At the Beginning With You

Chapter Sixteen

After the heroes' battle against the Enchantress, Blackbeard, and his band of pirates was over, everyone slowly made their return to the castle where the wounded could be tended to, where the villains would be punished for their crimes, and where the dead would be given a proper burial after a funeral and ceremony could be given in their honor. The next few days were dark within the kingdom of Arendelle as its people mourned for the loss of their warriors, but Elsa assured her people that the guards who had been lost had died honorably fighting for a noble cause, in saving a man who risked his life for their Queen, Princess, and Prince while they had been trapped within another realm.

Snow, Charming, and the rest from Storybrooke all attended the ceremony, everyone that is except for Emma, not out of disrespect for these men's sacrifices, but because Killian needed her more as the royal physician treated the severely ill man to the best of her abilities, all the while Emma refused to leave his side. The woman assured the Savior that her husband should be fine so long as he's given the proper time to recover, but Emma knew that Hook was no longer suffering from any physical wounds or a simple fever, no matter how high it might be.

Nearly four days passed and the man she loved was no closer to waking, even through his anguish and the nightmares that plagued his body, until finally late into the fourth evening, he slowly began to stir. Somewhere deep within the fog of his mind, Killian could hear the woman he loved calling out to him and felt her tender embrace while she tried to coax him to wake, but when his eyes opened weakly, he became startled and afraid while he struggled to fight against her, backing away from her as far as he could against the bed on which he was lying on.

Emma swiftly pulled the damp cloth she was using to help bring down his fever away as she fought to steady and calm him while she said fearfully, "Shush… it's alright, Killian. I promise you, you're safe. It's me."

He lowered his head away from her in defeat as he asked brusquely, "Who are you? Why can't you… leave… me alone?"

"It's me," she answered sadly, knowing he was this distraught as he once again believed himself to be trapped within the Underworld and that she was simply another one of Hades' cruel mind tricks. "Killian, it's really me. The woman who truly loves you, your wife. You're alive and I'm right here."

"No, you're not… not real," he replied as he became too weak to continue to fight against her any longer, finally allowing her to get close to him. "Please… just leave…"

Emma laid her forehead gently against his as she raised her hands to both sides of his head and released her powers into him in hope of soothing his mind as she showed him memories of their adventures, memories of their love, of the kisses they've shared, and mostly the memories of the sacrifices he's made for her and those he loved to try to prove to him that he was indeed alive and that she was real. Her efforts seemed to be working as Killian slowly calmed and when Emma pulled back, she looked into his eyes while tears began to form as he finally whispered her name upon recognition, then turned away from her out of shame and closed his eyes.

She took his one hand in her own and held it up to her cheek while she too began to cry, then placed her other hand over his cheek to get him to look at her again as she spoke again softly, "I found you. I'm just sorry it took us so long. You have no reason to feel ashamed, Killian. I don't know what you remember, but if you remember the things she forced you to do under the spell she put you under…"

He quietly interrupted, "I was worried when you fell... I feared… But then I was still alive and knew you must… must have been too. Your friend, August. Did I…?"

"August is just fine," Emma responded assuredly as he confirmed that he did remember everything. "You didn't hurt him, except maybe his pride a little. And I promise you, I'm just fine too. We all are. The Enchantress is dead and both Blackbeard and that woman's servant have been imprisoned here inside the castle, where Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff live. They will never again be a threat to you."

"Aye, but they won't be the only threat," he answered worryingly.

She looked at him in confusion as she asked, "What are you talking about? No one will remember the rumors about you having been to the Underworld and back. I made sure of that by requesting the rock trolls' help, as they had done when they had erased all memories of Ingrid from this kingdom, as well as all neighboring kingdoms."

Hook looked at his wife sadly as he replied, "It was because of Hades that the Enchantress even knew of my existence, Swan. He wants me back… and he won't st… stop, even if he must kill you and all you love to do it."

"I won't let him have you, Killian," Emma responded firmly and then leaned in to kiss him tenderly. "Everyone's going to be alright. You and me, we are going to live a long and happy life together."

"I do wish that, more than anything," he answered despondently, then slowly fell asleep again with the woman he loved within his arms, her head lying against his chest as he held her close.

