A/N: Huge thank you to both of my betas steph-the-fangirl-925 and aimeeloren for keeping me on my toes and on the straight and narrow path. These two women have helped me tremendously since they have come on board. Hugs.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They belong to the franchise of OUAT.
Chapter 3:
It was barely after lunch on Friday when Robin returned from work. With a large smile on his face, he explained his boss had let him leave early with the full day's pay. While Emma was still convinced they should leave the next morning as planned, it was Marion who insisted that leaving that afternoon was the better option.
"Marion, we can still leave tomorrow," Robin assured her, as Emma played trucks in the corner with Roland. She noticed the pained expression on his face, making Emma wonder if he was worried the spell wouldn't work when they arrived in Storybrooke.
"We're already packed. It isn't even close to dark yet. Leaving now…" Marion reached out and hugged Robin. "It's what I want."
Emma turned away when she saw a tear slip down Robin's cheek. He was afraid he was going to lose his wife. Emma knew that look, it was the same look she carried when she realized Gold almost crushed Killian's heart.
Less than an hour later, Emma found herself driving a very packed Volkswagen back to Storybrooke. Robin was on the phone with Belle explaining the particulars of their arrival in the passenger side seat.
"Belle wants to check to make sure the compass is working," Robin told Emma. She indicated the glove box and Robin pulled the compass out. All at once it spun around and then landed straight and true in a particular direction.
Apparently, the compass worked just as well in Robin's hand as it had in Emma's. She heard his in drawn breath, as the implication of what happened occurred to Robin. His voice sounded pained as he informed Belle that the compass did indeed work and was leading them toward Storybrooke. Emma gazed back in her rearview mirror, a silent tear slid down Marion's face. Earlier in the week, Emma had explained to them how the compass would lead her back to her true love and in conjunction, Storybrooke.
Emma's heart broke a little for Marion. If she hadn't known where Robin's heart lay before, it became painfully obvious as the compass continued to lead them back to town. Marion was entitled to a happy ending as much as anyone and Emma resolved that somehow she'd find a way to help the woman find it.
When they stopped for gas, Emma sent a quick text to Killian. On my way back. Meet me at Granny's for dinner with the family.
Despite the fact that she didn't receive a text back, she felt there was no need to worry. He was probably busy with David at the station. Mary-Margaret, who Emma had called next, told her that David was searching for Killian earlier to help him, but that he might still be out on the boat with Henry.
CSCSCSCS
It was the day after his collapse at the church when Killian was able to meet with the Monsignor. Killian had left the evening before to meet with Dr. Whale, who hadn't been available. Killian was disappointed, as he admired the young doctor, but a nurse reassured him that they would send a doctor over to meet with him later that evening. It was indeed late when an older woman arrived. She had black hair with a grey streak within it. She introduced herself as Dr. Dee Ville and showed him her badge from Storybrooke General Hospital, so he let her in. After a few routine checks, she assured him that he was quite healthy, but overly exhausted. She recommended that he rest as much as possible the next week and to maybe take some time off.
So, it was a more rested Killian that sat before the Monsignor the next day. The Monsignor sat on the opposite side of the desk that Killian used to write his sermons, while Killian sat in a chair opposite, which was usually reserved for his parishioners. Even with Dr. Ville's assurances that Killian was in excellent shape, he still worried that he might have hit his head, because some of his recollections still seemed fuzzy.
"Father Jones, Bishop Bell and I have recently spoken. During that conversation, your name came up." The older gentleman steepled his fingers, leaning forward over the desk.
"I hope I haven't done anything wrong. I know yesterday afternoon…" Killian rubbed his ear in a self-conscious motion because he still had no way of explaining what happened to him yesterday.
"No. No. Nothing like that," the Monsignor told him with a wave of a hand. "There has been a recent call for priests to further their education, especially for priests who specialize in exorcisms."
Killian gazed at the Monsignor in confusion. "We don't have an exorcist here. As far as I am aware the need for one hasn't arisen."
"Bishop Bell made it clear that he would like you to go on sabbatical so that you may head to Rome for this training." Monsignor held up a hand to stifle Killian's protest. "I have been assigned to this parish while you are away. It's a four month course. You'll be back before you know it and you have the added benefit of a small vacation in Rome."
"While I am honored, I'm not sure if I am the correct person for the job," Killian told him with heartfelt sincerity, folding his hands before him.
The Monsignor's eyes glinted in what seemed delight as he gazed down at Killian's hands, which confused Killian all the more. "You're exactly the right person for this. I completely agreed with the Bishop's assessment of your skills."
"Well, then I thank you for this opportunity." Killian rose and shook the Monsignor's hand, who also rose from his seat. "When shall I plan to leave?"
"Tonight."
Killian froze. "Tonight?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, the Bishop received word late regarding this matter and we will need you to prepare yourself tonight. Your plane leaves Boston-Logan International at seven tomorrow morning."
"That means I'll have to pack and leave tonight."
The Monsignor nodded. "I apologize for the delay of the announcement, but I rushed here as soon as I could. Then with your collapse yesterday, I wanted to be reassured that you would be capable of making such a trip."
While still slightly bewildered by the quickness of the trip, Killian had been part of the church long enough to be able to adapt to change. He gave a slight nod and left the office to pack for his very unexpected trip.
The Monsignor sat back down. His fingers twitched in glee. Killian was soon leaving Storybrooke and if Rumple played his cards right, to never return. The last he heard Emma wasn't to return to Storybrooke until the next afternoon, so he might be able to be rid of her interference as well. The Monsignor stood and walked to the mirror on the back of the door. A devilish grin spread across his face, as he gazed at his true self in the reflection. Rumple congratulated himself with true genius, placing Killian's hand back in place before he awoke. Surely a priest would think twice if he was without one hand and if there was one thing Rumple didn't need it was for the pirate to question his identity.
