I have not added any one shots to my little collection for a bit, but when this idea popped into my head, I had to give it a try. It seems to fit in with the hopeful little stories I've been putting in this group. I really wanted to get this one posted before the show came back too, as I know there may not be time for a little Henry/Hook character moment like this, but my heart definitely wants one…

Enjoy, and please feel free to let me know what you think!

"Amazing Grace"

Henry Mills is initially so thrilled by their victory and safe return to Storybrooke, by the fact that all the varied members of his large extended family – excluding his grandpa Gold, who had chosen his own wrong path one last time too many – were together again, and by the amazing and adventurous new story he has to record, that he doesn't immediately notice how differently Killian acts around him. Granted, the pirate captain is still weak, somewhat guarded and quiet as he recovers slowly from the torture he suffered at Hades' and his minions' hands, but Henry begins to see, as the days inch forward and become one week, then two, that there is more to it that just recuperating. His mom's boyfriend, who he has gladly begun to see as a confidante and even a future stepdad, is changed around him in particular; Killian is holding back, avoiding his eyes, apologizing for even the tiniest imagined slights, and Henry can't understand why.

Puzzled, and more than a bit hurt by this distance from a man who has shown nothing but care and affection for him, Henry briefly considers going to his mom or his grandpa David for advice, or to see if they know what is going on, but he decides against it; Emma has enough worrying her with her own guilt for what Killian suffered and concern for his healing, and he doesn't want his grandpa to be upset with the other man. He also doesn't want either of them to question or pester Killian about it, or make the man force jovial friendliness he no longer seems to feel. He is 14 now – he is smart and observant – and he likes to think he understands the people he cares about most. Surely he can figure this out on his own…and just maybe find a way to fix it.

In fact, once Henry decides something is indeed wrong with Killian and bends his concentration to figure out what, it doesn't take him long to pinpoint exactly what must be troubling the captain. Henry wants to smack his own forehead at taking as long as he did once realization strikes with obvious clarity. "Of course!" he blurts, sitting up straight from his desk, loose leaf paper scattering all over the surface and onto the floor of his new room in the house he and Killian had picked out for his mom all those months ago, where he has been trying to put together a draft of the story they've all just lived through in Camelot and in defeating the Darkness. "How did I miss that?!"

The former pirate, this man who convinced his mom to stay in Storybrooke with her family and make it her own, the one who comforted him and told him stories that let him get to know his dad better after Neal's death, the one man who had ever managed to take on and then willingly give up the Darkness as no other bearer had, in order to save them all, was still frighteningly quick to undervalue himself and what he meant to the rest of them. Henry hasn't glimpsed it often; Killian puts up a good front of overconfidence and bravado normally, and Henry is still getting to know him, but he still sees that the former pirate judges himself too harshly, berates himself for any mistakes or stumbles, and holds himself to a harsh code of honor and heroics that no one could live up to all the time. And now that he is so weary and beaten, Henry can see that veil fall more than he has in the past. Interestingly enough, he often sees the same thing in his mom, in Emma. That may be part of why they are so good for each other; they buoy up and support each other, one believing in and comforting the other when he or she falls short and the vicious self-loathing kicks in.

Exhaling a quick breath and squaring his shoulders, Henry stands to head downstairs and talk to Killian while it's just the two of them before his mom gets home from the station. He should have seen it sooner, but now that he knows, Henry wants to help. He just wants his friend and (he's sure) soon-to-be-stepdad back. He knows it wasn't really Killian Jones who had allowed him to be marked and callously almost let the Dark Ones cart him and the rest of his family to the Underworld. The real Killian Jones sacrificed himself to make that wrong right and take that fate from them.

As he reaches the bottom of the stairs, Henry glances around and finds Killian in the comfy living room armchair he seems to favor since their return, the one which looks out the large windows over the backyard and all the way to the water. The former pirate appears to be reading a book idly; however, he seems much too distracted by his thoughts and continually looking up and around, to be enjoying the written word. Clearing his throat, Henry enters the room cautiously, having learned just after their return from the Underworld and the combined return to life without the powers of Dark Magic, that startling either his mom or Killian brings a stark, pained sort of fright and then guilty silence upon them. He definitely doesn't want that now; if he is right in his guess, his friend is already heaping enough guilt and shame on himself. "Hey Killian," he greets hopefully, making sure his presence is known before coming too close. "Can we talk for a minute?"

