A/N: Hope all of you are enjoying the story. Thanks for all of the follows and reviews.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story.
Chapter 7:
"Seriously? You're making me dress like Tinkerbelle?" Emma spun away from the mirror to address Mary-Margaret. "Why do I get the super short pixie outfit, while you get to wear a ball gown?"
"If it makes you feel any better, I can barely breath in this corset and my boobs feel like they are about to fall out." Mary-Margaret stepped around Emma to look in the mirror. She plucked at the neckline of her dress for about the hundredth time in less than a half-hour. Then she straightened the large blond wig sitting atop her head, as it had become skewed when she had leaned down to adjust her shoes.
"These were the only two dresses I could snag in your sizes at the last minute," Ruby insisted as she walked into the room.
"Yeah, says the girl with actual clothes on, for once," Emma whined. She felt entitled, just a little. Okay, so Mary-Margaret might have been justified as well, since Emma had accidentally spilled coffee on her original costume.
Ruby just smiled at the two of them. She was dressed in a comfortable frock with a large red cloak and a basket hung off her arm with candy inside for the trick-or-treaters at the door. She made a very convincing Little Red Riding Hood.
"Plus," Ruby added as she walked to the front door of Mary-Margaret's apartment, as the doorbell rang. "I heard a certain married man was going dressed as Prince Charming."
Ruby was referring to David Nolan, of course. He had just woken up from his coma a week and a half ago. Mary-Margaret helped him each day during his recovery and the man had seemed to go attached to her. Now that he was out of the hospital, he followed Mary-Margaret everywhere, even to school. He reminded Emma of a lost puppy who had decided that Mary-Margaret would be his new owner. Unfortunately, David's wife wanted to start fresh and that was causing some serious problems for the two lovebirds.
Mary-Margaret blushed, which was easily discernable with her pale skin and overly exposed chest. "I thought Prince Charming wooed Snow White, not Cinderella."
"Same difference. They are both princesses." Ruby shrugged and closed the door behind the trick-or-treaters.
Emma laughed. "I'll have to check with Henry when we get there. He seems to be the expert on all things fairytale."
"Yeah, and a little birdy let slip at Granny's that her son was dressing like Peter Pan, while a certain Sheriff was coming as Captain Hook." Ruby went to the discarded mirror and primped.
"So, why didn't Regina dress as Tinkerbelle?" Emma scoffed.
"She's the mayor. You think she is going to run around like a fairy?" Ruby laughed so hard she had to drop her basket and grab her side. "You are too funny."
Mary-Margaret perched as best she could on one of her stools. "I heard she is coming as the Evil Queen."
Ruby's chuckles subsided. "Well, that must be why I heard that Sidney Glass was coming as the mirror from Snow White. He has the total hots for her and she is completely oblivious. Of course, with her stringing Graham along, I can't really blame her."
"Poor Graham. Is he even feeling well enough to come tonight?" Mary-Margaret asked. She had seen him when he had come to the hospital, which she shared with the rest of them. "Last I heard from Whale, he was good enough to get off antibiotics, but was still on bed rest."
When Dr. Whale's name was mentioned, Ruby perked up, common for her lately. "How is the good doctor?"
"He should be there tonight, Ruby." Mary-Margaret gave her friend a sly look. "Why don't you see for yourself."
"Free liquor. Scantily dressed women in costume. Yeah, even I could guess Whale would be there," Emma chimed in, as she put on her ankle boots.
Ruby scoffed, but turned red. Then quickly asked, " Did he say what he would be dressed as?"
"No, Ruby. And I didn't ask." Mary-Margaret stood up and grabbed her mask from the counter behind her.
"That's okay. I'll find him.
"You always do." Emma laughed along with Mary-Margaret.
Ruby held her mask up. "Everyone have your masks?"
Emma held hers up and Mary-Margaret did the same. "Let's get this town tradition over with."
Graham looked up from his sick bed, at the man who dressed as Captain Hook in front of the bathroom mirror. "It should work," he mumbled. "I mean no one will think you're me, but they won't quite realize it is you."
"Thanks for doing this, mate." Killian turned away from the mirror and exited the bathroom, straightening his leather sleeves as he went.
"Well, you always had more a chance with her than I did. And now with the mayor…"
"What are you talking about, mate?" Killian stopped and swung back around to Graham.
"Emma. You're doing this…" Graham waved at Killian dressed in his costume. "Taking the risk someone might see you, for Emma."
"No. I'm not. I need to see what Gold might be up to tonight and there are no cameras accessible to me."
"Don't lie to me. I've know you too long. We've been friends since kindergarten. My parents helped your dad after your mum passed away. Then took you and Liam in when he left." Graham coughed. "Hell, my dad even went out of his way to help Liam pursue his naval career."
"Thanks for that, mate. But I don't see what that has to do with…"
Graham cut him off and struggled to sit up. "For God's sake, mate, I gave you the keys to my dad's truck so you could get out of town after Gold took your hand. The least you can do is be honest with me."
Killian paled and sat next to Graham on the bed. "There isn't anything I could ever do to repay you for that."
Graham reached out his hand and Killian clasped the still warm palm. "I know you want to catch Gold and call him out for all he has done, but I also know you had to have found out Emma was back. Hell, I think you know what goes on in this town more than I do, and I'm the bloody sheriff."
Killian grinned. "Wouldn't doubt that. You spend too much time with the mayor."
"Stuff it, Jones. I just know that tonight, this is more than just about Gold. Just do me one favor and keep a low profile."
"Will do."
Graham released his hold on his friend as Killian stood up. "And don't break her heart."
"Emma's? Bloody hell, mate. I know you've had a thing for her for years. I didn't realize you were still in love with her." Killian raked his hand through his hair in apparent frustration.
"Maybe. I think so. Hell, I don't know." Graham fell back on the bed. If his body hadn't ached before, it sure hurt now. "It's all your fault, you know. If you hadn't told me about the hot chick you saw in the high school office, I might not have started to look for her."
Graham began to laugh, but the chuckles quickly turned to coughs. He hated being sick. Killian reached out and lifted him up and slapped him on the back. When the coughs stopped, Killian helped him lay back down.
"For the record, I did not say she was hot."
"Oh, yes you did," Graham choked out from his dry throat.
Killian walked over to the small kitchenette that Graham possessed and got him a glass of water. When he handed it to Graham, he asked, "So do you think anyone will recognize me?"
Killian reached out and grabbed his mask and put it on. Then grabbed the hook and cuff and attached those to his left hand. Then proceeded to spin in front of Graham for inspection.
"Pretty sure. Now if Milah was…" Graham looked away sheepishly. "Sorry, mate."
"It's okay." Killian placed his unhooked hand on Graham's shoulder. "Get some rest. This town needs its sheriff."
"Good luck, Killian. May the wind blow in your favor." Graham leaned back on his pillow and closed his eyes.
Killian turned away from his friend, a goal firmly set in his mind. He quietly let himself out of Graham's apartment. He gave a sharp salute in the direction of Graham's bedroom. "I promise, I won't let you down, mate."
He looked both ways and hurried for the alleyway. Despite the costume, he did not want to take any extra chances of anyone taking notice of him. He would have enough to worry about once he was at the party. So long as no one took the time to think that Killian Jones might have returned to Storybrooke, he had a chance that no one would think that the dashing Captain Hook might be him.
