceties I'm afraid, Love. Where's my friend?" he demanded harshly.
"You mean the Emma girl? I don't know, Killian, sorry."
He bent down and grabbed the mermaid's shoulders "This isn't the time to lie to me, Princess. How many prisoners have you captured today?"
Ariel stuttered, trying to think quickly "I, uh, none." Killian gave her a vicious stare "I mean it. Ebony was supposed to be escorting a prisoner back but she returned without a prisoner and mild concussion."
Killian raised an eyebrow and smirked "Well that does sound like Emma." He raised again and dropped Ariel from his grasp "I hope you're right. Send word I'm looking for her, make sure she is brought back to me. Alive." With that Killian left the baffled mermaid who began to spread the message.
"Time to find my Swan." He muttered amused by the wording.
Emma landed rather softly on the ground in front of a large tree "Thanks, uh, flyboy" she muttered
"Peter." He corrected, dismissing the nickname "We don't have adults in Neverland. Are you sure you're not a pirate?" Peter asked suspiciously.
"You know, a friend of mine once told me I'd make a good pirate, I'm not a pirate, but I'd be pretty damn good at it." she replied smugly.
"You would make a good lost boy to, well lost girl." Peter grinned, satisfied by his answer. Before Emma could answer, Tinkerbell landed delicately on his shoulder and whispered soft words in his ear. "Hook's back?" Peter gasped
Emma's eyes lit up radically "Where?" she interrupted, far too enthusiastically for the boy's taste.
Tinkerbell ignored the pushy woman and continued whispering "The east beach?" he repeated her words as his head dropped to the direction to the beach, luckily a different one from which those damn mermaids had attacked her in. "Assemble the lost boys, Me and Emma here will fend him of in the mean time. You can use your pirating skills."
Emma nodded reluctantly as her once enthused expression dropped. Never had she thought as child that she would be setting out the save Captain Hook's life from Peter Pan. A sigh left her lips and she followed Peter, realising the beach was closer then she thought.
Standing on the soft sand yet again, she watched Peter circle the area waiting for Killian to appear. In which time the lost boys were assembled and hidden in the trees and bushes with there bows and daggers. Emma stood at the opposite side of the beach, looking out into the ocean whilst Peter stood his ground by the surrounding trees packed with dangerous children. Dammit Killian, stop making so many enemies, she thought, sighing and kicking the sand beneath her feet.
As if in reply she felt two comforting arms snake around her waist and she was drawn in to a warm body. "Looking for me, love?" the voice whispered in her ear.
Emma felt the need to turn and face him but the comfort of having him pressed against her made that odd smile from earlier sneak up again. "Hello again, Killian." She tried sounding confident but hearing it aloud it was just a whisper that matched his.
"Happy to see me again?" he asked as the smugness radiated from him.
Spinning round to speak to him face to face, she found herself relatively close. His bluer then blue eyes were almost hypnotising her. No, Emma stop. She scalded herself. Pirates and Princesses don't work. "You abandoned me in the first place." She retorted, almost teasing.
"No I did not, we landed in different places and actually I though you'd gone without me, darling?"
"I see you missed me, then?" she mocked, indicating to the arms that held her against him.
"Yes, because my life is nothing without the company of Emma Swan." He responded sarcastically. He unexpectedly pulled her in closer and whispered "I see you've switched sides?"
Killian's breath brushed against her lips as he spoke, leaving her momentarily paused, and taking in the scent of sea salt that surrounded him. "What? No." she answered confused. Finally speaking she realised what he was talking about. A hoard of children were making there way toward them with loaded weapons.
"Now, I'm not one to run away from children, Sweetheart, but I think you would disapprove of me damaging the small ones. Am I right?"
Emma gave him a –what do you think- look and Killian's arms fell from her waist as he pulled her around the back of him and into the forest.
"I guess you should probably run now, Emma." He warned.
Emma began running in a separate direction from Killian and he wandered where she was going "Emma?" he called, but when she didn't respond he chased after her and grabbed her hand, pulling away from that direction.
"What are you doing?" she snapped, being dragged in the opposite direction in which she wanted to go.
"No offence, Love, but you have never been to Neverland and therefore don't have a clue where you are going."
Emma wanted to react with something smart but the fact that he had turned out to be right made her mute encase she happened to embarrass herself.
Killian pulled her up to a small cabin and launched inside, pushing Emma in first. The confusion showed up on her face and Killian couldn't help but smile "It's mine. I didn't break in. I use to stay here sometimes when I had business transactions to complete." He offered an explanation. Emma ceased looking around and Killian casually strolled over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist again "So where were we previously?" he teased.
"Oh yeah." Emma leaned in teasingly and whispered "You were going to tell me why you accused me of switching sides?" she smiled sarcastically, backing out of his arms.
