Chapter X

"Neverland."

The word hit in both Liam and Killian with full force as they stood on the deck of the ship. Gold was finishing giving instructions to Belle as to how to secure the town to prevent any danger and Emma, Regina, David and Mary Margaret were silently boarding the ship.

"Are you ok with Gold joining us?" Liam asked.

Killian averted his gaze, his eyes focusing on the sea, "All that matters now is that we get Emma's lad back, Liam." He turned around, his eyes meeting his brother's, "All yours, Captain Jones."

Liam cocked an eyebrow at his brother, "You're giving me back my ship, brother? You've been her captain for 300 years, you deserve her more than me."

"Well, this is a true hero's journey." Killian said, "she should be captained by the better man."

Liam clasped his brother's shoulder, "Last time, I didn't listen to you and look the centuries of pain this caused us. I won't make the same mistake twice, little brother."

Killian nodded his head and both brothers turned around to face the others standing on the deck of the ship.

"But you deal with them, though," Killian said and Liam chuckled.

"Alright," Liam said to the rest, "Killian is going to take the helm. David, you follow my lead on what needs to be done. The rest of you, hold onto something."

"Swan, if you'd be so kind." Killian said as he headed for the helm and she followed him.

"Ready?" He asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." She replied as she handed him one bean.

"We'll find him, Emma." Killian said, his finger grazing hers softly as he took the bean from her hands.

/-/

Emma navigated the depths of the ship below deck before she reached the door. She knocked on it and waited for the order allowing her to go in. She quickly entered the cabin and lifted her head while she started to talk, but she stopped dead in her tracks a second later.

"I am pretty sure I'm not the Captain Jones you are looking for." Liam smirked at her from the desk where he was sitting and reviewing some old maps. "Wrong cabin, Swan."

Emma hesitated, still trying to make sense of why Liam was there. Liam chuckled, "Killian let me have this cabin and he went back to his old one."

"Old one?"

"The officer cabin he occupied when he was a lieutenant, Emma." Liam smiled as he pointed to the door, "Second door to the right. Or did you actually want to talk to me?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

Emma blushed before she nodded and left the room, heading for the Killian's cabin. He answered at the first knock, hair disheveled and eyes looking at her confused.

"Is it a bad time?" She asked hesitantly.

"No, Swan, come in," He said as he opened the door and moved to the side to let her in. Emma walked a few steps into the cabin, her eyes wandering. It was smaller than the captain's quarters and it had a pristine, almost spartan air to it. A few books were on a built-in shelf near the narrow bunk that was the bed. She turned around to face him and she finally noticed he was wearing his old leather pants.

"Are you going into full pirate mode again?"

He chuckled, averting his gaze and scratching behind his ear, "The leather garb has proven to be quite effective in Neverland, love." He offered.

"Well, you are the expert."

"That I am," he sighed before he turned around and reached for something behind him, "I have something for you." He handed her a cutlass in a scabbard. He cleared his throat, "It was – It was Bae's."

Emma's eyes bored into his, the aftermath of the words she'd said on the warehouse hanging unspoken between them. Her hands brushed his as she took it, a jolt of electricity passing between them. He pulled away first, a pained expression flooding his eyes for a brief second before he was able to mask it.

"I was thinking Henry could have it. You – you can hold onto it until we rescue him." He said sincerely and Emma's heart sank in her body. He sounded sure that they'll rescue Henry and she was standing there with nothing but doubts and fears.

"You really think we'll rescue him?" She asked in a soft voice.

"I know we will." He assured her.

"What do you have so much faith in?" She wondered, holding the cutlass in her hand.

Killian took a few steps towards her, his hand softly caressing her cheek, "You, Swan. I have yet to see you fail." He smiled softly at her, his fingers brushing her skin, "You'll rescue your lad."

"You really think so?" Emma knew she sounded scared and small, but she couldn't help herself.

He sighed, "Emma, you bested a three hundred year old ruthless pirate in a heartbeat. You are bloody brilliant, love." He said vehemently. His tilted his for a few moments, searching for something in her features, before he slowly pulled away, "Don't misunderstand me, Pan is a bloody dangerous demon, but you've got me and Liam on your side. We know this island, we will stand by you. I'll stand by you."

Killian looked at her, his hand fidgeting with his hook, "I haven't been part of something other than this ship and my crew for a long time, Emma. Revenge was all I had. But now, for the first time in centuries, I have hope. Because have my brother by my side, and I owe that to you."

His words pulled her to him like a magnet and suddenly she had leaned in closer, her eyes never leaving his. He cleared his throat, "You brought me back my brother. I'll do anything I can do to bring your son back to you, Swan."

