Things to look forward to for this chapter: 1) I explain why Hook got pulled into Regina's curse. 2) Emma and Killian reunion. Let me know what you think of both!
Chapter Fourteen
2x08 "Into the Deep"
If there was anything to bring together Prince Charming, the Evil Queen, and Captain Hook, it was the well being of young Henry. The three of them slept downstairs each taking turns sleeping on the couch. It had been his turn when he heard Henry from across the room.
"They're alive! They're alive!"
"Who? Who's alive?" David asked as every one came in closer to the bed the boy had been sleeping in.
"My mom and Snow," Henry said.
"I told you, kid. I told you!"
"Was it that woman you saw? Did she tell you this?" Regina quickly asked. The concern very evident in her voice.
"Her name's Aurora. She said they have a way home, but there's someone in their way. Someone they need us to help them stop, someone only Mr. Gold knows how to defeat."
He knew that at some point, he would have to face his enemy. They were stuck in this small town together with too much history to be avoided. He just hoped he would deal with it later. He hated that the man he hated most was the one that would help them get Emma and Mary Margaret back.
"Who?" Regina asked.
There was something about the person who Gold could help defeat that left Emma's son feeling unsure. "Your mother," Henry said.
"That's not possible. She's dead," Regina said.
Until now Killian had only listened in on their conversation. That was about to chance. Regina would make him very involved in this conversation.
"Not according to Aurora."
"She's supposed to be dead," Regina said. Quickly she directed her head at Killian. "You were supposed to kill her!
Henry gasped at his mother's outburst. Killian saw fear in the young boy's eyes. Regina was his mother. Killian was his other mother's friend. He knew that they were villains back in their land, but seeing it being talked about candidly was something else entirely.
"Perhaps we should discuss this outside."
"Not yet, pirate," Regina said. She turned to her son. "How is my mother stopping them? What does she want with them?"
After Henry had explained to them what the woman from the room had told him, David had insisted the boy eat breakfast. As insane as their lives could be, it was important to keep him on a schedule. Luckily for him, it was Saturday and the day did not require him to attend school.
"I'm going to go talk to Gold," Regina said. Killian followed her out into the small hallway outside the loft. "You're coming with? I thought you and the dark one had a nasty past?"
"I'm not coming with you, but I wanted a chance to explain myself," he said.
"You? Explaining yourself? How uncharacteristic of you," Regina said.
"That's what happens when you have twenty eight years of coward jumbled in your head," he said. He made sure she knew that even though he was here talking to her for Henry and Emma sake, he still did not forgive her for the curse she forced on him.
"How is my mother still alive?"
"When you sent me to kill her, she offered me a deal," he said.
"What kind of deal?"
"She told me of your curse. She told me she would help me escape it."
"But you didn't. You were cursed just as everyone else in this town," she said.
"Well your mother is your mother. I betray you. She betrayed me," he said.
"How?"
"Just as the curse was coming she used magic to place me in the heart of your curse," Killian said.
"That's how you landed here."
He nodded along. "Do what you have to make sure she does not come into this world. Do what you have to do to protect your son from Cora," he said. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she had already thought about what her mother could do to her son. Regina was selfish in many ways, but when it came to her son, she really did love him.
cs
Henry was taken to Mr. Gold's shop, but Killian made sure to check in with David to see what was going on. The further he went into the Netherworld, the worse his burns got. So, David was going to go under the sleeping curse.
The former pirate wished he could have that much hope. But from where he was standing right now, alone in the kitchen on the sidelines instead of in the center of the action like he used to live, it was hard to imagine anything other than the walls that surrounded him.
2x09 "Queen of Hearts"
The next day, Killian found himself in a very strange place. He had grown annoyed with his own coward behavior. So he stood there at the door of Gold's pawn shop. If the dark one was there, he was sure to end his life there on the spot. That was a risk Killian was willing to take. If he was going to move forward, getting out of the house to support someone who has supported him was the first step. He wasn't sure calling Emma's father his friend was appropriate, but right now that he and Henry were the closest things he had.
