Storybrooke

Present Day


"Swan -"

"Believe me, I see them, Killian," Emma said, sidestepping over to him until they were standing back to back; a fortification for one another.

"Whatever you do-"

"-stay together," Killian finished the sentence with her.

He felt her shoulders shift against his. "Right, yeah. And, try not to injure any of them. Remember, they can't help it."

Hovering above them like angels of death, the fairies didn't appear to be helpless in the least. But, Killian knew Swan was correct. The poor souls were not their own masters at the moment, and should not be punished as though they were. "I know."

From a few paces away, Mim lifted her wand like a conductor, lavender hair flying, and madness in her eyes.

Distantly, he noted that she was still on the ground; flightless, despite the swarm of her kin writhing above them. Had she not been able to reattach the wings she'd purloined?

"Pirate, it's time to come to your senses and join the winning side," said Mim, tone soft despite the wicked insanity visible on her face. "Come, now." Extending a hand in a friendly gesture, she added, "Stop trying to be something you aren't. I am going to give you one more chance to take the offer I gave you back on your ship. Let's go get the dagger, and find Rumpelstiltskin. We can still both get what we want."

Briefly, he considered agreeing – pretending to help her, so he could discover what she needed the Dark One for – but that was a dangerous game. If the dagger somehow fell into her hands, the force of both Mim and Rumpelstiltskin might be unstoppable.

And she was trying to take Adi.

"You don't know what I want," Killian replied. "And if you did, you wouldn't understand it." Adjusting the grip on his sword, he smirked in Mim's direction. If he could anger her, perhaps she'd concentrate her attack on him, and not Emma. "I can see why you were denied the title of Reul Ghorm. Aren't fairies supposed to know our greatest wishes, and all that?"

Rage and something close to petulance intensified her fearsome countenance as she condemned him. "You are a fool, Killian Jones."

"Maybe," Killian allowed. "But maybe not."

Grinding her teeth, and without any further ado, Mim ordered her fairies, "Kill them," and lifted her wand.

The fight that followed was on of the most intense of his life.

Somehow, he and Emma remained back to back; Emma shooting her magic and deflecting attacks aimed at them both, while Killian would sweep his sword broadly, chasing fairies into Emma's range of attack, or disrupting their flight and sending them crashing to the ground, where he'd knock them unconscious with the hilt of his sword.

Faster and faster they moved: when Emma went high, he'd duck low, and when he leaned to one side, she'd switch in the opposite direction.

Legs moving in tandem, they shifted clockwise around the library, somehow avoiding furniture as they waltzed, leaving a trail of unconscious fairies behind them.

Killian's breath came faster, the room heating with magic and the exertion of the battle. Fairy after fairy fell, yet still more swooped and assailed them, impeding them from reaching Mim by sheer force of numbers.

Growling, he swiped at a fairy with orange wings, who fluttered away from the feint and into a bookcase, stunning herself. "Swan, we can't keep this up. We have to get to Mim."

"She's on the other side of the room," came Emma's frustrated voice, from over his shoulder. "She's moving away!"

"Aye, I see that – bit of help here, love?"

Blocking a shot from a wand, Emma braced herself against Killian's back, spun them, and punched a fairy who'd been in the process of placing a spell on them. "We need to get to her."

"Any suggestions would be welcome," he answered, grappling with a tall, freckled fairy who was attempting to reach over him and attack his Swan.

"Working on it," was the distracted reply behind him.

Killian's foe, the girl with the freckles, locked eyes with him; and in them he saw a vacancy. Much like the army of dead Cora had sent after Swan and her mother in the Enchanted Forest, this person was an utter shell, for Mim's disposal.

He'd known, of course; but seeing it in her young face was haunting.

He'd feel sympathy for her later, though.

Abandoning her attempts to reach Swan, Freckles began to lower her arm, to use the wand on Killian.

Dropping his sword, Killian crossed his wrist and brace, caught her just behind the wrist with his own, then flung their arms to the side with all his strength. Freckles lost her grip on her wand, which went flying across the library.

Striking the side of her head with his elbow, Killian caught her as she crumpled, and lowered her to the floor.

His gentlemanly inclination cost him.

While he was recovering his sword, another fairy took advantage of his distraction and hit him with magic, a blow that took him off his feet and sent him across the library, landing heavily near Madam Mim.

Wind stolen from him and body bruised, but excited at his advantageous new position, Killian struggled to his feet, ready to confront the purple witch.

Without warning, though, Miss Bell appeared on the scene, rushing into the room and inadvertently placing herself in between him and Mim.

Killian inwardly groaned. He especially didn't want to harm his old friend Tinkerbell. But what choice had he?

