A/N: A little more Hook? Of course I would! I'm giving out two chapters today :) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Once upon a Time, ABC or any of this characters. Just Aria and Amaya and the chaos I create.
I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Amaya. I bolted up in bed to find she was awake and smiling at me.
"Momma!" She said, trying to climb out of her playpen. Even though she was three, I kept her in a crib, to ensure she didn't sneak around the house in the middle of the night.
"Good morning little love," I said, stretching, and moving to get dressed.
"Momma, where Purdy?" Amaya asked, as I dressed her. She was looking under the bed for our dog and I smiled.
"Purdy is with Auntie Emma and your cousin Henry." I explained as we walked down the stairs. I heard Regina moving around in the kitchen and I kept talking to Amaya.
"We are moving into our new house today and Regina let us stay here last night. Auntie Emma didn't have enough beds for us. Can you say thank you to Miss Regina?"
"Thank you!" She beamed as I sat down at the island with her on my knee.
"You are welcome Miss Amaya," Regina smiled, setting down a plate in front of her, and then grabbing me a larger one.
"I still have the feeling that you and I will be good friends," I said as she placed a cup of coffee in front of me.
"I would like that. I haven't had… friends before." She admitted.
"Then I would be honored to be your first." I smiled, sipping the hot beverage.
"Thank you so much for letting us stay the night." I said again, as I helped her wash up the breakfast dishes.
"I hope you didn't feel awkward. I want to make up for what I've done, and this seemed like a good place to start."
"I have a feeling like you'd do a lot more than simply offer your home. You've been through so much Regina, and I know what it's like to lose the man you loved. Though I don't know how it feels to be used the way you were by your mother, or to feel trapped, I can empathize with you to at least one degree. If you ever need to talk, I'm always here."
"I would like that," She said, as Amaya ran around the kitchen island. We laughed as she kept making silly sounds and talking to herself.
"Can't you sit still for one minute missy?" I said teasingly as I scooped her up and pressed kisses to her face. A doorbell rang the next second and Regina went to go answer it.
"Aria, you bought the blue one on the corner? It's beautiful," My mother said hugging me, and then asking for Amaya.
"It's kind of like the house I always imagined I'd live in one day," I admitted as Emma, Henry and David came to join us in the kitchen.
"I'd like to get things set up in the house first. Which room will be Amaya's and which room I'd prefer the family room to be. I just really need my kitchen organized before everything else gets done," I explained.
"Priorities," Emma chuckled, and I stuck my tongue out at her.
"Is there anything you need? Do you have enough chairs? What about sheets?"
"Mom, calm down. I've got everything I need in Boston. I entrusted the wives of the Fire House to help pack me up, and they did. I trust that everything will be here today."
"Fire House? You never mentioned…" My mom asked Emma, and I finished, "The fake story she told Henry was actually about my husband. We married 4 years ago, and had Amaya a year later. He died… well, a year today."
"Didn't Emma find you when that happened?"
"I went underground for a bit. I was grieving, a lot, and seeing Emma would mean having to explain why my heart felt like it had been ripped out. She wasn't even there when we got married. We had a big fight before I … before I even met Adam."
"Could you… tell us about him?" My mom asked as we all settled down in Regina's living room, she made to leave but I said, "This isn't a private matter. Please stay."
"Alright," She said softly, taking a seat beside Henry.
"Adam…. Was a whirlwind. He was 28 and I was 24. He came into the restaurant I was waitressing at in Boston and refused to leave until I went on a date with him." I chuckled, making my father smile.
"He was a gentleman. He pulled out all the stops, simply taking the evening to get to know me. There wasn't any pressure, and he didn't expect anything from me. We took our time dating. He was just getting a promotion at the Fire Hall and I had finished my degree at Harvard, so we didn't have good schedules. He was the youngest Captain in the history of Boston." I said proudly.
"We got engaged on a whim, and didn't want to wait any longer to be married. We gathered a couple of his buddies from the Fire Hall and one wife that was slowly becoming my good friend, and went to City Hall. Four months later, I learned I was pregnant and Adam was beyond thrilled."
