What with the whole "Pirate's Treasure Dance" of Storybrooke elementary, the town was abuzz with sending their primly dressed teenage sons and daughters to their first ever official junction that would probably make them feel like little adults about to won the world.

Henry fidgeted nervously, adjusting his tie and licking his lips. "I look like a dork…"

"A very handsome dork…" Emma replied from the bed. She was still confined to rest and could only move through means of a wheelchair. But aside from a couple of nightmares and the occasional achy sudden movement of her arm in a cast, she was making a steady recovery.

Henry huffed and turned to look at him. "Are you sure I don't look completely ridiculous?"

"Wh… are you kidding me?" Emma smiled. "You're gorgeous, you'll be the hottest act there…"

"No… Megan's got the hottest act in the ball."

Emma grinned. "Really? Then how come your date is the cutest girl, hmm?" She chuckled and managed to wiggle her head enough to call him over. "Come here…" As he hugged her, Emma surrounded him with her good arm. "When the hell did you get so damn big, kid?"

Henry smiled silently and just allowed himself to be held. "Mom, are you sure you're ok with me going? I mean, I could stay here, look after you…"

"Not on your life!" She laughed. "Like, this is Paige Jefferson we're talking about, Henry! You don't let go off a chance like that! Besides, Ruby and Mary Margaret will be over any time now, they'll take care of me. I'll be fine."

Henry sat up. "You know, I wouldn't mind if you asked me to." He looked down. "I wouldn't… be a jerk, or blame you for it or… anything…"

Emma sighed. "Oh Henry… Look, you were angry, for a long, long time. We parents make a lot of mistakes, I mean, I wanted to keep you safe, but I should have taken into account that it would not be an easy time for you. I should have known better. I'm sorry."

"And I'm sorry I didn't make it any easier." He shrugged. "I suppose I was so pissed I didn't really think what a hard time you here having too."

"Well, that's sweet, Henry, but you still can't get away with being a potty mouth under my roof."

He chuckled and hugged her gently. "Runs in my blood."

"Cheeky little jerk…" She laughed as she let herself be held by her son.

After a few minutes, there was a tap on the door. "That would be Ruby…" Emma groaned. "Can you get that, kiddo?"

"Yeah, sure…"

Henry ran to the door and Emma suddenly heard a loud and laughing HOLY CRAP!

Damn this stupid cast on my leg…

Henry came rushing in. "Mom! You gotta see this…"

He was followed by Megan, who looked every bit the adorable little gril she was. "Hello Emma…" She smiled as she took a jar of flowers to her bedside. "How are you tonight?"

"Oh sweetie!" Emma smiled. "Those are wonderful, thank you. These will cheer me up some…"

Megan stood straight, displaying a wistful smirk. "Not as much as this will…"

"ALL HANDS ON DECK!"

Henry and Megan instantly stood together in a line, containing their laughter, as the sound of heavy boots echoed through the apartment.

Emma's eyes widened and the smile reached her eyes and damn near her ear lobes. "Oh, dear god…"

Before her stood a dashing pirate captain, clad in black leather from head to toes. A long, heavy looking leather trenchcoat with an upturned collar adorned his entire silhouette, from his heavy shoulders down to his ankles, an awkward part of it sticking out under the cutlass attached to his massively buckled belt. The vest was equally studded in large, silver buckles, framing an unbuttoned cotton shirt that displayed a lot of thick black chest hair, reaching his collarbone. Around his neck stood a long chain and two charms, one depicting a Fleur de Liz sword and the other a copper skull set atop a silvered cross. He wore eyeliner, and his hair was a shaggy mess t6ha looked indeed as if it had been mussed by wild winds of the wide and open seas… and the hook. That was the coup de grasse; set onto a studded leather brace, a perfectly well formed steel hook.

"Milady…" He did a courtesy. "Captain Killian James Jones, also known as Captain Hook, here to help with your cargo."

Emma laughed heartily. "Yeah, captain, well… this beats the hell out of the Disney version, for sure!"

Killian laughed and stood straight. "And as soon as I was cload with the hook, I instantly felt a darn sight more roguish and pirtae-y, love, so…" He turned to look at Henry. "Master Cassidy, I believe we have a damsel yet to collect and Milady Jones…" He3 bowed down and kissed his daughter's hand as she giggled. "Best be off to meet your suitor." He turned to Emma and winked. "He'd best be there, lest I deny him the right to your gracious hand in marriage…"

Megan smiled. "Daddy, we're not getting married!"

