Author's Note: Sorry this update took so long. It was a crazy week.

Chapter 17: Pockets of Magic

Emma could see how alluring having this type of power could be. When she started getting dressed in the morning, she wished she had a specific outfit from home and it appeared on her body. "Wow," she said as she looked down, "magic can be quite a time saver."

Hook looked up as he closed his boots, and a silly grin appeared on his face. "Perhaps later you might conjure a dress for me...like the one you wore in the Enchanted Forest."

"Didn't picture you as the dress-wearing type," she wryly teased.

He shot a fake smile at the joke. "I should have been more specific…you would be the one wearing it, but, in a sense, I'd be the one to benefit."

"So you're into that whole traditional women-in-dresses thing?" she asked, curiously.

"I'm into any sort of attire you happen to find yourself in. Something just made me remember how good you looked in that dress the night you tried to seduce my other self."

"I wasn't trying to seduce him, I was trying to distract him. I was helping you hide from…yourself."

"Oh," he said doubtfully, still teasing, "helping me?! And maybe taking the opportunity to survey a man without any obligation?"

"I was willing to do what I had to do for the greater good," she chuckled.

He wasn't paying attention though. He was busy studying her body. She laughed at his distractedness as she felt his eyes all over her. "Killian, what's gotten into you?"

"It's not so much a question of what's gotten in to me as much as what's gotten into you." She waited with a look of befuddlement, so he approached, putting an arm around her and guiding her to a full length mirror that hung on the closet door. "See for yourself," he said.

"Oh my god," Emma nearly gasped as she looked at her reflection. She'd noticed her pants had felt a little tighter in recent days, but once she was wearing a tank top, she could see how her figure had changed. Her breasts were spilling out over her bra, filling her top, and she crossed her arms self-consciously. "If we wait a week or two, we won't have to tell my parents anything because it's going to be obvious."

He took her wrists in his hook and hand and pulled her arms away from her body, "Oh, no, love…don't hide."

She smirked at his admiring expression, watching in the mirror as his hand slid up her torso and he instinctively licked his bottom lip.

"This is your fault," she said with a faint smile while she leaned against him.

"It is indeed. And it seems I'm being amply punished. Although…" he said as his lip grazed her ear, "I seem to remember you being a rather willing participant in those actions. I'm not sure I should be required to shoulder all of the blame."

Her head leaned back against his shoulder as she lifted her hands in surrender and whispered, "Well…maybe I'm a tiny bit responsible," she started, gasping slightly as he bumped her breast, "Gentle."

"Not a word I've often heard you mutter," he playfully recalled.

"Well, things are a little more sensitive lately."

He turned her around so she was facing him, stepping her back against the wall as he nuzzled against her neck. "I can be exceedingly gentle. I'll certainly do my very best to meet any needs the lady may—"

Hook was interrupted just as it seemed that the moment was falling into a predictable trajectory. The pair could hear the sound of Henry running down the stairs, talking to Regina.

Emma brushed her lips to Hook's, her hands running down his back to his hips as she said, "We better put this on hold."

Hook nodded, stepping back, "Very well."

Emma thought that it might be nice to have a bulky sweatshirt and one appeared on her. "That'll help us avoid suspicion long enough." As she was getting ready to leave, she stalled, "So you really are a fan of the dress and bustiere look?"

"I'm a fan of clothing that accentuates your figure. I like to look at you."

"I'll keep that in mind," Emma answered. She made it obvious that she was thinking something, and then said, "You know…I like to look, too."

Feeling suddenly different, Hook looked down and realized his clothing had changed. He was wearing tight jeans and a tee shirt that clung to his body. He looked like he felt awkward for a moment and then opened his arms, turning around so she could see, saying cockily, "A man as striking as I am is used to being scrutinized. Like what you see?"

She started to giggle, nodding her head, "You're lucky you have the looks to back up that ego."

"Why thank you."

"You want your old clothes back?"

He looked at himself in the mirror and raised an eyebrow in approval, "Actually I think I look quite good. I'll give these a try. A jacket would be nice though. It is a bit…," a shorter, fitted leather jacket appeared on him as he finished saying, "chilly."

They went downstairs and found Henry and Regina researching on the computer based on the things they'd heard about the shadow. "Is there anything else you can tell me about where you were or what type of magic they were using?" Regina asked.

