"Hey, how's your headache?" Emma asked Killian when she got into bed. He had turned down the offer to eat at Granny's with them earlier because of it and she expected him to be asleep if it was that bad.
"Better, the darkness helps." He replied with his eyes still closed which meant he really did have a headache or he was hiding something. Her guess was leaning towards the latter. "Is our lad asleep?"
"Yeah, with no one to steal his fries he overstuffed himself at Granny's and decided to go right to sleep." She replied. Part of her felt like she should scold him for teaching their son to cheat as well as steal from him. But the more prominent part thought it was funny and she was just glad they were getting along.
"At least I'm not the one that let him behind the wheel of a bloody car." He mumbled and she agreed. None of them were really happy about that, especially Regina.
"Now that would be scary. At least my dad knows what he's doing and could take control if anything really bad started to happen." She sighed and tried not to think about both Killian and Henry ending up in some sort of car accident. "So, what's bothering you other than my dad letting Henry drive? Because we both know I didn't really buy your headache story even though I let it slide."
"I know you didn't, love." He sighed and finally opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "And I wasn't trying to lie you, I just needed some time to think."
"About what?" She asked and placed her hand on his chest where his pajama shirt wasn't buttoned, just like he did with his regular shirts. "Is this still about Ariel? Because I already told you how I felt about the past."
"Aye, some." He replied then turned to look at her. "Please, Emma, just give me tonight."
"Fair enough. You always give me the space I need so it's the least I can do for you." She nodded. In all honesty she really wanted to push the matter but he needed time just like she did. "But, Killian, we're in this together and whatever it is, whatever's happened, I love you."
"Thank you, love, and I you." He replied and took the hand that rested on his chest and intertwined her fingers with his then gave her a kiss.
CS
(Time Jump: couple days ahead)
"Regina, if I didn't know any better I'd say you look smitten." Mary Margaret commented when Regina walked in. And Emma had to agree with her. Regina actually seemed happy, something she hadn't been since she gave up Henry last year.
"Ha, well, if I didn't know any better I'd Haagen-Dazs is smitten with your stomach." Regina stated sarcastically but it didn't have its usual evil-edge if you will. "Can we get started?"
"We were waiting for Hook." Emma told her and wished for the millionth time that he had a cell phone like everyone else. Maybe learning how to use one could be his next bonding attempt with Henry.
"I don't have time to wait for the handless-wonder. We have to figure out how to destroy my sister."
"For once I agree with Regina. Stopping Zelena is the priority." David added.
"There's one thing about this plan that doesn't fit." Emma began as she conceded.
They did need to figure out how to stop Zelena, Killian was a grown man, and she didn't have to worry about him. But those reasons still didn't stop her, especially since he still hadn't opened up to her and last night she ended up sleeping in Henry's room when he said he wasn't up for company. Usually she was the one to shut him out and it wasn't often that it was the other way around. But it never led to anything good.
CS
Month 6
"Killian? Killian!" She called out as she searched the ship for him. He'd left the tavern soon after some crew from another ship walked in. She asked Cogsworth and Lumière who they were but they didn't know.
She was in the store room of the ship and was about to leave when she heard a sigh.
"I'm here, love," Killian said quietly. She followed the sound of his voice and saw him sitting on top of a rum barrel in the darkest corner of the room.
"Hey, what's going on? Who were those people that entered tavern when you left?" She asked as she dragged another barrel over to him and sat.
"No one that you need concern yourself with, love." He stated a bit harshly and brought his flask to his lips.
"Maybe not but I'm still concerned about you. So spill, Jones." She stated just as firmly and folded her arms.
"Have I told you yet how amazing you look in that dress, Swan?" He asked, clearly diverting the subject.
"Yes, you have. But no, flattery won't get you out of this." She sighed knowing this wouldn't be easy. But she also knew what could happen if he was left alone with his thoughts from personal experience and she really didn't want him to suffer that.
"It's ironic. As a lad I was so afraid to come down here in the dark by myself. Now, that's all I want." He said quietly and that was not the answer she'd been expecting.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked a bit defensively and stood up.
"It means that when you need your space, I give it to you. And now, I would very much appreciate the same curtesy." He told her and he sure didn't sugarcoating how he felt.
"My version of needing space isn't drinking myself into oblivion." She shot back then paced over to the other side of the room.
"I'm not going to ask you what's wrong again, Killian." She stated after a few minutes of silence. "But I'm listening, whenever you need me."
