Standard disclaimer applies, I own nothing. This chapter has been part of updating to fill holes and streamline it. All errors are mine, particularly the grammar ones.
Chapter Fifty One
A swarm welcomed the Jolly Roger to port.
Milah took note of Killian and the King speaking with Rumple and Regina. Several crates they found contained magical items, rare books and strange relics from many different kingdoms and realms. The explanation of why the hold was a mess had been the most shocking tale Killian ever told her. A Killian who traded his ship to Blackbeard for a magic bean to find the Savior and save the town was not something she could imagine.
According to the king, the pirate's motives weren't entirely altruistic.
Killian threw his hands up in the air and Rumple sneered in response, the two men glaring at each other. Their hostility was oddly reassuring. Forgiveness was all well and good but that bit of remaining conflict was evidence of the history they all shared. Evidence that she belonged here, all be it in an odd way.
Bae wove his way around the people working on pulling up the crates and hopped up on the rail beside her. "They're still going at it?"
She nodded in reply.
"What's the deal?"
She signed and turned away from the quartet arguing.
"Killian wants to move ten times faster while the Queen Mum and your father want to sort through Blackbeard's crates now. But then the king implied it'd be safer to do so on some island." Milah shot a look at her son to see if he had any idea what that meant. He winced and she wondered what the secret was. "Killian was appalled by the suggestion."
Bae's eyes were closed and he opened one to look at her. "It isn't a secret, really."
"It's where my mom is." Henry came up and leaned on the other side of her.
"What's the deal, kid? I was getting to it."
"And as I'm still prone to throwing things." Milah finished for him. "A bit of caution is to be applauded Henry."
Her grandson rolled his eyes at her.
"I can clearly see you've spent too much time with Killian."
"Sardonic reactions to overly dramatic statements run in the family and come from all sides, as does a tendency for overly dramatic statements." Henry hugged her hard. "I'm waiting to head out with Killian but after I check in there, I'll be back at Regina's to prep for the wedding."
Bae jumped down from the rail and pulled Henry in for a hug. "Wedding?"
"Regina and Robin. I don't think Robin knows yet." It came out a bit muffled from his father's arms but Henry pulled back with a shrug. "In case it all goes bad."
Milah watched her son smile bittersweetly as her thoughts whirled. She forgot they could be on borrowed time. And bloody hell if a future beyond breaking this curse didn't scare her more.
"Mom?"
"Sorry what?" She looked down at the hand Henry was holding out to her. In it was a magic bean.
"Henry's collecting the extra bean. Remember one to keep, one to return."
Her right hand began shifting through the pouch at her hip. Milah pulled out a bean from inside, holding it between her thumb and forefinger. The light made it glitter. She placed it gently into Henry's outstretched hand and could feel her mouth stretching into a slow smile.
"I'd forgotten about the beans."
Snow stood at Charming's side as Henry wished one mother goodbye then leap from the dock onto the Jolly Roger to go to his other. Thinking about the reunion of her daughter and her son-in-law made Snow shift her weight and lean into her husband's side. David was just a bit put out by it though Neal's less-than-enthusiastic welcome home hadn't helped.
"We'll see them all in a few days."
David's stance relaxed at her words and he slung an arm around her shoulder. "Yeah."
"What is it? You missed the farm more than you thought, didn't you?"
He kissed the top of her head and turned back to their home, their castle. Someday, Snow supposed she would learn to let things go and not push.
"Is it about Emma and Killian?" She heard him murmur and growled at his back.
Charming smiled over his shoulder at her and held out his hand. She batted it away and stalked past him. Snow let out a grunt when her husband caught up to her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"I missed you so much." David held her tighter despite Snow's frown and crossed arms. "And you were right, I missed the farm more than I thought I would." She didn't relax her stance at his words and he sighed. "But mostly, I kind of wanted to see my daughter as well as my son and wife."
"Really David," Snow chastised him, turning to poke him in the chest. "This is the first chance the two of them…"
"Don't say it." He interrupted her quickly, catching a hold of the finger trying to poke a hole in him. "He's… and she's..."
David kept shaking his head so Snow wrapped her arms around his neck to hold onto him. "Poor Daddy, no need to think about the pirate and your daughter's reunion."
