The Harbour

-Alice-

The whole trip only took her an hour, according to her pocket watch, She had resumed wearing it around her neck along with the ring. When she slipped back in the window, Gil rushed her to the desk-made-bed urgently. Harry was staring up at the ceiling with glazed eyes.

"He's been like this for a while."

Alice spied the empty cup by the bed. She picked it up and sniffed it.

"How much did you give him?"

"Um just over half of that cup"

"When I said a little I meant a sip!"

Alice stared down at the pirates dilated pupils for a long moment.

"Is he going to be okay?"

Gil asked, wide eyed. Alice picked up the damp rag from the bowl and gently pressed it to Harry's brow.

"Oh he'll be fine, just out of it for a bit."

They both stared down at the pirate as his eyes fluttered shut.

"Uma wanted to know when you got back, I'll go tell her."

Gil walked out the door and Alice stared down at Harry. She brushed a few strands of sweat slicked hair from his forehead with a finger. His eyes flickered restlessly beneath closed lids He groaned and she gently stroked her thumb across his forehead like Nanny had done for her. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused pools of icy grey. They stared up at her and she was pulled into their stormy depth. He relaxed beneath her, eyelids drooping. Alice hummed softly and watched the boy drift back off to sleep beneath her.

The sound of foot falls snapped her from her daze. She eased her hand from his face and pulled the blanket over his shoulders just as Uma and Gil came striding back into the small room. With a deep breath, she braced herself for the awkward conversation to come and stood.

"How is he?"

Uma asked as soon as she entered.

"He'll be out for a while. But he's okay. We can't do anything else until he wakes up."

Uma nodded and motioned for Alice to follow her back into her room. Alice hesitated and Gil smiled.

"Its okay."

He soothed and led the way, Alice followed. In the main room Uma cleared the papers off the end of the bed and motioned for Alice to sit. Gil sat heavily in one of the armchairs while Uma stood before them both.

"I need explanations, now."

"This is my oldest friend, Alice."

Gil introduced. Alice waved shyly.

"I know that already. Don't get me wrong, it's good to see that you are alright, but my first mate is lying unconscious in my office and I have a feeling what ever is going on is big and bad. So I'm going to need more than that."

Alice stared at her hands awkwardly, not sure where to begin. Mercifully Gil launched into a recount of seeing Harry being hauled away by Hook's crew, how he followed them and waited until they hauled his unconscious body in to the woods and ran for help. Then running after Alice and finding Harry strung up on a tree.

"That's why we couldn't let anyone know he was here."

He told Uma.

"Because, Captain Hook is after Harry..."

Uma paused and looked at Alice who looked uncomfortable at the attention.

"He's the one after you too, right?"

Uma accused. Alice hung her head and nodded. Gil stood up from his chair.

"Woah, woah, woah. I only get to learn that it's Captain Hook you're hiding from today and Uma already knows? How does Uma know?"

Uma ignored his outburst.

"So it's true, Hook is the one hunting you. But why?"

"I.. I don't really know. The woman who raised me told me so. She gave up everything she ever had to keep me safe from him and I ... I can't throw all that away."

"How does Uma know?"

Gil pressed, interrupting the current conversation. Uma shot him a glare.

"And I would like to know how you and Gil came to know each other."

Alice looked at both her friends. Her friends, talking together in a room that was not a cave. It sent a thrill through her. She had never done anything like this before, had anything like this before. She wanted to bring them in, damn the consequences, but the truth puts them in danger. So, she started by telling Uma about when she met Gil for the first time in the woods and their friendship afterwards. She didn't mention her favors to Gil and he didn't interrupt when she skipped them. She told Gil that Uma saved her but didn't mention the giant squid thing and Uma nodded at her with a smile.

So many lies and secrets it was getting hard to keep track. Maybe she really didn't have a choice, just like Gil said. Her father was a villain and so was she.

When she finished speaking, the three of them sat quietly together. Each working over all they had just heard. Harry broke the silence for them with a moan from the other room. Alice sprung off the bed and rushed back into the small room, Gil and Uma hot on her heels. On the table Harry was trashing on the desk, his eyes rolled back in his head.

"Harry! What's happening?"

Uma cried as she ran to her friend. Alice was fumbling desperately through her bag. She tore a small glass vial from the bag and ripped off the cork. A foul odor tingled her nose, she spun back to the table.

