A/N: Sorry this is so late, but I think I finally got the story completely plotted out. This didn't turn out the best, but I would really appreciate feedback to help feed the muse. I'm still not over the finale. This OTP is beautiful.


On the Jewel…

Just an hour after first light, they spotted land and began to make their way to make port. Emma was so happy to see land, as much as she had missed being on the open sea she needed to know her boy was alright. She needed to contact her parents and her grandmother, they would know what to do. As though he could sense her anxiety Killian wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"We'll find our lad, my love."

"I know, I just wish I knew where he was, who took him? I would say why, but I really don't care, I just want him back." She had to bite back tears, they wouldn't help right now.

It killed Killian to see her so distressed. He knew once they made land his contacts might be able to give him some information. When his ship had been taken by first the storm then a misfit band of sailors, he'd met an interesting man and his family that had been looking for a new home. The man, Adam, had his boy with him and his young wife they had traveled to a few lands before returning to the enchanted forest with Killian's crew from that land without time. He hadn't looked old but his eyes told a different story, and he knew a great many things. He wouldn't tell Killian or his crew how he knew such ancient tales in such vivid detail, but he aided them in maneuvering around the island and finding a way off in exchange for passage for his family. Now he would seek him out to see if he could shed any light on who might have attacked his son.

The Caves…

Henry woke feeling warm and free? His arms were no longer bound, and instead of just the two cubs surrounding him, it appeared that their mother had found them and surrounded all three of the sleeping children. He slowly sat up in a circle of warm brown fur. Some light had started to creep into the cave from above. His companions began to wake up slowly and began nudging his body to play with them. Some time during the night one of the bears must have bitten through the ties that held his wrists and ankles together, and he was free to move about. He remembered what Grandma Snow had told him about mama bears they were very protective of their cubs, and so he moved slowly as not to startle the large bear that had curled around him and the two cubs. It seemed like his caution was in vain as the large bear's eyes blinked open and she began to nuzzle her cubs and Henry alike. He smiled and laughed, and began to stroke the large bear's fur and nuzzle his face into her fur.

The dark sorcerer sat at his throne in the inmost cavern, there he built his own castle out of the maze of caves off the coast of the mainland. The little island was his entire castle, he used what little magic he had to subdue the forest all around to create his small refuge. It would have to do while he bided his time to return to claim the White kingdom as his own and punish those who'd banished him to the wilderness. He called his only companion to him, a snivelling man named Gifre, who though tall gave the impression of being small, as though he tried to take as little amount of space as possible. He gave instruction to check on the child, and take a small meal to him. He then turned to to a mirror just behind his throne, its frame as gnarled and black as its master's heart. He called for the mirror to show him the princess, at once the mirror began to swirl like molten silver until a clear view of Emma graced its surface. She stood at the bow of a ship, wrapped in a naval jacket. Soon she was joined in frame by a man with sea blue eyes and raven black hair. The sorcerer stroked the mirror image of Emma's cheek.

"Soon Swan, you will be mine. Not even your sailor will be able to save you."

Henry spent his morning playing and lounging with the bear family that had found him. Soon he'd fallen asleep again curled against his furry friends. The warmth they provided made him feel as safe as though he were back home in his room with his mother. She would find him and bring him home, he knew it. Their family always found each other.

The Port Town of Arendelle

The Jewel docked, and Killian had his first mate go and make arrangements with the Quartermaster. He and Emma made their way through town as they sought out his informant. Emma had woven her arm through his as they made their way through the bustling market to what appeared to be a set of homes judging by the children playing and running between the homes. Emma smiled sadly as she watched two boys not much older than Henry playing with toy swords. Killian sensed her melancholy and held her arm to him tighter in a show of support.

"Not much farther darling, Adam's home is just at the end of this row."

As soon as he said that a young boy ran into him and wrapped his arms around Killian's middle.

"Captain Jones! You've come back!"

Smiling, Killian hugged the boy back and looked to Emma's shining eyes,

"Emma I'd like you to meet Adam's son, this is Bailey. Bailey this is Emma, my - uhm she's my-"

"Betrothed." Emma finished for him with a wink to her love. "It's lovely to meet you Bailey."

Bailey blushed at being addressed by Emma, he hadn't noticed she was right there until she'd greeted him. He bowed quickly and offered a shy hello, before taking hold of Killian's hand.

"Come on Captain, Papa and Mama are in the house with Rose."

Killian began to question who this other person was, when he was greeted by Adam and his wife Belle stepping out of the house.

"This, Captain, is Rose." Adam smiled warmly as he gestured to the small girl no more than a year old in his wife's arms.

"Congratulations mate, and you as well Lady Stilskin." Killian smiled and gently placed his hand at the small of Emma's back, "This is my betrothed, Emma."

The couple smiled at Killian in relief, they knew what Killian had gone through looking for a way back to his princess, and now their friend had finally found her. After some introductions Adam broke the pleasantries,

"What brings you here Killian? Is everything well?"

"We've come to seek your help friend, you know much about the peoples all around this realm, and we were in pursuit of a ship that has taken our son."

"What can you tell me of this ship, were there any markings or sigils on the sails or the men who took him?"

Between Emma and Killian, they were able to describe the men who'd taken Henry as well as the sigil the ship's flag bore. The black and silver garments worn by the abductors as well as the grey flag with the sigil of a large black beast, with terrible wings that were larger than the beast's body.

"Oh dearies, you are coming up against something very dark indeed."

"What do you know of the captors Adam?"

Adam then proceeded to tell them his own story, his experience with the sorcerer.

"I would help you if I could dearies, but I long ago gave up my power as the Dark One for a far better life." He smiled lovingly at his wife playing with their children in the sitting room.

"Oh Adam, I understand, but is there any information you can give us as to why he would take Henry, we've never seen that sigil before, or ever dealt with a kingdom that would take him."

"What do you know of the legend of the Swan Princess of the White Kingdom?"

"I know all about it, my mother would tell me the story as a child."

"It's not just a story dearie, it's history. Yours to be exact, Odette is an ancestor of sorts to your family. The sorcerer in that story went dark, as well you know. He was also obsessed with your ancestor, Princess Odette. He wants your kingdom dearie and I bet he'll be using your boy to take it."

"Henry is just a child, and my parents still sit on the throne, not to mention the fact that my grandmother would never let the kingdom fall, she's been training me in magic. The kingdom remains under our protection."

"That may be your best defense dear, he probably isn't aware of the strength of your magic, he was never interested in light magic."

"Do you know how to get to this sorcerer?"

"Indeed Captain, have you got a map on you? I'll help you chart a course to his island, but beware, he's likely to have magical safeguards all around."

And so with Adam's help, Killian and Emma were armed with a pathway to retrieve their son, and fully be a family again. As they bid the Stilskins goodbye, Adam pulled them back for one more piece of information.

"Keep your wits about you dearies, he's dangerous and he'll likely want to take Emma. You look a great deal like your ancestor Princess, and he's always had an unhealthy want of her."

"Thank you again for your aid, we'll not soon forget it."

"Yes thank you, I'll be sure to tell my parents of your kindness and aid."

"The pleasure was mine Princess."

"One more question before we go, just out of curiosity. What was the sorcerer's name?"

"Rothbart."