Disclaimer: Same as always.

A/N #1: Shoutout to Emilee Amethyst whose prediction was right. It gets brought up in this part, but there is a little more to the story that gets revealed later on. Namely, how Clara managed to get where she ends up. At this point, Emma and Killian's main concern is finding her. They aren't going to be too worried about the how of it. Not right at this moment. Of course, they'll be interested in the how later on, but right now? They just want to find their daughter and bring her home. But the how will be further addressed down the road. In the meantime, let's see whether or not Emma and Killian were successful. Thanks for the reviews! Constructive criticism is welcome, but rudeness is not. To the person concerned with logistics, just because Belle thought things happened a certain way does not mean that they did. Hint: that's actually not how it happened. And there actually has been a hint in one of the chapters about the how. In any event, hope everyone enjoys the conclusion to this two parter. If not, well, I hope that you find a story you do enjoy. :)

Rating: K+

Killian was in the kitchen making coffee when he found out that his youngest daughter was missing.

"Killian?!" Emma ran down the stairs and ended up barreling right into him. "Killian!"

"Emma?" He asked, alarmed. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Oh Killian," she sobbed. "She's gone."

"What are you talking about?" He eased her back to look at her face. "Who's gone?"

"Clara. I...I went to check on her, but she's gone! I can't find her anywhere!" Emma cried.

"What? No...no, I'm sure she's not," he said, breaking away from her. He ran up the stairs and into Clara's room, Emma right on his heels. "Clara? Clara!"

"Killian, she's not here!" Emma tried, but he refused to believe her.

"She has to be here somewhere! She wouldn't just leave!" Though as Killian searched her room, his heart sank lower and lower inside his chest. "Clara!"

"She took Jolly," Emma said, her voice shaking with fear.

Killian tunneled his hand through his hair as he tried to think. "Maybe she's hiding." He didn't believe the words as they came out of his mouth. He knew that she wasn't hiding. She never ignored him when he called.

"Oh Killian," Emma sniffled. "What are we going to do?" As the Savior, Emma had learned how to stay calm in battle. She could usually stay focused on the matter at hand, but this felt different. Clara was so young and so small and thinking about what could happen to her was more than Emma could take. "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to find her," Killian said, forcing himself to sound calmer than he felt. For Emmja's sake. "Try doing a locator spell."

"But my magic - " she began.

"I know. But you have to try," he cut her off. She nodded, picking up one of Clara's toys and trying to summon up her magic. But nothing happened.

"It's not working!" Emma exclaimed.

"Then try harder!" Killian snapped. He regretted it a moment later when he caught the look of devastation on his wife's face. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Emma. I just..."

"It's okay," Emma said quietly. "Me too."

"Daddy?" Both Emma and Killian look up at the sound of Catalina's voice. She stood in the doorway, her green eyes wide with alarm. "What's going on? Why are you shouting?" There was a pause as she looked around the room. "Where's Clara?"

"We...we don't know," Killian answered honestly. "But we'll find her," he added quickly, taking note of the looks of fear on both of their faces. "Come here." He offered his hand to Catalina and his hook to Emma. "It's going to be alright. We're going to find her. I promise."

Killian found himself growing more frantic with each minute that passed. After a relatively quick discussion, he'd decided to take a loop around their block to look for Clara. They were hoping, perhaps foolishly, that she hadn't gone far. If nothing else, that felt like the logical way for them to begin their search.

Emma, meanwhile, had stayed home with Catalina for the time being. Emma and Killian had decided that someone needed to remain at their house on the off chance that Clara happened to return. When Killian had left, she'd been on the phone with her parents. Once her parents got there, Mary Margaret would stay with Catalina while Emma and David headed out to help Killian look for Clara. Killian knew that it was killing Emma to be stuck at home while he searched for their little girl. But ultimately, Emma had decided that Killian should be the one to go hoping that the bond that he and Clara shared would somehow aid him in his search.

He knew that Emma would be out the door the moment her parents arrived. She'd also be calling Regina and Henry once she got off the phone with her parents. They knew that they needed reinforcements. The more people looking for their daughter, the better.

