Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time
AN: A big thanks to GranddaughterofCaskettAndTivia for all her help! You're the most wonderful beta in the world. I really appreciate all you do! Enjoy chapter 12 everyone! ~ XOXO MAS
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
It took another hour for the group to reach the port. By the time they did, they were sufficiently freezing and hungry. "We have to find somewhere to warm up, Emma," Mary Margaret murmured to her daughter. "And there's no point in trying to hide. Hades already knows we're here. That's enough to warn all the other people in this part of the Underworld."
Emma glanced around. The docks were bustling with people who didn't appear to notice the cold. Everything was moving as if it were an actual kingdom. It was unnerving and not at all what she'd expected. Nodding, she motioned down the way. "There's a tavern, let's see if we can get a table near a fireplace," she recommended, turning to lead the group in that direction. On the outside the tavern was immaculately kept, it was easily the nicest place that lined the docks.
"This doesn't look too bad," Regina murmured her assent, pushing the crisply painted white door open. When they entered they were immediately surrounded by warmth and the smell of spiced rum. "Oh thank god," she muttered.
"There's a big table near the fireplace." David was already moving, pulling Mary Margaret behind him. "Sit, Snow, I'll find us something warm to drink."
"You go sit with your grandmother, Henry." Emma nudged him forward. "I'll help, Dad." She turned to follow her father to the bar. No one appeared to be behind it. Leaning on the countertop, she tapped her fingers against the pristinely polished wood. "At least it's warm inside," she murmured. "I just hope Killian's alright. Henry's right, he hates the cold. Back at home, he's the first to want a fire in the fireplace or to turn up the heat. He's even taken to fuzzy socks and sweatpants." She let out a laugh. "He bought flannel sheets for the Jolly, though I doubt he's gotten to put them to use. We were ripped away just as soon as he got his ship back." Her voice dropped at the end as flashbacks of their time in Misthaven Institution popped before her eyes, only to have her turn into the Dark One the moment they were home. Noting the dismay on his daughter's face, David pressed a kiss to her temple, gently rubbing her hand in an effort to calm her.
At that moment a head popped up from behind the counter. "You're cold? Can I get you something to drink? Something to eat perhaps?" A lilting voice asked.
Emma sucked in a breath as her eyes connected with a pair of startling blue ones. The color and the shape were so familiar. "Emma?" David nudged his daughter to stop her from staring at the bartender. "Emma?"
"Are you alright lass?" The man behind the counter asked her, concern pulling his eyebrows together in an all too familiar expression.
"Emma?" David repeated.
Stepping back, Emma nodded as the voice of the stranger washed over her. "Yeah, I'm okay, I just, you, I mean, Dad?" She looked up at her father, her eyes wide and shining with tears.
Pulling her into a hug, David cradled her head, "It's okay, Emma, whatever it is, it's okay." He gave the man behind the counter a small shrug that indicated he didn't know quite what was wrong.
"Here, lass, you could use some of this. It's cider with spiced rum in it." He poured a mug and pressed it against her hand that was fisted on the bar, "Let me get you a pitcher for your table and something without the rum in it for your lad." The bartender nodded to David. "You all go sit down, I'll bring it to you. And perhaps something to eat as well."
David nodded. "Thank you..." he trailed off, realizing he didn't know the man's name.
"Liam," The bartender replied pleasantly. "Liam Jones."
At the confirmation of his name, Emma let out a small mewl, allowing her father to walk her over to the table. "Emma?" David sat his daughter down, reaching up to brush a tear away. "Did he say Liam Jones? As in-"
"That's Killian's brother," Emma confirmed. "God, those eyes. They're just like Killian's and-" her head fell to her hands and she tried to take a few deep breaths, but it felt like they were stuck in her chest.
"Did you say Killian?" The lilting voice that reminded her so much of her pirate's echoed from above her. "Do you know Killian Jones?" He asked sharply, the tray clattering to the table.
