Killian had thought the navy would suit him well...until he got on a ship again. He had practically grown up on the sea but now felt his hands shaking when he looked upon the wide blue grey water. All he could think about was the roar of the sea in his ears as he fell beneath the waves, tossed overboard by his own mother. With his heart pounding and his legs trembling, Killian walked up the gangplank and boarded the ship with the other sailors.

"You alright?" a sailor named Phineas Smee asked him. Smee had the look of some little girl's favorite uncle, a broad pink face covered in grey whiskers.

Killian forced himself to sound calm, "I'm alright, mate, of course." He wasn't, but he wouldn't let anyone know it.

His past voyages on the sea had never been so miserable. He remembered the smell of the salty air, the taste of hardtack, the darkness below deck, but now those familiar things had become his enemies. His fear crawled deep into his bones, as if it were now a part of him. Every so often Killian thought he could see his mother in the corner of his eye, her white dress billowing in the salty sea air. Waiting to grab him and throw him to his death.

Despite his best efforts, the other sailors soon caught on the fact that Killian was ill at ease on a ship. He became the butt of their jokes, which just added the wretchedness of his experience. Most of the other sailors were not malicious and considered it gentle ribbing between friends. None of them had any idea how deeply it cut Killian to hear them mock his fear of the sea. He tried his best not to let his troubles interfere with his work. He worked through the fear, the nausea, the teasing. If he didn't have the navy, he didn't have anywhere to go.

When the ship finally hit land, Killian felt himself exhale deeply for the first time in weeks.

He kept at for several more years, eventually learning to get over his fear of the sea. The other sailors stops stops teasing him when they saw how harder a worker he was. It didn't take long for his commanding officers to take notice of him and he began rising up the ranks until he was rewarded to the title of Lieutenant. Despite beinging with nothing, Killian Jones had done very well for himself.

But he could never love the sea the way he had as a boy. His mother had robbed him of that.


"James!" Zela stormed into the healer's tent wrapped her arms around him tight.

He stiffened at first, but the gradually reciprocated the gesture. Somehow having Zela here made him feel steadier. At least she was still who she thought she was, still some part of his life that hadn't just been irrevocably changed.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" She looked over his body, eyes searching for injury.

James bent his knee and gestured to his ankle, "Sprained this, but the healer fixed me up."

Zela checked over her shoulder and lowered her voice to make sure they weren't being overheard, "Do you have any clue what these people want with us?"

"They want..." James had to force the words out. "They want me to talk to my brother."

Her eyebrows knit together, "You have a brother?"

"Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you," he answered bitterly.

Zela sat by his bedside, "Tell me everything." She listened patiently as James launched into the strange tale, letting him pour out his confusion and frustration without judgement or censure.

"I don't know what to do," James admitted, "My life is a lie, my father is at war, and I'm at the mercy of a brother I never knew I had."

"I know this is hard for you, but I know how you feel," Zela replied, lying a hand on his forehead.

"How can you?" James snapped. "Your life wasn't just turned upside down. I just found out that my father has been lying to be my entire life. He might not be who I thought he was at all. And now I have to pretend to care about a brother I never knew I had, who stole my life and ruined my betrothal. Your family might be dead but at least they didn't keep secrets like this from you. My life completely changed overnights"

Zela snatched her hand away, her comforting smile rapidly changed to a cold, stormy expression. "In case you had forgotten, you're not the only person whose life has just drastically changed. I lost my entire family, my kingdom. I'm god know how many years in a future I don't understand, but instead of crying about it I'm comforting you. And you have the audacity to say something like that to me."

Stricken by guilt for his self-centered behavior, James started to apologize, but Zela stood and walked out of the tent. He wanted to get up and follow her, but she turned to face him with angry eyes.

"Not right now," she whispered. "I want to be alone."


Emma was practically walking on cloud nine when she and Ava made it back to the apartment. Ava had gotten cleared for cheerleading and Emma's doctor couldn't find anything significantly wrong with them. Instead, Nicky was working on his homework in the kitchen while Mary made dinner.

"How was the hospital?" Mary asked as she stirred the pot of stew.

"We both got a clear bill of health," Emma took off her coat and hung it by the door, then helped Ava out of hers.

"Well that's good to hear," Mary replied, looking at up them for the first time. "Dinner's gonna ready soon, so everyone go wash up."

Emma and the kids did as Mary said then gathered at the table for dinner. They ate in a comfortable silence, broken only by Mary occasion asking one of the kids what was going on in their lives. Throughout the meal, Ava kept giving Emma secret smiles, still excited about the news. Emma decided she was going to wait until after the meal to let Nicky know of her plans to adopt him and his sister, but before she reached that point, she got a call from Graham.

"Give me a second," Emma excused herself from the table and answered her phone on the other side of the apartment. "What is it?"

"Emma?" Graham's voice came from the other end of the line, "I arrested Killian Jones and Priscilla Jefferson tonight. Someone called 9-1-1 after watching them break into Gold's pawnshop."

Notably surprised, "What? Why would they do that?"

"They're not talking," Graham replied, "But Priscilla said she's willing to talk to you."

