Boston, Massachusetts

22 Years later

Liam sighed in his sleep as his arm tightened around Elsa, pulling her into his chest a little closer. Something had disturbed his dreams, but he wasn't sure what it was, and he didn't really care enough to wake up and investigate the source of it.

Until he heard it once more.

Liam released his grip on Elsa's waist as he pushed himself up behind her, flicking on the light beside their bed.

"What's wrong?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Nothing," he whispered back, bending to press a kiss to her forehead. "Go back to sleep, Sweetheart." He suspected that Elsa was already dreaming peacefully before he'd finished speaking.

Liam eased his feet over the side of the bed and reached for the baseball bat in the corner of the room before he quietly padded his way out of it. The noise he'd heard before was louder in the hallway, and clearly coming from downstairs, so he carefully made his way over to the darkened staircase. Relying on muscle memory, he tiptoed his way down each step as silently as he could, swinging his head back and forth as he attempted to locate the source of the disturbance he'd heard.

When he finally hit the floor in the lounge it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. Unfortunately, it was a moment too long, as a fist slammed solidly into his chest, doubling him over. While he was winded his attacker gently eased the bat from his grasp, and tossed it across the room to land on the sofa.

Liam brought his own hand up ready to launch a counterattack but was stopped in his tracks at the familiar laugh that was coming from within the darkness.

"Jesus, college might have made you smart, but it's also made you slow."

"Killian?" he asked, as he reached out to flick the light switch on the wall, while he tried desperately to catch his breath. "What the hell are you doing here? And why are you breaking into my home in the middle of the night?"

"A guy can't come and visit his little brother without questions being asked?"

"You broke into my home and assaulted me," Liam pointed out.

"I was testing your security and your reflexes. Both of which suck, by the way. You should be thankful I'm here, it looks like you've forgotten everything Dad ever taught you."

"Of course I have," Liam hissed. "Why do you think I left, Killian? I don't wanna be a part of that life anymore. I'm out."

"Well, I need you back in," his brother told him, his expression shifting from the playful banter it had carried before, to something much more serious and darker.

"No," Liam replied forcefully, as he held his hands up and took a small step back. "I just told you, Killian… I'm out."

"Dad's missing," his brother explained.

"Missing, or on a hunt and isn't answering his phone?"

"Missing," Killian emphasized, but before he could say anything else the brothers were interrupted by a feminine voice calling out, "Liam? Who are you talking to?"

"Yeah, Liam… who're you talking to?" his brother teased, as he turned his full attention to the beautiful blonde that was making her way down the stairs, and into the room. "You didn't tell me that you were seeing someone."

"There are a lot of things I don't tell you, Killian."

"Killian?" she asked, as Elsa made her way over to her boyfriend's side, to wrap her arm through his. "This is your brother?"

"I'm the much more handsome brother," he explained. "That's why Liam likes to keep my existence quiet. I can't think of why he wouldn't have mentioned you, though."

"Elsa," she introduced, looking up to her boyfriend with a frown creasing her brow. "I'm Elsa. And I don't mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?"

"It's lovely to meet you, Elsa. And I'm here for my brother, actually. I need his help with something."

"I've already told you, Killian. I want no part of this," Liam protested vehemently.

"And I've already told you," his brother parroted back, "Dad's on a hunting trip… and he hasn't been home in a few weeks." The use of the word weeks caught Liam's attention, but just in case his bother hadn't fully gotten the message yet, Killian added, "He left his car and his journal behind."

"He did?"

Liam's eyes snapped up to meet his brother's, almost as if to check that Killian was actually telling the truth. What he found there seemed to reassure him that the guy was, and Liam scrubbed a harsh hand over his face as his mind began to race.

"Your dad's missing?" Elsa worried.

"He's probably on a bender somewhere," Killian lied. "I was hoping lover boy here would help me track him down, just to stop me from worrying. I know he's a grown man and all that, but he's still family."

"Of course," she agreed, turning back to face her boyfriend. "You should go with your brother. Find your dad and make sure he's okay."

All of Liam's resistance seemed to melt under Elsa's instructions, and Killian watched as the fight drained from his brother's body.

"Okay," he reluctantly agreed. "But I have to be back here before Monday. I have an important test to sit that I can't miss."

"I'll have you back before then," Killian promised. "Scouts honor."

"You were never in the scouts," Liam called over his shoulder, as he made his way back to the staircase, so he could pack a small bag for the journey.

"The sentiment still stands," his brother protested, as he dropped down onto the couch in the lounge, to make himself comfortable while he waited. "And don't take all night. We both know you pack like a girl. All you really need is clean pants and you're good to go."

Elsa snorted out a laugh from where she was still stood in the middle of the room before she decided to turn and follow her boyfriend up the stairs to say their goodbyes in private.

Which left Killian to fish the remote control out from between the sofa cushion, and flick on the television while he waited alone.

Thank you for your wonderful response to the prologue.

This one should now post every other Wednesday (barring any life issues).

Thanks for reading and reviewing.