"Henry?" he called out when he entered the shop. Even during the curse he stayed away from this place. So, he had no idea what the inside really looked like.
"Killian?" Henry asked coming out from a room in the back of the shop. He watched as his mother's friend explored the room looking for one person in particular. "Mr. Gold isn't here. It's safe."
Hook smiled to himself. He hadn't really told Henry about his past with the dark one, but the boy had a way of figuring things out.
"How is your grandfather?" he asked.
"Still under the sleeping curse," Henry said. He picked up his story book. "I was just about to read to him."
"Can I stay and hear along?"
"Sure."
Henry had been in the middle of his sentence when Ruby and the dwarves came rushing in. "Where are they - Regina and Gold?" Ruby asked, her voice sounding very panicked.
"What's going on?" Henry asked picking up on that panic.
"All the magic has been drained from the mines," she said.
"They stole it?"
"They snuck in after our shift and took everything. Nobody steals from a dwarf."
"Except the queen."
"And Rumpelstiltskin."
Killian rolled his eyes at the dwarves joking manner during thing very serious time.
"If they're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, that... that means my mom lied to me," Henry said. Even from across the room, Killian could tell how disappointed the boy was.
"I'm sorry, Henry," Ruby said. She kneeled down to the boy's level.
"We need to find her. We need to stop them. We need to help Emma and Mary Margaret."
cs
Henry lead the way to the well where Regina and Rumpelstiltskin were up to something that didn't look like it was with good intentions. Killian and Ruby followed closely behind him.
"Mom? You're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, are you?" Henry asked.
"I'm helping you, Henry," Regina said.
Killian decided it was best if he paid attention to their conversation rather than to pay attention to the death wishing look the crocodile was sure to be giving him.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're gonna kill them," Ruby said. She took a step forward toward the evil queen and the dark one.
"Sorry, dearie," Gold said raising his hand.
Killian felt himself being lifted off the ground and thrown against a tree. His world very quickly fading to black.
"She saved you. She saved both of you."
When he next opened his eyes, everything around his was fuzzy. He heard voices coming from just a few feet away, but he wasn't sure what was going on.
"Are you okay?"
"Where's my husband? I need to find him!"
Moments later, when his vision became clearer, the first thing he saw was Emma Swan. He couldn't believe his eyes. After weeks of wondering if he would ever see her again, she was finally there before him. Part of him wanted to run to her and sweep her by her feet into his arms, the other part, the one that was winning, stood there in shock just watching her.
She was standing there talking to Regina with no idea that the woman in front of her just tried to sabotage her way home. In the distance he could see Mary Margaret and Ruby running like they were on a mission and he remembered that Emma's mother needed to bring back her father with True Love's Kiss. Then there was Rumpelstiltskin slowly walking away using his cane.
"Welcome back," Regina said giving the savior a half smile.
"Thanks," Emma said pulling Henry tighter.
Their eyes met, but he still couldn't find the strength to pick himself up off the ground. Part of him was scared that if he got up, somehow she would disappear, that it had all been some sick and twisted dream. If staying on the ground would keep her there, he would live in this spot just to have her there.
She pulled herself out of Henry's embrace and walked straight over to him. She offered him a hand to help him back up. "Swan? Is it really you?"
She only smiled at him in silence.
He took the hand she had offered him and brought it to his lips. "Hi," he said right before giving the hand a quick kiss.
"What no hug?" she asked. She pulled him up so that they were standing face to face.
"I've thought hugs were overrated. I'm more of a kisser," he said. He leans in closer to her.
She was surprised at his boldness, but it didn't annoy her. Emma's eyes grow wide thinking he is going to kiss her on the lips this time, but of course he didn't.
His lips are less than one inch away from her. That's when he instead pulls her in for a hug. "I guess a hug will have to do," he said He felt her laugh as she hugged him in tighter.
"You did that on purpose," she said nudging his side as they pulled apart.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said shrugging his shoulders innocently.
"Oh sure," she said. Henry pulled up at her side.
"It really is great to have you back, Swan."
TBC