Chapter 27

"So listen." Emma said as she pulled out the package of cheese from the fridge. "I'm visiting Henry this weekend."

"Oh?" Killian raised an eyebrow. "That's...your son right?"

"Right. I'll probably stay there overnight and be back Sunday afternoon"

"Ok, well Ava and I will miss you then."

"I was thinking…" She started. "That maybe you could come with?"

He looked baffled. "To visit your son?"

"Yeah. I mean, why not right? There's plenty to do in Storybrooke. I'm sure Ava will love it. You can meet my friend Mary Margaret. And Henry has a really active sense of imagination. He can keep Ava entertained with his stories. While you and I engage in some, um, more grown up activities?" She suggested.

There was a silence. A long one, long enough that she started to get nervous.

"Oh. Swan. I, uh, I don't know." He had the weird deer in the headlights look.

Emma stared at him for a long moment. "Ok. I get it. Too fast." She turned back to the stove.

"No…" He protested.

She forced a smile. "It's fine, Killian. I get it." She said curtly. God, Emma. Way to embarrass yourself! Practically begging the guy to come with. Desperate much?

"Emma." He touched her arm. "I just meant, wouldn't you rather spend some time alone with your son? I know you don't get to see him everyday."

She angrily ripped open the loaf of bread. "I said it's fine."

"It's not that I don't want to go. In fact, it would be lovely. But are you sure? It's your only time with him."

"Well if I wasn't sure I wouldn't have asked." Emma pointed out. "Just drop it, alright? Forget I said anything." She wasn't sure why she was acting like this, the burn of rejection nearly causing tears in her eyes. Normally she just shrugged people off like it was no big deal. I guess I like him more than I care to admit.

"I'd love to go with you." He said. "But only if you're absolutely certain."

Emma could feel a large, goofy grin start to spread on her face. But she forced her expression to remain placid. "Ok." She said, her voice bored. "Cool."

Oh, no. Hook thought, trying to keep the panic off his face. Oh, no. This was not good. This was very not good.

"If you'll excuse me." He said. "I need to use the bathroom."

"Alright." Emma said absently.

He spun around and headed down the hall, his heart pounding. Locking the door, he sank down against it and hit the cool, tiled floor.

She was going to visit Storybrooke. Introduce him and Ava to her son, her friends. Eat at Granny's, probably. Walk around town.

What she didn't know was that everyone knew who he and Ava were. That the second they crossed the town line it would be one disaster after another. His cover would be blown and everything would be ruined.

He had to put a stop to this. But how? There was no stopping Emma from going, and no way to refuse her offer. Her walls had already started to come up the moment he tried to back out.

Hook reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, opening a new text.

We have a problem.

Much to his relief David responded immediately. What's up?

Emma's planning to visit this weekend.

Right. Henry mentioned that. What's the problem?

Emma has asked Ava and me to come along.

Oh, no. You said no, right?

Not exactly.

Hook!

She didn't let me refuse.

Killian could practically feel David's sigh through the phone. Finally, he wrote back. Alright. Let me talk to Mary Margaret and Henry and see what we can do.

Thanks, mate. Much appreciated.

With a sigh of relief Hook dropped his phone back into his pocket. Now that he had David's help things would hopefully go by much smoother. Right?

Saturday morning was bright and clear. The whole drive up, Ava chattered happily away to Emma, who was in a surprisingly good mood. As for Hook, the closer they got to Storybrooke the more dread started to build in the pit of his stomach.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he surreptitiously checked it, tilting the screen so that Emma couldn't see it.

It was a text from David. Everything's all set. Notified Granny and the others. Good luck.

Thanks. Hook wrote back, before dropping his phone back into his pocket.

Sometime around noon they arrived in Storybrooke. "Here we are." Emma said unnecessarily as they passed the Welcome to Storybrooke sign. "Storybrooke, Maine."

"It's lovely." Killian said, looking around as if he'd never been there before. "Quite different from the city."

"Yeah, I know. It has this weird small town vibe, where everyone knows each other. But you'll get used to it." She drove along Main Street, pointing at various places.

"That's the clock tower, the bakery, Mr. Gold's shop." She was saying as they drove towards Granny's. "And here's Granny's. We're staying at the B&B tonight but we're meeting Henry here first."

"Emma!" Ruby said as they entered the diner. "What a surprise. Are you here to see Henry?"

"Yep."

