I am very excited for a few reasons. First off, I am finally getting on the move with where I want to be in this story! *roars of people cheering in the background* Second, the fights in this chapter are in real-time! Yay! Haha.

The duo sat down at a table, attracting the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Not just because Killian was there, but also because Henry rarely left the house. Ruby usually dropped off his dinner along with some basic groceries to make breakfast and lunch. She did it in exchange for an alibi. Apparently she was dating someone and didn't want anyone to know. He didn't even know who, but Henry figured that it was her business. And plus, the food she brought was delicious. It was a nice deal, for the both of them. They said she stayed with him and stuff. Whatever, it kept Henry an introvert and gave Ruby freedom for about 2 to 3 hours a day.

Killian relished in the familiarity of the diner, relaxing in the booth the two had gotten, stretching out. After passing Killian a menu, Henry looked his menu and pointed out his favorite items on the list to Killan. Killian, as far as he knew, had never had anything like the food here. Just look at Belle, she didn't know what a cheeseburger was after being locked up for years.

"Cinnamon Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Pie, Cheeseburger, Fries, Chicken Tenders, Meatball Sub, and Ice Cream," Killian listed off as Henry pointed. He nodded, then pointed to the hot cocoa, cheeseburger, fries, and the pumpkin pie.

"Those are the best on the menu. I suggest getting them. If you're not in a hot drink mode, get a Coke. Have you ever had a Coke?" Henry asked. Killian noticed that he had drawn on the sides of the pad, strange markings and pictures. A few smaller chicken scratches that may have passed as Henry's attempt to write small also filled the margins, so tiny Killian would need more than the quick glance to read. He retracted the pad, scratching at his wrist.

"Er, no. I think I'll stick with my rum." Henry's mouth twisted into a smirk as he wrote his response.

"You and your rum. I don't think they have rum here, sorry. Beer, yes. Wine, yes. No rum." This time, it was Killian's turn to smirk. From inside a jacket pocket Killian pulled out a silver flask.

"I always have some on me. In case someone is injured, my drink has been poisoned, or simply that there's no rum," he explained, placing the flask on the table. "Just refilled it during our sailing lesson. Which reminds me, when do you want to go out to sea again?"

"How about tomorrow?" Henry knew that they were both purposely avoiding discussing the story Killian had just told. The problem was, Henry wasn't sure what to say, how to react. He didn't know what he felt, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

Confusion. He felt very confused. Henry had never killed something as small as a deer (he had run over bunnies and the like with his car by accident on more than one occasion), and killing another person had always been drilled into him as wrong. Injuring someone else was a whole 'nother matter. Simple. Easy. But then he started to have questions about everything.

What if the killer didn't mean to kill? Why would they still be seen as guilty? What if their motive was right and it had to be done? What then? How do you judge a person who did something wrong that needed to be done for all the right reasons?

Henry didn't know. Unfortunately, he knew he felt anger. Waves of anger, hot and frothy, trying to get out. And he was barely keeping them he. He had hoped that with a nice lunch, they would calm. But if anything, they just got bigger and angrier. How could Killian have done that?

A shot of proudness occasionally appeared like a beacon in a storm, but soon after it came appeared horrification. How could he do that? How was any human being capable of that? Capable of ending another person's life, destroying their existence? He just couldn't fathom how someone could tell themselves, force themselves, to do that. Killian hadn't been much younger than him, only 15, almost 16. How? How had he done it?

He understood why he did it, and maybe he would've done the same thing if he had been in Killian's position. But the thing was, he hadn't been in his position. So the only way Henry could judge him would be as if Killian had cold-bloodedly killed someone. Two people, in fact. One to avenge, the other in self defense. And yet...

Killian didn't remember actually killing them. He knew he had, of course, but every time, he had 'blacked out'. Or so he claimed. But Henry didn't think he was lying. But maybe his emotions had taken control of him, sending him into an oblivious state where his emotions took control. Maybe Killian wasn't entirely to blame. Then again, Killian had meant to kill Xavier. The man who had charged at him had only been in self defense, so Henry couldn't blame him for that. At least, not fully.

The way Killian had killed them had been unbearably cruel, inhumanly painful. Overkill, complete and utter overkill. Quite literally, but it really was. Heartless, the killings had been. As if they had been done by a monster with no heart, no morals. But still, Henry couldn't judge him. At least, not properly. If he said one thing, he would be lying. If he said another, he would be lying. And if he said everything he was feeling, he would still be confused.