David stopped holding her and placed his hands on his hips. "Snow."
"Oh no, Charming. You are doing nothing to interrupt them." Her smile was wide as she had fun poking at his sore spot. "It's a miracle she's even pregnant with the number of times you just had to stop by the house."
"Like you never."
"Once." Snow stepped back a bit. "I think I can keep your mind off what's happening far, far away."
With a smirk, David pulled her close again. "Oh really?"
Snow rolled her eyes even as her half of their heart skipped a beat as his eyes smoldered. "You think you're so irresistible, don't you?"
He leaned down till his lips just brushed hers and said softly. "To you? Yes."
Snow closed her eyes, leaning into his body, letting him lean into hers.
"Charming," she whispered softly and felt his heartbeat speed up before she let him have it. "I want to have more children."
"What?" David's hoarse questions followed Snow as she turned and skipped off to find Granny and their son.
The people who welcomed Team Expedition home had deserted the docks as quickly as they had appeared. Returning to whatever corner of Misthaven they had carved out as their own. Robin had stayed throughout the hauling away of the cargo and the arguments about what to do with Blackbeard's trove.
Regina had waved him away repeatedly throughout the morning, urging him to go see Roland. He held out for a while before snatching her up into a heated kiss and promising to see her at home. When the haze cleared her head, she caught a knowing look from Snow. She was in an awkward position, trusting everyone not to speak of the wedding before she got a chance to inform Robin. Well, it was mostly keeping Robin as far away from Snow as possible.
The plan had been to tell Robin as soon as possible, or rather to ask Robin as soon as possible. Regina had hidden evidence of the wedding, storing key items on the island that morning when she chickened out and as soon as possible became eventually.
The Jolly Roger disappeared in the distance and Regina could no longer put off returning home. With a sign she waved her hands and disappeared from the dock in a cloud of purple smoke and stepped out onto the balcony of her castle. Roland's giggle floated up to her and she watched as he ran circles around his little sister and Zelena.
A pair of arms came from behind and pulled her back into a familiar chest. "My Queen."
Regina closed her eyes and snuggled back into her thief.
"I trust you are well, milady?"
A low throaty yes was her response as she turned in his arms and looped hers around his neck. "Better now."
Robin's smile was just too big and bright. Regina jerked him close and kissed him. Her body buzzed from the heat of it and the feel of being in her lover's arms again. When Robin started to lift her up without separating their mouths, she knew eventually had come.
"Wait," she whispered against his lips, trying to wiggle free.
"Mmmmm, no." Robin rubbed his nose against hers before bending and hoisting her over his shoulder. "It will take three minutes to reach our room and that is all the wait I have for you."
"It's important." Regina sighed the words out breathlessly.
"Only if you are telling me no?" He paused his steps but with no verbal chastisement received, he continued on his way unable to see her eye rolling response. "Two minutes now."
She braced her hands on his back to prop herself up. "This is serious."
"No, I'm serious as I have been days without you and whatever time I'm given I will bloody well make the most of."
"Fine." Regina huffed at him. "You have no say whatsoever in our wedding. Which by the way is in two days. If you have a problem with that, too bad."
Her words reached him at the same time he reached their door. Regina dropped down to her feet, her back stretching as she became every inch the regal queen she was and arched a brow waiting for the thief to respond, hoping he didn't see any of her fears.
Her lips twitched into a smile, because studying his face Regina realized what a fool she had been. That joyful smile was back even as his eyes melted her with heat.
"As in all things, I follow my queen's commands."
Regina turned and pushed their door open, shooting him a look over her shoulder as she sauntered into their bedroom. Robin happily followed, kicking the door closed.
"I could have sworn the last time I sailed this way, there was nothing here." Killian called to Henry from the wheel.
"Do you honestly think Grandpa and Grandma would let Mom be here all alone without any defense in place?" Henry made his way back to Killian from the bow of the ship. "Do you think Mom wouldn't make sure she was safe here?"
The Jolly Roger was the fastest ship in any realm and it seemed to go even faster than ever before. Henry wondered if it was the ship responding to the desires of her captain or if the island wasn't as far away as they thought. Questions for another time.
