Chapter 10

Our Future is Now

He woke up to a blonde angel curled up against him, she was fast asleep. The Dark One, his beautiful swan was beside him, better, she loved him.

And God, he loved her. He loved Emma Swan too much for words.

He loved her too much.

"Emma love, I'm sorry, I've been lying to you." He whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'm dying Swan. Your magic can't save me, only Neverland can. But it'll happen in a few weeks, a month if I'm lucky, if I intend to find the bloody island, I need your help, but to do that, it would leave your friend in captivity, to risk making your son motherless. I can't do that Swan. I can't give you that choice, an impossible choice. I can't take away another mother from her son. Maybe if we hurry, once your family is safe, I swear, I'll tell you, I'll tell you the whole tale."

She groaned in her sleep, and for a second, Killian worried she was awake and had heard his confession. She pressed against him, nuzzling deeper into his neck. He grinned; it was such a cute movement.

"But I love you, I love you Emma Swan. But if I tell you that, you'll think you failed me, you'll think it was your fault, you'll hate yourself. I can't let that happen. If I keep my words my secret, then at least…at least you can hate me. You won't be left wondering what if. What if I had lived? What if we had a future together? What if I hadn't saved you? Would I still be alive?"

He looked at the ceiling. "The answer love, is no. If I had never met you, I'd had been miserable until I eventually died, probably in some alley way or street corner. I'd die alone. Call me selfish, but in this, I am."

She stirred a bit more. "I don't want to die alone." He kissed her, making her giggle.

The Dark Swan was giggling.

"Morning love." He said, praying she hadn't heard his declaration.

"Morning sailor." She moaned into him, wrapping her legs around him, cuddling against him. "You're warm sailor." She snickered. She was happy, so happy that he could feel it radiating off of her.

He laughed, getting up, parting from her as she pouted, and gathering his clothes, leather pants, a vest and his coat. "As much as I'd love to stay in bed with you all day, I believe there is a lad who's pretty anxious to go on with a rescue mission or two?" He prodded.

Emma groaned. "I guess." She muttered, standing up before poof-ing another dress on. "Like it Jones?" She teased as she twirled the light blue cloth.

They both knew he was blushing violently as he was dressing, he certainly appreciated the neck line and the thought of removing it as he had done last night.

By God, she's beautiful. If Henry wasn't probably waiting for them, he didn't think his self-control could take it.

He was just about finished getting dressed when there was a knock on the door.

"Mom! They're here!" Henry said quickly, easing the tension in one moment before thrusting them back into chaos.

They both knew exactly who he was talking about. "Time we make our leave from here then, isn't it?" He prodded with a wink. Emma nodded, opening the door, pulling Henry inside seconds after making the bed with a flick of her wrist.

"Where are we going? What's the plan?" He asked in an excited whisper, leave it to the boy to see even danger as an adventure. Emma nudged him over to the bed sitting him down there, ready to discuss the plan Swan and he had come up with in the dead of night as they'd been up talking amongst other things.

Emma shot him a smile, knowing very well that she was thinking the very same thing.

"We're taking a ship around the kingdom." Killian started, forcing his expression neutral. "Get some distance so we can approach the summer palace from another angle." He explained.

"A ship? Which ship? The Queen is going to search every ship!" He insisted, arms crossed.

Emma glanced at him as he smirked. "My ship." He said triumphantly. "The Jolly Roger."

"Liam! Liam! Is that your ship? Is that it?"

"Yes brother, that's it, the fastest ship in all the realms."

Emma squeezed his hand; he wondered what his face looked like as he got momentarily lost in his memories, he knelt down by the boy. "Would you like to learn to sail lad?"

He crossed his arms stubbornly. "Learn what? You just turn the wheel and go in different directions right? Sailing a boat should be easy." He recoiled, pressing a hand to his heart in mock pain.

"Right in the heart lad, you wound me right in the heart." He said with a gasp. It brought a smile to the boy's face, and a giggle to Swan's. "How about we see for ourselves how easy it is?" He dared, seeing the effect of the challenge in his eyes. "Unless, you're…scared." He said teasingly.

He shook his head. "No way!" He insisted, sounding every bit the 14 year old boy he pretended he wasn't with his curt replies and knack for mischief. Emma ruffled his hair, seeing it too.

