Neal and Regina entered a local tavern in the Enchanted Forest. Regina had decided to borrow one of Snow White's bandit outfits to blend in with the locals. They had just finished one of their sparring sessions and they weren't ready to return to the castle. "Tell me why we're here again?" Neal asked despondently.
"I felt you could use some cheering up." Regina answered placing the drinks on the table. "Don't think I hadn't noticed the way you look at that necklace when you think no one's looking. You've been sulking ever since you had that conversation with the Charmings."
"The Charmings." Neal snorted glaring at his drink. "What ever happened to that I will always find you nonsense?" Neal took swig of his ale and then slammed the container on the table in frustration. "Now they're telling me to just give up on Emma and Henry."
Regina casually took a sip of her own drink and then reached over to her brothers' hand to offer some comfort. "Well fortunately for you our family is a little different from the Charmings. Our Dad didn't give up when you were separated from him and you're not going to give up either."
"You do realise Regina," Neal pointed out, "that in order for us to be reunited he pushed you into becoming the Evil Queen and manipulated half the Enchanted Forested to back you into a corner so that you would cast the dark curse."
"We probably should save that for plan B." Regina shrugged and smirked mischievously. They both knew that neither of them had any intention of casting the dark curse but Regina didn't want her brother to feel guilty for what happened. Regina had made her choices and told Neal this many times. Unfortunately stubbornness ran in the family because Neal had refused to listen so Regina had chosen to make light of it. "Maybe my sister could do it since she is so desperate to prove that Dad should have picked her to cast the curse."
Neal knew Regina wasn't serious and decided to join in. "Well she does love herself most so that could work in our favour." Zelina was just another one of Cora's many secrets, Neal just prayed it was the last one. He didn't think Regina could cope with another sibling coming out of the woodwork.
Neal was brought out of his musings when he heard the barman shout at a familiar man across the room. "I've told you enough times Jones no money no rum!"
"Aw come on mate." Killian smiled, "Show some compassion for a pirate that has fallen on hard times."
"That line may work on some of the tavern wenches Jones but it doesn't work on me and if you don't get out of here this minute I'll be forced to remove another one of your limbs!" The barman threatened.
"Like I haven't heard that threat before." It wasn't the first time someone made that threat to Killian and it certainly wasn't going to be the last.
The barman wasn't amused and grabbed Killians' shirt, "Maybe you should have listened then you probably wouldn't have that hook."
"He doesn't listen because he's an idiot." Regina interrupted the confrontation and placed some money on the counter. "This'll buy enough rum to keep him quiet." Regina didn't know why she was helping the pirate, he annoyed her most of the time but something inside told her to keep him out of trouble.
The barman took the money and placed a bottle on the bar top. "You're lucky to have such a generous lady friend to buy you drinks though if she has any sense she'll dump your sorry ass."
"I'll keep that in mind." Killian huffed and took the bottle.
He was about to walk away but Regina stopped him. "Oh no you don't." Regina said taking the bottle out of his hands. "I paid for it so you're sharing it."
"I thought you said you don't do rum love." Killian smiled leering at Regina. "Though I don't mind sharing a drink with a beautiful woman such as yourself."
"Then I hope you don't mind if I had a chaperone just make sure that you keep your remaining hand to yourself." Regina replied pointing to her brother Neal who was watching over his sister protectively. "I thought you were heading back to your ship where's your crew Captain?" Regina asked curiously.
Killian was going to answer back with a flirtatious remark but with Neal looking ready to throttle the pirate he thought better of it."The crew weren't fond of an absentee captain so they elected a new leader." He muttered.
Regina was going to ask who but was interrupted by a grizzly looking man with a beard, "That would be me, Captain Black Beard at your service."
"How original."Regina observed the rough looking man not liking the way he was looking at her, with Killian she knew his looks were harmless this man however looked as though he wanted to eat her alive.
Apparently Killian didn't like the way Black Beard was looking at Regina either and stood in front of her protectively. "Leave her alone if you know what's good for you."
"There's no reason to be like that Hook." Black Beard smiled patronisingly, "I have no intention of harming her."
One of the crew members laughed, "The Wicked Witch would pay handsomely if we bring the queen to her alive."
