Thank you for coming back. Hold on.
Emma
Emma and Mary Margaret were sitting on a bench in front of Bayside Marketplace enjoying a quiet lunch. They tried to meet several times during the week as the hospital she worked in, Bayside General was very close to the University where her sister taught. Where they met depended on several things but today they both wanted to enjoy the sunshine so Bayside was the perfect place to sit. They could sit on a bench and if they faced west they could watch people scurrying here and there as well as watch the cars and buses zip past. They could also turn and face east where they could see the many colorful boats and yachts out on the Bay. Opening their lunches and starting to eat, Emma held her face up to the sun, "Hmm," she hummed, "70 degrees on Valentine's Day. Living in Florida is a beautiful thing."
Mary Margaret smiled slyly, "Yes it is. We are sitting here in the sun and most of the country is buried under several feet of snow. I'd say that deserves a toast." She picked up her bottle of water and tapped it against Emma's.
Emma took a drink of the cold water and a bite of her sandwich, "So, where is David taking you for dinner?"
Mary Margaret smiled, a dreamy look on her face, "The Peacock Café. It was rated as one of the most romantic restaurants in Miami." And she stopped and took another bite of her sandwich, "There are supposed to be lovely gardens to eat in if it isn't too cool outside but they also have inside dining. I'm excited. What about you? Do you have plans?"
"I have to work, "Emma responded, "But that's ok. It's not like I have a hot date for Valentine's Day anyway."
"Emma when are you going to let yourself love again? How long has it been since Graham, a couple of years at least?"
"No, not that long, it's only been a year or so but you know why I pushed him away?"
"I know what you told me, but was that the only reason?"
Emma sighed, "Graham is a good guy. I just didn't feel those butterflies. And …"
Mary Margaret rolled her eyes, "But…"
Emma put her hand on her sister's arm to stop the interruption, "No, don't tell me those butterflies aren't real because I see them in your eyes every time you talk about David. I want that. I want what mom and dad had," she stopped and swallowed the lump in her throat.
"I know sis, I miss him too," Mary Margaret said quietly.
Both sisters got lost in their thoughts for several minutes. Emma and Mary Margaret weren't sisters by birth but in every way that counted, they were. They had been together for almost as long as they could remember. Emma's parents, strangely enough, named David and Mary, had been best friends with Mary Margaret's parents, Leo and Ava. Their fathers had met at the University where Leo taught English and where David taught Biology. Forming a close friendship, they introduced their wives, who also worked together at the local hospital, and all quickly became fast friends. The couples tried for many years to have children but neither were so lucky and had just about given up when both women discovered they were pregnant within days of each other. Before Emma had officially moved in with the Blanchard's she had felt just as at home there as she did at her home.
Sadly, when the girls were four, Emma's parents had been asked to go on a medical mission trip to a small country in Africa, as there had been an outbreak of malaria, and both were killed instantly after the small plane they were flying in crashed. There was no question that Emma would become a part of the Blanchard family, and she was welcomed into and treated just like Mary Margaret. She couldn't have asked for a better set of adoptive parents than to be raised by Leo and Ava. They gave her love and Leo taught her to appreciate classic literature and Ava helped her learn to love science and the rewards of medicine. And while she loved Leo and Ava, she always felt that she was holding a part of herself back, as if she was afraid they would also leave her.
Since Mary Margaret was named after Emma's birth mother and because her name was a mouthful she became lovingly known as M&M just a few years after the death of Emma's parents. As the girls graduated from high school and moved on to college it was very ironic that Emma decided to follow their mothers into medicine and M&M became the teacher, just like their fathers. Tragedy struck again just after Emma finished medical school and was starting her first rotation when Ava passed suddenly in her sleep and just this past year Leo had succumbed too, many said from a broken heart. Now all the girls had was each other which was why when a position had opened up at Bayside General, they were so happy that they could finally live close to each other once again.
Shaking her head to dismiss the melancholy thoughts, Emma glanced down into M&M's large canvas bag and saw her tattered copy of Crime and Punishment. "I see you are punishing your students with Dostoyevsky again."
"Oh hush, you know you love that book as much as I do," M&M scolded. "It's just so interesting to see what each new class of young minds will come up with during discussions. There is murder and theft and lust and greed, all moral dilemmas and you would be surprised at the variety of opinions that arise. It's quite fascinating really."
Emma looked at M&M closely, "And what's the real reason you use dad's copy?"
Mary Margaret shrugged, "Well, it makes me feel closer to him when I'm reading the pages and realize that at one time he read the same pages, you know?"
