Chapter Four.

Killian and Will's Adventure Pt. 2

Emma was walking out of the sheriff's station when she was brought to a sudden stop at the sight before her. Will and Killian were standing not too far from the library in the middle of what seemed like a very intense argument.
Just as she was about to head over and break up whatever was going on, they both smiled at each other. Emma blinked quickly, sure her eyes were playing tricks on her.
But they weren't.
One second those boys were at each others throats, now they were taking off down the road together like they were the best of friends.
It was just too strange for Emma. First Belle, now Killian?
Belle she could understand. She was filthy rich because of Gold, but Killian? What could Scarlet possibly be up to with her pirate?
Emma considered for a moment following after the two. But as her feet started to move, she stopped herself.
Following Scarlet was one thing. He was a thief, a drunk, a troublemaker. He, by himself, was probably up to something.
But Killian, she couldn't follow him. If he needed her, he would call. As difficult as it was for her, she knew she had to trust Killian. He'd keep Scarlet out of trouble, and probably find out just what exactly that thief was up to.
As she cast one last look at the pair before they disappeared behind a corner, she decided she would ask him about it tonight at dinner though.
She was only human, after all.

The house was just as Killian remembered it. The giant, finely decorated mansion had been untouched since the fiasco with the ice queen and Rumpelstiltskin had been taken care of.
It was almost a shame that such a nice home should be left decaying on outskirts of town. Aside from the Dark One's house, this was probably the finest home in all of Storybrooke. But the home was now cursed, twisted by the darkness that Rumpelstiltskin had tried to release that fateful night. No one could possibly find solace in a place like this that was haunted by such evil.
As the two men walked in, Killian felt his heart clench up. It was as if he were reliving that awful night: His heart in the hands of the crocodile, his love rushing off to her doom, and his complete helplessness to stop it all.
"We should just burn this bloody house to the ground." He grumbled.
Will had never seen the house before and almost missed the pirate's words as he was admiring the countless fine things around him. Such a nice house, filled with loads of nice stuff, abandoned at the edge of town?
It was a thief's dream come true.
"Let's find the spellbook then worry 'bout burnin' this place down." He said.
They figured the best way to search the massive mansion was to work their way through the rooms one at a time.
It was slow work, boring work, but the two worked diligently. Every inch of every room was searched. They left no leaf unturned. It was about an hour in that Will finally caved and said the first thing, "How did you know?"
Killian was in the middle of digging through one of the built-in bookshelves, "Know what, mate?"
"You called me Knave earlier. How did you know? I ain't told no one 'bout my past, not even Belle." It had been driving Will crazy for the past hour and a half.
He had never met Killian in Wonderland, if he had, he'd surely remember. Besides, the pirate wasn't exactly the Wonderland type. Will seriously doubted the pirate's chances of surviving a place like Wonderland for long.
It took a special sort of person to find home in that bewildering place.
Killian wasn't sure if he should tell Will the truth or not. The true story wasn't one he liked to think about. Wonderland wasn't a memory he liked remembering. He had trusted Cora, as foolish as that was and he had done plenty of things he was not proud of for her.
He knew that he had to tell the Knave the truth though. The old Killian would have lied because that's what villains did, they lied about the things they didn't want to talk about.
Killian didn't want to be a villain.
"It was a long time ago, just before Regina cast her curse. She had sent me to Wonderland to kill and bring her the dead body of her own mother."
Will was shocked, "I knew the Queen was evil but bloody hell! That's messed up even for her."
"Her mother was the Queen of Hearts."
Will froze. So that's how he knew about the Knave. "Well, that makes some twisted sense."
"I know. I didn't know much about Regina at the time, but she was promising me a chance to have my revenge against the Dark One, so I was willing to do whatever she asked of me."
"I was a different man back then." He said quickly, trying to somehow justify his actions, even though he knew there was no justifying them,"I was still clouded by my hatred and need for revenge. I was every bit the villain Disney portrayed me as and then some."
"Hey, I ain't judgin' you." Will told him, "We all have things in our past we ain't proud of. I did some pretty nasty things as the Knave, things I don't like rememberin'. You don't 'ave to tell me nothin'."
"At least what you did, you had no choice in. Cora had your heart. I chose to work for her." Killian said bitterly.
"Oi, she had my heart, but I'm the one who gave it to her in the first place."
That surprised Killian, "You did? Why the hell would you do that?"
Will shrugged, "Like I said, we all have things in our past that we regret, pirate. Ain't no point on dwellin' on them."

