Chapter 13 – Friday & Monday

Immediately Emma recognized her surroundings as the captain's quarters of the Jolly Roger. Said captain though was nowhere to be found. The other times he was close by. She also recognized without even looking out that she was in Neverland. She could sense the dark magic of the island. She took the time to look around and saw a drawing of Milah on the desk. This must be after he lost her and his brother then.

Had Bae come and gone from his life as well?

She ducked into the closet that was partly open to see if there would be more clues when the door to the cabin started to creak open. She saw Killian, or Hook rather, when he reached the bottom of the ladder and a second later his sword was drawn.

"Who is foolish enough to be in my quarters without permission? Especially after Edgar was caught drinking my wine? Show yourself!"

"I don't mean any harm or threat, Captain." She stepped out so he could see her and held one hand up in surrender.

"You. I might beg to disagree with you on that, love." Hook spoke with bitterness in his voice, but he put away the sword at least.

"And how's that?"

"You always come during the dark times. I don't believe you cause them. But you know about them past, present, and future, and you do nothing to stop them. That's just as bad, love." He told her and accused her, and she felt that it was because of hurt that he was trying to hide.

"I can't interfere, Killian, that's not what I'm here for."

Even if she could interfere, she wouldn't want to. First, because she had been on a time travel adventure and knew the seriousness and danger of it. But more so, she knew that everything that happened made him the man he was now. The man he wanted to be. He had learned from his past and was proud of who he was in the present. Most of all, he was the man that she loved and father of her little girl.

"But you are here to…what? Give hope?" He asked as he went to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle and a glass. "And it's Hook now, love. Or is your hope that blinding?"

"That's my mom's department." She shook her head and wanted to laugh a little. She ignored his last comment. "I'm here to give you what you need, Hook. Whether that's hope, or a reminder, or just to know that somebody's here."

"I don't need anything or anyone, but revenge on the Crocodile for Milah." He stated the words she had heard many times before, but not for some time.

She had been wondering when it would come up. It was a tricky situation to handle though. She admitted a few seconds ago that she couldn't interfere and change things, so this wasn't the time to convince him to give up his revenge. Not that he listened to her, or anyone else, back then either. It had been his choice, and not one that he had overnight. So what was she supposed to say to him now?

"No, what you need is to move on. I know you don't believe that now, but you will one day, while on this island in fact." She told him, remembering the purpose of all this. She couldn't change what happened now, but she could put the idea in his head of a light at the end of a tunnel so that right now wasn't so dark. It might also help him move on when the future came if the idea was already in the back of his mind.

"Neverland is under the control of Peter bloody Pan. Nothing happens that he does not allow, and my happiness is not part of his schemes." He scoffed as he finished his glass and poured another.

"It can be part of yours." She tried to convince him and kept going before he could get a word in edgewise. "And before you say you'll be happy when you get your revenge, we both know that's not true. That's only when you think you'll allow yourself to be happy. It's not about what happens in your life. It's about allowing the possibility of happiness in to it, Killian."

The words were coming easier now. It helped to know the end of the story, or at least this arc of it. That he would one day find it possible to be happy. It was a bonus using some of his own words from the Echo Cave.

"So, you think I'm blocking out happiness in my life? If I am can you blame me? My mother, brother, and love are dead, my father abandoned me, and Bae…" He started off ranting, but with the mention of Neal/Bae something changed. He paused for several moments and stared at the drawing of Milah before continuing in a more quiet and faraway tone. "Yes, happiness may be a choice, but it's not mine alone. I would have changed for him, moved on perhaps as you said. He didn't share that ideal, and he made a different choice."

"I know you would have, and I know what it's like to feel betrayed by someone else's decision." It was ironic that she could say that because of the same person but completely different circumstances. What she said next she could say with honesty because she figured it out for herself, just like he would need to. "But another person's choices don't have to completely take away yours. So what are you going to choose, Hook?"

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CS

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Emma opened her eyes as she abruptly came back to the present. Her dad was across the room, just like last time.

"I take it things worked?" David asked and reached out his hand to help her sit up. "This time wasn't nearly as long as last time, but you were out for a while."

Emma replied with a nod. She had explained to him earlier what Zelena had said to her the night before. Thankfully it did work, Killian let her in. She only saw one moment this time instead of two. She had a feeling she might run into the wall next time that Zelena warned her about. Even though his revenge was put aside now, Emma had still poked a very big and angry bear.