The next morning, though Killian was still weak, everyone was gathered together at the port where the Jolly Roger was tied up safe and sound, thanks to Elsa and David getting the ship's whereabouts from Blackbeard, as those from another realm were ready to leave Arendelle and return to their home in Storybrooke. Emma stood at her husband's side as she helped him walk, while her parents remained close by in case he stumbled. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and even Sven all came out to say farewell to their friends once again.

Elsa was the first to say something as she reached out to pull Mary Margaret and David into a hug and sated, "I am truly going to miss you, all of you."

Mary Margaret smiled as she replied, "We'll miss you too. It really was good to see you again, even with the circumstances being as they were."

"It's just good that everything worked out for the best," Anna responded as she also leaned in to hug her friends, while her sister moved to stand in front of Emma and Hook.

"I'm happy that you're doing better, Hook," the Queen said sincerely as she reached out and placed her hand over the hook that replaced his own, as he was using his only good hand to keep his hold on Emma. "And I am sorry for everything you've been through since you've come here to Arendelle."

Killian nodded his head as if to bow before her, then he answered quietly, "I assure you, I do not hold these experiences against your kind hospitality and the beauty that is your home. I thank you all for what you've done, for me and especially for Emma and her family. I'm also truly sorry for your loss."

As she too said her own goodbyes, Anna replied, "Our soldiers' deaths are certainly not your fault. They were performing their duty. We defend each other as well as our friends, even if they are from another world. There's nothing more honorable than that."

"Anna's right," Kristoff responded as he pulled David in for a hug, then reached out to shake Mary Margaret's and Emma's hands, as well as the pirate's hook as Elsa had. "Besides, we won. That's what's important."

"I hope you all return one day," Elsa continued. "And Emma, it is wonderful to see you again, both you and Hook. Take care of each other."

David and Mary Margaret reached out to take hold of Hook to help keep him steady as Emma left his side for a moment so that she could pull Elsa in for a hug, as well as Anna and finally Kristoff, then waved over at the talking snowman as she smiled down at him. Once all goodbyes were said, and everyone from Storybrooke were onboard Killian's ship, the royals waved to everyone as the Jolly Roger left the port until she disappeared through the portal that opened for them after a bean was tossed into the sea so they could finally return to their own home.

Days later…

Archie was sitting at his desk inside his office late one night as he finished up writing some notes before going home for the evening, until a knock sounded at his door, startling him and interrupting his train of thought. Pongo, who was laying in the corner of the room in his bed, rose up nervously in awareness, but did not get up completely while he assessed whether or not the person behind the door might be a threat. At the sound of the second knock, Archie rose and cautiously opened it, finding Hook standing before him.

The pirate looked at the psychiatrist nervously as he saw the brief glimpse of worry on the man's face and quickly spoke up saying, "Forgive my intrusion, Dr. Hopper, especially at this late hour."

Archie immediately let him inside as he answered, "No, no, not at all, Hook… I'm sorry, Killian. Please, come on in. It's okay, Pongo. You can relax again. He's a friend. And you're perfectly welcome here. I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting anyone more tonight. Is everything all right?"

"I was hoping we could talk," Killian replied quietly, though it was clear to the doctor that he really wasn't sure where to begin whatever it was bothering him.

"You can talk to me about anything," Jiminy responded as he motioned for his friend to have a seat on the couch. "What's troubling you? Is this about what happened to you in Arendelle?"

Killian looked at the man sitting in the chair before him as he answered, "I just wanted to thank you for coming with the others to help me and Emma. After our rough beginning… I didn't ever expect you would risk your life for me."

Archie smiled and replied, "You're not that man anymore. I knew that a long time ago. I went to Arendelle with Mary Margaret and David, and the dwarfs, because it was the right thing to do, and because despite what you might think, I do consider you a friend."

"And that's what makes this so much harder," Hook responded almost angrily as he stood again while he ran his hand through his hair and turned away.

"I don't understand," the doctor said as he continued to look at Hook even though his back remained to him. "Why have you really come here tonight? What is so hard?"

Killian finally turned back to him as he responded, "Nothing. Never mind that I came here tonight, doctor. I told Emma I was going out for a walk down by the sea to try to clear my head. I've been gone too long. I should really get back. Forgive me for intruding."

As the pirate walked to the door in attempt to leave again, Archie stood and grabbed his arm to try to stop him, although he immediately regretted his actions as Killian winced as if in pain and quickly backed away, momentarily showing fear in his eyes, and when he appeared to calm down, Jiminy stated, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"I'm fine," Hook interrupted curtly.