"Come on, my sailors, let's get out of here."

They managed to slip out of the tavern without incident, walking hand and hand with Swan, Henry trailing around them. For a moment, Killian saw what they appeared like to the naked eye, a perfect little family. It made his heart flutter; it was all he'd ever wanted.

Emma squeezed tighter, leaning her head against his shoulder. She saw it too. The village was alive with life, and Killian couldn't help forgetting their hurry for a moment about their need for haste.

"One moment Swan?" He asked. She looked at him warily. "We're perfectly invisible in this crowd; give me five minutes before we make our departure?" He asked.

Emma looked uncertain but then they both looked over to see Henry looking through someone's merchandise. She sighed.

"A tiny detour wouldn't hurt." She reasoned. Killian grinned happily, going to where he spotted a collection of maps. Old habits die hard apparently. Killian was an avid collector of maps, since until recently, it was the closest thing to being a pirate as possible.

Along with hope to find a way to his brother.

"Anything unusual? He asked the shop keeper, if they knew what they were talking about the shop keeper would try and point him in a certain direction, however, this woman just shrugged uncaring. Killian sighed, most likely there was nothing, but still Killian searched. One madam's trash is another's treasure after all.

Aha!

He pulled a thinner map out from between two generic ones, noticing the different in the parchment than all the others. He looked over it closely. Recognizing certain landmarks, the mountain shape, the places a ship could naturally dock. It made him pale. He wasn't expecting…when he wasn't even looking, when he was just curious not avidly searching as he used to…

After fifteen years, in his hands laid a map of Neverland.

Killian wondered if fate was purposely spiting him. Killian turned it over in his hands, neatly scrawled on the back were directions, no, it was more like a letter, but it was faded and smudged badly, Killian could barely make out the words.

…Not….deadly

Take… and find…before …day.

Make sure …taken care of…I know you will.

…friend…trust…waiting…

Cap… am …es

He wondered what it was supposed to say and if the reader had found it before it had been ruined, buying the map dirt cheap before stuffing it into his coat pocket.

Killian couldn't think about that. It brought up thoughts Killian had been happy forgetting, questioning a fate he'd already accepted.

He wanted to find something nice for Swan, yes, that's exactly what he'd do. He left the map section and found his way to a table of funny knickknacks and jewelry.

Woman like jewelry. He realized with a grin. He moved through it, fingering the dainty chains and petty jewels hanging listlessly. None of those seemed right for Swan.

Killian's eye settled onto something interesting and for whatever reason, he thought Swan would adore it. It'd bring a smile to her face, and that's what mattered. Killian had just enough money to purchase the thick silver chain, pocketing it slowly.

He just hoped she'd like it. If he couldn't say the words, at least he wanted something to remember him by, something to make her smile.

He found her with her arms wrapped around a basket of food, mouth filled like a chipmunk. He chuckled, coming behind her, placing gentle kisses to her neck. He was so happy all of a sudden; years of misery seemed to just fade around here and now.

"Whatcha got there Swan?" He whispered.

"Food." She mumbled, mouth still full. He laughed.

"Can I have some?" He prodded, hand resting on her hip as he led her over somewhere that wasn't directly in the middle of everything. She swallowed.

"Nope." She teased turning around, tugging it away. Her emerald eyes shined brightly in mischief. "But, perhaps I can be persuaded to change my mind." She said seductively.

Killian grinned, pressing against her, one hand in her hair, other still glued to her hip. Even with their agreement to keep things…decent between them around the boy, he was still a pirate and she was still enchanting.

"And how, love, should I go about doing that." He asked in fake confusion. "After all, I'm awfully hungry." She pulled him into a kiss, obviously impatient after his teasing, but that wasn't the only thing Killian was after, he pulled away, one of the loafs of bread Emma had purchased in his hand, she looked at him in surprise, then back to the lowered mound of bread in her basket.

"How the hell did you do that?" She demanded.

He pressed against her again, kissing just beneath the ear. "Pirate, love." He reminded her. "Pirates take what they want."

She eyed him again.

"And what exactly do you want pirate?"

Killian laughed, hearing those same words during their first kiss, words thrown in anger once, now spoken with something beautiful.