This surprised Regina she wasn't aware Zelina had put a bounty on her head. Black Beard wasn't happy about what the sailor had let slip, "She wasn't supposed to know about the bounty."
The crew member tried to apologise but Black Beard showed no mercy. He shot the man dead, once the gun went off almost everyone in the bar had fled not wanting to be shot next. Regina observed the dead man and then looked to the rest of the crew, "Well it looks as though you made a brilliant decision when electing your new leader." Regina knew Killian to be ruthless but she knew he had some loyalty when it came to his crew.
"It wasn't my fault that Hook here had become too soft, siding with the heroes" Black Beard sneering in disgust.
"You'll see how soft I am with my hook in your neck." Killian growled. He moved towards the captain but the other crew members drew out their weapons. Killian looked around his former crew then looked to Black Beard, "Too scared to face me in a fair fight?"
"I'm a pirate and we don't fight fair." Black Beard ordered his men "Kill him and bring the women to me."
One man went to make a move towards Regina and was quickly knocked out by Neal with a chair. Neal quick used the broken bits of wood and swung it at the other sailors, "Just a quiet drink you said, be no trouble at all you said."
Regina used her magic to hurl one sailor into another. "It's hardly my fault, if you're looking for someone to blame, blame Hook." Regina argued, "They're his friends."
"Not anymore love." Killian said punching one the sailors in the face, "They chose to replace me remember."
"Really Hook," Neal gasped struggling with another pirate until Regina knock the man out with nearby jug, "You should have better control of your crew."
Killian would have answered but Killian noticed Black Beard sneak up behind Regina with a knife. Without thinking he hurled Regina out of the way and got stabbed himself. When Regina saw what happened to Killian her eyes turned purple and she screamed in rage throwing Black Beard through a window. Seeing that their leader was down the sailors fled leaving the siblings to check Hooks' injuries.
Neal walked out of the bar and into the street with Emma following closely behind. He didn't need Emma distracting him, he needed to find Cora and plan their next move. Hades had the contract and it wasn't just Regina he wanted, he also wanted Rumplestiltskin, for what reason was any ones guess. Emma interrupted Neals' thoughts, "Neal can we just talk for a minute?"
"We already talked remember?" Neal didn't have time for this; he won't be caught in this love triangle again. "You chose to save Hook." Neal tried not to sound bitter about this but he couldn't help it. He had already lost so much to the pirate, his mother, Emma and now the pirate had set his sights on his sister.
"That was before I knew about Milah." Emma argued, she wanted to believe that had she'd known about Milah she wouldn't have been anywhere near Hook but Neal wasn't convinced.
"It shouldn't make a difference!" Neal knew it shouldn't, his sister Regina knew about Hooks' past and once she had found out that she was Rumplestiltskins' daughter she took major pains to push the pirate away. Both Killian and Regina were successful in staying away from each other thanks to Rumple erasing their memories but even then they couldn't stay away from each other. "The point is you left me behind." Neal reasoned, "You didn't even mourn me."
"That's not true!" Emma argued, "And you want to talk about leaving someone behind? You left me in jail!"
"My God you're just like her!" Neal raged, "My father made one mistake and Milah had never let him forget it, even when she knew she was wrong!"
"I'm not like Milah!" Emma shouted in outrage. She was so sick of people comparing her to Milah.
"Oh really, then tell me Emma have you given one single thought to what Henry thinks of this?" Neal knew he was sinking low bringing Henry into this but when Neal had met Emma earlier in their dreams he had asked how Henry was. Emma wasn't able to tell him much only that their son had missed him and then she proceeded to make excuses for why she hadn't come to the Underworld to get him.
Emma flinched at Neals' words; she already knew how Henry had felt about Hook and her. She didn't know how to answer but David came rushing towards them looking worst for wear. "What happened to you and how did you get changed so fast?" Emma just noticed that her fathers' clothes were a little different from the last time she saw him. Come to think of it she didn't think her dad even brought a change of clothes.
"What are you talking about Emma?" David asked in confusion. "I haven't changed clothes since we started this quest and it's my guess you haven't noticed that I've been locked in my own jail cell for about an hour." David was becoming really concerned; the Emma he first knew wouldn't miss details like this.