CSCSCSCS
Upon entering Storybrooke, Regina and Belle quickly took over Robin and Marion's attention, while Emma was sent off to town with Roland for dinner. Emma and Roland sat at one of the outside tables as they awaited her parents and son's arrival. Glancing around, as Roland cheerfully retold a story she had already heard earlier in the week, she spotted a strange sight. Belle was now heading to the library and she was holding hand with …
"Emma, you're back," Mary-Margaret called out excitedly as she pushed Neal's stroller over to her. Once she was close, Emma found herself pulled up for a huge hug.
She was about to tell her mother she had only been gone less than a week when Henry hurried over and hugged her as well. "Mom!"
Emma saw her father smile at her over the other two, while his hand clasped hers in a reassuring squeeze behind Mary-Margaret. Her mother pulled back first. "How did it go? Is Marion…"
"She's fine," Emma told them looking over at Roland. In fact, Emma knew nothing of the sort, but she suspected her mother caught on.
Mary-Margaret nodded in understanding. They would all be having a further discussion later when Roland wasn't present to overhear. That was if her mother didn't call an emergency meeting with Regina, Belle, the dwarves and everyone else she could think of before the day was over.
"Belle and Regina will let us know more when they get the chance," Mary-Margaret said as they turned to head inside Granny's.
Emma had to ask, "Speaking of Belle, what's going on between her and…"
"Will Scarlet, I know," Mary-Margaret finished for her. "The last several days I have been seeing them together."
"I saw them holding hands and heading for the library before you arrived."
"Really?" Mary-Margaret asked excitedly, causing David to just roll his eyes at his wife's enthusiasm.
Emma nodded and let Henry and Roland slide into the booth next to her before she sat down. Mary-Margaret and David, with Neal sitting on his mother's lap, sat across from them. Emma looked around, but the one person she had been wanting to see was remarkably absent. "Where's Killian?"
David peeked his head above the menu he was using to play peek-a-boo with Neal. "I haven't seen him for a few days. Last I knew he was helping Belle at the convent to release the Blue Fairy and the others yesterday."
Emma looked to Henry who shrugged. "He was supposed to take me sailing this morning, but he never showed. Mom was rather annoyed. She had already asked for me to be excused from school."
"I'm sure he's fine, Emma." Mary-Margaret reached across the table and took one of Emma's hands into her own. "After dinner, we'll all go look for him if we have to."
Emma shot off another text message to his phone, after she tried to call and received his voicemail. There was no point leaving a message that he had no idea how to retrieve. Resigned to the fact that she'd have to look for Killian later, despite her anxiety over his absence, she placed an order for food she no longer wished to eat.
Shortly after their food arrived, so did Regina, Robin and Marion. Not one of them looked happy, but Marion was still alive and in Storybrooke, so it seemed things were more promising than their expressions let on.
"Did it work?" Mary-Margaret was the first to ask.
"It did," Regina replied in a clipped voice.
"Momma?" Roland climbed over Emma to get to his mother who scooped him up into her arms.
Robin rubbed his son's back, but his eyes never strayed from Regina. Suddenly, it clicked. Emma realized that Robin and Marion had told Regina what had happened with the compass.
Emma didn't care if she had to roam around Storybrooke for the next couple of months shoving that damn compass in every male hand she could find, she would see to it that Marion had an opportunity to feel happy and loved. It was Emma's fault this situation came to pass and it would be up to her to resolve it.
Speaking of the compass… "Robin, do you still have the compass on you?"
Robin pulled it from his jacket and quickly handed it over to Emma, as if it were the most deadly snake in the world. "Here."
Once it was in her possession, Emma excused herself from her family. David gave her a knowing look, as he had once followed a ring to find her mother. Mary-Margaret, still holding Neal, warned her to be careful. It was already past seven and Emma's determination on her goal set in.
She held the compass, silently praying for it to lead her to Killian. It spun for several seconds as if trying to get its bearings. Emma concentrated on her feelings for Killian, feelings that if she was confronted she would still be hard pressed to admit, and finally the needle settled. It pointed away from Henry, so Emma knew it wasn't leading her to him, but was it leading her to Killian? Her insecurity and doubts reared their ugly heads. She'd never know for sure if she didn't follow through with her plan.
CSCSCSCS
Emma followed the compass all the way to the convent, but almost as soon as she entered the building it steered her away. Why would Killian still be inside the convent anyway? Emma felt like she was on nothing more than a wild goose chase.
As she exited the building, Mr. Gold's car passed her. If she didn't know any better, it looked like Killian driving it. Then it dawned on her that the man she saw had two hands. What had Killian gotten himself into?
Emma rushed back to her Volkswagen Bug and sped to try to catch up with the black Cadillac. She slammed her brakes hard as the car in front of her proceeded over the town line. What the hell?
The whole time Emma followed Gold's car, she had been searching it. She had deduced that it was definitely Killian's long disheveled locks, and even his profile that she caught glimpses of in the rearview mirror, but while he had looked back at her with his bright blue eyes, not even a hint of recognition showed. Not for her and not for her car which everyone in town recognized.
Turning the car back to town, she realized that it had taken over an hour for her to track and follow Killian to the town line. A town line that he had no reason to cross. Emma was seriously confused by what may have happened. There had to be someone in town who could shed some light on the questions that were forming in her head, because if no one could answer those questions, she'd have to make a choice. Follow her heart or bask in the love of a family that would never be complete without him.