"No you're not," the doctor retorted in disagreement. "Does Emma know how much you're hurting? I mean, really hurting? Have you spoken with her at all about any of what you've been through?"

Killian shook his head and then answered quietly, "She knows enough. I won't allow my burdens become hers as well."

Archie moved around to stand in front of him again as he replied, "That is part of being married. I know that she will never think of you as a burden. Emma loves you and wants what's best for you."

"She already has far too much to deal with," the Captain responded as he finally turned back to the man trying to help him. "She is the Savior. She's always taking care of others before herself, putting everyone else's needs above her own. I can't let her do the same for me."

"Don't you think that that's up to her to make that decision?" Archie asked and waited for him to continue.

Killian spoke up again saying, "I can't do that. She would never understand. She'd only keep trying to tell me that I'm a fool for feeling the way that I do. I don't even bloody hell understand what's wrong with me."

Dr. Hopper took a seat again, not bothering to motion for the man still standing to do the same as he knew it would be pointless to do so, then with sincerity he finally answered, "You're having nightmares again and you can't sleep, so to avoid disturbing Emma, who knows more than you think she does, you leave in the middle of the night to go out on your ship to remain alone. But what's worse, is that you are having trouble understanding why it is that you deserve to be alive again, after all of the terrible things you feel you've done."

"I did do all those things, Cricket," Hook replied curtly as he turned and glared down at the doctor he knew was really only trying to help him. "You of all people know firsthand of the kind of man I was."

"You just said it yourself," Archie responded. "That was the kind of man you were, but you have long since redeemed yourself and have proven to the people who love you, to this entire town, that you deserve a second chance at life. You've been focusing so much on all of the bad, the evils you committed throughout your life…"

Killian interrupted, "That's because it's been a really long life. I spent centuries searching for a way to get my revenge on the Crocodile, hurting innocent people such as yourself to get what it was I wanted. But what's worse, a part of me believed that I had finally begun to change for the better, only to have failed, as I let everyone down again. I fell back into the darkness because I was too weak to fight it. I hurt Emma and her family, and friends, said and did horrible things."

Dr. Hopper looked at him as he said firmly, "The only thing that we all care about, is that in the end you did fight against the darkness and you gave your life, knowing that you would be sent into the Underworld, to save us all. Surely Emma and her parents have told you this."

"Going to the Underworld is no less than I deserved," Hook answered in frustration. "I finally died and wound up in the place where I belonged, until I was pulled right back, with the constant reminders of the terrible things I've done. The Underworld or Storybrooke, it makes no difference any longer, but at least there, people saw me for who I really am."

"Are you so afraid to believe that there is good in you?" Archie asked sadly. "Henry told me that when you pleaded with Emma to kill you, so that he and her family and friends would be saved, you said you wanted to die a hero."

Killian scoffed and suddenly slammed his hook into the wall in front of him, creating a hole right through the plaster as she cried out angrily, "I only said that to convince her killing me was the right thing to do! I didn't actually believe it. People keep calling me that, a hero, but it's not bloody true. Emma's a hero, her boy and her parents are heroes. So aren't the wooden man child, the bloody Evil Queen, and Robin Hood. Not me!"

The doctor waited several minutes so that his friend could calm down and when Hook collapsed back down to the couch again, he continued as he asked again, "What is it that has you so afraid to admit that you are a good man, a better man than you realize, and not the same man you were back when we first met?"

"Because... I wasn't just reminded of the villain that I am when I was down there," Hook replied worryingly. "Surely Emma explained this to you. She said the two of you had spoken when we were in Arendelle."

"We did, but not about anything you might have shared with her that was meant to remain between the two of you," he responded honestly. "Please, don't stop talking now. I want to help you, Killian."

The pirate captain kept his eyes on the floor in front of him as he complied, "I felt it... every vile deed I've ever done in all my years... I felt their pain, their fear, their hate for me because of the terrible things I did to them… I felt it all. That was my biggest punishment while trapped in that hell, and I deserved it, but the worst of it all, is that all of you keep risking your lives to protect me, a man who doesn't deserve this second chance at life."

