AN: Well, I think I'm officially addicted to writing Hook and Wendy scenes. They're like crack, I tell you! Here, we have more CS angst, plus Captain Hook singing! I knew I wanted to include a scene (or two, or three) of Hook singing after seeing the youTube video of Colin O'Donoghue singing 'All Along the Watchtower'. The song is 'If I Were a Blackbird'; it's an old Celtic song that I sang back when I was in a choir. There are so many different versions of the melody, but Clary Croft (check it out on youTube) performs a version of the one I'm using. If you check out the choir versions of the song, you'll get an idea of the harmonies I'm aiming for. Also, I've tweaked the lyrics a bit, so it more appropriately reflects the romantic tangle I'm aiming for. One final thing; I'm using a little artistic license and saying that when Baelfire was taken by the Lost Ones, he lost the jacket he was wearing during the struggle. Just for story progression.
Legal Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time or its characters.
Chapter Four
Three hundred years of living on a ship had honed Killian's ability to wake easily, despite his lack of sleep. After one day in a new place, his internal clock was able to keep track of the sun's position even when he was in a windowless room. That was why, at sunrise the next morning, he sat up in bed, alert, and ready to face the new day. He twisted his hook into place and dressed himself. As he donned the shirt he'd been wearing the previous night, he vaguely recalled fragments of a conversation with Emma. He frowned in concentration as he tried to remember specifics. Looking around the crew quarters brought to mind Emma's objections with him not sleeping in his own cabin, but he found he didn't care. Last night he'd been too tired, and too worried about Wendy's condition to concern himself with offending Emma's delicate sensibilities.
Wendy. Killian smiled to himself. He would be seeing her soon and be able to judge for himself that her condition had improved. He finished doing up his boots and stood, pulled his coat on. Quietly, so as not to disturb the sleeping bodies in the room, he left and made his way up to the deck.
Neal was at the helm, and he was alone, topside. He nodded in greeting.
"We could drop anchor," Killian suggested. "We've been circling the bay for hours."
Neal shook his head. "This gives us something to do besides sit around and wait," he said.
Killian snorted softly. "Sailing around and waiting is better?" he countered offhandedly. "I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want anything?"
"That would be great, thanks," Neal replied. He wasn't sure what kind of rations Hook kept on board, but Neal was certain that anything would be better than coconuts at this point. If he never saw another coconut again, he would be perfectly happy.
Killian headed to the galley and filled two pewter mugs with hot mulled cider and stuffed some sea biscuits into his pocket. When he returned to the bridge, he handed Neal a mug and offered him some biscuits.
Neal accepted the items gratefully. He dropped the sea bread into his cider and waited for it to soften. "There aren't any weevils in here, are there?" he asked apprehensively, referring to the hardtack.
Killian shook his head as he set down his mug on a nearby barrel so he could copy Neal's actions. "Enchanted ship," he said in explanation. "Never saw a rat while you were on board, did you?"
Neal couldn't stop the disbelieving huff of laughter that escaped him. "You know it's funny, how obsessed my father was with magic and power. He used it to manipulate people and situations to his advantage," he remarked. "And here you are, using it for pest control."
"It was the king's idea," Killian clarified, sipping from his mug. "We were preparing to go to war. He didn't want his men fighting vermin and disease when they should be concentrating on fighting the enemy. When you've lived on a ship for as long as I have, you appreciate the small things that make your life just a touch easier. Such as hot or cold cider whenever you need it, or, biting into a sea biscuit after five straight months on the water and knowing you don't have to worry about maggots."
Neal took an experimental bite of his biscuit. It could have probably used another minute, but he was too hungry to wait. He quickly drained his mug as well.
"You know where the galley is, if you're still hungry," Killian said, taking his time with his own breakfast. It likely had something to do with the fact that he only had one hand. "There's a pot for sweet porridge, if you'd like."
"Sweet porridge?" Neal echoed, not sure he'd heard correctly. That didn't seem like something one would normally find on board a pirate's ship
"Aye, an old woman traded it to me for safe passage home. She said she'd been gifted it when she was a child and she and her mother had nothing else to eat," Killian explained. "It'll make porridge without the need for a fire, which is useful. I had a plaque bolted to it engraved with the proper incantations to start and stop it. Otherwise, I'd have had my men cleaning oats and syrup off the walls every fortnight."
Neal shook his head as he recognized the fairy tale of the magic porridge pot. "I'm good, thanks," he replied, but made a mental note to try it out later.
