Chapter 17
Waters off Agrabah, 1 year before the first curse
"Captain, I must caution you against this move," Smythe said, stepping into the captain's quarters. "The time is not right; I feel it in my bones."
"Your bones are not captaining this ship, Mr. Smythe," Blackbeard said grimly, pouring over the maps spread across his desk. "I am, and my orders are for you to ready the men for attack."
Smythe blew out a long breath and tried again. "I beg you to reconsider. The men are tired; we've attacked five ships in as many days. As you well know, tired men produce shoddy work. In our profession, shoddy work results in death more often than not."
"Are you suggesting," Blackbeard asked menacingly, "that my men—Blackbeard's crew—are so tired they can't even manage to take down one, solitary merchant vessel?"
Smythe sighed. "No, Captain. I'm sure we can take it, but at what cost? Look, if you won't consider the well-being of your men, consider this. That Agrabah spice merchant is far too close to land. In point of fact, I can make out the west coast with my naked eye. Attacking a vessel when it is that close to help is nothing but folly."
"The greater the risk, the greater the reward."
Smythe stepped forward and placed a rough hand on Blackbeard's shoulder. "I know you're grieving, I know Anne's passing hit you hard, and I understand the need to find something to deaden the pain, but I beg you not to do this. The situation feels off, almost like a set-up. Please, do not put your men, yourself, in danger like this."
The pain ripped through Blackbeard at the sound if his sister's name, and he closed his eyes against the tears that threatened. Through sheer force of will, he channeled his pain into anger. When he opened his eyes, the look in them was so fierce that his big, burly first mate quaked before him.
"You heard my orders, Mr. Smythe. Anymore objections from you I will consider nothing short of insubordination. Have I made myself clear?"
Smythe dropped his head in defeat. "Aye, Captain. I'll ready the men."
Enchanted Forest, two days later
Blackbeard nodded his thanks to the buxom bar maid who flirtatiously handed him the bottle of rum he'd requested. He looked her over, enjoying the view of a bodice cut so low she might as well have just stripped to the waist. He gave her the expected leer and then sent her on her way. No matter how delectable the woman in question, his heart simply wasn't in wenching tonight.
It had been a disaster. A bloody disaster! He wished with all his heart he'd taken Smythe's advice, but he'd allowed his pain to drive him. Anything to deaden the knife-sharp ache that had been his constant companion over the past two weeks since Anne's death.
Blackbeard had known from the moment he'd stepped on board the merchant vessel that it was no good. He'd found himself face to face not with a shocked, panicked crew, but rather with a deck full of grimly determined men, men who were armed to the teeth. Even more disconcerting than the crew, was the captain, himself. The man smiled ferally, white teeth stark against the backdrop of his dark skin, almond-shaped eyes narrowed in amusement and contempt.
"Ah, Blackbeard," the man said in a heavily accented voice, "at last! We've been waiting for you."
Blackbeard had little more than a beat to ponder that before a shout from one of his crew members drew his attention starboard. His heart dropped to his very toes. A veritable fleet of Agrabah naval vessels advanced upon them.
They'd been set up. Blackbeard's grief induced inattention might have just cost his crew their lives.
What followed was some of the most desperate and impressive sword play of Blackbeard's life. It claimed the lives of two of his men. Blackbeard, himself, barely escaped with his life. As soon as he and his remaining men regained their ship, they sailed with the wind. Their lighter vessel easily outstripped their pursuers.
Disdaining the shot glass he'd been handed, Blackbeard took a pull directly from the bottle. Stupid! He'd been so stupid and reckless! He'd hoped pouring himself into his work would be sufficient to deaden the pain of Anne's passing, but it had done nothing of the sort. No, it wasn't work that would help Blackbeard heal, but revenge.
His mission was clear. He would find Captain Hook and wring every last exquisite drop of agony out of the vermin before ending his miserable life.
