Here comes chapter four! I hope you guys out there are still reading this and liking it! I would really love to hear any comments, suggestions, or particulars that you liked; reviews absolutely make my day. Without further ado, here's the latest installment…
"Islands in the Stream"
Chapter Four: To Neverland
"Islands in the stream, that is what we are
No one in between, how can we be wrong?
Sail away with me to another world
Where we'll rely on each other…"
Anger, fear, loss, determination, and confusion are cycling through Emma's being at lightning speed as she runs toward the docks with Regina and her parents on her heels. They have averted one catastrophe only to have another thrown at their feet. How did those two get ahold of Henry? He had been right there with them, and the fallout from the crystal had only dazed her for a moment. She is trembling, feeling as though the world is ending, and she sees Greg and Tamara holding Henry between them at the very end of the dock. "The last bean!" Regina cries out from just over her shoulder, and sure enough, Greg is flinging something into water.
Emma forces herself to put on yet one more burst of speed, but it isn't enough. She's still not near enough to do anything when those three figures leap and disappear into a green vortex that snaps closed behind them. She skids to a stop right where they had just stood, but the need to launch herself off the wooden planks and into the water is almost overpowering. The portal is shut, but she can think of nothing else to do in her panicked desperation. They have to do something! She can't lose him now! Every second she stands there helpless, Henry is slipping further and further away.
She stares out over the waves, seeking, scanning, praying for some hint, some solution to appear and let her know what to do. All she sees are the swells rolling in and the clouds billowing white overhead, just as they always do, betraying no trace of the whirlpool that has swallowed the most precious person in her world. Silently begging them to have some idea what to do, Emma searches her parent's faces – even Regina's – but she can see they have no help for her. Gold and Belle have arrived in the meantime, and she demands an answer from him. She can barely register the pawnbroker's admission that there is no way for them to follow without another portal, even for him. She can feel herself beginning to come apart from the inside out. It is all she can do to remain standing instead of falling to her knees in defeat.
Then, Belle gets all of their attention, peering back out over the water curiously. "What's that?" she asks, drawing them all to the shape growing rapidly as it moves toward them on the horizon. At first, it isn't quite clear in the distance, but it is bearing down on Storybrooke – right toward them – at such speed that a ship and its tall, white sails soon become clear. Though she has only been aboard it once, Emma would know the magnificent vessel anywhere. Her heart kindles a flare of hope when she realizes what she is seeing…who it has to be.
She barely catches her breath again before the Jolly Roger is in the harbor, coming to rest at the dock. She doesn't know whether to throw her arms around her treacherous pirate when he appears at the gangplank, or to curse him, snatch the bean, and push him overboard. She settles on neutral words, more than anything just glad they have a chance to go after her son and not wanting to waste time. "I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself," she states.
"Aye," he replies, coming to stand before them, raking his eyes over her, holding her gaze without letting go, "or perhaps I only needed reminding that I could."
She dips her head in a quick nod of thanks, but also to avoid that knowing smile he gives her. Hook can read her all too well, and she is afraid he will sense beyond her gratitude the gladness she feels at his return, that he will glimpse the pleasure she feels that he hasn't sailed out of her life forever.
Regina's impatient voice slices through her thoughts and inner turmoil, snapping with frustration and authority. "Well, what are we waiting for?" she demands, brushing none to gently past Hook and Emma.
Hook gives a condescending mock bow after her, with the cheeky retort, "By all means, after you, Your Majesty." He raises his eyes again to find Emma and gives her a wink, sharing in the joke with her and stealing her breath at the should-be-sinful attractiveness of the expression. She shakes herself free of those thoughts and follows her parents up onto the ship after the Queen. They wait only a short time for Gold to bid Belle goodbye, and then they are charting their course.
Soon, the sea air and salt water spray is misting her face and whipping her hair wildly. Emma tries to ignore the frightening sense of foreboding radiating off both Gold and Hook at the mere name of Neverland, their new heading. She forces her mind to focus only on the fact that at last they are moving. They have already hesitated too long, but finally they are off after Henry. She is with her brave, daring parents straight out of heroic fairytales, two of the most powerful wielders of magic that have ever lived, and one of the world's most infamous pirate captains. How scary should the Boy Who Never Grew Up really seem? It doesn't matter anyway; she will never leave Henry alone again in this life.
Unconsciously, she has moved so that she is in closer proximity to Hook. Not wanting to dwell for too long on why that should be the case, Emma hopes that none of the rest of them has noticed her edging his way. Her eyes widen as he flings the bean far out into the harbor and the water begins once again to swirl in a powerful whirlpool.
"Hold on!" Hook calls out to all of them, his voice ringing with power and warning. He is ordering his entire new makeshift crew, but his stormy, inescapable gaze is locked on her alone, making sure she has a tight grip on a secure piece of the rigging, needing to know that she is safe.
She can feel his genuine concern; knows that he is making this voyage to another world, a world he worked hard to escape, for her. She worries what it means that she has become as adept at reading him as he seems to be with her, but she doesn't have long to dwell. The huge, sucking maw of rushing water is pulling them nearer and nearer, opening to swallow them whole.
Emma watches Hook at the helm, steering his beloved ship right into the mouth of danger. He doesn't look uncertain or afraid; he looks determined, sure, and possibly even a bit invigorated. He was born for this kind of adventure, and seeing him there in his true element stirs something in her blood. She finds herself wanting to rely on him, to believe that he can get them all there and back as he claims. Maybe, just maybe, she will trust him – if only a bit – and let him the guide in this new world, whatever it holds.