In Neverland, The Night before Rescuing Henry
Finally, after so long, they had found him. Finally. Henry, their beautiful Henry, found and practically close enough to touch. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. He was being held in the deepest and darkest part of Neverland, naturally, and guarded by the most fearsome group of Lost Boys.
After following the set of tracks Snow had discovered near Skull Rock they had come upon Greg and Tamara two days later, unfortunately Henry-less, but managed to wriggle the truth of his location out of them after some persuading (Gold, Regina, and Hook had seen to that). The two were now tightly bound and gagged in a cell at the bottom of the Jolly Roger by Hook's specific orders. Not that anyone was arguing with him anyways.
After finding the place the duo had promised existed (which had been a danger filled trip within itself), the six of them had spent the rest of the day scouting, learning all they could about the surrounding area and the boys currently positioned there. The forest was thick, the terrain unforgiving, and the whole Lost Boy operation set up in a dimly lit cave that none of them ventured too deep into. Who knew what booby traps were laid waiting for some poor unsuspecting fool.
Finally, around late afternoon, a plan was formed, responsibilities assigned, and a agreement nothing would be put into action till the next day at sunrise.
Emma and Regina, in a rare show of agreement, didn't understand why it just couldn't happen now but Hook insisted it would be the Lost Boys with the upper hand if they decided to attack at night. He also pointed out the Shadow could do the most damage with the sun gone.
So here they where, the six of them huddled around a very small fire, simply waiting for sleep to take them away. They were all crowded under a massive tree that was so old it's roots were uplifted from the ground, creating a sort of wooden and gnarled tent around them. Good enough to conceal them from any unwanted visitors.
Emma was eerily quiet as she starred absently into the fire. Sleep wouldn't come to her nor would exhaustion even though her body was sagging with it. It almost didn't make sense that she couldn't just pass out. But she knew why. They all did. Henry was so close, they could practically over to where he was within five minutes. So close and yet so far.
She let out a sad sigh.
A hand smoothed over her back, firm and reassuring, and she immediately leaned into its touch. She had thought everyone had drifted asleep a while ago. Regina and Gold sat across from her on the opposite side of the fire, both quiet and unmoving against some of the roots. On her side of the fire, Snow was cuddled up into David's left side, breathing softly, while Emma was on his right. It was almost endearing David was still awake with her. No, it was endearing.
Emma smiled softly and leant back, David's arm insticitvely dropping to her waist and pulling her closer.
After placing a soft kiss against her hair, David titled downward, his cheek coming to a rest against the top of her head. "It's going to work out." He whispered. "With our family, it always works out."
Emma wanted so desperately to believe him. She really did. Every fiber in her being was just begging to dive into the eternal pool of faith he, Snow, and Henry had. Always the pessimist she supposed. "I'm scared" She admitted.
His hold on her tightened. "I know. Me too." David supposed he could have said more, a lot more. But he knew who he was dealing with. Fancy words and sunny promises were not things that could sway his daughter. She held the truth, no matter how horrible it might be, in a higher regard.
Despite that though, he couldn't help but say with a small chuckle. "You know our motto."
Emma rolled her eyes but was smiling. "Yea, yea, we'll always find each other."
"Shouldn't you two be sleeping?"
Hook emerged from a tangle of roots, looking extremely tired and worn out. He had offered to watch guard first and had left before anyone could argue with him. Regina and Gold had, as always, put up barriers of protection but Hook was convinced danger was still lurking behind every corner. God, he even looked worse than Emma.
Almost unconsciously Emma stirred in her father's grasp, shifting away from him and gravitating toward Hook. But she stopped herself before completely braking away from his hold. David noticed though. Of course he noticed. And while her and the pirate's connection still settled uncomfortably with him, he was much better at accepting it now a days. Ironic enough, it seemed Snow needed more persuading then him.
The two starred at each other as Hook settled down not too far away from Emma. Their bodies were stiff, David noted, and he immediately recognized why. Maybe they didn't understand yet but he sure did.
David sighed softly as the thought of just how far Emma had fallen for the leather clad and wise cracking pirate. Had it been him to take the first watch he supposed the moment he came back Snow would be just as anxious to have him in her arms. God knows he would immediately pull her to him and never let go. Emma and Hook, unfortunately, were proving to be a little more stubborn in the progression of their relationship. Maybe it didn't help that he was awake right next to them. A father present could be a major buzz kill.
So, he decided to do them a favor. For Emma's sake at least. He knew all too well the stress she was going through. "I guess I'm up."
Gently he removed his daughter and wife from him, careful not to cause too much discomfort, and rose to his feet.
"But I said I'd go second" Emma protested.