"Who's this?" Ruby turned to Ava, feigning oblivion.

"Ava." Killian cut in before Ava could say anything. Luckily, she was practically half asleep thanks to the long car ride. "My daughter."

"Oh!" Ruby smiled flirtatiously at him, pretending yet again that she had no idea who he was. "And you are?"

"Killian Jones." He responded, slinging an arm around Emma's shoulder. "Her boyfriend."

"Ohhh." Ruby said. "I see. Ok. Well it's nice to meet you." As she led Emma to a table she winked at him.

Nice to see you see again. She mouthed behind Emma's back.

They sat down. "So what will it be? Let me guess. Hot cocoa with cinnamon all around."

"Of course. And one for Henry too." Emma replied.

"Got it."

Just then the door jingled, signaling Henry's entrance. "Hey Emma!" He approached their table, sliding in next to her.

"Hey kid." She wrapped her arms around her son. And then pulled away. "What has your mom been feeding you? I swear, you've grown ten feet since the last time I saw you."

He just shrugged. "Who are you?" He looked up at Hook, a small smile tugging on the corner of his lips.

"Henry, I'd like to meet Killian and his daughter Ava." Emma said. "He's my, um…" She broke off, stammering. "Um…"

"Boyfriend." Killian answered easily. "Nice to meet you, lad."

"You too." Like Ruby he didn't seem surprised that Killian and Ava were there.

"So what do you want to do today?" Emma asked.

"Go feed the ducks?" He suggested. "If that's ok with you." He said to Killian.

"I think Ava would like that." Feeding the ducks was one of Ava's most favorite activities.

At the sound of her name, Ava looked up from her coloring book. "Ducks?"

"That's right." Emma said. "We're gonna go feed the ducks after lunch."

"Yay!" Upon noticing Henry for the first time she perked up even further. "Hi Henry."

"Umm." Henry stammered. "Hi."

Uh oh. They hadn't been prepared for Ava easily recognizing Henry. Judging by Emma's stunned expression she was clearly confused at how Ava knew her brother. "How did she know who you were?"

"She probably just saw the pictures in your apartment." Hook interrupted. "I showed her yesterday."

Emma nodded and seemed to accept this, turning back to her conversation with Henry. Things went by smoothly until Tinkerbell came by to take their order. "Hey, what can I get you?"

"Hi Tink!" Ava cried.

Like Henry earlier, Tink was frozen. "Hi…" She stammered, throwing Killian the classic deer in the headlights look.

"What?" Emma stared at Ava, incredulous. "What did you call her?"

"Tink." Ava repeated. "Tinkerbell."

"Like in Peter Pan?"

Ava nodded. "Yep."

"Wow, you're just like Henry. Next thing you know you'll be calling Mary Margaret Snow White."

"We'll take four grilled cheeses." Henry interjected quickly. "Thanks."

Whew. That was close. Again.

"Wow. Ava really takes the movie seriously, doesn't she? First she thinks you're Captain Hook and then the waitress" Emma joked. "What next, she thinks that the girl over there is Wendy?" She gestured across the room at a girl who was in fact Wendy.

Henry and Hook exchanged a furtive glance. Oh, the irony.

"Have you seen Mary Margaret today?" Emma turned to Henry. "She didn't text me back when I asked if she wanted to join us at the duck pond later."

"Oh, she's probably busy with David." Henry replied. The truth was, Mary Margaret and David had decided that it would be too risky to join them, for Ava would surely recognize her grandparents. It was one thing for Ava to know Henry, whose picture was all over Emma's apartment. But to recognize two supposed strangers?

"Ok." Emma looked disappointed. "That's too bad."

"Yeah " Killian muttered. "Too bad indeed."

More like a lifesaver.

First they stopped by the grocery store to buy some bread and then headed straight to the duck pond.

"Let's go feed the duckies." Killian said as he led them towards the pond.

As usual, once Ava spotted the ducks approaching, clearly drawn by the scent of the bread, her face grew fearful. Killian automatically turned to take her into his arms but much to his surprise Ava was reaching out to Emma instead.

She looked momentarily shocked but quickly responded, picking her up. "What's up? Are you scared?"

Ava nodded. "Uh huh."

"There's nothing to be scared of." Emma said as she set Ava down next to her and pulled out a loaf of bread. "Here. Watch." She threw the piece of bread and watched as the duck waddled over to take it. "See? No biggie." She handed Ava some bread. "Your turn."

