So a couple of readers brought up that I did not have Killian go to the Enchanted Forest with Emma. I did this for a number of reasons. First, I wanted Killian to struggle with who he was, but I felt like it would be more of a struggle without Emma there. Second, re-watching the first couple of episodes of season two, I noticed just how much Emma and Snow needed that trip together for Emma to understand her mother more. I didn't want to take away from that by adding someone else to the mix.
How does that change what happens? It doesn't, well, not really. Maybe I'm taking the easy way out, but I think Emma and Mary Margaret (even Cora for that fact) could have gotten to Storybrooke without Hook. Not to minimize his role in it, but these are headstrong women. I think they would have found a way to get back no matter what it took. With that being said, this is a story mostly told from Killian's point of view. So, I won't be focusing on the details on how they get back home. Like I said, I'm taking the easy way out!
Chapter Twelve
2x02 "We Are Both"
The town of Storybrooke had shut down. Since the curse had broken everyone had been running around frantically. Those who still had families, searched for their families. Those who needed help, sought out help. Those who owned businesses, closed down to deal with the aftermath. That left Granny's as the perfect hiding place.
The first chance he got he burned down the cabin he had been staying in for the majority of the last three decades. That wasn't home. His ship would always be home for him. He just had to find a way to get to it first. In burning down his temporary home, Rumpelstiltskin would not be able to use it against him. Killian would not have to fall asleep that he would wake up to the crocodile looking at him over his bed seconds before he ends his life. He figured the diner that was closed for business would be the safest place for him right now.
He was hiding. He knew that it was a cowardly trait the curse had given him. He knew his hatred for the man who had taken the woman he loved from him was there. Perhaps it had always been there even when his memories weren't. Still, with everything going on, more specifically Emma and Mary Margaret missing, it was not the right time to cause chaos in the town.
It was the smallest noise that woke Killian up from his sleep. Before he used to be a heavy sleeper. The waves could be rocking the ship back and forth and Captain Hook would still be sound asleep in his Captain's Quarters. At the sound of people coming into the diner, he retreated to the back of the place.
Listening in from the bathroom, he heard Ruby's voice. They were opening up the place for business again. He stayed inside hoping that as the time went by, they would change their minds. When he figured that was not the case, he came out.
David was paying at the register. It took him several moments to notice the other man standing across the room. Killian seated himself at the furthest booth hoping to avoid any interaction. The prince was not on the same page.
"Hook," he said with a less than friendly nod.
"What are you doing here, your highness?" Killian asked.
"Everyone has to eat," David said. He tried to lighten the tension between the both of them, but the non royal of the two wasn't giving him much to go on. "I wanted to make sure Henry ate before sending him off to school."
"School?"
"Life must go on," David said.
"That would explain why Granny's reopened," Killian said under his breath.
"If you had been around, you would have heard my speech. Where have you been, Killian?" David asked.
He didn't know what to make of the way the prince was talking to him. He went back and forth between calling him Hook and Killian. He saw both the cursed man and the pirate, but what did that mean? Did he trust him or not?
"Here," Killian said deciding honesty was probably best right now.
"You've been staying here? Why?"
"It's the safest place for me right now."
"From who? Regina?"
"Not her," he said.
David didn't ask who Killian was hiding from. He knew he could and he would get his answer, but he felt best not to. "I'll make you a deal."
Deals were the crocodile's specialty, but he was intrigued at what Emma's father thought he had to offer him. "What?"
"Stay with me and Henry. Whoever you share a past with will not mess with you there," David said.
"What is expected from me?"
"I want you to help me get my wife and daughter back."
No matter who he saw him as, David trusted Killian enough to ask him for help and offer him a place to stay. That was all he needed for now.
2x03 "Lady of the Lake"
In order to make up for not wanting to leave the loft in order to join David on whatever lead he had now to get his family back, Killian prepared a feast for the prince and young boy. Whenever they finished with their day, they would have delicious food to welcome them home.
For the most part, he was in a good mood. Yes, Emma was still missing. Yes, his enemy still wanted to kill him. Still, he needed to find reasons to be happy. So, he did small things to make himself smile. One of them was singing while he cooked. Before today, he could not remember the last time he had sung. After his father abandoned him, he had used singing as a way to escape the sad reality that become his life. When he lost his brother and Milah, he had done the same.
It took Regina calling to yell at him to sour his mood.
"Hello," he said. He felt weird answering a phone that was not his, but no one else was around in the loft but him. So, he picked it up unsure who would be on the other line.