"Hold his head still."

Uma was frozen, wide eyes glued to Harry's thrashing form. Gil stepped up to the desk and placed a hand on either side of Harry head and gave her a nod. Alice pulled Harry's chin down with one hand and tipped the jar slowly above his open mouth until two thick droplets fell into his mouth. Alice released his jaw and walked back to her pack, restored the cork and tossed it into her bag.

"Alice!"

Gil called. Alice whipped back to Harry's side. His thrashing had calmed, but he was too still. His chest wasn't rising. Alice pressed her ear to his chest. She cursed. The weight in the pit of her stomach doubled tenfold. She pulled the small stool over, the bowl of water and rag clattered to the floor. Alice knelt on the stool and placed her hands over Harry's heart. Alice stilled her mind and counted. She compressed downwards, once, twice. She tried to keep rhythm with her own heart, which was beating furiously in her ears.

After the twentieth or so compression, she felt Harry convulse beneath her. He gasped and groaned liked an old tree in a storm before taking deep gasping breaths.

She sighed with relief and got off the stool. Gil and Uma were staring at her, matching expressions of shock and awe. Alice waited until Harry was breathing steadily and pulled one of the blankets she had stuffed in the bottom of her bag to protect the jars and draped it over him.

"He should be okay now. When he wakes he'll have to take something for the pain and his head. Ill leave all the herbs here and some poultices for the swelling. If it's quiet at night he should go lay in the water, the cold will be good for the strained muscles."

Alice pulled the assorted tins and sprigs out of her bag and piled them neatly on the table. She then reached for the small bag of mushrooms still tied to her waist. She pulled it free and placed it on the table. Uma's hand gently grasped hers.

"You should stay... For Harry."

"I shouldn't... I put everyone around me in danger."

"So long as we are harboring one fugitive, we may as well hide another. Plus there's something I want to talk to you about."

"I'll sit with him."

Gil offered. Uma nodded at him and pulled Alice by the hand into her room.

"Call if there's any change."

Uma sat her down on the edge of the large captain's bed.

"Do you remember when we were talking about escaping from here?"

"Yes."

"Something happened recently... It made me so angry I couldn't think straight, but when I watched my greatest rival pass through the barrier on a red carpet, I felt reborn. Not only did that little snake leave behind her territory, ripe for the taking, but I saw a chance."

Alice looked at her, confused. She had been watching the town for years and knew about some of the gang hierarchy the young ones followed, but she had been avoiding Gil and Harry though and therefore Uma as well. The girl was a stranger to her.

"I'm going to get out of here, by my own merit. Hard work and determination like everything else. No fairy godmother, no prince charming- I'm getting off track. I'm going to find a way off this human landfill."

Uma took Alice's hand in hers.

"Alice, I want you to help me. We can find a way out of here. You and me. Gil and Harry will come too of course. I've got a feeling about you, Alice, and my feelings are usually right. We can help each other and fight to have it all."

"I... I don't know what to say."

"Say, yes. You can stay here, we can put a bed in the office, I never use that room anyway. When I'm done work we can work on the escape plan."

Alice thought about leaving right then and there. If she left now, Harry would wake up and hopefully recover without her help. So long as Gil kept his promise, no one would be able to find her. She could disappear again. Gil probably wouldn't be able to visit anymore. Uma knew everything now.

If she agreed, she would be placing her life in the hands of the three pirates, some of the crew might find out eventually. Could she trust these people she didn't know with her life? She looked into Uma's pleading eyes and felt that connection again. Pulling them together like golden strands floating in the air. Uma was powerful and confident. So unlike herself but they shared the same dream, the same drive. Alice could see them becoming friends easily.

"Alright. I'll help you. On one condition."

"Name it."

"No one else can know I'm here, just you and Gil... and Harry, I guess. "

"No one will know. I assume since you got in here without me knowing, you can probably come and go as you please."

Alice nodded.

"Then it's settled. You can sleep here until Harry recovers. You should be nearby in case he needs you but you look like you could use some. I'll take one of the empty beds for now. Gil can take first watch. We'll wake you if anything changes okay?"

After all the adrenaline, emotions, running and climbing she had to admit she was exhausted. Uma helped her into bed and pulled one of the blankets over her. Alice fell asleep instantly.

