The leather flask had long since been emptied between the two of them. They had sat there in silence, wordlessly passing the rum between them - the sloshing of the amber liquid becoming increasingly quieter with each drink. Killian's head pounded - whether it was from the emotions of the evening or the rum - he wasn't sure. Perhaps a combination of the two.

A thin sliver of silver moonlight beamed in through the high window on the opposite wall from him, the shadows of the small back room casting a darkness. There were faint voices still coming from the front of the shop, quiet and agitated, and with a heavy sigh Killian realized that meant they still weren't any closer to waking up Gold.

Dave's head rested into his palm precariously from his extended forearm that was resting rather uncomfortable on his left thigh. The man hadn't moved in a good ten minutes though from his labored breathing, Killian knew he was still awake.

Sighing once more in frustration, Killian abruptly stood. A satisfying pop of his vertebrae as he arched his back and the push of the hard chair against the wooden floor echoed through the room, startling both the boy and David. He was sick of sitting around, kneading his hands together in worry, as a useless man while the woman he loved was Gods-know-where. They should be doing something to find this Merlin character.

Something. Anything.

There was the all too familiar feeling of uselessness and panic seizing up in the back of his throat once more and Killian struggled to gulp back the also all too familiar feel of rage and anger. He quickly strode across the room, flashed his hook against the thick curtain, and pushed it out of the way in one fluid movement. Flinching in the harsh light of the front room, Killian blinked to clear his vision and took in the sight in front of him.

Snow was sitting on the floor, one hand rocking a small bassinet that held a bundle of blankets and her other hand perched on a very large book. Dark circles rimmed her frantically scanning eyes, but determination had set in on her angular face. The queen was nowhere to be seen, nor was Robin, but Belle was still peering over a book sitting a few feet away from the still very much unconscious Crocodile.

Bloody hell.

"Where has our sarcastic Queen wandered off to?" His voice visibly startled Belle, who glanced up at him with a small apologetic look.

"She needed to go to her vault for a few things."

"Ah, of course. The illustrious vault."

"Any luck with anything?" David had come around the curtain with a tired looking Henry close behind, both stifling yawns. Snow finally looked up from her reading with a small frown and shook her head almost unnoticeable towards her husband. David's shoulders sagged for a moment before he let out a disgruntled sigh.

"Well we've gone through the entire —"

Belle's voice faltered off at the sudden slamming of the front shop door, the glass nearly cracking under the strength of whomever was behind it. Killian reached towards his left back side and muttered a curse word when he remembered that he no longer carried his sword back there and instead flashed his hook towards the front of the store.

"Oh for God's sake, put that down. It's just me."

Regina snarked loudly as she brushed her raven hair out of her face and crossed the threshold. The door shut quickly behind her, almost of its own accord, though Killian could still hear the bitter wind howling through the tiny cracks between the door and the floor. There were flakes of snow freckled amongst her hair and she shivered against the freeze.

"Did you find anything? Anything at all?"

Regina shot David an annoyed look before striding over towards the cot with Gold. She furrowed her brow and clicked her tongue against her teeth before she turned back around and facing them. Killian felt rather than heard Henry move towards his other mother, palm outstretched tentatively.

"Mom?"

"We need the fairies, unfortunately. Blue is the only one that can help him." She thumbed over towards Gold's prone body with a look of disdain before settling herself down into one of the chairs. Killian felt his heart begin to thump with excitement, though he was unsettled by the perplexed look upon the Queen's face. Snow and David seemed to notice at the same time as he did and beat him to it.

"And?" The word hung there thickly in the air. The Prince's jaw clenched back and forth as he realized that Regina was holding back. Snow's hazel eyes narrowed and looked down towards the floor.

"Well, she's only going to be able to wake him up. Who knows what he's going to remember or if he will even help us? Robin went to go find her and bring her back here - we will just have to go from there."

"That's the plan? Go from there?" Disdain heavily laced his words and he couldn't help the dark look that he shot towards Regina.