"Odalee…she was like a voodoo queen. I think. The symbols on her doors kind of reminded me of that," Emma answered.

"What's voodoo?"

"It's… you know…voodoo."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Well that explains a great deal."

"I'm not sure how to describe it."

"We'll research it," Henry answered. "I remember seeing it in movies."

"We do have something else from that realm," Hook said as he started to look for his satchel. "Did you see where I left my—" without finishing the phrase his satchel hung from his hook, and he added, "found it!"

"The things I could do with power like that," Regina mused.

"We have this," Hook said, holding the orb that had guided them in his hand.

"A rock? How nice."

"It's not a rock," Emma explained. "It lit up and actually flew around. It was our guide until we reached the castle."

"Whose castle?" Regina asked.

"A queen. Raina," Hook answered. "Ever heard of her?"

Regina shook her head, approaching Hook and taking the orb from his palm, "No. Gold might know. Maybe we can think of a way to ask him without mentioning your current…situation."

"Not yet," Emma pleaded. "Let's see what else we can figure out before we raise any suspicions."

"Very well," Regina replied. Holding the orb out she said, "Try to use your magic on it. See if you can get it to work again."

Emma held the orb and tried to concentrate. For a second, the orb seemed to twinkle, but then it dulled and remained still in her hand.

"Can I hold onto it?" Regina asked.

"Sure," Emma answered. "We have to go talk to my parents. Henry, are you staying here?"

"Yea," the boy answered. "Mom and I have some work to do."

"We'll meet up later," Regina said before the two headed out.

When they arrived at the Charming loft, Mary Margaret was already smiling at the pair, although David appeared anxious. "You look different, Hook. You'll fit in more," Mary Margaret said, grinning as he stood protectively by Emma's side. It was obvious from Mary Margaret's expression that she was hopeful that there was a romance brewing between her daughter and her companion.

As the adults tried to talk, they were repeatedly interrupted by an infant's cries. Mary Margaret was walking around the loft, baby Neal in her arms, and he seemed to be inconsolable. David tried as well, and both were unable to comfort the baby. Emma offered to try to calm her little brother, but her parents insisted they'd be able to figure it out, and then, just as his cry became extremely shrill and distressed, he disappeared from David's arms and landed in Emma's. The moment the baby was in Emma's arms, he stopped crying and began to coo, reaching his tiny hands toward his sister. "How did you do that?" David asked.

"Maybe he just wanted someone different to hold him," Emma answered.

"I mean how did he suddenly appear in your arms? Was that magic?" her father asked.

"Yea, about that…my magic has kind of improved in the last few months while we were gone."

"Maybe that's why they took you there?" Mary Margaret hypothesized. "Like magic training camp. Wow, Emma, you're great with him."

"That's not why we were taken there," Emma said, swaying back and forth and looking down at the baby who was starting to fall asleep, but still smiling at her. "Odalee, the woman who was behind our little side trip, she was sort of playing matchmaker."

"Matchmaker for who?" David asked.

Emma leaned her shoulder into Hook. "Us. In our original timeline, Killian and I became a couple, but when we went through Zelena's time portal, we did something to mess up our future…we ruined our chances for…true love. Odalee wanted to put us back on track."

"True love," Mary Margaret affirmed excitedly. "Oh, Emma, if it's true love, it can't be ruined. True love will always find a way."

"Why would an entire realm care about whether or not you and Hook…," David started, shaking his head. "Are you sure he didn't work a deal with Gold to manipulate you and—"

"You think I'd work with the Crocodile? You think I'd do that to her?" Hook scoffed. "I hate to tell you, mate, but I didn't have to resort to trickery to win Emma's heart."

Mary Margaret put a hand on David's shoulder to calm and said, "Why was it important to this realm that you found each other?"

"Because our daughter is going to break their curse," Emma answered.

"Your…daughter?" Mary Margaret asked. "So they think you're going to have a child together?"

"Pretty sure they're right," Emma calmly said. "Since…I'm already pregnant. Killian and I are having a baby. Or, more accurately, twins."

Mary Margaret rushed over, first hugging Emma as she reached over Neal, "That's fantastic news. How do you feel? Are you happy?"

"I am," Emma nodded. "It's a lot. I'm sure it seems more sudden to you because we've been gone for so long."