"The sea has always been my life, but not always by choice." He began after a few more minutes of silence and she sat back down and rested her head on his shoulder as a sign that he should continue. "My father took me and Liam on a ship and told us we were sailing to a better life. He left in the middle of the night and traded us to the captain to pay for the rowboat he used to escape and his passage. We were slaves to that man for years until he died. I thought we'd get our freedom then but the new captain, Silver, wouldn't let us."
"Was that who was in the tavern?" She asked when he paused and tried to keep the tremor out of her voice. She knew his father abandoned him put she'd never imagined this and her heart broke for him.
"No, he died along with the rest of the crew in a storm. Liam and I were the only survivors." He informed her. "One of the men in the tavern tonight, he was once an enslaved lad like me. We raided a ship and one of my men found him and his brother in the brig. I had them brought aboard the Jolly, hoping I could give them a free life as cabin boys. But it was clear the brother was ill. I changed course and headed back to land. I thought we could save him if we had more supplies but we couldn't…I couldn't."
"But you did." She whispered and wrapped her arms around him to let him know she was there. "True, not both boys lived but even the one that died; he died free, Killian, thanks to you.
"Thanks to me he was left alone in the world without his brother. I at least was old enough to be on my own when I lost Liam. I tried to convince him to stay aboard but he left as soon as we docked, he couldn't be on the ship where his brother died. If he was lucky he got a job as a stable boy to support himself. A lad shouldn't have to work to survive or be alone at that age." He stated, angry at himself.
"You're right; a kid shouldn't be alone. But he chose to be leave after his brother died. And don't you try to tell me you didn't give him his weight in gold before he left." She stated firmly. She knew he felt guilty and she got that but it wasn't his fault and she wouldn't let him think that any longer.
"And you say I exaggerate." He smirked but it wasn't quite his usual look. "Gold can't make up for that kind of loss."
"I know. But you did what you could and that's all anyone can ask. I'm proud of you, Killian, for saving them and I'm sure Liam would be even more proud." She told him with a smile and gave him a kiss.
"Thanks, Swan, I don't know what I'd do without you. And I hope I never find out." He told her then returned her kiss.
CS
(Killian POV)
Killian had lied to Swan about his headache the other night but he most certainly had one now. He wondered if it was punishment for lying to her. But he knew from the gag in his mouth and his arms being tied that something more serious was going on. And from the bumps he felt he figured he was in a car but there was considerably less space than the time Greg and Tamara kidnapped him in a vehicle. He almost had the bindings loose when he felt the car come to a stop. He heard talking but couldn't tell who and then the roof was lifted and there stood Zelena and the bloody Crocodile.
"We're in Storybrooke. Have you never heard of a telephone?" He sighed when Zelena removed the strip of cloth from his mouth.
"Such an expertly crafted ring, pity for it to be hidden away and wasted. It would almost be better off melted down." She said as she used the stem of the rose she was holding to drag the chain around his neck to reveal the ring. "Why haven't you given it to her yet, Captain?"
"Well, a fella likes to be courted. After all I hear some women take it upon themselves to propose to the men in this realm." He quipped even though he wasn't in the best position to be doing so. But she couldn't kill him and obviously neither could the Crocodile otherwise he would have done more than knock him out and put him in his trunk.
"This isn't a joke." She reprimanded him. "Take away her magic, Captain, or the next rose will be for your little brat's grave. And I doubt you'll get your pathetic little happily ever after if this ring is added to your collection because you're responsible for the death of her son. Keep it as a reminder of what you're about to lose if Emma doesn't lose her magic."
She tossed his wedding band onto to his chest along with the rose she'd already placed there then shut the top of the trunk.
CS
The Crocodile let him out of the trunk behind some of the town shops so they wouldn't be seen. After a few taunts about him not being worthy to be Henry's father, that Bae was, and how he hoped he'd get the pleasure of taking another loved one from him, the Dark One drove off. And if it wasn't for Killian's plan to get Henry to safety as soon as possible he would have sent him crawling back to the witch with a few broken ribs at best. But he needed to protect his son not stir up his old vengeance.
"Where are you off to there, mate?" He asked Henry who was trying to get into Emma's car. He'd seen him leave Granny's and it was easy enough to follow him and take the lad by surprise.
"Uh, nowhere." Henry told him and Killian found that he was a worse liar than his mother.
"So you're planning on driving all the way to New York. One lesson and you think you're ready for that?" Killian asked him when he admitted he was running away. He planned on giving David a hard time about this driving thing for a long time to come.
