Okay :) sorry it took me longer to write this one. I wrote the new character to the best of my ability. Go easy on me - he's a tough one haha. I hope to have the next chapter up very soon. Thank you for sticking with me! All rights belong to OUAT and other respected owners :)

Killian looked at Emma out of the corner of his twinkling eye, his lips pursed as he held his hand to her stomach. Emma kept her eyes on him as they both began to grin insanely. It was so common to feel the baby kick now, but it never ceased to amaze either of them. Killian shook his head as his dimples made Emma glow even more.

"Quite active tonight isn't he, love?"

"He?! What happened to your lack of opinion or prediction, Captain?"

Killian laughed as she nudged him with her foot under the table. Gibbs had asked them to stop by for dinner that night. Emma assumed he had more questions - his questions hadn't really stopped - as he tried to further develop his belief that they really were from the future.

"I'm guessing perhaps he wants a son," Gibbs commented. "Common desire for many men, lass."

"I guess I'm not totally opposed," Emma replied, winking at her beaming husband.

"For the record," Killian cut in, pointing to the other two. "Your words and not mine."

"If it's not too forward," Gibbs began, running his napkin across his face. "I gotta ask how our Killian here ever landed himself a princess."

Emma nearly choked on her fork as Killian chuckled loudly. He loved to tell this story. Tossing him a glare that suggested he'd owe her for this, she held up a defeated hand.

"Quite the adventure I assure you, Mr. Gibbs," Killian divulged smugly. "Emma and I met some time ago during the ogres war. She was in a place she didn't want to be and me - being the chivalrous gentleman I am - I kindly took to assisting her."

"Oh, please, Killian! You wanted to help me! I never even asked. You were just tired of being Cora's errand boy-"

"Hey, hey," Killian teased. "My story, love. So as I was saying, she was trying to get back home..."

Killian continued his embellished explanation as they finished up eating. Emma felt frequently inclined to interrupt - that self serving pirate thought he could just say whatever he wanted - and soon enough, they had Gibbs in tears with laughter.

"She just left me there! No explanation whatsoever!"

"Well I couldn't know if you'd double cross us or not," Emma defended. "You and your innuendos weren't that convincing!"

"But you still didn't have to lock me up, love," Killian retorted with a playful smirk. "That giant could have killed me!"

"Oh, that giant was harmless!"

Gibbs roared at their hilarious banter. It was quite the love story, really - Emma couldn't think of many people who could say they fell in love with someone they'd smacked with an enchanted compass.

"So, you're saying, boy," Gibbs asked through his hysteria. "That you wedded a woman who abandoned you on a beanstalk, took a cheapshot at you in a sword fight, and chained you up several times against your will?"

"Well, uh," Killian laughed in reply. "Yeah...I guess that's exactly what I'm saying."

He gave Emma the adoring eyes he'd been setting on her since Neverland. She allowed a laugh or two to escape her lips as she looked back at her husband - the man who had clearly tolerated much from her.

"I guess you could say I bested him."

No way. No freaking way. That's all Emma's mind could conjure up as they watched the ship float forcefully up to the docks. It hadn't taken her long to take a guess at who captained this incoming ship, but as she'd shook the ridiculous idea off, Killian's eyes told her not to write it off just yet.

"Is that-"

"If she knew anything of her pirate-ology," a voice came from atop the ship. "She wouldn't have to ask such egregious questions, mate."

Emma looked up to where the stab at her intelligence seemed to be coming from. Quick enough, she heard footsteps on the deck of the ship moving closer to them. Killian smiled at Gibbs, the two men clearly in on some knowledge that Emma was only speculating.

"But then again most are quite opposed to women on pirate ships...something I can understand - good for company but bad for the rum."

Emma met the cocky grin and swagger of a man she hardly believed to be real, but here he was in the flesh. Jack Sparrow.

Killian and Gibbs stood aside, mumbling something to one another. Emma had heard them evoking an important detail in their plan the previous day and assumed they were clarifying.

"Not all are as believing as an old drunkard like me," Gibbs had warned. "You best keep your credentials close and your identities closer, boy. Anyone who helps you would likely toss ya off the dock if you start spouting off about supposed nonsense like time travel."

They'd agreed to use false names and only the first. Figuring they'd be easy enough to remember, they picked Henry and Margaret - figuring that David would be awfully confusing and Margaret would be a simplified version of an easy to recall double moniker. Gibbs moved to introduce them, but Emma could tell that if this were another place in time, Sparrow would already be well versed with who her husband was.

"Henry, Margaret," Gibbs started, directing them to the side of the ship. "Meet Jack Sparrow-"

"-which you are more than welcome to call me," Jack charmed. "But I do believe a marauder like yourself ought to know better, Mr. Gibbs."

"Aye, my apologies, Captain."

"Better," he nodded. "They don't just bloody give that title away, you know. Plus it's just got such a nice ring to it."

