Chapter 7

The laughter called to her attention as she headed for the harbor. She looked at the Jolly Roger and smiled. There was no better ship than that to sail the seas of the land.

She was surprised to see a stranger, clutching a dark wooden stick, stagger out of the ship. Immediately, she knew something was happening. And knowing Killian, who disdained those who lacked robustness to sail on the high seas, she also knew what was about.

- Can I help, sir?

The man, younger than his appearance looked, seemed to have almost cringed. She smiled at him.

- Need help? I can accompany you home. These pirates are not good company, sir.

- Yes, I know. - He seemed to smile.

- I accompany you home. - She offered him a kind smile.

- It is very gentle of you, milady. – He said, very gentle.

- I just know how pirates like those make someone feel. - She smiled again, looking back to the ship.

While walking the streets of the town, towards the small village, Tinkerbell knew the man's name was Rumpelstiltskin and that he had a son. And after learning that he had a wife, she knew immediately why he went to the Jolly Roger and face Killian and his fearsome crew.

- Bae. - Rumpelstiltskin called.

A small boy was playing at the entrance of a small house. When he heard the call, he looked up and smiled, running into his arms.

- Tinkerbell, this is my son, Baelfire.

- Nice to meet you, Baelfire. - She smiled. Then she turned to the man. - Rumpelstiltskin, I need to go. I have people waiting for me.

- Sure. - He smiled, but the pirate could see the sadness in his eyes. – Thank you for the company, Tinkerbell.

Tinkerbell smiled. She gave one last look at Baelfire and turned to the road.

- Where is Mama? – She heard Baelfire ask.

- Bae, I need to tell you something. Let's go inside the house.

- Where is she, Papa?

Hidden behind a tree, Tinkerbell could see the sadness of both Rumpelstiltskin and his son, when he told him that his mother had died.

...

- Two-Fingers, where is the Captain? - Tinkerbell asked, taking the mantle from her shoulders, when she got back to the Jolly Roger.

- In his quarters.

Going down to the lower deck, Tinkerbell went through the corridor.

- Killian!

She saw him close the door of his quarters and look at her.

- Ah, you're back. We can set sail, then.

- What did you do?

His gaze became serious.

- What do you mean?

- I mean, what did you do this time...

From inside Killian quarters, a woman with long black hair, of incomparable beauty, made Tinkerbell understand Rumpelstiltskin story. Shocked, she took a step backward.

- Tink, I want to introduce you to Milah. She will be part of our crew from now on.

The woman blushed, looking away from Killian to Tinkerbell. The woman smiled at her.

- Tink?

- Tinkerbell. - She replied.

- Really? What unusual name for a pirate. - Milah replied with a smile.

Tinkerbell smiled back. For a moment, her gaze shifted to Killian. He looked at her almost as if he was ashamed of what he was doing. But she also noticed the glow that he had when he returned his gaze to the woman who had just occupied a place in his heart.

She took another step back. It felt as if a weight had just fallen on top of her chest.

- Welcome aboard, Milah. – She welcomed.

- I hope that you will help her to settle and teach her how to work around the ship. - Killian spoke with a slight smile.

- Sure, but I do not think she needs me when she has you. – Tinkerbell forced herself to smiled. She took another step back and walked away towards outside.

Outside, she leaned against the edge of the ship. Looked at the sea and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

- Is something wrong?

Tinkerbell opened her eyes to the sound of his voice. She looked at him.

- No. Why?

- You look... sad? The trip to town... did not go well? Did you not found the book you wanted?

- She is married, Killian. - She sighed. - What is wrong with you? You've done many stupid things, but this is the worst. - She ended up saying.

- I could not say no. Because...

- Don`t tell me you are in love? - His eyes answered for him. - So, just like this?! You met her a week ago.

- You would never understand.

Hurt, Tinkerbell looked away from him and returned her eyes to the sea while leaving the harbor.

- Hear what I say, Killian, this will end badly. What you just did, what she just did, it will come and haunt both of you one day.

Angry with those words, Killian clenched his hands. Eventually, he moved away seeing that she would not say anything more.

...

The turmoil of the ship was normal, but when she entered the ship and saw two men in whom Killian trusted the most hunched over what looked like a body, Tinkerbell's heart skipped a beat.

- What happened, Mr. Silver? - She looked at Milah`s body, lifeless and pale.

- Tinkerbell, glad you're back. The Captain... Milah... he is shattered and the demon took his hand...

- Demon? - She frowned. - Where is he?

Two-Fingers pointed to the lower deck.

And when she opened the door of his quarters, the pain in Killian`s face made her heart stop. Without ever seeing him like that, lying in bed, looking dead. The crystal blue eyes, clouded by tears, turned to her. Approaching slowly, Tinkerbell sat on the edge of the bed.

- Seven years. - He replied, looking at Tinkerbell`s hands catching his own arm, now without a hand.

Without uttering a sound, she took some rags that had been placed there, letting her see a hook in their midst. She began to engage the stump, hiding the wound, staking the little blood flowing.

- You're lucky, it was a clean cut.

The coldness she showed to him, hit him hard. He expected something more, expected a smile, a look of warm, sweet words. The lack of everything irritated him and hurt him even more.

- You're not going to say anything?!

- You already said it. Seven years. I warned you that what you did would come to torment you. I'm not going to cause you more damage, stating the obvious. - She still did not look at him, engaging the stump, holding the fabric.

- It was her husband. He became the Dark One. She never loved him, Tink.

- Maybe not. But she had responsibilities.

- Tinkerbell... - He grabbed her wrist with his other hand.

Finally, she looked back at him.

- I did what I had to do. - She finished, wrapping his arm and walked away, giving him a little slap on his hand. - From now on, all that you feel is your fault.

Also hurt by Milah`s death, who had become a friend, never thinking that the words that she told Killian years ago were come to life, Tinkerbell left his quarters and went to her own. She sat on the edge of the bed until the next day.

From the top, on the watch basket, Tinkerbell watched Milah`s burial at sea and Killian`s circumspect expression. She knew he was hurt, but she could never do anything to calm his pain. Trying to stop the tears, Tinkerbell stared at the horizon, feeling the sea breeze on her skin.

And when the gate to Never Land was opened, a new adventure began.

...

Ps: Thank you all for reading. Let me know what you think!