A/N: Party leftovers? Best. Thing. Out.

Eating Ice-Cream cake and drinking Creaming Soda. And floating on a cloud…

Thank you my lovelies for reviewing! I swear, I will get back to you all at some stage! But I've been writing in an awkward position all day and I feel like my back is about to collapse in on itself (excuses, excuses, I know).

Anyway, enjoy! xx

Rescue

xxx

Eight Months Ago

Killian didn't waste any time in dealing with Evie's request. That night when she was asleep, he ordered that no one venture into the cabin, and with most of them being honest sailors who had, undoubtedly, just returned from bedding a pretty lass, he was fairly sure they were sated and Evie was safe.

Heading into the nearest tavern, he did a quick once over of its visitors before taking a seat. A barmaid was quick to come over to him, "Rum thanks. And some of your company if you don't mind."

The barmaid seemed happily flushed at that, undoubtedly finding herself extremely lucky to have such a good looking man take notice of her. She wasn't especially plain, in fact, she was quite pretty. But Killian Jones knew he had a face and body that made ladies swoon. Thankfully, tonight, that was going to help him get what he needed.

When she came back, she had a renewed flirtatious gleam in her eye. Placing the mug on the table, she slid carefully onto the wooden bench beside him, close enough so that their skin was touching. Inwardly sighing, Killian silently turned on his pirate charm.

"You're a beautiful, lass," he complimented the girl, who blushed profusely. "Why do you work in such a place?"

"It pays the bills," she answered with a shrug, before glancing at him suggestively, "And I get to see some handsome faces."

"What's your name, love?" Killian asked.

"Undine," she answered with an impish grin.

"Tell me then, Undine," Killian continued, snaking his arm around her waist. "Have you heard anything about the missing Princess lately?"

The girl furrowed her brow, "Not of late. Wasn't she dead?"

"Aye, that's what I've heard. But there have been other rumours, that she's trying to steal back her daughter."

"But that would be impossible," the girl laughed, "The Princess is kept under strict guard because she is the only heir. The King and Queen would…"

Undine looked at him knowingly then.

"What are you wishing to steal, Pirate?"

"What are you willing to share, Undine," he said huskily, bringing her close enough that she was almost sitting in his lap.

"My shift ends in five minutes. I'll meet you out back."

I'm sorry, Emma, he prayed silently in his head as he downed his drink and made his way out back. He let the barmaid lead him from the tavern to a cottage not far away.

He didn't leave her wanting, giving much more than he was taking because in his mind, this was still a betrayal. Not knowing whether Emma was dead or not didn't give him reason to act like she was…but this was necessary.

With his head between the girl's naked thighs, she came apart upon his lips, her body shuddering for the last time as she panted out her release, attempting to catch her breath.

Killian crawled up beside her turning to face her as she did the same.

"This girl, the princess," Undine mused, "She'll be very important to you one day."

"She already is," Killian answered honestly, thinking of Evie and the importance the baby princess had to her.

"More than that. She'll…I don't know. I can't quite see it."

"Because, of course, you can see the future?" Killian almost rolled his eyes.

"I didn't bring you to my bed because you were just any ordinary man, Killian Jones," Undine said, rolling over until she was hovering over his naked body. "I brought you here because you needed help. But before I give you your information, I want payment."

Still confused about how she knew his name because he definitely hadn't given it, he began, "Didn't I just –"

"I don't want pleasure," Undine said, her face twisting upwards in a mischievous smile, "However, mind-blowing it was. I want something else. I want a song."

"A song?" Killian asked incredulously.

"You'll sing to her," Undine said, referring to future events, "So I want you to sing to me."

"But I –"

"Sing." It wasn't a request.

And so Killian picked the first thing that came to mind, a sea shanty that his crew sang whilst they were working. And Undine listened with eyes closed as she hovered over him, her face lost, peaceful. The moment he finished, however, her eyes opened, and in them, he thought he saw a glimpse of golden light, but it was gone as quickly as it had come.

"That should do it," she said with a smile, rolling off of Killian and lying back down next to him.

"The Princess is tended to by a nurse, in the westernmost tower of the castle. It's almost impossible to scale, but there is a certain way up the bricks that take the form of a swirl around the tower. Guards are at the bottom of the tower, but at the top, you only have to contend with the nurse. She's particularly susceptible to chloroform."

"To what?"

"Go to the apothecary, he'll know what I mean."

"And how do you even know this?" Hook asked, staring at the naked girl incredulously.

"Because, of course, I can see the future," she grinned before pushing him lightly. "Now go on, you've got a couple of princesses to save."