Neal groaned he had a feeling he knew who would have locked David in the jail cell but Emma was unable to put the pieces together. "If you were in the jail cell for an hour, who was it that I just saw chase after Henry?"
Neal looked at Emma in shock, "You brought our son to the Underworld?" Neal couldn't believe Emma's stupidity, surely Regina wouldn't allow this. "What does Regina have to say about this?"
"Regina doesn't actually know." Emma had the decency to look ashamed. Normally Emma would have consulted with Regina about Henrys' welfare but Emma had been so angry after their fight that she didn't say anything about Henry going to the Underworld. "Regina isn't actually talking to me right now."
Neal swore under his breath, he never thought he could ever be angry with Emma but her complete disregard for her own sons' safety made him see red. "I'm going to find my son before his grandfathers' evil twin does something horrible to him." Neal was trying to keep the anger out of his voice but in his eyes had that same boiling rage that Emma had seen in both Regina and Gold which Emma knew not to mess with. Neal continued, "You can either choose to help me or stay out of my way." Neal then stormed off, he didn't think about if Emma and David were following him because they most likely were.
Regina and Neal carried Hook out of the tavern into the woods, not before paying the landlord generously as an apology for trashing his bar. Regina was checking Killians' wounds whilst Neal kept watch, "Can you use magic to heal him?" Neal asked. "I'm only saying this because Black Beards' men could still be out there."
"The dagger used was enchanted to prevent me from healing myself." Regina explained taking the bottle of rum she had bought and pouring it onto the wound. "Fortunately it missed all the major organs. It looks like we're going have to heal this the old fashioned way."
"We're going to have to find an inn." Neal suggested. "We can't look after him out in the open."
"You go; I'll stay and watch over him." Regina volunteered.
"Be careful little sister." Neal kissed Regina on the head and went to look for an inn. He didn't like to leave her alone with the pirate but he had little choice.
Neal wasn't the only one who was not happy about Regina being left on her own. Killian knew the queen could take care of herself but if Black Beard had more weapons like he tried to use on her she could be defenceless and Killian was too weak to help her. "Leave me." Killian breathed.
"Don't be silly if I leave you here you will die and before you say anything, I owe you a debt for saving me tonight." Regina wanted believe that was true but when she saw Hook get stabbed in front of her, she just lost control of her powers. That had never happened to her before and she couldn't understand why. It was almost as if she had feelings for the pirate but that seemed impossible, they weren't even that close.
Hook had just lost consciousness when Neal had arrived with a young innkeeper named Liam. Regina wasn't sure but there was something about the young man she didn't trust, particularly the way he would coldly look at the wounded pirate. Regina had hoped that events of this evening had just made her paranoid, Liam was probably just not comfortable with pirates in his house she had reasoned.
Neal, Emma and David piled into a replica of Golds' Cadillac. "Just where exactly are we going?" Emma asked from the passenger seat whilst Neal was driving.
"We have to reach the town line before James does." Neal was speeding through the town streets, taking all possible shortcuts and avoiding traffic. He just hoped James hadn't borrowed Cruella's car which was faster. However no matter how much amusement Cruella had gotten from her relationship with James, Neal doubted she would ever let James near her baby. Cruella loved that car more than fur coats and that was saying something.
"What's over the town line?" David asked from the back seat. As far as first meetings with his twin brother go, it was rather unpleasant. James had not only knocked him out and locked David in a jail cell his brother had now kidnapped his grandson if Neal was to be believed.
"Hades castle." Neal answered. "Hades had me imprisoned there to use me against my father and now Hades intends to do the same with Henry."
"And James works for him?" David didn't know his brother but wanted know what was James connection to Hades.
"It may have escaped your attention David, but your brother is not a nice person." Neal explained putting it mildly. "He's just one of many of Hades proud lackeys. He doesn't care about anyone but his cushy position as sheriff and he'll keep that spot as long as he does what Hades says."
"It wouldn't be the first time I have had to deal with a sheriff that was under the heel of a dictator." Emma thinking of Graham and the things he did for Regina.
