Thanks for checking this story out. Before beginning I want to say a couple things. I started this story in March of 2019. In early 2020 I was nearly finished writing the main plot, and I was excited to start posting soon. Then March came... Even though I had lots of extra time to write, it was the last thing I wanted to do. It felt weird to write about illness, health, and hospitals, even fake, fictional, magical kinds. But life goes on, and I spent my time on other hobbies. This one was still on the shelf, but I was able to start writing a few new stories. I enjoyed posting my other stories and reading and replying to the reviews. I was finally able to get back to this story, and I'm happy to be able to share it. That being said, please keep in mind that this is fiction and we're in Storybrooke with magic. Nothing in this story is meant to model or reflect real life events. This story is about Emma and Killian, reflecting on the past and hoping for the future, seeing their family and daily life, and just keeping things going even though the show is over.

Chapter 1 – Saturday

The United Realms was a place of happy endings and beginnings, second and twenty-second chances, and hope most of all. It came with its struggles though. Families and friends were brought together, but enemies were face-to-face again as well. Travel between most realms no longer required magic beans, but that didn't make the journey any less risky in certain lands. Also, new people and lands weren't the only things to come and adjust to. Creatures that were myth in one land, but real in another were beginning to mix. Diseases and illnesses were also spreading to areas that didn't know what they were or how to treat them.

The latter was plaguing Storybrooke as well as two of the close by realms. The first victim had been bitten by an animal in the woods and was tested for rabies. At first it was seen as a good thing that it was not a case of rabies. It was soon discovered that whatever the person had was no less dangerous. More cases started popping up, three in Storybrooke and a handful in the Enchanted Forest and Arendelle. Research started at the hospital, and after two weeks Whale gave his final opinion at a meeting in Good Queen Regina's castle with chosen leaders of all the Realms of Story.

"I know I'm not familiar with every illness in every realm. I believe that's impossible."

"We understand that, Whale, that's why we have healers from all parts of the United Realms to do research as well." Regina interrupted his speech to get him to the point.

"Their insight will be beneficial, at least for dealing with the symptoms, but I don't think they'll find a cure." The doctor both agreed and disagreed, frustrating his audience.

"Why do you think that?" Mary Margaret asked, pleasant and hopeful as always.

"From the studies and tests I've done, I've come to the conclusion that this is of magical origins." Whale finally stated what they had all come to hear.

"Has anyone else observed the patients? This is serious business. If it were a medical case of someone in the Land Without Magic you'd get a second opinion." David entered the discussion on the offensive. Emma wasn't sure if they ever had a completely civil conversation.

"I see firsthand the serious nature of this, Sheriff, your majesty, or whatever title you have now. Healers from Agrabah, Arendelle, and the Land of Untold Stories have seen the patients in person as well. Majority agrees that it's of magical origin. The wild dogs are how people get it, but it's not of any natural illness or disease associated with that."

"So the newest terror isn't some power seeking villain. It's a pack of wild dogs that infect people with a magical parasite." Emma commented sarcastically as she summed up Whale's words. She wasn't sure if that would make things easier or harder to deal with.

"A new focus then for the research. We need to figure out what to do with the people already sick now that magic is the culprit and how the dogs have said magic." Regina declared.

"I can send Kristoff to help you, David. You are both good with animals." Anna volunteered.

"I'm not sure if it is wise to capture one for research, but herding them into a certain area…it might help." David replied.

"I'm sure Ruby would be more than willing to help as well." Mary Margaret spoke of her friend who was back in Oz.

"Well, that's one area taken care of. Feel free to recruit more help if needed from whoever is willing. We have plenty of people researching, and as it was said, a change of focus will be made. Messengers have already spread word of the dogs and to take caution. In Storybrooke a twenty-four hour guard has been set up to watch the perimeter of the woods since that is where people have come into contact with the dogs. I'm advising the Enchanted Forest, Arendelle, and other surrounding areas to do the same. People are still free to travel the realms, but they shouldn't do so alone or without a means of protecting themselves. Regina instructed. "Is there anything else to address in this meeting?"

"One person has died from the illness." Whale added quietly.