"You're… not? My my, how these generations have changed, who'd have known young maidens would be so brazen!" He stood up straight and smiled again, "Go on, the two of you, the car awaits downstairs…"

Henry crawled on the bed and kissed Emma's cheek gently. "Bye mom."

"Have a great time, kid…. Take pictures!"

Megan also leaned in to give Emma a gentle kiss. "I hope you're better soon. Daddy says you're coming with us to London?"

Emma grinned tightly. "Yeah, I'd like to… is that ok?"

"It's wonderful…" She turned to look at her father, who was helping Henry tuck the back of the tie under the collar of his shirt as the boy wowed over the steel hook. She looked back at Emma and whispered. "Don't tell him I told you… but he mentioned your name in his sleep yesterday." She giggled as Emma blushed. "He really, really likes you. And it's good that he does. Makes him happy."

"Oh…" Emma sighed with a grin, trying to not allow tears to even form in her eyes.

"Listen, if you want…" Megan shrugged. "You can come over to our apartment sometime. I don't mind if you and my dad have a slumber party, just let me sleep when you get into the pillow fight, ok?" she crawled away, not even noticing Emma's wide-eyes and crimson cheeks. "Bye Emma!"

When Killian turned to Emma, he frowned at her flustered state. "Swan?"

She smiled, not even making eye contact. "Your daughter kind of invited me for a sleepover at your place…"

"Oh, bloody hell…" He shook his head. "Please don't tell me she spoke of pillow fighting…"

"She did."

"Oh god, Emma, I'm so sorry…" He laughed , also blushing as he shook his head and sat beside her on the bed.

"It's ok… she still has no idea, right?"

"I should bloody well hope not, otherwise she is indeed the most brazen lass in this state."

Emma reached out her good hand. "You look gorgeous."

"A dashing rapscallion…"

"Every bit."

He grinned and held her hand, licking his lips briefly. "I wish you could come with us…"

"Nothing worse than a mother at her kid's ball." She sighed. "I'd embarrass Henry."

"How? You'd be the mermaid on display! The most gorgeous creature of the seas!"

"Yeah, Henry's half naked mom wearing a fish tail before a bunch of kids, that's precisely what I mean."

Killian laughed and cleared the hair from her face. "Emma, please be on the mend soon…" He leaned in and whispered into her ear. "The prospect of that pillow fight is starting to make me lose my sleep…"

"Oh?" She giggled. "Yeah, well I guess it won't be much fun if the other fighter is practically a mummy, so yeah, pal, you'll have to wait for that one."

"Worth every agonizing second, I'd wager."

"You have no idea…" She squinted her eyes. "I can rock your world, Killian Jones…"

It amused Emma to see how his Adam's Apple bobbed up and down at the thought of her wording.

"Like I said, lass, mend quickly, hurry the pace, eh?"

"You really can't wait, can you?"

His gaze softened. "For you? Emma, I'd wait a lifetime, if that's what it took." He leaned in and kissed her softly.

She reached with her good arm and felt his black hair between her fingers, before she placed her hand back down. "Ow ow ow…"

"Easy, darling…"

"I am really so DONE with all this…" She huffed.

"Patience is a virtue…"

"Not one of mine, I'm afraid."

"Don't I know that…"

Emma licked her lips. "You will bring Henry home?"

"Aye, of course, love."

She grinned. "You're too damn good. Thank you."

When the voices of Ruby and Mary Margaret sounded in the hall as they talked to Henry, Killian sat up straight. "Best be off, m'love, the high seas await us."

Emma smiled again. "You're gorgeous, Captain." She winked. "Remember to wear that guyliner for… you know… the slumber party…"

Killian chuckled as he flushed red, and bowed. "As the maid of the sea deems fit, she shall have me." He raised his eyes to her, dark, from under thick, black brows, and smiled a grin that rose only on one side of his face. "You minx…"

Damn the plaster… damn damn damn.

"Hi!" Came Ruby's cheerful smile as she flashed three DVD's in her hands. "Girl's night tonight! I got The Notebook, Full Monty and Pirates of the Caribb.. be…. An." She trailed off as she took one look at Killian, her eyes scowering the whole length of his leather clad body. "Holy Jack Sparrow…"

"That's captain Hook to you, lass!" Killian smiled. He turned to Emma. "Well, lass, I shall leave you in the care of the able hands of the town educator and the barwench…"

"Hey!" Ruby huffed.

He squeezed her hand and leaned in for another kiss. "Should you need anything at all, Emma, you've only but to call, is that clear?" He kissed her cheek as she smiled.

"Aye aye, Captain."

