I wasn't going to post this part of the story… yet. But after several readers complained about the cliffhanger… I changed my mind… so we will see a "sneak peek" ;) In exchange I would like you answer this question: Would Emma approve Hook wearing Graham's jacket?
I do not own once upon a time, or Disney.
Chapter 07: Mine
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His head spun and he was completely soaked from head to toe; the soreness of his left arm was slowly replaced by waves of pain. In the darkness the key refused to fit the lock, sliding from between his cold fingers covered in blood, the key fell to the floor. Hopeless he banged his head against the door, his teeth throbbing with the pain. With a little luck the car ride would have covered his tracks, but now he couldn't made it to his own damn house. He darkly mouthed a silent curse.
He fell forwards when the door opened without warning. The little figure of a woman clinked to him and somehow managed to keep both of them upright.
He let her hold him, a sad smirk on his roughened face, "I couldn't find the trident." His voice was raspy. She dragged him to the couch and he plopped down with a grunt of pain. "He shot me." The little light that a candle emitted made them difficult to see each other clearly, but he was obviously covered in blood. He heard the sound of the blinds coming down, and then the ceiling lamp was lit, she hurried again to his side and he answered the unspoken question of her eyes, "Killian Jones shot me, he is pretty alive so Ursula is finally here, the sheriff made it on time." He took his hand off the bullet wound so she could see it. "Can you manage it?" She answered him with a reassuring smile, placed back his big hand on the wound and left him alone, in a couple of minutes she came back holding a metal tray with instruments and materials needed to treat the wound. The last thing Sinbad saw before losing consciousness were her concerned big baby blue eyes framed by her short bright red mane.
~~~Long time ago in Enchanted Forest~~~
It was a morning for happiness despite the difficult times the kingdom was enduring. Peasants, noblemen, merchants, gentlemen, farmers, seamstresses and knights were celebrating the glory of the Kingdom by the Sea. Today their beautiful princess was marrying the handsome and brave prince John from the Endless Plains. From one end to the other of the small kingdom people celebrated the bonding of the happy couple, because it was known that they were each other true loves. Such was the joy of the people that had been scheduled festivities for over a month. The Kingdom by the Sea had received representatives of virtually all the kingdoms from the Enchanted Forest, all of them bringing magnificent and exquisite gifts. The Snowland monarchs had sent their two princes with a chest full of rubies, the old ruler of the Frozen Peaks had presented them with a platinum and diamond tiara. Camelot twin Kings had sent a delegation of bards to entertain the ceremony, from the duchies of borders several nobles had come bringing gold and jewels, the border kingdom of Avonlea had sent two carts full of saffron, the Marsh Kingdom widow queen had sent as a gift two crocodiles, the Sultan of Agrabah had sent his vizier with a hundred beautifully woven carpets and from the distant lands of the east had arrived an entourage with beautiful silks. Thus far had the news of the marriage had reached.
The wedding was held outdoors on a ship in the sea, Reul Ghorm the princess' godmother had enchanted the sky to ensure that not even a single rain drop fall and the ocean to ensure that no guest get annoyed by the rocking of the ships. There were so many people gathered that the royal vessel was surrounded for dozens of ships and hundreds of boats. The invited guests were nervous and exalted, such was the joy that here and there people sang and danced. When the princess bride appeared there was silence. Her white silk dress was plain and her straight, sun gold hair fell around her creating a shimmering curtain. The bride was radiant; her blue ocean eyes glowed with joy and happiness. What about her smile? The way her pink delicate lips curved aroused in those who saw the princess true happiness. The groom was so glad to see her that almost lost his composure. The talked quieted to a hush as the sound of the black grand piano alerted the watchers that it was time to the solemn ceremony to begin. It started with no more problems than the cries of emotion from several ladies, and sudden cheers and claps that aroused from distant ships.
The priest looked from groom to bride and loudly spoke the all well-known words to bind them, as per usual arrived the moment to say the words "Anyone objects to this marriage?"
"Me" A black haired girl dressed in a purple robe stepped out of the crowd.
