Thanks for hanging in there with me! This chapter was fun to write - I am really hoping it adds to the plot. Also, fair warning that my only knowledge of this legend comes from the movie and what I was able to dig up online. Good things to come :) as always, all rights belong to the creators of OUAT...and the internet :)

"Whoa, hold on," Emma said, holding up a hand and shaking her head. "You mean like in Pirates of the Carribean?"

Killian had just volunteered what he'd seen at the dock as well as the small amount of prior knowledge he had - he hadn't made it to the books quite yet due to certain circumstances. They sat in the front room with her parents as Killian decided that if he was going to tell the tale, he'd prefer to lessen the amount of times he had to do so. He loved Emma. He truly did. He, however, found himself really struggling with the fact that she was so concerned with the mysterious ship's travel plans.

"Sorry, it's uh - a movie," Emma explained, sensing his frustration.

"Well, love," Killian replied, raising a theatrical eyebrow. "We both know that in the past the storytellers of your realm haven't been exactly accurate."

"But pirate tales are usually documented," David cut in. "Do you suppose we could find a reliable source to fill in the gaps for us?"

Killian shrugged. He had been at a loss since he saw the vessel's silhouette that early morning. He'd told them all he knew - well, all they really needed to know for now. The rest was a story for another time, preferably told over an actual dead man's chest.

"Henry," Mary Margaret lit up. " Henry has more expertise on legendary stories than anyone I know."

"He spent the night at Regina's," Emma replied. "I'll call and let her know we are on our way. Are you guys coming?"

"I have to get to the station," David answered. "But Mary Margaret, you should go."

Killian glanced up, trying to keep a straight face. Mary Margaret looked him dead in the eyes and seemed to be searching him for something as she tilted her head to the side. It wasn't much of a secret that she wasn't particularly fond of him. Of course, it had been getting better - she had begun the slow burn of warming up to him - but spending the morning chasing legends with her present might keep him on more of an edge than he'd prefer. He spied Emma out of the corner of his eye, asking her silently for back up, but she was biting her nail as she flipped through the pages of one of the borrowed books. She had dialed Regina and seemed to be perusing the text for some - any information - as she waited for an answer.

"No," Mary Margaret finally said, pursing her lips. "I better stay here with Neal. He's been out of the house so much lately and I can't have him getting sick in that lingering weather. They can call if they find anything."

David nodded, standing to kiss his wife on the head as he put on his coat. Killian furrowed his forehead and Mary Margaret gave him a half, knowing smile. Dammit. She knew. No - wait, what? She couldn't possibly. They both broke their mutual stare as Emma spoke quickly to Regina and then hung up.

"Okay," she announced. "Let's go."

Emma and Killian made it to the bottom of the stairs and she stopped to zip up her jacket. He reached over and pulled the silly hood onto her head, winking when he noticed how she reminisced a similar moment they'd had once in the Enchanted Forest. She grabbed his hand and pulled him outside into the morning chill.

"Love?"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

He had stopped walking, but kept his hand in hers as he turned to face her for a moment. He still wasn't sure how he was supposed to react after the intense day they'd had yesterday. He was thrilled honestly, but he tried to maintain his composure as he waited for her reply.

"Killian," she nearly laughed. "Am I going to spend this entire pregnancy having you constantly asking about my well being?"

"Of course," he retorted, grinning and squeezing her hand.

"Yes, I'm fine," she finally replied, turning to continue their stroll.

"Hey," he added, pulling her back to him. "I want you to know that I'm here for you - for us. I am not going anywhere unless it's with both of you."

Her eyes lit up in adoration when he nodded toward her stomach. He figured she might always need that confirmation - the reminder that he'd never abandon her. He would always be willing to provide it for her. Although there wasn't much evidence there yet, she took the hand she was holding and placed it against her abdomen. He smiled, looking down and then back at her. She silently hoped the baby would have Killian's eyes, blue and drowning.

"I love you, pirate."

"And I love you, m'lady."

Then it hit him. He rubbed his hand across the pocket of his jeans. Yes it was still there. He didn't care anymore. He didn't give a damn about the ship or his past or the fact that they were going to be the most ridiculous parents in the realm. He was sure as hell going to ask her before he didn't have the chance any longer.

"Emma, love," he began, his voice a bit shaky. "I wanted to-"

"Who's that?"

"What?"

"That," Emma pointed, distracted by a man who was wandering up the sidewalk on the other side of the street. "Who is that?"

Killian was so unbelievably tired of being interrupted every time he wanted to say or do something. Visibly annoyed, he jerked his attention to the figure across the street. The man wore a tattered old navy uniform, the blue and gold still visible albeit quite faded. His dark hair was longer than normal for any officer, but it was not completely unkempt. He wore a beat up leather tricorn hat that Killian would know anywhere. He had a walk - a swagger even - dammit. If Liam was a ghost, he imagined he would look somewhat like this man although the darkness and mystery would be absent. Liam would be a spirit - not a demon. As the man turned around, Killian knew there was a set of deep blue eyes piercing their way across the vacant street. He had to get her out of here.