"Yes, pirate - unless you have a better idea. By all means, let me know." A familiar burn ignited in his chest, Killian's emotions already teetering on the edge. A small hand found his shoulder and instantly the anger dissipated, feeling the boy's calming presence from behind him. Killian nodded towards her and settled his gaze once again towards the floor.

A shrill ringing startled everyone in the room and quickly Regina felt in her pocket for the phone, flipping it open against her ear.

"Hello?" Studying her face, Killian saw her gulp visibly and blink before nodding and then seemingly realized the person on the other side couldn't see her.

"Yes, tell her I understand."

The phone clicked shut and Regina eyed the group.

"We need to get something of Emma's. They're nearly here, but we need that to move further."

"Bloody hell! More waiting then, I suppose? All of this to wake a man who doesn't even deserve to be wakened!" The words ripped from his chest, vibrating against his tonsils long after they left his lips. His chest heaved in anger and his hook found itself motioning towards the limp Crocodile.

"Perhaps you should take Killian to get it, David?" Even through his rage, Killian could feel Snow's pointed and concerned gaze. Any other time, he'd feel relief at knowing that she cared enough to feel genuine concern, but instead all he felt was a consuming white hot hatred surge across him. David startled at Snow's words, but quickly recovered, and turned towards the door with his hand outstretched.

"Yes, I think that's a great idea. Hook - after you."

As they exited out towards the cold, dim street and as the door slammed shut behind him, Killian heard Belle's distant soft sobbing and felt his heart sink in regret.

The air was thin with a cold bitterness to it and Killian could still taste the salt from the sea breeze. His hook swung uselessly at his hip and his other hand lay deep inside his interior jacket pocket once more. He'd developed a bit of a nervous tic - stroking the deep engraved letters that marred the silky smooth metal. His fingertips found themselves fingering each loop and corner of the letters - Emma Swan.

His face still felt flushed from the rum and his thoughts cloudy. Taking a glance over towards David, who flanked his side as they strode across the street, Killian felt a bit better that he looked just as bad as himself. Patches of blonde stubble had broken out across the David's jaw, his hair lay haphazardly across his forehead.

It was just after two. Thick clouds covered the canvas of the sky - small flakes of snow fluttering to the ground in a soft cadence. The townspeople of Storybrooke had long since retired to their quaint homes - ignorant of the newest crisis that had befallen across the city limits. A stray thought crossed his mind about how long it would take before they all turned on Swan when they realized she was the newest Dark One - quickly burying the thought, Killian moved his hand from his pocket.

"Do you think the Crocodile is awake by now?"

"Regina said it could take some time."

"Time, indeed." The words felt loose and sharp against his tongue. For nearly a year now Killian had kept a lid on his tongue - occasionally there would be a witty retort and perhaps an off colored comment, but by and by at the end of the day - he bit his tongue more often than he didn't. Emma hadn't been gone but a few hours and already he felt a darkness clawing at him, seeping into the deepest and darkest corners of his consciousness.

Feeling David's stare at the back of his nape, Killian shrugged his forearm and hand back out of his pocket. His hook rarely bothered him, but tonight it felt heavy. A dense pulling at his muscle ached and tingled up towards his shoulder blade, coupled with the rum, left a stabbing ache behind his nasal cavity.

"All I'm saying is - perhaps the Queen isn't invested enough." The words left his mouth (once more) before his thoughts could catch up and he immediately regretted them. Knitting his brow, Killian forged ahead. The road was beginning to slick. He felt a heavy arm against his throbbing shoulder and had to resist to recoil against the touch.

"Hook…" There wasn't anything else to say, he supposed. David seemed to be struggling for words, the alcohol perhaps slowing his speech, when they heard a quick cadence of a light run. Suddenly Henry, red faced and flushed, had emerged from the corner where Gold's shop was. The boy's smile was clear as the midnight stars - Killian felt a warmth spread through his chest at the sight.

"He's awake!" Resting his hands upon his shaking knees, Henry brought his eyes to reach Killian's. Through the boy's wheezes, another smile broke out upon his face, "You'll never guess what he told us."