A/n: Thanks for all the reviews and adds and follows! Sorry for any mistakes in the previous chapter. I saw a few after posting it, but didn't want to take it down. Forgive me! I'm glad everyone is enjoying the chapter!

I ONCE Upon a Time.

Chapter IV: Mutiny

"What happened?"

Snow gasped as everyone turned to see Henry standing behind them, staring wildly at the church.

"Henry…?" Emma whispered standing. Both mothers ran to him, looking their son over.

"Thank goodness you're alright!" Regina cried, hugging him. "But how?"

Henry scratched his head. "When you grandma sent me to get the garland, I snuck out the back."

Emma started to ask why he would be sneaking away, but noticed the keys in his hand.

She glanced at the familiar car, and back at Henry. He'd left the door ajar and she could see her old duffle bag. "Henry...It was you! You stole Cruella's car?!"

Henry winced at the anger in her voice. "It was just a joke!"

"Like hell it was!" She snapped, crossing her arms. "You erased the footage at the police station!"

Regina demanded to know. "Where were you going?!"

"Nowhere!" Henry insisted but Emma held up a hand. "Uh-uh, no more lying!"

"Back to New York!" Henry blurted, frustrated.

"Henry… why would you run away like that?" Regina whispered.

"I didn't think anyone would notice." Henry sighed.

"Well we did!" Emma told him, her patience gone. "And running off like that was only stupid, but dangerous, kid!"

"That's the point!" Henry snapped. Taking a breath, he brought his tone down. "I'm not a kid anymore!"

He ran off, and Emma began to chase him. David stopped her pursuit. "He needs time."

Regina agreed. "Come on, let's go find out what happened." Hook came up then, giving a brief nod to Emma. "I'll watch her."

Regina and David nodded, walking off.

Hook came beside her. "At least he's alright... That's the important thing."

"I know." Emma conceded quietly. Taking leaning against the car, she stared out at the burning church.

Killian watched with her for a moment before saying. "He wants you to be happy luv. Maybe he just…"

"…doesn't want to be forgotten about?" Emma finished.

Everyone was moving in different directions. Regina and Robin were raising Sabrina and Rowland, her parents had Neal…and now she was marrying Hook.

Emma let the silence stretch between them, getting lost in her own thoughts, not knowing what to say. Was she wrong? Was she moving too fast? The whole town had been caught up in the excitement of a wedding, that no one asked if there should even be one.

Twirling the ring on her finger, a lone tear escaped her. Finally coming to a decision, she rose, taking the ring off.

"Swan?" He asked, giving her a small nudge on the shoulder. Taking her hand in his, he tried to persuade her to talk. That's when he noticed it. Her left hand was blank.

"Ah, I see." He released her hand and gave them both a little space.

"You were right about the church not being the right place." Emma whispered handing him back the engagement ring. "…and maybe now's not the time."

Killian couldn't form a sentence to convey how upset he was. Liam was right about Emma. She cares for him, he would even acknowledge that she truly did love him, but it would never be enough. He would never be enough.

Gripping the ring, he didn't look back as he took a few steps back. He barely heard Emma shouting his name as he walked off into the sunset. All he could hear was the sound of his heart, their heart, breaking.

Killian didn't come home that night, not that she expected him to. She missed him, her heart ached for him, but this thing with Henry wasn't going to fix itself.

Which is what brought her to Regina's so early in the morning. She stood in her parlor, waiting on Henry to come downstairs. They both decided that with all the chaos around them, now wasn't the best time for grounding him.

"You look like hell." Regina stated the obvious, with her sip of tea.

"That's because I'm in it." Emma uttered, forcing herself not to cry. "I sort of broke things off with Hook yesterday."

Regina's eyes bulged, as she gasped. "You what?!"

Emma exhaled and gave a nod. "I realized that we're rushing things. Before he died, we were just in the stages of moving in together, and now we're what? Playing house?"

"It is unconventional." Regina agreed. "But you're also in love. You seemed pretty sure when you said yes."

"I wasn't thinking." Emma sipped her coffee.

Regina snorted. "What's there to think about? We went to the Underworld to get him and now you have a chance for a happy ending and you give back his ring?"

"Hook isn't my happy ending." Emma snapped a little. Regina eyed her closely. "Then what is?"

"Henry." Emma immediately stated. "He's all that matters right now."