"I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost," Anna admitted. "I'm Anna," she introduced herself. "Do you know Killian Jones? Captain Hook? The pirate? Because if you know where we can-"
"Anna!" Elsa cut in quickly. "Don't rattle the poor man. Won't you please join us for a moment? Your patrons seem to be content right now." She motioned to the spot next to her on the bench, which was empty. "My name is Elsa, I'm the Queen of Arendelle," she introduced herself. "This is Queen Regina of the Enchanted Forest, Queen Snow and her husband King David, their daughter Princess Emma, my sister, Princess Anna, her husband, Prince Kristoff, Robin Hood of Locksley and Regina and Emma's son, Prince Henry."
Liam stood immediately, dropping into a low bow that was quite indicative of his upbringing. "Your majesties, it's an honor to have you here in my tavern. I am Captain Liam Jones. I was formerly a member of King George's Navy." He paused. "Forgive me, but you all-"
"Aren't dead?" Snow suggested. "No, we're very much alive. We're here searching for someone who sacrificed himself to save our lives."
Liam's nodded. "I will help you however I can, who is it you're searching for?"
Emma swallowed hard, all eyes turning to her. "It's Killian."
Liam's mouth dropped open. "I'm sorry, but that's impossible."
She shook her head. "No, no it's not."
"But he must be..." Liam began attempting to calculate in his head.
"Three hundred and eighteen years old next month," she murmured. "He spent hundreds of years in Neverland and then some time under a curse where he didn't age," Emma explained. "And he just died only hours ago."
"Here in Arendelle? I didn't even know he lived here now." Liam asked.
"He didn't. He lived in a town called Storybrooke, which is a little place nestled in the land without magic." Emma murmured. "He moved there to be with me."
"I'm sorry, Captain," Robin held up a hand, "but from the stories we've heard, I thought you died from Dreamshade once you'd returned back home from Neverland. And I thought your home was in the Enchanted Forest."
Liam nodded, "We were supposed to return to Misthaven, but I thought we needed more time to figure out how to expose our king as the corrupt monarch he was. Instead of landing us in the waters at home, I landed us here in Arendelle. It's about five day's journey by boat, three on The Jewel of the Realm, she's the fastest boat in any realm." He smiled fondly at the memory of his ship. "Three days would've been sufficient, but the Dreamshade overtook me the moment our boat hit water here." He sighed, "I can't believe Killian has passed after surviving all these years."
"You didn't know? You can't" Anna hesitated, "see us up above?"
Liam shook his head. "Some time before I died, Hades took away our ability to see those who we love who are still alive. I have never been able to look after him, or at least know that he's happy. And now he's down here?" His eyes locked with Emma's. "You must love him a great deal to come to the Underworld to find him. You have to know that Hades will never let you all leave. Particularly with him."
"We'll find him anyway," Henry piped up. "We always find each other. It's what families do."
Liam swallowed thickly, taking in all the people who clearly loved Killian. It was more than he could've ever hoped his brother would have. Once he'd died, Liam knew Killian didn't really have anyone. Yes, the men would be there for him, but that couldn't compare to a family. It appeared that he'd found one after all. And from the broken, yet determined look on Princess Emma's face, it appeared his little brother had also found true love. "How did he die?" Liam asked softly.
Emma tugged her quivering lip between her teeth, the guilt washing over her in a fresh wave. It was Regina who spoke up. "It's a long story," she paused. "But the Darkness escaped from the Dark One, who lives in our land, and it was trying to attach itself to me, to snuff out my light." She glanced over at Emma. "Instead, Emma tethered the Darkness to herself to save me."
"You were the Dark One?" Liam asked incredulously, taking in the blonde who was still pressed up against the man she referred to as a father, though he didn't look to be any older than she was. Emma simply nodded.
"In her attempt to eliminate the Darkness," Regina tried to simplify the story, "all of the past Dark Ones were brought to Arendelle and Killian sacrificed himself to stop them from gaining too much power. He tethered all of the Darkness of every Dark One in existence to himself, which killed him and eliminated the power of the Dark One. He did it so Emma wouldn't die. She was going to sacrifice herself," Regina explained. "Again. And Killian didn't want her to die. He didn't want her to leave our son or our family." She motioned around the table.
