Summary: The Jolly Roger returns to port and Emma sees someone holding her baby. An awkward conversation results. A new business venture is hatched, and Regina finally sits down with Killian to explain what's going on between herself and his wife.
Storybrooke Harbour
"Marian?" Regina couldn't believe her eyes.
"What the hell's she doing here?" asked Emma. "Is that Hope she's holding?"
Emma quickly jumped out of the car, running towards the ship, Regina now deciding to park and follow her. What the hell was Marian doing here?
The blonde eventually reached the temporary bridge at the back, before she yelled up. "Hey!"
The three turned around, Killian most surprised to see his wife now running up the metal ramp. "Emma? What are you doing here?"
She was a little out of breath when she finally reached them, not noticing Merlin standing beside him. "Coming to see my husband!" She may have been speaking to him, but she glared daggers at Marian. "And my daughter. What's she doing with Hope?"
He saw the look, but after the way she'd treated him recently, he was in no mood. "Giving her a motherly hug, it seems. And hello to you too, Swan. Feeling any better?"
Marian also saw the glare, but decided she wasn't going to be intimidated, so answered calmly. "She woke up a few minutes ago, while Killian was finalizing some paperwork with Merlin. Still rather sleepy I'm afraid, so I was enjoying a nice cuddle before I left. She's lovely! Such a good girl and hardly cried at all. You must be so proud? Would you like to take her?"
What the hell? The woman hadn't actually done anything wrong, other than the fact she was standing there, holding her baby, next to her husband, and on his ship. The fact she'd overreacted, and Killian could see she'd overreacted, made her feel worse. "Yeah, thanks!"
Marian leaned forward, gently passing Hope to her mother, who quickly wrapped her arms around her, for the first time in two days. "She hasn't been changed yet, or eaten, but I believe Killian has all that in hand down below?"
Emma, now feeling foolish, just nodded.
Regina finally reached them. "Marian, what on earth are you doing here?" Remembering how they'd parted before, she didn't move any closer.
"Hello, Regina. Just finishing off some things with my new business partners! Having a nice day so far?"
"Business partners? Merlin and Jones?"
"Aye love," said Killian, "the good lady and I, and Merlin here, have decided to launch a new venture! A new use for the Jolly Roger. Consider it pirate raids for tourists, all along the eastern seaboard. The Sorcerer and his magic have made it all possible. Lady Marian and I have become co-directors in the venture!"
"How?" asked Regina. "You need serious sums of money to do something like that! Advertising, promotions, wages, and so many other things. Where are you going to get all that from?"
"That's where I come in," said Merlin, smiling at Marian. "I have the means. We'll finalise all the details once we all, hopefully, get back safely with young Roland in his mother's arms."
"Aye mate. I'll have her ready to sail on the Monday morning tide! Be sure to have all your provisions on board the night before?"
Emma couldn't believe her ears. "Wait! You're going with them on the rescue?"
"Aye, love. They're going to be using the Jolly, after all. Portals only last minutes, so it's difficult moving large numbers, but easier when you turn your own ship into a portal. It makes sense..."
"Makes sense? After all that crap you gave me when I said I was going? You're unbelievable!"
"At least my motives aren't questionable."
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
Her lowered his face to hers, his voice dripping in distain, as he tried to control his temper. "Do you REALLY want to go there, Swan? In front of these people?"
Emma could see the anger building in his eyes, but also something else. Pain. A pain she'd caused! She'd come to apologise but, here she was, making him angry once again. So for once, she chose to stay silent.
Seeing the icy tension between the married couple, Merlin stepped back. "Well I need to be heading back to the convent. Killian, remember what I said about that bottle? Marian, we'll talk again tomorrow about the plan changes. Ladies, I'll be seeing you around." with that, his eyes flickered, and his body slowly vaporized into nothing.
"He's the only one I know who disapparates like that…" said Regina "No smoke, no trail, he just…evaporates!"
Marian stepped closer to the captain. "Well, I need to be getting off too," she leaned up to place a kiss on his cheek, before pulling a new cell phone from her pocket, looking down at the screen, "I'm going back to Granny's. I need advice on catering pleasure cruises!"
Regina remembered what she'd said earlier. "Is that the phone the bookworm gave you? I'm surprised you've learned how to use it so quickly!"