"No offence but that was completely different." Neal knew what Emma was thinking of. Neal had met Graham once or twice in the woods before he was arrested. Neal was surprised when Graham had asked him questions about Regina and her life. Out of anyone Graham had most reason to hate Regina but from what Neal had gathered from his conversation with the Huntsman it sounded like he had pitied her. Once Graham had found out that Regina had found some peace with her former enemy he had managed to move onto Elysium a place where good souls were finally put to rest.
"No one is forcing James to do anything he doesn't want to do. James enjoys his place under Hades thumb and Hades has no reason to doubt his loyalty." Neal explained, though he didn't want to think of what would happen to James once he had failed to deliver Henry to his master. Hades was known to have a temper and didn't tolerate failure even from his favourites.
Regina's uneasiness about staying in the inn hadn't gone away. Liam seemed to have nothing against Regina and Neal but the way he would stare at the pirate when he thought no one was looking was disconcerting. Regina had hoped that when Killian had regained consciousness he would be able to shed some light on Liams' behaviour but he had yet to wake up so it was up to Regina to work it out on her own. There was something burning in the back of her brain that Regina had felt she should remember but no matter how hard she would try it wouldn't resurface.
Regina had sent Neal out to the local apothecary to get some medicine for Killians' wound. Liam had offered some that he had stored away but Regina didn't trust him. Neal had felt she was being paranoid but followed her wishes. Regina had decided to find out once and for all if Liam was telling the truth and took the medicine that was on offer. Regina had no intention of using the medicine but the Evil Queen didn't survive as long as she did without having some basic knowledge of poisons. Regina's suspicions had been confirmed when she had found traces of poison in the medicine. Liam had wanted Killian dead but the question was why?
Regina was just thinking about what to do next when an arrow flew in her direction. She had caught it with ease but quickly realised her mistake when the arrow had been covered in squid ink which had froze her in place. Liam walked into the room holding a crossbow, "Sorry your majesty, I've got nothing against you and you brother but me and mine have our own scores to settle."
The pieces had finally come together for Regina. Liam didn't look much like his brother but his eyes burned with the same hatred and pain she had recognised in Killians' own. "You would kill your own brother to avenge your father?"
Liam glared at the queen in suspicion, "And what exactly do you know about my father?" As far as Liam knew Regina had no idea why he wanted the pirate dead unless, he thought, "You were the one who ordered my fathers' death."
Regina knew she was in dangerous territory, the squid ink had left her completely frozen. The best she could do was keep Liam talking until Neal arrived back with the medicine. "I didn't ask Hook to do anything less than what I would have done. We both did terrible things to avenge the ones we loved; the question is Liam is how far are you willing to go for yours?"
"I don't have to go very far for my vengeance." Liam said as he aimed the crossbow at Regina, "I have you both right where I want you." Liam was about to pull the trigger when Neal had rushed in and knocked Liam to the ground. Liam grabbed a knife but Neal stood protectively in front of Regina preventing Liam from stabbing her. "I don't want to hurt you Neal but I will have to, if you don't get out of my way."
"Then you'll become like more them than you realise." Neal had heard everything of Regina's conversation and though he was disturbed by what he had heard he also knew she wasn't that person anymore. "Think about your father, Killian was his son too, would he want him murdered by your hand?"
"You know nothing of my father!" Liam cried. Both Regina and Neal knew he was losing his nerve.
Regina tried to reach Liam, "I know a good parent loves their child no matter how far they have fallen." Regina was thinking about her adoptive father Henry and how he had remained by her side even as the Evil Queen.
"Then he'll forgive me." Liam said readying his dagger.
Neal grabbed his own sword ready to defend them but Regina spoke again, "A man once told me revenge isn't a beginning it's an end. Once you've killed me and the pirate what then? It won't bring your father back and it won't make you happy. You'll be left with nothing."
"Shut up!" Liam cried his hand was shaking.
"You know that we're right even if you don't want to admit it." Neal said sympathetically. "You need to ask yourself is what kind of man you want to be?"
"My father used to ask me that all the time." Liam cried and lowered his weapon. "Heal you friend and leave. I may no longer want to kill you both but that doesn't mean that I've forgiven you." Both Regina and Neal sighed in relief, Killian still lay unconscious unaware of what had transpired.