Liam gave them a brief, watery smile. "He turned into quite the hero."
Emma nodded. "He really did. And now we have to find him. I can't lose him, Liam. I just - I love him so much." She sighed. "And it's all my fault that he's dead and-"
"Please stop saying it's your fault," Regina snapped. "It's not helping. Now, we'll find Killian and we'll figure out a way to bring him back. No more moping and crying. Understood?"
Sniffling, Emma wiped away her tears. "Understood," she murmured.
"Good. Now, you haven't seen him?" Regina asked Liam.
Liam contemplated Regina's question as he passed out the mugs of hot cider. "I haven't seen him, but I heard there was someone new at the docks. He's working on one of the ships."
Emma's eyes lit up. "Killian would have to be near the water if he were here. He just couldn't bear it and-"
"He still works for a navy? Perhaps one of yours?" Liam glanced at each royal in turn as he asked the question. He was hopeful that Killian had managed to move up the ranks to Captain. Liam always believed he would make a fine captain. He had excellent leadership skills and was a fine sailor.
Again all eyes turned to Emma. This time she responded. "No, he doesn't work for a navy any longer. After you died..." she paused, knowing that Liam wouldn't like this news (Killian had told her enough stories about Liam for her to know that he wouldn't completely approve of Killian's pirating ways). "Killian and your men turned to piracy."
Liam stared at her for thirty seconds before snorting in laughter. "Forgive me, milady, but my brother, the prim and proper lieutenant, wouldn't condone piracy, he didn't even drink. I saw him throw more flasks of rum into the water than I can count. Our poor men could never drink aboard our ship under his watch."
It was Emma's turn to snort. While Killian was quite old-fashioned and always a gentlemen, he wasn't exactly prim and proper anymore. She bit her lip at the memory of some of his innuendoes and his flashing blue eyes as he poured rum on her hand during their journey up the beanstalk, feeling a blush creep up her neck before she cleared her throat. "Well, he's still a gentleman, but he did turn to piracy in an attempt to avenge your death. King George died, though and he continued on with his pirating ways until he met a woman, her name was Milah. Her husband killed her and cut off Killian's hand. He became known as Captain Hook." She chuckled. "And he, um, carries his own flask of rum wherever he goes now."
Liam shifted uncomfortably in his seat at the thought of his brother being a rum-soaked pirate. "And how did you meet him? Clearly most royalty wouldn't take up with a pirate."
"Don't I know it," David grumbled.
"He tried to lie to us." Emma caught her mother's eye. "We were living under a curse in our land, Storybrooke, and my mother and I got sucked into a portal to the Enchanted Forest. We met Killian and he tried to pass himself off as a blacksmith. It didn't go very well. We all wound up in Storybrooke again and when Henry was kidnapped by Peter Pan and taken to Neverland, Killian took us on his ship and helped find our son." She closed her eyes. "And Pan followed us home and cast another curse on our land and Henry and I were ripped from our family, our memories taken away from us. Killian found me again, though. He gave up his ship to find me. He always finds me, no matter what. And when he can't remember who he is, I find him. It's what we do."
"Pirate or not," David admitted, "he's a part of our family and he loves my daughter very much. We need to find him."
Liam nodded. "It would be my honor to help you find my brother. I'm sure if we work together, we can find a way to get him back to you so you all can go home," he paused. "Now, I do believe it's cold outside. I have an inn upstairs and there are trunks of clothes in one of the storage rooms. Let me show you were it is and we'll get you all bundled up so we can take a trip down to the docks. I just need to find Chadwick. He can run the tavern in my absence."
Emma reached up and latched onto Liam's wrist. "Thank you, Liam. Thank you so much."
He smiled down at the tiny blonde, patting her hand. "Thank me when you have Killian back."
OUAT
XOXO
MAS