"How about we walk to the cafeteria together for some caffeine?" He suggested, and she nodded again in reply.

She didn't want to leave, but Killian didn't wake up immediately last time. Maybe her dad was right and getting up and moving would help her wake up. She felt like she hadn't slept in days even though she slept a lot better last night in Henry's guest room. She was a zombie as she walked through the halls, got her coffee and a granola bar, and sat down at a table.

"Trying to use telepathy to open that wrapper?" Her dad asked in a teasing manner.

"I'm pretty sure you have telepathy confused with something else." She replied, realizing then that she had zoned out. But she did open the wrapper and forced herself to take a bite.

"Do you want to talk about what you saw? I'm not sure if something is bothering you, or if you're just that tired."

"I am really tired." She confirmed. There was no way to hide it. "I'm fine though. Things were a just a bit more complicated this time. I feel a little bit like I'm talking in circles, sort of like walking around in Neverland with the stupid map."

"I can see how that would be frustrating. Were you in Neverland this time?"

"Yeah, but I never left his ship. He recognized me, and accused me of being associated with the bad things since I follow after them. He said knowing and not doing anything is just as bad as being the cause. It sort of reminds me of the way he was after I left him on the beanstalk, and he left me in Rumpelstiltskin's cell." She explained and said some of the things that had come to mind now that she was thinking back.

"First off, you're not, not doing anything. He's just not able to see what you're doing now, which is much more important. Second…actually there is no second. I just wanted to make it sound more important."

"Don't worry, Dad, I get it." Emma nodded and tried not to laugh at his admittance. She didn't blame him for it though. It was something she would have done. "I just wish I could come up with something decent to say beforehand. Like the first time, it was after his mom passed away. He asked if I was her, or if I was someone that knew her. I said I was a messenger, and that's what I've been going with."

"Even if you could plan, I don't think that would be easy to plan for." He shook his head, and he was probably right. "What do you and Killian do when you're talking about difficult subjects in the present?"

"He does what we call 'story time'. It started when we were dealing with the Evil Queen and my magic was being weird. For him, he says I do my best work when I'm being blunt and honest." She answered and recalled their discussion from that one night. It was only a couple of weeks ago, but it felt like months.

"So do that. Don't over think, and so what if you say something more than once. The truth needs repeating." Her dad stated his advice. She appreciated his boldness, she needed that.

"Thanks, Dad." She smiled and got up from the table to clear her trash.

"You're most welcome." He replied and stood up as well to give her a hug. "I better get going. I promised to stop by Anton's. Do you want a ride?"

"No thanks, I'm going to stay a little longer to see if he wakes up." She shook her head as she came back from the nearby trash can.

"Okay. Call me if there's news or if you need anything."

"I will." She promised and walked him to the parking lot.

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CS

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Emma spent a few more hours in Killian's room, but he never opened his eyes this time. She left the hospital and had dinner again with Henry and his family. Afterwards though, she and Hope went back home. Henry and Ella deserved a break from babysitting, and Emma also wanted things to go back to normal for the weekend. Of course it wasn't the same with Killian missing, and Emma felt a little guilty for not spending more time at the hospital. But she knew Killian wouldn't begrudge her this, he would encourage it in fact. He would rather she be at home with Hope than watch him sleep in the hospital twenty-four-seven.

The weekend was the exact recharge that she needed. So Monday morning Emma eagerly dropped Hope off with Henry and Ella again, and then made her way to the hospital. Her dad couldn't be there this time, but that was okay. As crazy as it was, it had become routine and the risks had minimized. Emma had gotten plenty of sleep the night before, and she hopes that enough time had passed that Killian would let her in. Sadly, that was not the case, but the attempt wasn't a complete failure. She didn't go to a moment where she could interact with Killian. But she did see flashes pass by, hopefully that was a good sign, and maybe it would work tomorrow.

Emma left the hospital and decided to stop by Granny's for lunch. To her surprise she saw Killian sitting at the counter when she walked in. It took her a second to realize it was Rogers and not her husband. Wishful thinking.

"Good afternoon…Enya." He greeted her with a mischievous smirk.

"Hello, Captain Smart-aleck." She replied and took the stool next to him.

"Smart-aleck?" He questioned, in mock offense. Similar to the way her Killian got offended when someone called him a dirty pirate. "Your husband calls you Swan. I'm simply helping to make the difference between us clear."