She tilted her head, her eyes looking curiously at him.

"What?" He asked, a little self-aware this time.

"You." Emma sighed, "Saying all these things… I-"

He gave her a cheeky smirk, "Makes you want to kiss me, innit? Come on, Swan, you can tell me." He whispered smugly.

She rolled her eyes in playful exasperation before she looked at him apologetically, "Hook…"

"I know, Swan." He replied, leaning in to press a soft kiss on her forehead, "I know."

The sound of the door opening caught them by surprise and they turned around to find Liam scolding at them. His features briefly changed to amused surprise before he schooled them again and pointed his finger at them.

"Alright, this is all very good, but can you please stop disappearing alone into locked spaces? Your father is going to have a heart attack, Emma. And your mother is horrified. This is not the proper behavior of a princess, Your Highness. Or a navy officer, Lieutenant Jones."

"I haven't been a navy lieutenant in centuries, Liam!" Killian defended himself.

"And I've never actually been a princess." Emma shrugged.

"Cut it out! Both of you. Come join the rest above deck. We'll be arriving soon."

Killian sighed as he lead Emma outside his cabin "You give the man his old cabin and all of the sudden he thinks we are back at being officers again."

/-/

Liam watched Gold give his snarky speech before he disappeared in a melodramatic exit. "Good riddance." He muttered under his breath, but the snort on his side alerted him that his comment had not been unheard. Liam turned around to find David starting amused at him before his eyes drifted and a serious expression came to his features. Liam followed his eyes and found Killian gallantly helping Emma secure her new cutlass. He smiled to himself before he turned around to face David, "You know he's your best chance to navigate this island, right?"

David sighed, "It doesn't make it easier to accept the fact that I have to ally with a pirate."

Liam shook his head, "Well, Majesty, I don't mean to upset you but you set on this quest with the Evil Queen, the Dark One and Captain Hook on tow. Perhaps it's time to set differences aside in hopes to find Henry soon."

"Perhaps it is." David replied.

It didn't take long for Pan and his lost boys to find them. He seemed amused at the fact that Liam and Killian had found each other after centuries, but his attention soon turned to Emma, his voice taunting her over Henry before setting his army against them. The fight had been tight: Liam had been able to dodge an arrow dripped with dreamshade at the very last second and when he lifted his head, the pain and fear he saw in Killian's eyes almost broke his heart. But it was gone in an instant, as Killian dove forward to protect Emma from a hit and dispatched a lost boy with ruthless accuracy. Liam caught another movement from the corner of his eye and his heart sank when he saw the arrow grazing David's side.

Bloody Hell.

It was bad enough that David had been poisoned with dreamshade, spiraling Liam and Killian into a set of painful memories neither of them wanted to relive. It was worse that he was adamant to keep this information from his wife and daughter, heroically choosing to die in the search of his grandson. Liam could see Killian's hand closing into a fist, his jaw clenching as he was hearing David's words. Of course his little brother would take an issue with this, and he knew the many reasons why.

"Have you thought of Emma?" Killian had finally snapped, "About the fact she'd like to know about her father's impending demise? About how this would affect her, just a short time after she'd found you?"

"You don't get to tell me how you think my daughter would feel, pirate!" David yelled, sweat coming across his face as he tried to punch Killian. Killian swiftly evaded the swing and caught David's slumping form as the prince collapsed into him.

"Wonderful," He groaned as Liam reached out to help him, "Tell me again why it's so bloody good to be a hero?"

Liam sighed, "Now it's not the time, Killian. Let's get David up to the waterfall and then we'll figure out what to do."

David was still unconscious by the time they'd reached the top. They laid him on the floor, his head perched on Liam's bag. Liam turned around to find Killian's pained eyes. They were both reliving memories that neither of them wanted to ever be reminded of.

"I'll go." Liam said.

"NO" Killian said, his voice thick with emotion. "Let me do it."

"Killian, it's too dangerous."

"I can't go through this again." Killian said, pain oozing from him. His hand reached for the pocket in his coat and he retrieved a small piece of leather. "I've held onto this for three centuries, brother. And each day I closed my eyes and got to relive this exact moment, wondering if there is anything I could've done differently. Please don't ask me to watch you do this again, Liam."

Liam reached for his brother's hand, closing in on his old insignia, "Be careful." He pleaded.

"Aye." Killian said as he covered his face and took his cutlass.

It could not have been more than a few minutes, but it felt like centuries for Liam. When he saw Killian come back, he released the breath he didn't know he was holding and quickly reached his brother's side; his hands roaming over him.

"Are you alright?" Liam asked.