"What is going on in here?" warbled Tink utterly confused, eyes wide as she took in the chaos of the library. "Hook?" she asked, noticing him. Radiating confusion, she clearly had her wits about her, unlike her sisters.

It was then that he spotted the leather cuff on her wrist. The same magic inhibiting device introduced to him by Cora, and which Astrid had yesterday volunteered to both wear as a precaution – and give one to Lady Bell, as well.

Was the cuff interfering with Mim's control spell? Or had Mim not bothered to place an enchantment on her while she wore it?

Throwing a look to Emma, who was caught in a swarm of fairies and battling for her life, Killian made a fast decision. He just hoped Tink would understand what he was doing.

Grasping Tinkerbell's arm, he yanked her to his chest and lifted his sword to her neck, facing Mim.

"Hook, what do you think you're doing?" Tinkerbell cried as she tried to turn her head to look at him, without getting cut. "It's me! Have you gone crazy? Mim's standing right there- let me go, and get this cuff off so we can stop her together!"

"Just look around you, lass. I know you're working for Mim, and now is the time to admit it," he snarled, drawing the sword to just under her chin. "If you think I'm so foolish as to remove that cuff and give your magic back, then you don't know Captain Hook." He tried to sound as outlandish and pompous as possible, hoping to cue her in.

Mim paused, observing the proceedings before her with interest. Whether she was standing down because of the threat to Tinkerbell, or something else, he could not say; but the distraction was working.

"Very good, Madam Mim, eyes on my hand," Killian willed as Mim observed the sword attentively, only the barest hint of concern showing through.

Whatever her agenda, she didn't actively want the other fairies to come to physical harm. That much was clear.

Away from Mim's focal point, Killian tapped Tinkerbell's side three times using the curved side of his hook, barely a touch.

Their old signal. He hoped, hoped, after all these years she would still remember it.

Lost Boy nearby. Get ready.

He felt her shift, and it was all the confirmation he needed. Come on, lass, you know what to do.

At the same time he dropped his arms, Tink reached back to his belt and found his throwing knife. Never once taking her eyes off her target, she hurled it directly at Mim.

Mim did not have time to react to the unexpected attack, especially at such close range. The knife hit her shoulder, then clattered to the floor – a glancing blow, but enough to make the creature scream furiously.

Using the distraction to his full advantage, Killian, sword hand still occupied, ripped at Tinkerbell's cuff with his hook. It slid off cleanly, offering no resistance.

Mim hissed something that sounded like Green Vermin, and a ball of bright, crackling magic was conjured into her hand, which she then fired at them.

Before Killian could even flinch, a green sprinkling of magic permeated the air around them… Tinkerbell had deflected the blast.

"Lot of good stealing your wings did you, when you can't even reattach them," Tinkerbell taunted. "Maybe we should see how tough you are without that wand," she nodded to the purple wand clutched in Mim's hand.

Mim instantly closed her stance, preventing easy access to the wand; a natural response to Tinkerbell's threat.

With the opportunity to go on the offense, Tinkerbell lifted her own wand and struck. Green light surged forth, pushing Mim away, back towards the entrance of the library.

"I didn't want to do this," huffed Mim, gathering her balance. "You're an asset, Green. All of my sisters are."

" 'Asset', huh." retorted Tinkerbell. "Is that your word for 'magic puppet'?"

"I'm sorry you can't understand," said Mim, and launched a scorching wave of magic directly at Tinkerbell's head.

Crying out in surprise, Tinkerbell instinctively ducked, and the flare of purple soared over her head, leaving Killian to jump out of the way.

And, across the library, Emma was still battling back the fairies who surrounded her, a one-woman army. He marked her by the sheen of her hair and the light of her power, a vortex in which fairy after fairy fell.

But more always came.

Frustrated and desperate, Killian advanced on Mim, wondering if they managed to stop her cold, whether her kin would disassemble.

Immediately, barely glancing his way, Mim flattened him with an invisible shove, then stalked to Tinkerbell and touched the tip of her wand to Tink's forehead.

"Goodbye, Green."

As Killian was scrambling clumsily to his feet, frantic to save his old friend, a figure suddenly moved into the room, behind Mim.

The newcomer drew a sword around her shoulders, against her neck.

Killian saw just enough of the dark brown hair and youthful features to realize it was Emma's boy.

There wasn't much boyishness in the young man's demeanor, however, as he held the blade steady. "Madame Mim, surrender. This is your only warning."

He sounded so much like Prince David, Killian almost felt the need to blink, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him.

But no, the lad was there, his bearing entirely that of –

Well, of a knight.