Before Regina could debate any more, Henry came down the stairs, a bit surprised to see both of his mothers' standing there.

"Hey moms." He greeted neutrally. "What's up? New villain in town?"

"No, nothing like that." Regina assured with a warm smile. "I have to run into town early, and I know how much you like walking with Emma."

Henry nodded, and grabbed his bag. "Well I'm ready if you are."

Emma reached on the counter and grabbed the extra hot chocolate, handing it to him. "Come on. We're running late as it is."

They bid goodbye to Regina and started on their familiar walk, with unfamiliar silence. They took the long way, both in silence, as she studied him. His childish features almost disappearing completely. Its true-he wasn't a kid anymore…but he was still her son.

"So…" Emma started

"So." Henry echoed casually.

"This is how it's going to be? Us not talking?" She asked quietly.

"I'm sorry I was so upset the other day." Henry said, thinking it was what she wanted to hear.

"Don't be. You were right." She said, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. "You're not a kid anymore, and I need to stop treating you like one."

Henry's eyes brightened a bit. "Really?"

Emma gave a curt nod. "Which is why I'm going to tell you, it's just going to be you and me for a while."

Stopping in his tracks, Henry gaped at his mother. He shook his head and stuttered. "W-what happened? Is Killian okay?"

Emma heard the panic in his voice and set his mind at ease. They continued walking. "Oh, he's fine, I promise. We just realized that maybe things were going a bit fast."

"You broke up with him, didn't you?" Henry frowned.

She paused, deciding her words carefully. "…I didn't break up with him, we're taking a break. There's a difference."

"So we basically went to the underworld for nothing." Henry retorted.

"Not for nothing!" Emma rebuked. "I love him! But I also need to focus on what's important in my life!"

"Which is what?" Henry asked.

"Henry…" Emma's words failed her as she tried to understand why he was so upset. "you of course."

"You don't get it do you?" His frustrated tone made Emma a bit shocked. "No, I don't, but I'm trying to."

"This isn't about you and Killian. I told you that last time, but you didn't listen." Henry scolded.

"Henry," she started, but he shook his head stubbornly. "Not now mom, I need time." He walked off, his hands set in his jeans as he kicking the rocks as he went.

Emma blew out a breath of frustration. At the moment, it seemed like she couldn't get anything right. She'd broke things off with Hook to focus more on her son, whom wanted nothing to do with her. Her mother was still in mourning over the church, and she'd been shirking her duties as Sherriff.

The buzzing of her cell interrupted her mental perplexity. Checking the caller I.D. she sighed. It was the Sherriff's station.

She answered, "Yeah dad…"

"How was school?" Regina asked as her son walked into the kitchen, later on that evening.

"Fine." Henry's simple answer gave her pause. Usually he was always ready to ask some question about something he learned and wondered if it correlated to magic.

"I'm cooking lasagna tonight." Regina stated, as she sliced tomatoes.

"Cool." Henry replied, grabbing a bottled water out the fridge. When he let the refrigerator door slam, she gave up.

"Okay, what's wrong." She demanded to know. This emotional-teenager mode was driving her crazy.

"Nothing." He grumbled, sipping his water.

Regina crossed her arms. "Don't tell me it's nothing."

"Really mom, I don't want to talk about it." Henry sat down at the table, taking out his math homework.

Regina rubbed her hands on her apron, deciding to approach the subject head on. "I talked with Emma."

Henry tensed, but kept his eyes focused on his books.

Regina sighed. "I thought you liked Hook."

"I do." Henry agreed casually.

"Then what's the problem?" Regina asked. "Henry, talk to me. I'm your mother."

"The problem is, everyone doesn't listen when I say I don't want to talk about it!" Henry snapped. Rising from the table, he grabbed his jacket. "I'm going for a walk-be back for dinner."

Regina didn't bother calling him back. Whatever issues her son was going through, he needed to work out on his own. "Emma was right about one thing…he's definitely not a kid anymore."

After walking around the town in circles, Henry found himself by the docks. The salty winds from the sea were a welcomed breeze from his raging temper. The Jolly Roger sat off side, not completely docked. A lantern was glowing at the bow.

"Killian!" He called, and waited patiently. Moments later, a figure appeared in view, to see what had caught it's attention.

"Ahoy!" he called back, giving a slight nod of acknowledgement.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain?" Henry asked.

