The little boy cried loudly as his brother dragged him, grabbing his little wrist, with an antsy and ached demeanor. "Liam! Where's papa? Where did he go?"

"Worry not, little brother, we'll find him! He probably just left early to get the best tatters! You know that they do run out so quickly, don't you? Come, we will find him."

Liam didn't really believe it himself, though; his father had been a long-time running delinquent and being in the King's hit list didn't make life easy for any of them. And when pirates had docked on the pier, he knew his father was very likely to sign up and get away from the danger.

But he had seemed so sincere, so honest to both his sons, when he had said that there was a superb opportunity to sail away and find a place where nobody knew them in a distant realm and life as a family… Self-serving bastard.

Liam was sixteen, and already an apt pickpocket. He could handle this. But not little Killian who was only five and had started to lose his little teeth; He'd need copious amounts of milk for his new teething and they had absolutely nothing to go by. Mr. Jones had not only abandoned his sons to their fortune, he had taken everything, every coin, ring, gem they could have pawned to survive.

Liam was both terrified and furious for not having seen this coming… and hurt. Very hurt. He was practically Killian's father now, himself. The wee boy would quite certainly perish on his own. So he brushed all his fears aside as he determinately searched for a safe place to pass the night as well as a viable meal.

For weeks, the Jones brothers survived under a bridge. Liam's main concern was always to put something in his little brother's mouth before the end of the day, if only once. But even so, the boy was malnourished and Liam was afraid for the day he'd have to abandon little Killian at the door of a monastery.

It was the last thing he'd ever want to do, but if that's what it took to save his brother's life, he'd do it and give the child a standing chance at at least a decently healthy life.

It was during one drizzly day when Liam met Azzura. She was a travelling fortuneteller, a gypsy with unbelievably electric green eyes and a knack for enticing anyone who cared to listen into believing even the most harebrained stories.

And a savior.

The young man was sitting by the steps of the monastery, after having checked out the gardens and surrounding areas, hating every inch of his own self for his accursed plan. But his biggest fear had come to pass: Little Killian was sick, ailed with a terrible cough and a fever that didn't seem to go away.

It was either this, or losing him to the grip of the reaper's greed.

He held his head in his hand and wept under the rain.

"Child? Why do you weep so?"

The kind, hypnotic voice drew Liam's gaze upward. She was beautiful to behold, except for the unflattering scar that crossed the entirety of her face. Her garb immediately gave her away as a gypsy and in all good form, Liam had always been taught to run as far and as fast away as possible from these walking sirens, who drained what little gold any man could posses in exchange for lies and favors of a dubious nature. But since he had not managed to pick a single pocket since the day before and that he had nothing but head lice and holes in his pockets, he knew he had nothing to lose by talking to the woman.

"Alas, milady…" He wept. "I am one of two brothers who were left to their fate by an irresolute and flagitious father, but of the two I am the eldest and the least afflicted. My little brother is but a boy, mam, and he is ill of health, and I am now unable to see to his recovery any further, since I don't have the means… so this day, I have come here, neither to thieve nor to beg, but to inspect the monastery. I hate what I have in mind, mam, but I have no choice but to injure his soul to save his life. I intend to leave him here, at the doorstep of the monastery, where the good brothers will see to his health and food. He will be schooled, looked after and raised away from the streets, the only thing I can offer the lad. He deserves his best chance, lady, what else is there for me to do?" He wept steadily as the woman sat beside him and placed an arm around his shoulders.

"Oh, dear, dear boy…." She spoke soothingly. "You have a kind heart, young Liam…."

The boy stopped dead in his tracks and raised his face to the woman. "How now do you know my name?"

"By no means of trickery!" She smiled. "Your face is nailed on every wooden post in the docks! You robbed the sailors, love, they are no pushovers…"

He nodded. "Aye, that too. I have no choice but to thieve to survive, mam. I do believe my wee brother deserves a kinder, brighter opportunity."

The lady nodded and grinned. "I'm a mere fortuneteller, lad, but I will spare a free gift for you and your brother. Do not abandon him. Bring him to me and come along. I am stationed beyond the third fallen oak, by the old wisher's pond. You will find my wagon there and you and your little brother may spend as many evenings as it takes for him to have his health restored. I shall help you if you do something for me, lad."

Liam sniffed. "What favor do you require of me, milady?"

"Fix the wheel of my cart! I may look young but alas, I am not. My back is bent and my pulse is shaky, and you, young Jones, have the makings of a gentleman." She caressed his curly hair and smiled. "I shall nurse your wee brother to his health. Come along now. I shall meet you there. Do not fail." She stood and walked under the mild drizzle while Liam ran in the opposite direction to collect the little boy in his trust.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"So, it's safe to say that if there is one thing I can easily find in just about every realm… it's tea." Emma grinned as she sat before the two brothers by the kitchen table.