"Merlin's doing! Remember I said he was giving me some education using a mind-link? It was absolutely weird, but there's an awful lot of stuff in here now," she pointed to her skull, "...that I'm still trying to sift through. Isn't modern medicine fantastic? And music? Wow! Still, mustn't dawdle. Killian, you've been an absolute godsend!" she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek once again, earning an irritated look from Regina. And Emma. " I'll join you on tonight's sail too, if you don't mind?"
The pirate beamed at his new business partner. "Delighted to have you on board, love. We sail at seven. Dress warmly, though. It'll be bitter out there!" he glanced down at her legs. "And some better boots might be a good idea. Those rather shapely suede ones may look good, but they'll be ruined by the spray!"
Emma and Regina's eyes met, both concerned at the obvious warmth between the other two.
"You're sailing again? Tonight?" said Emma, mystified. "But I thought-"
"I said I'd be gone a few days, Swan. Enough time to think about my future, and our little one…"
'My' future? Not 'our' future?
"Killian, wait. We need to talk!"
"Ladies, would you excuse us a moment?" Regina and Marian both nodded, stepping away and down from the fo'c'sle to give them some privacy. The moment they were out of earshot, Emma started.
"So what is this? Are you leaving me? Are we through?"
"That very much depends upon you. Here's the thing, love. I've tried to be patient, but I've found your attitude to our marriage, and particularly our daughter, to be intolerable. I'm still in love with you, Swan! But it cannot continue like this. We'll talk. I'll return on the tide tomorrow morning as the Jolly's only undergoing some sea trials on the repaired hull."
"This isn't fair! You're putting this all down on me?"
"We'll talk tomorrow. I suggest you ask your parents to mind Hope. We'll talk, but then I expect you to tell me everything! I expect you to tell me what you've said to the cricket. What you've said to Regina, and whatever the hell it is between you two? No secrets. Only then, when all is disclosed, will I know whether I can trust you!"
"I've done nothing wrong! I already told you. What do I have to do to make you believe me?"
"Talk! No more walls. Make me understand what's going on between you two. Make me understand why you can confide in her, but not me. Why you're uncomfortable spending an evening in with me, but will happily do so with her. And then, make me understand why you won't hug Hope, our child, unless you see another woman doing it instead of you!"
Meanwhile, on the lower deck, Marian and Regina were also having their own, rather less heated, discussion.
"So you're definitely not coming home tonight? You're sailing with guyliner instead?"
"Oh, the eyeliner?" Marian laughed. "Ha, he told me about that! He said he was a right pretentious so-and-so before Hope arrived. I noticed he kept referring to you as 'Majesty' from time to time. I guess he does it to rile you as much as you try to rile him. It's a shame, because underneath it all, I think you two could have a beautiful friendship, if you both let it happen! He spoke rather highly of you actually, telling me why he'd wanted you to be Hope's godmother."
"You talked about that?"
"We talked about lots of things. He said that if he were to die early, he'd want to have someone who could truly take care of Hope and Emma the way they deserve, and that you were the best placed. He thought the way you brought Henry up was quite inspiring. Rather sweet of him, I thought."
Regina was absolutely stunned. "I…I never imagined. I just assumed, what with our past, and Emma and I, that he hated me."
"No. Funny enough, the biggest worry for him, is not you and Emma, but Hope! He thinks she's the casualty in all this. Emma rarely spends time looking after her, shows little interest, and has withdrawn from her. He's reached the end of his tether, to be honest! Silly girl, she could lose it all!"
"Marian, you've only heard one side. How can you possibly judge?"
"You're right. I suppose I can't. I can only go by what I see. And I see a lonely father fighting with his conscience, married to a woman who's withdrawn from him. Whose own heart is divided between her husband and another woman."
"So you're saying this is my fault?"
"No. I'm saying a bit of honesty is needed. She needs to talk to her husband, properly, without anyone's interference, before they decide what they're going to do. A child's upbringing with her own parents is at stake here, Regina! And perhaps we should step back and let them get on with it?"
The two women stared silently at each other, neither quite sure what to say next. As Marian turned to leave, the other woman stared at her back. Regina knew she'd treated her poorly since yesterday. "What do you think I should do?"