-Uma-

Uma didn't sleep much that night. She made her way down the corridor and paused by Harry and Gil's door. It was the room next to hers. She opened the door and slipped into the dark room, it smelt of boys and sea salt. She tiptoed through the dark and sat in Harry's empty hammock. She lay back and let the smell of her best friend calm her nerves. She dozed off and woke sometime later. When she slipped back into her room, Alice was sleeping quietly on her bed.

She tiptoed by and snuck up to Gil who was snoring quietly in an armchair he had pulled up to the desk from her room. She places a hand on his shoulder and he flinched awake with a snort.

"Yeah?"

Gil croaked, groggy.

"I've got it from here. It's your turn to sleep, okay?"

Uma helped him stand from the chair and let him lean on her as she walked him back to his room. He fell into his hammock and was snoring before his head hit the webbing. Uma tucked his small pillow under his head and pulled his blanket over his legs. She walked back to her room and listened to the quiet snores that filed the halls from her crew asleep in their various quarters. The sounds made her smile, they reminded her she wasn't alone. Not anymore. She had learned at a young age that real power comes from other people. With the right people any problem can be solved, any challenge overcome. She had proved that with her little relocation stunt. She had accomplished so much. They had accomplished so much, together, herself, Gil and Harry. They had started with nothing, now they had their very own crew, ship and port town. Uma closes the door behind her. She still had much to do. There were orders to give, negotiations with the goblins, crew to train, projects to inspect and her shift at the restaurant. She could skip the usual morning stuff this once, but she would have to leave for the lunch rush. There were no sick days with her mother.

Uma eased the door closed behind her and went to her trunk. She pulled out one of her books. She liked reading, although she often complained otherwise at school. She had stolen this one from the luggage of one of the visiting goodies. Auradon liked to send over 'mentors' to preach good to the youth. She brought the book with her into the room and sat in the wooden arm chair. It was still warm from Gil's recent occupancy. She flipped the book open in her lap. The night passed quickly in a world of words she had read dozens of times before. She was midway through the pages when a hand started her from her trance. Gil stood behind her, golden hair shining in the early morning light.

"Gil? It's still early, you should be asleep."

"I'm used to waking up around now, don't need to go running this morning though."

Gil took a seat on the stool next to her.

"Can't seem to keep ourselves out of trouble, eh?"

"Yeah, snd i've got a feeling we are in over or heads. Hook is unpredictable and a very powerful villain on the isle. Now we are hiding two people from him and we have no idea why!"

"I trust Alice, she-"

"I trust her too. That girl has survived for years, her secrets keep her safe, I respect that. It's sleeping beauty over here that's got the answers we need."

She kicked the desk in frustration. Harry let out a moan and shifted under the thin wool blanket.

"Harry?"

Uma jumped off the chair, book forgotten and leaned over her friend. Harry mumbled incoherently and his arms twitched. Gil stood beside her.

"Harry?"

She tried, his head whipped to the side with another groan. Uma grabbed a hold of his hand.

"Harry, wake up. Wake up!"

Harry's body stilled and his eyes fluttered open with a gasp. Uma didn't try to stop the smile from spreading over her face.

-Harry-

"Wake Up!"

The voice cut him from his dream in a flash. Harry's eyes blinked open, straining to focus in the dim light. The faint image of golden light haloing someone above him faded. Harry squinted and smiled at Uma's familiar face above him, her teal braids cascading down over her shoulders. She looked irritated, same old Uma.

"It's my day off, let me sleep."

He moaned dramatically and rolled away from her, pulling the blanket over his head. He was warm and comfortable and the blankets smelt wonderful. Like the forest edge after the rain. Harry's breath caught. This isn't my hammock, he was laying on something hard and flat.

"Harry."

Uma prodded. Harry shot up. His abdomen seized with the movement and he doubled over in pain.

"Harry, take it easy, okay? You're hurt pretty bad."

Gil cautioned. He was standing beside Uma. He placed a large hand on Harry's shoulder and Harry leaned into it to show his gratitude.

Uma cleared her throat and jerked her head towards the door. Gil nodded and scampered away.

"Harry, you need to tell me what happened."

"Where am I?"

"My office. I need to know what happened."

Uma pressed. Harry's mind raced as he tried to remember. There was a letter. He went to the market, Zachariah's wrinkled face, his father-

His father, mad with rage, sending me away to crawl back, the woods, the pain, the ghost, Gil and the bodies. Oh gods, the bodies. Pain shot through his side and Harry grit his teeth against it. He looked up at Gil who was walking back into the room.