"You need sleep Emma." David smiled and brushed a strand of her hair from her face. "I'm fine. Really. Please, get some rest for me and Henry. Okay?"
Ever stubborn, Emma opened her mouth to make another protest. But just as the words were at the tip of her tongue David gave her a very chiding and fatherly look. Nothing angry, one that simply said no more arguments. She closed her mouth and gave a grateful nod. It was nice to have people looking out for her for once.
Once he was gone, Emma looked very shyly over to Hook. That was weird. When was she ever shy when it came to men or more importantly Hook? She supposed, though, she'd being doing a lot of odd things when it came to him lately. A lot of firsts in fact that she would never openly admit to.
Hook caught her gaze, or rather, the end of it when she hastily glanced away. He smiled at how adorable she look when caught doing something. "Emma love, you look exhausted. Your father is right, you need some sleep."
"It's not that I don't want to." She admitted in a low voice. "I just…can't."
Killian pondered over an idea, one she probably was going to reject, but still couldn't help but hope she wouldn't. The moment had returned to their site he had saw how the Prince had his wife securely tucked under his arm. How she looked so content and peaceful. Jealousy ripped through him and he wished more than anything he could just do the same with Emma. It wouldn't be possible with her father right there but since he was gone…
"Love, come here." Killian whispered, almost too low that she hadn't heard.
But she did and now she was sending him a very curious and suspicious look. "Why?" She inquired with a slight narrow of her eyes.
He chuckled at her resistance. "Trust me aye?"
Trust me. It was something Emma had been working at since the moment he had come back on his ship to Storybrooke with the bean. Trust. It hadn't been easy, Killian probably knew that better than she. But she had done it. Opened up to him, let her walls fall down, and actually allowed him into her heart. Her heart. Emma let out a surprised puff of air. It was true. Killian was now in her heart whether she liked it or not. The realization brought with it a dazzling smile.
Killian watched the grin split her face. He wasn't sure why she was smiling but he wasn't about to question it. And when she crawled over to him, the smile still firmly in place, he welcomed her with open arms.
Like they were always meant to be, Emma snuggled comfortably against Killian's chest as arms encircled her waist. He brought her as close as humanely possible. Their legs entwined and their hearts began to beat in pace with each other. Emma couldn't remember feeling this at peace since Henry was taken.
"I'll get him back for you Emma. I swear it." Killian whispered to the top of her head.
His conviction caused her heart to grow. She nuzzled her face into his chest, letting her senses be consumed by everything that was Killian. "I know."
And finally, in the protection and comfort of Killian's arms, Emma drifted into sleep.
"Emma, Emma honey it's time to wake up."
The voice was insistent as well as the hands shaking her shoulders. But she was too comfortable to move. She was so warm and relaxed and-
"No offense your Majesty, but your offer to eat whatever that is your husband just caught isn't too appealing compared to this." Hook's arms tightened around her.
Now Emma was wide awake.
"For your information, I caught that." Snow informed with a glare.
Emma's head snapped up and she was greeted with the sight of her mother looking down at her with narrowed eyes and hands on her hips. Well, at least she was glaring at Hook and not her. That was something. She attempted to get up but Hook had other plans.
"Come on love just a couple more minutes."
"It's time to get up Killian" Emma said seriously. A hint of a smile was playing at her lips though.
He gave her a wink. "Well something's defiantly up."
An invisible force suddenly exploded in between the two of them, jetting Emma on to her feet while Hook slid along the floor till his body hit a nearby root. They both gasped in surprised and looked around wildly till they spotted Gold with a mischievous smirk on his face and his hand poised mid air.
"What the hell?" Killian growled as he jumped to his feet.
"Just speeding up your process of getting up. We do have something to attend to if you didn't forget."
Emma grabbed Killian's hand. "Killian" She warned squeezing lightly.
He glared daggers at Gold but stopped whatever he had just been in the process of doing. He gave one last scoff before tugging Emma along, keeping their hands intertwined, and bringing her over to the fire with whatever Snow had caught cooking on top of it. "So what is this anyway?" He asked eyeing it suspiciously.
"Something that looked like a squirrel." Snow informed.
"Lovely. Glubergall meat. Tougher then leather to chew."
Snow shrugged unapologetically. "It's the only thing around I could find."
"We have water" Charming announced coming under the tree with Regina in tow. All their canteens were hanging from their hands, dripping with water. "Should last us for a while. After we get Henry back we'll get more."
Emma loved how there was no ifs in the statement. Everyone was more than convinced they were going to get the boy back. No ifs involved.
"He's going to be so happy to see us" Regina commented with a wistful look in her eyes.
"He'll be even more happy to see us all working together and actually getting along." Snow added.