"What do I want Emma? Are you really asking that?" He questioned. "You." He threw the bread behind him grabbing onto her, carrying her in a perfect princess carry, her arms around his neck as she laughed loudly, twirling her around as she clutched his neck, all thoughts of food forgotten.

He suddenly heard the distinct sound of music in the market place, saw where children were gathered and were dancing clumsily to an old man's tunes. He grinned, placing her back on the ground.

"Care to engage into some more pleasurable activities, Princess Leia?" He asked, nodding in their direction. She grinned.

"After you Prince Charles."

X

Henry smirked when they met back up with him, they were going to have lunch at one of the taverns before continuing on their way.

He folded his arms leaning back in his chair looking utterly smug. "I hope you two had fun on your date, I heard from the local kids, you were snogging so much, that you caused children to flee." Henry snickered, making them both flush up.

"I have no idea-"

"Henry, that's absurd-"

Needless to say, it was a futile effort under the boy's laughter, well, until Killian noticed something mighty peculiar.

"Henry…"Killian looks at Swan, finding a moment to whisper when Emma's mind wonders a bit. "are there sparkles on your shirt?" The boy went rigid, all the color drained from his face, turning to see that Swan didn't hear him. Henry shakes his head quickly, pleading to him not to make the fact known.

Killian just smirks, waggling his eye brows suggestively. The boy's pale face becomes flush with color, it practically screams, 'it's not what it looks like.'

When woman (or girls in Henry's case) Killian finds it usually is.

But Killian just smiles, putting an arm around Emma, feeling here move into him. "So what did you do, pirate?" She asks.

"Oh please, kid here, don't want to know." Henry groans, causing Killian to chuckle.

"Research love." He says. "Found myself a treasure map." Yes, because a future with Emma was the best treasure he could ask for, if only he had more time. "And a bit of treasure."

Emma looks at him, a sparkle in her eye, but it barely compares to the look of adventure in the boy.

"A treasure map? Where? What's the treasure?" He prods.

Killian rubs behinds his ear, feeling the map in his pocket burn.

"Top secret lad." He replied with a wink. "But I do hope to go after it one your family is safe love." He says honestly. "It's my request if you will." He says with a slight edge.

Emma nods knowingly, smile bright.

During their last adventure, after Killian had freed her from her tower, Elsa had appeared wishing for help to rescue her aunt. Killian had refused at first, but then Emma offered him a deal, help them and in return, she would give him one request. He asked her to help him find his brother.

(Killian left out the fact that if he didn't before he turned 30, he'd die. No, he didn't want to bring up that nasty little fact)

It did make Killian feel happy that Emma looked so excited to help with this goal, wondering her reaction if she did find Liam, if she did know the truth. Maybe it was best to keep her in the dark, think his death accidental, or as a result of some stupid misstep of his own.

Regardless of his own feelings, he'd hate for Emma to go on the path of vengeance, while vengeance was never a particular vice of his, he could see how it would be alluring to others.

"Seems pretty cocky to have picked out the next adventure when we haven't even finished this one." She flirted.

"Oh, but I have yet to see you fail, love." He replied.

Henry gagged. "Please, no more! Your killing me-with your cheesy one liners!" He said, mock hanging himself. Killian rolled his eyes.

"Hey, one liners are a practiced form of courting the fairer sex." He supplied. "At least for a pirate." He added. "And cover your ears lad, or you may pass out." He snickered.

Henry did, putting his head down, but stole a glance up. "Would you like to see the bit of treasure I procured?" He asked Emma simply.

She nodded, smile widening in glee. He removed a chain from his pocket, uncoiling it around the charm. "You seemed…distressed by that boy getting his gift, so I thought you'd like to get one of your own instead." He said sheepishly. She flinched slightly at the memory, making him hesitate.

"I'm sorry, it was silly- I-" He stuttered, closing his fist gently over the charm, thinking that perhaps it wasn't such a good idea. Emma recovered quickly, shaking her head.

"I'll tell you about why I was upset later, but please, let me see?" She pleaded, her hands over his own, gently uncurling his fingers. Her eyes lit up as she spotted the charm.

"It's not a swan, I tried to find one, but then I remembered the Swan pendant you used to wear, and since I don't see it anymore, I figured there was a reason, so I found something a little different…" He stuttered. She fingered the charm in her hands, smiling in delight.

"I like this better. It's not the usual thing you by for a princess." She teased.

