A/N: I do not own OUAT or their amazing characters. I have no beta, so any mistakes are my own, I do my best to edit them out. Enjoy! – BS

Chapter 8

Killian and his children were in the Captain's quarters at his desk. Maps, charts, parchment and quills were strewn about. On the corner was a tray of chocolate and an array of other sweets that Hope and Killian happily munched on. She most definitely got her sweet tooth from her father.

"Did you go to Storybrooke?" Killian asked Henry, sipping on some rum.

"Yeah, it looks like a ghost town. A lot of the buildings have windows blown out and there was glass all over. Gram and Gramps loft is still mostly intact, but Gramps will have to replace a few windows."

"Aye. And our house?"

"A few windows shattered in the living room where you and mom were, but that's about it. I took Hope over there and that's where I gave her your ring."

Killian looked over to his daughter, "You've seen the house?"

Hope nodded and smiled, "I like the unicorns. Henry thought it was important for me to see how loved I was by you and mom."

"Aye that is was," Killian looked to his son, "What is the body count on the curse?"

"A lot of townsfolk, I think we're up to 175 now," Henry swallowed hard, "Rumpelstiltskin as well."

Killian sat back in chair. The bloody crocodile was gone? He never expected him to do himself in but after Belle was murdered in front of him he only figured it was a matter of time. Over the years Killian and Rumple had come to a sort of truce, since their families were so tightly intertwined. He had threatened to kill Rumple during the Black Fairy's siege over Storybrooke, but everything had calmed down until Yzma showed up.

Killian cleared his throat, "I figured after Belle died he wouldn't be able to hold on. I'm sorry lad. I know cared a great deal about him."

Hope felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. These people have suffered because of her. She is supposed to help her mother break this curse that stole her life from her. But what about this magic thing Henry told her about? She isn't that special, or at least she didn't think she was.

"Henry, have you found Emma?" Killian's voice broke Hope out of her thoughts

"Not yet, I keep getting close but then it's like she just vanishes again."

Suddenly, a dark purple portal swirled open over Kilian's head. He was suddenly hit in the head with two small scrolls of parchment and one large one. The portal closed as quickly as it had opened. Killian rubbed the back of his head and his children were stifling their laughs.

"Bloody Jefferson," Killian mumbled, shaking his head. He reaches the first scroll and opens it slowly, revealing a message scrolled in beautiful handwriting.

Killian,

Welcome back, brother. I knew the kids would succeed.

I told Henry I would write when I found out any new information

Snow is being held in Regina's castle and David is in the dungeon of

King George's Castle. No word on Regina yet

Killian was in shock with the next part of the letter but kept reading.

We found Emma. The Map the came through will lead you to her. True loves kiss should

Do the trick, Yeah? Hurry so you can come back, and I can whoop you at Pirates Dice.

Jefferson

P.S- Let Hope know Hook is doing well. I also would die to see your face right

now.

Killian reread the letter, what seemed to be at least 5 times. Jefferson found her, found his Swan.

"Dad is everything ok?" Hope asked.

"Aye Starfish, but I am curious to know who Hook is." Killian mused raising an eyebrow.

Henry burst into a fit of laughter and his sister elbowed him hard in the side.

"Hook is my dog. Did Jefferson say anything about him?"

"He said to tell you he is doing well. Why the devil is your dog named Hook?"

"He's missing is front left leg. I found him like that. I read Peter Pan a lot as a kid and the name just fit."

Killian chucked, "Aye that it does love."

"If it makes you feel any better he's a really handsome dog Dad." Henry chimed in, "What else did Jefferson say?"

"He found Snow and David," Killian paused for a moment and did his best to hold back tears, "And he found Emma." He handed the letter to his children.

Both Hope and Henry stared at the letter from Jefferson. He had actually done it, had found where their mother was being held. Hope started to feel that insecurity creep back up. Would she be a disappointment? Everyone they met kept commenting on how much like Emma she was. What if she wasn't up to her mother's standards? So many parents she had in the foster system told her she wasn't worth anything. She wouldn't be able to handle it if her mother felt that same way too. Henry and Hope cleared Killian's desk and rolled the map out for the three of them to see.