And damn did Will regret listening to Cora. None of the pain and heartbreak he and Ana had gone through would have happened if he had just trusted in their love. To think they could have spent so many more years together...

And if he had just went to Ana and told her that he didn't want to give up on her, he could have saved her. But he didn't. And now she wasn't here for him to save at all.

The hallow ache in his heart reminded him there was really no point in thinking about the past.

Will's stomach growled, "Damn, we should 'ave stopped at Granny's before comin' over here. I'm starvin'."

"As am I, mate. I'll admit rushing here hadn't been the best laid out plan. This house is even more unending then I remembered it."

"Might be a good time to call a break, don't ya think?"

Killian sighed, "Perhaps you're right. We can come back better prepared tomorrow. It'll be getting dark in a few hours, and I don't believe the electric bill has been paid here, well, ever. I don't know about you, but I don't fancy the idea of wondering around this house in the dark."

"Not at all. Let's head back to the library, if I know Belle-" Will stopped suddenly and turned around to look down the long hallway behind them, "Did you here that?"

"Hear what?"

Will continued to watched the hall for a moment, but eventually turned slowly back towards Killian, "Nothin', thought I heard somethin', this place is given me the creeps."

"I certainly agree with that." Killian couldn't wait to be out of this cursed place.

They started walking towards the front door. Will was on edge now. He had heard footsteps. He'd heard them clear as day. But who else but them would be at this place anyway?

He was the resident thief in town. It wasn't likely someone else was looting the place.

They were walking out the door when Killian spoke again, "What were you saying earlier, mate?"

Will had to think for a moment, "Ah right, if I know Belle, she probably hasn't eaten all day."

Killian nodded, "Plus we can't be banned from her library any longer."

"Right, she'll be thrilled we're gettin' along now."

"She will." Killian laughed, but it ended when he remembered why they weren't getting along earlier. He sighed, "Look, Will, I really didn't mean to push it all off on Belle. I'm going to make it up to her. On a pirate's oath, I swear it."

Will nodded, "I believe you. But I shouldn't 'ave acted that way though, she don't need me to protect her. If the way you were actin' was botherin' her, she would 'ave told you herself."

"You talk like you did something wrong. You were looking out for someone you care for, that's not a crime."

Will sighed, and scratched behind his ear, "Ah, might not be, but that don't give me the right to fight her battles for her. I haven't had a friend like her in quite some time, or any friend really. Guess I lost my head a bit."

Killian smirked, "Blame it on Wonderland."

Will rolled his eyes, "Ha ha."

"And just think," Killian threw his arm around Will's shoulders and laughed, "Now you've got two friends. It's a crazy world out here, Scarlet. You're gonna need us."

Belle heard the door to the library open. She looked up from her book and smiled at her unexpected guest.

"Henry! I didn't realize how late it was, are you off school already?" She closed her book and motioned for him to sit with her.

"Yeah," He chuckled as he walked over, "It's three thirty, Belle. Doesn't the library have a clock somewhere?"

Her smile wavered a little at her name. Henry never used her name since she married Rumple. He called her Grandma and even though it had taken some getting used to, she had come to expect it.

But she wasn't his Grandma anymore, was she? With Rumple beyond the town line, they were as good as divorced in the eyes of everyone in Storybrooke. In fact, most people seemed to think of Rumple as dead rather than away. Rumple could never return so it didn't make a difference to them.