"Ah, but you're not a usual princess are you?" He replied with ease.

More fake dying sound effects, complementary from one Henry.

"Put it on me?" She asked, ignoring the sounds her son was making, shifting her hair and turning to give him her neck. Killian grinned at her delight, unclipping the necklace and draping it around her neck before securing it.

"I love it." She insisted, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"I'd say it's got you 'hooked'" he snickered.

Henry could be seen making an over dramatic effort of falling from his chair in mock dead fashion. Emma shot him a look to behave.

"I can't behave. I'm dead." He replied. "Can we get out of here now and go on Killian's boat?"

Killian sighed. "That was for putting you through the one liners wasn't it?" he asked.

"Yup." If it was possible to smile any brighter, Killian was sure that was what he'd be doing. He spent the remaining time as they ate, discussing with Henry the different reasons the Jolly was not, and never would be a simple boat.

It took the time from then to when they reached the docks for Killian to see the big smile on both Emma's and the lad's face to realize the boy was messing with him. He was glad the lad deemed him worthy to exchange some kind banter with.

Killian directed them to a deserted dock, far enough away that by the time that anyone noticed the sudden appearance of a strange ship, it would be too late for action to be taken.

Killian took out the bottle, a miniature ship nestled inside. He could see the words written across it in a weathered gold. The Jewel of the Realm.

(Killian made note to ask Swan if she could change it once they had another quiet moment.)

"I don't think we're going to fit in that." Henry stated sarcastically, leering at the bottled ship.

Killian chuckled, handing the bottle to Swan. "If you may?" She took the bottle, turning the glass black with her magic before chucking it into the harbor.

Within seconds, a full sized ship appeared clean white sails, enchanted wooded hull and the occasional broken plank, but it gave her character.

Killian had a few things he wanted to do with her, make the ship his own but she was as beautiful as he last remembered her. He couldn't help but sigh, while he'd been away from her no more than two weeks, he still missed his ship.

"Should Henry and I give you two a moment alone together?" Emma teased, making him blush.

"Laugh all you want Swan, I've lived nearly my entire life on her, since I was 7 years of age." He reminded her, "We've seen each other grow and change over the years. This may be-" He cut himself off, nearly saying that it may be his last voyage on her, no, he couldn't say that. He eyed Henry suddenly. "The very moment I turn your boy into a sailor." He finished with a chuckle; Henry rolled his eyes crossing his arms.

"Please." He muttered.

He easily boarded, finding his body swaying in tune to the sea. He turned and offered his hand to Emma. "After you darling." She took his hand and walked aboard with her head held high. He went to offer his assistance to Henry, but he refused, turning his head away with his arms crossed.

Killian let his grin waver for a moment. He had really thought they had made such good progress, after Violet had been injured; the boy had sought comfort in him as Henry felt himself break down, along with the light banter, he thought at the very least they were becoming friends. He hoped that they could continue to share such moments, good and bad. For as long as it was possible of course.

"Let's set off then. Henry would you like to help me? It'll take less time if I had a second pair of hands." He tried. The boy's eyes lit up, but he kept his facial expression non-comital, shrugging. Emma placed her hand against his arm.

"I mean if you need help…" He reasoned, following his instructions about the sails and the hull. Killian even managed to even teach him the names for the different directions at sea.

"Why don't they use left or right?" He asked. Going port rather than starboard accidentally. Killian gently corrected him before answering.

"Because those terms are relative to your particular position, this way, there is much less confusion." He answered, recalling asking the question himself. The Jolly was about to set off when they suddenly heard an ear piercing scream.

Emma.

He grabbed his sword, whirling around. She had been at his side, sitting on the railing, watching. He looked to the spot she was previously, and saw nothing. He felt cold dread, the same dread he felt when he saw Emma, a woman he barely knew, underneath the wolfish guard, the same dread he felt when Emma vanished as Elsa had pushed her overboard during the storm, the same dread he felt before Hans had turned, not fooled by their little act.

Emma was in danger.

"Hide." He ordered the boy, proceeding towards where he had last seen Emma. Killian didn't look back, hearing the footsteps rapid under him.

"Dark One?" He called cautiously.

"Isn't that a little formal darling?" A voice sneered appearing behind him. He tensed.