Without comment, posturing, or anger, Mim flicked her hand, and every fairy in the library, save the unconscious ones and Tinkerbell, evaporated in heavy lavender screen of smoke, leaving behind her victorious foes.

Killian was really beginning to loathe that particular escape tactic.

Sagging with relief, Tinkerbell exhaled loudly in the sudden, peaceful quiet of the library; and Killian took her hand for a moment to ascertain if she was well.

Lady Bell gave him a quick nod, patting his arm before grinning at Henry.

"Thanks for the help, Henry. I don't know where you came from, but I'm lucky you did," she said.

"Aye, lad," agreed Killian, not sure whether it was appropriate to thump the boy proudly on the shoulder. After all, he'd only had the once audience with the lad, and was not yet familiar with him. "Well done. You frightened her off."

Though shaken, Henry still burned with that quiet fire he recognized in Emma. "I let her get away," the lad said, jaw clenching as he lowered the sword. "I should have just-"

"Henry, what were you thinking?" Emma suddenly hollered, storming across the library at an impressive speed, considering the amount of unconscious fairies she had to traverse. "How did you get here? How did you even know we were here? Do you have any idea how long you're going to be grounded for this?"

Scratching at his neck, Henry looked pleadingly to Killian and Tinkerbell for assistance before making his reply. "Umm, do you want me to answer all of those?"

"Yes," seethed Emma, stepping over Flora and coming to stand before her son with her hands on her hips. "All of them. And I suggest you do it very quickly."

Fidgeting, Henry passed the sword back and forth in his hands. "Mom and Robin and Zelena left with Roland and Zeph. They were going to drop them off with Belle and go to the hospital to meet you. They told me to go to the bus stop and go to school, but…Mom, the text you sent, about coming here to apprehend Madam Mim – it got sent to mom's iPad messages too. I saw the notification, and…"

He trailed off, cowed by Emma's unblinking stare. "And?" she prompted. Killian couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the lad.

"I texted Vi and asked if she'd get the horses ready. I wanted to be your backup."

"Backup!?" Emma cried incredulously.

"I'm almost a knight," Henry pointed out, not with the sulky sullenness of a child, but conviction of a young man. "A knight's job is to protect."

"You brought Violet into this. How is that protecting?" demanded Emma, taking Henry firmly by the shoulders. "It is just pure, dumb luck that Mim didn't hurt either of you."

While Killian completely understood the need to guard one's child from harm, he wondered if perhaps Emma was being a bit harsh on the boy. Henry had certainly proven himself, as far as Killian was concerned. He'd saved Miss Bell; he'd even done the noble thing and stayed his hand, giving Mim a chance to surrender.

Henry's impetuousness might need to be addressed, but his deeds had been honorable.

With less surety, Henry said, "I told Vi to wait outside with the horses. She's safe…I wouldn't put her in danger. I did what I needed to help my family. Robin and Zelena and Mom had the kids, I was the nearest to the convent!"

"That doesn't mean it was safe, Henry!" argued Emma, and Killian was still deciding whether to intervene in behalf of the lad or not, when at last the initial fear seemed to recede from Emma, and she spoke in a more reasonable tone. "Henry, you are brave, you are strong and smart and compassionate and good. But you aren't even in high school."

Sheathing the sword, Henry lifted his chin. "I know, Mom. And if you have to ground me, then you have to ground me. But I can't stop helping my friends and family."

Letting her hands slide from Henry's shoulders, Emma leaned back against a bookcase and sighed. But she was smiling. "You are too much like your grandparents for your own good, kid. You know that?"

Precisely what Killian had been thinking.

Leaning forward, Emma drew her son into a motherly hug. "You're still in trouble, you know," she said, pulling his head down onto her shoulder and kissing it. "But…you did good. Really good."

"Love you too, mom," was the muffled, rote, yet affectionate response. He was a boy again, basking in his mother's pride and love.

Watching them, Killian was reminded that he not only was father to a daughter, but a son as well. This incredible boy was his stepson.

And he couldn't have been prouder if Henry was his own.

As he was considering the ways he might persuade Emma to reduce whatever sentence she had in store for Henry, two more figures entered the library.

Before he, Emma, Henry and Tinkerbell could prepare their armaments for another battle, they recognized the new arrivals, and Killian held aloft his hand, hoping to delay the others from immediately attacking.

Astrid, side by side with a young lass near Henry's age, covered her mouth with both hands as she surveyed the bodies in the library. As she did so, Killian spotted another leather cuff adorning her wrist. She was, thankfully, still wearing it. "Oh, oh oh…What happened?"