It made a difference to Belle though. She could handle being alone if she knew Rumple was still out there, still living. If he was alive, he could always change his ways. He could become the man she had thought he could be.

If he was dead... Well she didn't want to think of that. Rumple had lived hundreds of years, he could make it on his own out in this magic-less world.

"Who needs a clock? Time is meaningless when you have a good book."

Henry laughed again, "I guess you're right. How's the search coming?"

"Slow," She said, "But we'll find a way to save the faeries. It's just going to take some work."

"Where's Killian? I thought he was gonna be here today."

So that's why Henry had come to the shop. Unlike Belle, Killian was a part of Henry's family since Killian was dating his mother. Belle tried not to feel hurt, "I sent him away. He and Will were being hard headed and wouldn't play nice so I told them they couldn't come back until they worked things out."

"Wow." Henry hadn't expected that from Belle. He couldn't imagine the softhearted woman in front of him had taken such a strong stand on this. "How long ago was it?"

Belle thought for a moment, "A few hours at least. I guess they didn't work things out after all."

"Wait," Henry realized something, "Will as in Will Scarlet, the guy my mom locked up for breaking into the library?"

"The very same."

"Huh, so I guess you two are friends now?"

"I suppose we are," Belle shrugged, "Is that weird?"

"No," Henry said quickly, "Just... different. I can't imagine you two have very much in common."

"There's more to Will than meets the eye. He and I know what it's like to fooled by the one you love."

Henry knew how hard it had been for Belle to force Rumpelstiltskin across the line, but he also knew how badly Rumple had broken her heart and betrayed her trust in the most heinous of ways. Henry had stayed away these past few weeks, thinking she probably didn't want him hanging around her, reminding her of his grandfather. He was glad that Belle had someone she could talk to now, he had really missed spending time with her.

"Isn't weird for you though? I thought Will was a thief."

"Isn't Killian a pirate?"

Henry laughed, "Good point, but my mom loves Killian. So it's kind of different."

Belle felt her face heat up, "Well I certainly don't love him, but that doesn't... I couldn't... We can still be... I can be friends with him, can't I?"

Henry looked at Belle for moment, surprised at how strongly she reacted. He wasn't trying to say she loved Will, it was far too soon after Rumple to be in love with someone else, but the way she reacted did give Henry the impression that maybe it wasn't so far fetched.

Henry decided right then that he needed to meet Will Scarlet. He knew nothing about the man now spending so much time with his once grandma.

"Of course," Henry told her, "I don't think I've ever met him before. Was he from the Enchanted Forest?"

"He wasn't in the book?" Belle asked surprised, and when Henry shook his head, she added, "I thought everyone was in the book."

"Not everyone. Just mostly the people connected to my family's story."

"Strange." She said, "I suppose he'd have to be from the Enchanted Forest, Will and I haven't really talked about it."

They really hadn't. Both of them seemed to prefer not talking about their pasts.
Belle didn't think that he was from the forest though. Something about him just didn't seem like someone from there.
"So how is your search going?" Belle asked him, wanting to hear about Henry, and also wanting to change the subject.
"Not so good. I've memorized this book front to back, gone through with a magnifying glass and still nothing!"
Belle patted his hand, "You'll figure it out. There's no one who knows that book better than you."
"I just wish I could figure it out now though. Mom deserves a happy ending."
"And she will, Henry. How could she not, she has you by her side."
Henry blushed a little, "Thanks Belle."
"Anytime."

Before either one of them could say anything else, the door to the library opened once more. Belle was surprised to look up and see Will and Killian stumble through the door, laughing together. She smiled slowly, part of her couldn't believe her idea had actually worked. She had hoped they would befriend one another, but she hadn't thought it would happen so quickly.

"Henry! Lad, I wasn't expecting to see you here." Killian said as he stopped laughing and finally took notice of the library around him.

