21. COMING BACK HOME.

"I don't understand." Killian said while Belle was checking his injuries three days after waking up in Rumplestiltskin's castle. Dr. Whale had returned to his home and would visit him frequently to see how he was doing, encouraged by Belle's offer to take the role of Hook's nurse.

"What?" she asked.

"Do you remember the first time we met? I hit you and tried to kill you... ouch!" he complained when Belle touched one of his wounds "And in Storybrooke? You saved me from being killed by Rumplestiltskin and I shot you in exchange... and you're still helping me."

"Well... that's what good people do, isn't it? Moreover, I would be a hypocrite if I didn't. I know why you've risked your life, and I can see the merit on a man who's changed for good."

"And don't you see me as a threat?" he asked. "Don't you think I will take my revenge while you're sleeping or something like that?"

"Have you looked at yourself?" Belle smiled. "You're not such a threat when you can't even walk properly. By the way, we both know that you've forgotten about that 'revenge' issue, haven't you?"

"Yeah" he answered. "But you don't have to do this, I mean, having me here in the same place as the croc... your husband must be awkward enough to now help me with this" he hadn't seen Mr. Gold during all that time.

"Don't worry about Rumple. For him it's as if we don't have any guests. You two are like schoolboys sometimes..." she hesitated before going ahead "But I think you resemble in some aspects" Hook was going to reply something against it (he and the crocodile? for god's sake), but Belle didn't let him "Despite everything you've done, you still had good inside you and you've become good men now. Moreover, you both have moved heaven and earth for your respective sons. I know you won't agree with me, but it's what I think." he only agreed with that last sentence, but she looked so sure that he didn't want to start discussing it. "And what would you do without that two patient women who found that good inside you two?"

"You've got a point there" Killian admitted. "Belle, I..." he hesitated, feeling quite strange "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve it."

"Forget it, alright?" she answered.

Everything felt so easy that sometimes he had the feeling that it couldn't be fine. He just had to be there, behaving as a good patient without anything to worry about but how Aurora was. He hoped to receive news from her soon.

In the following days he received them. It was a letter written by Snow and sent to Charming first in which the queen told him that, although she'd been totally devastated when she'd thought he was dead, Aurora and the baby were fine and they were starting to plan the return to their homes. She also said that the princess was still too overwhelmed to find the words to write him but she wanted him to know that she loved him (in spite of the shock he'd gave to her.) and that she was desiring to be with him again. He'd been unable to stop smiling in a while and would have wanted to write a reply if Snow hadn't told him not to do it since they'd decided to keep his survival as a secret, fearing that William would want to harm anyone again.

The letter had been brought by Emma and Neal, who had come to pick up Henry, as school was about to start in the Land Without Magic, where they lived. They'd spent quite a lot of time speaking about everything that had happened after the last time they'd seen each other. Emma (who had behaved as usual- "How can you be so fucking lucky, you scoundrel?" she'd said laughing) had told him that her father would come to pick him up when Hook was recovered enough. And was it his imagination or Bae didn't hate him as much as he'd done in the past? He even had told him to take care of Aurora when they'd said goodbye. He'd surely have more chances to check that.

As weeks passed, Killian felt better and his injuries improved until, finally, after having Victor's permission, the day when he left Rumplestiltskin's castle came. Charming appeared there in a carriage and, after having a conversation with Gold and Belle, he went to pick up Killian and told him that Aurora, along with Snow, Mulan and her brother had started their journey back home too. "We'll be waiting for them when they arrive" he said.

So, there they were, in the castle's main door, feeling the awkwardness of the moment in which two old enemies finally saw each other despite having spent almost a month living in the same building. They didn't even look at each other in the eyes and couldn't hide the relieve of getting rid of the other.

"So," Belle started, taking Killian's hand (after all, she'd grown fond of the former pirate during all those days, to Rumple's surprise - and annoyance) "I hope everything goes fine."

"Me too" Killian answered "How can I thank you for all you've done for me?"

"Going away from here right now" Rumple whispered. Belle elbowed him.

"You don't owe us anything. Just take care of Aurora." she said as if nothing had passed "Maybe someday I'll call by to meet her."

"You'll be welcome" he told her. Who would have said that he would be saying that to the crocodile's wife?

She smiled and released his hand and, waving his left one (the fake one, as he'd started to call it) he headed to the carriage, waiting for Charming to hug Belle and shake hands with Mr. Gold. David finally joined him and the horses started to run.

Mr. Gold was observing how the two men moved away. He didn't even blink and Belle realized that he was really very focused thinking about something.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"His story. It's really curious, don't you think?" his wife looked at him without knowing exactly what he was referring to "First, he isn't smashed by that rocks. Then, he resists long enough to be found by a werewolf who arrived there in time by chance with you, who are able to call someone who has magic" he pointed to himself "Moreover, the werewolf in question lives with a doctor who's got everything he could need. He needs a transfusion and said doctor is a suitable donor. In the end, he doesn't only survive, but he does it without any important sequel... It's too much luck for only a man in one day, don't you think?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that true love is one of the most powerful forces on earth, maybe the strongest. Is it true that love conquers all and that, as the Charmings say, true lovers will always find each other?" he made a pause "So, have we witnessed a case of an enormous luck or one of true love?" Belle didn't answer, she just stared at the dust cloud after the carriage, which had disappeared from their sight "I wonder if there's still some of his hair on the bed...! he said pensively "True love... such a curious subject of study..." he remained silent for a couple of seconds "Well, now that our 'dear captain' is going to reunite with his family, let's deal with ours again."