'Stop,' Henry told himself. 'You're going to enjoy this lunch and deal with everything later. Not here, you can't loose it here. And people are already suspicious of Killian, if it becomes a fight you can't have people booting him out of town. Then you'll loose your chance to learn about Emma, and you can't loose that. Now talk about something, anything, even the weather! Just keep away from those thoughts, and everything will be fine.'

"Sounds perfect," Killain answered, jarring Henry out of his thoughts. "I'm glad you liked it, Henry. I was really hoping you would."

"Hey, what do you guys want?" Ruby asked, sauntering over. She wore dark skinny jeans, a red halter top, lace up boots to her ankles, and a white scarf. Her black hair was streaked with red, per usual. Her eyes were focused on her note pad, so when she raised them she saw Killian for the first time. A growl emitted from the back of her throat, and her eyes narrowed. "You."

Killian sighed. "Hi, Red. How you doing?" he asked, slumping against the seat. She glared, and opened her mouth to say something when Henry passed her a note explaining the basis of everything. He had been writing it since she had walked up to their booth. He was considering making copies for everyone in town. Her scowl slowly softened.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she acknowledged, and Henry nodded. He supposed he would have to get used to people saying that to him. Henry shrugged, nonchalant. He wouldn't let anyone see him mourn. It seemed invasive, and Henry wanted to be around his family or alone when he mourned. People may call him heartless for it, but screw them.

"So, what can I get you?" Ruby asked once more, clearing the awkward silence.

"Might I have the cheeseburger, fries, and pumpkin pie? Henry said they were the best things on the menu," Killian answered with a smile on his face. Ruby's face flushed with pride when he said that they were the best things on the menu.

"They really are," she agreed. "And you Henry?" He gave her 'the Look', and she laughed. "Let me guess, same thing except with cinnamon hot chocolate?" Henry's face broke into a large grin and he nodded vigorously.

"Your meals should be here in about 15 minutes," Ruby said with a quick smile and a turn on her heel. Killian took a large swig from his flask and wiped his mouth on his sleeve when he was done. He closed his eyes and drummed his fingers on the table top, humming a fast tune. Henry wasn't sure if he felt angry that Killian was so calm after all that, but he supposed he was just trying to relax. Understandable.

Henry sketched randomly, his pencil sketching out strange shapes and runes. Whenever he let his mind wander, strange drawings would come out of his sketches. They weren't the run of the mill normal sketches, either. At least, he didn't think normal people drew runes. He had lived with Regina long enough to recognize them, but not read them. Pity at that, because who knew what they said? Best to keep them to himself.

Ruby slid their cheeseburgers over to them minutes later, far quicker than Henry anticipated. Then again, his sense of time when he's drawing was whacked up. It could have just been 5 minutes or 5 hours, Henry wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Killian took the tip of his hook and scratched the bun, a cautious look in his eyes. Henry smiled at the man's cautiousness. It was funny, watching a grown man inspect a cheeseburger.

Henry tapped him on the shoulder. Killian looked up. "What?" he asked. Henry tapped the burger and Killian he had his attention, Henry grabbed his burger with his hand and brought it to his mouth, demonstrating how to eat it. Killian's face flushed slightly in embarrassment, and he copied Henry's movement. A smile crossed Killian's face as he took a bite.

"God, why couldn't people have made cheeseburgers back in the Enchanted Forest?"

"Delicious," he declared as they polished off their pie. Ruby smiled at Killian's comment once more. It was unheard of now, Granny's getting new customers. New comments of appreciation were always welcomed.

"Glad you enjoyed it. Henry, I'll drop by around lunch tomorrow, too. And your meals will be $39.87," Ruby said, and Killian handed her a gold coin. A doubloon worth several hundred dollars, or something like that today. Henry didn't exactly know. Her face became puzzled at the form of payment. "Er, what's this?"

"Payment for lunch for the next month, every day except on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays," Killian replied smoothly. Ruby raised an eyebrow. "That should cover it, right?"

"Think next 4-6 months, bucko. Maybe more. But it all depends. And thanks. Have a good day," she said, sending them off. And that's when Henry realized something.

They were going back to the apartment. They would confront what had happened, what Killian had done. And Henry wasn't sure if he could do that, have that argument. A shake started in his left hand, nervousness pouring into it. Panic, sheer panic was released into his bloodstream. And then things got worse. A hell of a lot worse. And how could that happen, one might ask? The Darkness struck.

