OMG, finally got this chapter done! It took forever! I kind of jumped ahead a bit but in a way where you still kind of knows what happens. I hope it doesn't disappoint anyone too much, I just wanted to get to the second part of the story and I really want to be done before season 3 airs! It's almost here! Anyway, hope you enjoy it!
Mags
Chapter 19
Emma stood by herself on the port side of the Jolly Roger as she watched Neverland getting smaller and smaller as they sailed away. It seemed strange that it was only a few hours ago when they first went ashore to rescue Henry when it felt like it was days ago. Getting Henry back wasn't easy and there were definitely some close calls…a little too close for her comfort…but he was safe and with us once more.
They didn't have to leave anyone behind. Gold and Regina were on board as well, although she still wasn't quite sure what had happened with the two of them. Gold was being a tad distant and mysterious about his time in Neverland, although with Regina, she knew about Robin Hood.
Robin Hood in Neverland? That was a new one…but at this point nothing could surprise her. She still wasn't exactly sure how he got to Neverland in the first place, but he had saved Regina's life and in the end was a big factor in helping them get away.
Unfortunately, he had to be left behind to do so and Regina did not take it well, but at the same time she knew Henry's safety was the most important thing. Robin himself was the one to convince her of that and promised her he'd find a way out of Neverland and back to her.
It didn't take a genius to figure out something had happened between the two of them, especially with the steamy kiss they shared before they parted. She didn't know what to think about Regina having a man in her life…there really hadn't been anyone since Graham and well…she ended that by crushing his heart…literally.
It wasn't until she saw the look on Regina's face when they first began to sail away that she realized what she felt for Robin was the real deal. "I'll help you," Emma had said as she placed a hand on Regina's shoulder. "Once we're back in Storybrook and we know Henry's safe…I'll do what I can to get him back for you."
Regina turned ho her with wide, wary eyes. "Why would you do that?"
Emma gave a little smile and a shrug. "Why wouldn't I?"
She had left it at that and went to check on Henry and give her the alone time she craved and needed. She had meant what she said…not only for Regina, but for Robin as well. He risked his life to save them and for that alone she would do what she could to help him.
The sound of childish laughter made her finally turn away from the sea and looked up to see Hook standing by the helm smiling at Curly, who was standing on a platform while gripping the wheel with his tiny hands. Curly didn't want to say goodbye to Killian again so he decided he was ready to grow up and chose to come back with them.
"Am I doing the right thing, Emma?" Killian had asked as they watched Curly wave goodbye to his fellow Lost Boys.
"How can you even ask that?" Emma responded. "I only wish more would join him."
"Aye…especially Tootles." He walked over to the edge of the ship just as the Lost Boys were melting back into the trees. "He's just not ready to grow up…face his demons."
"It's scary to leave what you know."
"Very true, lass." He then turned his back on Neverland and looked down at her. "We best set sail now that everyone is safe on board. Where's Henry?"
"Down below with dad…he's getting him cleaned up."
"How is he fairing?"
"A few bumps and bruises, but he'll be okay…thanks to you."
"I didn't…"
"You found him, Killian," she interrupted before he could deny it. "You found him and brought him back to me."
"I only did what I promised to do, Swan." But he still turned to her and lightly touched her cheek. "I'm glad he's okay."
Before she could say anything he stepped back. "Why don't you and Curly pull the anchor up and we'll get this ship going and go home."
"Killian." He paused at the base of the stairs leading up to the helm and turned to her. "To answer your question…you did do the right thing…bringing Curly with us." She walked over to him and together they looked over at Curly who was now talking animatedly to her mother.
"He can have a home in Storybrooke, Hook…he can go to school, make friends, grow up…fall in love. You're giving him a life…so yes…you're doing the right thing."
She watched him take a steady breath as he kept his eyes trained on Curly and then finally nodded as he reached up and gently caressed her hair. "Thank you."
He went up to the helm after that and then she had gone over to Curly, asking him if he wanted to help her pull up the anchor. His excitement was infectious and she couldn't help but smile as she took his hand and led him over to the ropes that were attached to the anchor.