Now he was circling back towards their house. He didn't know why he'd thought walking was a good idea when driving would've been so much faster. He supposed it was because while he'd learned how to drive, he was much more comfortable on foot.

"Killian!" He looked up to see Mary Margaret hurrying towards him, Neal in tow. David's truck sat in front of Emma's Bug and he could see that David was still inside of it.

"We rushed over here as fast as we could!" Mary Margaret explained, throwing her arms around him. "Oh Killian. It's going to be alright. We'll find her."

"Let's hope so," Killian replied, the panic he was feeling creeping into his voice.

"No." Mary Margaret pulled back. Taking both hand and hook in her hands, she locked her eyes on his. "We will find her," she said firmly. "I know how worried you must be and I'm worried too, but we can't give in to panic. We have to stay focused, okay? We can't lose hope. We'll find her. That's what our family does, remember?"

"Yes." He gave her a grateful smile. "You're right. I have to believe you're right. But Clara...she's so small and she's so fragile."

"I know," Mary Margaret replied, her eyes soft with compassion. "But I think she's stronger than we tend to think she is. I'm sure she's alright." She nodded towards David's truck. "You go with David. I'll help hold down the fort here." She lifted her hand to his cheek. "Go find my granddaughter and bring her home."

David glanced over at Killian as they drove around town looking for Clara. His son-in-law could not seem to be able to stop fidgeting. "Killian." David sighed when he didn't answer. "Hook!"

"What?" Killian barked.

"Let's go over this again, okay? Clara didn't just decide to leave out of the blue. Did something happen?" David asked, turning his attention back to the road.

"Well, obviously," Killian said, sarcastically. "This week has been a bloody nightmare." A humorless laugh escaped as he considered his word choice. "It's been a whole week of them, in fact."

"What?" David asked, confused. They came to a red light and David took the opportunity to look at Killian again. "What?" He repeated the question as he saw a look of horror slowly wash across his son-in-law's face.

"She must have heard my and Emma's conversation about her nightmares." Killian covered his face with his hand and everything suddenly clicked into focus. "Bloody hell."

"Her nightmares? What are you talking about?" Killian froze. He'd mainly been thinking out loud and it hadn't occurred to them that, of course, David had no idea what he was talking about. A few beats passed where Killian debated whether or not he should tell David the truth.

"Killian." There was a hint of warning in David's voice. "What's going on?" Killian slowly turned to look at him and the moment his gaze met David's, he knew he had to tell his father-in-law about Clara's dreams. Because not only was David Clara's grandfather, he'd become one of Killian's best friends. Second only to Emma.

The weight of keeping this secret suddenly seemed too much for Killian to bear. Especially considering that Clara had seen fit to run away from home because of it. So he let out a sigh and finally told David the truth. Like he and Emma should have done from the beginning.

"So you think that Clara heard you and Emma talking and that's why she ran away." David sighed after Killian had finished filling him in on Clara's dreams. "Well, yeah, that would've done it."

"If that was your attempt at making me feel better, you failed," Killian responded bitterly, running his hand through his hair for probably the millionth time that morning. He was sure that he more than likely resembled a hedgehog by this point, but didn't care.

"Sorry," David said and, to his credit, sounded like he meant it. He waited a couple of beats. "You should have told us."

"I know."

David nodded at Killian's response. He could see how much Clara missing was ripping his son-in-law apart, so he dropped it. Lecturing Killian on why he should've told himself and Snow about Clara's dreams wasn't going to help. And besides, that didn't matter right now. The only thing that mattered was finding Clara and bringing her home.

He opened his mouth to tell Killian as much at the same time Killian opened his to apologize. But then Killian's cell phone rang. Killian shot a look at David before answering.

"Hello?" Killian answered, having gotten more used to cell phones over the years.

"Killian? It's Belle," the voice on the other end replied.

"Oh Belle, hi. Listen, this isn't a good time. Clara's missing and we -" he started.

"That's why I'm calling!" Belle cut him off. "She's not missing. She's here."