"Granted!" Killian threw down the roped ladder, and Henry scaled it with practiced proficiency.

Killian offered an arm during the final steps, securing the boy safe on the ground. "What brings you out here?"

"You need to fix things with my mom." Henry said, knowing the pirate didn't like to beat around the bush.

"I don't think so lad." Killian continued his ship work. "She made things pretty clear the other night."

"Remember when you asked me to help you with Operation Light Swan?" Henry said.

Killian nodded. "Yeah. You said our future together will keep her from going dark."

Henry grinned. "And I was right."

"Yes, the mission was a success." Killian smirked fondly.

"Not if you give up now." Henry told him. "it will have all been for nothing."

"Henry…I said things to her. Things that keep me up at night." Killian remembered back over two months ago. "I told her I wanted to hurt her, to hurt her family…"

"That was the darkness, not you!" Henry proclaimed. "You're a hero!"

"I've proven unworthy of her!" Killian breathed heavily as he moved barrels. "Besides, I'm not her happy ending anyway. Never was, lad."

Henry rolled his eyes. "Please don't say me."

Killian eyed him wearily, taking a break from his chore. "When we couldn't find you as the church was burning…I swear I've never seen her so lifeless."

Guilt flooded Henry as he stared out towards the bay. "I didn't think she even noticed."

Killian leaned against the railing. "Do you really believe that your mom would get married without you-or that she'd even want to?"

Henry shrugged. "No one seemed to notice I was missing till all hell broke loose."
"Maybe not, but can you blame her?" Killian asked with a shrug. "I know your conversations have been less than pleasant. She said you were avoiding her."

At that comment, the boy put his hands in his coat, shuffling his feet. "Don't turn this into a lesson."

"Too late, I'm afraid." Killian smirked. Coming to stand next to him, he assured quietly. "I'm not trying to replace him you know."

Henry raised a brow slightly, pretending to be obtuse. "Who?" Killian sent him a meaningful glance.

Henry's gaze lingered on his, wondering how the pirate figured it out. He hadn't mentioned the pain of loss he felt every time he was Robin with Rowland, or his grandpa with Neal.

With a sigh, he confessed. "It's not fair…I'm the author, chosen by Merlin himself. But I can't rewrite the past, I have no magic, and…."

"You can't bring back someone you love." Killian finished. They let the sad moment pass in silence before he confessed, "Sometimes I come out here and I think about him."

"Really?" henry wondered.

Killian nodded. "Aye. He truly loved your mother. He deserves to be here marrying her. Not some dark, tortured pirate."

"My mom loves you." Henry objected.

"She also loved your father." Killian countered. "And he was twice the man I was."

"He left her in prison." Henry's cynical frown made Killian chuckle. "He had the courage to walk away from her, to save her life."

"She doesn't do well with people who walk out on her." Henry crossed his arms. He was quiet for a moment before whispering. "I miss him."

"So do I." Killian agreed. "I miss being in his life. I should have been better when he was kid, but I wasn't."

"I just wanted more time." Henry grabbed a rag and started to wipe down the wood. "Everyone has their father. My moms, Rowland, Sabrina, Violet…"

"I didn't." Killian revealed. "Mine left me."

Henry laughed a bit. "We're like the land of misfit toes."

Killian smiled. "I know I've been in this world long enough to understand that reference."

"I'm sorry she broke up with you." Henry apologized. "It was my fault."

"No, henry it wasn't." Killian assured, patting him on the back. "It's just not the right time. Besides I would have found a way to muck it up anyway."

Henry shook his head. "You don't know that for sure."

"I do." Killian opposed, staring up at the stars. When he was with Emma, they always seemed to close, so bright. Now, they never seemed so far away.

"Whenever things are going too good in my life, the darkness comes, and I sabotage it."

"Being a hero means you do what's right," Henry told him wisely. "Not what's easy."

Killian laughed, realizing the student had now become the teacher. "When did you become so wise?"

Henry smirked. "It kinda runs in the family. We call it the hope gene." Tossing the rag by the barrels, he announced his departure. "My mom is cooking her lasagna tonight."

"Regina the homemaker." Killian chuckled. Henry walked off, with a knowing smile. Everyone knows his mother's lasagna was legendary for being too spicy to digest.

A/n: Hey! Wow-so sorry! Back with another chapter! So as we can see, there is STILL more trouble in paradise.

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-R