"Violet, get away from her!" cried Henry, brandishing his weapon. "The fairies are-"

"It's all right, lad," assured Killian, moving to Astrid and rapping on her enchanted cuff with his knuckle. "Mim didn't bother with her. These things counter magic."

Tinkerbell joined them, enfolding Astrid in a comforting hug. "It's okay," she soothed. "They're going to be fine. Our sisters will be fine."

"Astrid, what's going on," asked Emma, readjusting her ponytail, which had become loose during the fight. "Did you see where Mim went?"

"I was outside, tending the grounds. I ran into young Violet here, waiting outside with her horses. I couldn't just leave her out there in this rain. I haven't seen Mim anywhere – did she do this to my sisters? That monster!"

Emma, Killian and Tink all glanced guiltily at one another.

"We did, Astrid," Emma confessed. "Mim has more of your friends under her control."

Gaping, Astrid stuttered, "How many?"

Licking her lips, Emma admitted sympathetically, "I think…As far as I can tell, everyone but you and Tink."

Shakily, Astrid drifted to the nearest piece of furniture, an armchair, and sank onto it. "How do we help them? How is any of this even possible?"

"I don't know," Emma said, reverting to her leadership role. "I don't. What I do know is we have to figure out what to do with them," she emphasized, sweeping her arm to indicate the unconscious women, "before they wake up."

"Cuffs," Tinkerbell said, scooping the one Killian had removed from her off the floor. "Like Astrid and I wore."

"We don't have that many," Emma pointed out. "And it takes time to make them. They're not something that can just be conjured."

"Tink and I can work on making them," Astrid offered, wiping away a stray tear and lifting herself out of the chair. "We'll need…"

Pausing, she extended a finger and went through a hasty tally of her fallen sisters. "Eleven of them."

"And more, if we can capture the others," Tinkerbell added.

Hands on her hips, Emma said, "Eleven for now, then. Can I send someone to help you? I really have to speak with Blue. The real one."

"Well, someone with magic, or familiar with magic, would be best," Astrid said. "Zelena, or Regina."

"I'll send both," said Emma, already on her phone. "And I'll have Maleficent put them under a sleeping spell for the time being. Let's get to work."


One Year Ago

The Underworld


Wandering the main streets of Underbrooke, Emma and Killian stopped nearly every soul passing by to ask after Belle.

Unfortunately, nobody had seen her – or at least, they weren't admitting to it.

After a thorough search of the town library, Emma groaned and turned to Killian. She knew he wasn't going to be happy about their next option. "Well. I guess there's only one other trail for us to follow."

"Rumpelstiltskin," her pirate supplied, glaring balefully at the red-hued sky.

Emma didn't speak, wanting Killian to voice his own feelings on the situation, in his own time. So, she took his hand and waited, even as they wandered slowly and pointlessly along the sidewalk.

It didn't take him long to come to a conclusion. Emma knew what it would be. Killian Jones didn't abandon people. "There isn't a choice. We have to find her."

"You're right."

As they approached the bus station sign, Killian tucked her arm in his and led them to the bench, where he pivoted them, so he could lower Emma carefully onto the seat.

"What?" Emma asked. "I thought we were going to the Pawn Shop. What is it?"

Sitting beside her, Killian took her hands in his hand and hook and earnestly met her eyes. "Emma, listen. I know we are a team, and I know what that means." With a little chuckle, he admitted, "A lot of the time, it means you saving me. But…this time, I really, truly don't think it's in either of our best interests if you face the Dark One. And especially not for…" Lowering his voice to a whisper, he finished, "the baby."

Annoyance stirred in her. "I knew you were trying to sideline me. Look, Killian, I know my magic is having issues right now, but I can still protect myself."

"It's not that, Love," Killian insisted tightly. "Rumpelstiltskin…He knows. I mean – I'm not sure he knows about our…our secret, not yet; but he definitely is aware that something is going on after your show of strength against the hydra. What if he finds out the truth? What if he tries to leverage that knowledge? What if he tries to trade our child to Hades for his own?"

And then, not for the first time since coming to the Underworld, she became aware of the gauntness of his cheeks and hollows under his eyes.

The moment she'd told Killian of the pregnancy, most of the pressures and fear Emma had been internalizing had eased; whether by his mere presence or the reassurance of his words. Somehow, with him by her side, she knew they could overcome every obstacle – even death.

But Killian had been declining. She hadn't missed it, although he'd disguised it well; and every time she'd tried to drag an explanation out of him, he would clam up or switch the subject to her and the baby.

Not only that, there was some weird tension going on between him and David.

When Emma had woken from her unconsciousness state, it had taken a long time for her parents to come and check on her, which was strange in itself. And when they had, the little her father did say to them had been curt, while ignoring Killian completely.

