Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

AN: Again, thank you to my wonderful beta, GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia. ~ XOXO MAS

Chapter Nine

Hand in hand, Emma and Killian made their way down to the water front, where Mary Margaret had told them Henry's castle was located. They found Henry dangling with his legs off the side of an old wooden fort. Even from a distance, they could tell his eyes were a bit puffy, a sure sign that he'd been crying. Whatever Regina did to him made Emma see red. Her heart clenched at the sight of him so upset and she was struck once again wondering where this apparent maternal instinct had come from. Words stuck in her throat at the sight and, as always, Killian seemed to note it and stepped ahead of her, still grasping her hand tightly in silent support. "Well, this is quite a fortress you have, Prince Henry," Killian called out. "May we enter?"

Henry looked up, and his eyes landed on them. At first, it was like he didn't believe what he was seeing. Then when the realization hit that they were indeed walking towards him, his eyes lit up in delight at the sight of them. "You're still here?" He cried out.

Emma and Killian looked at each other and then at Henry. "We said we were staying," Emma murmured, her voice slightly shaky.

Henry swiped at his nose before standing up and jogging over, wrapping his arms tightly around Emma's waist. "She told me you left," he whispered into Emma's stomach.

Letting go of Killian's hand, Emma squeezed the boy against her. "Nope, I'm not going anywhere any time soon, kid," she promised fiercely.

He looked up at her so hopefully and with such trust and adoration that it simultaneously scared her and squeezed at her heart. "You really mean that? You're both going to stay?" His hopeful glance at Killian warmed her heart as well.

Emma looked over at Killian uncertainly. Like always, he read her perfectly. Wrapping his maimed arm around Emma and his good arm around Henry, he pulled them both to his chest. "Aye lad, we're going to stay here for a bit. Maybe find a place to rent by the sea." He ruffled the boy's hair. "What do you think about that?" Henry beamed at him and Emma just shook her head in awe. They'd talked about no such thing, but he knew that she couldn't leave until she was sure Henry would be safe here. And just like he always promised her, he wouldn't leave her. "And your mum and I were talking about ships. I do rather miss mine on beautiful days like today. You know, The Jolly Roger is an enchanted ship, so clearly she's far better than any in this harbor, but I'm sure we could make do. Perhaps we can commandeer a ship and take her out to sea for a bit?" He suggested.

Emma arched a brow at him. "Killian Jones, when you say 'commandeer' you most certainly do not mean steal, you do mean rent, right?"

He grinned unabashedly at her. "Pirate, love. Remember?"

Henry beamed. "Yeah, Mom, he's a pirate!" Henry agreed.

Emma hesitated slightly as Henry called her 'mom,' but she just swallowed hard and nodded. "Oh I know, but here you do not steal."

"Borrow then, Swan," he teased her, his prosthetic hand rubbing circles on her back. She wished it was his hook instead. There was something oddly comforting about the cool metal. Perhaps because it was uniquely a part of Killian. Before him, she'd never had a safe place to land. She had that now, in him. And no matter what was thrown at them with this boy in their lives, or Regina, or the curse, they could tackle it all together.

She sighed and shook her head in mock exasperation. "We will discuss that later. I don't want you putting grand theft in his head." She stepped back. "Now, come on, let's sit down and you can tell us what our next step should be." She led them over to the castle, and the three of them huddled inside together.

"Okay, so true loves' kiss breaks any curse, right?" Henry asked, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. In this world, in the story book, it was normal; but in her world, it most definitely was not.

Emma shrugged. "No idea," she admitted.

Killian rolled his eyes. "She's a novice, lad. She was forced to grow up in this bloody realm with no magic and no one who believed in it." When he saw that Henry about to object, he held up his prosthetic hand. "And she didn't have your story book or that heart of yours, which is so open to believing."

Emma snorted. "First of all, language, Killian," she admonished lightly. "Second of all, you and I both know that I'm a fast learner. I'll catch on rather quickly." She winked at him and he had to bite back a small groan.

Henry eyed the two of them suspiciously before shrugging. "Okay, so I'm going to give you the abbreviated version." Emma and Killian both raised their eyebrows at his school teacher tone. "True loves' kiss is the most powerful weapon in the entire world. The Dark One, Rumplestiltskin, even tried to bottle true love. I don't know if he could actually do it, though. He wanted to make what Snow White and Prince Charming have, real."