"I thought I'd check in on Belle before I went home. She said you guys are having some trouble finding a way to save the faeries." Henry was as surprised as Belle, if not more, at the sight of Killian and Will being buddy-buddy. He looked between the two men, feeling just a little suspicious. Once more he realized he needed to find out more about this stranger who seemed to be getting close to his family.

"Aye, we are." Killian said, "But, thanks to this brilliant man that might be changing soon."

As Killian said that, he threw his arm around Will's shoulder's and shook him.

Will laughed, "Oh, bullocks. I ain't done nothin'."

"What's going on? Did you two find something that might help us?" Belle stood up from the table and looked between the two men, once more confused by them.

Will shrugged out from under Killian's arm and straightened his jacket. He walked away from Killian and closer to Belle so that he could stand next to her, "No, we haven't."

"But that doesn't mean we won't. Thanks to Will we might finally be on the right track." Killian butted in.

"What does he mean?" Belle focused her question on Will.

"It's not as big of a deal as he's makin' it to be, honestly." Will reassured her, "All I suggested was that maybe the answer wasn't in the library, but in the same place the hat was."

"You think the key to saving the faeries is in the author's house?"

"It would make sense, wouldn't it? Killian said everything seemed to lead back to the house, why not the answer to saving the faeries?"

"Huh," Belle leaned against the table, "I guess that does make sense."

How could she have missed that? It seemed so obvious now. No wonder she couldn't find anything in her library. She had been searching for the answer in all the wrong places. The Sorcerer wouldn't leave information to his most powerful weapon for just anyone to read. He would keep it hidden. He would keep it close to him so that no one could unleash all of it's secrets.

She looked at Will with a new appreciation, "Did you two find anything there?"

Will shook his head, "Not yet. We only searched a fraction of the house. We were gonna head back over tomorrow though, if you want to join."

"Of course."

Killian stood behind Henry and put his good hand on the boy's shoulder, "I think we've done enough talking about the hat for one day. I say, we all celebrate this discovery by heading down to Granny's for such much needed grub. Yes?"

Will and Belle looked at each other and shrugged. Belle said, "Sounds good to me."

Henry looked up at his mother's boyfriend, "Don't you have a date with mom tonight?"

"You're right!" Killian looked at the time on his watch, "Damn. I can't believe I almost forgot. I suppose the three of you will have to celebrate without me."

"Me too." Henry said as he stood up from the table and put his backpack back on. "I promised mom, Regina, I'd have dinner with her tonight. She made pumpkin pie. I should probably get going so she doesn't worry."

"Well then, I suppose it will just be you two." Will didn't like the way Killian looked at the two of them as he said it. The pirate seemed to be holding back a smile. He was a little too pleased with this situation for Will's liking. "Come on, lad. I'll walk with you to Regina's before I head over to the Sheriff's station."

Belle also couldn't help but notice Killian's strange behavior, or the look on Henry's face. He too seemed to be looking between her and Will. Her earlier reaction to his prodding about their relationship came to mind and she felt strangely embarrassed.

"Okay," Henry said after a moment's pause, "I'll see you later, Belle."

Belle smiled and Henry and Hook left.

The library was quiet for a moment, as she and Will tried to think of something to say. Belle found herself peaking over at the man standing next to her. He was her friend and she was glad for that. Her conversation with Henry earlier had her wondering though, if maybe he could one day be something more.

Will was a very handsome man. He was tall. And smart. And kind. And strong. And funny. He was unlike anyone she had met in a long time. He made her smile like she used to. He made her laugh like she'd never laughed before. They shared a connection that she couldn't deny.

But was that enough? She hardly knew anything about the man standing in her library. She didn't even know where he was from, what his story was. She only knew that he had his heart broken too before.

More than that, she didn't even know who she was. She didn't feel like the same woman she had been in the Enchanted Forest. Hell, she didn't even feel like the same woman who had married Rumple in the first place. How could she possibly know who she could love, when she didn't even know herself?