Afterwards, he had run up to the helm with Hook and hadn't left his side since. She watched with a small smile as Killian slipped behind Curly and helped him turn the wheel slightly and then nuzzle his head in encouragement. She wondered if he realized he had officially become a father figure…probably not…the thought would absolutely terrify him.
His eyes suddenly met hers and she jumped guiltily as if she'd been caught doing something wrong. Not knowing what to do next, she gave a little awkward wave and then retreated over to the bow of the ship where her parents and Henry were.
Killian watched her go with slight amusement and then let out a sigh of frustration. There was nothing more than he wanted to do then to grab Emma and take her back to his cabin and finish what they started in those cold murky waters. His ship, however, was a bit too crowded for that so alone time with his Swan would just have to wait.
"Killian?"
He looked down to see Curly turned around and looking up at him. "Eyes on the horizon, son," he said as he took his hand on his head and twirled him back around, but then he shifted so he was facing him.
"Do you think I'll like it?" he asked after a moment of hesitation. "Growing up?"
The question threw him a little and truthfully, he probably wasn't the best person to answer this question since his upbringing was far from normal. However, he knew this would be the first of many advices or questions the lad would hit him with through the years, so he might as well get use to it.
"Aye," he finally said with a nod. "I think it will be a wonderful adventure for you, lad…but growing up is never easy and you're going to go through some heartache and pain…but if you're lucky…the love and happiness in your life will outweigh the bad."
"What if I'm not lucky?" he asked with wide worried eyes.
Killian chuckled softly as he shook his head. "But you already are, my boy…we haven't even left this world yet and you already have a ship full of people that will love and care for you."
He gave him a silly grin. "Even you?"
Killian leaned in until he was inches from his face. "Especially me," he said with a grin and then swooped his hook arm around his tiny waist and spun him around. He laughed as he squealed in delight and even though he knew it wasn't going to be easy, he knew he'd never regret bringing Curly back in his life.
"Hey, Henry!"
Killian immediately stopped spinning him and looked to see Henry standing off to the side with his hands stuffed in his jeans. He had a bruise under his left eye and small bandage on his forehead that was partly hidden by his bangs. He was watching them with a hint of intrigue in his eyes and Killian could tell by the slight shuffling of his feet that he was a tad nervous.
He wasn't the only one, he thought as he set Curly back on his feet. He still couldn't quite believe this young boy was Milah's grandson, but every time he looked at him he knew it was true. He had her eyes.
"Do you want a turn at the wheel?" Curly asked as he looked up at him with a grin. "I've been doing it for awhile now so you can if you want…it's easy."
He gave Curly a small smile. "Yeah…I know…my father taught me."
Curly's eyes widened. "You have a father? You're so lucky."
"Not so lucky," he said as he spared a quick glance with Hook. "He's gone now."
Curly let out a sigh. "Did he abandon you? My father did…I don't remember too much about him, but I remember him walking away."
"I'm sorry," Henry said gently and shook his head. "But my father didn't abandon me…he…he died."
"Did he love you when he died?"
Henry swallowed the lump in his throat and gave a quick nod. "Yes…yes, he did."
"Then you're still very lucky, Henry." He then turned back to Killian and gave him a smile. "Can I go down below and look around?"
"This ship is your home now, Curly…you can go anywhere you like."
He smiled and then turned to leave only to stop and turn back around. "Aidan."
Killian frowned. "I'm sorry?"
"That was my name," he said softly as if he was just now remembering this. "Before I came to Neverland…my mother named me Aidan."
Killian walked over and knelt down in front of him. "And is that what you wish to be called now? Aidan?"
"Curly was my name in Neverland…it only seems right that to go back to Aidan since I'm leaving it behind."
"Aidan it is then," he said with a nod. "Although it might take awhile to get use to."
Henry watched the boy smile and then run off down to the deck. "He sounds Irish."
"Pardon?"
Henry turned back to Hook. "He sounds like he's from Ireland…it's a country in my world," he added when Hook still looked confused.
"Ah…quite a big world you live in, Henry."
"I guess." He gave a little shrug. "Although I haven't seen that much beyond Storybrooke."
"Would you like to someday?" he asked as he returned to the helm.
Henry slowly followed him. "Sure…but I'd rather see the Enchanted Forest."
"Well…considering who your family is…I'm betting that's possible."