"When she was two, he got called in because a buddy was sick and they needed an extra guy for on-call. So I dropped him off and before we said goodbye, he got called out for a large fire. He… He got trapped under a fallen beam. The smoke was too thick for him to breath in, and the beam had broken his spine." I said as my mother's hand flew to her mouth.
"It was painless, so they tell me. I didn't believe that after they explained what happened. But, I still felt it. I shot out of bed and just knew. I knew something went wrong. I had to hold Amaya for an hour before the Chief showed up at our door. The whole department and their wives were there to escort me to the hospital."
"He was buried with full honors. They retired his badge number, and I wanted to give it to Amaya when she was old enough to know what it meant. It was close to his heart at all times, so she can feel close to his. He was presented with awards, all of which I have in a box, along with the flag they gave me. I don't wear my rings, except around my neck, along with his. One day, when I think I can try again, I'll put them in a box for Amaya."
"He was the one I wanted forever with. But I couldn't even have that. I'm afraid that Adam was the only one I'll ever be able to let into my heart."
"Sweetheart, love is a tricky thing. When you have it, it never truly leaves. You will love again though," David said, taking my hand.
"Not today though. Today is for Adam. He wanted me to be able to move on. But I need to do it at my pace. Today, I remember him, and give Amaya the home we wanted to give her." I said determined.
"You are so much stronger than me," Emma said, smiling proudly at me.
"Not stronger Emma. You were my strength," I said, taking her hand over the coffee table.
It took a couple hours to put everything in the house, as most of my stuff was still in Boston. Everyone was helpful, and even if there wasn't much to do, I was still grateful, I started making dinner for everyone.
"Ooo, I know this recipe," Emma smirked, moving to chop a salad. Marco had come over with the dwarves and Archie to help out, but I invited them to at least stay for dinner if they wanted to. David went to go get Purdy and Pongo immediately sidled up to her, being all cute and puppy like.
"Well, I'm up for free food that isn't Granny's lasagna." Grumpy said, making us all chuckle.
"Emma's only had it once, but she's declared it her favorite."
"Trust me, better than anything you've ever had," Emma said as I popped the casserole in the oven.
"If there was a fire, who would you save? Me or the casserole?" Henry asked.
"That's not fair Henry. The Casserole doesn't have legs," Emma joked.
"Now, who could that be?" I asked, when the doorbell rang. I opened up the door to see Mr. Gold and Belle; I had learned her name was.
"Please come in," I said, moving out of the way before I asked, "Can I take your coats?"
"Thank you," Belle said, and Mr. Gold nodded, shrugging his off.
"I understand you and Regina are getting along." He said as Belle went to join the group. We stayed in the foyer, as I got the impression he wanted to talk alone.
"Yes. She's a better person than everyone believes."
"You didn't know her back then."
"No, but I know her now. She and I, we are the same. We understand each others pain and how its made us stronger."
"Pain also breeds anger."
"My anger left when I realized I couldn't change the reason I was angry."
"You lost your husband."
"To forces I couldn't control. I chose to move past that, and be better, because there is someone in my life I need to be better for."
"Your daughter." He concluded.
"In my case, it helped me grieve. I wasn't idle, didn't sit and let myself get angrier and more depressed. I… turned off those emotions. Eventually they stopped hurting as much to feel. The pain doesn't go away, just hurts a little less each day."
"The pain was still there in my opinion."
"I never said how much it lingers, even when the scars are healed." I said, and he nodded slowly.
"I need your sisters help. I've discovered a way to cross the town border, without losing my memories."
"That's wonderful. But I get the feeling its not for anyone but you."
"I need to find my son, and I need your help in getting your sister to help."
"I thought she owed you one." I pointed out.
"It's not that. I need to locate an object that will enable me to locate him."
"So, how about a DNA test? Emma can match it with anyone on record. It narrows things down." I suggested.
"A fine idea." He said, nodding his head.
"I'm not just a pretty face," I chuckled as I motioned for him to follow me into the larger room.
"Aria, do you play?" My mother said, excited as she pointed to the guitar. All the blood drained from my face.
"You were supposed to hide that!" I stage whispered to Emma.
"Nope. I haven't gotten to embarrass you yet," She smirked. I narrowed my eyes and picked up the guitar in a huff.
"Yes, I play," I said, moving to put it upstairs in my room.