"So, um, I was thinking."
"Oh, this should be fun." Killian smirked but didn't look away from the island they were approaching at a fast clip. "You say that the same way you're mother says 'we need to talk'."
"Listen, I don't really want to, you know, be around for the whole big reunion or whatever." Killian's chuckled added to the blush darkening Henry's cheeks. "Seriously, Killian."
"I suppose I understand." Killian scratched the back of his ear and shrugged. "And I guess I can sail you back after…"
Henry shook his head at the pirate. "Not necessary. I can take the doorway to Regina's castle easily enough."
"Doorway?"
"Apparently, Mom's gotten really good at magic." Henry grinned. "Well, she's gotten good at making movie magic real."
"Really?"
"Yep, magical wardrobes, chalk outline doors that lead to wherever you need them."
"Light sabers?"
"I'm waiting for Christmas to ask." Henry thought of future fun but got distracted by the pirate once again. Killian was frowning and shuffling at the wheel. "What?"
"You don't have to run off you know." He turned to Henry with a small smile. "It would be good to have our little family all together again."
Henry shook his head. "No thanks. I prefer leaving you to tie up on your own and heading out."
He walked over to the port side and looked toward the island. "Besides it's only two days and then you'll both have to be at Regina's for the wedding."
"Wedding?"
"Robin and Regina." Henry frowned. "Then it'll be time for everyone to meet and talk about what we've learned."
"Rushing this would be just as foolish as doing nothing to prepare," Killian calmly reminded him. "I need you to go…"
"Yeah I got it."
Henry moved off as they approached the dock and the two worked together seamlessly to tie up.
Henry surprised himself and didn't run off as fast as he had planned. His stepdad threw him several questioning looks to which he didn't respond, keeping his face blank.
Tying off his last line, Henry smiled to see Killian stare past the dock at the fortress in front of them. Maybe this was one of the silver linings of the return to the Enchanted Forest. This strange family of theirs had a little extra space to breath and live, to be together and apart at the same time. In the Land without Magic it would be considered healthy boundaries.
With distance, and new journeys came goodbyes. Everyone deserved a proper one.
Henry stood in front of his stepdad. "Two days, no kissing and please don't say anything more about that."
Killian couldn't resist smirking at him and striking a pose, hands at his waist and hip cocked out. "I know the rules lad. If you need us, don't hesitate to come home."
"I won't." Henry turned to go but Killian tapped him on the shoulder. He spun back around and found himself being hugged with a clap on the back.
"We'll see you soon, my boy."
Henry hugged him back. "Yeah, yeah." He grinned, stepping back. "Give me ten minutes?"
"Very well then, just get on with it."
Henry raced up the dock and through the doorway, heading for his mother's tower when humming reached his ears. His smile spread wide across his face. Emma did that when she was happy. He streaked past the picnic meadow and found her in the practice field. She moved slowly as if dancing to whatever she hummed but her sword whistled through the air as she fought an imaginary foe.
Panting, he waited for her to twist, turn and skewer whoever she fought.
"Mom."
"Henry." Emma dropped the sword and turned to her son with open arms. He rushed to her and hugged her close.
"I missed you, kid."
"Mom."
She pulled back and looked him over. "One piece, just like I like you."
Emma nudged him toward her sword. "Pick that up. I got a basket of snacks over…"
"Mom." He halted her words even as he retrieved her sword. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"And I will see you at the wedding."
"You're leaving already? But you just got back, I thought I'd get a day with you."
"Mom, I sailed here." Henry watched his words wash over her and freeze her in place. "I'll see you at the wedding?"
She was at a loss for words but she reached out to hold onto his arm. "You can…"
He placed her sword into her hand. "I know. Still. I'll see you later. I just needed to say hi to you and the twins."
"Not one word about weight gain."
"My lips are sealed." He smiled at her and tears began filling her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "Moooom."
"I know. I just…"
"Swan!"
They both turned as Killian's shout echoed through the gardens. Henry watched as his mom melted before his eyes. He took a step away but she caught him, taking his face in both her hands.
"I love you kid, be good." She kissed his forehead and let him go. He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and ran for his other mother's tower.
Behind him, Killian called out again.
"Swan!"