Blackbeard took another sip, relishing the bite, the burn, the vague fuzziness the alcohol elicited. He looked around and noticed the rowdy group of rough-looking men at a nearby table. A short man with a bushy brown beard and a red-knit cap seemed to be in particularly fine form.
"Drink up, my lads!" the man said. "It may be your last days of liberty for a long time. When Cap'n returns he'll be raring for another adventure."
"Where is Hook anyway, Smee?" asked a redhead with an impressive handlebar moustache.
Blackbeard's ears perked up at the sound of his enemy's name.
"Didn't say," Smee said with a shrug. "Just told me he was on a mission for the Evil Queen."
"Are you sure we were right to leave so few men guarding the Jolly?" the redhead said skeptically.
Smee scoffed. "It's the Jolly Roger we're talking about! Cap'n Hook's the most feared pirate on the high seas. No one's going to be stupid enough to take his ship."
Blackbeard grinned as a plan began forming. Oh, this Mr. Smee believed no one would attack his precious "Cap'n's" ship, did he? He was about to find out just how wrong he was. Blackbeard intended to do just that.
Within a mere two hours the deed was done. It was almost embarrassing how easily he managed to intimidate Captain Hook's worthless crew. He'd done little more than jump aboard, announce that he was the new captain, wave his sword around menacingly and threaten to murder everyone, and they'd scurried like the frightened insects they were.
Blackbeard's first official act as captain of the Jolly Roger was to rechristen her. When Hook returned from whatever miserable hole he found himself curled up in tonight, he would return not to the Jolly Roger manned by his own filthy crew, but rather to the Queen Anne's Revenge captained by none other than Blackbeard.
When Hook came to take his ship back, Blackbeard would be ready for him. There was something utterly fitting in the scoundrel dying painfully on board a vessel bearing the name of the woman he'd ruined and destroyed.
Enchanted Forest, present day
The sun was streaming in the windows of the great hall when Emma made her way down. She looked at her watch. 9:07. Where was everyone? It wasn't that late.
Snow White sat alone at the table eating her breakfast with relish. Just the sight made Emma queasy. She couldn't wait until she got over this morning sickness. With Henry it had lasted three months or so, but she'd heard of women who were sick all nine months. Emma closed her eyes and groaned at the very thought.
Snow looked up and smiled. "Morning, Emma. Beautiful day today, don't you think?"
"Uh-huh," Emma muttered non-commitally.
Snow looked at her closely, and Emma saw the motherly concern in her eyes. "Are you okay, Emma? I know you've been under the weather lately, and you look kind of green."
Emma forced a smile. "Yeah, mom, I'm fine," she said, grabbing a plate and beginning to fill it with food. She'd come to realize that eating frequent small meals helped keep the nausea at bay. "Just tired, I guess."
Snow smiled mischievously. "Well, you and Killian are still newlyweds."
Emma smiled absently. Truth be told, their nighttime activities had slacked off quite a bit in the week since she'd discovered she was pregnant. Emma was just so tired all the time that she barely had the energy to sleep, let alone make love with her husband. She had, of course, promised him that as soon as she was more herself, she would more than make it up to him.
"I'll get you some coffee," Snow said, getting awkwardly to her feet. "That'll help wake you up."
Emma groaned. "Don't worry about it Mom; not really feeling like coffee today." This baby really knew how to kick her where it hurt. Even the thought of coffee turned her stomach.
Snow gave her a suspicious look. "Are you sure you're alright? You just about lived on coffee before."
Best turn this conversation soon or her mother would guess the truth. "Just trying to cut back is all. Too much caffeine makes me crazy. Speaking of health, how are you feeling?"
Snow smiled and absently caressed her large, round belly. "Tired, awkward, like I'm roughly the size of a beached whale. I've reached the part of the pregnancy where I just want this little guy out of me. Six weeks to go; I don't know if I'm going to survive!"
Emma smiled. "Don't think I ever really reached that point with Henry," she said with a shrug. "I guess because I knew as soon as he was born, I'd lose him."
Snow reached over and took her hand, her eyes sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Emma. I can't imagine how hard that must have been."