The music stopped as a loud anguished cry rose from the crowd through the salt ridden air. The old king Egbert was petrified, his wide smile crumbled from his face, his blue eyes widened in terror, he fell on his knees and a tear froze on his cheek as the sight standing tall and graceful in his deck looking at him. She was his mermaid, his beloved and hated Ursula. She looked different, but her voice, her voice was the same, the stolen voice of his son's true love. He felt defeated; this was the third time the monster appeared in his life. The first she was kind and loving and she had stolen his heart, the second she was wicked and vengeful and had tricked his son Eric to marry someone that wasn't his true love, now what was she going to steal away? He had not had enough? It was not enough to have brought hardship, pests and droughts to his kingdom? Weren't the cursed mermaids that plagued their shores enough punishment? Grimsby, King Eric's manservant and confidant hid behind him a pregnant Queen Vanessa.
The Sea Witch walked towards the happy couple. "You aren't marring anyone sweetheart." The princess was terrified; the witch took her hand and pulled her away towards the rail. "You are mine." No one moved a finger, no one dared to say a word, such was the fear Ursula caused to that people.
Just one of the guests was brave enough to move, not because true bravery but because mermaids and fairies were creatures engaged to opposing elements, water and air, and they could not damage each other, at least not directly. The fairy godmother tried to help the young lady and stood before the witch with her wand; Ursula smiled and ripped a blue pendant hanging from her neck. She threw it at the feet of the Blue Fairy and the poor creature petrified in midair falling to the wooden floor, in a blink she was a little obsidian statue. "Don't worry lovebird, is temporary."
With a flick of his wrist the vessels surrounding the royal ship parted creating a perfect passageway through which a large ship moved safely. The Jolly Roger stopped parallel to the royal ship. A plank fell and for it descended a tall, handsome pirate with black hair, ebony eyes and a thick black beard, braided and decorated with gold, covering most of his face.
The guests knew and feared him as well as they knew and feared the Sea Witch, he was Blackbeard the buccaneer, the pirate, the slaver. He smiled pleased. Today he had been especially careful in his attire, not every day one appeared before most of the royalty plaguing the Enchanted Forest. He had chosen to wear a fine crimson velvet coat with shiny gold lining and maroon cuffs. Oh! Crimson and velvet, two things forbidden for those non-royals. He had added a pair of white silk stockings and buckled black high heel shoes, a rich maroon "so expensive dye" pants and a frilly, white silk shirt. He had allowed his curly, black, shoulder-length hair to drape over his shoulders and, to provide an elegant final touch, we was wearing his most expensive item, a large, maroon hat with a huge, phoenix feather stuck in it. The feather always on non-burning fire created a terrifying effect. His face, with fiery eyes, was framed in dancing shadows and highlights; he seemed totally a demon from hell.
He bowed and smiled to the crowd. The guests gasped in terror, he could hear people saying in whispers "Blackbeard!" his moniker was spread like wildfire among the guests.
"It's always nice to make an impression." He laughed pleased in his rough brogue. "Captain Edward Jones, also call Blackbeard." He bowed again towards the bloody Sea Witch. "Milady, me see that ye have prepared my payment."
The sea Witch smiled showing all her teeth to him. "Indeed. As we agreed sweet, a beautiful, young and pure princess. I suppose she's to your liking." The mermaid pulled the princess arm forcing her to stand in front of the pirate.
He lifted the princess chin with his hand full of rubies gold rings. "She's bloody beautiful." The pirate rose an eyebrow to the witch "Me hope she's not damaged goods."
"If she's I will find you a new one." She threw the princess to the pirate arms.
"What's her name?"
"Keela" The fearsome witch spat name with no enthusiasm.
"Ah! a beauty that only poetry can capture." Arching his brow he caressed the princess cheek with his thumb. "Ye are beautiful indeed lassie."
Blackbeard smiled pleased as he held her hard against him, feeling the shivering young body flush against him. The hubbub of the crowd began to rise louder and suddenly the groom woke up from his shock. The young man stepped forwards and drew his sword. Part of the Blackbeard's crew descended the walkway too and stood behind their captain.
"Don't you dare to touch my fiancée!" The prince took another step towards the pirate.
"Blow me down! The bilge-sucking prince speaks." The pirate laughed darkly raising both eyebrows.
"Leave my bride!" Another step.
Blackbeard patted the girl's hip. "What would ye do little landlubber, if me do't?" A smirk of superiority light up his handsome features.
"I will kill you!" Another step.
"I've no time for games Captain Jones. My trident." The Sea Witch extended her hand, her dark voice slightly annoyed.