Killian was walking besides Henry, hand in pocket, hook at his side when he noticed Henry slowly down. How his breathing quickened. How his eyes grew darker. How his fingers curled under themselves, forming a fist. How his knees gave out. And how his eyes rolled to the back of his head and the backs of his eyes were, in a word, black.

Literally, black. A cold stone fell in his stomach, and with a jolt Killian realized just exactly was happening. Darkness Fit. Killian had had his fair share in his 'darker' days. The Darkness completely overwhelmed you, sending your darkest thoughts to take over. It was the worst form of torture Killian knew. All of your failures, all of your weakest moments, your fears, everything that's ever haunted you, and basically the things that will destroy you completely flood your mind. You cannot grasp a single good thought, nothing to make the dark go away. It's just you and your fears. And your fears always win in this situation. Your best hope? Pray it's quick.

Killian looked around in a crazed panic, seeing if anyone was coming to Henry's side. If anyone did, it would complicate things greatly. They would take him to the hospital and then he wouldn't be able to do anything. No one was, but Killian still hurried. He picked Henry up and carried him up the stairs to the apartment. Killian kicked down the door, determined to be as quick as possible. He had ocne been in a Darkness Fit for a full 24 hours before it let go. No one had known how to stop what had happened to him back then. At least he did, so Henry would be fine. Hopefully.

He laid Henry on the couch did his best to make him comfortable and safe. Once that was insured, Killian bolted for the bathroom. He grabbed rags and put the sink on 'cold', shoving the rags in. They would get cold in a minute or so. He then ran for a knife, a dagger, something small and sharp. His hook wouldn't work, far too sharp and it wasn't delicate, which was required in the procedure. He then grabbed a few bowls, the rags, and some bandages and raced to the teen's side.

"No," Killian said bitterly as he got to work. "You will not hurt him any longer, old friend."

Henry was standing in a dark world. Black was all he could see, he couldn't tell if there was anything right in front of his nose or a wall over 300 miles away. And that's when the screaming starts.

It was a scream Henry had heard before. The time he had stabbed one of the bullies in the shoulder, only in self defense, and God, how he had he howled. The guilt plagued Henry. He hurt someone deliberately. And the guilt was weighing him down. It was a more recent occurrence, so the guilt was still fresh. After the scream stopped, a voice started taunting him, teasing him. Confirming his very own thoughts.

'You will never be good enough.' 'Everyone hates you.' 'DIE.' 'Idiotic, mute boy.' Everything he had called himself, everything he had been called, everything the Darkness plagued him with came slamming back to him with double the pain as before. Salt was rubbed in reopened wounds, and everything stung. Henry wasn't sure, but he thought that his cuts had reopened themselves. Not that he could, of course. And he wasn't quite brave enough to feel for blood.

He saw dead bodies, but that was all he saw. Arms were missing, heads rolling about and spreading blood in their wake. And then someone, neigh, something cackled, 'You did this, you know. Look at your right hand.' What he saw? A wicked knife at least a foot long, the blade itself red. Silver and red, moonlight coated in blood. 'YOU KILLED THEM ALL!'

"No, no, it wasn't me, it wasn't my fault," Henry cried, gesturing with his knife wildly. He wasn't used to having it in his hand, especially a knife that long. It sliced messily across his stomach. "No, no, no..."

'Look over there,' the voice cried, malicious. And every body disappeared. Except for 4. The one closest to him had several stab marks covering her body. Mostly in her stomach and throat, they were jagged, as if made in a rush. It was Regina. Her face was splattered with blood, and eyes were still open. Henry backed away, horrified, falling over a body.

Henry picked himself up. He didn't recognize this body. It was a girl his age. Her face would've been beautiful had it not been marred with cuts. Her nose was obviously broken, hanging on the side of her left cheek. Her hair was a shade of dark of blonde. Her skin was pale. One of her eyes had been taken out or stabbed, but either way she only had one eye. It was a dark brown. And right in the middle of her chest was a large gapping hole. Where her heart should've been was blackness. She enchanted Henry. Who was she?

Her corpse disappeared before he could get a closer inspection and just a few feet away appeared a new corpse. Henry didn't dare to look, but he was forced to. It was Killian. It looked like parts of him hand been burned. His legs were just to stumps of blackened skin. There was a long slit starting at his chin and ending at his stomach, meaning he had been cut open. Killian's eyes were closed. His large, swollen, purple tongue hung out of his mouth.

And it still wasn't over yet. The last corpse. Henry screwed his eyelids shut, but it was just in vain. They were forced upon and Henry could look nowhere but the last corpse.

