X Marks the Spot

Chapter Eleven

After David left the sheriff's station, he walked down the streets until he arrived at Granny's Diner and entered inside to pick up some food for his family since none of them have eaten all day. When he did so, he saw Belle sitting with Grumpy and Archie in one of the booths closest to the back of the room, Ashley standing up at the bar with her husband Thomas and their daughter Alexandra as they waited for their own order, while he assumed Granny was in the diner's kitchen making all of their meals.

Ashley noticed him as he walked in and when he started to come over to them she called out, "David. Hi! It's been awhile since you and Snow have asked me to look after Neal. It's been awhile since we've really seen you at all. We've seen your wife though. How have you been? I can only imagine how difficult things are with the curse and all, but…"

Thomas reached out to touch her shoulder as he spoke up saying quickly, "Ashley, you should probably give him a few seconds to answer."

"I'm so sorry," she replied awkwardly as she looked between her husband and their friend, then picked Alexandra up when the little girl reached out to her. "Alexandra here was up all night last night because of a bad dream and therefore so was I. I've had a lot of coffee in hope that it will keep me awake until tonight."

"It's all right," David answered with a chuckle. "I've had those kind of nights too for a few reasons, mostly because of my children. A lot has been happening lately, but for the most part I'm doing fairly well. We've actually been leaving Neal with Aurora and Phillip lately. Me and Snow thought that our son would enjoy playing with theirs a bit more, than maybe with Alexandra? I hope you understand."

Thomas smiled, as did Ashley, and then he responded, "Of course we do. Our daughter's a bit older than Neal is and they're both getting big."

The Prince turned sheriff nodded as he replied, "That he is. Listen, I… I would love to stay and talk, but I'm in the middle of some trouble going on. Hook has been hurt somehow by one of his old enemies who's arrived in Storybrooke recently and I really need to get back to him and Emma. I just needed to get some food for everyone since none of us have really eaten for awhile."

"Well then you're in luck because I've got plenty of food ready to go for those of you in a hurry," Granny said sternly as she walked out from her kitchen carrying a couple bags of food and set them down in front of Cinderella and her own Prince Charming, then motioned to Leroy over at the table still to come over and carry over the tray of drinks she was now preparing for him and those with him. "If you let me finish up here, I will quickly get whatever you'd like ready to go. What can I get you?"

"You really ought to hire someone to help you out here, Granny," David answered upon observing how busy the woman was.

Granny handed off the drinks to the dwarf when she finished, then let out a growl in frustration and paused to stare at her friend as she responded, "I did. A few times. I had my granddaughter working with me until she decided to go off on her own adventure, not that I blame her… Then I hired a few others to work for me and one I caught stealing money from the cash register and had to fire him, while the other girl remained behind in the Enchanted Forest when we were given the choice to either return here to Storybrooke or stay in our old home. I figured that I'd be better off working as I am. So, what can I get you?"

Charming laughed and then he replied, "I just need enough food for five. Throw in a grilled cheese sandwich and some onion rings for Emma and Henry. I'm not so sure what the rest of us would like, but I'm sure that anything you've got will be just perfect."

"You've got it," the older woman stated and immediately walked back into the kitchen again.

"We're going to get going, but I really hope everything works out and that Hook will be alright," Ashley whispered as she patted David's arm, then Thomas reached out to shake his hand.

David smiled again and answered, "Thank you. I'll pass along your kindness, to Hook and to Emma. Try to get some sleep tonight."

He watched them leave, then while he waited for Granny, David moved towards the table where the others were sitting enjoying their own meals as Grumpy called out, "Hey brother! It's good you could join us."

"Thanks, but I can't stay for very long," the Prince responded in frustration while he took a seat in the booth beside Archie. "I need to get back, but we need to eat too. So I'm here."

"Is there something wrong?" Belle asked with concern as she saw the despair and weariness on David's face. "I mean other than what's been going on with Emma and her visions?"

He sighed and then replied, "There's been a new attack. This time it was on Hook and we don't know much of anything yet, other than that Black Beard's involved. And he's not talking about who's helping him."

Archie looked over at his friend after he took a sip of his coffee and questioned, "And you're sure that this other pirate is for certain working with someone else?"

"Black Beard won't admit it, as he's perfectly happy taking all the blame for what's happened to his oldest enemy, but seeing as dark magic is involved with whatever's happening to Hook… yeah, I'm pretty sure he's working with someone else," David answered. "Regina thinks the Evil Queen might be helping him, since she's still trying to destroy us all one by one. She's gone over there now to try to talk to her."

"How is Killian holding up?" the psychiatrist continued with genuine concern for their friend. "And Emma too, of course."

Charming rubbed his eyes tiredly, then he responded, "I'm not really sure. Hook didn't look too good when I left them. And Emma…"

He paused a moment when he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket upon receiving another message, then looked down to read it while he continued, "Well, I don't really think she's doing much better. She's really worried about him. So am… I. I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"Is everything alright?" Belle quickly called out to him as he stood up to leave without waiting for the food he had come in for.

"Whatever happened to Hook before is happening again," David replied sternly and then rushed out of the door.

It was then that Granny walked over with the bags of food for their Prince and upon seeing that he was no longer in her diner she asked curtly, "Where did he go? Does he no longer want the food he asked for?"

Belle stood up and took one of the bags from her while she answered, "I'll bring their order to them. David had to leave to help Hook and Emma."

"I'm come with you," Grumpy said when he picked up the other two bags and moved to stand with Belle. "If there's trouble happening, I want to know about it."

"Thank you, Leroy," she responded sincerely and together they left as well to follow their friend to Emma's and Killian's home after saying goodbye to the others.