Emma groaned, "I'm having dinner with my family. No wait, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"Alright…I'll see you there."

Emma hung up and went back to the table. "Sorry, I have to go. It's work thing."

"It's not serious, is it?" Mary asked, worried.

"I hope not," Emma walked over to the front door and put her coat back on. "It shouldn't take long, but in case it does, don't wait up."

Ten minutes of irritated driving later, Emma found herself stomping into the police station where Killian and Priscilla sat in adjacent cell.

"Hi Emma," Priscilla nodded.

Killian acknowledged her but didn't speak. Emma didn't hold that against him. He seemed rather embarrassed to be caught in the situation.

"Nice of you to get there so fast," Graham strolled out of his office.

"Let's just get this over with," Emma grimaced.

Graham nodded and went back into his office to give them some privacy.

Emma took the rolling office chair from behind her desk and set in front of the cells. She sat down with her ankles crossed and her hands clasped together in her lap. "So, what the hell guys?"

"I think you have an idea about our motivation were," Priscilla stated.

"I know you're not short on cash," Emma nodded, "But Killian, you have something against Gold."

Killian looked her with shocked brown eyes, "What?"

"I noticed you arguing with him not long after you moved her," Emma replied. "Are am I mistaken?"

"We have a…colorful history together," Killian admitted.

Emma began looking genuinely confused, "How can you have history with Mr. Gold? You're from New York and you've never been to Storybrooke before. For what I can tell, Gold has never left Storybrooke."

Priscilla interjected, "Is it even worth telling you when we know you're not going to believe the answer?"

The curse, Emma surmised. That was all Priscilla ever talked about, so that must be what she was referring to. Despite herself, Emma had to admit that something about Storybrooke felt incredibly odd, beyond what she could logically explain. Curses weren't really, but a curse would explain a lot.

"He's my father," Killian whispered.

Emma's jaw went slack, and even Priscilla looked surprised. After a moment's silence, with Killian growing more uncomfortable by the moment, Emma finally found her voice, "Gold is your dad?"

"Only biologically," he amended, "He was never around when I was a kid. My stepfather raised me thinking I was, and when he found out the truth, well..."

"You're telling the truth," Emma stated, "But you're also trying to distract me from something. I find it hard to believe that you'd risk your freedom to, what? Get back at your deadbeat father? Take something you thought he owed you?"

"Don't you think it's a mighty big coincidence that I was just passing through town and it happened to be the one my sperm donor lived in?" Killian challenged.

"You've got me there," Emma admitted. "But really, what's the truth? What were you trying to steal from Gold?"

"We weren't exactly planning to steal anything," Priscilla sighed, leaning against the brick wall of her cell. She sat cross-legged on the small cot, her profile facing Emma. "Just looking around."

"For what?" Emma's eyes narrowed.

Priscilla shrugged, "Anything suspicious."

"Why did you tell Graham you were willing to speak to me if you were just going talk in riddles?" Emma's patience was rapidly growing thin.

"Gold is awake, he's aware of the curse," Killian broke in. He sounded pained but urgent, like he was ripping off a bandage. "We found proof he knows about magic in his house and we thought we could something more in his pawnshop."

For the second time that night, Emma was momentarily dumbstruck. "You broke into his fucking house too?!"

"Killian!" Priscilla scolded.

"Okay, so what else have you lovebirds been up to?" Emma demanded.

Killian looked stunned, "What?"

"Don't make me asked again," Emma warned.

"Nothing," Killian shook his head, "But you just called us 'lovebirds'?"

Emma grew uncomfortable, "Look, everyone sees you two around each other all the time. It's pretty obvious what's going on."

Priscilla laughed softly, "We're not dating, Emma. We've been investigating the curse together. We remember, and no one else does. That doesn't leave a lot of options for who we can work with."

Emma felt confused, embarrassed, and slightly hopeful all at once. If Killian wasn't dating Priscilla, then maybe he'd be interested in her. No, Killian wouldn't want to be with her after how ridiculous she had acted around him. She really had blown her one shot with him, and for nothing. Besides, she was adopting two kids pretty soon. It was no time for her to be getting in a relationship. Of course, Mary would say she was just avoiding him to avoid getting hurt, that she was hiding behind her walls again.

"You are planning to explain this to a judge?" Emma asked, desperate to get back to the topic at hand.

Before either Killian or Priscilla could answer, Graham stepped out of his office and announced, "Just got a call from Mr. Gold. He's dropping the charges. Emma, you can go home. Sorry for wasting your time."

"But..." Emma looked to Graham, then back to the imprisoned duo. "Okay, okay."

Without a beat, Graham unlocked the cells that were holding Killian and Priscilla. Emma put her coat back on, avoiding eye contact with anyone else in the room as she got ready to leave.

"Emma, can you meet me at my house tomorrow afternoon?" Priscilla called before Emma could slip out.

"Sure," Emma nodded stiffly.


James found Zela talking to Red in her tent near sundown. Their voices hushed when he entered it. Zela still looked upset, but she didn't seem as angry as before. He deeply regretted what he said earlier, and it made him realize he had taken Zela's kindness for granted. He was still a prince, he could still manage to do something to bring the world back in order, but Zela was adrift with nothing to cling to but him.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," Red greeted genuinely.