Queen Snow stood on his vessel with two guards gripping Emma's arms rather tightly, one had their hand over her mouth. She looked both in pain and furious. "After all, you both seemed pretty close in the tavern." She sneered, "And in the middle of the town square? Do you have no shame pirate?" She lectured approaching him. He tried to dive forward, attack the guards, get them to free Emma, but felt he was unable to move.

Magic. He was frozen by magic.

He looked to Emma seeing black shackles tightly around her wrists, a similar contraption to what he found her in all those weeks ago. His eyes returned to the Queen as she approached him, getting too close for comfort. She rested a gloved hand on his cheek, rubbing in gentle circles; it made her smirk as he tried to pull away.

He heard one of the guards cry out, making Killian look back towards Emma. One of the guards was cursing, blood from his hand as he pressed it to his chest. He watched as Emma surged forward, not with magic, but pure anger and force of will.

Emma hissed as she did so. "Get your hands off him." She ordered. "He's mine." She stressed.

The Queen stopped, flicking her wrist as some invisible force crashed over Swan, paralyzing her suddenly and painfully, forcing her arms to her side and her head slightly up. "Relax darling, I just want to see who freed you from my tower, and took advantage of your gratitude." She moved towards her daughter, fingering the pendant as she glared at her daughter. "Did he give you this?" She whispered. "Some sort of symbol of you belonging to him?" She snapped.

Emma spat blood at her mother's face. The woman dropped her grip on the necklace.

It caught the light as it hung there, in the perfect spot on her neck; a perfect silver sailor's hook roughly the size of her palm, at the end of a silver chain. Don't ask him why, but it seemed to just fit, a symbol of him, just above her heart.

"Just the opposite love." He said with a grin. "It's a symbol that she has me hooked on her, wrapped around her finger." He gave her a wink.

The Queen gave him a bored look at his pun. She leaned in, whispering something into Emma's ear, he could see her eyes widen and panic. They shot back to him, not moving. Instead they pleaded and begged.

He wanted nothing more than to fix it for her, smooth away her worries, make the Queen disappear.

Her misery just made the Queen laugh. "You're Killian Jones." She observed, pacing back to him, ending up behind him, saying her words in a soft whisper that all could hear. "Son of Brennan Jones, a condemned traitor." He felt her hand, no longer gentle, under his jaw clawing his skin until he felt drips of blood on his neck. He didn't flinch, barely even reacted at all. "Is this who you choose my dear? A man with dirt for blood?" She demanded loudly towards Emma.

Emma on the other hand did react, her eyes filled with tears, shaking her head.

"No. Please, let him go, he's nothing to me, just a little dalliance, let him go." She pleaded.

But the Queen continued, ignoring her child's pleas. "His brother was a pirate, darling. A cold blooded bastard. He wreaked havoc on the seas, all of them, had no sense of loyalty. What makes you think his brother will give you any? You're just another woman to men like this." Killian found that whatever magic was holding him in place started to fade as he was able to voice his thoughts without thinking.

"And you know quite a lot about loyalty don't you, Your Majesty." He sneered. "You look like you have such devoted loyalty to your child."

The claws pushed deeper as Killian spoke his next words. "Why do you do this? Hurt her? Hunt her? Destroy her? Because she's the Dark One? She hasn't hurt a soul since I've known her." He never moved his eyes from her. "All Emma wants is to be left alone, just let us free and you'll never hear from us ag-" He was suddenly whirled around so his throat fell perfectly in her line of sight as she began to cut off his air supply through magical means.

"Such a foolish, foolish pirate. Tell him Emma, educate him." Snow insisted.

Emma spoke with such an emotionless tone that Killian barely believed it was actually her, the lively Dark Swan who drank and played, who fought and lived with a passion that had brought Killian Jones back to life.

"Because we're family, and family always finds each other."

She dropped her grip making him fall on his back. "I'd usually kill you right away, but I'm in a good mood after having reunited with my little love, I'll give you a choice sailor, make the right one." Killian got to his knees slowly, rubbing his sore throat with his hand, looking around towards where his sword had fallen. "I will let you go if you'd like, just tell my dear ol'daughter that getting involved with her was a mistake, vow to never see her again and all your sins will be forgiven." The Queen said. "Oh, I'll even let you keep your boat."