"One big happy family" Gold said with some mocking. But anyone could see even he was smiling.
"I guess when we get back to Storybrooke" David began, sitting down next to Emma to grab some food. "Things we'll be a lot smoother for once in our lives."
"Yes," Regina agreed. Hesitantly, almost afraid to do it, but she smiled and nodded her head. "For once."
Emma smiled. After how long and so much pain, the six most unlikely people in the world were actually accepting the fact they were family. And no one had died in the process. Oh yea, Henry was defiantly going to love this. For no particular reason she looked back at Killian, still sitting very close to her side, but saw a grim expression planted on his face.
Everyone was so happy and yet here was, all brooding and miserable. "Killian" She inquired softly. "What's wrong?"
He looked up at her startled, like he had been expecting anyone to actually be paying attention to him. "Nothing lass."
"Liar." She countered with a knowing smile. "Now tell me what's wrong."
He shook his head with a low chuckle. "You're the open book not me."
"Killian-"
"Emma, seriously, it's nothing. We have much more important things to focus on right now."
"Well right now we're eating breakfast. And you're right, this does feel like eating leather so I'd rather much talk about you then focus on this." For emphasis she threw down the piece of grey looking meeting back on her makeshift plate. A rock actually.
"Emma-"
"Killian"
He let out a defeated sigh. "I was just thinking about when we get back to Storybrooke."
"Okay…?" She wasn't seeing his point here.
"And I was just..." Killian frowned down at his hands. Or rather hand. His eyes trained on his gleaming hook. Just another reminder to him of how much he didn't belong. "I don't know how I'll fit in exactly. If I even will at all."
"Fit in?" Emma echoed.
"Come on Emma, I spent most of time hiding on my ship plotting revenge. That's all I did. And now when we get back I won't have that. I'll…I'll have nothing."
They weren't exactly whispering ad everyone heard the broken statement. David and Snow shared and look and Regina looked pointedly to the ground. Even Gold, despite the animosity between he and the pirate, even frowned slightly. He knew what it was like to hold something close to you, even something so corrupting as revenge, and having to one day let it go. Oh he knew. But then again, eh wasn't about to start bonding with Killian over it.
"That's not true."
It hadn't been Emma to say it. It had been Mary Margaret. The pixie cut brunette was looking at Killian fiercely. "You won't have anything. You'll have us Ho-Killian. You'll have a family." That was the first time she had ever used his real name.
Suffice to say, he was a shocked as Emma. But at least Emma was smiling. Killian wasn't sure what to do.
"She's right" Charming added. "You're a part of something now mate whether you like it or not."
Killian smirked. "Well I do believe that's the first time you ever called me mate and meant it."
Charming shrugged. "First time for everything."
"Besides," Emma smiled, grabbing his hand. "Henry's not going to let you go so easily. A pirate Captain with a ship? He'll be sneaking away to hang out with you every chance he'll get."
"Oh great, just someone else to split time with Henry with." Regina sighed.
The idea of Henry actually seeking out his company brought a smile to Killian's face. "You think?"
"Oh I know" Emma assured.
"Great, now he's going to want to be a pirate over a knight." Charming groaned.
Snow chuckled. "Maybe a little bit of both."
"And a prince." Gold pointed out. "Don't forget that with two mothers from royal lineage."
"He's going to be quite the man." Regina grinned.
"If he survives growing up with this family." Emma laughed good naturedly.
"Oh God" Killian suddenly groaned. "If I'm part of this family I'll have to put up with your good doer ways. I don't know how that will bode with my image."
"Worried about your image then?" Emma challenged raising an eyebrow. "What about us? Maybe you're ruining our image."
"Love, I don't think it's possible for me to ruin anyone's image with this face."
"And then he goes and ruins it" Charming sighed.
But Emma was laughing and Killian finally smiling. Perhaps when this was said and done he would actually have a place back in Storybooke. Not only that, but also a family. And as he looked at Emma, happy and carefree for once in a while and looking dazzlingly beautiful, he suddenly wanted to be more than just an addition to her life. He wanted to be more than just a friend to Henry as well.
He wanted a much more permanent spot in both their lives.
"Well then" Regina announced seeing as everyone seemed to be over breakfast. "Should we go and get Henry?"
Authors Note: Eh, I wasn't too happy with this one. My other fic kind of drained my writing today so apologies if it's not up to par.
I'm thinking next chapter will either be Hook confronting Emma about Graham or the conversation that went down about splitting up into groups the first time landing on Neverland. Depends what mood I'm in, funny or depressing. Finding Greg and Tamara might also be another chapter but I'm not planning it anytime soon. I think...
Thanks so much for the reviews and please continue giving me feedback!