Mary Margaret stepped into the room. "Killian, oh my god!" She smiled. "That's pretty awesome…"

"Must impose authority on the bilge rats." He winked at Mary. "Since some of the staff comfortably decided to not assume the task…"

"It was a fair draw!" She protested. "Besides, who would be here to look after your girlfriend if I weren't, hm?"

He laughed and leaned over to grab Mary, giving her a tight, hard kiss on her cheek. "You are correct, love, and I am grateful…" He turned to Emma and pointed a finger at her face. "Medication and sleep, Swan. We will be back just before midnight." He waved from the door. "Milady Nolan… Ruby… I bid you both a most fond adieu…"

Emma smiled "Have fun!"

Ruby looked at his back as he walked out and then turned with a pout at Snow. "You got a hell of a kiss, why didn't I get one of those?"

"Because you're a common bar wench and I am a…" She flourished her hand. "Town educator…"

"What about her?" Ruby pointed at Emma. "She's a common bar wench too!"

"Yeah but she's the hero that saved his butt from the ark hollow of alcoholism…"

"Wait, he was a boozer?"

"Guys…"

"Yeah, I mean not the worst sort, but Megan did make a drawing in class once, her dad on a table with a sad face and a flask and…"

"GUYS!" Emma moaned. "Really?"

Ruby turned to Emma. "Oh, yeah, you're here, that's right…"

Emma rolled her eyes.

Mary Margaret shook her head. "Don't mind us, I'm a married woman who likes to entertain herself by just looking at what's on the rest of the menu and Ruby is jealous as hell because you got the town hottie wrapped around your fingers…"

Ruby laughed and looked at Emma. "You won the man lotto, Swan."

Emma sighed deep and grinned. "It was a fair draw…"

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The ball was going well, far too well, where Killian had lost sight of his daughter in the madness of the crowd; He occasionally caught a glimpse of her lilac dress but she was instantly drowned by the crowds. It was a safe situation, he knew well, and Megan knew her own limitations well enough. It wasn't until the dance contest began that her figure emerged together with her date's, as they spun around the floor and actually won the cup.

She got that from her mother for sure.

As for Henry, he spent most of the time just talking to Paige and it was plain for Killian to notice he was beyond smitten. The boy was a little gentleman, for sure.

"Ah the early years of youth…" Paul came up behind Killian.

The handsome young father turned around and found the principal dressed as Captain Barbosa. Killian laughed. "Blimey…2

"Yes, the principal can have a little bit of fun as well… He is only human too, you know…" He looked at Killian's appendage. "Clever, Jones, very clever."

"The kids loved it." He laughed, looking at the hook on his hand. "One of them actually suggested I bring it on a regular basis…"

"Wouldn't make it past the gun detectors."

"And I wouldn't dream of doing it, anyway."

Paul huffed and nodded. "So, how's your trip to England coming along?"

"Quite well, I helped sort out the logistical mess that was my living situation in America and got my daughter's passport done." He shrugged. "I just need to see to Henry and Emma's, and we're good to go."

"Can miss Swan actually afford the trip?"

Killian shook his head. "She won't have to pay a penny. I've enough."

Paul McIntyre looked at him. "From your past earnings?"

Killian shook his head. "No." He produced his phone and showed Paul his painting of Emma, duly repaired and completed. "I never thought anyone gave a toss about me or my work any longer… and it would appear I was mistaken." He sighed. "I received an offer for it, for an approximate amount of seventy-five thousand dollars."

Paul's eyes widened as he whistled. "That's a lot of money…."

"Aye, it is…"

"So you sold it?"

"No." Killian grinned. "I may never sell that one. Sentimental value and all that."

Paul frowned. "So… I'm confused…."

Killian turned to look at Paul. "I spoke of them about a young man under my apprenticeship. The fact that he is only under twelve made the pitch all the more interesting."

"Henry…" Paul gasped.

"He made a drawing of his mother, and with the right guidance he finally transferred it onto canvass. I only did the coloring." He shifted through his phone and showed him the drawing Henry had made of his beautiful young mother, smiling and holding him as a newborn child.

"This is… Henry Cassidy did this?" Paul asked, shocked.

"The boy has a future…"

"And how much did this one pitch for?"

Killian grinned proudly, nodding as he looked at the phone. "One hundred and forty seven thousand dollars…"

Paul nearly lost his footing. Killian smiled. "Never fear, headmaster. Henry and I have agreed to surprise his mother with the whole deal, three quarters of that money will be for his college fund, the other quarter for the trip."