Just then, Mary Margaret's head popped up from below. "Oh, good, you're both up," she remarked, causing them to turn to her. "There's someone who's eager to see the two of you."
Wendy emerged on deck, looking as skittish as a baby deer. Her hands worried the edge of the cream-colored vest she was wearing, which, incidentally, happened to be Killian's old naval vest. She wore the vest over a simple white linen shirt with a high collar. A worn, brown woollen jacket with leather cuffs and burgundy tails covered her slim shoulders and was tied with a sash at her hips. She was also wearing fawn-coloured leather trousers that had been tucked into knee-high black leather boots. Mary Margaret had obviously helped with Wendy's hair, taming the blonde curls and weaving a thin red scarf through the length and into the long braid that hung over her shoulder.
Killian smiled disarmingly. "Look at you, lass," he greeted her with a laugh. He directed his gaze to Mary Margaret and smiled approvingly. "Well done, your Highness." He held Wendy at arm's length and took in her clothes. "You went to sleep a little girl and woke up an elegant pirate!"
Wendy smiled shyly. "Do you think so, Killian?" she asked.
"Absolutely," Killian insisted, his eyes sparkling. "You're Red-Handed Jill, through and through."
Wendy laughed delightedly, remembering her pirate moniker.
*****Flashback*****
"How long have you been a pirate?" Wendy asked as she stood by Killian at the ship's wheel.
"Over three hundred years," Killian replied as he kept his eyes on his crew and on the sea.
"You must have all sorts of treasure," Wendy remarked interestedly.
Killian couldn't help smiling. "Aye, piles of it," he confirmed. He noticed the mainsail flapping in the wind. "Tighten up that line, Mister Starkey!" he commanded.
"Aye, Captain Hook!" came the reply.
"Captain Hook?" Wendy echoed curiously.
Killian waved his left arm. "Captain Hook sounds more imposing than Captain Jones, doesn't it, lass?" he countered. "A proper pirate should have a proper name; one that strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies."
"Could I have a pirate name?" Wendy asked hopefully.
Killian laughed. "Do you really want one, love?"
Wendy nodded enthusiastically. "What should mine be?" she wondered aloud. She looked up at Killian. "What are some famous pirates' names?"
"Well, Captain Hook, obviously," Killian replied with a wink. "Let's see, there's Captain Blood, Captain Jack Sparrow, Long John Silver, and the Dread Pirate Roberts, to name a few."
Wendy was silent as she contemplated her options. Inspiration struck and her eyes lit up with glee. "Red-Handed Jill!" she exclaimed.
"Red-Handed Jill," Killian repeated uncertainly.
Wendy's face fell. "Is that not frightening enough?" she asked worriedly.
"Red-Handed Jill, scourge of the ocean," Killian proclaimed with a dramatic sweep of his arm. "Her hands, stained red with the blood of her vanquished enemies."
Wendy wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I don't know if I like that," she confessed.
"We can work on your legend later, love," Killian promised. "Now, one of the marks of a fine pirate is being able to sing a proper sea shanty." He looked down at Wendy. "Can you sing, my dear?"
Wendy nodded eagerly. "I sang to John, Michael and Bae all the time!" she said proudly.
"Well then, let's teach you a song," Killian replied decisively
*****End Flashback *****
Wendy turned to look at Neal and gave him a timid smile. "Hello, Baelfire," she said softly.
Neal couldn't get over the fact that this beautiful young woman standing in front of him was his childhood friend. Who was now looking at him apprehensively due to his silence. He quickly moved to enfold her in a tight hug to allay any doubts in her mind. "I'm so glad you're all right, Wendy," he told her, once he'd pulled back slightly, although his arms remained wrapped around her. "We were so worried about you."
Wendy smiled, reassured. She leaned in to give Neal another hug, needing his familiarity. "I'm sorry to have troubled you," she whispered against his shoulder.
Neal released Wendy and patted her hand comfortingly. "It was no trouble. The important thing is that you're better, and that we're bringing you to your brothers," he told her.
"Thank you, Bae. Do you think my brothers will recognize me?" Wendy asked. "I hardly know my own face in the mirror right now."
"Wendy, you look beautiful," Neal assured her. "I know that John and Michael will be ecstatic to see you."
Wendy's cheeks turned pink. She was saved from saying anything by the arrival of David, Henry and Emma climbing the stairs topside.
"Wendy! You're all right!" Henry exclaimed happily. He ran over to where she and Neal were standing. His eyes widened as he took in her new appearance. "You got taller," he remarked.
Wendy laughed shyly. "I suppose I did," she agreed with a smile.
