Chapter 24

The Man with the Lion Tattoo

They stuck him with a chaperone for his own Bachelor party, not that he felt like celebrating anyway. It was just him and Regina at the local tavern. He'd told her that he wanted none of Zelena's followers, loyal or not, (especially not Regina's not so secret admirer), to accompany him.

(Why Sydney, the man he despised and who despised him in return wanted to come, he didn't know, probably to slit his throat when his back was turned.)

He'd argued with both sisters over the very party to begin with. His health was waning and fast.

Dizzy spells, occasional confusion, shortness of breath, and as of recently, hallucinations.

He'd sworn he'd seen Emma at his side the other day after he'd lost another of Lily's potion. Regina had been furious when the dizzy spell hit, making him collapse so suddenly. But all the potion would do was help with the pain, Killian could handle a little pain.

(It was more than a little, but he didn't dare tell them that.)

Not to mention a sporadic appetite, everything in front of him just made Killian gag. But he still had time; the veins weren't spreading as fast, barely touching his elbow.

Besides that, Zelena wasn't too happy that her husband to be wanted to spend his last night of freedom drinking himself silly. She'd been so excitable about the wedding, shoving fabrics and foods in his face when the last thing he wanted was to think about it. She was acting like he was marrying her for love rather than for convenience. Like he cared what color he wore, or what the guests ate, or who sat where. He was doing this to be nice, to be useful.

Killian was well aware that the lass was fond of him, but why Zelena was suddenly so bloody annoying he didn't know. Telling him how to dress, how to act, who to talk to, what to -pretend to- eat, it was bloody infuriating. He'd asked Regina about it, and she had no idea, she'd never seen Zelena acting this way. According to Regina, she was never one to fantasize about weddings, never one to worry about what anyone else thought. Zelena was always one to do things her way and damn anyone who thought she should do otherwise. Apparent;y Zelena had been adament against ever getting married as a child.

"Why she didn't punch Sydney right in the jaw that night, I'll never know" Regina had said.

"She won't listen to anything I say about the things I always have an opinion about." She'd added sadly. "It's like she's a different person."

Killian didn't know what to think, all he knew was that he didn't like this version of the woman. If he could do something just to bug the witch, than that's what he would do.

(and if it included a few libations, well, he would be ok with that)

The only way that he'd been allowed to have his time at a bar and get bloody drunk without a care was if Regina joined him, something he wasn't exactly opposed to. She was his friend, and a damn good drinking buddy to boot.

"Are you sure this is how you want to spend your night?" Regina asked, glaring at a man who was looking at her with a sleazy gaze. "Your wedding is tomorrow." She said hesitantly.

"And I want to be completely drunk during the ceremony." He snapped before his voice softened. "I know you think it's a bad idea." She was referring to the wedding, and deep down, he happened to agree.

"No I think its terrible idea." She said sternly. "And obviously you agree if you want to be completely hammered during it." She scoffed.

"It keeps either of you having to marry out of love ever again doesn't it?" He replied. "what did she call it, validating your right to rule to those bloody fools?"

Regina nodded.

"We'd be building our future on your blood." She said right back. "There must be a way to-" He shook his head.

"My only hope is long gone. Come on, let's just enjoy tonight yes? I feel fine unless…" He trailed off, his sorrowful look brightening to a smirk of challenge. "You can't handle it lass." He said crossing his arms. "It's alright if you can't." He could see the smirk edging on the bandit's face as well.

"I can handle it pirate." Regina said confidently, dropping down a bag of coins on the bar. "Open a tab, we plan to get hammered." She said triumphantly. Killian rolled his eyes.

"That's not very Queenly language lass." He teased.

"I'm not a queen; Zelena's the one aiming for Royalty remember? Plus I'd never marry a pirate." She teased. He gripped his chest in mock pain.

"You wound me lass. But you're right; a far better man will win your heart your highness." He assured her. She was about to respond when a voice caught their attention.

"Welcome back stranger." It said cheekily. Killian looked up. He recognized the man, making him grin.

"You're the bloody bar man from that other village!" He realized. "The one where I met Lacey and Marian, what the hell are you doing this far west?"

He recalled how the man had seemed eager to help him find what he needed and warned him about Lacey's tendencies.

The man nodded. "Figured it was time for a change of scenery. I moved here last week" He said with a smile. "What can I get you?" He asked.

"Rum, and two glasses." Killian ordered. "I'm getting married." He said as explanation.

The man put on a hopeful smile. "To that blonde woman? Congratulations!" Regina gave Killian a look, as he ground his teeth in frustration.

"Not her." He forced out. He hadn't even let the thought cross his mind. He hadn't thought that far ahead…

Swan in a white dress, a crown of flowers in her golden hair, smiling with her bright green eyes as she approached, Lily or Elsa at her side, stopping at his side, him sliding his grandmother's ring on her finger, spewing words of love and forever…a future…

Bloody Hell.

