Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own them, I just play with them because it's fun.
Henry had been moaning and groaning since arriving home from school to the news they were having Neal over for dinner.
Fallon, reacting to her brother's mood, wore a sour expression when Neal arrived with a bottle of wine for the adults, sweet treats for Fallon and Henry, and a stuffed animal for Bradyn.
"Come in," Emma encouraged Neal when she stepped back to allow him into her home, "Killian took Bradyn to the market. He should be back shortly."
Max barked at their visitor, as he did to all strangers who entered the Jones home.
"It's okay, boy," Emma bent down to pat the dog's head, "Neal's an old friend."
"My papa be back soon," Fallon told the man, almost in a tattling voice, like she expected Killian to toss Neal out of the cottage the instant he arrived home.
"Hey, Dad," Henry shuffled from one foot to another, making the minimum amount of eye contact.
"Hi, Henry," Neal gave him a smile of longing. He was used to Henry hugging him every time they met up. Those times passed by a while ago, and he knew it was his fault.
"Have a seat," Emma ushered him towards the living room, "I have to keep an eye on dinner until Killian gets back."
"You're cooking?" Neal looked to her nervously.
"Killian's cooking," Emma smiled, "I'm watching the food until he gets back. There's a spice for the fish he's out of, which he likes to use. Apparently it's his secret ingredient, so I couldn't run to the store for him."
"Didn't know you two had secrets from each other," Neal replied.
"Just when it comes to fish. He takes cooking them very seriously," Emma's eyes lit up just talking about her husband. The sight turned Neal's stomach. If he hadn't been such an idiot, it might have been him to cause her current glow.
Fallon stayed close to her mother while Henry made small talk with Neal. The young girl was almost marking her father's territory. Emma wouldn't admit it, but she found it adorable.
Killian returned from his quick errand. Bradyn was giggling away at something Killian was telling him.
Neal had to look away when Emma greeted Killian with a kiss before claiming Bradyn, despite the infant's grunt of protest.
Killian went into the living room to give Neal a polite handshake before entering the kitchen to keep dinner going.
Fallon pouted on her way to her drawing table. She'd been eager to watch her father usher Neal out of the home, but sadly her father appeared to be tolerating Neal's presence.
"How have things been at Gold's shop?" Emma chimed in to take over the small talk from her son, much to his apparent relief. Henry went into the kitchen to help Killian.
"It's never too exciting," Neal replied, "People only come in looking for their misplaced possessions from time to time."
"Is it weird being back in Storybrooke?" Emma tried to keep the conversation going while Bradyn appeared enamored with the new toy Emma had handed him. She knew within a few hours he'd tire of it and return to his favorite, but it would be appreciated for a long as Neal was in their home.
"Not weird," Neal shook his head, "Different."
"Where'd you go with your time away?" Emma inquired.
"I did some traveling," Neal replied, "Tried to find myself again. Been a bit lost."
"Did you succeed?" Emma asked.
"Partly," Neal replied, "I realized a large part of myself missing was a relationship I messed up...with Henry."
Emma glanced towards the kitchen. Henry and Killian were working side by side. There was an ease between the pair she knew Neal coveted.
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner," Neal swallowed hard, "I haven't done much to deserve another chance."
"No, you haven't," Emma agreed, "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for Henry. He doesn't say it, but it hurts you're not in his life. It hurt you left for a year without a word, a phone call or even a postcard. He didn't deserve that, Neal."
"I know," he sighed.
"You need to start earning that chance you want to have with him, and it starts with you making nice with Killian," Emma replied, "For all the anger you have for him, Killian isn't the man he once was. You can't hold it against him that I chose him over you."
"I know," Neal repeated.
"You need to start being the type of man Henry can be proud to call his father," Emma added.
"Are you done?" Neal glared at her.
"Depends on if any of this has sunk in," Emma replied, "You keep saying you know things have to change, yet we haven't seen it...Henry hasn't seen it."