He looked to Swan, seeing the despair written across her face. She nodded her head. Do it. Her eyes practically screamed. She wanted him to abandon her. She wanted him to leave.

But he had heard her voice, free of emotion, accepting of her fate.

"Why do you let them do this to you?" Milah had asked one day, a cool cloth against his temple, he winced.

"Because he's the captain." He had said simply, no anger, no fear, no resentment, just acceptance.

No. He couldn't let Emma go like this, to a fate eerie similar to his own. He loved her. He would not let Emma down, not like Milah, not like Bae.

But the Queen had magic, and swords, and guards, he was out numbered and out matched. Killian considered lying, to come back for Swan later, but had a feeling that it wouldn't be possible, that this choice was a life time deal, magic was unpredictable like that.

He could get away with his life, but never see Swan again.

And what was life without his Dark Swan at his side?

"Aren't you mother of the year." He droned, rolling his eyes. "I would never leave her, I would rather die than to abandon her like she's been abandoned all her life." He got back to his feet, holding the sword, not a single tremor in his body. "She may be your blood, but I've found blood pretty unreliable of the late." He added.

"No! Killian! Don't!" Emma yelled, squirming in the guards' iron tight grip. "Get out of here!"

He looked at Emma smiling. "I'm a pirate love, its bad form to leave a lady in distress." He added a wink for good measure.

The Queen sighed, growing bored quickly. "Huntsman, be a dear?" The Queen said waving one of them forward. "Get rid of it."

He saw the man immediately to her left, dressed differently from her other knights as he could see the man's face, a cruel sneer on his lips, the only expression he'd yet to display, stepping forward. "Of course my Queen."

He extended his blade. "Is she worth your life pirate?" The man asked blankly.

He flashed another grin at Emma, hoping to ease her fear and panic. "I intent to find out." He vowed. "Because I'm not dying today."

The Huntsman was the first to move, a blow aimed towards his neck, similar to how Emma usually started their sparing matches when she was teaching him. He easily deflected it, along with the second, a feint trying to stab at his chest before aiming towards his shoulder, another identical move of Swan's.

"No. Really?" He said eyeing Emma and the Queen before back to his opponent, just in time to block a mad swing at his head, had it be any other motion, Killian would have been dealt some damage, but Emma adored using it when Killian let his mind wonder. "You know mate, you fight just like your daughter." He said in a loud whisper, surprising both the man and the Queen. "You might want to learn some more tricks."

Emma just smirked. It gave him the perfect opportunity to allow the man to get some ground on him. "You see, unlike you, I actually take the time to learn new things every now and then." He lost enough ground for the Huntsman to stumble over some loose rigging, sending him tumbling away, sword going flying.

He kicked the sword away from the huntsman, before smirking, and putting on a face of mock surprise.

"Who left those lying around? It's so hard to get good help these days, isn't that right your majesty?" He snickered, aiming his weapon at the Queen. She barely even blinked. "Now unhand her." He ordered, pointing to Emma.

Emma was looking mighty pleased with his handy work, obviously taking credit or teaching him so well, he could see her body tensing, trying to fight the enchantment, but was unable to move a muscle, only able to say his name in a breathy whisper.

"Your Majesty!" Cried another set of guards on the other end of his ship. Killian freezes backing up, seeing them leading none other than Henry over, his arms bound behind his back, limping badly. It makes whatever victory he previously felt drain away. "Look who we caught in the lower decks?" They said triumphantly, holding a blade beneath his neck.

"Mother! Stop this. Let them go." Emma said getting the woman's attention. Killian stared at Henry and then back to Swan, knowing what she'd want him to do; she'd want him to help get her boy out of harm's way no matter the cost to either of them. He whirled around to face them as they tightened their hold on the poor boy.

"You heard that? My dear estranged daughter wants you to let her ward go, do it." The Queen said with an evil sneer. Killian felt more malice in those few seconds then he ever thought possible. There was no way in hell they'd let Henry go.

They dragged him towards the edge of the deck.

"Henry!" Swan screamed in agony.

He went after them, realizing with a sickening dread what they planned to do to him, to throw a helpless boy, tied up and injured right over the side of the Jolly Roger. It was certain death. He leaped over, dropping his blade, grabbing Henry's arm, seconds before he fell completely, leaning over the railing. His feet just touched the ground.