He wished it would be Emma. He wanted her to have found a way back to this world. The stress of finding a way to bring them back would be over. Then he didn't want it to be her. He wasn't sure what his next move would be after she was home. With that quest gone, would it leave room for only revenge?
It was not Emma who was calling right now. Instead he heard Regina's voice already filled with anger. "Hook? What are you doing there? Where is David?" she asked.
"I -," he said. He did not know what he was going to say next. He had a history with the evil queen as well. He didn't want her knowing that he was staying with them. Luckily for him, she had more pressing things on her mind.
"Is Henry there with you?"
"Shouldn't the young lad be at school?"
"He was supposed to meet me for lunch. He didn't show up!" she yelled. She was mad and she was taking her anger out on him.
He muffled her voice out and continued cooking.
"Killian! Are you listening to me?" she asked after several minutes.
"What do you want, Regina?" he asked.
"If anything happens to my son, it's on you!" she yelled before hanging up the phone.
He did not understand her logic, but she did not leave him any room to argue. "Henry, what trouble have you gotten yourself into now?" he asked to the empty loft.
2x04 "The Crocodile"
He could not take another day being locked away in Mary Margaret and Emma's loft. As much as he hated the idea of running into Rumpelstiltskin, the pirate in him needed some fresh air. So, he went to the one place that he felt would be safe for him other than the loft. His enemy was never really one to come into the diner. He doubted he would run into him there.
The last person he had expected to find was the crocodile's love. The last and only time he had seen her had been when he tried to get her to tell him how to kill the dark one. When he found out she did not know how, he had been ready to end her life. Right now, he wanted to avoid that reunion. So, he stayed very still and kept to himself as he watched her interaction with Ruby.
Later after she had left, he would ask her about her conversation with the other woman. "Who was she?" he asked.
"Her name's Belle. I don't think I've ever seen her here before," Ruby said.
"Something tells me she's been locked away for a long time," Killian said.
"You knew her back in our world?"
"Briefly," he said. He looked down at her outfit. "I guess the uniform got thrown out with the curse."
She nodded. "When are you coming back to work, Killian?" she asked.
"I don't think that's the best idea," he said.
"Will you just think about it?"
"I can promise to think about it, but I can't promise you'll like my answer."
He stayed in his place until he saw the very man he hated most walking inside the one place he thought he was safe. The Dark One was not alone. David was with him. Whatever business the two of them had together, Killian did not want to be anywhere near to find out.
cs
Something inside Killian snapped. He was tired of hiding. Even as Mr. Gold, he had his memories from his past life. If he had wanted to end his life, he could have done so.
"I'll start working here again," Killian said as he sat down at the bar of Granny's.
"Good, you can start right now," Ruby said.
After the curse was broken, she, along with the dwarves, Granny and Emma's parents had given him the next closest thing to a cold shoulder. Now that things were starting to settle in, he hoped the little bit of friendships that he did have could go back to normal. It would have to start with Ruby. "Feed me first," he said.
"These brown round things taste delicious."
It was Belle's voice. Killian had not noticed that she was sitting a few chairs over. He tried to stay still. Maybe if she did not see his face, she would not recognize him. She wouldn't freak out and tell them how horrible he was and risk ruining his newly rediscovered friendship with Ruby.
"Are you a fan of these things?" she asked.
It took him a few seconds to realize she was talking to him. He slowly turned preparing himself for her reaction when she recognized him. Nothing happened. She was only waiting for his reply. She did not remember him.
Maybe it had to do with the fact that in the whole two minutes that he had seen her, he had knocked her out.
"Pancakes are one of my favorites," he said.
"I'm Belle," she said.
"Killian."
cs
He was surprised at how quickly he found himself engaging in small talk with the woman he had once knocked out. He felt bad keeping the truth a secret, but he wasn't going to let the past completely ruin the present.
Very discreetly, he watched her as she used the key to get into the library. He wasn't trying to hurt her like he did before, he was curious about this woman. She had been in love with a monster. She had been locked away for the last three decades. She had a fascination with books.
Most of all, he feared that she really did remember him. He was becoming paranoid with the idea that maybe she was working for the dark one.
So, he would follow her until he got his answer.
He watched from across the street as she explored the library. Almost out of thin air, Rumpelstiltskin appeared. He could have used this to confirm his suspicion, but then as he watched their interaction, he was not so sure.
His features were softer than normal as he talked to Belle. There was no question in his mind that he truly did love her.
Maybe the reason Rumpelstiltskin isn't going after Killian is the same reason Killian isn't going after Rumpelstiltskin, the both wanted to prove to the woman they loved that they weren't the man they were before.
TBC