There was a pause in the conversation. Bradyn took it upon himself to fill in by tossing his toy to the floor. His eyes went wide with hopefulness that someone would pick it up for him.
Neal bent over to grab the toy and then hand it back. Bradyn repeated the process again and again with a mischievous grin and giggle.
"That's enough, Little Lad," Emma grasped the toy before he could throw it again.
Bradyn released a huff.
"He looks like Henry," Neal commented.
"Well, he is half mine," Emma ran her hand along Bradyn's back. The little boy curled into her.
"He has Hook's eyes," Neal added.
"So does Fallon," Emma smiled while glancing towards her daughter, still coloring away furiously, "Makes it nearly impossible to say no to either of them."
With his mother's focus elsewhere, Bradyn tossed his toy again and then released a giggle. Rather than scold the tot, she simply kissed the top of his head.
"Dinner is ready," Killian spoke up.
The meal started awkwardly. Fallon appeared to stare Neal down, who in turn seemed to shrink in his seat.
"Eat your fishies, Princess," Emma encouraged her daughter upon seeing that her plate hadn't been touched. "You don't like them cold."
Fallon scrunched her nose at her mother and then dove into her meal.
"How was school today, Lad?" Killian asked Henry.
"Okay," Henry shrugged, "Paige and I got assigned a school project together, so I have to stay after tomorrow."
"Paige?" Killian raised a curious brow, "The same Paige you have been sweet on and danced up a storm with at the wedding?"
"I am not sweet on her. We're friends," Henry responded defensively.
Fallon began singing the kissing song Henry had taught her much to the amusement of Emma and Killian.
Neal felt like it was intruding on a regular family meal. He had a feeling this was a typical night in the Jones household.
"Killian, are we still sailing this weekend?" Henry asked.
"Aye," he nodded, "Supposed to be perfect weather. Maybe your mum will be able to join us."
"Mama, please," Fallon's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Depends on which day," Emma smiled at her daughter, "I'm taking part of Robin's weekend shift this weekend. He and Regina wanted to have some time together this weekend. Roland will be spending the night. Henry, make sure your top bunk is clear of your clothing so he has somewhere to sleep."
"You watch Roland?" Neal chimed in.
"Not often," Emma replied, "He's only spent a handful of nights at the cottage, but when Robin's working the late shift and Regina has work, he'll spend time here. He's Henry's stepbrother."
"I didn't know you and Regina were on such good terms," Neal cleared his throat.
"She's different than the woman she was in the Enchanted Forest," Emma replied, "Even my mother says so...Things don't have to be difficult. It's only circumstances that makes things challenging. Regina has changed. Maybe you have too."
"You still giving sailing lessons to Henry?" Neal tried to pick up the conversation.
"It's not really lessons anymore," Killian replied, "The lad doesn't need much in the way of direction anymore. He picked it up right quick."
"It's fun," Henry smiled.
"Yeah, I liked it too," Neal agreed.
Killian thought for a minute Neal was angling for his son to invite him aboard his ship, but Henry didn't seem to take the hint. He continued to talk about their weekend plans.
"Can I wear my princess dress?" Fallon chimed in.
"Which princess dress?" Emma laughed at the hopefulness in her daughter's eyes.
"My Cinderella one," Fallon explained.
"You can wear whatever you want," Emma bit her lip to hold back a laugh. Her daughter was such a girly girl.
When dinner was finished, Fallon asked to be dismissed. She wanted to play in her tower until it was time for bed.
"Henry, will you take Bradyn upstairs?" Emma asked her son.
"Sure," Henry lifted his brother out of the highchair after Emma wiped his hands clean.
"Did you want some coffee, Neal?" Emma asked while Killian cleared the table.
"Sure," he nodded.
"I'll bring it into the living room in a moment. Cream or sugar?" she asked.
"Black is good."
Emma helped Killian clean up while the coffee was brewing.
"Thank you for doing this?" Emma hugged Killian around the middle.