"The generous Captain here has agreed to take you where you need to go on the Pearl," Gibbs told them. "A good strong ship that I can vouch for myself."

"I hear we are on a mad fool's errand," Jack announced, grinning. "They are actually my favorite kind seeing as how if I weren't mad, little of what I do would actually work."

He looked like he'd stepped right off the movie set with the trademark dreadlocks tangled with beads and salt. A short cutlass hung from his waist, swinging slightly as he sauntered closer. His red bandana peeked out from under his leather hat and his dark lined eyes told Emma he'd seen his fair share of demons. Quirking up, he suddenly lost that haunted look and replaced it with a reputable smugness.

It was a well versed action - one that Emma had also seen Killian do many times before.

"Well, anchors away," Jack gestured toward the ship. "Hell waits for no one, mates."

"Killian," Gibbs quipped. "A word."

"Isn't this something we could discuss further on board, Gibbs? Tick, tock."

"Oh, boy, I'm not to be joinin' ya," Gibbs admitted.

"What? Why not?"

"Gotta keep an eye out here. Plus I've got it on pretty reliable authority that I might need to be lookin' out here for someone or I guess someones. I got somethin' for ya though."

He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a small, off white colored object. Emma knew it was a magic bean as she watched Killian collect it. Even now, all Gibbs wanted was to provide Killian with a home - or in this case, to give him a way to get home. Killian gave the man an earnest look as Gibbs put a palm on the pirate's shoulder.

"Thank you," Killian told him. "Truly, Gibbs. For everything."

"Go get him, son. Then get her home."

He nodded toward Emma and as Killian turned to look at her, he was reminded of the reason he was there - and the reason why he needed to get them home. Jack whistled, a subtle sound to tell them to get on the ship sooner rather than later. Killian walked up the gangway first and then helped Emma, extending a hand to her as she followed. Killian moved to the helm, following Jack as the two went on about their chit chat. Killian seemed so starstruck - and Emma couldn't help but grin at how giddy he was.

Before she walked up to join them, she turned to watch Gibbs head away from the dock. He was a great man - the only semblance of family Killian had. She pursed her lips, thankful for the man who had protected her husband years ago from the evil they were now headed straight for.

"Come on now, lass," Jack yelled to her, waving his arm.

Killian sent her a reassuring grin, beckoning for her to join them with a curling finger. As Emma found herself next to her husband, she watched Jack tug the cork out of his bottle of rum with his teeth and take a long swig. He offered it to them and as Killian looked at her with question, she laughed and nodding, telling him to have a damn drink.

"Onward, mates," Jack lowered his voice. "Bring me that horizon."

The water was glassy as the ship cut across the open sea. Killian wasn't sure where they were headed, but he knew about Jack and he had all the faith in the world in this captain and his madness. It seemed as if Jack had some stake in this as well - he wasn't exactly a man to drop everything to perform a favor for someone else unless it might help his sails blow the right way as well.

"Quite the bonny lass you've got there, mate."

Jack had interrupted Killian's thoughts with the remark, but Killian chuckled inwardly at the comment many seemed to make thus far on their trip. He wondered momentarily if they were wondering what a woman like that was doing with a man like him, but he quickly shook that idea to protect his pride.

"Aye," he replied, turning to face Jack. "She is. Don't suppose you've yourself one as well?"

"A woman? No, can't say that I've got the gut for that," Jack replied nonchalantly. "A wench or ten perhaps but not a woman like that."

"I'd be a dishonest man to tell you that you're not missing something," Killian laughed.

"I am making the astute assumption that it would take a lady like that to send you on a mission like this one."

"Aye, mate," Killian replied thoughtfully. "I'd go to the end of the world for her - or time."

They'd sailed for just over a week - the ship moving them in and out of days with nothing surrounding them but the wide open ocean. During that time, Emma had encountered members of Jack's crew - weathered yet cheerful men with a strange sense of loyalty to their Captain. She was glad that Killian spent a lot of time with Jack at the helm. He looked ever the sailor as he adjusted sails and examined old star charts. It put her at ease to see him in his element. He was so much more in control and guarded - something she knew would be important when they finally reached wherever they were headed.

On end of day nine, Emma found herself on the front deck of the ship admiring the sunset and taking in the sea breeze. It reminded her of the simpler trips she'd taken with Killian around the harbor back home.

"No stranger to the sea I take it," Jack remarked, joining her. "Or a woman in love with a man who is in love with the sea. Ah, love - fickle really. So which is it?"

Emma inwardly panicked, wondering who was manning the wheel if he was down on the deck with her. Quickly peering upward, she saw Killian seeing to the sailing as he investigated the sextant he'd found below deck. Once a captain always a captain, she grinned to herself.

"Ah, that," Jack addressed, gesturing an arm to Killian. "The sailor knows his heading - no concern of mine. It makes me curious about his beginnings. I can easily gather that they're likely what led the pair of you here."