"What? Clara's with you?" Killian asked, he glanced over at David, a hopeful expression on his face as he waited for Belle to respond.

"Yes," Belle confirmed. "I was going around turning on all the lights at the library and found her curled up in one of the chairs. One of the locks on one of the windows got broken a few days ago. She must have gotten in through that. But yes, she's here."

"Is she okay? Is she hurt?" Killian demanded.

"She's fine!" Belle said quickly. "Well, she does seem a little upset, but she's here and she's safe."

"She's safe," Killian breathed. "Clara's safe." He closed his eyes for a moment, relief washing over him. David clapped him on the shoulder in support. "Keep an eye on her, alright? We're on our way." He turned to David as he hung up. "She's at the library."

"Belle." She was standing at the front desk when Killian rushed in, David on his heels. "Where is she? Where's my daughter?"

"In the children's section," Belle answered, though she moved to stop him. "Killian."

"What?" He asked, impatient. Right then the only think he wanted to do was get to his little girl.

"It's just that we talked for a little bit when she woke up and, well." Belle worried her lip while she thought about how to continue.

"Well what?" Killian demanded.

"I asked her what she was doing here and she got so upset. She needs you, I know she does. But Killian, she's so scared." She watched Killian's brow furrow in confusion.

"Scared? Of what?" He asked.

"Seeing you," Belle answered, gently. "She knows she was wrong to run away. And she knows that you and Emma must be upset and." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I think she's worried that you might hate her now."

"What?" Killian couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How could she ever think that?"

"Because she's just a little girl," Belle offered. "A scared little girl who loves her parents and doesn't like causing them pain. She...she told me that she thinks she's a burden."

"Oh Clara," Killian sighed, sadly. He looked over at David. "Maybe...maybe it'd be better if you got her?"

"No, it wouldn't be. That would only make it worse. No." David shook his head, unnerved by how unsure of himself Killian suddenly seemed. "Belle's right. She needs her father to tell her that he loves her and that everything is going to be alright. She needs you."

"Right," Killian nodded, trying to pull himself together. "You're right. Would you mind calling Emma to tell her what's going on?"

"I'll call Emma," David assured him. "Go talk to your daughter."

As Killian had assumed, Emma had gone out to join the search once Mary Margaret had come inside. She'd waited just long enough to let her mother give her a hug and a word of encouragement before setting out in her Bug. She'd just made it to the park they always went to when David called. Emma couldn't remember the last time she'd been so relieved. Her baby was safe. Later she would wonder just how Clara had managed to make it all the way to the library by herself, but at the moment she didn't care.

Clara was safe. That was the important thing. They could wonder about the how of it some other time. Right now, the next step was for her and Killian to do their best to make sure that Clara never wanted to run away ever again. Emma had wanted to drive straight to the library and had been surprised when David gently suggested that she go home instead. He told her what Belle has told them and thought that it might be best for Clara to only have to deal with one parent at a time. Let Killian talk to her first, David advised. He'd figure out the best way to deal with Clara's fears.

As much as she wanted to see her little girl, Emma felt like her father had a point. Killian had a way with words and a talent for knowing what his girls needed. He'd know what to say to Clara and he'd bring her home; she knew he would. And Emma would be there waiting for them when he did.

In the meantime, Belle led Killian to the children's section and pointed out the chair where Clara sat. The back of which was facing them so he couldn't see her face. Belle gave him an encouraging pat on the back before heading back to the main reception desk where David would be waiting.

Perhaps it was strange for someone who had lived for centuries as Killian had to be so nervous about approaching a small child, but he was. He had no idea what he was going to say to his daughter. He could only hope that the words he ended up choosing would be the right ones.

He made his way over to her slowly. Clara was hunched over, her head hung in shame. She had Jolly clenched in a kind of death grip. She looked so sad that it nearly ripped Killian's heart in two as he knelt before her.

"Clara," he said her name softly, wincing when she flinched. To think that there was a time where Killian had enjoyed making other people afraid of him. What a fool he had been then. Though it was one thing for an enemy or even a stranger to fear him. It was quite another for his own daughter to be afraid of him. He didn't like it at all. Hated it, in fact.