He needed a drink now.

"Join us." Regina offered. He sent her a glare, which she returned evenly bending close to whisper. "You need a best man, I'm already Zelena's maid of honor, so suck it up, it's him or Sydney." She snapped.

"Fine." He responded. Looking back at the bar tender. "Please mate." He looked between them curiously.

"I shouldn't impose, I should let you two love birds en-" Regina burst out laughing.

"Please, like I'd ever marry him." She snickered. "He's marrying my sister." Regina told him.

Killian noticed a particular grin fall across the man's face as he looked at Regina. As if she had given him the go ahead. His eyebrows rose in realization, the spark that was passing between the bandit and the bartender was palpable.

"I'm here so Killian here doesn't have to drink alone." She said with a sorry smile. He rolled his eyes.

"And to make sure that I don't drop dead before the damn wedding." He said honestly. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried about that.

Regina shot him a look. "He's being over-dramatic." She said quickly, eyeing the man and elbowing Killian. "A bit paranoid as well."

The barkeeper looked nervously between the two before shrugging and making his way to the other side of the bar. "What the hell. Why not." He settled on. "John is covering the bar tonight and I'd be an idiot not to let a beautiful woman buy me a drink."

He placed three glasses and two bottles of rum between them. "To the happy groom and for new friends."

Killian laughed.

But it was obvious that neither was paying him any attention, they were too busy giving each other doe eyes.

He recalls the first shot as he tells him how he fell head over heals in love with the Dark One, how he rescued her from a tower and they go off and save her sister's aunt from a corrupt king.

He doesn't remember how far he got in his story, just that it's the gritty version of the one he'd told Henry and Roland.

"What happen with her Killian? She seemed to care deeply." The bartender pressed.

"We were all fooled." He muttered darkly.

"She does cares for you deeply." Regina insisted. "I saw the way she looked at you and how you look at her. That's love. This whole thing seems fishy, I don't like it. I get grumpy when I don't know who to hate." She muttered. "My sister for going along with this scheme or Miss Swan for leaving."

He shrugged. "Perhaps it was. But I told her that if she left, I didn't want her to come back, what the hell was I thinking?" He admitted. "All I want is for her to come storming through those doors, tell me she made a mistake."

The bar tender looked between them. "I'm completely lost, why did she leave in the first place?"

He sighed. "I don't know either mate." He answered honestly. "I wasn't honest with her about something, but I never thought it would make her leave so fast. I don't even know how she found out."

The thought to wonder about that fact never occurred to him before now. Had he told her and blacked out? Why had he woken up in the grass? Perhaps something was wrong... Killian shook the thought away.

Probably the rum talking.

"I think you should give her a chance if she comes back. I think you should run away from all this political stuff the second you can." Regina admitted through her glass.

"Is that what you would do?"

Regina nodded. "But Zelena is all I have, I can't just leave her."

He recalls the third shot where Regina asks the man for his story, she felt like they were too focused on themselves and alienating poor what's his face.

"I was married." He begins. "We were happy."

He watched Regina give him a sympathetic look.

"I was out with my mates one night about a year ago; I took our son with us. But then the Queen invaded the village, I got separated from him." The man says in a weak breath. "So many were killed in the stampede, and he was so little...I- I know he's dead." He admitted.

He grimaced the thought of a dead child, someone like Henry or worse, Roland, it was the worst pain of all. Killian remembered when he got back to Milah's finding her crying in Bae's room. She told him he'd run away. He barely knew the boy, but the pain he felt at his lost cut deep.

"I'm sorry for your lost." Regina said, hand lingering over his arm.

"Then Lacey came along, seduced my wife with thoughts of power and immortality." He continued, gripping his glass, knuckles white.

"That woman, Marian, dressed in burgundy? That was her?" He nodded.

"She told me that she didn't want this life that…that she was glad our son was gone, left her free to seek a better life." Regina looked at him softly.

The two shared a soft look before their cheeks turned red and they separated. "I lost everyone I ever loved and any chance I have at having a child in one cruel blow." She admits. "The Dark One came to my house one night, 20 years ago. She killed my parents, cursed my sister and I not to age so I couldn't have another child. While her mother convinced my love to put himself under a sleeping curse, and I guess we weren't as in love as I thought." She said sadly. From what Lily had told him, a sleeping curse could only be broken by true love's kiss. He felt bad for Regina, understood the feeling of realizing that their love just wasn't strong enough. "He's still asleep, but I've sort of adopted a young boy from a local village." She admits. "Losing those you love stings like nothing else, but time...It gets better." She assured him.

"Taking in a child who isn't your own is a brave thing to do miss…?"

