Family Visit

Chapter Six

So, they had a plan. It might not be the best plan but at least they had one. And yet nobody appeared to be happy about it. Especially those directly involved.

It didn't help that Regina had no faith in anyone and Merlin still hadn't made contact. Blue had told her that Merlin and the Author were two different people. Henry had also received another page. Still Regina didn't feel any closer to getting her happy ending.

The calmest person was the one who had the most to do and no idea how she was going to do it. Esmeralda knew Quasimodo had faith in her and that's all she needed.

"Penny for your thoughts." Quasi resumed his place by her side. It's where he felt most in control of what was going on around him.

Esmeralda nodded over to where Emma was comforting Killian who was not handling his Sister's part in the plan well. "She's good for him. She anchors him."

Trust Esmeralda to be thinking of someone other than herself at a time like this. "Are you ready to help save this town?" He knew she could do this, but Esmeralda was taking his word that she was able to do this.

"I was wondering." Belle sat down on the other side of Esmeralda. "Did you ever swear the Pirate's oath?" Killian hadn't mentioned it since that night in the shop. It was as if it didn't happen. Not to mention it was sort of creepy him touching her chest.

Esmeralda giggled. "Pirates don't make oaths. That's sort of why they're Pirates." She stopped giggling when she saw the expression on Belle's face.

"Who told you about a Pirate's oath?" Quasi could see that something was wrong with their new friend. "Perhaps you're thinking of parle. But that's not really an oath, it's more of a rule."

"Actually it's more of a guideline." Killian corrected. "Who told you there was such a thing as a Pirate's oath Belle?"

"You did. I mean I realise you told me to never mention it, but I wondering what the history behind it was." Belle was beginning to feel concerned. While Killian might want to keep the oath a secret, there was no reason his Sister would.

"I've never spoken to you of a Pirate's oath." Killian frowned. "I know you can look it up in one of your books."

"If it wasn't you then who was it?" Then it dawned on Belle exactly who it was. "Oh my God. That means Rumple has the dagger."

"What?" Regina couldn't believe what she was hearing. "How many times are you going to lose that dagger to Rumple?"

"He looked like Hook." Belle couldn't believe Rumple had done this to her again. "I would never willingly give him the dagger."

"How do we know this is the real Hook?" Regina looked Killian up and down. If Rumple had been with them all along, they had told him their plan. Some heroes they were.

"Esmeralda can tell the difference." Emma was almost positive the real Killian was with them at the moment. However she knew that Regina would put it down to her making eyes at her Pirate. That wasn't something she could accuse his Sister of doing.

Regina gave an unladylike snort. "And how exactly can she do that? Does Captain Guyliner have a special aura?"

"Everyone has a special and unique aura, but I see someone's true nature." Esmeralda calmly explained.

"If this wasn't Killian, we'd already know." Quasi grasped Esmeralda's hand. "She is talking about Killian, isn't she?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately yes. Gold doesn't know that we've figured this out. That could play in our favour. He doesn't realise that Esmeralda see his true nature. Disguising himself as Hook has worked before, he'll try it again."

"But how does that help the rest of us?" Charming wasn't confident he would be able to tell the difference. "We can't exactly walk up the middle of the town holding hands with Esmeralda."

"That would look rather obvious." Snow admitted. "Is there some other way we can all see Rumplestiltskin's true nature?"

Henry brow furrowed as he thought of the possibilities. "What if we could tag Killian? Something only we would notice."

"Does that hickey on his neck count?" Esmeralda as Emma blushed and Killian grinned proudly.

"Not really what I meant, but now you've pointed it out I'm finding it hard not to notice it." Henry felt a little uncomfortable with the obvious display of his Mother's affection for the Pirate. Yet he was pleased that his Mother was happy. Perhaps tagging Killian wasn't such a good idea.

"Just keep an eye on my Sister." Killian loved it when his Swan blushed, but she was obviously feeling uncomfortable. "If it's not me, she'll know."

"Let's get this show on the road." Emma would prefer to get this plan into place and started so they could get back to looking for the Author if Merlin wasn't going to help them. She also wasn't eager to be put to the test of telling the real Killian from the Rumple in disguise Killian.

Killian caught her hand as she walked past him. "You would be able to tell the difference as well Love." He murmured, somehow making it so intimate that she blushed again.

"How can you be so sure?" She wasn't so sure now. Hell, Belle hadn't known it had been her husband in disguise. Why was he so sure that she would be able to tell the difference.

"Because you know me better than anyone. You knew there was something wrong when the Dark One had my heart." He had the upmost faith in her and after all he could read her like a book and she was beginning to be able to do the same with him. It was more than her gift of being able to tell when someone was lying to her.

"Let's hope we don't have to put that to the test." She squeezed his hand and headed for the door.

Quasi tugged Esmeralda closer. "Are you positive you want to do this?" He was all for helping Emma and Killian, but this was getting more complicated by the moment.

"I can do this as long as you're with me." Esmeralda stood on her tiptoes and kissed him briefly. "But next time Killian and Emma can visit us. Unless it's for a wedding or birth."

"That would be best, I think." Quasi followed his Gypsy out the door. He had a feeling things were about to get interesting.