"Love," he told her, using the crook of her elbow to turn her back the way they came. "Would you mind if we passed by the Jolly real quick? I didn't make it down there yesterday and I just want to check up on things - should only take a second."

She smiled at him and tilted her head to the side as they wandered back up their previous path, muttering something about being such an "astute captain". Hand hidden behind his back, he quickly found a way to slip the ring back into his coat - foiled again. She took a moment to glance toward him - that look where her eyes were full of love and hope. God he hated lying to her. He worked to convince himself that it wasn't truly dishonesty - he was just keeping a secret until confirmation. All in due time, he thought.

Regina's house was so pretentious. He would expect no less, having know the reformed evil queen in another life. She and Emma were still on knocking terms and Killian assumed they'd likely always be. Yet he was pleasantly surprised that Regina actually opening the door in a way that was rather - well, pleasant. He supposed Robin had something to do with that.

"Let me get Henry," she said, gesturing to the kitchen where they could have a seat.

Emma slumped into a chair. She looked tired and it was the first time Killian realized that this whole thing was starting to take a toll on not only him, but her - and likely the baby. He felt like an idiot as he took the seat next to her. Her hand moved protectively to her stomach as she looked out the window. She took a second to look back at him, a small smile crossing her lips. He had to fix this - this problem, this intrusion.

Hey mom," Henry announced his presence, nodding toward Killian in greeting. "I'm guessing you are looking for this."

Henry held up the book - the one that had changed all of their lives and pulled them all together. Plopping it down on the table, he raised an eyebrow at Emma and then at Killian.

"Actually," Emma began, propping her elbows up on the table. "We were looking for you."

"Okay, so," Henry explained, flipping to a page where Emma assumed some nautical tale began. "There's not a lot of information about this ship - The Flying Dutchman I think the book called it? But I was able to track down a bit more on the legend behind all of this."

Killian froze. Of course there wasn't much about the ship itself. There wasn't anyone that hadn't met the fate of its cruel captain who would be able to share that tale with the heroes. However, Henry was quite the storyteller and Killian couldn't help but take a slight interest in what he had to share. Emma also seemed rather intrigued - although Killian wasn't sure what about this had her so perplexed.

"The story says that there was this sailor who served the realm heroically," Henry turned the pages to show pictures of the ship as well as a man in uniform - a man that drew a gulp from Killian. "He eventually fell in love, as people seem to in these stories, with a goddess of the sea. Because of that love, he was given a task and a ship where he was assigned to ferry lost souls to...some sort of afterlife. If he did as he was asked, he would be permitted once every ten years to set foot back on land to be with the love of his life."

"Hmmm," Emma hummed, mulling over the book. "Let me guess. This is a tragic story of a broken heart."

"Basically," Henry confirmed. "After a decade, he came ashore to find his love, but she wasn't around anymore. So with a vengeance, he found a court of men to locate her and take the seas away from this woman and curse her to become mortal. Though he seemed to gain his revenge, he never stopped loving her. His pain became too great to bear so with a guilty conscience, he carved out his own heart and stored it away in some kind of box."

"Dead Man's Chest, actually," Killian said softly.

"Yeah, that's it," Henry nodded. "Then he became this terrifying, feared captain and he returned to the sea after abandoning the job he'd been given. He had an insatiable need to cause suffering and inflicted endless brutality upon the sailors he encountered on the open waters. The ship he'd stolen - the Flying Dutchman - became a ghost ship. He forced those who wished to avoid this horrible death he promised to join his crew and serve his purposes forever. Eventually, the men became so haunted they actually attached themselves physically to the ship."

"Wait," Emma stopped him, a grimace on her face. "They actually became part of the ship?"

"I guess so," Henry tilted his head side to side as he shrugged. "Apparently this captain also commanded the Kraken and used it to gain more souls to serve him."

"Isn't that like a squid?"

"It's a monster," Killian replied to Emma, doing his best to remain nonchalant in this situation.

"So this...captain," Emma began to ask. "Is that who's here?"

Henry looked to Killian, who nodded softly. He didn't want to frighten her or the boy so he attempted a careless smile, but seemed to be unconvincing.

"It seems like his purpose might be more interesting than we thought," Emma implied, shifting her hand to her stomach with this disturbing knowledge. "Who exactly is this guy?"

Killian's breath hitched in his throat, terrified about the question she'd just asked. He didn't want Emma to assume anything, but it surely wasn't the time to have this conversation - not with everything else going on. He scratched behind his ear, nervous but also well aware that there was no avoiding this one.

"Jones. Davy Jones."