The pale, drawn version of the dashing captain he's grown so used to looks up at him hesitantly, his blue eyes guarded instead of shining with the open eagerness he has always shown when speaking with Henry, whether teasing him about a crush, teaching him to play with loaded dice, or taking him out sailing on the Jolly. Yet, despite obvious misgiving and unease, he nods tightly, clearly not willing to offend this lad he loves like his own and murmurs a tight, "Aye…if you wish."

Henry moves carefully to sit on the couch facing Killian, their knees almost touching, eying the pirate as if he's an animal who might spook at too quick a movement, until he can really study Killian face to face. His whole aspect appears dull now, compared to the mischief and humor he has always twinkled with, and Henry hates the pain this good man has been through, and the fact that he won't let himself out of his suffering, even now. 'Fine then,' he thinks with petulant and determined frustration, 'if that's the way it's gonna be, I won't beat around the bush.' "Look," he states abruptly, "I know what you're doing, Killian."

That makes the pirate's head shoot up, panicked eyes searching Henry's face with raw concern. "You're being too hard on yourself…and you need to stop," he adds with force.

Killian shakes his head slightly before bowing it to study the way the fingers of his good hand clenching and unclenching on his knee. His voice is soft and rough with emotion when he speaks reluctantly. "No, I fear I have not nearly atoned for what I have done," he murmurs. "I venture to guess I never will."

Henry leans in closer then, can't help it in his intense desire to make Killian see how much he still cares, to mend this unnecessary rift and ease some of the hurt. "Really?! You don't think giving your life up for the rest of us atones for your mistake? You don't think suffering through torture by the Devil himself isn't more punishment than you deserve?!" He stops to draw a breath, getting a little overwhelmed and emotional himself, and he sees Killian draw a shuddering breath too. "Killian," he tries again, wetting his lips and continuing haltingly. "You- you know I don't blame you…don't you?"

Heaving a long sigh, Henry can see the effort Killian puts into looking back up and holding his gaze, "I could not fault you if you did, Lad. What I did put you in danger. Your mother trusted me to be around you, all of you trusted me, and I betrayed that good will viciously. …To think, that I had begun to feel we were…" The pirate breaks off here, eyes clenching shut before he turns his head away and jerks his hand through his disheveled hair in agitated dejection.

"…Family?" Henry asks, picking up Killian's train of thought hopefully, unwilling to let the unspoken thought go. He feels the same, and he isn't ready to let that dream die. "Me too, Killian. We still are."

Clear blue eyes with a film of unshed tears – clearer than they have been in all the time since Killian's return – rise to search Henry's in disbelief. "Do you truly mean that?" he asks, stunned to a bare whisper.

Henry grins, just a touch cocky and playful, raising one eyebrow in a look he has gotten from the man in front of him. "Aye," he mimics Killian's accented tone, "I do." Then his young face grows serious again, wanting Killian to accept what he's offering. "More than anything," he vows.

Killian merely nods, the tiniest of smiles quirking one side of his mouth upward. Neither of them say anything else for a long time, but the silence between them is more comfortable than it has been, and Henry inches his fingers forward until he is clutching Killian's hand, wanting to hug the pirate, but not willing to overwhelm him. Killian opens his hand to grasp Henry's fingers more tightly in response, his grip holding on as he would to a lifeline. "Then I shall endeavor to forgive myself," he says at last in a gravelly voice, "and to be deserving of such loyalty and grace from here onward."

No longer able to hold back, Henry leans forward into Killian's chest and the man gladly opens his arms to hug Henry close; despite the pressure it puts on his injuries, it feels incredibly healing to them both. "You already are," Henry murmurs fervently into Killian's side, and if he feels the moisture of a few warm, silent tears in his hair soon after, he never tells.

When his mom comes home half an hour later, they are no longer clinging to each other in a desperate hug, nor seemingly emotional at all, but they are sitting together happily. Their calm enjoyment of each other's company is something Emma's heart has been aching to see.

"Have a good day, guys?" she asks brightly, searching both their faces with love and happiness in her eyes, despite not knowing what has happened to make things right.

Henry feels more relief than he can express at being able to grin back and nod in the affirmative. She goes to call out for pizza, Henry moves to get cups, plates, and drinks, and he looks over his shoulder to eagerly agree when Killian suggests they watch that "bloody epic" movie with the "elf who can outshoot Snow White and Robin Hood both". Emma rolls her eyes, not fully understanding their enthusiasm for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but willing to do anything to keep those genuine, joyful smiles on both of her boys' faces.

"You'd better not let my mom hear you say that," she warns in teasing response.

Henry snorts at the picture of his bandit-princess grandma taking offense at their finding Legolas a better archer than her, and only smiles wider. His family is going to be alright.