Disclaimer: I still don't own Once Upon a Time or Captain Hook/Killian Jones.

Fair Winds and Waves

I folded the paper and sealed it inside the envelope. It was already addressed and ready to go. The past couple weeks had been…difficult, but Cora was gone. Today would be the day that Killian left for our old land. They'd used the weather predictions to determine when exactly he would leave. They learned the time the tides would be around and if he would have the right kind of weather. It was a beautiful day out and it would be a nice time to sail.

I placed the few letters in my purse and then grabbed Wendy's carrier. It was a bit difficult to convince her again to get in the cage, but I did the best I could to coax her. Then I gave up and wrestled her in as gently as I could. She growled at me when I picked it up, but I'd fought a hard battle and won, so I didn't mind her displeasure too much. She would appreciate my hard work soon enough.

I placed her in the backseat, next to all the boxes and bags I had packed inside my car. I wore the necklace Killian had given me and took one long, last look at my house. I smiled sadly and climbed into my car. I did not look back as I drove away. I kept my eyes forward.

Michael Tillman waited for me at the auto shop and he climbed in the car. "You're sure about this?" he asked, pulling the seatbelt over him.

I nodded and drove on to the docks.

I wasn't the only one there, the Sheriff and the Charmings were there to make sure that Killian actually left. Gold was nowhere in sight, happily. I spotted the pirate on the ship, clad once again in black leather. I left Michael in the car and went towards the Jolly Roger. Snow saw me coming and smiled. "Here to say goodbye?" she asked.

I shrugged and asked if I could go aboard. Snow nodded and I walked up the plank. When I reached the part where I actually had to step onto the ship, I called out to Killian, "Permission to come aboard, Captain?"

"Penny-love!" Killian smiled and walked toward me, his coat flapping in the breeze. "Come to say goodbye? Don't worry, I wouldn't leave without at least kissing you senseless to remember me by." He winked.

"Um...well...," everything I had planned in my head fell away now. Of course it did. How stupid of me to think it would be otherwise. "I mean, I wasn't going to let you sail away without saying goodbye, but -."

He didn't listen and instead walked over to a crate on the floor. He opened it and took out the sketchbook. "Here," he handed it to me. "Keep it as a memento of our time together, our friendship." The thick paper book filled with ink and graphite marks seemed far too precious a gift. For both of us. He should not part from it, it was his log of events, places, and people while here in Storybrooke. I didn't want to be the one to hold on to his memoirs when most people were probably thrilled that he was leaving today.

I shook my head. "No."

"I want you to have it." He pressed it into my hand and I pushed it back into his.

"No…oh what the hell," I threw caution to the wind and threw my arms around him in a hug. He hugged me back, laughing. "Tell me something, Killian, can you sail this ship by yourself?"

"It's a challenge, but yes."

"Well…how about a medic? Do you need one of those in your crew?" I let go of him and stepped back. "What I really meant when I asked if I could come aboard is…can I come with you? There isn't anything here for me. No family, no real friends. You're the first real friend I've had all these years. Outside of Wendy." I was beginning to ramble, so I shut up.

Killian considered it. "You know what you'd be giving up, right? You know what you're getting into? A pirate's life is no life for women."

I lifted my chin. "I can do anything I decide to do. And yes, I've thought it through." Everything was planned, too, that's why I'd brought Michael. That's why I'd sealed letters in envelopes, letters of termination of my job, of my house ownership, of my memberships in various organizations, and all that.

"What about Wendy?" he gestured towards the shore with his hook. "Who in this land do you trust to take care of her?"

I smiled. "Well…can you use a rodent catcher on the ship?"

The meaning of my words was understood quickly. Killian looked delighted at the thought of having my cat aboard. "Welcome to my crew, Healer Penny," he told me and then we disembarked to load my stuff. He showed me to my quarters, which were the second best (according to him) and I set about making sure nothing would rattle around as we sailed. Once we were safely moving and he said it was ok, I would go and arrange my room.

He quizzed me on nautical terms, on the parts of the ship and how they worked, and then we went down to say farewell to everyone on land. I turned over my keys to Michael and he promised to find my car a good home. At this point, I no longer cared but it was nice of him to think of it. I received hugs from Snow and Charming, a handshake from Emma, and a hug from Henry.

Killian and I boarded the ship and he began to order me around so we could catch the tide. I had to remember that he was now my captain and this would be normal. We raised the anchor, adjusted the sails, and soon I felt the ship move. We were heading away from Storybrooke – away from the cursed Maine town that had kept me for so long.

"Second star to the right, Captain?" I asked him and let Wendy out of her carrier. She took a few wobbly steps, then sat down and meowed her confusion and displeasure at the rocky feeling of a ship at sail.

"Not at all, love," Killian stood behind the wheel, ready to adjust course whenever. "Straight on home."

"Home," I said. And it would be the first real home I'd had since the curse happened. This ship was my home, Killian my friend, and Wendy my trusted judge, jury, and friend, the standard definition of a pet cat. "Where's home, Captain?"

"Home," Killian said, "is wherever there is good company, food, and drink. Home is wherever we make it."

The waves rolled around and gently struck the ship, but if I didn't watch it, I wouldn't have known of the individual effort. Soon the rocking of the ship became normal to both Wendy and I. We were able to walk around without tripping over our feet. I pulled ropes, learned how to tie knots, and ended up with a lot of robe burns and blisters, but I had never been happier or felt safer.

Finis

Author's Note: Thank you to all who read, followed, and reviewed this story. It's been a great pleasure to see that people enjoy this. I hope you're satisfied with the ending. I didn't touch upon the issue of Cora because the story is about the friendship between Penny and Hook/Killian. Again, thank you!