"Yeah," Emma said with another shrug, "I survived. Anyway, one day Killian and I will have kids and I can make some good memories surrounding babies."
"Are you guys planning to get pregnant soon?" Snow asked, her ears perking up.
"No," Emma said quickly, "we certainly aren't planning to get pregnant. Things are kind of nuts the way they are right now."
Emma felt slightly guilty about her prevarication, but she hadn't lied, technically. She and Killian weren't planning to become pregnant.
"Where is everyone anyway?" Emma asked, gingerly taking a bite of her oatmeal. "It's never so quiet around here."
"Your father and Killian went hunting with the Camelot knights," Snow said with a smile. "I think they decided they needed some male bonding time."
"Let's hope they shoot chimaera and other animals rather than each other," Emma said ruefully.
Snow laughed. "Yeah. I'm too tired lately to patch up a bunch of macho idiots."
"You and me both."
"Erik and Ariel headed to her father's kingdom to visit and get his help with our Blackbeard/Ursula problem," Snow said, "I don't know where Rumple disappeared to, Belle's with Robin. He took a bit of a turn for the worse last night. Probably been overdoing it on that broken leg. And Regina…"
"How's she doing?" Emma asked. No one knew exactly what had happened between Robin and Regina a couple of days ago, but they seemed to have fought—badly. Robin refused to even be in the same room with Regina anymore. The former Evil Queen wasn't taking it well, from what Emma could see.
Snow shrugged. "About the same, I guess. She barely touched her breakfast, and then she immediately returned to her room muttering something about looking for a way to defeat Blackbeard."
"I hope whatever's going on between Robin and Regina is resolved soon," Emma said speculatively. "I feel bad for her, of course, but it's more than that. I have a feeling we're going to need everyone if we're going to win this fight. We just can't afford for her to be distracted and depressed."
"You're right, of course," Snow said, staring speculatively at the stairwell leading to the bedchambers above. "I wonder if I could get through to her."
Emma shrugged. "It's worth a shot."
….
Regina sat by her window, staring blankly out. She'd known how Robin would react to her true identity, but she still wasn't prepared for the pain. He'd looked at her like she was no better than a slug he'd found in his garden. She'd hoped the bond they were reforging during his convalescence would be strong enough to cushion the blow when he finally found out, but she'd been a fool. This time was so much worse than when he'd found out the first time a year and a half ago.
She wiped her eyes and mentally shook herself. She could not grieve about what had happened with Robin; she didn't have the time. His little boy was still out there, somewhere, being held by someone who'd gotten the reputation of being a devil for a reason. Roland had to be her focus; she had to find a way to save him.
A knock sounded at the door, and Regina looked up in surprise. "Come in," she called.
Snow waddled awkwardly in and took a chair near Regina.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Your Majesty?" Regina asked frostily.
"I just wanted to see how you're doing," Snow said.
"I haven't made any progress," Regina said briskly. "I've been wracking my brains trying to come up with anything that would help us find Roland, but I've been unsuccessful. The only hope I have right now is that Ariel will find out something when she's visiting her father."
Snow leaned over, took Regina's hand, and shot her a sympathetic glance. "I didn't ask what you've been doing; I asked how you are."
Regina dropped her head and idly ran her finger along the smooth, wooden arm of her chair. "Why? Why would you care how I am? I spent more years than I care to count trying to kill you."
"Whatever's happened between us, we're family, and family sticks together."
Regina felt the tears rush to her eyes. "I don't deserve your kindness after everything I've done."
Snow squeezed her hand. "We all have things in our past that we are ashamed of," she said with her particular intensity. "I guess the only thing we can really do is try to make amends and move on with our lives."
"But in the words of everyone's favorite sparkly imp, everything comes with a price," Regina said sadly, "and sometimes that price is agonizing to pay."
"Something happened with Robin, didn't it?"
Regina looked at Snow, dropped her eyes and nodded.
"Want to talk about it."