"Let's get to it before that number increases then. Meeting adjourned."

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CS

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"Evening, love. How was the meeting?" Killian greeted Emma as she walked in the house.

"Whale gave us an update on the state of the different patients. It's been concluded that it's due to magic not a natural illness." Emma began as she got comfortable on the couch and then continued to fill him in.

"How were things for you? And how's Hope?" She asked once she got her husband caught up.

"A normal, and somewhat boring, day around the house, but I'll take that considering the other things going on. And our little lass is taking her nap. She's been just fine all day."

Hope was almost a year old, her birthday was in two months, and she had been unhappy lately because of teething.

"I'll go get changed, and then I'll wake her up. We're still going to Henry's for dinner tonight, aren't we?" She asked as she reluctantly got off the couch.

"Aye, love, we're to be there at six. We have plenty of time."

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CS

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"Is it still safe to go to the park? And what about the town line? You don't think they could cross over into the rest of Maine, could they?" Ella asked, after Emma had filled in her son and daughter-in-law on this afternoon's meeting.

Dinner had been filled with lighter topics such as Lucy in school, Hope doing something to earn smiles and praise from her parents, Henry's return to podcasts, and other things from daily life in their family. Now the food was settling, and Lucy was reading to Hope in the other room while the adults addressed more serious topics.

"I think the park is safe. It's not on Main Street, but it's still close enough to town. I wouldn't decide to try any of the trails behind it though." Emma assured her. "As for the line, someone thought of that, and the border has been reinforced. They won't be harmed in anyway, but animals won't be able to cross the line. People from this side can still cross freely, but are advised to not go alone and stay in their cars until crossing the line.

"These are good precautionary measures. But what's next?" Henry brought up a good point.

"Well, now we have a new lead by knowing that it's magic, so more research. As for the dogs, David and some others are working to track them. Hopefully they'll be able to contain them. It's certainly not the most elaborate plan, but it's a good direction to go in. We have a goal and a purpose at least."

"We've face more with less, and I've still yet to see you fail, love." Hook said with encouragement.

"What does getting a bite cause exactly?" Ella asked, and Emma could hear the motherly tone of concern in her voice, followed by a glance at Lucy and Henry.

"It takes three to four days for signs to show up. Physically it causes a high fever and other things that go along with that, anxiety, and eventually a coma. Since magic is involved, I'd say that was the cause for death for the one person that has died from it. We just don't know how."

"Well, you don't know yet." Henry pointed out, still believing and not wanting her to give up.

"Right, thanks, kid." She replied and put her arm around him.

Hope chose that moment to start crying. Emma and Killian both tried to get her to settle down but she refused.

"Seems like we better be getting back. See you soon." Emma regretfully decided. Even though they were in Storybrooke, time with Henry still wasn't as often as she would like. Henry and Hope were both her children, and Hope needed her more right now. Henry was grown and fine on his own, but still. "And stay safe, all of you."

"As long as you take some of your own advice, Mom." Henry told her as they hugged goodbye.

"Didn't you hear your stepdad earlier?" She teased. "Besides, I know what I have to fight for."

"Goodnight, my boy, Miss Ella. Sleep tight, Lucy." Killian said his goodbyes as well.

"Goodnight, Papa. Bye, Nana." Lucy hugged each of them and then waved bye to Hope before they left.

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CS

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Emma sat on the edge of her bed and waited for her husband to finish in the bathroom and join her. That's what it looked like anyway. In reality her mind was not on her husband or sleep, far from the latter. She couldn't get the newest threat, however different from all previous threats, from her mind.

"Emma!"

"Sorry what?" She asked, startled form her train of thought.

"I called your name three times, love. I asked if you could put toothpaste on that list you keep on your phone for the store. Now, I'm going to ask, are you alright?" Killian told her as he came to sit beside her.

"Yeah sure, and I'm fine. I'm just thinking." She sighed and leaned against his shoulder.

"About the meeting?" He asked and she nodded in reply. "Well, I know this is different than any villain or threat we've faced before. But you're not alone, not that you ever were since finding your family, but there are so many people working together to solve this. You have your father heading up a team to track the dogs. A dozen people are doing research. And countless folks are volunteering at the hospital and working as lookouts on patrol."