The pirate groaned. "Aye." Blackbeard pulled a knife from his belt and, without releasing the girl, tossed it to the prince. The young man tried to deflect the weapon with his sword, but it was in vain, Captain Jones never miss his target, the knife plunged into the prince chest straight through his heart. The prince looked astonished at the pirate, and after a few seconds of silence fell livid never to rise again. The crowd shrieked and from the lips of the beautiful princess raised a sharp cry of terrible pain; if Blackbeard hadn't had her strongly grasped she would have fallen to her knees.
He shoved the screaming girl to a tall pirate lacking his right eye "Flotsam, chain her in my quarters. Me want to find her untouched; Savvy?" The pirate nodded "Jetsam, the trident." A tall pirate nearly identical to the previous one, but that lacked the left eye, gave him a trident wrapped in red silk to Blackbeard. The mighty Captain pirate extended a hand towards the polished black piano. "Take it to my quarters too." The small gathering of pirates abided his orders obediently.
The Captain pirate handled the silk wrapped trident to Ursula who smiled pleased letting the silk cloth slide to the wooden floor. The legendary golden, three-pronged weapon glinted in the sunlight. With an evil burst of laughter the witch did raise the trident, a dense, chilled mist rose from the sea, suddenly the once blue sky darkened with black clouds, a lightning struck the glittering golden trident, a dense gray and rain began to fall. When the Sea Witch lowered the trident the sky cleared, the fog dispersed and the clouds dissolved in the sky. The witch wrenching tightly the mystical weapon was no longer a beautiful young woman, but an awful creature, much more known to the eyes of the royals. Her white hair, her white bluish skin and her terrifying purplish tentacles writhing and bending marked her as the most feared creature of the seas, now nearly invincible.
Many tears were shed that day. The entire Enchanted Forest shivered with fear of the mighty Sea Witch. There were two kingdoms mourning the loose of their heirs, there were to broken royal families. There was a princess chained by her ankle to a master bed, curled up on the bed head clutching her hairpin in his right hand, prepared to kill the mighty pirate as soon as he approached her.
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Killian was really upset, again, they had dared to enter his ship. "Why I cannot even shoot a man? Is it too much to ask shoot down a robber?" He felt Emma's eyes on him and groaned, he would pay for this, he knew.
"You can't go shooting people without knowing who they are!" He looked at her behind his black lashes, she was frowning and her mouth was closed in a thin line.
"What do you want me to do? Let people embark and disembark my ship freely? Last time I was poisoned!" He waved the gun to make his point.
"Next time let me handle it" She covered her face with one hand and extended the other. "My gun."
"My hook." He mimicked her making her roll her eyes and smile slightly, a beautiful smile that the pirate liked.
They exchanged the items, his hook fitted with a click. "Who was that man?" Asked Emma in a tired voice.
"If I know I would be heading to his burrow to shoot him properly." He tore his gaze from the point where the stranger had disappeared and looked at her, she was exhausted, her eyes were gray now, but she was beautiful nevertheless, oh! She was truly a princess. Her words echoed in his mind "Seventeen" How could Milah's boy hurt her so badly? "Seventeen" Had not taught him to behave like a gentleman? "Seventeen" She was just a scared little girl, a lost child searching for a love that never came. Peter Pan had stolen her tender heart and had shattered it just because he was afraid, coward much like his father disguised in Milah's coat of bravery.
Her voice made him return back to reality. As he didn't know what had she said he nodded and hoped it was the correct answer. She nodded too, so he sighed relieved and placed his hook on the small of her back guiding her into his quarters repressing his innuendos and his cockiness; "Seventeen"; she deserved better, at last tonight.
"Wow! What happened here?" Emma's eyes flew open at the room disaster.
This night he had collapsed, had lost all hope, the black void Milah's death had left in his heart had expanded to occupy everything. His soul already black had darkened even more. And then Emma had lit a candle in his darkness.
His desk bench was covered with maps and books; someone had emptied the contents of his drawers too, pens and quills all over the room. Killian sighed and cleaned part of his desk and placed a stool in front of it for Emma, who sat down as a dead weight. He would clean the bench latter.
He looked at her, so strong and brave but fragile and beautiful, it made him remember the porcelain warriors of Oz. A smile spread through his lips. She had said his name. "Killian" Emma's voice whispered in his mind, it was a pleasant memory he would keep forever, because he was sure she will not say it again. That woman, hard, smart and stubborn had opened her heart to him just to comfort him, instead of using soothing words she had used her own pain to erase his, he was truly sure that tomorrow morning she will regret her words and her walls, thick and tall, will be around her heart once again, she was truly a challenge.