"What happened out there?"

He grunted, Uma looked at Gil, confused. Gil sat on a small stool next to the- desk? Why was he on a desk?

"That... We'll get to that."

Uma leaned forward, taking his attention away from Gil.

"It's okay, you're safe, no one knows you're here. Now, tell us what happened."

"I got a letter from Harriet a while back, warning me to give dad a wide berth. I was in town and I ran into some of the crew, I think they were looking for me. They took me to my father's office and..."

Harry faltered, Uma placed a hand on his arm. Gil kept his eyes locked on the ground.

"He was angry and delusional, rambling on about magic, spirits and witches. There was no reasoning with him. He's madder than the hatter. Had me dragged out to the woods to teach me a lesson. He said I should crawl back."

"Wait, they weren't trying to kill you."

"They weren't ordered to, but they wanted to."

Harry shivered at the memory. Gil picked up a small tin cup from a small table and took a swig. Hook looked to Uma.

"My turn. Answers, now."

He growled. Uma sighed.

"It's quite a long story, but Gil's got a guardian angel."

Gil choked on the water he was drinking, Harry felt like he had done the same. His dream from the night before flashed vividly in his mind. The golden angel, fading away in his arms. Her dying words.

"It's not like that."

Gil sputtered. Uma waved a hand, impatiently.

"It's a metaphor, I'm telling the story, stop interrupting."

"But you just-"

"Yes, and it took forever. It'll be easier if I do it. So, Gil's had an imaginary friend."

Gil looked like he wanted to burst. Uma raced on.

"Who turned out to be real! He's been sneaking away for years to hang out in the woods. All those morning runs, it was quite clever, actually. So when Gil saw you being taken away he ran for help. To the only person that could help, his imaginary friend."

"She has a name." Gil protested.

"She?"

Harry questioned. The sound of a throat clearing answered that. All three of their heads turned at once to the girl walking in the door. She was tall and lean, her dirty blonde hair was pleated down her shoulder in a messy braid. Whoever she was, she looked like she had just rolled out of bed. She wasn't bad looking, a little dirty and straggly in her torn baggy sweater and patched dark jeans. Harry tried his best to give her his trademark grin despite the pain.

"Well-"

He coughed and winced. His throat burned and his chest felt like it had been trampled by an elephant. He tried again.

"Well, well, well, Harry Hook and who might you be?"

She didn't seem affected by his attempt at charm.

"Alice."

She offered quietly. She slowly walked towards him. Her eyes flickered about his face, arms and chest.

"So after Alice saved you she and Gil smuggled you here. We need to know what Hook wants so we can figure out how much trouble we are all in"

"A-Alice... Saved me?"

He looked at Gil, eyes silently asking the question he needed answered.

Gil just nodded. His blood chilled, this sliver of a girl did all that in the woods? She wasn't a girl, she was a monster. Every fiber of his body was telling him this girl was bad news. He looked at her coldly.

"I'm sorry you had to see all that. I ... We thought they were going to kill you."

She apologized as she walked over to a small table against the wall near the window. She picked up a small cloth bag and poured some of the contents onto one of the bowls. With deft fingers she sorted through the contents and picked bits into a cup. She poured some liquid from a jar into the cup and swirled it around. She walked up and held it out to him. Harry stared at her with cold eyes. Alice met his glare with a stubborn one of her own. The room was deadly silent for a long moment until Uma's patience ran out.

"Drink the dang medicine, you dummy."

"How do I know it's not poisoned?

Harry snapped. Alice met his icy glare stubbornly.

"Why would she save your life twice only to poison you?"

Uma explained. Gil and Alice shared a look. Uma glared at him.

"Fine."

He grumbled and took the cup from the girl's outstretched hand and downed it all in one gulp.

"Not all at once!"

Alice exclaimed, but it was too late. The cup was empty. He didn't feel anything. He looked at all of them, gawking at him. Alice threw her hands up, exasperated.

"Is it a pirate thing?"

"I don't feel any-"

Harry began then the world spun around him.

"Woah, nevermind."

"You should probably lie down."

Alice suggested. Harry didn't like to agree with her but he did.

Harry leaned back and closed his eyes. The throbbing in his head eased and he fell into the calming darkness, soothed by the smells of honey, herbs and earth.