AN: Sorry for the sporadic updates. Life has been very busy lately. I found out I passed the bar-yay me-so I've been dealing with paperwork, and the award ceremony and all that goes with that. I have also been sick first with a sinus infection and now with some sort of viral infection. Anyway, hope you enjoy. That finale to me was a bit meh and stupid to say the least. I'm not a Henry fan, and I hate to say that the episode sort of heightened my disdain for the character. Speaking of Henry, Henry centric chapter here. Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 4: The Sneak
Henry Mills hated lying.
He told himself it was for the greater good, that Hook was the best person to help his mom but he still couldn't help but feel bad about lying to Regina.
What he didn't feel bad about was skipping school.
Henry hated school. Especially in the summer, he didn't know why his mother was making a big deal about him missing a few classes.
And yeah, he was being held back again, but it wasn't like it was the first time. And besides, Grandpa David said there was more to life than book learning.
Like family.
Which was why after his mother had dropped him off he left Storybrooke Elementary and headed to the Sorcerer's house now deemed the safe house.
He knocked the special knock that Hook and him had talked about and the pirate let him in.
It was surprising how normal Hook was now that he had been in the world without magic for about a year. The man even wore jeans, something Henry would've never thought the pirate would wear.
With his mug of coffee, Henry could see him becoming his stepdad soon. More so than Robin, who drank coffee at his other mom's house every morning.
"How is she?" He asked Hook.
"She's sleeping, lad. As you can imagine, it's been quite the adjustment for her."
Henry nodded. He had saw his mother when she had came back to them the night before. She wasn't the same Emma. And it wasn't just the changes in wardrobe and appearance, that Henry noted his mother seemed fragile at best.
Hook sighed. "She'll be fine though. Glad you're here. You want to help me get breakfast for her."
"You're cooking?" Henry asked shocked because he didn't think Hook could cook. Most of the people in his life, save for Regina, didn't know how to cook.
"Aye, I was captain on my own ship. One of the rules to being captain is you need to know how everyone else's jobs work. Hence, knowing how to cook. Plus, Smee couldn't make decent pancakes for the like of him. And I happen to like pancakes."
Henry did too, his stomach growled at the thought of pancakes. Roland's cereal really wasn't enough. He guessed it didn't help that Regina had grabbed it from him and promptly threw it away as soon as she had the chance.
"I see you like them too." Hook said with a smile. "Good thing I made extra."
"And bacon right?" Henry added, "Mom loves bacon."
Killian laughed. "Of course, I'm making all her favorites. We need to get her to look like her old self again."
Henry wasn't sure if pancakes or bacon were going to have his mother look like she did last month. For one thing she would need to eat a ton of bacon and eggs. His mother was painfully thin. When he hugged her he could feel her bones. He could also tell that she really didn't seem to care much for her appearance—however long she was gone.
Which seemed a lot longer than the few weeks or so she'd been missing.
Henry sighed. "Do you think that's going to be possible? She's been through a lot."
Killian knew exactly what Henry meant, but was trying to be optimistic about the whole thing. "She'll be right as rain. She has an idea how to free herself from the dagger."
"Oh, please don't tell me it involves that murderous hat." Henry said.
He still couldn't believe that a hat of all things, Grandpa Gold was usually pretty smart. But that thing with the hat was dumb. Like they wouldn't realize if Hook just happened to fall dead.
Hook laughed. "Yeah, I don't think so. Though, we might want to look into that hat. Maybe it can help us."
"You have to kill someone for it to be of any use, that's what Grandma Belle said anyway." Henry said.
Hook shook his head. "Of course not, lad. That would not do. I doubt Emma would like that either."
"What would I not like?" His mom said as she came into the kitchen. "Is that pancakes I smell?"
She looked more like herself today, Henry thought. She was no longer in leather. She had on what appeared to be a bathrobe and it looked like she took a shower.
He still wasn't used to seeing her this way though with the short platinum hair and those shadows under her eyes. She didn't look right.
"I made them for the boy." Killian said.
"Henry." Emma said noticing him for the first time. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm here to help." Henry said. "And, well, I wanted to see if you were okay."
"I'm fine," Emma said waiving her hand. "Killian has been taking good care of me."
"You don't look fine." Henry said. "Did you get any sleep?"
"I nodded off a little." His mother obviously lied. "It's more than I slept in a while Henry. Now, let's eat some pancakes."
Carbohydrates had a marvelous way of making the mood better, Henry thought as he and his mother ate. It was almost as if they were normal again, he wanted to say something but he didn't. This whole thing was weird.
Weird because he was lying to his mom and Grandma Snow and Grandpa David. They needed to know.
When he mentioned this to Emma though, she shook her head and spit out pancake. "Absolutely not."
"But, Mom, they can help." Henry said.
Emma sighed and looked at him. It was the first time he noticed that not only her hair and skin had changed, but her eyes. They weren't green anymore. Instead, they were dark. It was sort of hard to see a pupil with them.