"Can you play us something?" My Mother asked hopefully. I stopped and sighed, "Yeah, I can."
"Don't feel obligated," Emma said, touching my shoulder as I sat down.
"It's not that. I just only have one song in my mind today, and I don't want to sing it now, because I think I'll cry." I said quietly.
"You? Cry?" She said teasingly.
"Em, not the day for that." I said softly.
"I know, it's just, I rarely see you smile."
"I'm gonna pass on the song today Mom," I said quietly, putting the guitar back and going to check on the food. Later, when everyone had eaten, I was able to shoo everyone out as they mentioned the bar. I had a room for Henry set up so he would stay with me tonight, and once I had both him and Amaya in bed, I poured myself a large glass of wine and took my guitar onto the front porch wing. I sat, looking up at the stars.
When the rain is blowing in your face,
And the whole world is on your case,
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love.
When the evening shadows and the stars appear,
And there is no one there to dry your tears,
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love.
I know you haven't made your mind up yet,
But I will never do you wrong.
I've known it from the moment that we met,
No doubt in my mind where you belong.
I'd go hungry; I'd go black and blue,
And I'd go crawling down the avenue.
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love.
The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret.
The winds of change are blowing wild and free,
You ain't seen nothing like me yet.
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true.
Nothing that I wouldn't do.
Go to the ends of the Earth for you,
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love
I ended, looking up at the stars, only to catch a glimpse of a man by my front gate.
"The song of a siren you have, love," Hook said, smiling at me.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking to court a young woman, but she believes me to be nothing more than a pirate."
"When you claim you've come to seek revenge on the man that helped me find my family, I'm a little hesitant to welcome your advances."
"May I?" He asked, politely, pointing at the gate. I secretly rolled my eyes and came down to meet him at the gate.
"No, but you can tell me what you're doing here before I call my sister to arrest you."
"Yeah, she does have a good arm," He said rubbing his chin.
"Or you have a glass jaw," I teased.
"I can count on one hand, the people that have bested me." He said confidently.
"Ha ha." I said, before turning around.
"I came… because you are different. You seem, closed off. I'm usually very good at reading people."
"Well what am I thinking now?" I said, as I grabbed my guitar and my glass of wine.
"Your husband, you mourn him."
"That's not what I was thinking." I said, chugging my glass.
"You cover it up, you hide your true feelings because of your daughter."
"That's not reading, that's called obvious."
"You are drawn to the dark." He said, a cocky smile on his lips.
"I'm drawn to whatever keeps me numb." I said, sitting on the steps.
"And, drinking, helps numb the soul."
"Part of it at least. The rest, I drown with worrying about my daughter, and giving her a good life."
"Tell me, what must I do to prove myself to you, fair lady?" He asked, as I moved to go back inside. I stopped, and turned, "You're kidding right?"
"I jest not."
"You're a pirate. Sworn to pillage, plunder, steal, rape and kill for profit and the pursuit of one thing. Yourself. I've spent my life trying to give everyone what they needed."
"You can't pour from an empty cup, love." He said, countering my argument.
"But I can give what's given to me. A man is only worth what he invests in others, in what he sacrifices for others. He isn't worth his weight in gold if he can't be kind, forgiving, and truthful. It wouldn't matter what I said you'd have to do to win my heart. I can't be won or bought."
"You say that I'm not a man unless I become a sniveling chump."
"My late husband battled and ran head first into monstrous fires to protect and serve the people of his city. He died saving children. You are an honor-less thief. Your revenge won't give your life meaning." I said, as he locked his jaw.
"You insult me."
"You insulted my dead husband. I don't apologize to those I speak the truth to. I know why you're doing this, but even if there was someway for me to seek revenge on the fire that took my husband's life, I know better. It wouldn't make things right, and it wouldn't bring him back." I said, before saying, "Goodnight Captain."
Closing the door, I leaned against the back of it, before sliding down to the floor. Tucking my knees into my chest, I started to cry. I didn't want to wake Henry, but I couldn't help it. Purdy came and rested at my feet, wanting to comfort me.
"Adam, I'm so lost," I whispered to the empty room.
A/N: Tell me what you think. I love getting reviews, even telling me for more chapters haha