Part 10 : Confusion.

Neal started when the ghost appeared just next to him, without telling him he would be there. He was reading one of the numerous books his father had about magic, trying to find a way to break the curse.

Knowing there was someone next to him but that there still were readers in the library, the young man decided to walk a little, so he could talk with the ghost.

Who was Hook.

"What I will tell does not only concern you, but also the other, couldn't you try to tell me you're here before appearing ? I don't want to be seen as someone crazy, if someone sees me starting without reason and then talking alone.

- We will try, just said the pirate, without adding anything else."

(It's useless to say that they didn't take it into account. More as a habit than by wanting to do it.)

The other looked at him for a time, trying to understand what was wrong. Since what Henry did, the two men didn't really talk to each other, as Hook didn't come back to see Neal.

The ghost stayed silent, a little pensive. He was thinking, and let the silence settle. Strangely, Neal didn't feel any anger any more, as if the flashes he had proved him that, maybe, the pirate changed.

The memories were there, he understood. Buried, hidden, and impossible to find.

But there.

He just had to find a way to find them.

Killian seeming not to want to talk this day, Neal went back to where he was before, and he missed the painful look the other man gave on what was around them.

The library.

Just a normal place for Neal, but which meant more for the pirate. One of the reasons of his presence was that he wanted to see Belle. It was idiot and futile, but he just wanted to have the proof that his friend was okay.

He just wanted to be sure that their pain, this pain they had as ghost, if it hadn't have a sense, at least had a purpose. That it wasn't there in vain. And that Belle, her, at least, was happy.

As they just couldn't be.

Some time after, Belle came finally into the library, with a smile on her lips, smiling and shining.

"I am sorry I had been so long outside, but I had to talk to your father.

- You will replace me now ?

- Yes, if you want to go somewhere in the town, at Granny's, or see your father, or… your son, you can, yes.

- Thanks."

And, as he was going to discretely show to Hook to follow him, he saw him who was looking at Belle with a look full of… nostalgia ? It seemed to him, a friendly look, obviously.

As they were alone and out of the shop, Neal turned in the direction of the ghost. This one seemed to be… sad. He didn't need the pirate to say him something to understand the situation.

"So… as I just saw it… Belle and you were friends, right ? Unless I am wrong.

- This is that.

- But… it doesn't make sense !

- Why ?"

They were both walking, without looking where they were going, and were now not far from the port.

"I mean… she is my father's wife.

- Yes.

- And you hate my father.

- Less than before, but yes, I do.

- So, how can you be friend with my father's wife ?

- I needed time to understand that I was wrong, but yes, we finally became friends.

- This is not really an explanation."

The pirate smiled.

"What happened exactly ? I have the impression that you don't tell me everything, just as if… I hadn't been there for a time. What happened to me ?"

Killian froze.

You died.

You died, and it had been one of the worst days of my life.

He couldn't tell him that.

So he preferred to say nothing.

This is just when he crossed through Neal that he realized that this last one brusquely stopped.

"Neal ? What's wrong ?"

He didn't answer. There was something in front of them, something which looked like… but no, he was wrong, that couldn't be that.

"Tell me Killian… where is the Jolly Roger ?

- Here, I guess. Why ?"

Of course, he still hadn't understand. But it doesn't matter, as Neal takes the thing which is on the enormous thing which is just in front of them.

And then, Neal takes it from it, and then he just freezes.

Because in front of them, there is the Jolly Roger, not any more as it was before and neither him or Killian succeed to say anything.

§§§§

Just after, it was of course the pirate who lost his calm, facing it. It wasn't surprising, and even Neal couldn't help but feel bad seeing the former gigantic ship, which was now into pieces, and almost impossible to recognize.

"She dared", the new dead whistled.

It was a cold anger, and the former Lost Boy almost laughed, without knowing why, maybe because to see the pirate angry was something which didn't change, and which took him away from all these crazy things Henry told him.

And, as the pirate was getting angry alone, almost talking to himself, Neal tried to calm him, and, by an instinctive movement, he took his hand.

But, as he expected that this last one just met emptiness, during a second, just one second, he succeeded to take and feel the pirate's hand in his. But, as they both realized it, surprised, the sensation was gone.

Troubled by what just happened, and never happened before this, they walked away form the other, and said nothing, before the pirate left.

Looking at what stayed from the ship, and as he had some memories back, Neal told to himself what the hell is that…

When the pirate came back to what became their place (where Snow and David lived), everyone went to see him.

"So, did you do any progress ? Immediately asked Regina, not seeing the strange air of the ghost.

He didn't know what to answer. In fact, he didn't think about it as he was with Neal, he was trying to… talk. Not to break a curse.

- Hey Killian, said Emma with worry, are you okay ?

- Of course Swan."

He immediately saw his former wife raise an eyebrow. Her skill to see lies didn't die with her, apparently, and she wasn't the only one to care about it.

"What happened ?

- Nothing, he rapidly answered.

His answer provoked some perplex looks.

- If it was the case, Regina said, you wouldn't be that way.

- Can I know, your majesty, why you're interested by what I "live" ? He said with sarcasm.

Regina rolled her eyes.

- I was trying to be sympathetic, she replied.

- Something happened, right ? Asked Snow with more tact.

The pirate sighted.

"Well… the thing is that, for some instants… Neal was able to touch me."

Emma gave a wondering look to Regina, before asking :

"Can you precise the sense of "touch" ?

- He tried to take my hand, and, it didn't got through it, he could take it. It didn't last for long, but it happened."

The silence settled.

Snow White was the one to talk first :

"In fact, you're… more material where you're close to Neal.

- What ?

- We didn't tell you, said Emma, because we didn't understand why, and, it didn't really make sense.

- In fact it does make sense.

- Regina ! Exclaimed Emma.

- He has the right to know what we discovered ! When me and Emma, or when Snow and David are close, it's easier for us to interact with the exterior world, the real world, and to take objects...

- And ?"

Regina rolled her eyes, annoyed, seeing he didn't understand.

(Or was lying to himself.)

She decided to be brutal.

"Me and Emma. Snow and David. Doesn't it remind you anything ?

- No, said the pirate, obstinate.

- True Love, said Snow, almost with softness.

The pirate's head turned in her direction extraordinarily fast.

- No. No. that can't be possible. Me and Emma… We…

- Do you really think that True Love can die in two years ? Asked David, more rude than he should have been.

- But, what about the test in the Underworld ?"

Hook knew that his story with Emma was dead and buried, as them, but he needed to fight for it, to believe that everything they did hadn't been made in vain.

"You never thought that it could be a manipulation by Hades ? To know it, Regina said, me and Emma we did the test. With the hair. It worked.

- I am sorry, Killian, but I think that you and Neal you're…

- I have to go, he said, not even letting the time to Emma to finish her sentence."

This last one sighed by seeing him go, and completely denying what was the exact truth. Regina then decided to go closer to her, as her girlfriend was looking at her with some anger.

"What ? Said the former queen.

- You could have been less rude, Regina, replied Emma.

- Someone had to open his eyes ! Do you remember how many time we needed ?"

Emma nodded her head ; she smiled, and then she kissed her, showing her that she understood.