Author's Note: I apologize for my severe writer's block. I have finally managed to get you a chapter 11. This chapter takes place after Hook, Regina and the boys have been in Pirate's Cove for about six months. So relationships have actually become closer and changed a bit (all for the better).
Also, be aware that the beginning part in the italics is rather dark and morbid. If you prefer not to read it, just skip ahead to the part not in the italics. Enjoy.
Standing on deck, a small breeze making her hair blow in her face, Hook held her closely. She stared into his eyes as his hand caressed her cheek and pushed back the hair in her face. He wanted to see her beauty before he placed a precious kiss to her lips. Her breath felt soft on his skin as she exhaled lightly in the midst of the kiss. Her hands were placed gently on his bare chest as she leaned in closer allowing their bodies to press against one another's.
As their lips parted, he stared at her and watched her open her big brown eyes. The corners of her mouth lifted slowly into a kindhearted smile. "I love you, Killian." She whispered.
As the Captain opened his mouth to return his affection, Regina's eyes suddenly opened wide. She gasped and backed away from the pirate whose smile disappeared instantly. The woman fell to the ground and Killian, wide-eyed, looked at the monster that now stood over her with a bloodied dagger.
"Regina!" Hook screamed as he fell to his knees, turned her over to face him and took her in his arms. He cradled her in his left arm and placed his hand to her stone cold cheek. "No, no, no! Not again. Love, don't leave me." He whispered between his sobs. He couldn't lose her; he had already lost one love, he couldn't bear loosing another.
"Save your breath, dearie. She's gone. Shame too." The man standing over them giggled. He sighed as the furious and distressed pirate glared up at him. "See how easy it is for me to take away everything you love, everything you've worked so hard to keep safe." The man then gestured to his left.
Killian looked over, tears falling down his face and still clutching his lost love in his arms. There hung their three boys by their feet, their lifeless bodies dangling from the mast. He couldn't bear to look at them any more. Bringing his attention back to the crocodile with so much rage, the pirate was so tempted to destroy this monster, but he couldn't let go of her even if she was gone. "You bloody crocodile, you will pay for this with your life!"
"Oh, dearie, dearie, dear. I suppose you should think twice before trying to break a deal with me then. She belongs to me and I will have her no matter the costs. " The playful expression on Rumplestiltskin's face disappeared as his voice deepened, "This is your final warning pirate."
"What are you talking about?" Hook shook his head in confusion.
"I've had enough of your attempts to run from me, pirate, and I have given you many, many chances to do as I say. You have three days to return the Queen to me. You do so and I'll see to it that the rest of your sweet family lives. You try to run again, and this," he gestured to the dead woman's body and then to the lifeless children, "will be the price of your actions." The villainous man suddenly disappeared followed by a flash of light.
The Captain's eyes shot open as he awoke from what seemed to be the most realistic nightmare. Breathing heavily and shaking from the nervousness, he glanced over to his right. It calmed him to see her lying there safely with the little boy sleeping sweetly in her arms. Both of them remand asleep as she cuddled the boy tightly, her chin resting on his little head.
Though he seemed calmer as he stared upon them, the nightmare did not seem to escape from his mind. He didn't want to think of his family being in danger; he couldn't image that happening to them if Regina didn't go with him. But he couldn't lose her; the boys couldn't lose her. He promised her, gave her his word. As he carefully slipped out from under the sheets, he thought to himself that it was about time he found a way to get them out of Neverland and to a place where they could just be safe and happy. A place where even Rumplestiltskin couldn't find them.
0-0-0
"Good morning, brother!" The Captain was greeted as he made his way down the stairs into the dinning area.
"Morning to you as well, Eli." Hook still seemed a bit shaken up about that dream. Eli could plainly tell that something was wrong just by the expression on his face.
"Kil, you need a drink?"
"At this hour? No, thank you. I think I'll just have myself something to eat before I head out." He smiled as he sat at the booth across from his older brother.
"Where are your lady and the boys?" Eli asked curiously with a raised brow. Hook didn't notice his brother's expression, but it seemed rather too curious. More suspicious actually.
The Captain didn't look at his brother, but answered, "Still asleep. I was hoping you could just look out for them today. I have a little business to take care of myself and I'd prefer not to bring them along."
"Sure, sure." The man replied willingly. "But, was is it you don't want them coming along for, brother? Something you don't want them to know?"
"Something I just don't want them to know yet." Hook replied. "I want to make sure that it's possible." The pirate sighed, "I need it to be possible."
"What?"
"A way out." Hook looked to his brother nervously.
"You mean out of Neverland? Brother, why would you wish to leave this place?" Eli laughed as he drank.
