Lost and Found
Part 8
Bella opened her eyes to see that they were all back in the Enchanted Forest. She could still feel Killian's arm around her waist, even if what was between his arm and her skin felt different, and her bag was still on her shoulder. Her clothes however, had changed, much like everyone else's. She was now wearing a dress, a corset and had a cloak as well.
"We're back... We're really back..." Snow said.
Everyone was back in the clothes they had been wearing back when the first curse hit.
"I'm really thankful this curse didn't give me the clothes I was wearing at the time..." Bella shook her head.
"I made sure you'd have something a little more appropriate." Rumpelstiltskin replied with an amused smile.
"Why? What were you wearing?" Killian asked her.
"I was a couple of hours old... I was wearing my birthday suit." She smiled.
"And what a nice suit it must be." Killian told her with a teasing smile, making her blush and chuckle.
Immediately, everyone started to get organized, with the help of Prince Philippe and his wife Aurora who apparently knew Snow and were willing to help them.
Bella started to look around and went to see Rumpel and Belle who were getting ready to go their own way. He told her where her father's house was, in case she wanted to stop there to see if she could find something useful there, and then told her goodbye, promising to stay in touch through the mirror and warn her as soon as he had the memory potions ready. He also promised her to come immediately if she needed rescuing.
Before he left though, the Dark One went to speak with Hook and since the pirate would help bring his son back here, the Dark One gave him his hand back, no strings attached. The gesture surprised the pirate greatly.
"Keep an eye on her, keep her safe. That's all I ask in return." Rumpelstiltskin told the pirate, pointing to Bella.
"You have my word." Killian nodded.
After the Dark One's departure, The dwarfs received orders from Snow and Charming and left, probably spreading word of what needed to be done to the people who had arrived somewhere else.
"So, we're going to head to Regina's old castle since according to Aurora, it's still intact. She probably protected it but we'll find a way to break in. Snow's done it before, she can do it again." David started.
"My mom did it too and she didn't need to use her magic for it... She wrote how she did it in her journal and I have it in my bag... Wait a second, here. It'll help you." Bella said, searching in her bag and giving Snow her mother's journal.
"Thank you, I'll keep it safe and give it back to you as soon as you come back." Snow promised.
Bella just nodded.
"Rumpelstiltskin and Belle are already heading back to his own castle and prepare the memory potions. He'll send them to you by bird as soon as they're done, or he'll deliver them on his own, I don't know..." David told Bella.
"Yes, we've already talked about it and arranged everything." Bella nodded.
"Okay, good. Do you know what you'll do now?" Snow asked Bella in a concerned voice.
"Yes, don't worry. Killian, Smee and I will go and look for the Jolly Roger. Start with the places he used to stay, we'll see. Since the ship is made of Enchanted wood, we won't be able to track it with magic but I'm sure we'll find it quickly. We'll keep you informed with the mirror." Bella nodded.
"When are you leaving?" Snow asked them.
"As soon as the lady is ready to go." Killian replied.
He was by his side while Smee finished getting their 3 horses ready.
"I just need to speak with Gepetto and Pinocchio and I'll be good to go." Bella nodded.
"Smee and I will wait by the horses then." Hook nodded at her, understanding her need to check on them both.
Bella gave the Charming's one last hug and joined the man who almost became her father in law. Despite the short time she had spent with him, she already cared deeply for the man and she knew that he did, too. Maybe it was because they both loved his son, maybe it was because they were always meant to be family, one way or another.
"Bella, I heard that you weren't going back to the castle with us?" Gepetto asked her.
"No, I'm going to look for the Jolly Roger with Hook and work on bringing Emma, Neal and Henry back here. I just wanted to check on the two of you before we left." She smiled.
"You make sure to be safe, alright? Pinocchio and I want to see you again. Healthy and safe." He replied, giving her a paternal hug.
"I will, don't worry." She nodded, giving a side glance at Hook who was waiting for her.
"It's okay to move on, you know? My boy wouldn't want you to wait forever, especially since there's someone who cares truly for you. I can see you like him too." He added, making her blush.
"You're probably right. Aug... I mean, Pinocchio will be alright, won't he?" She asked.