Long blonde hair was spread around the corpse, stained with blood. Her eyes were cut out, both of them. Knife wounds covered her entire body, along with whip marks and burns. Strangulation marks covered her throat. It was his mother. Emma. He hadn't seen her in person in 7 years. He had never seen her like this. And it scared him to death.

'Look what you did.' And then the floor gave out and he fell, fell, fell...

Killian's brow was scrunched in concentration. He had done everything he could, everything that had needed to be done. He had sliced the palm of Henry's hand, collecting the blood. The blood was mixed with his own blood. The cold rags had been placed over the bowl containing all of the blood. He held his bloodied palm over the rags, letting the blood drip onto them. He thought good thoughts, sent good wishes to Henry. Yet he still didn't break the hold the Darkness held over him. He slammed his fist down on the table, frustrated. Why wasn't it working? He had to get to him before the boy met his worst nightmare... No, it wouldn't happen. He wouldn't let it happen.

Killian noticed the blood flow from his hand slow. He slowly took his hook and created a new cut right beside the old one. He winced, but it did the job. Blood leaked from his palm once more. He then resumed position, bowl on the floor, hands over it, and eyes closed. He needed this boy to live, to not go through what he went through.

'You know, it's your fault,' the Darkness sneered. Killian's eyes flew open and his heart beat so fast he thought it was going to fly out of his chest. He hadn't heard that voice in 7 years... Just because he had dark relapses, didn't mean it had spoken to him. 'What this boy is going through right now? All your fault. If you hadn't found that stupid Light and got me out, I wouldn't have found him. Best part, you took his mother away from him and gave him me. How much crueler can you get?' It laughed.

Killian did his best to ignore the Darkness, but it knew just what to say to destroy him. It had lived in him for, what, 300 years? Give or take a few? It lived in his mind. It knew him better than anyone else in all the worlds. It knew what scared him, the guilt he carried, the uncertainness of every action he made. How he never knew what was right, what was wrong, and what was just his stupidness. When he crossed the line between avenging and, simply, sin.

'Tell him, or I will.' And then the Darkness left, and Henry shot right up, screaming. His eyes were wide, Killian had never seen eyes that wide. That scared. Henry rolled off the couch, clutching his head. Killian heard murmurs from Henry as they grew louder, louder, louder.

"I didn't kill them, I didn't kill anyone!" Henry sobbed, shaking. "I swear!" Killian's heart broke at seeing the lad in such a state. And then he realized something. Henry had spoken. He was still speaking. He was no longer mute, he could speak. A parting gift? Or maybe a bargaining chip. Henry would speak as long as Killian did what he promised.

'A gift, I suppose. The pain he just went through gave me so much joy, you know. I figured it was the least I could do,' the Darkness hissed. The hairs on the back of Killian's neck stood straight up. Why did it sound so damn familiar? The Darkness had a male voice, but he could never place it... Who was it? How did he know them? Later, he would deal with it later. Now he had to help Henry.

"Henry, Henry, you're alright. Everything is alright. I'm alright, you're alright, we're fine," Killian cooed awkwardly. He had to get the boy in his right mind before he sprung anything on him. At very, very least, an hour. And he figured that's what the Darkness wanted. He wanted Henry to know as soon as possible. Everything.

Eventually, Henry calmed down. "Killian?" His voice was slightly rusty, but deep. It completed Henry perfectly. His hazel eyes were wide and terrified. Much like his own after his first fit, Killian supposed.

"Henry, it's alright. Are you okay?" Killian was trying to avoid the fact that Henry was talking until the lad realized it himself. Might shock him back into not talking and no one wanted that.

"F-F-Fine. What the hell was that?" Right to the point and blunt. Great, just great. Killian rubbed his eyes, sighing. He heard Henry tapping his foot impatiently on the carpet below them, waiting for an answer.

"I call it a Darkness Fit. The Darkness shows you everything you fear, everything you hold yourself responsible for, basically everything that can be used against you to destroy you. Rip you to shreds on the inside. He uses it - at least, I believe it's a he - to weaken you. You should have seen things you fear. I heard you talk about 'not killing them, I didn't kill anyone' earlier. I take it killing is something you're terrified of to an extent? Scared you'll do, isn't it?"

"How did you know that all about me? About the Darkness? It's a real thing? I'm not crazy? I'm not depressed?" The words shot out of Henry's mouth like tiny bullets.

"Yes, it's a real thing, I don't think so but I don't know much about psychology, and again, don't think so. It was all part of the Darkness." Henry's face lit up like a Christmas tree. He jumped up onto the couch, bouncing like a small child after a little bit too much sugar. He seemed so happy, so elated. For the first time he had met him, Henry seemed like the boy he had met so many years ago.