"And tobacco, darling." Killian nodded in her direction.

Emma nodded and rolled her eyes. "So much for a cancer free Enchanted Forest…"

Liam turned to her, smiling. "Tell me, Your Highness…What linage do you stem from?"

Killian sat beside Emma and grabbed her hand in his good one. "If we trace her linage back to our time, Liam, then we can assume she's a descendant of Wilhelm and Elizabeth."

"Oh, the King of the north forest!" He nodded. "The Lakes folk…"

"Precisely." Killian nodded.

Liam nodded and smiled. Damn, what a charming son of a bitch. He and Killian shared a lot of their very own mannerisms; Emma was highly amused to see he too had eyebrows that seemed to have a life of their own and that quirked upwards at exactly the same angles; unlike Killian, he was fair-haired with curly locks that dangled down his brow and also had a fair amount of stubble. His features were not as chiseled as Killian's, but they shared the exact same deep, oceanic blue… and their smile. Not to mention the laugh; if she heard Liam laughing with her back to him, she'd probably believe it was Killian.

Nonetheless, seeing the former pirate relishing in the presence of his only family was a beautiful sight.

"Well, I'd better pay Gold a visit." She leaned down and kissed Killian swiftly before standing straight again. "You two catch up, there's a lot of things you fellas have to talk about." She looked up at Liam. "And it's Emma, Liam. Don't 'Highness' me, I didn't even know I was a 'highness' till three years ago, so…"

Liam and Killian stood up; it was almost automatic! "Miss Emma, it is a pleasure to have made your acquaintance. I hope you find a solution to this conundrum, although…" He turned his eyes playfully towards Killian. "I do hope such solution does not involve parting with my brother again."

Killian returned the smile and Emma nodded swiftly and left the room before she started crying again.

"So…" Killian fiddled with his cup. "Maybe we should trace our story, see how far our versions coincide."

Liam nodded. "Agreed. You tell me your version first, Killian, and we shall work from there."

The younger Jones bit his lower lip and thought for a few seconds. "Let's see… you were the captain of the jewel and I was your Lieutenant and first mate."

"Concurred."

"We were sent to Neverland on what we both believed would be the hero's journey that would set our name apart from all other naval officers. The quest was for a miraculous, medicinal herb."

"Aye, that's the same recollection I have so far. Carry on."

Killian sighed. "Upon reaching Neverland, we met that devil, Pan."

"The boy…"

"Aye. I've yet to tell you, mate, he was no boy, but I shall leave that tale for a later hour. Let me see…" he rubbed his brow. "Yes! He was the one to tell us that Dreamshade was a deadly plant and that our King had lied to us."

Liam stared hard at Killian. "What then, brother?"

Killlian sighed. "We parlayed. I asked you if perhaps the King might be capable of poisoning our enemies instead of fighting them fairly, to which you replied, "don't…"

"Don't be so gullible." Liam sat up straight. "You see, THAT'S where our stories diverged. In my recollection, I was the one to doubt and you were the one to stress that I was being gullible."

Killian nodded with a frown, turning his mug on the table. "What do you recall from the hilltop? The place where the dreamshade sat?"

Liam looked paled as he dug through his memories, his joyful expression suddenly replaced by one of utter sadness. "I stood back and commanded you to leave the plant, as your Captain and older brother. You stubbornly told me you'd disabuse me of the notion, cut a vine from the bush and cut your left arm with it." He swallowed. "For a few seconds, you were well, until you turned to me and your arm began to blacken. You were in terrible, terrible pain and I called for help. The Pan boy found us and he pointed me to the water stream that would save your life…"

"Aye! Exactly the same!"

"But he as vague about the price to pay." He shook his head. "I thought he wanted gold, so I agreed to give him anything he desired…" He chuckled a sad chuckle. "I had no clue that the price for leaving Neverland would be your life."

"Aye, same." Killian looked down, the memory suddenly in his mind.

"We were well, until we reached friendly waters again. No sooner had the Jewel touched the waves, you collapsed and died within mere seconds. I shouted for help, but when the medic finally reached us, you…" He shook his head and bit his lower lip. "You were gone."

"You tell the story as if you had seen it through my own eyes, brother." Killian replied, his voice breaking.

"So we share the same memory, only…"

"Inversed."

"Aye…"

Killian tapped his fingernail on the table. "And what became of you… after the event?"