"Step away, at least till they've spoken. This isn't anyone's fault Regina, but you're definitely a catalyst. Tell me, do you want your best friend's marriage to survive?"
"That's a horrible question! Of course I do!"
"Then you know what to do. Perhaps also spend some time thinking what you want in life. And if you want it to include me, let me know." She turned, walking again towards the little bridge, as Regina looked up at the troubled married pair.
Do you want your best friend's marriage to survive? That's the thing isn't it. Did she? Seeing the now waking little girl, nuzzled on Emma's shoulder, gave her the answer.
"Marian…wait? Please?" The woman turned once again, as Regina walked back.
"Mm?"
"I do want you in my life. And Roland. But I do owe you an explanation. Then we can start again. With no secrets."
"You owe me nothing, but that's what I wanted to hear!" Marian raise her hands to Regina's cheeks, before, to her pleasant surprise, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "I need you to open up and trust me! I was serious, Regina, I want to explore whether we could be together."
Regina gave a nervous smile. "Can you stay at my place tomorrow night?"
"I'd like that. We're back early. Perhaps after we talk, I could take you on a date? I could book a table at that place called Ralph's? It looked nice. Lots of dark corners."
"You have been getting to know your way around town quite quickly, haven't you?" she grinned, encouraged. "I'd like that. Do you think we should dress up?"
"Oh definitely, I've got a new wardrobe of clothes to show off! Why don't you wear that red silk knee length you bought yesterday."
"Only if you wear the dark green suede? It shows off your cleavage!" her eyes dropped to her covered chest, making both of them chuckle.
"I'll see what I can do." She turned, stepping onto the bridge. "Oh.., and Regina?"
"Yes?"
"Don't think I didn't spot the matching garter and suspenders! I'd like to see those on…"
"They make my thighs look good, but do you know how uncomfortable they are sitting down?"
"Yes...but," she whispered, giving her a wink. "If all goes well, I don't think you'll have them on that long. Do you?"
Mifflin Street – Saturday morning
As Regina sat at her kitchen worktop finishing her coffee, she cautiously rolled the small amber glass bottle in her palm, studying the liquid inside, its purple twin standing close by. Two bottles, the other intended for Emma. Little bottles of long forgotten magic, that Killian Jones had given her yesterday, after she'd gone back to talk to him, once Emma and Marian had left.
The Jolly Roger - yesterday
"Something else on your mind, your Majesty." He was sat at the Captain's Table in the galley, spooning an egg yolk into Hope's mouth. She was sporting a devious little grin, giggling and trying to talk, whilst spitting the contents back out again, an act which she seemed to find hilariously funny. While he also found it vaguely amusing, over time it could be a little frustrating to a man with only one hand and the other a hook, albeit one with a round, softened ball on the end, which now held a cloth to wipe her mouth. "Only as you can see, feeding this little tyke can be somewhat trying!"
"Guyliner, you know I hate-" she stopped correcting him, realizing she'd just committed the same error. "Killian. Can we drop the titles please? You've known me by my first name long enough!"
"Aye. Long enough for you to keep calling me 'guyliner', 'Hook', 'One-Handed-Wonder' and any other bon mots that spring to mind. Sauce for the gander?"
She closed her eyes. "Fair point. I'll try harder. Killian, I know you and Emma are not in a good place at the moment, but I truly don't want that for her, and especially for this little one! Under the circumstances, I feel I need to clarify my situation."
"You mean your 'situation' regarding my wife? Well it would be nice to have some clarity from one of you! Certainly Emma tells you more than she tells me…"
As she saw Hope about to jettison yet another spoonful of egg out onto the plastic bib, Regina reached forward quickly, tickling the edge of her jaw and tilting her head, to make the little one giggle, mouth opening and the contents going safely back inside.
"A useful technique! I must remember that."
"Henry used to spit it out too. It seemed to work for him."
"Unfortunately, tickling is somewhat difficult with a hook. You have a mother's touch. What a shame Emma doesn't seem to want to follow your example…"
"That's hardly fair - she's suffering from depression!"
"Not for a whole year! Anyway, that has to be an issue between me and her. You said you wished to clarify your situation?"
