KILLIAN POV
He wasn't able to hear Graham's secret, but whatever it was it worked. She was free. He watched her stand and bend back down to Graham and cup his face gently. His heart sunk to his feet when he saw their tender moment after she was free. He was hoping she'd heard his secret. That he was glad his life had been turned upside down, because he was able to meet her, and grow to love her. More than he had ever loved anything. It was still his darkest secret of the heart because he knew that had anyone known he could have been destroying relationships. The teachings of his brother could only get him so far apparently, because he was torn between doing what was right, and doing what he so desperately wanted. He wanted to be with her so badly, and it was painful to watch her with another.
They made their way back across, she was still smiling at Graham when she jumped into the awaiting arms of her father.
"Emma, I'm so glad you're alright. Did he hurt you?" He said cupping the back of her head the way he has always done.
"No, I'm fine, Dad. I can't believe you guys are here." When he set her down she looked at her mother with a distrustful look in her eyes.
"You should have told me. A long time ago." She said crossing her arms.
"I know, Emma. But I didn't know how. I was scared and all I wanted to do was protect you."
"You should have been honest with me. You are supposed to be a hero, and all my life you've told me to do what was right and not what was easy. You went against everything you've ever taught me!" She said, her voice rising.
"Emma, I know I took the easy way out when I didn't tell you the truth. Each day I woke up, intending to tell you then I just couldn't. I couldn't do it because I couldn't bear the thought of you looking at me the way you are now." She said.
"Can I still get it? I know you went to Blue, but is it gone for good? My magic?" she asked her mother a little more calmly.
"We can find out, as soon as we get you home."
"I missed you guys, it feels like I've been here forever." She said stepping into the Queens embrace, he could see the relief on her face when her daughter was in her arms.
When she stepped back, she finally looked at him. He, too, felt as though it had been an eternity since he last laid eyes on her.
"Emma." And that's all it took, was him whispering her name, for her to run into him so forcefully he nearly fell back. Her arms were wrapped around him so tightly he couldn't breathe, but he didn't care. His arms were around her just as tightly and he had no plans on letting her go. Her hands went to the back of his head and he felt her running her fingers through it. "Are you ok?" he asked.
He felt her nod into his chest, and he rested his chin on top of it. She was ok. She was in his arms, and safe.
Pan.
He saw red. Before, he was too concerned for Emma's safety to be truly outraged, but know that he knew she was safe he was thinking of the different ways to make that little demon pay.
"Killian, are you ok?" she asked pulling away from him and placing her hand on his cheek.
"You're here because of me. It's my fault. My actions with Felix caused him to seek revenge on me, by taking you."
"Killian, this isn't your fault. It was Pan, he took me." She said cupping his face gently.
"I'm so glad you're safe." He said taking her in his arms once more and burying his face in her neck. He looked up after a moment and noticed how they were being watched.
"We need to get out of here. I'm sure Pan knows by now that we are here, and definitely that this is the first place we would be going, It's a matter of time before he…." Jones said leaving the rest unsaid as he looked toward the entrance of the cavern.
The yelling and whooping of incoming company had drawn his attention.
"It's the Lost Boys." Killian said stepping away from Emma and drawing his sword. The rest of their company did the same. Emma looked around and Killian remembered that she was unarmed. He handed her a spare dagger he carried with him. "Avoid their arrows, love, they are coated in a deadly poison. I trust your skills but please, stay behind me." He pleaded taking her arm and stepping in front of her.
"You're crazy if you think I'm not taking revenge on the boys who put me in that cage." She said standing next to him. Everyone had swords out, bowstrings tight, or some other form of weapon in their hands as the sound of approaching Lost Boys continued to grow louder.
"When they fight, they like to keep their distance. They coat their swords and arrows with the poison so they don't have to get in close. That's how we beat them." Jones instructed them.
They formed a wall in front of those with bows and arrows, the King was to Emma's left, he was standing to her right, Liam was next to him, and Jones was next to Liam.
"Try not to kill them." Snow ordered.
"Where'd the Dark One go?" the king asked.