And it had only been a month and half since she'd ended it with Rumple. She felt guilty just for thinking about Will in any romantic way at all. Rumple was her true love, how terrible was she to already be thinking of another man?

Friendship was the only thing Belle could handle right now.

Will looked at her, and she worried for a moment that he might be able to read the thoughts crossing through her mind. But he couldn't. He held his arm out towards her, "So how about some early dinner? Or late lunch, however you'd like to see it."

She smiled and looped her arm through his, "Sounds wonderful."

Cruella was sitting at her handcrafted African blackwood desk in the middle of her plush Manhattan office. Her office was easily the largest, most ornate, office in the building, but that was understandable. It was her building after all.
The flooring was a pristine white marble with specks of black at the corners of the square tiles. Her walls were a luxurious black satin wallpaper adorned with dozens of silver framed mirrors.
Cruella positively adored the fact that no matter where she stood in her office, she could always see her gorgeous self.
"Ms. DeVil..." The sound of Cruella's mousy assistant Anita over the phone broke the peaceful silence of her office.
"What." Cruella snapped.
"Uh, ma'am... There's... there's someone h-here to see you."
Cruella rolled her eyes.
"Do they have an appointment?" She asked slowly, seriously doubting the intelligence of her witless assistant.
The young woman was the worst possible assistant Cruella had ever had, and that was really saying something considering she'd had more than twenty in her career.
"Well... n-no... but..."
"But what? Just spit it out you moron!"
"Ma'am!" She said, her feelings hurt. "He said to tell you... and these are his words n-not mine... he doesn't like to be kept waiting... d-dearie..."
Whether or not her ridiculous assistant kept talking, Cruella didn't know. She had stopped listening the moment that term of endearment passed through her assistant's mouth.
"Send him in, you fool!" Cruella shouted loud enough that Anita didn't need the speaker phone to hear her.
Cringing slightly, the petite ash-blonde woman stood up from her seat and stumbled her way over to the gentleman and his female companion who were waiting slightly impatiently on the blood red leather couch.
"Ms. DeVil will see you now, Mr. Gold."

First Emma, then Killian, now HENRY? Can't I have one character that supports Scarlet Beauty? Why must everyone be so suspicious? Thankfully Killian is coming around now that he and Will have bonded.

And gah! Cruella, my dear dear Cruella. I'm so happy she's finally made an appearance. This story is gaining new characters like crazy, it's almost like they have a mind of their own. I couldn't stand the idea of Cruella being some trophy wife, so I made her into a savvy woman of fashion who owns her own clothing line. It'll make for interesting twist, I promise. As for Gold, he's gonna realize in our world, things don't always go as planned.

I have so many ideas for this story guys, I just can't stop.

By the way, I couldn't remember if Will had been to the house or not before, so I decided that for my story he hasn't. Also, I can't remember if Henry lives with Regina full time or Emma? I know they probably share him on weekends and stuff, but I couldn't remember if they covered it on the show or not. Let me know if they have, because if not I'm probably going to have him staying with Regina most of the time, just because the Charming's apartment isn't exactly big enough to hold all of them, and with Regina he has his own room so to me it just makes more sense.

To Jewelzy, Chichaco, MelodyHearten, and Isob3l, thank you so much for the reviews!

Jewelzy, I love Will defending Belle too. Honestly I love how Will always protects the people he cares about. Even when he didn't have his heart, he was inherently a good man who always had a way of seeing the good in his friends.

Chichaco, I like Will and Hook as friends too. They just make sense. They've both crossed the line between heroes and villains, and they both know what it's like to lose the woman they love. I actually did finally watch the Wonderland series, and I'm very glad that I did. While I don't feel it helped me much with this story since for the majority of the time he was heartless, I am glad that now I know more about Will's past. Plus I realized how much I really love Alice and Cyrus! If only I could find a believable way to bring them to Storybrooke... ):