"YES! It's gone, oh God, it's Christmas it's gone!" he cried, jumping on to the floor. Henry thought the Darkness was gone. He couldn't have been more wrong, Killian knew. And as much as he hated to be the one to ruin Henry's good mood, he had to. Otherwise, that would just give the Darkness more power.

"Henry, it's not gone." And then Henry stopped, face frozen.

"But I'm not depressed anymore, I feel fine! Great, actually." He was so confused. So lost. He didn't want him to be right. Disappointed. And finally, terrified. He was scared that it would come back, clothing him once more in Darkness.

"It hasn't left. I know the Darkness, Henry. It's not going to leave you alone until you find your Light. Until you find your true love. And even then, it won't fully leave for a few weeks. Trust me, please. I know what I'm talking about," Killian said, completely honest.

"How do you know anything about the Darkness?" Henry's voice was small.

"Because he used to be in my mind. For about 300 years, actually. He left the second my true love fell for me. I cheated, but in the end she did love me," he confessed, voice bitter and slightly wistful.

"What do you mean?" Henry asked. He was like glass. Fragile. Killian had to be careful as to how he phrased this. How he would tell him everything that had happened.

"When I began my revenge, the Darkness entered my mind. I don't know why, but it did. It choose me to torture, me to claim. And I dealt with it for hundreds of years. And then I found your mother. Everything lightened around her. And at that point, I was raving mad. And you know the rest. I kidnaped her and made her love me to get rid of the Darkness. I thought... I thought it would die or something. I never thought it would claim someone else."

"You mean... The Darkness, inside my head right now, was once in your head?" Killian nodded. "You are absolutely shitting me right now. It can't have been the same thing, right? It just... It doesn't make sense," Henry rambled. And then his eyes widened in realization. "I'm talking! I'm speaking! Oh god, this is wonderful!" Henry looked so elated for that moment before regaining a more serious composure. "How did it happen?"

"I agreed to tell you everything in exchange for your ability to speak. I think. Well worth it, in all honesty. But the Darkness... No one knows his motive. I don't know what it wants, but it's going to try to destroy you. We need to find you your true love, also known as your light. For years, I had thought that I had no chance to get rid of the Darkness because Milah was dead. I never realized she wasn't my true love." For a moment, the two were silent and wary. "Anyways, in your, er, fit, did anything happen to someone you didn't know? Someone that was singled out?"

"Killian, I can't... I can't relive that right now. Not... Not now. Tomorrow, or something. Please?" Henry's eyes were so big, so pleading, that Killian had to nod. Henry slumped in relief. "Thank God."

"Henry, it's just going to get worse now. I'm warning you now. If you ever need anything, have a nightmare, anything happens, you get me right away. Okay? I know how to deal with a good number of things the Darkness will throw at you," Killian said, completely and utterly serious. "If anything happens to you, your mother will strike me down."

"Okay, I promise." Henry held out his hand, and Killian shook it.

"Now, to explain everything."

"Haven't you already done that?"

"Oh, God no! I've barely scraped the top, Henry. It's going to be a long story, let me tell you."

I am so sorry for the late update! I just had no inspiration. It was lost. Don't even get me started on my other story, I have such a block there it's not even funny. Well, I'm working through it. If you wanted to know.

The only reason you got the chapter this early (honestly, I was expecting another 2 weeks at least) was because I found something that is a serious obsession. And fanfics MAY up soon about it, if you like it. The show Sherlock sparked my creativity into high gear, let me tell you! I'm writing a lot now. Very happy. If you don't watch Sherlock, get some snacks, a drink, and a comfy spot. Watch it, people. And if you do watch it, well, did you see my sneaky quote in there? Did you? ;)

I'm thinking the next chapter will be mostly memories but who knows. This chapter got sort of where I wanted to be, but not exactly. Did not expect his voice to come back, that surprised me too! How would you guys feel about that? If I do that, the chapter will be FAST, I think I can guarantee that.

Some food for thought:

-The Darkness is a He. Who is the Darkness, exactly?

-How did the Darkness choose who to, well, invade? Is there a method or does he do as he pleases?

-Who is Henry's Light?

-What else does Killian know about the Darkness? Hint: He knows more about him than he realizes.

Any theories about, well, anything, tell me! I enjoy them and they often cause me to smirk and laugh evilly. Gotta love 'em. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter!