Chapter 29 - Insecurities
Rumpelstiltskin watched from the shadows as Emma lay down beside Hook and they kissed. Anger flared up in the Dark One as he remembered how Hook had stolen Milah away. The same thing was not going to happen to his son, he would make sure of it.
He quietly went over to where Liam sat sleeping against the tree.
"I'll help you find your son," he whispered to the man.
Liam's eyes opened. "Do you know where he is?"
"I have a pretty good idea. But you have to finish your task first." Rumpelstiltskin smiled.
Liam's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What task?"
"Kill Hook."
"With pleasure. He stole the Jolly Roger from me!"
Rumpelstiltskin giggled. "Didn't you steal her from his uncle by murdering him?"
Liam grinned. "That's beside the point. Where is my son?"
"Closer than you think." Was all the Dark One said as he waved his hands and the ropes came undone. He handed Liam a knife.
The man slowly crept through the bushes while Rumpelstiltskin watched with delight.
As Liam stood over the sleeping couple suddenly a voice rang out. "What are you doing?" Felix growled menacingly.
Hook and Emma woke up just as Liam lunged at Hook with the knife. The pirate used his hook to deflect the knife as he pushed Emma off the bed out of harms way.
"What's going on?" Charming called out as he; Snow and Regina leapt to their feet and surrounded Liam.
"I'm just trying to find my son," Liam yelled desperately.
"By stabbing Hook?" Felix asked quietly.
"I believe he knows where he is," Liam stated.
Felix stared at the man defiantly. "I'm your son. My mother's name was Felicia. All my life I wanted to know who my father was I never thought he'd be someone like you!" the lost boy spat.
Liam stood stunned. "You're my son?" He stepped closer to Felix who stepped back away from him. Liam raised his hands in a gesture of appeasement just before a fireball hit him and he dropped to the ground.
"Rumpelstiltskin, what the hell?" Charming shouted.
"When he lifted his hands I thought he'd harm the boy, he did just after all try to kill Hook," the Dark One stated.
Felix ran over and dropped beside the body. He knelt in front of him looking stunned. Before Snow could go over to him Hook dropped to one knee beside him and hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. Felix glanced at him with a panicked look in his eyes, got up and bolted into the forest.
Hook painfully got to his feet and quietly announced. "Let me handle this."
Snow looked torn as Emma went over to her. "It's okay, I think Hook can help him, he had a pretty rotten father after all so they have something in common."
Felix leant against a tree gasping for air.
"Look lad, I understand how you are feeling far more than you think." Came Hook's voice from behind him.
Felix turned on him. "How could you, you knew your father I never did."
"And yet they were cruel men, gold and power was all that mattered to them."
"He was looking for me; he's been looking for me a long time"
"Aye, but for what reason? If he had really wanted to be a father to you why didn't he stay with your mother?"
Felix took a shaky breath. "She said because he was an important man and he didn't want to be burdened with the likes of us."
"Doesn't that tell you what kind of man he was? Certainly not an exemplary human being." Hook said softly trying to soothe the shaken boy.
Felix nodded as he dropped his head against the tree trunk. "I ...I know … I just wanted family. Why did he have to be like this? Why couldn't we have had one conversation before he died? Why didn't I tell him last night? All I have from him is this scar."
Hook's heart grew heavy seeing the boy in agony. He stepped closer putting his hand on the back of his neck. "I don't know why it turned out like this and I'm sorry. But you saved my life again that makes us mates."
Felix gave a choked laugh. "We're even now. You saved my life on the ship."
"Aye." He squeezed his shoulder. "You have many years ahead of you and this rag tag group you are stuck with cares about you. Come on lad, give us a chance and trust us to make things better for you."
Felix looked up at him eyes swimming with tears. Hook pulled him into a hug and patted his back. Felix responded in a strained voice. "I suppose we're like brothers bonding over cruel dead fathers."
Hook laughed "Aye lad that we are."
They walked back to camp slowly so Felix could compose himself.