"Because, unlike you, I have my family to think about. I have three boys who are not safe here and a wife-"
"Wife?"
"No."
"You slipped, Kil. I heard you perfectly."
"It was just a slip. No need to dwell on it."
"Fine. Fine. But if you feel that way about the woman then why not ask her?"
"It's complicated, Eli. Nevertheless, mate, I need to get us out of here. Somewhere we can be safe. I mean we can't live here in Pirates' Cove forever. It's been months already. I can't subject them to this much longer."
"You know that, wherever you go, you will age. You'll grow old, mate." Eli warned.
Hook shook his head and laughed, "And why should that matter? If I am with her, with my family, Eli, I won't mind growing old."
"So you'll give everything up for them? Brother, you have to think about this. Your freedom and your sailing."
"I've sailed through every realm possible. I've been a pirate for over three centuries. Maybe I want this new life. A chance to actually have a wife and children. Be the father that we could never have. Wouldn't you?"
Eli laughed and shook his head. "Never. Once a pirate, always a pirate, brother. You'll see that eventually." His vice seemed to deepen strangely.
Hook looked at him confused. It seemed more like a threat than anything else. But, he shrugged it off, stood from his seat and smirked at his brother. "Well see about that, mate." He said before walking away and out of the inn.
0-0-0
"Well good morning, my boy." Hook's brother greeted Blake.
Blake managed a meek smile, "Morning."
"Come, boy, sit here." He beckoned.
"Where is my father?" Blake asked as he sat down.
Eli stared at the boy confused for a moment. He suddenly realized, "Oh, you meant Kil. Right. He had to go out for the day and asked that I watch you boys and his lady."
"Okay." Blake was still hesitant to really talk to the man. There was something about him he just didn't like. Something familiar.
"I was thinking you all could join me on my ship today. What do you think of that, my boy?"
Blake could tell that Eli was trying much too hard to befriend him for some reason. "I don't think my mother will agree to that."
Eli laughed at the boy. "Oh I'll find a way to convince her." The two paused for a bit before Eli continued with small talk. "So, boy, how old are you?"
"Eleven." He replied.
"How long have you been eleven?" He smiled.
Blake looked up at him with a slightly shocked look. Not many people would ask that of a lost boy. Most had the decency not to. But he looked at the face of the pirate; he seemed rather dumbfound when asking the question. Blake answered plainly, "I can't remember."
"Must have been a long time."
"Yes."
"Were you relieved when my brother and the woman found you and the others?"
Blake smiled a little. "At first, I didn't really trust them, but yes. I am. They've become my parents and… I love them." It wasn't easy for the boy to say such a thing. He didn't exactly understand what prompted him to say it to that particular man at that time, but it was the first time that he had genuinely said that he love them. It felt good for him to admit.
Eli laughed to himself, "That's sweet, boy. It's a shame that you'll have to go back."
"What?" The warm, comfortable feeling Blake felt suddenly disappeared.
"Well, boy, you were given to those Lost Ones for a reason. You needed to be punished." He still seemed cheery as he stated it.
"What are you talking about? How do you know how I got here?"
Eli leaned forward on the table, "Son, I know it's been a couple of centuries, but can't you recognize your own father?"
"Father?" Blake's eyes widened with fear. "But you-"
"You were supposed to stay on that island, boy. It's where the unwanted boys are brought."
"Unwanted?" Blake questioned.
"You're the reason I lost your mother. She never wanted you and neither did I. So what better way to rid of you and make some money? I brought you to Neverland. But you were not meant to leave and certainly not meant to be my brother's son. You need to go back."
"Why are you telling me all of this? Why do I have to go back?"
Eli grabbed the boy's arm, keeping him from getting up. "Because, this is your punishment. You and those boys will go back, I will get my reward, and the lady… well, I can think of something with her." He smirked.
"I won't let you do this." Blake replied viciously.
"You will unless you want to watch the woman die right in front of you, son." Eli slowly pulled a pistol from the inside of his coat. "You will keep your mouth shut. Understand me?" Blake bowed his head and refused to answer. Eli squeezed his arm tight. "Damnit, boy! Do you understand me?"
"Yes!" He exclaimed feeling the pain.
"Good." Eli let go of the boy's arm. "Now eat something." He smiled as he pushed a bowl in front of Blake. The boy glared at this man. How could he ever have believed that this man was his father? No. His real father was the man who had welcomed him even though he hated him, the man who protected him and almost lost his life to save them, and the man who listened to him when he told him his story. Blake only wished he was here now; he wished he could tell him that he loved him for real. He wished he were there to protect him.