Archie nodded in understanding as he answered gently, "Your guilt is tearing you apart inside. Believe me, I know how you feel. I've done things in my life that troubles me too. We all have. Think about how Regina must feel, or even Emma. Despite your wishes, she turned you into a Dark One and that choice, nearly cost her, her family and friends. And it did cost her the man she loves, even though it was only temporary. She's truly afraid for you. She wants you to forgive yourself for everything that we've all already forgiven you for. Because she wants you to be happy."

"How do I do that?" Hook asked despondently. "How am I supposed to live, with the constant reminders that I see every day because these damn scars across my body will never let me forget?"

"You just live, one day at a time and try not to look at the long life ahead of you as a burden to those you love and care about," the man replied with confidence. "Try to remember all of the good you've done, and think of all of the good things in life that you and Emma both have to look forward to. Let the people you love in and allow them to help you though your pain and fears so that you don't have to go through this all alone. And one last thing, you will always have me here to talk to about anything, at any time, because I'm your friend. I may be a cricket, but that's what makes me an excellent listener."

Killian reached out to shake Archie's hand as he nodded and then responded, "Thank you, Dr. Hopper. And I do apologize for what I've done to your wall. I promise to pay for the repairs."

The psychiatrist smiled as he spoke again saying, "No apology's necessary. I've been wanting to remodel my office for years now, but never got around to it. At least now I finally have an excuse. And please, call me Archie. My friends always do."

Three months later...

Emma and Killian were slowly walking along the streets of Verona, Italy just as the sun had finished setting, having finally taken the Jolly Roger across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe for their honeymoon at last, Verona being the couple's first real stop of their journey. After they arrived, they found a beautiful restaurant for a quiet, romantic dinner. While they waited for their food, it was then Emma noticed where it was they were as she looked up at the old brick home across from where they sat, where there was a balcony overlooking the street below, and then looked along the wall beneath it where women were writing letters and placing them within the nooks between the bricks and stone.

"Do you recognize this place, love?" Killian asked as he tried to figure out what had his wife so in awe.

"Yes, and it's even more beautiful than I even imagined," she answered, then looked back at the man she loved upon realizing why he didn't understand what she meant. "This is where Romeo and Juliet took place, the world's greatest love story that's ever been written. That balcony, is where Romeo declared his love for Juliet, or supposedly, if the story were actually real. Truthfully, after finding out that all of the fairytales I thought I knew were true, mostly true, I wouldn't be surprised if Romeo and Juliet was too."

Hook smiled as he took her hand within his own, while she looked into his eyes as she also held onto his fake hand, having replaced his hook with it to avoid scaring those around them, then he replied, "I do love the sound of this, Romeo and Juliet. Tell me about this great love story."

Emma thought for a moment and then responded, "Well, it's about two young people in love after having met quite by chance. Sadly, their families both hated one another, nearly making it impossible for them to be together. Eventually, they could no longer live as they were so Juliet pretended to kill herself with a drug that made her appear as though she was dead so that she could leave her family behind to be with Romeo. Unfortunately, word didn't get to Romeo in time as to what she had done and when he found her, believing she was dead, he purchased poison and drank it, then he died. When she awoke from her state and found him to truly be dead, she picks up his dagger and kills herself for real this time."

"And you call this romantic?" the pirate asked skeptically. "If they had simply planned to fake their deaths for their families together, then they could have lived and been together."

"That isn't the point of this story," she retorted in Shakespeare's defense. "The point is, that they loved each other so much, they were willing to give their lives so that they could be together again in the next life. In a way, their love story is much like ours, including its dark tragedy. Except you were the only one who died, twice."

Emma quickly looked away, as Killian knew that it still hurt her to talk about, as well as himself, so he quickly changed the subject as he asked, "And that wall beneath the balcony, what is the significance of all these woman placing notes inside of it?"

She observed a woman crying over whatever was in the letter she had just written as she put it inside and walked away, then the blonde answered, "It's a place where women come from all around the world to write letters to Juliet, to share their own love stories. They're not actually meant to be read, but… it's the romance of it that makes doing so, so powerful."

"Well then, Swan," Killian replied sincerely as he pulled out a quill and a piece of paper from his leather jacket pocket for her to write on. "Perhaps you should write one of your own."

"Our story's long," Emma responded with a smile and then leaned in close to the man she loved with her whole heart, as she knew he felt for her, for a kiss. "But if you ask me, it's far more romantic than even that of Romeo and Juliet."

The End