"Don't worry child, he'll be fine. We'll stay at the palace with Snow and the Prince. We'll see you when you come back." Gepetto old her, hugging her one last time before she went to say goodbye to Pinocchio, who hugged her tightly and asked her to be safe as well.
If the little boy didn't remember his past relationship with Bella, he still liked her a lot, like a friend, or like family and he didn't want to see her getting hurt.
"Ready to go Bella?" Killian asked her when she joined them.
"Yes, let's go." She nodded, getting on her horse.
"You're okay?" He asked her, getting on his own horse.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just hope we'll be able to get back to them quickly. I have a bad feeling..." Bella replied.
"What kind of bad feeling?" He asked her as they started riding side by side, Smee behind them.
"I'm not sure... But something really bad is coming our way and I think that we have to find Emma and bring her back here as soon as possible or it'll get really bad for everyone." She replied.
"Well, I believe your instinct is to be trusted but don't worry, we'll find the Jolly Roger, get back to the other realm, find Emma, Neal and Henry, bring them back... We'll succeed." He reassured her, making her smile when she noticed the level of confidence he had in her.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to stop by my father's old house on the way, see what's happened to it, if there's anything that was left behind and maybe even see my mother's grave..." Bella asked after they had been on the road for a couple of hours.
"Of course, lead the way." He nodded.
Smee was still behind them, silently watching them bond and slowly getting closer.
When they arrived at her parent's house, she was happy to see that it was in pretty good shape.
"Charlie probably protected it with magic or something." Killian told her.
"Yes... probably..." She nodded, feeling very emotional when her eyes landed on the unmade, dusty bed.
She touched it with the tip of her fingers and closed her eyes.
"What is it?" Smee whispered.
"That's where I was born... Where my mother died..." Bella replied.
"Will you be alright?" Killian asked her and she nodded.
"I'll just... I'll go and look for her grave, can you look around for anything that could be useful please?" She asked him and he nodded.
A couple of hours later, Bella and her two traveling companions were back on the road. Before she left, she had set another protection spell on the little house, promising herself to come back there once everything was done.
.
The first town they stopped into was a bust. The few ships that were there weren't the one they were looking for and nobody had seen the Jolly Roger in a very long time.
"The last time I saw the Jolly Roger around these parts was before the Evil Queen's curse." An old man told them.
Most people said the same thing. Some had seen the Jolly Roger after the Queen's curse, before Hook left with Cora but nobody had seen it since everyone else had returned.
"Do we really need the Jolly Roger to leave this land? Can't we just use one of the beans here?" Smee asked Bella.
"No, because of the way we came back, we can't open portals here anymore. We have to sail away from the Enchanted Forest, go to another land, or in the middle of the see anyway." Bella replied, making Smee nod his understanding.
They ended up eating their meal in this town and taking a couple of rooms for the night before they left again the next morning.
It took them two weeks before they heard that a pirate Captain called Blackbeard had taken the Jolly Roger almost immediately after the curse dropped it off. Bella could guess that there was some bad history between Killian and Blackbeard with the face her companion made. She also understood that the other captain must be very scary since Smee looked like he wished he was a mice again so he cold run and hide far away.
"Are you sure about this?" Bella asked the man who had told them the information.
"Yes, he attacked the ship our prince Eric was on. I barely escaped." The man replied, showing them the knife he had stolen and giving it to Killian.
"Prince Eric? Ariel's prince?" Bella asked, surprised.
"You know our prince's fiance?"
"I know their story and I know she's one of Snow White's friends. Listen, you should go and warn them about what happened. tell them that Bella and Captain Hook, friends of Snow White, are looking for the Jolly Roger and will rescue Eric. We'll bring him back as soon as we have him." Bella told the man while Killian looked too angry for words.
"I could go with you Milady..."
"No, you need your rest. You're in no shape to go with us but don't worry, we'll be fine. I have magic." Bella told him.
The escaped soldier thanked them for the food and clothes they had procured for him and he rushed back to his King's castle to warn them about Prince Eric's fate.
"Didn't they just get reunited when we came back to Neverland? Their happiness was pretty short lived." Smee commented after the soldier had left.
"It's been just a little over two weeks, he must have rushed to the see quickly..." Bella shook her head.