"Yeah..." Belle breathed deeply "Rumple... speaking about our family..." if she didn't say it then, she wouldn't be able to do it until he guessed it himself.

"Yes, dearie?"

"I've got something to tell you." she answered, wondering how he'd react to the news.

.

For the first time in ages, Aurora was completely happy. That was the day when she'd finally get away from William's castle and the nightmare she'd lived there. Everything was ready for the departure and she, along with Mulan was waiting in the apartment for Jour and Snow to come from saying goodbye to William.

There had been a month since Snow had entered there surprising everyone with the news about Killian's survival. At first, Aurora had needed days to assume what had happened. 'He's alive' her mind had repeated it everyday, as if it was trying to convince her. She'd eventually assumed it and all she could do was laughing; that stupid scoundrel... he'd done it again. Not only he'd survived another accident but he'd also made her feel down in the dumps just to return her her happiness. She'd have wanted to show it to everyone, to tell the world that it had been wrong about them two, specially about him... but her brother and her friends had thought that it would be more prudent to pretend he was dead, just in case William came to a new plan to catch him, then that he was weak.

They finally saw them through the apartment's open door.

"Everything's done" Jour said. He and Snow had done what they'd planned: they'd thanked the king for having let the twins stay in his castle (and Snow to visit them frequently) and had excused Aurora's absence, telling him that she was still very affected for her child's father's death, but that she'd eventually get over it. "We can go now."

The group of four went out of the apartment with a last look at it and, after leaving the castle behind, they headed to the carriage that Eric had sent to pick up them. The prince and the former mermaid had arrived from their trip around Fairytale Land just three days before. Aurora was really excited about the perspective of seeing them again. It had been a long time, she'd missed them and it was like retaking her life before everything had changed.

The couple were waiting for them in front of the castle's doors. When Aurora got off the carriage, she found herself trapped in Ariel's arms.

"How are you?" the red-haired asked.

"I'm fine" she answered. "I'm glad to see you again." she kissed Ariel's cheek.

"I wish I had been with you."

"You've done enough, and I haven't been alone, don't worry."

"Aurora" Eric called her. His girlfriend released the princess, who faced him "Wow, you're big" he said and hugged her too.

"What did you expect?" she asked smiling widely.

"Wait until Hook sees you" he smiled, imaging the captain's face "I bet he'll faint."

"Don't be so bad!" she replied amused, shoving him slightly. "What about you? How's your trip been?"

"Amazing" Ariel said "Everything's so... amazing" she couldn't find any other words to describe how much she loved the humans' world.

"I'm so happy for you two... you deserve it" Aurora said, meaning it. Ariel took her hands.

"And you deserve to be happy too. Killan and you have been through a lot" she said. "Congratulations, by the way." she added. Aurora thanked her with a smile.

They spent a couple of hours in Eric's castle, so Aurora could rest before starting the journey aboard the Jolly Roger and, after that, they headed to the ship. As they were approaching the harbor, the princess could perceive the smell of the sea, which brought a lot of good memories to her mind. It was on that moments when she started to realize that, at last, she was free again, like when Killian and and her had run off together in that same kingdom, the sensation was the same, but she was a lot of times happier than then because they didn't have to run away anymore and they finally had their friends by their side.

When they'd reached the Jolly Roger, the group said goodbye (for the moment) to the couple. When Aurora was hugging Eric, the prince whispered on her ear "I'm going to ask her to marry me". The princess couldn't help laughing and hugged him once again.

Ten minutes later, the ship was sailing away from the harbor. Aurora herself had volunteered to take the helm (with the promise to leave it as soon as she got tired) and Snow was giving her the indications using the map. Jour and Mulan were speaking about what Eric had told them about Felix, who was still imprisoned in his castle.

"When did you learn to do it?" Snow asked, happy to see the princess in so high spirits.

"Killian taught me at our first night in Neverland" she answered, smiling with that memory. "He should see me now." Snow laughed.

"I don't know if he would be proud of you or overprotective" she said. Aurora nodded, agreeing with her.

The queen relieved her when she felt tired and Jour accompanied her to the captain's cabin. She couldn't avoid smiling when she entered it, since she'd spent a lot of good moments there. In fact, that had been the place where they'd conceived their daughter (or son, whatever it was).

"What's that smile for?" Jour asked, really glad to see her so happy.

"Good memories" she answered.

.

As days passed, she felt more nervous about the reunion. She was unable to imagine how it would be. She just wanted to live it as soon as possible. Why the two kingdoms had to be so far away?

Finally, the day when they saw Snow's kingdom from the distance came. Aurora was watching it from the deck when Mulan joined her.

"Only a couple of hours" the warrior said.

The two friends sat there until the ship approached the harbor and they stood up again. It was still a big amount of metres away, but they were able to distinguish it... and everyone who was in it. Aurora's heart doubled its usual speed when she saw Killian standing there, waiting for her. A big smile appeared on her face and tears of joy started to roll down her cheeks. As they approached the shore, she could distinguish his smile and his blue eyes looking directly at her. He waved at her (feeling so ecstatic that he thought he would start bursting into laughter in any second and trying to ignore the desire to reach the ship swimming) and she did the same.

Just some metres and they would be finally together again. Why couldn't the Jolly Roger be quicker?

Ten metres, five metres... the ship dropped anchor. She was finally there, with him... she was home.

...

Next chapter you'll have the complete reunion.

Just two or three more for the end.

Thanks for reading!