"Do you want to go back?"
He let out a sarcastic laugh. "I have no one waiting for me in that world…so I am in no hurry to return to it."
"Sooo…does, that mean you'd stay in Storybrooke?"
He glanced over and raised a brow. "Would it bother you if I did?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I haven't made up my mind about you."
Hook chuckled softly. "Is that so?" he asked with a grin.
"Yes…but you did risk your life to save me."
"I promised your mother I would do whatever it took to get you back, Henry." He gave a little shrug as he looked away for a moment. "Now that might not mean much to you, coming from a pirate…but I'm an honorable man when it comes down to it and I keep my promises to the people that matter."
"Like my mother?"
"Aye," he said softly. "And you, Henry…I know you don't trust me and why should you? You don't know me…but you do matter to me, so you can trust me."
"Because you loved my grandmother."
His heart tumbled in his chest and had to take a moment to steady himself. "That's…part of the reason…I did love your grandmother…very much."
"My dad told me she left her family to be with you."
The kid definitely wasn't making it easy for him, he thought as he took a moment to adjust the helm. "Aye…she wasn't happy with Rumple…with Gold…and although she loved Balefire…she wasn't cut out to be a mother." He looked back at him. "She wasn't perfect, Henry…she had her flaws, but I was too in love with her to care. We…discussed going back and getting Bae…to be honest, I'm the one who brought it up more. I knew what it was like to be abandon by a parent and I didn't want the boy to go through what I did, so I kept trying to convince her."
"And she always had an excuse, didn't she?"
"Smart lad," he said as he gave him a nod of approval. "I eventually stopped bringing him up…I tried telling myself it wasn't my business anyways and then when Milah died, everything changed. I didn't give him a single thought until the night I fished him out of the waters in Neverland all those years ago."
"My dad wouldn't tell me much about it," Henry said as he took another step closer and turned so they were now standing side by side, looking out at the horizon. "He just told me you were the one who taught him to sail."
"Aye…I thought I'd take him under my wing…raise him to be a good, honorable man…I was even ready to give up my revenge so that I could be there for him."
"But he didn't trust you."
"He didn't trust me," he confirmed with a nod. "I don't blame him for that…for his whole life he had believed I was the enemy…and perhaps I was…he just couldn't get past it."
"He made a mistake."
Hook turned and looked down at him in shock. "Did he?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did because…well, I wouldn't be here, but…yes, I think he could have trusted you…if what you said is true…you keep the promises to the people that matter…did he matter?"
"Aye."
Henry nodded. "Then he made a mistake."
Dumfounded, Hook could only stare in completely awe and amusement. "You're quite a clever young lad, Henry."
"Thanks…and although the verdicts still out on you…I like you okay."
Hook busted out a laugh as he gave him a friendly nudge. "That's good enough for me, lad."
"Can I take over the helm now?"
"Actually, I have a better idea…we've sailed far enough away from Neverland so I think it's time for us to travel through worlds." He snuck his hand in his coat and pulled out a small brown drawstring pouch and held it out to Henry. "Would you care to do the honors?"
"What is it?" he asked as he took the pouch and turned when Hook gestured for him to head to the deck.
"Pixie dust," he said placing a hand on his shoulder as they went to the bow of the ship. "Compliments of Tink."
"Will it work like a magic bean?" he asked as they reached Emma and her parents.
"It's how I got out of here last time, so it should do the trick."
"Go ahead, Henry," Emma said with a smile and encouraging nod. "Give it a good throw."
Henry gripped the pouch tightly in his fist and then cocked his arm way back. "Storybrooke…hereee, weee, come!"
The brown pouch sailed through the air in a long, looping arch and when it landed in the water it sent out a little ripple and the air began to shimmer. They were now sailing into a glistening circle that swirled in the air.
"Hey," David said with a frown. "Where's the crazy water vortex?"
"Sorry mate," Hook said as he placed a hand on his back. "Pixie Dust works a little differently."
David dropped his shoulders in disappointment. "Aww, man…I really wanted to do that again."
"Don't worry, honey," Snow said as they sailed through the circular portal and out the other side. "We'll have plenty of other times to travel through worlds."
He smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. "You're such a comfort to me, Snow."