Regina stood at the edge of the forest looking shaken. She pulled Hook aside. "My apologies Hook for bringing Liam into camp. I had no idea he had murderous tendencies towards you."
Hook smirked. "You mean, my dear, like the ones you yourself have had?"
She threw him a pissed look. "That was in the past."
Charming came over to Felix. "Did you want to say goodbye?"
Felix shook his head. "He's a stranger to me."
"Well then let's get him out of your sight." With a flick of Regina's wrist the body was buried under a mound of dirt.
Charming put his arm around the teen and brought him over to Snow and Emma.
Hook looked at Regina. "You and Liam had grown close after he rescued you from the forget me not field." He observed.
She looked uncomfortable.
"You made me the offer to talk about lost loves after…after the incident in the lagoon. I'm making you the same offer."
She looked at him then. "Well Captain. Or should I call you Prince?"
He grimaced in response.
"Fine then Captain. I did feel something for Liam. It's been a long time for any man to rescue me from anything. It felt good. He was very kind to me and for a brief moment I felt hope, but of course that's gone now." She smiled sarcastically.
"Some day Regina, you will find someone again, a better someone who brings out the best in you and who helps quell the darkness inside so your heart can feel light again," Hook said softly.
"Like Emma does for you?" Regina smirked.
Hook looked evasive and didn't respond.
Regina laughed. "Give it up Hook; you are completely besotted with Emma."
Hook pursed his lips. "I wouldn't call it besotted but no-one since Milah has made me feel things again like Swan has."
"Like I said a besotted fool." She laughed.
Hook couldn't help but smile.
Rumpelstiltskin glowered from a distance having overheard the conversation.
Slowly everyone returned to their beds. As her watch was over Emma returned to her own bed and the Dark One watched over camp again.
The night was quiet except for the odd bird, when suddenly Pan appeared in front of him smiling with delight.
"Hello Dark One, we meet again."
"Give me Henry back." Rumpelstiltskin growled.
Pan laughed quietly. "All in good time. Have you seen your son yet?"
"No but I'm sure he's protecting Henry."
"Of course he is, like any good father would, right Rumpelstiltskin? You gave up your son to keep your power. I wonder what your son would do if there was something he wanted? What sacrifices would he make?'
"What are you talking about?"
"You'll see Dark One, you'll see." Pan gloated then vanished.
Hook lay down gingerly. While his side felt much better the area that the arrow had gone in still ached sharply as it healed. He dreamt as he slept. He was standing in front of Pan who grinned at him.
"So you think you have found love again?" Pan laughed. "You realize that the savior has been a lost girl for years feeling unwanted and unloved. The one time as a young girl she felt love she was abandoned again. She isn't capable of love or trust-far too damaged for you, Captain. The only one she'll take is the spawn of the Dark One who left her. She doesn't believe she is worthy of anyone e He broke her heart already - nothing he can do will hurt her any more than that. She'll settle for him and never become the woman she was meant to be."
Hook shook his head. "She doesn't love Neal; she doesn't want to be with him anymore. Besides he is with Tink."
Pan laughed harshly. "He thinks he is but he's a fool."
Hook woke up heart pounding. He glanced over in Emma's direction. 'No', he thought to himself. 'There is no way Emma would be fool enough to give Neal another chance after what he did. She's a strong woman she wouldn't let herself be taken in again.' A nagging voice in the back of his mind reminded him that Neal was her son's father. He lay awake for along time after that.
Pan sat high in a tree smiling down at his live chess pieces. Life hadn't been so enthralling in a long time.
Authors note: I'm sure everyone by now has seen the sneak peek – what we have been waiting for – for a very long long time – for me it's an additional Bday present and I couldn't be more excited.
Thank you all so much for your reviews - I am totally humbled and excited by the # of reviews and follows that have happened in the last few weeks. Captain Swan is gaining even more fans – as they should. Every epi Neal is in convinces me all the more that Neal is not the right man for Emma anymore.
Reviews inspire the muse – thank you to all who take the time to leave them...they are much appreciated.