He didn't think he had the words to express how much he hated it. Hated himself knowing that he was apparently the cause for her current sadness. "Clara, it's Daddy. Would you please look at me?" This time he could have sworn that he felt a piece of his heart break off when she shook her head, a lone tear forming a path down her cheek.

"Why not?" He asked her carefully. "Why won't you look at me?"

"Because I know I'm not supposed to leave the house by myself." Her voice was so quiet that he could barely hear her. "Now you hate me."

"Clara Marie Jones," he said, incredulously. "I most definitely do not hate you."

"You...you don't?" The question was asked tentatively, but he could hear the hope in it.

"Look at me," he said, putting his hand under her chin and gently tilting her face up towards his. Her eyes flickered up to meet his and he saw that they were red from her tears.

"Oh Clara," he sighed, sadly. "My darling little girl. I want you to listen to me very carefully. Can you do that?" A small nod. "Good, because this is important. There is no way that I could ever hate you. That simply isn't possible."

"It's not?" Her eyes were pleading with his.

"Of course it's not," he assured her. "Do you really have no idea how much I love you? How much Mommy loves you? We love you so very much. There isn't anything you could ever do to change that."

"But I ran away..." She trailed off.

"Aye, you did," he nodded. "Could you tell me why you did?"

"I...I thought you'd be better off without me," she admitted, looking away.

"And what could have possibly made you think that?" He asked, though he had his suspicions.

Suspicions that she immediately confirmed.

"Because of my dreams," she sniffled. "Because I can't make them stop and they make Mommy cry. And they make you sad." She looked back at him, shyly. "I don't want you to be sad."

"Clara, sweetheart, I appreciate that you care about our feelings, but do you know what made me more sad?" He waited for a moment before continuing. "Waking up and discovering that you were gone. What if something had happened to you? What if you'd gotten hurt? What would we do if we ever lost you?"

He shook his head, tears finding their way down his own cheeks at the thought. "I couldn't bear losing my Clara. Neither could Mommy." He used his thumb to wipe away some of her tears. "Not to mention Henry and Catalina. Your grandparents. You must know how important you are to all of us. We love you so much, darling."

"But you hate my dreams..."

"Because we love you and we hate what they do to you. If it was up to me and Mommy, you would never have another bad dream ever again," he told her. "But as terrible as your dreams are, they could never make us stop loving you."

"Never?" Her voice was so small.

"Never," he confirmed, watching as her lip began to quiver. "Come here." She didn't need to be told twice. She instantly slid off the chair and threw her arms around his neck, holding onto him for dear life.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," she whispered.

"Ssh." He placed a series of kisses on the side of her head as he held her close. "Just don't scare me like this ever again. Okay, love?" He felt her nod against his shoulder. "That's my girl. Now, what do you say we go home to Mommy?"

The drive home was a quiet one. Clara sat sandwiched between her father and grandfather, Killian's arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. He could feel the anxiety pouring off of her in waves. He'd done a good job of allaying a lot of her fears, but he knew she wouldn't be okay until she saw her mother. He understood that though he had told her how much Emma loved her, she needed to hear it from her.

"Home sweet home," David offered as he parked the truck in front of Emma's Bug.

"Aye." Killian said it brightly, hoping that it might lift Clara's mood in some way. He got out of the truck, but Clara stayed where she was.

"Come on," David said, putting his arm around her shoulders and leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "It'll be okay, little duck. You'll see." Clara nodded before taking Killian's offered hand and letting him help her out of the truck.

They turned towards the house and Clara instinctively hid behind Killian at the sight of Emma sitting on their front steps, looking just as anxious as her daughter. For a few moments mother and daughter considered each other cautiously. Emma remaining on the steps and Clara peeking out from behind Killian. David, meanwhile, had brought Jolly out of the truck and stood back waiting to see how things would unfold.