Did she? She'd been holding it in since the blow-up with Robin, too distraught to even bring it up. But somehow, looking into the kind brown eyes of her step-daughter, Regina felt the need to unburden herself.
"He asked me to tell him the truth—who I really was."
"And when you did, he didn't react well?"
"To say the least," Regina said with a bitter laugh. "He told me all he could ever feel for me was loathing; that he didn't want to see me anymore. I've lost him Snow. Things were going so well between us, and now it's just…over."
"I'm sorry," Snow said simply. "I figured it was something like that."
"The worst of it is that I thought I'd finally found my happy ending," Regina said, wiping at another tear. "I thought Robin and Roland and I could be together and be happy, but I guess that was stupid. Villains don't get happy endings."
Snow was quiet for several moments, and Regina chanced a look at her. She had a thoughtful look in her eye.
"I think that's true," Snow finally said slowly. "Villains don't get happy endings. But I also believe we make the choice whether we're villains or not. We don't just get put in the hero column or the villain column and then we're doomed to stay there forever. We make our own choices, and it's those choices that determine whether we're heroes or villains."
Regina nodded slowly, feeling a measure of hope in Snow's words.
"Regina," Snow continued, "whatever you've done in the past, I've seen how you've changed. You gave up Henry so that you could destroy Pan's curse. You gave up Robin and Roland so that you could save Henry and bring us all back to Storybrooke. Just a few weeks ago you offered up your life to save Roland. Those aren't the actions of a villain; they're the actions of a hero."
"Thank you," Regina said in a wobbly voice. "But, I don't think Robin sees me that way. I don't think he'll ever see me that way again."
"Do you mind if I ask a personal question?"
Regina shrugged. "Why not?"
"What is it that Robin has against you?"
Regina looked at Snow deliberately. "He thinks I was responsible for his wife's death."
"Were you?"
"Yes," Regina said simply. "Indirectly at least. I went to Marian's home village where I had good intelligence that you'd been recently. I demanded the villagers give me information, but they refused. I…I had the whole town killed in retaliation."
Snow gasped.
"When Marian found out what had happened to her family, her childhood friends, she went into early labor, and she didn't survive the birth."
"And with Robin's amnesia making him feel as though Marian had just died little more than a month ago, his anger with the Evil Queen must be monumental," Snow breathed.
"Exactly," Regina said sadly. "I don't think he'll ever get past this."
Snow was silent for so long that Regina finally looked up at her. The younger woman was giving her a soft smile. "You can't give up hope, Regina," she said gently. "Happy endings always begin with hope. You love Robin, and from what I saw when we were here before, he loved you too—very much. I'd wager quite a bit that you two share true love, and true love never dies."
"I'd like to believe that," Regina said, "but you didn't see him. You didn't feel his anger. I…I'm afraid his pain will win out over his love."
Snow shook her head. "I don't believe that. Can I give you a piece of advice."
"Sure."
"Keep loving him. Keep trying. Give him time to make peace with the situation, but don't give up. Charming, the Jones's, me, Belle, we're all behind you; we'll do what we can to help Robin see that the Evil Queen is gone…and that Regina is a woman worthy of his love and forgiveness."
The tears started again, but this time rather than stifling, they were freeing. There was something about the way Snow spoke about hope that made Regina believe it was possible, made her believe all was not definitively lost with her true love. "Thanks," Regina finally said thickly. "And for the record, I'm really glad I never succeeded in killing you back then."
Snow laughed. "So am I."
….
Robin shifted restlessly on his bed. His leg was in considerable pain, and he couldn't seem to find a comfortable position.
"Anything you need?" Belle asked from where she read in the chair by his bed.
Yes. Regina, his traitorous mind said. "Thank you, no," he said finally. "It's still some time before I am allowed more potion for pain relief."
"You're having a rough time of it, aren't you," Belle asked, putting her book aside.
You have no idea, Robin thought to himself. The physical pain was little compared to the turmoil he was dealing with inside. On the one hand, his anger, his horror, his pain at learning Regina's true identity, at remembering just what she'd ripped from him, was extreme.