"You must be hungry. I know I am," Mary Margaret said to Wendy. She looked to everyone else on deck. "Anyone else starving?"
Henry shook his head. "We found the galley. We had porridge with chocolate and peanut butter!" he said gleefully. He turned to Killian. "That pot is so cool!"
Killian chuckled. "I'm partial to honey and ginger, myself," he replied.
Henry's eyes grew large as he realized exactly how magical the porridge pot actually was. His mouth started watering as he thought about all the flavours of porridge he could try.
Emma rolled her eyes as Henry practically dragged Mary Margaret to the galley. "I hope he doesn't make himself sick," she remarked.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," David told her. "He definitely wasn't having three meals a day in Neverland." He headed to the helm so that Neal and Killian could spend time catching up with Wendy.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," Emma told Wendy sincerely, before following her father so that she could surreptitiously observe the two men who were vying for her affection interact with the younger woman. Something drastic had obviously happened because the animosity between them that had been prevalent in Neverland now seemed non-existent. She felt a twinge in her chest as she watch them laugh heartily at something Wendy had said, and frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?" David asked, noticing her expression.
Emma shook herself, snapping out of her pondering. "Nothing," she said dismissively. "Just thinking about stuff."
"Honey, you know I'm here of you ever need to talk," David told her. "Your mother, too."
Emma smiled and reached out to squeeze David's arm affectionately. "I know. Thanks, David," she said. She looked over and saw that Mary Margaret and Henry had returned and they'd brought Wendy a bowl of what was likely to be porridge. The three of them were sitting on various crates and barrels as they ate their breakfast and chatted pleasantly. Killian and Neal had moved away slightly, to give them some room, and Emma felt her frown return as she realized they both still had their attention focused on Wendy.
Meanwhile, oblivious to what was going through Emma's mind, Killian and Neal continued to discuss their friend and the changes she'd gone through.
"I'm surprised you had boots lying around that were small enough for Wendy to wear," Neal remarked, unable to take his eyes off of Wendy.
Killian sighed. He'd not been looking forward to this moment. "They belonged to your mother," he said softly. "The boots, the trousers and the shirt were all Milah's. The vest was mine. And the jacket…"
"Is mine," Neal realized, recognizing the garment he'd lost the night he'd left the Jolly Roger. He stared at Killian with an unreadable look in his eyes. "I can't believe you kept it all this time."
Killian tried to brush off the significance of his actions. "It was in the cargo hold. It was a perfectly good jacket. It would have been pointless to let it go to waste," he replied, trying to sound dismissive.
Neal let the matter go. It was clear that Killian didn't want him to read to much into the jacket, but still, Neal was touched that that other man had kept it. It warmed his heart now to see Wendy wearing it, along with his mother's clothes. "You know, when we get to Storybrooke, you and I are going into a proper bar and getting completely hammered," he said. "We'll hash everything out then. One or both of us will probably need stitches and I can definitely see the police throwing our asses in the drunk tank."
Killian couldn't keep the smile off his lips as he nodded. "I'd like that, Bae," he replied.
Some time later, Neal had taken over at the helm after Henry had begged David for another sword lesson. The boy had found a crate full of weapons in the cargo hold and had convinced Killian to let him borrow a pair of jewelled rapiers, which, Killian had allowed, pending Emma's permission as well. So, the sound of clashing metal filled the air as grandfather and grandson moved about the deck, while Emma and Mary Margaret watched; their expressions a perfect mix of fondness and trepidation.
Tinker Bell had flown off earlier, saying she wanted to explore the remains of the Enchanted Forest before going to Storybrooke. She promised to return before nightfall.
Killian and Wendy were standing at the helm with Neal as Wendy told them of her ordeal in Neverland. Her voice faltered several times but she persisted, strengthened by the silent support of the two men beside her.
"I'm so glad we've left. It feels like another lifetime," Wendy remarked as she paced the deck. She took a seat by the mainmast and leaned her head against the wood. She gave Killian a wry smile. "Now, I'm a pirate."
"A pirate, are you? Let's have a song then," Killian commanded with a smile.
Wendy blushed. "Oh, I couldn't!" she protested, looking bashfully over at David, Mary Margaret, Emma and Henry.
"Come on, sing something, Wendy," Neal urged. "We've got nothing to do until my father and Regina get back. I used to love hearing you sing."
"Yes, please sing," Mary Margaret said with an encouraging smile. "I'm sure you have a lovely voice."
"Coming from Snow White, that's a huge compliment," David chimed in. He and Henry had finished their lesson and were catching their breath, leaning against the railings.