"We can worry about him later Charming!" Snow said launching an arrow into the knee of an approaching lost boy. Once one came in, they all rushed in. There were about 20 of them against the 7 of them. They all rushed in, weapons of different types and they charged at the group. As soon as they took one down, another took its place. The one Killian was fighting knocked his sword out of his hand and he had to dodge his dagger. As it went by him, he noticed the lights reflecting off the black tip. His next blow barely missed his arm as he went for his weapon. The boy smiled at him before he let out a painful scream before he fell to the ground with a small dagger in his shoulder. He looked over the body and saw that Emma had probably saved his life.
"We are very outnumbered." Liam said as he fought one off.
"Ah, brother, where's your sense of adventure!" Killian asked as he ran and picked his sword back up beginning to fight off another.
"I'm not saying I'm not enjoying myself, there are simply activities that I enjoy more than defending my life from Lost Boys." He said with a grunt as he knocked out the one he was fighting.
"Look out!" he heard Jones yell. He looked up and saw one of them charging at Emma while her back was turned fighting another. He got there just in time, as the boy raised his sword, he jumped in front of Emma and deflected it.
"You have no honor to attack a young girl with her back turned!" he yelled and the fight was over before it started. He swept the young boys feet out from under him with his blade, and used the heel of his boot to knock him out.
Liam and Killian ran over to join where his father was staying close to Emma. The three Jones' stood with their backs together, fighting them off, watching as their group stayed strong and took down every Lost boy that came their way. It was an adrenaline rush like he'd never known. To his right was his brother and behind him was his father. A scene like this had crossed his mind many of nights, granted they weren't in Neverland fighting for their lives, but for the first time since he found out they were alive, he truly felt he had his brother and father back.
It took a moment to realize they weren't under attack anymore, all the boys stunned and lying on the ground moaning. How they had managed to not kill any of them was lost on him. His eyes searched for Emma and he found her near her father, hardly breaking a sweat. She had dirt on her face and her hair had fallen out of the lose knot she had tied it in. She must have felt him watching her because she looked at him and smiled.
She walked over to his father, "Thank you. We didn't exactly have time for pleasantries. I could have died, so thank you." She said with a smile.
"My pleasure, your highness."
"That was too easy." Snow White said throwing her bow over her shoulder.
"That was easy?" Charming asked laughing, "I've really gotten old if my wife can outfight me now."
"I've always had the upper hand on you, especially when we met."
"Ah yes, I was just stunned that the robber I planned on knocking unconscious and taking prisoner just happened to be the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."
"You know that line works every time, and it isn't fair." She said giving in and stepping up to stand next to him.
"Wait, you met during a robbery?" Jones asked laughing.
"Oh yeah, failed to mention that when I was a bandit I enjoyed stealing from the royal carriages, well he happened to be in one of them one day with his fiancée." She said leaning into his side.
"You two aren't the typical King and Queen are you?"
"Not in the least."
"This story sounds inter…." Liam started but was interrupted.
"This story sounds like a story for another day, when we aren't in Neverland." They turned to see the Dark One approaching them with a smirk on his face as he casually stepped over the moaning bodies of Lost Boys.
"Where have you been? I swear if you were deceiving us." Charming threatened, placing his sword against his scaly neck.
"I can't do anything that would prevent you from getting your daughter home safe and sound. What I was doing was locating Pan's camp and making sure my son is here."
"You have a son?" Emma questioned .
"Yes, dearie, I do. His name is Baelfire and he has been on this island for many years."
EMMA POV
When the Dark One said the name of his son, a face came to her mind.
A young boy close to her age came within whispering distance from her cage.
"Psst. Hey, what's your name?" she asked carefully, not knowing how he would react to her talking to him.
He stopped where he stood and looked at her for a moment before replying, "I'm Baelfire, but everyone just calls me Bae."
"Hello, Bae. My name is Emma."
"I know who you are, we all know who you are. Just as we all know the punishment Pan has waiting for anyone who talks to you." He said starting to walk away.
"Wait! I just want some water."
He looked around to make sure no one was watching, "Here, hurry." He said handing her his canteen. The cool liquid soother her parched mouth and throat, and she quickly drank every last drop.
"Thank you, Bae. Why are you here? Why are any of you here?" she asked handing it back to him
"We are Lost Boys. This island is our home."