The older Jones sighed and leaned back on the chair. "I was lost for years, brother. After I disclosed the King's plot to his armies and the people, a war ensued. The King's daughter occupied his place after three years of revolts. He had set a price on my head, but I cared not. She reinstated me as Captain of the fleet under Commodore Kelsing." He shrugged. "The realm sided with me, Killian. You were a very well-loved figure and the news of your passing didn't go down well." He shrugged. "As for me?" He huffed and shook his head. "For many moons I succumbed to my sorrow. I dwelled in darkened taverns, spending all my earnings in gambling and opium dens with fast women." He swallowed hard. "I missed you, Killian. I blamed myself. You were my little brother, I should have…"

"I'm a man. And I quite well recall already being one when we made that journey. Even if our stories do defer." He grinned. "If it's any help, Liam, I do not blame you at all." He shrugged and sighed. "My story is quite different from that point on."

"Piracy, you said."

"Aye… much like our cowardly father." He looked at Liam with two sad orbs. "After I laid you to rest in the sea, I mutinied. I stirred the men, took the Jewel and turned her into a pirate vessel. Named her the Jolly Roger. I figured that since the King's cowardice had taken the life of my dear brother, then I'd take his ship and every other treasure I could have." He shook his head. "It seemed that thieving was far more honorable than slaying an entire army with dreamshade to me."

Liam nodded. "We both succumbed to the darkness, it seems…"

The younger Jones sighed. "I remained enveloped by it for three hundred and some years…"

"How did you manage to survive so long, brother?"

Killian's eyes shot to his missing limb. "Neverland…"

Liam gulped. "I take it you lost your hand due to a thieving penalty…"

"No."

"So?"

The younger brother sighed. "That is a story for another time. Suffice to say that this, together with another nefarious event, prompted my departure to that accursed island."

Liam stared coldly at his younger brother. "Did you have a pirate name?"

"Aye…" Killian side-grinned. "Captain Hook."

"Hook?"

Killian raised his eyes, huffed, and stood, walked to a drawer and retrieved his brace, hook attached, before turning to his brother, who jumped back.

"Gods of the realms, Killian!" he gasped.

"After I returned from Neverland so many hundreds of years later, I was known as the worst of all pirates, the most feared and the one to whom all other buccaneer vessels bowed to." He slumped himself on his chair, tapping the hook on the table. "Not proud of my past, brother…"

Liam nodded. "What prompted you to leave?"

"Emma."

"The princess?"

A broad grin crossed Killian's face. "Aye. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me. Set me straight, shoed me the way back from the darkness and into the light." He looked into Liam's eyes. "And here I am now."

The captain nodded. "Well, seems we both have quite the tale to tell. Nonetheless, I am proud of you, Killy."

"Killy? No, don't, I…" Killian shook his hand and huffed. "Emma will never leave me be now."

Liam laughed aloud. "That's what older brothers are for. To pester the little ones."

"That much you did. All the time. But you also looked after me." Killian nodded. "I was devastated. But you have no clue how glad I am to see you again brother… My Captain."

Liam side-grinned. "I'm sorry that being back in your life has made you drop in rank."

Killian shrugged. "No matter; I am quite pleased with being a Lieutenant, if I'm ever to sail again at your side."

They both laughed aloud before remaining silent for a few seconds.

Killian lifted his face to Liam. "I do not wish to recollect, brother, but mayhaps…"

"The Redblood Firefly?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "Aye, I was thinking the same thing."

Killian nodded. "I must tell Emma…"

Liam huffed. "Killian, you know the price! The gypsy said it would work, but should we break the spell, there would be a life to collect." Liam reached out and grabbed Killian's arm. "I know not the precise workings of this magic, little brother… but I do not wish to lose you again. Ever."

Killian grinned. "Nor do I. But if we are to keep this intact, we should at least know and understand it."

Liam nodded. "You have the log?"

Killian shook his head. "Alas, I do not. But I have a fairly good idea where it could be." He raised his eyes to his brother, alarmed. "And my lass is on her way there now."

Liam returned the frightened look. "Bloody hell, Killian, she heard you utter the secret wording under the duress of my blade! if she should force it open!?"

Killian's face was suddenly drawn of all color. "Emma… Oh, gods, no…" He jumped off his seat. "Come! We have to stop her!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Liam had not only fixed the broken wheel and spindle of Azzura's wagon; in the weeks it took to restore his little brother's health, he had fetched her water, retiled leaks and trained her dog to do tricks that would charm her audiences.

Azzura rewarded the brothers for their kindness… with a blank log.