Killian picked up a couple of shot glasses from the bed and placed them on the table.
"I'll fetch some rum from the hold."
Emma took of her jacket leaving it on the table and looked around, last time she had been on the Jolly Roger the ship was completely in order, clean and tidy. Now it was a mess. She picked an old book from the floor, it had no title on the cover just a date in the first page. She opened a random page. It was handwritten with crafted and elegant letters, slightly curved. There was a small map in the bottom of the page.
"On our return from Alwaysland we have one less crew member, Jarod he rest in peace. Ursula was not with her crew, her ship was heavily protected, despite it we managed to obtain Ursula's trident, I will not mention his hiding place here. Because of a miscalculation of Mr. Smee we hit a reef in our retreat, now we have to repair the left side of the Jolly Roger; I estimate it will take two weeks. In situations like this I miss Milah more than ever."
So it was not a simple book but a logbook. "What did I expect, a personal diary of the amorous adventures of Captain Hook?" Emma traced one of the beautifully curled capital letters, and smiled sadly. The letter M of Milah was especially flourished. She wondered if someone had or would write her name with so much love and care.
"In our raid we killed thirty mermaids and two Ursula's pirates, according to our calculations will still be about three hundred mermaids more in Alwaysland. This afternoon Peter Pan and the Lost Boys have managed to rescue a girl, Johanna, Mr. Smee has assigned his data to the registry. I'm concerned about Tinkerbelle and Milah's lad."
The door yanked open and Emma closed the book.
"They tried to force their way into Milah's room." By the look on his face he has really upset.
"You two didn't sleep… you know" she pointed to his bed with her head.
He groaned and averted her gaze. Emma could say that they didn't. "They were supposed to be in love. Why they slept in different rooms?" She observed how the Captain filled his glass of rum, held it to his nose and sniffed. He wrinkled his nose and took a sip.
"Not poisoned" He grabbed a stool lying under the table and sat down next to Emma. Then the Captain drank the rest of his rum in one gulp. He filled his glass and this time he also poured one for her.
Emma drank in silence, the alcohol burning its way down her throat. After the incident with her gun and the intruder she felt better or maybe it has been her little talk with Killi… the Captain? maybe he had helped her to calm down. She glanced sideways at him; he was looking at the contents of his glass, holding it with his hand and playing with the bottle's cork with the tip of his hook. The corners of his lips slightly down. He was clearly depressed again; she had made a mistake asking him about Milah.
She turned her head right and left, stretching her neck and back with bold movements, trying to release some of the tension she had accumulated during the past two days. "I'm sorry, I should not have asked." Emma took another sip.
The Captain stood up suddenly, leaving his full to the brim glass on the table. He put the stool behind her and sat down, too close to her body, her hairs stood on end of her nape when placed his calloused hand on her bare shoulder. Emma tensed, and tried to turn around. He stopped her.
"Trust darling." He pushed her hair carefully over her shoulders. Every muscle in her body tensed.
Emma felt how he rested his hand on one side of her neck and the curve of his hook in the other, just below her ears. A shiver ran through her body, probably because of the cold hook. Pressuring, he slid his hand and his hook backwards to unite them under her neck. Her muscles recoiled under his touch and she got goose bumps all over her body. He repeated it in a slow cadence and soon she relaxed. When Emma began to close the eyes lulled by the soothing massage the Captain began to speak, his voice deeper than usual and his accent more pronounced.