"Well, when you have the sea in your blood Love, nothing can stop you." Killian told her with a smile.
Thankfully, Killian knew where Blackbeard liked to stop and it wasn't far from where they where. They immediately started riding there, planning on staying there as long as necessary to get Killian's ship back.
While they waited, pretending to be passing travelers, Bella wrote update messages to Snow White and Rumpelstiltskin and called two birds to send them. Then they went to get some dinner, listening to the conversations surrounding them in case they could hear something interesting to them.
"When Blackbeard arrives, people here will talk about it, trust me. It's how it works."
"I know... I trust you when you say it's the best but I can't help it... I don't like the idea of sleeping here." Bella shook her head, looking around.
"It's the only place in town." Smee told her.
"And it would be much more dangerous to sleep in the woods nearby. All those who can't afford a room sleep there." Killian shook his head.
"I don't feel much safer in here." She whispered so the people around them wouldn't hear her.
At this point, Smee indicated that he was going to look around town for a while and be back later and would find them.
"Hey, if it would make you feel safe, I'm all for sharing a room with you Love, you know that." The pirate offered, half joking to keep a good face if she was to refuse.
"I... Honestly, it's probably the only way I'd be able to sleep around here. If you're serious... I mean..." Bella replied, glancing around quickly before she looked back at Killian, blushed and looked down.
"You're serious? You want us to share a room, knowing that there is only one bed in the room and that the floor is too dirty for even a dog to sleep on it?" Killian asked her, suddenly more serious.
"I am. I mean, we won't... you know. Just sleep. But I'd feel safer knowing that I'm not alone." Bella nodded.
"Very well then, love. I'll go tell the own that we only need two of the three rooms after all." Killian told her.
As he walked away, Bella started to think back to the past two weeks and how close she had gotten to her pirate friend. He had a great sense of humor, was a good fighter, smart, good company... and definitely had a charm that was hard to resist. she had watched him ignore beautiful women everywhere they stopped, women that were more than willing to do anything he wanted with him. He had ignored them all, barely noticing them while he only had eyes for her. She, too, was having a harder time resisting him. More and more, she felt that she was moving on from the past, making room in her heart for Killian.
Killian came back and Bella and him played cards for a while, until Belle and Rumpelstiltskin arrived and gave them the memory potions.
"I made a couple of extra vials, just in case you lose or break one." The Dark One told Bella.
"Thank you. We should get the Jolly Roger back soon now." Bella nodded
"Yes, after receiving your message about Blackbeard I looked for him. Prince Eric has been dropped on Hangman's island not too long ago." Rumpel replied.
"We'll bring him back to his home as soon as we leave here so you don't have to worry about this." Belle added.
"And Blackbeard is heading this way because I sent him a message that I wanted to make a deal with him. I'm sure you'll find a way to get your ship back without my help." Rumpelstiltskin told the Dark One.
"Oh, that won't be a problem. Thank you." Killian replied.
After that Rumpelstiltskin warned Bella about the wicked witch Zelena being around the kingdom, planning something evil and using flying monkeys. He suggested limiting the messages by bird in case she decided to intercept them. he told them everything he knew about the woman in case they had to face her and when he and his love left soon after that, Bella was once more alone with Killian.
Smee eventually came back, with no big news and while Killian's first mate went to spend the night gambling with people he didn't know, Killian and Bella talked and had fun for a few more hours before going to bed.
Killian was a gentleman the entire time. He turned around while she changed and once they were in the bed, he stayed on the edge of his side, giving her all the room she could need.
Of course, through the night, they somehow changed positions and while Killian was sleeping on his back, still in the same place in the bad, Bella had moved closer to him and had her head on his chest while his hand was holding her in place, pressed against her waist.
When Bella woke up, Killian was still sleeping and when she realised the position she had moved into, she blushed but didn't move. Instead, she closed her eyes again and waited until Killian woke up, wanting to see what he would do. Killian woke up about 10 minutes later and hugged her closer to him, pressing a tender kiss against her head before gently placing her back against the pillow while he got up and started to get dressed.
Bella opened her eyes, enjoying the view.
"Good morning." She told him when he turned around and saw that she was awake.