"Now children, pay attention to me…" she instructed them. "This log is magical; it comes from the far, far regions of the northwest corners of the realm, far from any land your innocent gazes have ever looked upon. In it's pages, whatever you write shall become your fate. Should you, for instance, wish for good health and you take a quill to these pages, you shall have the finest health in all the realm. Should you wish to wed fine brides, that too, shall come to pass if you jot it here. But beware…" she raised a finger. "All magic comes at a price, m'boys, and this journal is no exception. Only you two will ever be allowed to look into its pages. Should another gaze that is not your own look upon its contents, then all that has been granted shall be taken from you instantly. Starting with your very life, young Killian…" she turned kindly to the boy. "It was here that I wished for your recovery. The malady that overcame you, should have taken your life. The log will claim the life of the intruder as well, instantly, as if his or her heart were being ripped from a still breathing chest. Also, the log does not allow any ill-willed desire. You cannot use it to harm others." She approached their curious faces. "There is a secret password, one that only the two of you shall ever know. For the book has a life all its own, and a name."

Killian sneered. "The book has a name?"

"Indeed it does, lad." She grinned back. "And its name is Redblood Firefly. To keep itself from prying eyes and protect the will of its owner, it will only open with the sound of its owner's voice. You shall say: 'Redblood Firefly, reveal thy wording'…" The book opened slowly before the astounded gaze of the two young boys. "To close it down again, you shall say: "Redblood Firefly, thy words be still…" And the book instantly closed itself.

"Remember, children…" She smiled. "This log cannot be used for dark purposes, for all dark wishes will revert on you. Nor can you use it to concede self-serving overindulgences. Greed is a sin by the standards of the book. This artifact will make your lives better, healthier and happier. But no wealth shall come from it. And should you two ever be parted in an untimely form… the book will always see to it that you find each other again."

"How so, mam?" Liam shrugged. "Say one of us should pass away…"

The gypsy grinned. "The book is powerful, but no magic in this universe has the strength to return our loved ones from beyond or to alter fate. However, it can find a way to duplicate lives in a mirror-reality, so that at the proper time, each of you shall once again meet. This, only if you deem it so, like a will and testament."

Liam nodded.

"So, we can ask for money then?" Killian's eyes shone.

The woman giggled. "No, young sir. Like I said, gold and other worldly possessions are not within the book's scope. You can, however, wish for a meal, should you hunger or a cloak, should you be cold. Have care how you word your desires, boys."

She handed the book to Liam, and turned to young Killian. "Little boy, you must hold the book too. Please place your hands on it."

The child smiled and complied as Azzura spoke to the log, saying, "Redblood Firefly, I bequeath thee to the Jones Brothers. Care for them and nurture their needs." The book glowed in a soft yellow that covered the bodies of the two boys before disappearing. She released the book and smiled. "I have granted you a wonderful gift, children. Use it well." She hopped on her cart and clucked her tongue to waken her horse. "Care for one another. You are each other's only family. Fare thee well, boys!"

And she left, leaving the brothers with happy grins and an awesome present they were still not quite sure how to use.

Liam looked at it with a frown.

"Open it Liam! Open it!" Killian jumped up and down.

The older boy grinned and looked at his little brother. "Aye. I already have one wish to make."

"But you know not how to use a quill!"

"Matters not. The book understands, it seems." He turned to the book. "Redblood Firefly, reveal thy wording."

The book did not open. Liam repeated the words, but still, it did not move.

"It was a hoax…" He huffed. "Bloody gypsy woman."

Killian grimaced. "Brother, wait…" He placed his little hand on top and looked at his brother. "Perhaps if we should say them together?"

Liam looked at Killian and rolled his eyes. "Fine then. We shall try…"

"REDBLOOD FIREFLY, REVEAL THY WORDING!"

And… it opened.

"It seems only together can we work this magic." Liam nodded with a grin.

Killian nodded adamantly. "Go on, brother, make your wish…"

The older Jones swallowed. "My first wish, Redblood Firefly, is that I shall never part with my brother, nor he from me. We shall always find each other, and should one of us face an untimely and imminent death, you shall duplicate the event like a mirror so that we may once again meet."

The book glowed and a light breeze flew past them.

A kindly breeze.

Killian and Liam exchanged a happy look and nodded as they walked away from the woodland clearing, happy to still be the little family they were.

When Liam enlisted to join the Naval Academy, Killian was accepted as cleaning and stable boy, till he was of age to join himself. When Liam was commissioned on his first journey as sailor, the younger Jones was assigned as cook. When Liam made Boson, Killian was a sailor. Slowly, they ranked higher and higher, their secret desires for improvement now jotted by ink on the book they kept from Azzura.

Till the day Captain Liam Jones and Lieutenant Killian Jones, the most gifted and favorite Naval Officers of the King, were commissioned to retrieve a medicinal plant in a distant land that few men knew of.