Wendy could feel herself giving in to their pleas. She thought about which song she would sing and looked to Killian. "You'll sing with me?" she asked hopefully.
Killian found himself unable to refuse. He looked around and saw that there was no lack of skepticism on the faces of his would-be audience. Emma's expression was slightly challenging, as if daring him to sing. Killian nodded. "Of course, my dear," he assured Wendy. He took a seat beside her and waited for her to begin.
Wendy closed her eyes as she tried to recall the words that Killian had taught her so long ago. She took a deep breath and began to sing.
"I am a young maiden, my story is sad;
"For once I was carefree and in love with a lad.
"He courted me sweetly by night and by day,
"But now he has left me and gone far away."
As Wendy started in on the chorus, she heard Killian's smooth tenor join in and she opened her eyes and they shared a smile as his voice harmonized with hers.
"Oh, if I were a blackbird, I'd whistle and sing;
"I'd follow the ship that my True Love sails in.
"And on the top rigging I'd there build my nest,
"And pillow my head on his broad golden chest."
Killian's voice fell away as Wendy sang the next verse. Caught up in the song, she smiled tenderly at the man sitting next to her.
"My True Love is handsome in every degree;
"My parents despise him because he loves me.
"But let them despise him and say what they will,
"While there's breath in my body I'll love that man still."
Emma couldn't fight the prick of jealousy she felt as Wendy sang to Killian. They looked so comfortable together, and the words of the song resonated within her. The parallels between the characters in the song and her and Killian were obvious.
Killian joined in as they sang the chorus again, and then, it was his turn to take the lead. Almost unconsciously, his eyes searched out Emma's face and he held her gaze with his own.
"If I was a scholar; could handle a pen;
"One secret love letter to my True Love I'd send.
"I'd tell of my sorrow, my grief and my woe;
"If I could but find her I'd crown her with gold."
Emma found herself unable to look away from Killian's intense blue stare. Not to mention, he had a beautiful singing voice that gave her goose bumps. She seemed to forget how to breathe, and her mouth ran dry. She was afraid she was about to do something embarrassing, like throw herself at him, when, Killian broke eye contact to sing the chorus with Wendy again. The connection broken, Emma sucked in a lungful of air, much to Mary Margaret's amusement, having witnessed the entire scene.
Killian sung the last verse to Wendy, his eyes filled with laughter.
"I promised to take her to Donnybrook fair;
"To buy her red ribbons to tie in her hair."
As he sung that line, Killian reached out to tweak the red bow in Wendy's braid, making her giggle.
"And when I return from the ocean so wide,
"I'll take her and make her my own loving bride."
Killian wrapped his arm around Wendy's shoulders as they sang the chorus one final time. They swayed side to side gently, in time with the rocking of the ship. This time, Killian sang the melody, while Wendy provided the harmony.
"If I were a blackbird, I'd whistle and sing,
"I'd follow the ship that my True Love sails in;
"And on the top rigging I'd there build my nest,
"And pillow my head on my young lover's breast."
Henry applauded loudly, whooping enthusiastically. David and Mary Margaret followed suit, with slightly less intensity but the same level of sincerity. Emma and Neal's applause, by comparison, was almost reluctant.
"That was amazing!" Mary Margaret gushed. "Such a beautiful song!"
Wendy smiled modestly. "Thank you," she demurred. She glanced to the man at her side. "Killian taught it to me."
"Seriously, that was great," Henry told them honestly.
"Thank you, lad," Killian replied, smiling. He looked around and saw that Emma had disappeared down below. He wanted to hug Wendy for choosing that particular song to sing. While it did showcase her beautiful voice, he also found it very significant with regards to him and Emma. After a few whispered words in Wendy's ear, he got up to search for Emma.
Meanwhile, Neal was conflicted. For some inexplicable reason, he had the overwhelming urge to punch Hook in the face. And all he'd done was sing a song. Really well. He had no idea why he was feeling this way. Hook hadn't done anything to violate their unspoken truce. He looked over and saw Wendy looking at the pirate with admiration in her eyes and he realized that he was envious of all the time she was spending with Hook instead of him. His hands clenched the wheel tightly as he watched Hook whisper something in her ear, and she smiled and nodded. Wendy was his friend too, why should Hook get to monopolize all of her time?
Just as he was thinking that, he watched as Hook headed below deck. At the same time, Wendy made her way to the helm smiling brightly at him. Whatever Neal had been thinking about before faded away as he returned Wendy's smile.