"Milah… had shared a bed all her live, first with her sisters, then his husband." Lovingly he ran his thumb up her back in a circular motion and Emma had to suppress a moan. "She joined my crew as a free woman and as my First Mate, so she had her own bed." He sighed. "She never stayed. She wanted adventure and freedom. I was a friend, a fellow, not just a lover." He changed the massage-pattern. Emma was in bliss; she leaned forwards and rested her head on her arms over the table. "One day she asked me to dock near her old home; I agreed thinking she wanted to see his son, but no." The Captain gave a dry laugh. "Must be the pirate thing but I could not help follow her. She went to see a midwife; Milah was pregnant and didn't want the baby." He stopped, his fingers splaying out over her shoulder blade. "I realized then… I begged her not to do so, we argued and eventually I convinced her that we could go to Neverland. There, despite her being pregnant the baby would not grow and she could decide when or if to have him or her." He continued massaging her back; Emma could feel the pain in his voice, the longing of something she also had lacked, family. "That night I went to celebrate that maybe, someday" his voice broke "I would be a father, I would settle down and have a… family." She wanted him to embrace her in his arms, to be able to weep the tears she was sure he was silently crying, but she didn't move. "The crocodile find me that night" Emma hold her breath, she already imagined was coming next. "I begged her to go, to keep our child safe, she didn't. She convinced me that she could deal with him, we had a magic bean and he wanted it." His voice was normal again. "The crocodile didn't agree and ripped out her heart." Emma could felt the pain in his voice. "Then, for the first time, she told me she loved me, and I realized that she was more than a mate for me, that I also loved her. And he crushed her heart." Emma didn't know what to say, she would have said "I'm sorry", but that sentence was so empty. He stopped, his hand on her shoulder blade his hook somewhere near her waist. "No one knows what I've told you, I would like it to remain like that." She nodded and felt the reassuring pressure of his hand on her now relaxed shoulder. "Thanks Emma." She felt a slight pressure on her head, was that a kiss? "Thanks for being here when I thought I had nothing to look forwards."
He waited for her to say something, anything. Killian wiped his tear with the back of his hand and stood up. He picked up a blanket from the floor and placed it around her shoulders.
"Thanks you too, Killian." She whispered shakily.
Killian felt vulnerable and unprotected. For almost three hundred years he did not feel thus. He glanced at Emma, who had her eyes closed and breathed peacefully. He smiled at her sleeping form and began to tidy his quarters silently. Emma had trusted him, and that trust had been reciprocated. And she had said his name once more. HE smiled, a sad smile.
He had tried to start a family with Milah, and she had died. He found her child and had delayed his revenge with the illusion of having a family, but the young Baelfire, Peter Pan, was like his mother, a free spirit who did not want ties, an eternal teenager who didn't want to listen. He had loved Milah, his distant and cold dear Milah, because she had been the closest thing to a family for him. He closed a cupboard and tried to recall her voice saying his name, but nothing came to his mind; he drank his long forgotten shot and just stared at Emma… his Emma. She was sleeping on a table, she had saved him from the darkness and she deserved much more than a cold hard desk. He tidied his bed for her, he took of her boots and her belts. He smiled at her gun and tucked it into his pants. He was going to carry her to his bed when he remembered the strange tight corset he had felt under her shirt, he rolled up her shirt until he could see the white strap, he pulled here and there until he managed to open the strange lock and rolled down the shirt. Killian looked Emma's face once more, she was still peacefully sleeping. He placed his stump under her knees and lifted her. The sudden pain he felt was so strong that he almost dropped her. Gritting his teeth he managed to carry Emma the short distance that separated them from the bed. He left her facing up on the bed, and leaned on the mattress to catch his breath, he attempted to massage his leg, but the pain only increased. After a couple of minutes he managed to move again without hissing. With great care he took off her socks, and after considering it a little, he unbuttoned her trousers with a grin. The pulled the covers and tucked them around her. "My Swan girl." He smiled when she settled herself and moaned. Killian brushed a strand of golden hair from her face. "Thanks Emma of mine." He whispered in her ear and, with a great effort, he denied himself the kiss he was dying to lay in her lovely cheek.
Killian sang very quietly while tidying the rest of the room. Glancing back at her laying figure with tenderness now and then to made sure she was still asleep.
"From your head, to your toes.
Baby mine
You're so sweet goodness knows.
Baby mine"
You may not know it, but Blackbeard really existed, his real name was Edward Teach (I changed it for Edward Jones) his main weapon was his ship, The Queen Anne's Revenge, and it was said that the vessel was enchanted and magically obeyed her captain. Furthermore Blackbeard acquired a young lady to marry her in a deal, so I add a little bit of magic to the story.
The last song is from the film Dumbo; you will see latter how it fits into the story.
By the way… what will Emma do in the morning? Will she be mad at our pirate? Only goodness knows.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Oh my! The season Finale was so great! I love Hook even more now! I know the season finale has send some kind of light to our pirate past… and some of his garments tell much more that his own words (his Christian cross), as well as the fact that is the only character that has a surname in the enchanted forest… so…
This little box down here is hungry, let's feed it a review!