After they found Belle, Emma and Killian were going to have a talk. A long, overdue one.

But, in the meantime, they needed to focus. "You think Gold knows?" she repeated, shifting closer to him. A small chill frosted her heart. Out of all of them, even Belle, Killian knew Rumple best.

His opinion was invaluable to her.

"No, not yet," he clarified. "But he's suspicious."

A group of schoolchildren passed them, lining up on the curb to cross the street. Emma felt a little sick seeing them.

They were even younger than Henry. Of all the dead she'd encountered so far, they deserved this fate the least.

With any luck, defeating Hades would allow all of these sad souls to be free, forever.

When the children left, hustled along by a random crossing guard, Killian felt free to speak again. "While you were passed out, he tried to take your blood. For what, I don't know; but he is aware your power is being enhanced by something."

Stroking his hair, she made a joke of it. "Hey, I won't be showing for a couple months, still. Unless he's Superman and acquired X-ray vision, it shouldn't be a problem. We don't have to go to the Pawn Shop looking for a fight with him. We'll just talk."

Rolling his eyes, Killian leaned back on the bench. "It's always a fight with him. But, if this is what you wish, then it is what we'll do," he said quietly. "Despite what you believe, I have no desire to – what was the word? – 'sideline' you. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to protect you, however I can."

With a self-deprecating smile, he rested his hand over her heart. "I haven't forgotten my promise. My job. Even if I fell by the wayside."

Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones at work, but she felt a sudden outpouring of love for him, overriding her earlier irritation.

Pulling his head down, she aimed for his lips but missed by a little, catching the side of his mouth. It made her giggle, and even Killian broke into a chuckle.

"Let's go find our friend," said Emma, standing and pulling him off the bench. "We – Killian?"

He was no longer looking at her, but over her shoulder, eyes going wide.

"Belle?" he called, and rushed past Emma at the same time she turned.

Sure enough, Belle was on the sidewalk across the street, walking stiffly and wiping at her face and nose with a handkerchief.

When she noticed her friends running her way, she stopped and waited.

Lifting his arms in a gesture that was half from relief and half from frustration, Killian asked a question without any words, and Belle pulled him to her in a tight hug for her answer, pressing her face into the leather of his jacket with an inaudible sob.

When Emma at last caught up to them, she could hear Killian trying to coax the story from her.

"You're all right, lass? You're okay?"

Belle nodded shakily.

"What is it? Hades didn't send the monster after you again, did he?"

Rasping a bitter laugh that made the skin on Emma's neck prickle, Belle said, "The monster? I - I wish. I wish it'd been that simple."

"Then, what was it?" asked Emma, fearful that yet another weapon from Hades might be turned against them.

This question only caused Belle's face to crumple again.

Holding her steady, Killian said calmly, "When you're ready, love. Only when you're ready."

Standing there together, with their matching dark hair and blue eyes, they probably would have appeared to an outsider to be a brother and his younger sister.

And Killian treated her as such, turning her hanky to its dry side and offering it back with gentleness he rarely displayed to people aside from Emma.

For a few moments, all three of them stood in the shadows of the storefronts, until Belle's tears ran out and she sighed raggedly.

"I eliminated him," she said dejectedly.

Startled, Emma passed a look to Killian. That was an odd word choice, even for someone whose vocabulary was as extensive as Belle's. "Who?" she asked. There weren't that many living people for her to kill in the Underworld.

The only 'him' she could possibly be talking about was-

"Rumpelstiltskin?" Killian asked.

"Gaston," Belle said. "I pushed him in the river. He doesn't have a chance to go to the better place anymore. He doesn't have a chance to move on at all."

Gaston…

Crap, Emma had trouble keeping all the names and characters – people - straight, sometimes. Gaston was…was…the arrogant jerk in the Beauty and the Beast movie, right?

Emma didn't ever recall seeing him in Storybrooke, but-

"You know what?" Killian asked, cradling Belle's shoulder, "I'm just glad we found you. Why don't we go home, off the street, and sit down? Then you can tell us about it, aye?"

With a distant, almost empty nod, Belle agreed.


Hi guys…sorry, I was planning to edit and post this right after the Vikings game yesterday, but the ending made me very giddy and not able to concentrate for the rest of the evening (hey, I know there's 90% chance they'll lose to Philadelphia on Sunday but those last 10 seconds were our Super Bowl, darn it!).

Anyway, here it is, a day late. It's more action filled. And yeah, as you may have noticed, Milah is not a crossing guard in this story.

Next chapter, prepare for some Captain Charming adventures!