"What makes you say that?"

"Observation, love," Jack crooned. "I suppose that and my intuitive sense of a troubled soul. But nevermind what brought you to my ship. Jones and I have some bargaining to do and it shall be my honor to do the honors of directing you to him."

"You know quite a lot about him then," Emma replied. "About Davy Jones?"

"I suppose I knew more about him when he was still 'David' - a better man with a better purpose. I don't venture he ever saw it that way though. Takes a specific type of man to abandon his own like that. The deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers...and mutineers."

"That doesn't seem to say much coming from a pirate."

"Pirate captain, lass," Jack smirked. "But me? Yes. I'm a dishonest man and one you can always count on to be dishonest. It's those honest men - the ones that turn bad over time. Those are the scoundrels who you should worry about."

"It would seem so," Emma agreed. "So it was 'David' once - it's interesting to know that with the new evil came a new name as well."

She shuddered a bit at her own remark, thinking of Killian. But this was different. She wasn't completely sure how, but she knew that no matter how black her husband's heart had ever been, he was nothing like his father.

"Yes, but for pirates that be such clever clogs," Jack chided. "We certainly are an unimaginative lot when it comes to naming things. For instance, Gibbs spoke of your husband's name - my new first mate up there..."

"Yes, my husband," Emma answered, noticing Jack had seemed to pause so she could fill in the blanks for him. "Henry."

"Does he have a last to go with the first?"

"Jones."

Dammit. Of all things, she wasn't supposed to tell him that. She was turning into her mother.

"Aye," Jack said with a sly smile. "Jones - coincidence I'm sure. Yet no doubt the name for his father though. I just wasn't aware that Davy Jones actually had a third son. Always a pleasure to be...enlightened."

Emma's heart sank in her chest. She stared at the planks below her, trying to formulate any type of excuse or explanation, but nothing made sense. She snuck a look at the Captain who looked back at her, unfazed and drinking from his flask.

"So that's why I've given him the duty of sailing my ship," Jack clarified with a wink. "Like I said, love - he's a man of the sea."

Emma knew she should be concerned that he was clearly onto them. Yet as she watched him sashay back up the way he came and yell some incoherent demand at his crewmen, she felt a relieved smile cross her lips. He knew. He knew exactly who Killian was - and he was still going to help them.

Emma fell asleep in the arms of a swaying ship that night. Killian slipped into the quarters and quickly pulled off his shirt before getting into bed with her. Feeling the bed dip, she woke enough to hear him sigh and the uncertainty in his breath pushed her to open her eyes. She rolled over and chanced a look at him. The moonlight's reflection off the sea was seeping in through the small window, cutting a firm line on each of Killian's features. His hair was a mess with worry - dark and damp from the ocean mist. He bit his lip as he stared at the ceiling. Emma studied him, wondering if he was okay.

"What's going on in that head of yours, Captain?"

"Not Captain, love," he nearly pouted. "Not on this ship."

Emma couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. He quickly looked down to her as if to silently ask her to stop poking fun at him. He can't be serious, Emma grinned.

"Is someone a little put off at his loss of rank?"

Emma knew she was teasing a sore spot, but she couldn't help the fact that it was the funniest thing she'd seen him worked up over in quite some time. Killian sensed the hint of playfulness in her voice and though the insanity of their current situation truly lacked humor, he felt a relaxing laugh leave his mouth. Emma kissed his chest and drew herself closer to him. He was quickly comforted - something she had the uncanny ability to do. He couldn't help himself as he used a finger to lift her chin up.

"You should never taunt a pirate, love. Playing with fire, Mrs. Jones."

"You think I'm scared of you?"

He narrowed his eyes at her with a smoldering smirk and pulled her lips to his. Teasing her bottom lip with his tongue, she parted her lips and he progressed the kiss with an elevated passion. Emma instinctively moved to caress the back of his neck with both hands, but as she did, the ship hit a particularly large wave. She fell hard against her husband's chest and his arms closed protectively around her. Rain quickly began to pound on the window and on the deck above. Killian looked up, a perilous look enveloping his features.

"Killian, what the hell was that?"

He quickly hopped up from the bed and tucked the blanket tightly back around Emma. He moved shirtless to the window, the color draining from his face as he saw the terrible and sudden storm that was engulfing the ship. He all but sprinted to the ladder that led into their quarters as a dozen muffled voices came from above, yelling orders and shouting curses.

"Killian! Wait!"

"Emma, love, I need you to stay here-"

"No, you can't say that! What's going on?! I can't just stay here while you-"

"Emma," he abruptly took her face in his hands, his frightened eyes locking onto hers. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she sighed defeated.

"Then please, love. Just stay here."

For the first time in her life, Emma felt beyond compelled to chase the person who'd just left her. Instead, she stepped back so her back met the wall and slid to the floor with wide eyes staring out the window at the damnation. He'd be back. He had to come back.