Regina smiles kindly. "Gina, just Gina"

Killian took another shot. Their doe-eyed looks were…he…just couldn't help being jealous of them, but it felt ridiculous this was why he was doing it. Why he was marrying Zelena, so they could have their happy ending. They all could, Emma, Zelena, Regina and the two boys, Henry and Roland.

He recalls the seventh shot as by then, Regina and the bar keep had escaped the immediate bar and he spotted them making out like a couple of teenagers in the back. He gave a dark laugh.

He remembered kissing Swan without a care in the world, in the depths of the Jolly, in the forest after one of their fights, in his room after they escaped Snow, in town square before things went to hell.

Killian shuddered. He never felt so haunted by good memories, by the knowledge that he was never going to see-

He picked up the bottle and hobbled his way out the door. He didn't want these blood happy memories to turn him into a sobbing mess again, didn't want to think of blonde hair and green eyes, of a joyous laugh that made her seem the innocent princess she was, the powerful, fire that would blow away her enemies with just a swipe of her hand, he took another drink.

He didn't recall much of the rest of the night, just somehow ending up in a hut where a woman did tattoos. He pointed to something in one of the woman's books and felt her needles enter his skin, making his shoulder burn in a pattern.

He recalled Regina following him with their new companion as well. He remembers the man getting a tattoo as well.

"What should I get darling?" Their new friend slurred. Gina laid her head against his shoulder as the man turned his arm to the woman who'd just finished inking an image into Killian's shoulder.

"I've always liked lions." She said in a drunken laugh. The man kissed her gently before turning to the woman.

"You heard the lady, you're best lion tattoo."

XXX

He just knows his head is throbbing that next morning, making him curse the sunlight with his worse scowl. He didn't remember getting sleep, just perhaps unconsciousness, but in all honesty, he'd appreciate anything to forget the reality of the day, this day, this bloody day.

Zelena was a nice woman, any man would be lucky to have her heart, but he just couldn't help thinking about the woman he wished was walking down the aisle.

He got up on unsteady steps, feeling the tickle in the back of his throat, knowing that in seconds it would erupt into a violent grip on his throat, on his lungs. He scrambled for another handkerchief and coughed until he could breathe again. Killian looked down at the stained cloth.

It was red. He was coughing up blood.

Now that didn't look promising.

He rubbed his chin, dabbing away the evidence, even gargling on some water to get the acidic taste away. Killian was clinging desperately on denial, thinking of some way out of this mess. He didn't want to do it. It was the right thing to do but he didn't want to do it. He wanted Emma.

Killian sighed weakly, rubbing his aching shoulder before deciding to go and make sure Regina made it back alright.

But then he recalled why his shoulder was aching. "Bloody Hell." He sighed, going to a mirror, pulling down his shirt to reveal what ridiculous image he'd settled on.

A damn swan was inked on his skin, about the size of his palm into his shoulder. Apparently his drunken mind liked to torture itself with memories he should forget.

He had Milah's name on his arm from his last drunkin' bender.

(Last before Swan at least)

"Killian!" Snapped a voice too bloody loud, making him rub at his aching head.

"WhaT?" He moaned. He saw a flash of red and green, recognizing his fiancée and her pissed off expression. It was something he'd seen a lot of as of late, almost as if she'd created it just for him.

"Do you know how late you got back?" She snapped. "We agreed you'd do something tame. Go hunting, or playing poker, not getting drunk like some common pirate." She snapped.

He rolled his eyes. "I am a common pirate lass." He snarled back. "And I figured I'd enjoy my last taste of freedom." He reasoned.

She huffed in annoyance. "You got my little sister drunk. She came back with a man, did you know that?" She asked in outrage. He nodded, quite liking seeing her outraged.

"Ah, you met the bar keep, very nice man, honorable. Those two really hit it off." He recalled.

"And are you aware that they almost had sex? That I caught them? That man nearly cost Regina her innocence." Killian snickered.

"Darling, I saw the two of them last night, before they were drunk, trust me, I think you got the positions reversed." He laughed, vaguely recalling Regina dragging the man to a secluded place, despite his attempts at being courteous.

She huffed again. "What do I do with him now?" She exclaimed.

Killian grinned wickedly, an idea formed in his mind. "Send him over here; I think my best man should help me get ready for the big day, don't you?"

She scowled at him, before approaching him grabbing him by the collar, pulling him down to her level.

"You better behave yourself." She threatened. "You and your commoner friends are not going to ruin my day." She insisted. "Especially if you want to stay in my camp. Ruin this day and you'll be on your own during these spells of yours, left to the animals" She threatened.

He clenched his hands, this was the woman he was marrying? "Of course darling. You say such loving things." He said sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes before prancing away.