Smiling sadly, Emma answered, "I know exactly how you feel. In fact, I feel the same way when I read," and her sentence was halted by a loud crash occurring directly in front of them.
Looking toward the street Emma saw that a small car had been hit by a bus and a pedestrian had been caught in the middle. Grabbing her phone and dialing 911, she ran toward the accident, "This is Dr. Emma Swan, there's been an accident at 401 Biscayne Blvd, in front of the Bayside Marketplace. Pedestrian down. Send an ambulance quickly," and tossing her phone on the street she bent over the man who was laying on his stomach in front of the bus. She could hear the bus driver crying softly behind her as well as the driver of the small car, but she tried to tune them out as the man in front of her needed her "A" game.
Her training kicking into gear she assessed the man's condition as best she could. He was laying on his stomach with arms and legs splayed out. His head was turned away from her and she could see that his eyes were closed. Upon further investigation, she didn't notice any obvious blood, however, she knew that if he had internal injuries, she wouldn't see any. She put her fingers against the side of his neck looking for a pulse by feeling his carotid artery. "It's barely there," she muttered to herself. Next, she put her hand under his nose to see if he was still breathing and felt air but just barely. Pulling her stethoscope out of her pocket and unfurling it, she laid it on his back listening for any heart beat abnormalities as well as to listen for a collapsed lung. What she heard as well as didn't hear caused her to look up and let out a sigh of relief as she saw the paramedics, one of which she knew, rushing toward her, carrying their trauma kit.
Walter, or Sneezy, as he was affectionately known for his bad case of allergies, was in the lead, "Whatcha got Emma?"
"White male hit by a bus just a few minutes ago. Has been unconscious since I reached him. No outward signs of injury but heart rate is in afib and I suspect a pneumothorax."
"Ok, doc, let us take a look." Sneezy and the other paramedic, she only knew by sight, quickly got to work on John Doe. He was placed on a spinal board and hooked up to an IV and prepared for transmit. "Want to ride with us?"
Quickly making up her mind, Emma stood up and followed the paramedics and the patient to the ambulance and climbed in the back with Walter. He got to work hanging the IV bag and she began taking his vitals. On the way to the hospital, the patient coded twice but both times they were lucky and able to restart his heart with the defibrillator machine. Pulling up to the emergency room doors, the rear of the ambulance was thrown open and they helped move the man toward the hospital. Emma looked up as Victor walked up and gave him a run down on what was going on. He patted her on the arm, "Glad you were close by, we've got it from here," and he quickly followed the gurney behind a curtain.
As she heard the wheels take the injured man away, Emma realized that since she had been so focused on keeping him alive, she hadn't really looked closely at him. With a moment to think and take a deep breath, she had a vague impression that he was around her age, had dark hair and she suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu but wasn't sure why. While this was not her first pedestrian accident, for some reason she felt it more deeply. And as the sound of the gurney grew quieter, she wanted to chase after it, just to check on him one more time. She had the feeling that she was missing something important and she couldn't shake it off. But as it was time for her get back to work she tucked it away and headed toward the locker room pulling her phone out of her pocket as she walked. A couple of texts back and forth with her sister assured her that her lunch trash was taken care of and that they would see each other later. Just as she was about to put the phone back into her pocket, there was a vibration indicating another text had arrived. Glancing down at it as she was waiting for the elevator she couldn't believe what she read. It was from Victor, "Emma, just thought you might want to know. The John Doe you rode to the emergency room with went into cardiac arrest and died. His internal injuries were too severe for us to revive him. I'm sorry."
Sorrow was the first feeling she felt. A vibrant young man was dead. She was a physician and knew that people died every day but this man's death hit her hard. Pushing open the door to the locker room she sank down on a bench and crossed her arms over her stomach, bending over as if in pain. Why does it feel like I just lost someone special to me, she wondered? She was unsure how long she sat there until she felt a hand on her shoulder, "Emma, I heard about Bayside,", she heard Dr. Hopper say, "the EMT's said you did everything you could for him," and he sat down on the bench next to her.
Emma shrugged, "I did what I could," she responded in a weary voice.
Dr. Hopper went on, "Emma, I'm going to tell you what I tell all my young doctors and hope that you are the first one who listens. On your day off get as far away from this place as you can and go someplace where you feel most like you." He patted her on the back and stood up, "Think about it," he said as he left the room.