"Well the evidence was pretty conclusive, wasn't it, Emma?" he answered almost bitterly.
"Right, because I was going to group up with a bunch of children to kill the guy who is my only way of finding my son." She growled
Killian fell out of mood to challenge her. "Sleep here tonight and we'll find Henry in the morning, it's dangerous to leave just now."
To her own surprise she found herself agreeing. She found a single room with a bed and threw herself on top of it. She and Killian would have to share again but it turned out for the best last time.
She was quickly drifting of after such a long and complicated day and it was only going to get worse from then on. Restlessly she squirming underneath the covers, Killian hadn't appeared yet, the last time she heard him was when he left the cabin without a word. Not that she bothered, Pirates could look after themselves.
A soft hand took hold of her shoulder and pulled her onto her back. Alarmed, she rose from the bed. "Killian what are you doing?" she sighed relieved.
Killian sat beside her on the bed "I forgot to tell you earlier, but," he pushed a hand into his pocket and pulled the swan pendant on a new chain "It was broken so I fixed it."
"You found it." Emma gasped
"Yes I did." he opened the clip of the chain and reached around her neck to clip it back on.
Emma was entranced by his eyes, which never lost contact with hers as he continued applying the necklace. His lips were now dangerously close to her own, and he kept leaning closer. Neither of them moved after the pendant was back in place and Killian felt the need to fill the last few inches that kept their lips apart. Emma remembered the words pirates and princess don't work but those words felt like a million miles south now as Killian's soft sweet tasting lips were gently caressing her own.
A small pixie dressed head to toe in black flew through the window of Regina's palace.
"Did they make it?" Regina questioned anxiously "Have they made it to Neverland."
"They got into a bit of trouble." The little pixie giggled and flew ecstatically around the room until Regina caught it in her hand.
"What happened? How are they?" she snapped, anger causing her to clamp her fist tighter around the pixie.
"Emma took a plunge into the deep and the pirate went to her rescue." She answered in that high pitched voice.
"Are they okay?" she demanded
"Yes. They made it to Neverland safely." She giggled once again and Regina, having enough if the little creatures, stormed toward the window and launched it out. The fairy sprung it's wings and flew from sight.
Regina sighed, partly fed up and partly relived. She twirled round to see Snow standing alone once again, dressed in her tanned hunting clothes and a bow strapped to her back. "Snow? What are you doing in my palace?"
Rejecting her question she walked in the direction of Regina and asked "The pirate?"
Regina's expression dropped as she realised what Snow was asking.
"You did not send my daughter of with Hook of all people, people tell me you didn't."
"It's safe enough I swear to you. Pirates will help anyone if they're getting something in return."
"What's he getting?"
"I've given him the ability to take hearts, permanently this time."
"What?! You sent my daughter away with someone who can take hearts."
"He wont take Emma's and I had no other choice. Emma couldn't make it to or around Neverland without him and Hook has dealt with Cora before."
"Yes and now that Cora's after him, what an opportunity to take her heart give it to Cora to control and kill us all." Snow ranted breathlessly. "Get him BACK."
"I can't," she gasped "I have no more beans and even if I did you need to be in the middle of the sea to get there."
Snow withdrew a white bean from her pocket and held it out to Regina "Here, there's a space of land and your magic can get us there."
"You're being ridiculous. Hook won't take Emma's heart."
"Think about it." Snow pushed.
"I'm not saying I believe you, but just in case, lets go."
Regina grabbed Snow's hand and a haze of purple smoke shrouded them. Regina being used to the transport she used, she realised Snow did not. As the travelling itself may not be bumpy, it really messed up your head on the first few time.
Once they landed firmly in the solid ground, snow tried to shake the feeling of nausea clouding her. "How do you travel like that, It hurts."
Regina smiled amused "Yes, the first few time can be slightly painful but you learn to get over it and once you do it's very effective."
"I'll take your word for it." She shrugged "So, how do you use the bean?"
"Toss it to the centre of the ground, a portal will open up and you hop in, and just for a –just so you know- it's much worse then my method."
"Good to know." She said sarcastically.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure?" Snow said, feeling cautious at the seriousness in her voice.
"Do you miss that other world?"
"Sometimes, I didn't like the cursed part," Snow glared, earning an apologetic smile from Regina "But yeah, sometimes I prefer it to here, not always though."
Regina nodded and decided to say nothing more on the subject "Well, the bean." She threw the bean into the centre of the ground and just like she said, a massive portal opened up.
Authors Note: Hey, sorry about delaying updating but I've got a bit of the flu. But hey, I like to keep productive. Thank you for the reviews again, it's great to know people's opinions on the story. x