Elizabeth stood just inside the city gate and looked around. She felt it immediately. She was home. Back to her own time. And Killian's. Now all that needed to be done… "This is wrong," she said quietly as she looked around.
"What do you mean, love? I remember this city. This is Duncaster," Killian responded.
Elizabeth noticed the hesitation in his voice. She hadn't spoken a word since her outburst. His hesitance was understandable. She pointed to a building across the way. "The market. It was burned down a week before I was taken. Yet there it stands."
"So, we're in the right place, but too early." Emma looked around. "The question is: how early?"
"I suppose there's only one way to find out." She put her hood up over her head to hide her face. When the others gave her a strange look she gestured to the people walking down the street. "This is my home. If they've seen me recently, won't they think it odd there are two of me? And what if the past me sees...me? On that note, you may want to do something about that," she added to Killian, pointing to his hook. "Some people here will recognize you, but you were always a visitor. But they will know that the hook is new, especially if they see you after this."
Killian examined his hook. "What do you suggest? Take it off?"
"Or cover it somehow. Carry something that drapes your hand, or lack of it."
Looking around, he grabbed a cloak that seemed to be discarded along the side of the alley. "My last time time travelling, Emma and I managed to stuff up her parents meeting. I'd like to not change the future this time."
Snow and David exchanged a glance. "Wait, what do you mean?"
Emma stepped forward. "Uh, never mind. Let's get going, shall we?"
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and headed out onto the street. It took her no time to find her bearings and she gestured for the others to follow her. "We'll go the market. With any luck, I'll be able to figure out when we are based on what I remember happening. Unless we are indeed much too early."
They walked in silence towards the market, Elizabeth slightly ahead of them. A stocky figure brushed past them, nearly pushing her into Killian. The man's bright blue naval uniform stuck out from the rest of those buying and selling. She gripped Killian's arm and pointed. "I know this day."
He looked at the man who had passed them, and his step faltered. "Liam?"
"It's the day you leave for Neverland."
Killian started after his brother but stopped when he realized Elizabeth was not with him. "What are you doing?"
"We're two weeks too early," she said with a sigh. "The rebellion doesn't reach Duncaster until next week. I must have been thinking of...saying goodbye. For the portal."
"Maybe something happened that you don't remember, someone there that wanted to keep us apart."
But she shook her head. "I know what happens, how this scene plays out. I don't care to re-live it. You go ahead if you wish."
He walked back to her and lowered his face to look her in the eyes. "Elizabeth…" But his voice trailed off. Maybe he knew. Maybe he could see it in her eyes how hard it had been to say goodbye, even if she didn't even think it would be forever. Now to see it happening. It wasn't too long ago for her. Perhaps her outburst in the forest helped him see that. "Aye, love. You don't need to re-live it. But I think I need to see it. I'd like to see the man I was around you."
David nudged the others and gave a quick glance around. "We'll...take a look around. See if we can hear of anything that may help us. I assume there's a tavern nearby."
She didn't bother responding, and instead watched as Killian walked away and kept to the side of the buildings. With a sigh she leaned back against the side of the closest building. "Two weeks...what do we do now?"
"One thing that will not be tolerated on this ship is bad form." Killian threw the bottle of rum over the side of the ship as the rest of the crew looked on.
"My ship has never been in better hands."
He looked up at his brother who strode onto the ship. "Aye, captain." He looked past him and a grin came to his face. "Give me a moment, Liam. We'll be off at your order." Waiting for his captain's leave, he jumped up onto the gangplank. He took off his hat and placed a quick kiss on Elizabeth's lips. "You've come to see me off." He tucked the hat beneath his arm.
Elizabeth returned his smile and fixed his jacket. "Well, someone has to make sure you look presentable before you hit the open seas."
He took her hands in his and entwined his fingers with hers. He leaned down to catch her lowered eyes. "I won't be gone long, love. After this, we have an extended shore leave. Whatever this mission is, the king is giving us a grand reward when we return."
"Are you calling me a reward?"
"You're always my reward. What I've done to deserve you, I've no idea."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but grin once more. "Don't make me blush, Lieutenant." When she looked up at him, she felt as though there was nothing else in the world. "Killian…"
He looked over his shoulder when there was a whistle. They had little time. "You can't stowaway this time."