"Anything for you and Henry, Love," Killian wrapped his arms around her waist, giving in to her calming abilities.
"Do you want to ask Neal about Wendy?" she asked.
Killian nodded in agreement.
Emma turned to pour the coffee. Killian couldn't resist a nibble at the nape of her neck. Emma felt her eyes roll back. She had to work hard to suppress a moan of pleasure.
"Don't start something you can't finish, Hook," Emma whispered.
"I'll finish it if you indulge me," he grinned into her neck.
"Later," she nudged him away and carried the coffee over to their guest. "Killian and I have to talk to you about something kind of personal, something from your past."
"My past?" Neal looked to her in confusion.
"Your shared past," Emma clarified, "Your time leading up to and while you lived in Neverland. You lived with the Darling family before Neverland, correct?"
"For a while," Neal nodded, "It was probably the happiest time I spent as a child until Pan's shadow took me away."
"Pan brought the children to Neverland, didn't he?" she asked.
"Yes," Neal confirmed, "Though I didn't know for several years."
"Killian said Peter Pan was sweet on Wendy. Was that true?" Emma asked.
Neal's hand clinched into a fist before he nodded. There was something in his eyes she recognized, jealousy.
"Killian said he was able to get the Darling family back to their parents using a bit of trickery."
"He knows all about trickery, doesn't he?" Neal responded bitterly.
"Do you know if the children found their way back to Neverland?" Emma chose to ignore Neal's statement.
"What's this all about?" Neal asked.
"At Ashley and Sean's wedding, Killian thought he saw the girl, Wendy," Emma responded, "He said she looked as she did back in Neverland, which shouldn't be possible."
"Pan found her and returned her to Neverland," Neal swallowed hard.
"How long did she stay there?" Killian asked.
"I don't know," Neal shrugged, "I tried to get her to leave with me once, but she refused. She'd been under Pan's influence for too long."
"So it's possible she really could be in Storybrooke," Emma concluded.
"Yes," Neal looked towards his feet.
"What aren't you telling us?" Emma realized there was more going on than he was telling her.
"My year away...I was in London," he admitted, "I was with the Darling children."
"You brought them to Storybrooke," Killian concluded.
"No," Neal responded quickly, "I didn't bring them, but I did tell them where to find you."
"Of course you did," Killian scoffed, rising to his feet with the anger evident in his voice and posture. "What are they planning?"
"I don't know," Neal responded defensively.
"If you knew, would you tell us?" Emma asked.
"I don't know," Neal stated tentatively.
"You're telling us you were with them for a year, and you don't know what they are planning," Emma challenged him.
"I wasn't with them for the entire year," he admitted, "At first, I went to London to pay my respects. I fully expected them to have passed away. I'd found the Darling tomb, but the children weren't there. I did some research. The Darling home was still in the family, given to the grandchildren, only there couldn't have been any grandchildren. It was Wendy, John and Michael. They'd only aged about a year since I'd last seen them. They told me the story about how they'd returned to Neverland for nearly a century. When Peter realized the island was dying, he told the children they had to return for their own safety. Wendy refused. She told him she was with him until the end. The boys refused to leave their sister behind, so they stayed. When you bargained to send all the children back to the lands from where they came, you sent Wendy, Michael and John back to London, only it was present day London."
"Why present day London?" Emma asked.
"No one knows," Neal shrugged.
"That has to be such a culture shock for them," Emma realized.
"They've managed very well," Neal replied, "But Wendy especially isn't happy with Pan's demise. She was extremely attached. She blames you, Hook, for his death."
"He kidnapped my wife," Killian charged towards Neal, "What was I supposed to do?"
"Hey, look at me," Emma stepped in between the two men before punches could be thrown, bringing Killian's gaze to hers. "That's in the past."
"You could have died," Killian's forehead came to rest against hers, "I wouldn't have you or Fallon or Bradyn."
"You rescued me," she reminded him, "You were willing to sacrifice yourself for me. We do have Fallon and Bradyn because of you."