"This island is a nightmare." She retaliated.
"Not to us. We have all been abandoned by our families who were supposed to love us; that's why we call ourselves what we do. Pan finds us and brings us here, to stay young and feel welcomed, with a family."
"But you have a family. I'm sure they didn't mean whatever they did to make you feel like a.. Lost Boy." She said with a sad look.
His eyes hardened and he turned his back to her as he let out a sigh, "MY father knew exactly what he was doing."
"What do you mean?"
"My father let his cowardice rule his life. He came into a great power and when I asked him to choose between his power and me, he chose power. Not everyone is as lucky as you to have a family who loves them. To us, this is our family." And with that he walked away.
"You're his father? The one who chose your power over your son? Emma accused.
"No, that is what Pan has told him. He kidnapped my son and turned him against me. He has all of these boys fooled in order to keep them on the island and keep them obedient. I love my son, I would never abandon him."
"He definitely doesn't think that."
"You've seen him? You've seen Bae? How is he, is he alright?" he asked happily.
"He's fine. Hates you. But fine."
"I have to talk to him. We have to get to his camp, I found where it is. It is but a day's journey from here."
"Why should we do anything for you?" Emma asked him.
"We made a deal, Emma. He would assist us in getting you back and defeating Pan. We help get his son back." Charming told her.
"You made a deal with the Dark One, are you insane?!"
"They were very careful, love." Killian said taking her hand in his own.
She felt the electricity go up her arm when he touched her.
"Let's get out of here and make camp." Liam said leading the group out of the cavern. They all followed and as Emma went to walk away he pulled her back to him.
"Wait, Emma. I need to ask you something." He told her. She stopped and took his other hand so he continued, "I know how we left things before you were taken. I meant every word of it then, as I do now. I believe you heard my secret, but I wanted you to know why it was my secret. Emma, it is very bad form to ruin the marriage of a man I have the utmost respect for. But I will not watch you marry him when I know how you feel of me, and I of you. So it was my secret because I knew I could potentially be ruining a man's life." After saying it, he felt a bit more relieved, what he was confused about was the comical expression on Emma's face.
"You didn't hear Grahams secret, did you?"
"Alas, I did not."
She looked him over, for the first time since being reunited. His eyes the color blue you could drown in and die a happy death, his face had a little more stubble than before and it almost hid the scar on his cheek. His hair was long and shaggy and she had to fight the urge to run her fingers through it. Then she remembered that they were alone, and did just that. He turned his head into her palm and nuzzled it before placing a kiss to it. When his eyes met hers again she told him, "Graham found his True Love, Killian. Her name is Ruby."
He was stunned and silent, until the realization hit him and he smiled bright enough to light the sky, "this woman, this Ruby, she is his true love" She nodded. "Oh, Emma. I love you." He said, and she was lifted off her feet and the world was spinning as he held her and twirled her in his arms. She laughed like a child and brought his head to her chest, anything she could do to have him closer to her. He laughed, saying I love you over and over again until he ran out of breath. He placed her back down and took her face in his hands and kissed her like he was dying and only her kiss could spare him. She gave what she was getting.
They could be together, they could have a life together and they wouldn't have to hide anymore. No more secret rendezvous in the garden or sneaking out the window to meet him on the ship.
"Killian, I love you." She said when they separated.
"I love you, princess." He said kissing her hand as they broke apart and began to walk towards the mouth of the cavern, back to where their party awaited them.
Ok, I know I said I'd post more over break, but I spent most of it studying. I graduate from college in May and I had a test as soon as I got back that could have prevented that from happening. I'm gonna go ahead and say that this will probably be one of the last chapters until Spring Break. I'm majoring in Medical Imaging and I have board exams I have to start preparing for now. The last semester of my program is going to be really tough, and I feel bad when I haven't posted in a while. I WILL finish this story, it just may take longer than I had originally thought. I'd probably estimate 5-6 chapters left before the whole thing is done. So bear with me for a little longer, and thank you to those readers who have tolerated me being a horrible author and making you all wait so long between updates. I'll post the next one as soon as I have a chance. Thanks guys and I hope you enjoyed it:).