"I didn't wake you up, did I? I was going to go ad get you breakfast..." He replied.
"No, you didn't wake me up. Give me a few minutes and I'll join you downstairs to get breakfast." She told him.
"Are you sure? I don't mind bringing some back to you." He argued.
"Listen Killian, I'm all for breakfast in bed as a romantic gesture but I don't think that this is the kind of establishment where it's worth it. Better save it for when we're in a better place." She shook her head with a smile.
"So what you're saying is that you're not opposed to us sharing a bed again?" He asked her, a hopeful smile on his face.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying. I... I'm not blind Killian, I see how close we've gotten and I know we're heading right into a relationship... I... I like being with you, spending time with you. I love that you can make me smile, even when I'm sad or that you can make me feel safe in any situation... I... I needed time, and you gave it to me, proving every occasion you had that you would wait... I think I'm done making you wait, if you're willing to move slowly." Bella told him after having taken a big breath before speaking.
"Bella, we can move at any speed you want." Killian told her, walking closer to her and taking her in his arms.
"You still need to turn around while I change though." She chuckled.
"Why? You watched me change!" he argued.
"You knew I was awake?" She exclaimed.
"Of course, I woke up about 15 minutes before you did. I was waiting to see how you'd react to your new sleeping position." he replied with a teasing smile before he surprised her with a kiss and told her he'd wait for her in the corridor.
.
"Captain, Blackbeard arrived about an hour ago." Smee told Killian and Bella a few minutes after they finished eating their breakfast.
"Good. We gather our things and move to get my ship back." Killian replied.
Bella nodded and soon, the three of them were walking to the ship.
"Oh, I've missed you Love... Don't worry, you'll soon be back in my loving hands." Killian whispered, eyeing the Jolly Roger.
"Should I be jealous?" Bella asked him, a teasing smile on her face.
"Nah, the Jolly Roger might be important to me Love, but at the end of the day, I'd willingly give her up for you." He replied and his sincerity was so obvious it made Bella smile.
"So Captain, what's the plan?" Smee asked him.
"Simple: I go and confront Blackbeard into a duel for the ship. If things go bad, Bella uses her lovely magic." Killian replied.
"I don't understand, why don't I use my magic right away?" Bella asked him.
"Because I want a chance to show Blackbeard what I'm made of." Killian smirked before he gave Bella a quick kiss and walked on his ship, calling everyone's attention.
About an hour later, Blackbeard and his cruse had left the ship while Bella, Killian and Smee sailed it away.
"Shouldn't we warn Snow White and the prince that we're moving up with the plan?" Smee asked.
"I did it while you and Killian prepared the ship. I used the mirror." Bella nodded.
A few hours later, the Jolly Roger was being sailed by his Captain, crossing the limit of the Enchanted Forest and allowing Bella to use a bean to get them back to the world without magic.
"I'm going to cast a spell on this ship so it'll look like a Yacht. I think it's best if Smee stays on board while we get Emma, Neal and Henry." Bella warned them once they left the portal and followed Bella's indication, which she got from her enchanted compass.
"Happily." Smee nodded.
Before they left the Jolly Roger, Bella made a set of more normal clothes appear for Killian and herself. She didn't want them to stand out and start raising questions. After that, they started walking and it took them an hour to arrive in front of Emma's building.
"Here. Swan-Cassidy. It should be them, right?" Killian asked Bella who nodded and pressed on the name.
"Who's there?" Emma asked.
"Emma? It's Bella and Killian." Bella said, hoping Rumpel would have managed to create friendly memories of them.
"Bella? It's been so long! Come on up. Third floor, apartment 311." Emma replied, buzzing the door open.
"She sounded excited... That's a good thing, right?" Bella asked Killian as they rode in the elevator.
"Of course it's a good thing. Don't worry, it'll go fine. We go in, talk. As soon as they offer to get us something to drink and get something for themselves, I distract them and you pour the potions." Killian reassured her, giving her a small kiss just as the elevator door opened.
The next few minutes were filled with welcoming hugs and "How are you"'s but once it was offer and the new couple was inevitably invited for dinner, everything calmed down and started to look easier. While Neal, Henry and Emma were in the kitchen bringing the food on the table, Bella poured the potion in their drinks and cast a simple spell on the little family to make them very thirsty.