Neal had managed to reach the town line before James and cut off his means of escape. James swerved to avoid them and ended up hitting a tree but he wasn't beaten yet. James grabbed Henry and held a gun to the boys head, "I wouldn't move if I were you unless you want to make Henry a permanent resident."
Emma panicked, suddenly she had realised the mistake of bringing her son to the Underworld but Neal had remained calm. "You know for a fact James that Hades wants Henry alive." Neal reasoned.
James laughed, "He only wants the boy alive long enough for your father to give him what he wants. A far more effective method than some ugly dagger, don't you think?"
Both Emma and David surged forward in anger but Neal held them back. "You're playing with fire James. You think Hades is terrifying when he's in a foul mood, you certainly don't want to mess with this family."
"What can the Dark One do locked away in Hades dungeon?" James boasted.
A voice suddenly came from behind him. "He wasn't talking about the Dark One." Cora used her magic to make the weapon that James was holding burn in his hand forcing him to drop the weapon. Once James was unarmed Cora magically pulled him away from Henry and slammed James into a tree. Magical vines made their way around James securing him tightly to the tree.
Most of the onlookers were stunned by Cora's actions but Neal didn't care. He was more worried about his son, "Are you alright buddy?"
"Yeah." Henry had gotten over his shock but now he was face to face with his dad. Henry wrapped his arms around his dad in a tight embrace not wanting to let go. "I missed you." Henry cried into his father's arms.
"I missed you too." Neal replied. Neal had waited so long to see his son, he thought he had missed his chance when he had died but now Henry was here in his arms. Although he was still angry at Emma for bringing their son into danger, he was happy to see Henry again and he wasn't going to let Hades harm his son ever again.
Regina was taking a break from watching over Killian. Regina didn't know why she was so concerned for the pirate's safety or even why she had chosen to confess to Liam the part she had played in his fathers' death. Regina was wondering if the reason she had confessed was her way of trying to atone for her past sins but then dismissed the idea quickly. Regina hardly allowed anyone else the opportunity to take their revenge for someone. For some reason she wanted to share the blame with Killian and she couldn't figure out why.
One thing she was certain of she can't be around him anymore. That stupid pirate wasn't even awake and he was messing with her head. Regina had noticed Neal coming into the room and she began to panic. No one was watching over Killian what if Liam had changed his mind about killing his brother. Neal almost reading his sister expression tried to sooth her. "Relax you boyfriend is safe." Neal explained, "Liam thought it would be best to stay with a neighbour that way he won't be tempted to change his mind. He even gave me the key." Neal placed the inn key down on the table.
"He is not my boyfriend." Regina retorted.
"You could've fooled me." Neal teased. "You throw a pirate captain through a window for stabbing him. You stay up most of the night checking his wounds and you even protected him from his vengeful little brother."
"I wasn't the only person protecting him." Regina argued. "It wasn't like I could let him die."
"Somehow I get the feeling it was more than that." Neal observed his sister. "The man that told you that revenge was not a beginning, Hook told you that didn't he?"
Regina sighed and looked down at her hands. "He told me that ages ago but for some reason it stayed with me. For a brief time after I cast the dark curse I had everything I wanted and yet I still wasn't happy. It wasn't until I had Henry that I'd finally felt like my old self again, the woman before the Evil Queen and when Emma came to Storybrooke it was like that old feud had started again. I'd almost forgotten what that time was like until Hook had reminded me the cost of vengeance and the loneliness it involved."
Neal reached over and took his sisters' hand in his own. "You're not alone anymore."
"But Killian is." Regina said sadly. "His crew is gone, his own brother wants to kill him and his entire purpose for living is gone as well with Dad dead."
"Are you suggesting we adopt a pirate?" Neal joked.
"Don't be silly." Regina smiled. "I know Hook wouldn't want to be pitied. Maybe I'm just counting my blessings that even after all those plots for revenge I still have people who care about me."
"I think that you need to get rid of Snows' bandit outfit and start wearing your own clothes again." Neal smiled trying to lighten the mood. "Before you know it you'll be giving speeches about hope."
Regina laughed, "Now that'll be truly horrifying."