"Now that's not a very nice woman." Said a voice. "Gina tells me I'm to be your best man?" The bartender asked, blood shot eyes and crumpled clothes showing that the man was in similar conditions to himself.

"Aye, but before that, I find I don't remember your name." He said suddenly. "And that's bad form."

The man laughed. "Robert, but my friends call me Robin."

Killian nodded "Killian Jones." He replied. "Now, should we get ready for my wedding?"

Robin didn't move, looking at him questioningly. "I don't know what she has over you but do you really want to do this?"

He shrugged.

"What other choice do I have?" He countered. "Just help me into this monkey suit Zelena brought me." He said impatiently. Robin's hopeful expression fell.

"Sure mate." Robin said, helping him, but not letting the conversation topic drop.

"What about the blonde? Emelia? Emily?" He searched.

"Emma." Killian supplied. "But she's gone to who knows where." He said with a sigh. "I told her to never come back." He recalled.

"And if she did? If your Emma came to you this very moment, apologizing and asking you not to marry Zelena." He prodded. "If I had another shot with my son, I'd do whatever was necessary to be with him."

He nodded. "But she's not here." He reminded the man.

"You found her once. You can find her again." Robin stated.

"My brother once told me that he hoped I would find a woman that was worth ruining my entire life for." Killian recalled absently. "Because only then would I know it was real, and if it was real I should fight every day for her."

Robin waited patiently. "And? Are you willing to ruin your entire life for Emma? The woman you love. Regina doesn't want you to do it. I've known the lass a day and she doesn't want you to give up your happiness for her or her family."

Killian just sighed. He didn't know what to do.

"You married Marian for love right?" He had to ask. He nodded.

"I would have loved her until the day she died, and I guess she did die, the day our boy did. The day Lacey had her in her sights."

He remembered Lacey, her manipulative words, her true identity as the sorcerer's wife Belle. And Marian's new identity, Clorinda her lady in waiting, Marian must have gotten what she wanted all along, power. She and Lacey, were entangled with the Sorcerer, embodiment of light magic.

"Lacey, what else do you know about her?" He said gently.

"She has no magic, I convinced myself for ages that she'd cast a charm on my wife, but alass I learned otherwise. She simply has access to magical items." The dagger she'd cut him with. It had been enchanted so that Swan couldn't heal it. "She seemed to know what Marian truly desired, freedom and power, and then handed it to her so it looked like she was choosing it, like I was holding her back."

Killian shook his head. It was disgusting, manipulating a grieving woman like that. "Sorry for bringing it up mate."

Killian was no longer torn. He knew exactly what he had to do.

He left his tent marching into Zelena's. There were no bridesmaids helping her get ready, much to his surprise, he'd thought they wouldn't leave her side, fussing about her hair and makeup and the dress…

"Zelena?" He called as he pushed his way inside.

He recognized the dress she was wearing moments before, but her red hair was gone, replaced by dark brown. Her pale complication was tanner, her green eyes, were dark brown.

It wasn't Zelena.

"You." He realized as she trained her eyes on the woman, taking a step back. "Where's-"

The woman laughed, picking up a golden chain from the desk, placing it on herself for a moment, reclaiming Zelena's form. "Gone." She removed it coming closer to him, as if reveling in her actual form. "You really, really should have stayed in your tent with my ex-husband."

It had never been Zelena

Standing in front of Killian was Marian. Robin's ex-wife, Lacey's lackey.

Then something hit him hard on the back of the head. He crumbled to his knees, clutching his head, looking up in surprise. "Why?" He rasped, feeling his vision growing darker as his head throbbed.

"Because stealing pretty pirates from Dark Ones is a favorite pass time of my mistress." She said, kneeling down to cup his cheek, he pulled away, trying to get back to his feet, trying to go, to tell everyone that-

And then he was hit yet again and everything went black.

I'll be honest, this was one of my favorite chapters to write. I can't write Roland without Robin after all. Plus my big twist, I felt it was only fair. I was SO surprised by Zelena and Marian debacle when I first saw it, I'm talking actual jaw dropped.

Now guest reviews:

andria: Yes, David and Snow's secret is quite the twist. The wedding is next chapter.

seventy4: I like your theory, I think you're definitely going to like the last chapter in particular.

Anna: Yes, I love unexpected twists as you probably can tell. I love good Zelena too. Fun fact: I originally had Zelena just being bad, but I felt it didn't mesh well with what this universe is about, villains being heros and heros being villains. I have to keep some characters the same, mostly the flat characters but Zelena is NOT a flat character. Then I remembered what Zelena did to Marian. Lily is my favorite. I have lots planned for her in the sequel of the sequel(third?).

Clear: I can't wait to post the wedding.

Don't forget to review! I'm actually very interested with the reaction to this chapter in particular.

~Luna