0-0-0
Regina awoke to the sounds of giggling and the feeling of bouncing on the bed. She opened her eyes quickly and noticed the two younger boys jumping around playfully to wake her up. "Wake up! Wake up, wake up, wake up!" She listened to the youngest boy laugh and yell. Regina laughed at the little boy as she stretched her arms. Tucker jumped to his knees and crawled up to her. He whispered, "Are you awake now? Mommy?"
She laughed again, "I am awake." She slowly sat up in the bed and leaned back on the headboard. Tucker wasn't hesitant to crash into her arms for a big morning hug. Soon after, Willy joined in. Regina couldn't help but smile. She squeezed both boys tightly in her embrace before releasing them. "Where is Blake?" She asked the boys.
Willy replied quietly, "He was hungry, so he went downstairs."
"Oh," Regina said raising a brow and trying to sound amused to the young boy, "Then perhaps we should join him."
"Yes." Tucker hissed with excitement. With a rather dramatic tone, he added, "I'm starving!"
It made Regina laugh to see these boys being so happy and silly. So much time had gone by with no troubles or fears; the boys as well as she and Killian were able to just be themselves for those months. They grew to become a real family when they didn't have to worry about their lives being in danger.
She and the two young boys made there way down the stairs to the dinning area, where they found Blake sitting down in a booth with Hook's brother Eli. Tucker and Willy ran to sit beside Blake with little giggles trailing the entire time. Regina casually walked to the round booth and sat across from the older man. She smiled kindly; he smiled back. She didn't particularly pay attention to this man. Even after being there for six months, she hadn't had the chance to become acquainted with him. But the way he looked at her made her rather nervous and uncomfortable.
"Good morning, milady." He greeted her.
Making no eye contact with him as she worked to calm down the two young boys who were a bit hyper, she replied quietly, "Good Morning." She glanced over to Blake, who had his head buried in his food anxiously. She gave another casual glance to the man across from her and feared of what he might have said to Blake to make him seem so transparent. She placed Tucker on her lap and scooted closer to him. Brushing his hair from his face, she asked, "Sweetheart, are you alright?"
"Yeah." He mumbled, "Just tired."
Regina could feel there was something more, possibly something he was scared to tell her because of the man sitting beside them. But she couldn't pry. "Alright." She just mustered up a smile to reassure the boy. "Where is Killian? I thought you'd be with him."
Eli quickly responded, "Kil wanted me to keep an eye on you and your boys for the day while he was out. He said for personal business."
"Oh." Regina gave a slight nod.
"I have my own business to attend to on my ship, if you wouldn't mind spending the day with me at sea. I'm sure your boys would enjoy it." He looked to the younger boys, to get them excited.
"Yes!" Tucker exclaimed.
Regina shook her head. "I don't think Killian would want the boys off of this island. I don't want to risk-"
"You'll be with me the entire time. I won't be putting anyone in any danger, milady. I promise you. And it is the only way I can keep my word with Kil. You know how we pirates are with our word."
"I do, but I have to think of my children first and foremost and being in the middle of the sea does not seem like the safest thing at the moment. I don't want to risk it. We'll be fine here on our own." Regina said with a kind smile as she held Tucker on her lap.
The pirate laughed. "You are quite the stubborn woman. I can see why Kil has fallen for you, love, but I am afraid," the sound of a click ensues and Eli suddenly leaned back in the booth to reveal a pistol in his right hand, "you will be joining me on my ship today whether you like it or not."
Regina's eyes widened suddenly at the sight of the gun. Her mouth agape from the shock, she held her boys closely.
"Get up." The pirate demanded of the family. Regina quickly complied and got her boys up while holding the youngest in her arms. "We are just going to casually walk out and head to the docks. Alright, love?" Regina remained quiet and distant. She kept all three boys close to her. God, did she wish she had magic right now. She felt so helpless, unable to do anything but obey the pirate's commands. They strolled out of the inn casually without a single soul noticing.
0-0-0
Hook stared at the small vile and then looked over at the elderly gypsy woman. "So this will do it?"
"Yes. Mermaids have much more power than people realize, dear. One tear and one drop of venom from a mermaid's fang shall lead you to whatever realm you desire."
"Thank you." Hook nodded with a smile.
As he turned to walk away, she continued, "But I warn you. That vile will only grant you a one-way trip. You can never return. Be sure that you know where you wish to go because that will be where you stay."
The pirate nodded with understanding as he carefully placed the vile in a small sac and put it away safely. As he left the gypsy woman, he thought to himself. He found the way out, an escape for his family. There was no need to worry about the Lost Ones or Rumplestiltskin any longer. They could finally have a normal life as a family. They could be happy.
So, what do you think? Please review. Thank you for reading!