"Henry!" Swan screamed in agony. He saw the boy look up, squirming, trying to get the ropes free.

"It's ok lad, I got you." He said low, trying to pull him up, he just needed to get him up, or at least undo his bindings, give him a fighting chance to swim to freedom, could the boy swim? He doubted Swan would let him be around water if he couldn't. The boy could swim to safety.

"Killian!" Swan screamed again, a second too late as he felt something sharp enter his back, felt fire scorch through his chest as he gasped, tightening his hold on Henry as he felt blinding pain over take him. He looked down at the blade protruding from his chest, blood seeping around his clothes at an alarming rate. It took him a moment to realize what happened.

He stabbed me.

Killian gazed down at Henry, finding his grip loosening on the boy, his limb getting heavy.

"Killian! You're bleeding!" The boy gasped, eyes wide. The inside of Killian's mouth tasted distinctly like blood.

He killed me.

He looked at Henry's scared eyes and gave him a simple smile. The last of the rope came loose.

But Henry will live.

"Geneva." He said in a choking voice. "A woman…Elizabeth…take care of you…" Swan didn't want him to be alone. He didn't know if Swan had any contingency plans for the boy, but at least, he knew there were options.

Henry nodded gratefully. "You saved my life." The boy said in a whisper. "Thank you." And he slipped through Killian's fingers dropping like a rock into the ocean. Killian's body felt numb as he slumped.

"Turn him around, I want her to see his face." The Queen laughed, but her voice sounded so far away.

"No. Please no. Mother I'm sorry, let me go, let me heal him." Emma pleaded as he felt something jerk him around on unsteady feet, he felt like a puppet on strings, the fire was spreading through his entire body, but his eyes landed on hers. "I'll never run away again, I promise, just let me heal him, please!" Her once fierce green eyes were rimmed with tears.

"Darling, what did I tell you about leaving your toys out? Someone could break them." Sneered a voice. Who's voice was that? He didn't know. He did know but it was hard to focus. But when it came to Emma, it was all he could do, he wanted to memorize her face. Her distraught tear soaked face

Don't cry Swan. He wanted to say, but he felt the piercing feeling, a sword? It had to be a sword right? It twisted and left his body, the pain making him groan, unable to form a single word. He tried to however, tried with everything he had.

I never told her I love her. He realized.

Perhaps he should rethink his position on that, if he had more time after all. Killian's knees gave way as he collapsed on the deck. He looked up at the sky, a pretty sky…

"Come on mother! You love deals. I heal him, and I'm yours, no dagger, no anything." She yelled. He heard chains loosening, felt someone hovering over him. She was blurry, but she looked like an angel.

"Oh Killian, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." She sobbed. He felt her hand on his chest, knew that the second he felt the warmth, her fate would be sealed, her curse making her deals forever binding. He grabbed it, bringing her hand to his face, kissing her hand gently, trying to meet her eyes but it was hard.

"Killian. Its ok." She pleaded. "I'll make you ok, you can live your life happy." He shook his head, bringing her hand, still away from the wound, laying it on his heart. He hoped she understood…what he was about to do.

He rolled to his knees, feeling the blood spilling out of him.

"Killian! Stop! Don't exert yourself let me-" He pushed her away.

"Be free Swan." He said, or at least he hoped he did before he grabbed the edge of the boat, and with the last of his strength, pulled himself up and over the side. He caught her eyes weakly before he fell.

"No!" She screamed in sudden realization, he felt her reaching for him, but she just missed the edge of his jacket.

"A burial at sea, isn't that lovely?"

And then he hit the water.

Finally got to this chapter. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to get to this point. The chapter turned massive because of the way I break of the perspective...I don't think anyone minds long chapters...

I'm posting it a little early since I'm procrastinating on what I'm supposed to be doing.

I hope people are still reading this, reviews have really slowed down, you're still out there right?

I'm not ranting on Brothers Jones because I honestly didn't really like the episode. I don't know, I mean backstory on Killian is always nice, I have a new pirate name to use for future reference, and more of a read on Liam's character, but most of it just felt flat to me. I haven't felt so eh about an episode for a while. (probably since 5x09, but that was due to its lack of relevance to 5x08).

Guest Reviews:

andria: I hope you liked this, lots of Captain Cobra, Captain Swan etc.

~Luna