"You're right. I know we've had help before. But in the past so many times there was a limit to what they could do, and in the end it had to be me to defeat the villain or restore the happy ending or whatever. I feel like I'm not doing enough with so many people to help. That's a good thing I know. I just have to adjust I guess."

"Did I ever tell you about the time I got my crew lost, and we ended up on an island…"

"Wait you got lost, Mister 'a sextant is much more accurate than a bloody GPS'?" She couldn't help but interrupt and laugh.

"Aye, love, I did. That's the point of what I'm about to tell you." He admitted and continued the rest of his story. "When I led my brother's crew to become pirates aboard the Jolly Roger, I had a new role to perform as captain, and another man was promoted to my previous role of lieutenant and navigator. On the outside it appeared that I had taken to the new situation as a duck takes to water."

"Sorry to interrupt again, but really, Hook? You had to use that expression?" She asked as she lifted her head from off his shoulder to give him a look.

"You, darling, are a double-edge sword. You mock me for my phraseology, yet if I had simply said I was a natural, you would have made a sarcastic comment about my ego." He called her out and gave her a hard time. But she could tell he didn't really mind because it was true, and it had cheered her up a bit.

"Yeah, I can't really deny that." She laughed and went back to leaning on his shoulder.

"As I was saying, I was one way in front of the crew. Things become a different story behind closed doors however. I didn't want to appear as weak, and vulnerable to mutiny or attack from others because I was still mourning my brother. One day I was missing him more than usual, and I wanted things to feel the way they used to. So, I dismissed the navigator and sent him on a different task while I charted our course. As Captain I always checked it over or made an alteration or two, but I hadn't done it on my own since Liam died. I wasn't in the right frame of mind though, and I was rushing because I had other duties to see to. I ended up making several mistakes that I didn't catch until we docked in an unknown land."

"What happened when the crew found out?"

"They didn't fortunately. It was a port with a fine tavern, plenty of rum, and beautiful women. They were none the wiser that I hadn't intended to sail there. It was enough to teach me a lesson though."

"It takes a crew, and all of the crew members doing their part, to sail a ship. One person can't do everything." Emma said what she figured the lesson was. "Right now, my part is to be a mom, wife, and sheriff. That may change as this situation evolves, but it won't help to jump the gun. I can help best by letting others do what they need to do and not micromanage or over worry."

"Well, I didn't say anything about micromanaging, but, aye, that's sounds good to me." He told her and gave her a kiss. "Except for one other thing. The Jolly Roger is enchanted so she can be sailed by one man if need be, singlehandedly even. Other than that, Swan, I agree with you all the way."

"What were you saying earlier about me making a sarcastic comment about your ego, pirate?" She quipped after his comment about his ship.

She could still hear him say, "I'm a hell of a captain", from years ago outside of Granny's.

"Point taken, love." He chuckled and lifted back the blanket on the bed. "Are you distracted enough from your thoughts to get some sleep now, love?"

"I think so." She nodded and together they slipped into bed and got comfortable. "Thanks for story time."

"Whatever you need, Swan. Like last time, it isn't anything you don't already know. We all just need reminders sometimes. You remind me every day, despite my past, that I am a man worthy of my happy ending."

"So next time you're troubled, should I use story time?" She asked in a mostly teasing way, but she was curious.

"First off, that's my method." He stated protectively. "Second, you don't need to use story time. You get through the best by being blunt and honest."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Killian." She replied and then moved closer to kiss him, but he surprised her by moving back.

"You haven't had anything with snake's tongue in it lately, have you?" He asked her with his eyebrow high.

"Would it really stop my piercing-eyed, smoldering pirate if I have, Hook?" She challenged him.

Killian not only rose to the challenge, as she knew he would, but he surpassed it by far with his kiss goodnight.

"You forgot the part where said pirate loves you." He added quietly and placed a kiss on her hand as he intertwined their fingers.

"Never," She sighed in contentment and slipped off to sleep with no problems.

Thanks for reading! I plan to update once a week or so. The plot will thicken, but lots of fluff will also be included. Hope you enjoyed. See you next time.