Killian
Killian was sitting at his desk, in his office that offered a beautiful view of Bayside Park and Marketplace and the bay waters where all of his ships were housed, looking over the day's activities. Several ships in his fleet were booked for private parties, his largest was on a special Valentine's Day overnight cruise to the Bahamas and the Schwan, a bloody fine vessel, was scheduled for a sunset cruise, and the ship would be captained by none other than Captain Hook. The cruise would also have an endless supply of Rum punch and romantic music for dancing. Thinking that's all he needed was a bunch of tipsy octogenarians on his ship made him shake his head. They bloody well better not fall off my ship, he said quietly to himself just as Tink walked into the room.
"Who bloody well better not fall off your ship," Tink responded laughingly. "What are you so worried about Killian? We've had plenty of older individuals on the ship and not lost any yet."
Killian raised both eyebrows and wiped his hand over his face, "True but there's always a first time. Ready to go?"
Tink looked down at the clip board she was holding and proceeded to check things off of her list. "I think so. I ordered extra rum, just in case," she smirked at him, and we have Sprite, orange and pineapple juice and grenadine. I even ordered some of those cute little umbrellas that the ladies seem to like in their drinks."
Killian nodded his head, "Sounds like you thought of everything. I'll be out in a bit." Tink left the room and he moved things around on his desk looking for the letter that had been left in the postbox of the beach house. Footprints on the walk he thought, not for the first time, could they be the same ones were his last thought before picking up his long leather Captain Hook jacket and heading toward the ship hoping that there were no loose cannons aboard on his watch.
Arriving at the Schwan, Killian was happy to see that Tink had indeed thought of everything so all he had to do was don his long coat and get into position to greet the party goers. When they had first entertained the idea of offering cruises that fit the origins of the design of the Schwan, Killian immediately thought of Captain Hook. And not the Disney version of Captain Hook with waxed mustaches and perms, but the one that he always pictured in his mind when his mum read, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie to him as a lad. Since Barrie's Hook had black hair and blue eyes, a handsome countenance and elegant diction, his mum used to tease him with, "Just add a mustache and a few curls and that could be you." His usual response to her had been to give her a little smirk but say "I do believe I'm handsome enough without, thank you very much," and she would laugh like he had just told her the funniest thing in the world. After all these years he still missed her laugh.
Using both of their ideas, and Tina's knowledge of the area, the Swashbuckling Good Time Cruise had been born, and was swiftly becoming one of their bestselling trips. They offered Rum Punch, and music that catered to the youth of the specific generation they were hosting, a small repast, and dancing if they so desired. Today's group was from one of the many retirement neighborhoods in South Florida and the music featured was from 1940 through 1960 with the idea of bringing them all back to their youth, just like Peter Pan was meant to do.
Killian had chosen his costume and was quite proud of it, as were all the women he had welcomed onto his ship if their behavior was any indication. Some of the ladies tried to get a bit free with their hands after they imbibed on the punch, but if that's all he had to worry about then he was happy. It was when they'd had a bit too much of the rum punch and wanted to grab the rigging and try to fly, that he became concerned, fortunately, that had only happened once. He wore leather breeches, which had taken a bit of getting used to, white silk shirts with voluminous sleeves unbuttoned to mid-chest, a vest, tonight's was red, and a long leather jacket that swung around his legs as he walked. The piece de resistance was a hook that he could wear just by inserting his left hand into a cuff, so if he needed both hands for guiding the ship, he could easily remove it.
Standing on the deck near the top of the gangway, Killian hooked his left arm, as if he had looped his thumb, if it were there, into his belt, assumed his most dashing smile, and prepared to greet his guests for the evening. Fifty to sixty individuals, primarily female, between the ages of seventy and eighty-five, got off of a charter bus and greeted Tink. She was standing at the entryway to the berth where the Schwan was docked and lead them all to the gangway, and they slowly made their way toward him. His job as Captain, devilishly handsome Hook, was to make each one feel welcomed. As was his specialty, he flirted with them as they came across the gangway, and each woman's hand received a kiss, a wink and her very own "Milady," with a courtly bow. So far he had never failed to get a little giggle out of them, and if all he had to worry about were chapped lips for making these ladies feel special, so be it. He knew his mum would have approved.
Tonight's group seemed to be in an exceptionally exuberant mood, even before touching the punch, which caused him to wonder if they had already started in on the celebration. Thankfully they all made it across the parking lot, up the gangway, and onto the ship, with no mishaps. Holding his breath that it would continue as such, Killian was ready to set sail.