"Alright," Killian muttered. "Come on, darling." It was clear that he'd have to be the one to get the ball rolling. He knew them both so well. Clara was worried that Emma would be angry at her while Emma was undoubtedly worried that she might say something to make their daughter want to leave again. "It's alright." That was said to Clara.

To Emma, he said, "Look Swan, I went out for a drive and brought back our pirate Princess for you, my Queen." He pivoted to the side and made a sweeping bow. Sometimes it was best to go with the theatrical, he mused to himself. If only to ease the tension. "Tell me, love. Are you pleased?" He said this with a lift of his eyebrows that told her that Clara needed to hear the words.

"Oh yes." Emma's voice broke and she cleared her throat before continuing. "I'm extremely pleased, my Captain. I missed my pirate Princess." She smiled at her daughter. "Very, very much." She stayed where she was, but opened her arms. "Maybe the Princess could come give me a hug?"

That was all the encouragement that Clara needed as evidenced by the way she ran into her mother's arms. "I'm sorry, Mommy," Clara cried, wrapping her arms around Emma's neck tightly.

"It's okay, baby, it's okay," Emma said soothingly, lifting her hand to cradle her daughter's head against her shoulder. "Just don't ever do that again. Okay?"

Clara nodded before pulling back, those blue eyes so like her father's meeting Emma's. "I'm sorry my dreams make you sad, Mommy."

"I'm sorry that I can't make them stop," Emma said softly.

"We'll figure it out," Killian said, coming to sit beside Emma on the steps.

"Daddy's right," Emma nodded. "We'll figure out how to make your dreams go away."

"But what if you can't?" Clara asked, anxiously looking back and forth between them.

"Then we'll figure out how best to deal with them," Killian promised. "We're here for you, sweetheart. You won't ever have to suffer alone."

"That's right. You're never alone, baby. And I promise that we will never," Emma reached up to wipe away a few of the tears rolling down her daughter's face. "Ever stop loving you. No matter what happens, okay? You're our little girl and we love you. No matter what."

"So do I," David spoke up, coming up beside his granddaughter. "And so does Grandma." He brought his hand to the back of her head, smoothing her hair back. "So no more running away. Okay, little duck?"

"Okay, Grandpa," Clara said, softly.

"Now that we have that settled," Emma smiled up at her father. "How about another hug?" Clara didn't need to be asked again. She put her arms back around her mother and Killian put his around them both.

"I love you, Mommy," Clara whispered. "I love you, Daddy."

"We love you, baby," Emma said softly.

"Aye. That we do," Killian said, holding them both a little tighter. "Very, very much."

A/N #2: I hinted to this in the first note, but now I'll make it absolutely clear. Clara did not break into the library; that's what Belle incorrectly assumed. As previously stated, more things about this incident will be revealed later on. That very point will be addressed when Emma and Killian start thinking about it. That was always the plan. They were always going to come to the conclusion that Belle must have been mistaken. Because she was. I included that for a reason. This was the end of the two shot; not the end of the full story about this. With the suitcase, I acknowledged in the first part that I'd initially made it seem like she packed it like an adult would and that was a mistake. I did rework that part, but apparently failed. I was thinking about how I'd "pack" some toys (I.e toss them in some kind of bag) to take with me to visit my grandparents as a kid. Since that's become a point of contention, I've decided to remove all mentions of it. I stand by the rest of it.

I have, in fact, done research on the motor and development skills of children, but have spent enough time with kids to know that they aren't all the same. Kids develop differently, they learn differently. I've been amazed at some of the things I've seen little kids do. Things that they shouldn't be able to do at their ages. And I do know of young children who have run away from home. In the middle of the night even. There was a news story a while back about a 4 year old who snuck out of her house at 3am in the rain in Philadelphia because she wanted a slushie. A city bus driver saw her, picked her up and called the police who took her to the hospital. Her parents didn't find out she'd left until the hospital called. Does the typical 4 year old do things like that? Of course not. But that one did. The point is that there will always be kids who are more advanced than others. Some young children are pretty exceptional. Clara is one of them.

The draft posted, as flawed as it might have been, was also not the first draft written. There were rewrites. And I am well aware of what the real world is like. :)