It sort of scared him for a minute, but being a Charming, Henry was good at hiding his fear.
Or at least that's what he told himself, but Emma noticed. "I'm going to have Killian pick up some colored contacts and maybe some hair dye."
"What?" Henry said.
Emma sighed. "I know the curse has done a number to my appearance, kid. The eyes frighten me too."
"They don't make you a bad person."
Because Emma was still his mom, dark curse or not. But she was very different now.
Emma laughed and just shook her head. "I am the Dark One."
"But you're also my mom." Henry said, "You're also a hero!"
"He's right, love." Hook said giving Henry and Emma support.
Emma sighed heavily as she ran her fingers through her short hair. "Be that as it may, I think a change might be in order. I really don't want to upset anyone. Honestly, I don't want to deal with anyone until we figure out a way for me to destroy the curse."
"Which is why we need to talk to your parents and Mom." Henry said.
Emma shook her head as she took a sip of coffee. "No, kid. I don't want them involved. The less people involved in this the better. I really wouldn't have had you roped into this if Killian hadn't already gotten you involved."
"Sorry, love. But the lad and I were the only ones with enough sense to summon you."
Emma sighed. "I can see why they were so reluctant. Believe me, there's a part of me that knows it's not safe for me to be here."
"Swan, you're fine."
She shook her head as she picked at her pancakes. Henry had noticed she was barely eating, she seemed upset. He asked why.
And she just laughed.
Like he said something funny.
It wasn't until he asked her what was funny, that he realized he had said something wrong.
"Mom?" He asked.
"It's okay, Henry. I'm just enjoying breakfast."
He didn't say anything just raised an eyebrow. Despite what some people might have thought, he had matured a little. Even though he still slept with a Mickey Mouse nightlight, he did have a bit of a sensitivity chip (some of the time).
"Mom, I want to help you." Henry said. "We can find a cure, I know we can."
Emma smiled at him, "I hope so. And I do have a plan, but Henry it's not exactly an ideal situation."
She was going to tell him it was dangerous, he could tell. "Let me help."
"Your Mom's worried about you," Killian said. "She doesn't want you to get hurt. She doesn't want any of us to get hurt."
Emma nodded. "Henry, this is dangerous."
"We're a family, Mom."
Emma knelt down and put her hand on his check. He noticed how cold her hands felt. Emma's hands used to be so warm. He remembered how she could go out without mittens.
"Henry," Emma said. "Please. This is not up for discussion. I will not let you get hurt, I can't let that happen again."
"You've never hurt me, Mom." Henry said. "And you wouldn't, you're a good person."
Emma laughed. "I am the Dark One, Henry."
"That doesn't mean anything." Henry said. "You're still you."
She shook her head. "No. Really, Henry, it's not the same."
"You're still Emma." Henry tried to argue. "Just like Grandpa was still Grandpa, deep down inside there. Dad said that—"
If he had been paying close attention to Emma, he would have noticed that she grimaced when he mentioned his dad and granddad. However, Henry was completely oblivious he didn't even notice Emma's discomfort until she said. "I need to go."
"But I just got here,"
Emma shook her head. "I need a second, Henry."
"But Mom—"
"I said I need a second." She snapped before disappearing in a swirl of dark smoke.
Henry looked at Killian. "Did I say something that should've upset her?"
He had been told by Regina, though less frequently now, that he lacked what she called sensitivity. Not that Henry thought he ever really said anything wrong. If anything, Regina was overly sensitive in Henry's not so humble opinion.
Killian shook his head. "No, but lad, she's been through a lot. I really think you should try to follow her wishes."
"But I want to help, I won't get in trouble."
Killian sighed. He knew better than most people that there was no stopping Henry. Henry was, after all, the son of The Savior and The Evil Queen. You couldn't grow up with those two as moms without a little bit stubbornness. "Fine, but don't let Emma know. Actually, lad, I do have a job for you."
"Really?" Henry said.
Killian nodded. "I need you to take the dagger, Henry."
"What?"
That was not what Henry was expecting.
He knew Killian still had the dagger, but he thought she was going to give it to his mom. She was his mom, after all. She could be trusted, unlike Grandpa Gold.
Killian sighed. "The timing isn't right, lad. You saw her. Emma, well, she still needs to recover. She's been through a lot."
"But you trust her, don't you?"
Killian sighed heavily. It was becoming his signature emotion of the day. "It's not about trust, Henry. She is broken. You saw her."
"You said she was doing better."
Though, he knew that was a lie. He was his mother. He saw the way she just disappeared after being agitated by seemingly nothing.
"And she is, it's just. Now's not the time to give her the dagger, you know if she was right she'd agree to it."
"But you want me to have it?"
"I can't think of anyone who I'd trust more to keep it safe, and I know that your mum would feel the same way."
Henry nodded. "But I don't…"
"You are a resourceful lad," Killian said. "I'm sure you can protect it."
But Henry wasn't sure.
Chapter 5 Part 2 Preview: Harry gets a new client.