Paul huffed in awe. "Well the kid does have an extraordinary talent…"

"That he does."

"And what about Meg?"

"Oh, she's covered." Killian smiled. "I have a remnant of my past wealth and her uncle Liam has agreed to sponsor the remains of what she may need. She will never want, my little girl…"

Paul placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are practically ensuring Henry's future, almost as if he were your own son…"

Killian gulped and nodded. "Aye. Because that's exactly what I'd like him to be… In due course , naturally, but…" He shook his head. "Paul, I've not been this madly enamored with a woman since I met my wife, and that was ten years ago. I lost her…. And I lost myself. Emma became my light, she helped me find my way back to myself." He swallowed. "If given time, she's still with me, I'd most likely want to make a life at her side." He shrugged. "I've Megan, and I have always been grateful for that, even more so now in light of all the bloody mess that went down with Tink… but I can't help but think that things might actually might start feeling like a family again. With Emma. And Henry."

Paul smiled broadly. "You have a kind heart, Jones." He patted Killian's shoulder. "And I can't say it was because of your former status that she's in it with you. She didn't even know. Can it be safe to assume the cat's out of the bag?"

"Oh aye, she knows. Everything…" He grinned. "I could never lie to her. That was perhaps one of the things that drew me most to her. I feel honest, like some blank page has been given to me. She makes me that way…"

"Or a blank canvas."

"Yeah, that too…"

"And will you be actively painting again?"

Killian side-grinned. "I've plenty of inspiration, mate… aye, why not?"

It wasn't until the party had waned away and that Killian zeroed on Megan almost sleeping on a chair by the punch and our d'eurves that he actually started the quest to locate Henry and Paige to take them all home.

"Meg, love…" He shook her.

"Dad, Hansel's a jerk. He left twenty five minutes ago with his friends and didn't even say good bye."

"Oh, darling…" He caressed her hair. "That can only mean one thing: There's someone better out there for you in the future and it's not him. Now…" He reached for her jacket as he looked around at the now almost empty school gym. "You haven't seen Henry, by chance?"

Meg stood straight and bobbed her head over to where Henry still stood, slow dancing with the school's pretty blonde knockout. "You might want to wait till this song is over, or he will never forgive you…."

Killian laughed and sat beside his daughter. "Rightly so, my love…. Give the young man his time…"

After another long twenty minutes, Killian finally drove Paige back to Mr. Jefferson's house.

It amused him to see the look on Henry's face, the dumb ear to ear, Cheshire cat grin and the intermittent sights…. Yep, the boy was definitely smitten.

He dropped Megan off home and opened the door. "Go upstairs with your uncle Liam and your Auntie Greta, darling…"

"Oh! You're staying over at Emma's for a pillow fight?" She asked wide –eyed.

"No, and enough of the pillow fights, Meg, it's…" He shook his head and smiled. "I might need to sit down with you and talk about those one of these days, I reckon… No, look, just, I want to see if she's well and leave Henry where I collected him, ok?" He kissed her cheek. "I'll be back in a Jiffy darling, but, please, I hope to see you in bed, teeth brushed and in your nightie, when I get back, all right?"

She suddenly hugged him. "You're the coolest dad ever. No other father would make a more handsome Captain Hook."

His ego did a somersault.

"Right then… up you go, my love…"

After he heard Liam opening the door for Meg and he closed the downstairs door, he returned to the pickup truck he had borrowed from Mr. Smee for the night. "Right lad, time to take you home."

"Killian…"

"Aye?" He asked as he backed up.

"She's amaaaazing…"

The artist laughed. "Aye, I noticed. You couldn't keep your hands off each other, and I reckon, lad, she's just as infatuated as you are…" He turned the wheel and then looked at him with a wink. "It's a great feeling, isn't it?"

"I… am… walking on sunshine…"

Killian laughed. "I know the feeling."

Henry remained silently sighing and grinning, much to Killian's amusement, as he drove the boy home.

When they allowed themselves into the apartment, the lights were off, and Emma, Ruby and Mary Margaret were scattered on the bed, sleeping, the flickering light of no signal stemming from the flatscreen.

Henry paced to his mom and kissed her forehead.

"Hmmm… you're back?" She moaned awake, a weak grin on her face. "How was it?"

"It was awesome, mom, just… I will tell you everything about it tomorrow."

"Ok… is Killian gone?"

"I'm right here, love…"

She looked at the dark silhouette of a handsome pirate. "No problems?"

"None at all." He replied softly as he approached her. "You?"