On the other, he couldn't convince his faithless heart to abandon the feelings he'd begun to have for the woman.
With each passing day, he remembered more and more snippets of the life he'd forgotten. He remembered the day he'd first met Regina. He'd thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. And when she'd immediately taken Roland under her wing, his heart had melted. He remembered fleeing with her after their botched mission at the castle. He remembered their first kiss. He remembered long, heart to heart conversations on cold winter nights.
He'd loved her; there was no longer any doubt in his mind. He'd been desperately, passionately in love with her. How could that be? Had he been unaware of just who she was? Had he known…and moved past it? How could he possibly have been so heartless, so false to his dear Marian's memory?
"Yes," Robin said finally with a decisive nod of his head. "I think it would be quite fair to say I'm having a rough time of it."
"It's not just about your pain, is it? It's about whatever happened with Regina."
"You are quite perceptive, my lady," he said.
"I don't know what's happened to create the rift between you," Belle said, "but I do know the two of you loved each other when we left the Enchanted Forest the last time. And in the six months since? Regina's been a mess. She missed you, like you wouldn't believe."
"I'm starting to believe that's true," Robin said softly.
Belle patted his hand in a motherly way. "Regina's a good woman. She may have had her faults in the past, but she's trying; she's truly trying."
"Forgive me, my lady," Robin said letting a fraction of his anger color his tone, "but I have my doubts you know even a fraction of the woman's 'faults in the past'."
"Don't I?" Belle asked with a raise of her brow. "Robin, Regina kidnapped me took away my memories and locked me in a mental institution that was starker than a prison cell for nearly thirty years. I think I know a little something about what she's capable of."
Robin was surprised at the information. "How could you bring yourself to forgive…and come to trust a woman who would do something like that."
Belle sat quietly, obviously deep in thought for several moments before she spoke. "I know a little something about dealing with villains and former villains; I am married to one after all. The thing is, I believe it's important to look past a person's actions; to look at their heart."
"And what do you see when you look at Regina's heart?"
"A woman who let pain and anger cloud her heart and soul for a long time, and in the process became something of a monster," Belle answered. "But underneath all of that, I see a good heart."
"A woman who is willing to fight in whatever way necessary for those she loves," Robin said, and then shot Belle a startled look. Where had that come from?
"Exactly," she said with a smile. "Perhaps you're starting to regain your memory after all."
"Perhaps."
"And you wouldn't be so troubled about Regina, so conflicted if your feelings for her had completely gone away, would you?" Belle continued.
His brow furrowed. "No, I wouldn't," he finally admitted.
After a moment Belle spoke again. "I'm not going to tell you what you should do or how you should deal with Regina, but I think you need to know this. The last time we were in the Enchanted Forest, Regina saved Roland from the Wicked Witch of the West…at great risk to herself. And then just a few weeks ago she offered her life to try to get your son back to you. There's nothing she wouldn't do for you or your son, because she loves you both. You can't help the pain and betrayal you feel about whatever Regina did to you in the past, but please, don't throw away your best chance for happiness."
Robin nodded slowly. "I'll certainly take your suggestions under advisement."
Notes:
-So Blackbeard stole the Jolly Roger and changed the name. Incidentally, the real, historical Blackbeard's ship really was named the Queen Anne's Revenge. It was named for Queen Anne of England in reality, but I thought the name would suit nicely as a tribute to Edward's sister.
-In the present day, Robin may be angry and conflicted, but he can't deny the feelings he has for Regina. Hopefully he'll take Belle's advice and give Regina another chance.
-Up next: Not quite a year before the 1st curse, Ariel looks into the mirror enchanted with a locator spell and discovers that Erik has been kidnapped by pirates and is being held on what appears to be the Jolly Roger. In the present day section, Killian wakes up one morning to find that he is the latest recipient of one of Blackbeard's notes. It offers him two rather unpalatable choices. What will he do?