"Bloody hell," Killian muttered

"What? Where is she?" Henry queried.

"Isle De Muerta," Killian replied in a low tone, "It means Death Island."

"Well that sounds cheerful," Hope quipped.

"It's a secluded island in the middle of Poseidon's Trap," Killian continued, "It was rumored by sailors that Poseidon's trident was there. Captain Barbosa of the Black Pearl was the only bastard daft enough to try, but he never returned."

Hope shook her head, was no story from her childhood sacred?

"It's some of the roughest seas out there, surrounded by sharp rocks, and bloody fucking mermaids." Killian growled, his hand following the map. "It is a five-day sail from here."

"So, we have our heading?" Hope asked, looking at her father.

"Starfish, I can't take you somewhere that dangerous. I need to teach you the ways of the sea, of combat, of dealing with blasted mermaids."

"Good thing I'm fast learner then." She flashed her father a brilliant smile.

"Aye, I suppose it is love," Killian shook his head, "I'm not talking you out of this am I?"

"Nope."

"Well I guess we have our heading then. We'll leave at first light."

Henry and Killian left the captain's cabin to go inventory the supplies on board and bid Hope a goodnight. The two of them were going to sleep in the crew quarters and keep letting her have the privacy she needed. The pair walked down to the galley and started inventorying food. When Henry and Hope had stopped near Ruby's, he had made sure the ship got replenished of what they had been missing. From his calculations, they had enough for the next month, which would get them there and to the next port with no problems. Killian leaned against the counter and watched his son work, realizing this is the first moment alone he had with him.

"You have grown so much," Killian lamented quietly. "I'm so sorry, Henry."

Henry turned to his father," This isn't your fault, or moms, or anyone's. It is Yzma's fault."

"Aye I know that lad, but this still isn't what I wanted for you."

"It's ok, I know that. Ruby and Jefferson were the reason I could get through most days." Henry shrugged. "All in a day's work for a hero."

Killian smiled at his son, shifting his weight from one foot to another.

"Does Hope have magic, son?" Killian asked quietly.

Henry let out a huge sigh," I think so but she's in denial like mom was. Because as a second-generation child born of true love, she is supposed to right?"

"Aye that's what Regina told us."

"What can we do?"

"I'll talk to her, see if I can get it out of her, but if she's anything like your mother, he powers will be tied to her emotions. If anything, maybe once we have Emma back she can help her."

"Yeah you're probably right."

Killian clapped his son on the shoulder, "Come lad, we should get some shut eye." Henry turned on Killian and wrapped him in a tight embrace, taking Killian by surprise.

"I missed you Dad. I didn't realize how much you meant to me, how much you impacted my life until you were gone."

Killian gave him a tight squeeze back, fighting back the tears threatening to spill out "I missed you too lad. I've seen you as my son from the beginning and that is never going to change, curses or not."

Henry stepped back and smiled. He turned to walk to the crew quarters as Killian followed. They each for a bunk and said their goodnights, as tomorrow was going to be a long day. Henry found sleep quickly, snoring softly in his bunk. Killian stared at the ceiling for a long time, reeling over the events of the day. He had his son to his right, and his daughter upstairs. They had saved him from this hell curse and now there were going to rescue his beloved.

We're so close Swan, He thought. I need you to hold on just a little bit longer, and soon it will all be over.

Killian's mind reeled pictures of green eyes and golden curls as he drifted off to sleep.

In a tower, was a woman, sitting in a ball on the floor, her hands chained down on either side. Her dark blue dress in tatters, blonde curls a mess. She sat breathing deeply as if trying to make the voices stop.

You aren't worth saving, the voice said, you gave up your son, you gave up your daughter. You killed your true love with Excalibur. May as well end it now, no one is going to save you.

The sword going through Killian, the feeling of her hands shaking, the pain, the anguish. The woman let out a heart wrenching scream.

"Not worth it…" she whimpered.

And it was silent.

Yzma sat at a gold bowl, watching the reflections of the blonde woman in the water, an evil smirk crossing her face

"Suffer, savior. Suffer."