"Killian, Emma has never been unfaithful to you! Never!"
"What would you call your little moment in the Rabbit Hole six months ago?" The one three people told me about, but my wife didn't, until she had to!"
"A stupid indiscretion, while we were very drunk! It shouldn't have happened, and we both agreed it was foolish."
"Something we can all agree on, but you are still in love with her, as I know she is with you."
Regina grimaced, knowing this was never going to be easy, as he continued. "There's no point in denying it. I've long known Emma was in love with you, as do her parents, and others in this town. It's been glaringly obvious for quite some time."
"Then why did you marry her, if you had doubts? Why did you let her get pregnant?"
"Because I happen to love her, and I thought she loved me too. Clearly not enough though..."
"She does love you! She even told me that yesterday. She knows she's not in the right frame of mind, and that's why she's seeing Hopper. Can you imagine how hard it must be for someone like her to see a psychiatrist? She's suffering, and she knows she's hurting you, and Hope. Can you not see that and give her some time?"
"You saw her yesterday? You were at our home. Why?"
"I was worried. After you burst in yesterday morning. You said she was 'catatonic'! I was worried that, in her state of mind she could do something stupid!"
"And what did you say to her? To each other? And what the hell is it between you two?"
Oh boy, this is going to be painful. "We agreed that we love one another. But only as very close friends - NOT romantically! She would never do that to you, and I would never wreck your marriage! We share Henry. We're best friends now, who've supported each other through many difficult times. After Robin, she was the only person I could turn to who could possibly understand…"
He nodded silently, looking as though it only confirmed what he'd long suspected.
"It's true! She told me yesterday that she knows she's a mess, but that she is in love with you. With you, Jones! Which is why she married you. And why she opened herself enough to have this beautiful child with you! She won't leave you, for me or for anybody else. But she's also terrified you've already decided to leave her!"
He put down Hope's spoon, picking up the cloth to wipe her mouth. "I haven't, yet. But I wish I could be as certain as you seem to be. Frankly, till I've heard it from her own lips, I have no reason to believe her. How can a supposedly loving wife confide more in her friend and her psychiatrist than her own husband? And it still doesn't resolve the issue of Hope."
"Then you have to talk. Talk, but be prepared to listen, not just shout at her. She came down here, when she saw your masts in the harbour, Jones. She came to apologise!"
"But instead she came angry, the moment she saw Marian cuddling our child. A woman who's going through many conflicting emotions of her own, merely offering motherly comfort."
Emotions? Marian had discussed the two of them with Hook? "She talked to you? What did she say?"
"I don't divulge information given in confidence, but suffice to say, she feels her heart is being pulled towards someone whose own heart appears to lie elsewhere. She's fearful of becoming too close. It would seem Emma isn't the only one who needs to be honest about what she wants!"
She stayed silent, considering his words. "You may be right, though I'm surprised she's discussed this with you. We've agreed to talk, after she comes back with you tomorrow morning."
"She's betrayed no confidences, but we do seem to get along very well indeed! Most of our conversation was around the venture and her thoughts. She's an extraordinary woman, so positive and full of ideas. Nothing like I'd imagined her to be!"
"I'm beginning to realise that myself."
"Did you know she speaks perfect French and Spanish? Rather useful when she used to fence Locksley's stolen gemstones to Benito and the privateers. She played them off against the Frenchies to up the price. Quite the resourceful business partner to have, I think."
That made her chuckle. "You pirates and thieves always were odd bedfellows! Honour among thieves?"
"More than there is among royalty! But now I can understand why Robin married her. She'd be a fine partner to any man, or woman. But I suspect she doesn't give her love easily. Not without total commitment and trust. That's a trait we both share!"
"I'm not your problem, Jones. I would swear to it. Emma loves and wants you, even if you're too blind to can't see it!"
He gave her a steely stare, clearly weighing in his mind whether he could, or should, trust her or not. Finally, he leaned back to awkwardly collect a small, stoppered bottle with his right hand. "Would you swear, on your boy's life, that provided Emma doesn't make the first move to you romantically, you would not do so yourself?"