"Aye. Let's get this to David." Killian said and they moved towards David's unconscious form. Liam was able to wake him up and he hastily spoke.

"David, you have to drink this, it would buy us sometime until we figure out what to do. This will keep you alive while you are still on Neverland."

David nodded and sipped the water, and it only took a few moments before he was alive and well.

"Thank you." He said to Liam.

"It's not me you need to thank, Majesty." Liam said as he looked proudly towards Killian.

David cleared his throat, "Thank you, Hook. For risking your life to save me."

Killian tilted his head, and Liam waited to see what would be his brother's reaction, whether he'd accept David's words or not.

Killian shrugged, a smug smirk coming to his face, "I didn't do it for you, mate." He let out before the turned around and started his path towards the camp.

Close enough. Liam thought as he cocked an eyebrow at David.

"This is only a temporary solution," Killian said as they descended the rocky hills on their way back to the others.

"That is true, Majesty." Liam said gloomy. "The effect of the water will only last while you are here on the island."

"How did you manage the first time around?" David asked Liam.

"The details are blurred, but Pan had an antidote. He usually kept it stashed with the rest of his magic."

"We need to find a way into that when we rescue Henry" David said.

Killian and Liam exchanged glances, silently communicating. But Liam wasn't ready to reveal his ulterior purpose in the island. Not yet. Not until he had time to search for her, to see if she was still alive. He looked at Killian and shook his head briefly.

"Aye, we will figure it out, mate." Liam said clasping David's shoulder.

By the time they reached the camp, they found out that Regina had somehow separated from the group and she'd been missing. They decided to split and search for her: Liam went with David and Mary Margaret while Killian and Emma teamed up in the other direction.

Killian huffed as they trek along the jungle, running his hand through his hair.

"Are you ok?" Emma asked.

"I will be once we rescue your lad and leave this treacherous island, Swan." Killian admitted.

"I can only imagine how hard it must be for you and Liam to be here." Emma said her hand reaching to grab his arm, "I - Thank you, Killian."

Anything for you, Swan. His eyes bored into hers and he leaned into her instinctively, his lips almost brushing hers. But he caught movement from the corner of his eyes and pulled away instantly, acting on his instincts as he pulled his cutlass out and stood in front of Emma. Emma also pulled her cutlass out, her eyes searching their surroundings. She sighed in relief and lower down her sword when she saw Regina come in.

"Where were you?" Emma asked but then she stood frozen at the blonde woman standing next to Regina, "Who is she?"

But before Regina had a chance to speak, Killian had turned his head and his eyes had spotted the blonde. His face changed into a relieved smiled.

"Tink!" He yelled as he sheathed his sword and reached for Tinkerbell, "You're alive…" He whispered and he grabbed her arms, almost hugging her.

Tinkerbell looked at him confused, her arms darting to stop his imminent embrace, "Hook!? What are you doing? What- what happened to you?"

He sighed, his eyes boring into hers with tender affection, making Emma and Regina even more confused, "We- we've been hoping you'd still be alive." He said.

"We?" Emma, Regina and Tinkerbell asked.

Killian scoffed, cursing behind his breath, "Bloody hell, where is this bloody idiot when you need him."

The sounds of footsteps and David's voice alerted them that the rest of the search party was near them.

"Over here!" Killian yelled, the urgency evident in his voice.

"Killian?" He heard back.

"Come quickly!" Killian said and Emma had enough of the entire ordeal,

"Killian! Hook, what is going on?" She asked but whatever reply Killian was about to give her got cut off as David, Mary Margaret and Liam finally appeared.

Liam's eyes zeroed in on Tinkerbell standing next to his brother and his face broke into a smile.

"Tink!" He called, dropping his sword and making his way towards her.

"Liam?" Tink asked befuddled, her eyes blinking furiously as if to prove she wasn't dreaming.

Killian swiftly move to the side as Liam reached for Tink, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Tink… you're alive." He whispered in a broken voice full of emotion, one of his hands cradling her head while the other rested on her lower back.

She pulled away, her hands cradling his face, "Liam! You- What happened, why are you here?"

Liam closed his eyes briefly, leaning into her touch, "I – we're here on a mission, but that wasn't the only reason for me. I - I needed to find you, love."

Tink's eyes filling with tears as she leaned into him, "Liam…" she whispered as she brushed her lips to his. "You came back for me?"

"Aye." He replied as he pulled her to him one more time.

Everyone but Killian stared at the scene in shock but it was Emma the first one to talk, "Wait a minute- is this, was it Tinkerbell?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow at Liam.

He pulled away from his embrace with Tink, but still kept her closely tugged to his side.

"I told you there's always a girl, Swan." Liam smirked at her.