Edward Thatch, his first mate and who dressed up like Blackbeard helped him cast off and Wendy Darling, who dressed up as Peter Pan, helped Tink get everyone seated at the tables they had strategically placed around the deck. As they were moving out of the Bay, into the open water of the Atlantic Ocean, a general safety speech was given, as well as the layout of the ship, including the heads located both toward the bow and the stern. Then the music was started and the light meal was served.
Once out of the Bay, the motor was turned off and the sails were hoisted, allowing the Schwan to glide across the sea. Killian loved this part of the trips as he was unassisted on the bridge, tending the boat's wheel and enjoying his solitary thoughts. While Swashbuckling Good Time Cruises could be scheduled at any time during the day, he enjoyed the sunset cruises best. As they started midafternoon and ended just as the sun had set, allowing the party goer to sail out of the Bay while the sun was high in the sky but by the time the ship was returning to dock, the lights both on the ship as well as the docks and the skyline of Miami lit their way. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Someday he thought, I want to share this with my very own swan.
Lost in his thoughts Killian didn't notice he had company until he felt someone put their arms around his waist and scoot really close to him, "Well howdy Captain, fancy meeting you up here," he heard the woman say, her speech already sounding rather slurred, "Care to hook up with me?" she giggled.
Thankful he had taken his hook off of his left hand, he kept it on the wheel, and gently dislodged her arms from around his waist, "Oh, fair maiden. What brings you to see the Captain while your friends are dancing the night away? Shouldn't such a lovely lass as yourself be in the midst of all the fun?"
"But Captain it is you I want. I can be your fair maiden." She had moved around in front of him and tried to grab hold of his chains.
Killian had become very adept at side-stepping unwanted advances and neatly moved so that she was on the other side of the Captain's chair, so when it was turned, she neatly found herself sitting. "See, isn't that better?" Thankfully just like the other times, his trick worked, and as soon as she sat, she relaxed, and became absorbed in the view, and her interest in him faded, which gave him an opportunity to page Eddie to come and relieve him of his guest. Once she had been taken back to her friends, it was time to start the journey back to the docks.
On the way back to the Bay, Killian headed into the wind and let the ship glide across the waves. The music had gotten quieter and the guests had become mellow and relaxed. His thoughts again wandered, skittering from topic to topic, but always coming back to the letter left by, interesting enough, a woman whose last name was Swan. Most importantly about the paw prints that she mentioned in her letter that were not there, UNTIL, recently when a stray dog, happened to appear at just the time he was painting and just happened to step in paint and track prints in the very spot she mentioned. What to make of this, he wasn't sure.
Pulling his mind to the task at hand he gave the orders to take down the sails, started the motor and expertly guided the ship close to the dock where Eddie was able to jump over the starboard side and tie her up. As he turned off the motor, he noticed that the gangway was already in place and the cruisers were strolling toward their bus. Some could be heard singing, others laughing, but all appeared to be happy.
Cleaning up after a cruise had become somewhat of a routine for Killian and his small crew so much so that within an hour after they had docked, Eddie, Tink and Wendy were saying goodnight and leaving him alone to put his Schwan to bed. Often he stayed the night in the Captain's cabin but tonight he needed to go home. He had an uninvited guest that he needed to decide how to handle. But first he was meeting his brother Liam for a drink.
Liam and Killian had been as close as possible for brothers to be and then when his mother had taken him back to the U.K. and left his father and Liam behind, he had been devastated. But for all the bad feelings that he had toward his father while he was growing up, he was also grateful that his father had never done anything to keep Liam to himself and had sent him every summer to stay with their mother. As such the boys had remained close and with the improvements in technology, they had been able to communicate daily. However, it had been a few years since they had seen each other and Liam hadn't even known that Killian was moving back to the States, had purchased a business and was living quite close. Needing to prove himself to his father felt necessary. He just hoped Liam understood.
They were meeting at the Lilt Lounge, a bar not far from the Bayside Docks, and Killian knew not far from the offices where Liam and their father worked. It's a testament to how many people come and go in this area, that they hadn't run into each other at least once. Realizing he was going to be late if he didn't get a move on, he changed out of his pirate leathers, put his ship to bed and went to meet his brother.
Walking into the bar he looked around and spotted Liam sitting at a table nursing a drink and looking off into space. Needing a moment, Killian ordered a rum at the bar, took a small drink for courage and walked toward the table. Liam had been so lost in thought he didn't even notice him until he had set his glass on the table, "Hello brother."