As soon as the potion was ingested, the changes were very obvious on their faces.
"You got your hand back? How?" Neal asked Killian.
"I'm so happy you came back for us!" Emma exclaimed, hugging Bella.
After that, Bella and Killian did their best to explain the situation in the Enchanted Forest and how they'd have to fight the Wicked witch after coming back. They ended up deciding to leave the next morning and used the time they had to pack everything they wanted to take with them.
Henry seemed especially excited and insisted they needed to buy souvenirs for all of their friends before going back to the Enchanted Forest. The adults couldn't find good enough arguments not to do it so the next morning, on their way to the ship, they stopped and bought several bags full of gifts, along with fast-food to go for their lunch. Just so they could eat some burgers one more time before leaving.
Smee helped them unload Neal and Emma's car and put everything on the Jolly Roger.
"I'm going to miss the bug." Emma said, looking back at the little Yellow bug that she had driven to the docks.
"We won't be able to drive it in the Enchanted Forest but I could use magic to transport it inside the ship... You could always store it somewhere in your parents' castle." Bella suggested.
"I'd love that but I think I'll leave it here, with the keys. Whoever needs it will be able to use it this way." Emma replied.
"I'm going to miss this world... But I'm still happy to finally be going home." Neal said, looking once more time at the city.
"Are you ready then?" Killian asked.
"Yes, I think we're ready to go home." Emma replied after a few minutes.
.
The next day, when Killian sailed his ship toward the port city the closest to the Charming's castle, Bella gave Emma her mirror and let her warn her parents, who sounded very happy to hear from her. Neal of course did the same with his father who assured him that he and Belle would be waiting with the Charming's.
Bella knew that even though she had helped her friends go home and find their family, this wasn't a happy ending. not yet. She had lost love, and found it again, along with friends and family but this wasn't her happy ending. There would be more fights to come.
Zelena, the wicked witch, would need to be stopped and Blackbeard would probably try to get back at Killian for the humiliation he had to suffer but she was confident that they would be fine.
"You're coming back to the castle with us, right?" Bella asked Killian.
"Well, I'm not the Dark one's biggest fan but I understand that he's your family. If I want to be with you, I have to try and get along with him. I'm going wherever you're going." Killian assured her.
"Good, because I just found you and I'm not ready to lose you yet." Bella replied, looking at him intensely.
"You won't loose me. Don't worry." he replied.
Of course, everyone was waiting for Emma, Henry and Neal's return. It looked like all of their friends and loved ones were waiting for them on the docks.
"Cool, I won't have to carry my bags." Henry replied.
"Henry!" Emma exclaimed.
"What? It's true! They'll be so happy to see us they'll carry everything out." Henry replied.
"Actually, you're royalty so there will be guards and servants to do the carrying." Bella reminded them.
"Even better." Henry nodded, making his mother roll his eyes.
.
Much later, while Emma, Henry and Neal were with their parents, attending a ball to celebrate their return, Bella watched in amazement as Killian appeared in a perfect attire for such an event. Giving her all the right compliments and inviting her to dance a complicated waltz, making it, somehow, easy for her to understand it.
"This is magical." Bella told him without thinking, feeling the happiest she had ever been.
"Every moment with you is." He replied in her ear softly, making her blush.
"So, what's next Killian? Are we going out in the seas on the Jolly Roger?" She asked him.
"Well, I know that you're not really the pirating type and I honestly don't see myself in that man anymore. David, the Prince I mean, he had a proposition for me when I talked with him earlier this afternoon. I'm meeting up with him tomorrow but I think I'll do trading or missions of some sort for him on my ship. This way you'll be able to come with me or simply stay here and wait for me to come back." he told her.
"That's great!" She exclaimed, hugging him before they exchanged a soft kiss.
So, this is it for now. May I'll pick it up and write a few more chapters after Christmas break, I'm not sure. It depends on my inspiration.
Please leave me a review to tell me what you think of this story, if I should continue it and what you'd like the potential future chapters to be about.
Merry Christmas!
Lorelei Candice Black