"No, just to the nearest bus station."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that. It's too dangerous." He told him firmly. He had to play the part of the concerned and responsible adult but this would actually work to his advantage. If he could get the lad out of Storybrooke he'd be safe from both Zelena and Gold's magic. And the fact that Henry wanted to leave made things easier.
"I don't care what you think." Henry stated with an attitude and opened the door.
"Well, you should." Killian stated in turn and closed it shut. "Cause I've got a better way."
"Wait why are you gonna help? You're my dad. Shouldn't you be stopping me so you can stay on my mom's good side and keep hanging out with me?" Henry wondered as he followed him to the docks. And Killian was glad it was a short walk because it was starting to snow again.
"Oh, you're mother will probably want to kill me for this." He nodded and he wasn't just talking about Emma. "But you're a lot like her and me as well so I know you're too stubborn not to follow through with this. At least this way we'll know you're safe."
They arrived at the docks and he began introducing the lad to Smee then all hell broke loose. Zelena's monkeys were coming right for them. They found shelter but it wasn't much and his old gun wasn't much match for them either and only took out two of the winged beasts. Luckily Swan and Regina appeared and took out the rest, including the one just on top of Henry.
But things weren't over yet. Now they had to explain to Henry what was going on and Killian feared that Zelena wasn't far behind her pets. But the others came prepared with the storybook which brought back the lad's memories and Killian momentarily forgot his worries about the witch. His son was safe, back to himself, and was surrounded by his family which was right where he belonged, not New York. But the feeling of relief and contentment only lasted a moment before Henry disappeared from before his eyes just as Swan was about to break the curse.
"Let him go, he had nothing to do with this." Swan told the witch who had their son in her clutches.
"Don't blame me. The captain failed me." Zelena replied and her words hit him like a ton of bricks. He thought he'd have more time. But he had failed and he felt no better than his own coward of a father.
"Hook, what's she talking about?" Swan asked him.
"He knew what the price of that failure was. Your son's life." Zelena answered instead and in an instant her hands were around Henry's throat and Killian was too shocked to move an inch.
Luckily Swan was stronger and braver than he'd ever be and used her magic to save her son. And that's who he was because the Crocodile was right; he didn't deserve to be a father, especially after this failure that almost cost Henry his life. And now that he knew how awful of a villain Hook was, all the progress they'd made together was probably out the window. And he deserved it.
"Enjoy this moment together, cause you don't have many left!" Zelena yelled, breaking him out of his thoughts, and then disappeared in a cloud of magic.
Killian had a feeling that wasn't true because while he personally felt like a failure at the moment, he knew Emma and her parents would never give up. But they did enjoy the next moment as much as they were surprised by it. Henry brought Regina to and they watched as she finally got her reunion with her son. She kissed his forehead then a wave of magic came from it and the curse was broken.
But once again this wasn't the end of their troubles or at least his anyway. Regina and Henry left to spend some time together and Mary Margaret and David stepped away as well. Leaving him and Emma alone, and a very irritated Emma he might add.
"Are you gonna tell me what Zelena was talking about?" She demanded. "Is that why you've been acting weird and keeping something from me? Is it because you were working for her?"
"No, love, you of all people should know how I've changed since working with Cora. The witch tried to back me into a corner. I did everything I could to resist her plan."
"So whose idea was it to kidnap Henry and stick him on a boat?"
"That was mine." He admitted with a sigh. "But I wasn't kidnapping him, Swan; I was trying to save him."
"Like you tried to save him when Greg and Tamara almost destroyed Storybrooke?" She brought up to make a point which was a low blow in his opinion. He was already feeling like a failure and now he felt the guilt of that mistake again. "What is she doing, Hook?"
"She cursed me. Well, not me exactly she just thought I was the best way of getting this to you to take away your magic." He told her and pulled out the ring from under his shirt.
"She cursed my wedding ring?" She asked incredulously and very loudly as she raised her eyebrow which was something she'd picked up from him long ago.
"Emma? Did you just say…?" Mary Margaret began as she and David appeared around the corner. But the prince wasted no time to clarify the matter and instead just went straight for a blow to his face.
Don't worry, things are quickly resolved between Emma and Killian in the next chapter aptly called, Mending. I just couldn't resist ending the chapter with David throwing a punch. So sorry not sorry. But on a better note thank you all so much for getting this story to over 170 reviews! Special thanks to CShipper for being that 170th one! And to the guest review, thanks for reading and I'm glad you're enjoying this! Anyway, hopefully this helped after no new episode last night :P And I'll see you next week with CS fluff, good ol' mother son bonding, and a few other things.