Killian shifted at the mention of Milah's husband's name. Reaching over, she rubbed her hand over his knee, gently squeezing in a gesture that reminded him she was here and wasn't going anywhere. "Okay, kid, so we need Snow White and Prince Charming to meet, then?"

His brow furrowed adorably and Killian saw just how much he and Emma resembled each other in that one expression. "I don't know if that will solve everything," he admitted. "I mean, you're the Savior, but I think it will help if they find each other and believe," he admitted. Digging in his bag, he pulled his book out. "So, I found Prince Charming." He pushed the book towards Emma and Killian. "This guy is in a coma and no one knows who he is. But he has the same scar here and trust me, this is your dad."

Emma's fingertips slid over the picture. "That's my dad," she murmured, her voice sticking slightly in her throat. Clearing it, she asked, "So, he's in a coma? In the hospital I take it?"

Henry nodded. "We went with my school last week. They're calling him John Doe." He scrunched up his nose at that.

Emma stood abruptly. "Well, why don't we go see John Doe?" She suggested.

Killian eyed her for a moment before nodding. Snapping the fairytale book shut, he tucked it under his elbow. "What do you say, lad? Is a trip to the hospital in order?"

Henry beamed at them again. It was a smile that made Emma's heart flutter; not in the same way that Killian's did, but it was just as wonderful. "Let's go." He slung his backpack over his shoulder and took both of their hands, dragging them towards the parking lot where Emma's car was waiting.

When they reached the hospital, they were lucky to find the area where John Doe was unsupervised, so they slid right in. Killian opened the book and compared the pictures. They did resemble each other somewhat. Emma reached out and gently traced the scar on his chin. "That's my dad," she whispered.

She stepped back into Killian's arms. "Well, Henry," Killian asked, "how do we wake him up?"

Henry's brow furrowed as he thought about it. "What if we ask Mary Margaret to come read to him?" Emma suggested suddenly. Both of them looked at her. "Seriously, if this is their story, then what if she comes in and reads it to him. Maybe he really can hear her and it will jog his memory," she suggested.

Henry nodded and tugged them towards the door. "Let's go find her and ask her and-"

Emma took the book from Killian. "Kid, why don't you let me do this," she recommended. His face fell and she instantly felt horrible. She hurried to explain. "Killian and I believe you, but asking someone who doesn't know about this, or who can't remember, it's a lot to take in. Let me ask her and it'll give me a chance to get to know her better."

Henry nodded in understanding. "Okay, that sounds good."

"And in the meantime, maybe the two of you can go grab some dinner and see if you can come up with alternative ways to break the curse." She looked hopefully at Killian. "You guys have a better grasp on this world than I do."

Pressing a kiss to her cheek, Killian nodded. "Why don't you drop us off at the diner on your way to Mary Margaret's," he suggested.

OUAT

Emma gripped the fairytale book tightly in her arms as she knocked on Mary Margaret Blanchard's door. Her mother's door. When the young school teacher opened it, she looked startled. "Emma, what are you doing here?"

Emma smiled softly at the woman. "Um, hoping to talk to you for a while actually." Mary Margaret looked behind her and Emma answered automatically, "Henry and Killian are having dinner at the diner. They're bonding and scheming. They get along so well it's actually rather frightening," Emma admitted.

The school teacher smiled and opened her door wider. "I was getting ready to make some hot cocoa, would you like a cup?"

Emma beamed. "I would love one," she readily agreed. A few minutes later, Emma was sipping on a cup of cocoa that made her pause. "Cinnamon?" She asked.

The young teacher's eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, I should've asked. It's a weird quirk of mine. Do you mind? I can make-"

Emma shook her head, swallowing back the tears. "No, it's a weird one of mine, too." The two sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Emma cleared her throat. "I have a weird proposition for you."

Mary Margaret chuckled. "Okay, I'm all ears."

"Henry has this theory that everyone in this town are fairytale characters and that they're cursed into not remembering their past lives," Emma started to explain.

Mary Margaret nodded. "Okay, so I'm going to ask something that I may not want to know," she paused. "Who am I?"

Emma smiled softly. "Snow White."

The woman raised her brows. "Wow, Henry thinks highly of me, I see." She paused. "Who are you?"

Emma cleared her throat, dropping her gaze. She didn't want to see her look when no recognition flicked across the teacher's face. "Your daughter."

Mary Margaret chuckled. "Wow times two. We're pretty much the same age, I'd say."

Sipping her cocoa, Emma shrugged. "One of the things he's latched onto right now is that he's found Prince Charming."