He could swear he hadn't mentioned Evie.

"Thank you, Undine," Killian said as he pulled his pants back on. "Honestly, your help is invaluable."

"Don't be thanking me just yet, Captain," Undine said as he walked out the door. She gave him a small wave, "Candle's still burning."

And having no clue what she meant, he left.

After Undine's puzzling but specific instructions, getting into the castle was a cinch. His black coat hid him under the cover of darkness and whilst his muscles argued with him the entire way up the tower, he kept going. Of course, once he'd knocked the nurse out with the chloroform, he ascertained that he was keeping that vial for the rest of his days; it was a godsend. And he scooped up the sleeping baby in a few blankets, made a makeshift sling around his body and tried…but failed….to make it hold.

"Ah shit," he muttered.

The baby stirred in her sleep.

"You didn't hear that, Princess, okay?" he muttered to the sleeping girl who looked as though her lips had tilted into a smile.

God, two minutes and Natasha Asteria Highmark already had him wrapped around her little finger.

He was going to have to fight his way out of this because there was no way he was climbing down the tower and dropping the precious cargo he had. But he managed it. Using all that chloroform…he'd have to go back and get more…

Unless they had given him exactly enough. That apothecary had looked just as suspiciously psychic as Undine had…

But he made it out of the castle unscathed and breathing heavily with the quick sprints he'd had to make. Ash was asleep through it all.

He was already down by the docks when he heard the warning bells ringing and the sound of shouts erupting. Climbing up the gangplank, he was about to wake the crew and tell them to cast off when he saw someone running towards him. Glancing down at Ash, he saw that she was curling into him as he stood still.

"Captain!" Smee called out. Killian's head shot up from the bundle asleep contentedly in his arms. Smee was frantically running up to him.

"Your girl. She's getting worse."

xxx

Present Day

Evie sat down with Ash in her lap. The little girl had a ring of toys in her hand and was content to play with them while she spoke with Killian. The pirate in question, sat down opposite her, looking thoroughly prepared for a lecture or berating. One would think Evie was his mother the way he was acting.

"Well, I can't undo what you've done," Evie began.

"Technically, if I just keep saying Killian, she might get around to it."

"She's a baby," Evie said looking at him doubtfully, "She's going to call you Killy. And you hate that."

"Ah…" Killian trailed off. "That's true."

"So, I'm okay with it."

"What?!" Killian mouth dropped open in surprise. Whatever yelling and horrendous threats he'd seen coming from Evie's mouth, it wasn't that. Evie was saying that it was…okay?

"But I…you…" He composed himself. "You seemed pretty shitty about it last night."

"That's because I was," Evie answered evenly, "It was just a little bit of a shock."

"You're a better father than I could've ever hoped to have for her," Evie finally admitted. "And I know I don't thank you often enough, but I am, truly. I can't tell you how grateful I am…"

"Evie it's okay," Killian said. "It's fine. I'm always here for you, you know that."

"I do," she nodded genuinely, "Thank you."

"So, if she calls me that again…"

"I'll smile and nod. And wait until she decides to call me Mama."

A moment's silence passed before Evie commented, "You should probably tell Emma that Ash isn't yours. The way she looked when you came in here was a little accusatory."

"Er…" Killian scratched the back of his head, seeming a little nervous. "Yeah."

"Are you okay?" Evie's brow furrowed, a smile playing at her lips when she realised that Killian was actually worried. "Is Captain Hook nervous about a girl?"

"Not the girl," he rolled his eyes, "Just worried that the girl's spent eight months missing. And I haven't seen her in almost an entire year. What if she's been with someone else in that time?"

"Why don't you just ask her?" Evie offered. "No harm in that, right?"

"There's always harm when I ask you questions," he muttered under his breath.

"Oh?" Evie raised her eyebrows challengingly.

Killian hesitated before asking, still unsure if Evie would answer. "So who is he?"

Sure, a lot of time had passed since he last asked the question, but he still wasn't sure if she'd let him in. Evie, on the other hand, seemed to be internally warring with herself to either let him know and finally be free of the burden that only she, and now Pan, knew. But she couldn't. She couldn't admit it.

She was ashamed.

And she felt horrible for it. Ash was beautiful; the most beautiful thing she'd ever found in this world. But she hated the way that she had come into the world. She should've had a mother who loved her from the moment she escaped her womb, a father who stayed and would love her. She should've had a better life. And Ash could now. With this family; without Pan.

"I can't, Killian," Evie sighed finally.

So he left it at that, rising from his seat, and going off to find Emma.