"I want to say how proud I am. Of you. You're not a perfect man, but you chose what was important and you worked hard to achieve it. I know much of it was to honour your brother. But I admire your dedication. You're a fine man, Killian Jones."
"Don't make me blush, Miss Warren," he teased with a nervous laugh. He nodded after a moment. "Thank you. I can only hope to continue to make you proud." Killian returned the hat to his head and straightened himself. "Well?"
Elizabeth looked him over and gave him an approving nod. "Does he meet your standards, Captain?" She leaned to the side to see Liam watching them.
"Don't mind me," he called out. "We can wait all day, Elizabeth."
Before she could respond, Killian kissed her again slowly. "I'll be back before you know it, Miss Warren."
"Am I to always be Miss Warren?"
"Not if I have anything to say about it." He straightened his coat once more and stepped back onto the ship. "I must warn you, however," he called out to her. "Being a Jones is not easy."
Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. "I can handle it."
She wasn't sure why she had followed him. Maybe seeing it, seeing their last time together would make him regain memories. When Killian turned away from the scene, the only thing she saw was his surprise. She hadn't wanted to go in the first place. Perhaps her presence surprised him. Perhaps it was something else.
"Elizabeth."
She turned to lead him to the tavern. "The others are waiting for us at the tavern. You'll have to disguise yourself more. You're well known there." But she was pulled back at the elbow, back towards Killian. "What are you doing?"
"We're getting on that ship," he answered and looked around for anyone who might spot them.
"What are you talking about? We need to find out who took me. And we need to meet up with the others. With Emma."
Killian pointed at the ship, at where the other pair of them had stood. "That man is desperately and utterly in love with you. I'm not that man, and I want to know why. Something happened to me between now and when you're taken."
"How do you know it wasn't after?"
"Because that man would have searched the world for you. I don't have his memories, but I can see it in the way he looked at you." He peered down at her and pulled up her hood. "Listen, love. If we find out what happened to me, it may help us find out who took you and why. My changed memories and your disappearance is not a coincidence. We'll go quickly, tell the others of our plan. They need to stay and watch what happens to you."
Elizabeth thought for a moment. She fought back her emotions. For the first time she felt as though she wasn't insane. Her memories of him were true, and now more than ever, he believed her. "How do you propose we board?"
He flashed her a grin. "I know this ship like the back of my...well. Follow me."
"No. Absolutely not," Snow said with finality. "There's no way."
It hadn't taken Killian long to find where they would board, that had been easy. The hard part was now convincing the others in the little time they had of their plan.
"This may be the only way to find out what happened to my memories," Killian pleaded. "I need to do this. And we can't all stow away on the ship."
Emma nodded and put a hand on his arm. "Mom, he's right. We'll keep an eye on Elizabeth from this time, see if anyone seems to be following her or has something against her. Killian, when do you remember coming back to shore after Neverland?"
"The journey itself was a mere four days, but upon returning we did not make port in Duncaster." Killian's forehead furrowed in thought. "Although," he pointed to a random point in the air, realization dawning. "We made port only a day's journey North."
Elizabeth started. "Wait, four days? I thought the mission was to be longer?"
"It would have been had Liam not died."
"So, I was still in Duncaster when you made port," she said slowly. "You...you had already forgotten me. And I was waiting for you. A pirate."
Emma looked between the two and stepped forward towards her. "Then you need to find out why. Both of you, get to the ship. We'll meet you in five days. That should let us find out who took you."
The group finally agreed, and before they parted Killian stepped towards Emma. He glanced quickly at Elizabeth who turned away, and he gave Emma a small smile. "I'll be back before you know it."
Elizabeth followed him from the tavern, thankful that he had kept the goodbye quick. If it had been a goodbye at all. "Killian," she called out quietly. "Are you sure about this? Are you sure you want to return to Neverland?"
Killian stopped and put his hand on her shoulder. "Love, you say you were close to Liam as well. I made peace with what happened in Neverland. But this is where Liam dies. Are you ready for this?"
The thought hit her like a brick. Stoic Liam. Dead because of their king. When she gave him a small nod he led her to the dock and they snuck their way onto his ship. Give me strength…
