Of Tainted Stars
Chapter 4:

9 months ago:

"You're beautiful, luv." Killian whispered, lying down next to Emma on the suite's queen size bed. He grinned, relishing how peaceful and beautiful her slumbering face looked. Just gazing at that face and seeing its serenity had filled him with an indescribable feeling, one he dreaded losing. So much so that he had lain in silence, gazing at his wife's face for close to ten minutes nearly every morning the past few weeks.

It wasn't until now, the next to last day of their honeymoon, that he realized what it was he feared losing. It wasn't, he assumed at first, losing Emma - with everything they'd been through for each other and the lengths they went to be together, nothing would ever separate them. Of that he was certain. But what then was the fear tinging the love he felt gazing at his love's slumbering face?

It was, he realized with a jolt, fear that this peace his wife could finally enjoy after all the battles she fought as the savior, could disappear. That it would fade once they returned to Storybrooke and Emma returned to worrying about the possibility of some new villain attacking or something going wrong. Though the great evil that Emma had been destined to fight was gone, she still worried about 'what if.' What if some new villain decides to attack Storybrooke or something goes wrong in the Enchanted Forest that affects them or their loved ones?

All those battles Emma had fought as the savior had instilled a kneedling worry in her, and the past few weeks had worked as a respite for Emma, allowing her to truly relax and enjoy life. Killian couldn't help wondering if returning to Storybrooke would erase the true serenity he saw in his wife's sleeping face. He briefly entertained the thought of asking her if they should move from Storybrooke, perhaps travel the world in his ship, and just live in the now without worry. But he knew she would never agree - even if they traveled extensively, she would always want to return to Storybrooke.

"...how long are you going to just keep watching me sleep?" Emma mumbled, opening her eyes and smiling. She chuckled at the surprised look Killian gave.

"...how long have you been awake?"

"Long enough to know you think I'm beautiful." Emma teased and kissed her husband. "And that you ordered room service."

"Aye, on both accounts." Killian kissed her back, a bit embarrassed that his wife had been awake nearly the whole time he'd been gazing at her. "You could've let me know you were awake, luv. We could've spent the last quarter hour doing something we both would enjoy." He teased and kissed her again more fervently, his hand cuddling her back and bringing her closer.

"I find the idea of you watching me sleep enjoyable." Emma replied between kisses, cradling her arms around Killian's neck. "That's why I let you think I was asleep longer each morning for the past twelve days."

"You knew...?" Killian shook his head, feeling foolish yet still smiling. Though he was slightly embarrassed, he reveled in the fact that Emma hadn't fooled him the whole time.

Emma smiled and started to kiss him again more sensuously, when a knock on the suite door interrupted them. "...I'm guessing that's room service."

"No need to stop, luv. This is the honeymoon suite, I'm sure they are well aware what..." The knocking continued, louder than before and more persistent. Enough that it dampened the mood. Killian grimaced and stood up, annoyed. "Bloody hell! I'll just go tell them to bugger off." He said while slipping on a pair of trousers.

"Wait, I'll..."

"Hey. I know you're in there, Emma." The person knocking called out from behind the door, his voice surprising both occupants into silence. "I need your help."

"That...that sounds like..." Killian mumbled, furrowing his brow.

"Yes. It does." Emma quickly threw on her night robe and tied it closed, before heading to answer the door, Killian beside her. As she swung it open, she felt confused and worried and alarmed.

Storybrooke, Present day:

Gold held his son in his arms as Gideon drifted off to sleep. He kissed the top of the toddler's head before laying him down in the crib, being careful not to wake him up. It had been exhausting taking care of the rambunctious three year old, more so since he couldn't use magic to fix his limp or to keep Gideon from getting hurt.

The three year old was always searching for more things to get into and explore, especially if it involved climbing onto things or knocking stuff over. Knowing that there were too many dangerous things Gideon could get into at his shop, Gold had decided to watch him at home while Belle finished her shopping.

"Sleep tight." Gold whispered as he tucked in his son. He smiled at the boy, his mind distracted from all his recent obsession with regaining magic by old memories of his first son. Though he felt almost lost without magic, for the past few weeks whenever he took care of Gideon, he felt nostalgic. Baelfire as a toddler had been almost as energetic as Gideon, and Gold couldn't help comparing his experiences as a first time father to his experiences now.

Not that things were much different - the curse that was draining magic from Storybrooke, left him a cripple raising a son. It was uncanny, the similarity, though there were plenty of differences too. The technology of this world made things easier even without magic for starters. On top of that, he had Belle who was more supportive than Milah had ever been.