"Us," he corrected her.
"Are they coming after Killian?" Emma turned towards Neal.
"Most likely," Neal responded. "Wendy is not the same girl I knew. She uses her innocence as a weapon. She's manipulative and cunning. She's everything Pan was, perhaps worse."
"Does she have magic?" Emma asked.
"I don't think so," Neal shook his head, "I didn't see any signs of it, but she's manipulative. It was like she could read my mind. She used my thoughts against me. She tricked me into finding you, Killian. She told me I could have Emma if I told her where she could find you. I didn't intend to tell her. It just came out."
"Siren's song," Killian realized.
"What?" Emma spun towards her husband in an attempt to make sense of what he said.
"Sailor's lore," Killian replied, "A siren was a beautiful creature who would use song to hypnotize you into spilling your deepest, darkest secrets. Some thought the sirens were mermaids, and others thought they were birdlike creatures. There was a man on my crew who swore he had encountered a siren. He said they were not mermaids or birdlike creatures, but young girls who would gain sympathy with anyone they met by claiming they were lost. Their tears would hypnotize their prey. They would use the sailor however they saw fit and then discard them, most by death."
"That's why Pan was so taken with her," Neal realized.
"Perhaps," Killian nodded, "Or perhaps Pan taught her the ways of the sirens."
"Is that a skill which can be taught?" Emma asked.
"Depends on which lore is true," Killian replied.
"If it's true she's a siren, how do we stop her?" Emma asked.
"Sirens aren't irresistible to everyone," Killian replied, "We'll need to find a way to counteract her charms."
"How do we do that?" Emma asked.
"Time to study up at the library," Killian frowned.
"Papa, stars are out," Fallon came barreling down the stairs, "Come see, come see."
Fallon grasped Killian's hand and tugged.
"In a few minutes, Princess," Emma replied, "Mama and Papa need to talk to Henry's father first."
"No," Fallon moaned, sticking out her lip to pout.
"Two minutes, Little Love," Killian knelt before her with sincere eyes.
"Okay," Fallon tossed her arms around his neck.
"I'll meet you on the roof. Take your brothers with you. We'll resume our lessons on star navigation," he promised her.
"Okay," Fallon's head bobbed. With a kiss to his cheek, she called out for her brothers and was off.
"If you can help us in any way, you'd better do it," Killian looked Neal dead in the eyes. "If any harm comes to my family, you will pay."
"I'll help you any way I can," Neal assured him. "I'll talk to Belle first thing in the morning. She can help with our research."
"I'll meet you in the library tomorrow afternoon," Killian stated before climbing the stairs to spend time with his children.
"Neal, if you double cross us," Emma began.
"I know this is my last chance with Henry," Neal swallowed hard, "He loves his siblings...and his stepfather. I know I haven't earned anything with you, but I mean it when I say I'll help in any way I can."
"I hope you do," Emma walked him to the door, "Henry wants a father he can be proud of."
"Thanks for dinner," Neal swallowed hard, "It was an eye opening evening."
"What does that mean?" Emma challenged him.
"You're happy," Neal replied. "Somewhere inside me I guess I figured you stayed because you had to, because of Fallon and Bradyn, but I can see that's not the case. You love him."
"Yes, I do," Emma nodded.
"He's a good father," Neal added, "He treats Henry like his own."
"He sees him that way," Emma replied, "He's tried very hard to be the role model Henry needs."
"The role model I haven't been," Neal stated.
"There is still time, Neal," Emma responded, "Henry still sees everything. He can see you do good."
"I'd better go," Neal replied.
"Neal, you deserve to be happy," Emma stated, "I do hope you find someone that can be for you what Killian is for me."
"Yeah, me too," he nodded, "Night, Emma."
"Good night, Neal," Emma shut the door and then made her way up the stairs to join her family.
As usual, Fallon was chatting away, asking dozens of questions about the lessons Killian was trying to teach her.
TBC…