"Aside from Mary Margaret confessing she slept with the town doctor just before marrying David and Ruby finishing the cranberry juice, yeah, all was under control."

He grabbed her hand. "Pain?"

"None that can't be suppressed with a pill…"

"Hm.." He kissed her cheek. "Perhaps I should take these ladies home before I head for the bunks myself…. So…." He turned on her bedside lamp, and after both squinted at the sudden light5, he rummaged through the heaps of pill bottles. "Which one is it? For the pain?"

"Diclofenac… I think."

"Aye, got it… Just…" He picked up her straw cup to find it was empty. "Let me guess…"

"Yeah, there was cranberry juice there too. Blame it on the bar wench…" Emma giggled.

Killian shook his head. "I'll have to have a word with her. Abusing the groceries of a woman handicapped by circumstance…" He stood up and headed for the kitchen. He found Henry, his chin rested on both his hands and elbows leaning on the kitchen bar, a goofy, moonstruck look on his face. "Henry, mate, shouldn't you be preparing yourself for bed?" He asked, amused.

"How can anyone sleep on a night like this?"

"Killian laughed softly. "Bloody hell, she really did a number on you, didn't she?"

"My life will never be the same."

"I can hear you, loud and clear, Henry." Killian poured water into Emma's cup.

The boy then turned to Killian. "Is this the way you feel about my mom?"

Killian stopped abruptly and turned sharply, looking at Henry with utter disbelief. "B… beg pardon?"

"Yeah… like, if she's around you, if she comes close to you, you feel like you're going to explode… like you don't have enough hands to hold her close and that you can only wish or hope for a smile, a grin, anything that will brighten your day… because she is the ONE thing that does that for you. Is that it?" Henry smiled. "Because if that's how you feel, well…" He shrugged. "I know how that feels now… and I approve."

Killian almost dropped the cup as he stared back at henry. "I…" He smiled. "Yes, lad, you hit the nail precisely on the head. I couldn't have put it better myself if I had tried."

"So… you love my mom."

The handsome English artist gulped hard before answering with a mild grin and a gentle nod. "Aye, m'boy. I love your mother quite a bit."

Henry smiled and nodded. "Perfect, because she loves you too. So… feel free to stick around, ok? Don't… leave."

Killian frowned. "Leave?"

Henry sighed. "If this all works out, and I have a feeling that it might, in a few months you two will even be living together and… well, even with Megan and I here, we can kind of be like… a family. But…" He swallowed. "I already lost one dad, so…" He looked down, shuffling his foot.

Killian felt overwhelmed as he placed the cup down and paced to Henry, hugging him hard.

The boy instantly placed his arms around his mom's boyfriend. "I am honored by your words, Henry… I am… and very deeply touched." He pulled away and held the boy at arm's length. "Hey, if there was anyone whose approval was important for me, it was you, lad, so this is…. Quite a welcome surprise."

"You just… you won't mind if I don't call you dad, like… ever?" Henry shrugged. "I mean, I really like you and you're technically a prospect for a second dad and all that, but…."

Killian laughed softly. "No, mate, I'm ok with whatever you call me…. Captain would do."

Henry grinned. "And Killian?"

"That would work while we're not captain and First Mate."

"I'm Master Boatswain…."

"Oh, my mistake, lad." He ruffled the boy's head. "You're affine young lad, Master Boson Henry. Now go on, get yourself ready for bed. "

Henry nodded with a grin and headed off to the bathroom.

Killian's world was swirling in his head, his heart almost leaping out his chest.

After giving Emma her painkiller and waiting for her to fall asleep, he roused the "educator" and "barwench" awake to take them home before heading to his own.

By the time he got there, Meg was fast asleep.

He kissed her head and tucked her in with a sigh.

"Pillow fights?" Came Liam's voice from the door. "You have not yet disembarrassed her from that notion?"

Killian turned to him and pushed him out of his daughter's room, closing the door behind him. "I've yet to do so, man, I just don't know…."

Liam chuckled at the flustered state of his younger brother, and shook his head as he turned to his improvised inflated mattress, where Greta lay asleep. "Comes with the territory of being a father. I suggest that you do so if you and Emma are to ever take it to that level, son." He turned off the light. "Sleep well, Killian."

Killian turned to his own room and sighed as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. The eyeliner was now running dark circles under his eyes and he looked like more of a raccoon now than a pirate.

But he had never felt as happy as he did that night when he simply allowed himself to fall into bed, sleeping soundly in spite of the leather and the uncomfortable hook.

It looked like his dreams of once again having a loving family were finally coming into fruition once more.

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