James also felt a twinge of shame for how he had reacted to Red. She'd been nothing but kind and accommodating to them both since they stumbled onto her camp, despite the back that he was the son of her enemy. Or, more likely, because he was the brother of her friend. "Thank you. Your healer did a remarkable job," he replied. His eyes flickered to Zela, who was watching the exchange silently.

Red must have noticed, because she then said, "Do you two need a moment?"

"No, it's fine," Zela said. At that same instance, James contradicted, "Yes, that'd be great."

Red looked confused for a moment, until James pressed, "It'll only take a minute." She nodded and walked out, leaving James and Zela alone.

"So, what to do what to talk about," Zela signed.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier," James apologized, moving closer.

Zela grimaced, her face apologetic as well, "Don't be, I overreacted. I get it: you just got some life changing news and were emotional."

"That doesn't excuse the way I acted, or the way I forgot you are going through some hard things too."

Zela clasped his hands. "I forgive you James," she said emphatically. "Lets move past this."

James nodded, extremely conscious of how warm her hands felt over his.

"Red said we are going to march to across the river in two days and then march to meet the other half of the army. David will be there, with his wife. Do you think you're ready to face him?"

"I don't think I'll ever be ready," James confessed. "But it's happening regardless, and there's nothing I can do to change that. Might as well get it over with."

"Just know I'll be there for you, always," Zela smiled.

She was still holding his hands and James desperately did not want her to let go.


When Emma returned home for the second time that afternoon, she found Ava and Nicky still at the kitchen table. The food had been cleared away and the twins were working on their home. Since Nicky had gotten a head-start, he was helping Ava work through a math problem while a history book sat open in front of him. Mary was in her room. Apart from the twins speaking and the birds chirping softly from their cage, the apartment was silent.

"Hey, you guys okay?" Emma asked as she made her way into the kitchen to check up on her kids.

"Nicky was just helping me with fractions," Ava said with a frustrated look on her face. She was an pretty intelligent child, but math wasn't her strongest subject.

Emma sat down on her previously vacated seat, "That's nice of you Nicky. So, I wanted to tell you something at dinner." Ava couldn't resist a smile, though Nicky didn't notice. "I was thinking, if you were okay with it, that I could adopt you."

Nicky's eyes grew wide, "Seriously?"

"Well your biological father is nowhere to be found and I've been taking care of you for months, so I could put in a pretty good claim."

To Emma's surprise, Nicky frowned. "But won't that upset Henry? I mean, I'm not saying I don't what to adopt us, it's just well..."

"Henry told you that he was a little jealous?" Emma guessed.

Ava's face displayed her confusion and dismay, "What is that suppose to mean?"

Emma turned to Ava, "Well, you know Henry was the one who brought me to Storybrooke. At first he thought I was his birth mother, but I couldn't have been because I never gave a baby up for adoption. I eventually convinced him of that, but he's still hurt that I'm not his mom. When I took you, he was jealous that you guys got to have me as a mom and he didn't. But he's working through it. I'm sure he wouldn't want you stay without a legal parent just to spare his feelings. He'll be happy for us."

Nicky shrugged, as if to say he accepted her answer but didn't really like it. Ava still seemed upset. "Henry never mentioned this to me. And you didn't tell me any of this at the hospital."

"Wait, you told Ava you were adopting us before you told me?" Nicky cried.

"I was planning to tell you together," Emma explained. "But Ava asked if you two would be living with me permanently, so I just had to tell her."

"You didn't have to, you could waited to tell us both!" Nicky objected.

"What is your problem!" Ava screaming at him, "This is the best thing that ever happened to us and your ruining it. Why can't you just be happy we're getting adopted!"

"Sweetie, don't yell at your brother," Emma scolded.

Nicky took no notice of what Emma had said, "I am happy, I just don't want to Henry to be sad."

Ava put her hands on her hips, "Right, because obvious you're so much closer to Henry to than either of you are to me. He told you his real feelings, but not me."

"He didn't tell because you're the absolute worst."

"Since you such a problem with getting adopted and clearly like Henry more, why don't you just let Emma adopt me alone, and you can go live with him and Madam Mayor!"

"Guy, stop it!" Emma said firmly. This evening had not gone at all the way she had hoped. As a little girl, if someone had offered to adopt her, she would have taken the gift with both hands and no complaints. But the twins' situation was more complicated and they were both dealing with some pretty intense emotions.

Mary, hearing the commotion, had stepped out of her room to observe the scene. "What is going on?"

"I'll get you up to speed later," Emma promised before turning back to the children. "You're siblings - twins - and you shouldn't such hurtful things to each other. Apologize to each other. Now!" Ava and Nicky glared at each other silent for a few minutes Emma gave up. "Fine, I can't force you to get along, but you're not allowed to speak at all, outside of school, unless the next words out of your mouths are 'I'm sorry.' Got it?"

Ava huffed and buried her nose in her math book. Nicky took his history and started climbing up to the loft. Emma looked hopelessly at Mary, wondering how she had made a mess out of what suppose to be a great thing for all of them.