As Ava squealed happily and Emma laughed in response, Killian backed up, giving them their space. He could feel Henry coming over to stand next to him.

"Ava looks really happy." Henry commented. His voice was slightly hard.

"Is that jealousy I detect?"

Henry shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Killian just gave him a look. "How are things in Storybrooke?"

"Fine."

"That's it?" Killian nudged his shoulder playfully. "Just one word?"

"Really fine."

Killian rolled his eyes at Henry's sass. "I know you miss your mother, lad, but I'm trying everything I can do get her to remember."

"Are you?" Henry challenged. "It seems like you're having an amazing time in Boston." What he didn't add was, while I'm stuck here. But his intention was clear.

"I am." Killian admitted. "But it's quite painful as well. You have no idea how hard it is not to reveal the truth."

"I guess."

"Look." Killian said. "Everything will be fine in the end. Just have faith. What happened to the optimistic little spit fire I once knew? The one that Emma told me all about?"

"He grew up."

The morose look on Henry's face reminded Killian of the one on Emma's in Neverland after Rumplestilskin ditched them. "Well, don't let this get you down. Emma will regain her memory and things will go back to how they should. Your family has survived so much and I'm certain they will get through this as well."

"Yeah I hope so." Henry walked over to join his mother and sister, leaving Killian behind. Despite his encouraging words to the boy, though, there was a small part of the pirate that didn't believe in what he said.

"I had no idea Henry was so good with kids." Emma said as she leaned back on the wooden bench.

"Me neither."

"Well of course you didn't. You just met him today." Emma pointed out.

Right. "I meant that he doesn't seem like the type." Killian fudged.

"I know right? And yet look at him." She gestured blithely in the direction of Henry and Ava; he was chasing the little girl around the playground, causing her to laugh hysterically. Unlike earlier, Henry's depressed scowl had been erased and he seemed completely relaxed. "You'd almost think they were related or something."

"Aye. She does seem to have taken quite a liking to him." Killian said absently. Ha. If only Emma knew the truth.

"See?" Emma poked him in the side. "I told you this would be fun."

"Yeah, yeah." He said. "Know what would make it even more fun?" He reached out and placed his hand on her knee, slowly sliding it upwards.

"Killian!" Emma hissed, though there was no hiding her deep red blush. "There are people around."

Killian pouted like a small child but withdrew his hand. He opened his mouth, about to make one of his innuendos but before he could do so there was a loud cry.

Emma and Killian looked up to see Ava sprawled out on the ground in front of the slide, clutching her knee. Henry stood behind her, a hand covering his mouth.

"I-im sorry!" He said as Emma and Killian came running. "She just fell."

"Its fine." Killian said as he kneeled down in front of Ava. "Are you ok? What happened?"

Ava was crying too hard to respond.

"Can you take your hand away from your knee for us?" Emma asked, her voice soft. She touched Ava's hand. "Come on."

Slowly Ava lifted up her hand to reveal a small red scratch.

"Aww. That doesn't look too bad." Emma cooed. "Here." She rooted through her pocket before coming up with a band aid. "Here. All better."

Ava looked up at her with tear filled eyes. "All better?"

"Yep!" Emma said brightly. She leaned down and kissed Ava's knee. "All better."

Ava wrapped her arms around Emma's neck. "Thank you." She sniffles.

"You're welcome." Emma said as she hugged Ava back.

The next words out of Ava's mouth caused everyone to freeze. "I love you Mommy."

Emma was suddenly stiff, her eyes wide. Her face held a mixture of joy and confusion. Killian supposed he looked no better.

He and Henry exchanged a glance. They didn't know how to feel about this new development.

"Ava." Emma slowly extricated herself from the little girl. "I'm not your Mom."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"But you tuck me in and live wif me and bake cookies."

Kid had a point. Those were all things a mother did. "Yes that's true." Emma said gently. "But that doesn't mean I'm your mother."

"Well can you be?"

Emma looked up at Killian. Help she mouthed.

"I have an idea." Killian jumped in. "Who's in the mood for some ice cream? I know I am."

"Sounds good to me." Henry put in, ever so helpful. "Ava?"

"Kay."

Crisis averted, all thanks to Ava's short attention span. For now.

Author's note: Since you're all so amazing, I'm going to throw you a bone. Emma will fully regain her memory in Chapter 32, and the events in the next chapter will start triggering the return of her memories.