Gold sighed and limped back towards the kitchen after making sure the baby monitor was turned on. When the magic-draining curse hit Storybrooke, and it was evident that it wasn't going to be easy to reverse, Belle had convinced him to buy a crib to keep downstairs at home. It was to make watching Gideon easier for him, and though Belle had considered it a nice way to show she still trusted him to be able to watch a rambunctious toddler, he disliked it. It was a reminder of his need for magic to not feel powerless.

"I will undo this curse." Gold muttered, his eyes darkening as they set on the groceries Belle had bought earlier. Leaning on his cane, he studied one of the jars of food. There was nothing particularly interesting about it, except the traces of magic he detected from it. He silently picked it up, observing it, his lips twitching. "Someone used magic to fix this..."

His eyes narrowed, lips pulled taut as he mulled things over - he already had an idea of who the magic-user was: the stranger Belle had mentioned. Alessia. The woman who had helped to stop Gideon from getting hurt, according to Belle, and who Belle had invited over sometime as thanks.

"It seems I should go thank this Alessia in person."

The sky overhead was partly overcast, though it just made the sun rays that did shine through seem brighter. And the greenery surrounding her was peaceful. Not that one could tell by her furrowed brow and clenched jaw.

"Come on." Alessia mumbled, following after the letter the tailor had given her to deliver. She had briefly considered checking the town census for a Lorkhan, but dismissed it. There wasn't anyone by that name in Storybrooke, at least she'd never heard of someone having that name - neither here, in Storybrooke, nor in the Enchanted Forest.

The tailor had insisted that the man in question was in Storybrooke though, and that she would find him. Or rather that the letter would. Shrugging, she had proceeded to allow the letter to lead the way, under the assumption that the tailor meant it literally. The letter had borne traces of magic, though she couldn't pinpoint the nature exactly.

When she had allowed the letter to drift though, it had started toward a location she knew wasn't right. She had tensed and scowled, considering the possibility of a connection between the Lorkhan the letter was addressed to and the shop. That wasn't impossible. Yet...going to that shop and meeting with its owner was not something she could do.

She had nearly sighed in relief when the letter had suddenly drifted away from that shop, and she followed it quickly. It wasn't until she reached the forest trail that she recognized where it was leading her. The forested area where she'd arrived the morning before. Her furrowed brow deepened as the letter, floating until then, fell to the forest floor.

"Hello? Lorkhan? Are you around?" She called out after a moment, uncertain. She sensed something, but it was vague and brief. Sighing, she stepped forward to retrieve the letter, only to be cut off by a hooded figure appearing beside the letter. She blinked, tensing up cautiously. "...Lorkh-?"

"Shh." The hooded figure shushed her, complete with the finger to lip gesture, while his other hand tightly clenched a dagger. Alessia noticed it but remained silent, her heart thumping beneath her ribcage. Her eyes followed along as the figure picked up the letter, the way he moved familiar yet also somehow wrong. "...Jephre finally finished it? Took him long en..." The hooded man froze, his jaw clenching as he read the letter. His lips twitched and the next moment he let out a brief, mirthless laugh. "...so he thinks he knows my game, does he? Too bad. I have no patience for fools."

Lorkhan crumbled the note and then glanced up at Alessia, noting the mix of recognition and confusion in her eyes. His lips twitched, his eyes mirroring the same question as hers, albeit with less confusion. His hand twitched as he noticed her eyes trying to catch a glimpse of his face.

"...I suspected you'd be here, considering..." He said after a pause, tapping the dagger against his palm in thought, before sliding it into his belt beneath the cloak. Alessia listened quietly as the man mumbled, more to himself than to her. "You're not quite her though...or she's not quite you. Time...different birth order as well. Hm." Lorkhan brought his hand to his face, covering his mouth as he mulled things over. He was about to say more when the motor of an approaching vehicle could be heard. He tutted, then flicked his wrist before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Alessia gasped after the man vanished, then stumbled to her knees. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest as she took in a few deep breaths to settle herself.

"Hey! Are you all right?" The driver asked as he hurried towards Alessia, his eyes still wide and glancing towards where the hooded stranger had been. 'That was magic...'

"It did...it did make it back...it...I..." Alessia mumbled, oblivious to the driver even as he helped her up. She swallowed, steadying herself enough to stand. "I need to hurry. I need to..."

"Hey wait." The driver grabbed her arm as she started to head away, his voice finally reaching the young woman's ears. He drew in a breath as she turned, her chin and cheek bones striking in how familiar they seemed. "You..."

"Grand-papa." Alessia mumbled upon sight of the man, her face lit in recognition. The next moment her eyes widened as she realized her gaffe. Before the man could do more than gape 'what?' she teleported away in a puff of magic.