"My Prince Charming?" Mary Margaret snickered. "I hope it's not Dr. Whale. He spent our entire date staring at Ruby and I paid for my own dinner."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Dear lord, I forgot how bloody awful the dating scene is." She did not miss having to hunt down a one night stand to scratch that particular itch when she wanted an orgasm that wasn't the result of plastic or her own hands.

Mary Margaret leaned forward, her green eyes sparkling with interest and just a flicker of jealousy. "How long have you and Killian been together? You two seem so happy."

Emma smiled softly. "Four years." She glanced down at the amethyst on her left hand, "And now for the rest of my life." She looked up at her mother. "I am so happy. I didn't know that it could be like this. It wasn't easy, but now it's better. I didn't know there was someone out there who," she snorted, "this sounds so cheesy, but it's like we share one heart."

Her mother just smiled at her, reaching across the table to pat her hand. "I think that's how it's supposed to be. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you, but true love isn't supposed to be. If it were, everyone would have it." She paused. "You are a very lucky woman. I have yet to find a man like that." Mary Margaret sighed, "But then again, I guess I should've asked Henry." She studied Emma for a moment, seeing what looked like belief in Henry's theory in the blond woman's eyes. "Emma, you do know his theory is insane, right?"

Emma bit her lip, prepared to spew the lie out (a lie that she knew would hurt Henry, so she didn't want him here when she said it). "I'm afraid to burst his bubble right now. I thought it may be better to prove it rather than just tear him down. His mother has done such a number on him already."

Mary Margaret nodded. "Okay, I'm listening."

"Go to the hospital and read your love story to John Doe." Emma finally set the fairytale book on the table.

"John Doe?" Mary Margaret asked. "That's my Prince Charming?" She asked skeptically. After a moment, she sighed in resignation and held her hands out. "Maybe I'm crazy, too, but I'll do it."

Emma's eyes lit up. "Really?" She pushed the book to her mother.

"I'll go tomorrow night." She brought her mug to her lips. "I guess I have another date tomorrow night. Wonder what I'll wear."

"Make it good. He could be your very own Killian," Emma advised.

Mary Margaret chuckled. "Who is Killian in Henry's book?"

Emma bit her lip and leaned forward. "I went a little bit more dangerous than you," she admitted. At Mary Margaret's raised brow, she replied, "Captain Hook."

The teacher chuckled. "Wow, I'd say so. Does he have a hook?"

Emma shook her head, her thighs clenching together even as she lied to the woman, "His left hand is prosthetic though," she offered up honestly.

"Well then, perhaps we should buy him a hook," Mary Margaret suggested playfully. Emma smirked into her mug. If only she knew.

OUAT

Emma crawled up the bed after she'd gotten out of the shower, wearing only one of Killian's shirts that had been in the bag they kept in the back of her bug. Eventually, they were either going to have to stay and ship their stuff up here or go shopping. "How was dinner with Henry?" She asked, stopping by his calves to rest on her hands and knees.

"Let me tell you something, love, that boy has your spirit. He's incredible. I think we should steal him from Regina and keep him for ourselves," Killian told her bluntly.

Emma laughed. "We'll consider it." Her head fell the side, and she crawled up further, tucking her body into his side. "He's a great kid," she admitted.

"He reminds me so much of you." He raised a hand and toyed with the damp strands of her hair. "And it scares me that he's with a woman who would suppress that spirit of his."

Nudging her nose into his neck, she pressed a few kisses to his scruffy chin. "Hm, I agree, but we won't figure it out tonight. Let's see how his true loves' kiss and Snow White and Prince Charming theory pans out. We'll just have to keep an eye on it all." She wrapped her arm around his torso and tangled their legs together. She let out a sigh. "Killian?"

He tugged her closer to him. "Yes, darling?"

She pushed herself up so she was hovering over him. "I love you."

He reached up, bringing her head down to his, he brushed his lips with hers. "I love you too, Swan. And we'll figure all this out," he promised. "Like you said, we'll see how your mother's date goes."

"I guess so," Emma agreed, nudging her nose against his lightly. "I'm really glad you're here. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm not ever letting you go," she promised.

He tugged her back down to his side, rolling them over so he could hover over her. "Darling, I believe you have this entirely backwards. I'm the lucky one, Emma." He smiled softly at her, carding his hand through her hair, skimming it down her neck and to her side. "You're my happy ending."

OUAT

XOXO

MAS