Liam looked up at Killian, smiled and jumped up to hug him, "Little brother, it's so nice to finally see you. I've missed your guff. " A concerned look came over his face, "What happened to your mug?"
"That's younger brother, and I've missed you too." Breaking apart the brothers sat down, picked up their drinks and looked across the table at each other. "My face? Small accident at work but the doctor I saw at Bayside General said I would be good as new, just a tiny scar. I'm sure I'll still be devilishly handsome." They both laughed at the way they had gone right back into their usual banter.
Liam looked at his brother and rolled his eyes, "Still as vain as ever, I see. Bayside General? I know a few people who work there, who did you see?"
Killian grabbed a handful of nuts that were sitting on the table, " Oh some bloke named, Whale, I think. Enough about me. How have things been Liam?"
Liam looked at him, and before he answered took a deep breath, like he was weighing what he wanted to say, "Busy, but there's something going on that you should know, it's about dad's health."
Killian had just taken another sip of his drink and after swallowing, looked up at Liam under his eyebrows, "Aye?"
"Aye, Killian. I literally just found out, but there was a reason Dad didn't come back for mum's service, he was in the hospital."
"In the hospital?" Killian exclaimed, "For what?"
Liam rubbed his hand over his mouth as if talking about it left a bad taste, "He won't go into specifics but from what I know, he had a routine test that showed there was blockage in one of the arteries close to his heart. They put him in the hospital and did a procedure, leaving a stent behind, which helps keep the artery opened."
"But Liam, that's been years. Why are you just finding out?"
"I actually found out quite by accident. I was going to ask father something and I didn't know his doctor was in with him, and I overheard them talking. When I confronted him, he finally admitted everything. He still carries the guilt over not being there to say goodbye to mum as well as not being there for you."
Killian mulled over what he had just learned and how that information fit with the letters he had found in his mother's things. "Is he alright now?"
Liam shrugged his shoulder, "This is father, you know he's not good at sharing, so I don't know. But Killian, you need to make peace with him. You never know." And he left it up in the air and moved on to other topics.
Killian had just started to relax when Liam asked the question that he had been dreading, that is when did he get back into town. Scratching behind his ear, he gave his brother a sheepish look, "Last August."
Liam sat there for a second with a stunned look on his face before he exploded, "August! That was seven bloody months ago, you big git! And I'm just now seeing you?" And then realizing he had gotten a bit loud, quietened, took a long drink and waited for an answer. "And why are you bloody smiling at me, you're an arse and I'm brasses off! Oh bugger it!"
Killian couldn't help the smile on his face because even as long as Liam had been living in the States, when angry, his accent became more pronounced and he reverted back into British slang, like when they were lads. "Stop being a prat, Liam, I had my reasons," and he stopped as he looked up to see his brother raising an eyebrow at him, and threw his hands up in surrender, "I was wrong, there, I said it. You happy?"
Liam just shook his head, as if he couldn't decide if he was finished sulking, but went on with the conversation, "So what have you been doing for the past seven," emphasized quite a bit, "months?"
"I bought what used to be Adventure Tours that was located over in Tampa, changed the name to NeverLand Adventures and moved it all over here, hired someone who knows the market in this area and is a people person and have been trying to clean up what had been a rundown business. I have a fleet of four ships, the Cisne and Cigno are superyahts, and the Schwan and Zwaan are megayahts, one is actually a replica of the ship, The Lady Washington that reminds me of an old pirate ship. And we recently started offering what we are calling The Swashbuckling Good Time Cruises," and before Liam could say anything he pointed his finger at him, "don't say a word," and then he laughed, "It's been slow but things seem to be sorted out now."
"Nice going little brother. Sounds like for being such a wanker, you might have a head for business. Were they all named by you?"
Killian laughed. "No and before you ask I have not a clue as to the origins of their names. I suspect it has to do with how they glide across the water."
"Any human, female swans in your life, Killian?"
Killian thought about the signature of the person on his mystery letter but then smirked at his brother, "Who has time for that now, Liam. How about you?"
Liam shook his head, "Guess both of the Jones boys are single, look out Miami," and clicking his glass against Killian's with a "Cheers brother," finished his drink.
Kilian and Liam talked a while longer and made plans to meet up soon. Liam also guilted Killian into promising that he would make a point of going to visit their father soon. Driving back to Key Largo that night Killian mentally composed what he should say to his very own swan. Once he was back home, his plan was in place.
In case you were curious, the name of all of Killian's boats all mean Swan, in different languages. Thanks for reading. Drop me a line.