The way he'd phrased it reminded her of her dealings with Rumpelstiltskin. "I could swear to that. But if you're asking me to step away from her, to no longer be friends with her, I-"
"No," he interrupted. "I still want you both to remain friends. She loves and cherishes your friendship. Plus, you share Henry. Emma will decide for herself and I haven't reached my own decision regarding our marriage yet, but, if we were to separate, we would have to reach an accord. I would never separate a daughter from her mother but, if we were to divorce, I would want a guiding hand for her when it came to Hope, as she clearly finds motherhood so difficult."
"Don't do this, Jones. She's ill! Depression can make us all act in strange ways, but I know in my heart that she loves Hope! And you. I'll keep my distance, if that helps? Now, why don't I take her and change her for you? It'll be quicker…"
He nodded, watching as she eased the fed-and-contented little blonde out of the chair, pulling her in for a quick snuggle and kiss on the cheek, before moving over to the changing bag for fresh diapers he had close by. He couldn't help sniggering as he watched her grimace, when faced with the soiled contents of the existing one. "Poo-eee young lady! That's just nasty!" before swiftly wiping her, applying some lotion and popping on a fresh one, punctuated by repeatedly rubbing her nose into the exposed belly and being rewarding by loud and furious giggles, Hope trying to pull on her hair. Killian had watched the performance many times since he'd suggested her to be the child's godmother. This woman was so far removed from the Evil Queen and was clearly in her element.
"You've always been a natural as a mother. Henry was a lucky child."
"And I would have given up everything. Power, titles, money, so much earlier, had I known what happiness a child could bring."
Those words finally convinced him of what he'd intended. "I believe you, which is why I would like to give you something, to seal our…understanding.'
She lifted Hope back into her arms, standing to walk closer to the table as he slid the little bottle over towards her. "I believe you may find a use for this, should you so wish it."
"A bottle of dirty water?" She lowered her hand and, even before her fingers grasped it, she sensed strong magic coming from it. "What on earth?"
"Earlier today, the Sorcerer asked me about that larger bottle up there..." He pointed to a large, deep red, heart-shaped decanter with a lead stopper. "That's remained on this ship for nearly two centuries. Frankly, I'd long forgotten what it was, or its significance. Merlin sensed the magic from it, much as you have. It's water from Lake Nostos. The lake that once held the Lady of the Lake, and the sword of Avalon."
"But that's impossible! It dried out. Evaporated."
"Indeed. But before its loss, Charming used it to restore Princess Abigail's husband to life, after he'd been turned into gold. And his own mother, Ruth, gave up her last few drops of it, sacrificing her own life so that his fiancée could overcome the poison that made her barren. Without it, Emma would never have even been conceived."
She looked at the small amber glass, in wonder, "So, why are you giving this to me?"
"As a sign of good faith and trusting you'll honour your word. Its legendary powers have been said to restore life to that which was once dead. It's said to reverse not only curses, but potions, restoring fertility to the barren, and reported to have astonishing anti-ageing properties, when it comes to the body."
"Well I appreciate the thought. Anyone could do with a pick-me-up, but this? And I may be barren, but I'm in my forties now, and in the Enchanted Forest I would be in my seventies. I'm also single, with a grown-up child. Why not give it to someone more…deserving?"
"Think of it as a restorative. I'm told by Merlin it'll make one feel twenty years younger. It benefits the health, restores the libido and gives one a certain 'joie-de-vivre'! I'm sure that, even if you no longer wanted another child, you'd want that foul potion you felt forced to take, out of your body for good?"
She looked at him, trying to read his face for any insincerity. "I'm not sure what to say. Thank you, I guess? But surely, if it's some sort of amazing pick-me-up, you should giving this to Emma? She could use it more than me."
"Already thought of that - here..." He reached over to lift a second small amber bottle from behind the shelf, placing it down in front of her. "Would you kindly give her this? I will see her tomorrow afternoon, but no doubt you will see her before. You never know, perhaps she will be in a better state of mind by then."
Present day...
Now, as she sat in her kitchen, rolling the small bottle in her palm, her thoughts went back to that darker time. A time when she was so desperate to prevent her mother from destroying her life any further, she'd taken the poison that made her barren. She remembered the searing pain. All to spite Cora and prevent her manipulating another of the biggest regrets of her life.
She picked up her phone and pressed the most used contact. "Emma, can I come over?"