"You could just call me Emma." She pointed out as Eden, the waitress, came over with Rogers' food and took her order.

"But then we wouldn't have started our banter. You seem like you could use some conversation that has nothing to do with magic or hospitals."

"Yeah, you've got that right." She admitted. "How's your life?"

"It's rather boring really." He shrugged, but continued with the topic. "I talk to Alice every other day or so. Yesterday I purchased some swordtail fish for my aquarium. My nights have been filled with research."

"Wait is that really what they're called, swordtail fish?" She asked out of curiosity.

"Well, the scientific name is Xiphophorus hellerii, but yes, that is the common name for them. It's very fitting." He told her and brought up some pictures on his phone for her to look at. "In the wild they're found near Mexico and Central America."

"Wow, you're really not making this up." She commented as she scrolled through some photos. They really were appropriately named and pretty cool fish. "I guess they're the perfect pets for pirates then if they're in the Caribbean and have 'sword' in the name. Did you have an aquarium in Hyperion Heights?"

"Aye." He nodded with a bit of pride. "It came with the curse. But I added to it over time and made it truly my own. Not that I knew it wasn't always mine. I also had a small fish bowl in the tower for Alice. It only had one fish, but it was exciting for her."

"How did you get a live fish into the tower?"

"Very carefully!" He stated with a bit of exaggeration. Something told Emma there was quite a story behind that. One that she would ask to hear later, Killian would probably get a kick out of it. Besides Rogers had barely touched his food since he was talking.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Emma letting him enjoy his meal. Then her own food came, and she had a bit of small talk with Eden.

"I know I said earlier, that I wouldn't bring up hospitals or magic. But I have to say, I'm very curious. I heard that all the brainstorming at Zelena's was successful, but I don't know any more than that." Rogers brought up once they were both mostly finished with their meals.

"It's like A Christmas Carol, except I can be seen and heard. And I can't mess anything up really because it's just him and me, with nothing eventful happening. It's the two of us alone having a conversation for a few minutes." She told him. "Today was different though."

"How so?"

First Emma explained to him the different warnings and precautions Zelena had told her about. He nodded his understanding, and then Emma told him about the flashes she had seen today instead of being in the moment.

"I saw him in bed, and he looked really sick and in a lot of pain. I could see the bandage at the end of his left arm. I'm guessing that's when he was recovering." She paused and he nodded that she was correct. "I saw meetings with Pan. I saw him with the Evil Queen. It all happened so fast, and like an old TV where you can't quite get the channel in. It was fine for a few seconds and then it was fuzzy, fine then fuzzy."

"All very dark times indeed. I can see why you and this other form of magic would be attracted to those moments. But it's also more of the same. Don't be disappointed that you couldn't get through. This is a great effort on your part and his, so don't waste time and energy on repeating the same things over and over again."

"It's strange, my dad and I had a similar conversation. He told me that the truth bears repeating." She wasn't saying that Rogers was wrong, but she was interested in the reason for his different view.

"It does, and I'm not telling you to stop what you're doing. But if you were to speak to him at every dark moment…well at this rate it would take a few years. I know you want to do your best, but there's honestly not much difference between what we were dealing with when we made deals Pan and the Evil Queen. If you can, put your efforts in a different area. Repeat truths if you need to for sure, but there's a lot more to us than deals with other villains."

"You have a point, and I think I get it." Emma nodded after thinking about his words for a minute. "So far, I've seen him after his mother died, the start of his drinking, and sometime after Bae left him. Those are all very different things."

"Exactly. Say the same thing if you must. But if it's a situation that's already been covered, such as revenge, let it go. You already know what's going to happen. We both found our own way in our own time. Your enlightenment is a bonus, but don't exhaust the light and its impact."

"Be a nightlight with an energy conserving bulb, got it." She summed things up in her own way. "Thanks for the insight, Rogers, and for the company." She thanked him with a smile. He wasn't her Killian, but he was still part of the family and a close friend.

"Have a good evening, Emma." He brushed off the thanks, but he did return the smile.

A reflective chapter of sorts. The next one is as well as Emma tries to figure out how to best shine some light and get them to the end of the tunnel. For me, these are some of the most exciting chapters. Hope they live up to expectations for you guys. There are two more trips for Emma to take. Any ideas on where in time Emma will end up? One of them will definitely be in time where Killian knows Emma, and things will get interesting but the timeline won't get messed up. See you next Monday!