Mary Margaret turned to Hook, hugging him as well, "Congratulations! How do you feel about this?"

He looked stunned that Emma's mother was hugging him. He gently patted her back in response, looking down at her and nodding, "I'm quite happy, actually."

David was calmer than Emma had expected, but pensive. He finally looked at Hook and said, "Have you even thought about this practically? Where do you intend to raise a family? On a boat?"

"We're looking for a place here," Emma interjected.

"Will your children take your surname? My grandchildren will be little Hooks?"

Something shifted in Hook that day, and he truly started to feel he was Killian again, not just to Emma, but to everyone. He replied with certainty, "My name is Killian Jones, but I think you know that. Emma and I haven't had the opportunity to discuss things like names. We've been too busy trying to save our children's lives. Look, mate, I know you may not like the fact that I'm a pirate. You may not like my hook or some of my previous associations, or any number of things about me, but I've proven myself to the only person I need to prove myself to, and that's Emma."

"She's my daughter," David quietly said. "It's my job to make sure she's safe."

"Well then, you should be relieved. Now you won't have to do it alone. Like me or hate me, that is entirely up to you, but either way, you might as well get used to me. Because I'm not going to go away."

David nodded dutifully, and it seemed like Killian was making progress with David for the time being. Mary Margaret asked, "You said you're trying to save their lives? The babies? Who would want to kill them?"

Emma didn't waste time, and immediately began to explain the shadow and Raina's kingdom to her parents. David relaxed as they started to talk about a more comfortable topic: fighting evil. They talked about Odalee. They talked about prophecies and heroism in a land that neither David nor Mary Margaret had ever even heard of before. Emma told them about how she'd been knocked unconscious when they went to retrieve the talisman, and how Killian had guarded her and taken her toward safety until Odalee ultimately helped them to make their escape. She told them about the book, and how Killian was a saviour in this new land. She showed them how powerful her magic had become, and told them why she and the babies were in danger.

Killian showed David the enchanted sword, even allowing David to examine the weapon. The two men stood in the more open area of the loft, and as David asked questions about the battle that had been fought, Killian began to recount the fight for the talisman.

Emma and her mother watched the two men, and the way David seemed intensely interested in Killian's retelling of his most recent battle. "I think your father is going to really like him," Mary Margaret said, nodding at Emma, who was still holding the sleeping Neal. "Be patient. He just wants to protect you."

"I know that. But I'm really good at taking care of myself. And this thing that I have, well, David needs to accept that maybe what Killian and I have is true love too…just as powerful and real as what you guys have."

Mary Margaret was already excited and started pulling food from the fridge and setting it out on the kitchen island for everyone to eat while they strategized. "I've always hoped you'd find this. It's scary though, isn't it? Having someone already threatening the life of your babies?"

"Yea. It is."

"Don't you worry. We'll figure out this shadow."

"I know," Emma answered as she watched her father and the father of her children interact.

"He looks…really good in those jeans," Mary Margaret said admiringly.

Emma turned abruptly, admonishing, "Mom!"

"What? He does!" Mary Margaret admitted. "I'm happy for you," she whispered. Shouting toward the men, she asked, "You guys wanna eat something?"

As they approached, David said, "So, Killian, you were part of His Majesty's Navy? They taught you to fight? You wore a uniform, took orders, like any other sailor?"

"Aye," Killian answered, "A long time ago, but true enough."

"Killian?" Mary Margaret quietly asked Emma, shocked to hear David referring to Hook by his true name.

"Don't take this the wrong way," David said to Killian, "but I think Emma should stay here with us until we figure out what to do. More people to look out for her and make sure she's safe."

"I belong by her side, mate," Killian replied. "I know you want to look out for her, but…"

"Agreed," David admitted. "Which is why we'll make room for you here, too. You could use the sofa, hopefully it's just for a few weeks. At least until this shadow has been defeated. It's safest for her, it's safest for my grandchildren."

Emma could see a look of concern in Killian's eyes, and she interjected, "It's too crowded here. We need to find a home. Some place with enough room for Henry and the twins. You guys deserve a chance to get settled in with your own infant."

"Maybe we should consider going back home. Repairing the castle. There would be enough space there. We could hire guards, protect the whole family," David suggested hopefully.

"I thought we decided we were staying here," Mary Margaret said, "if there even is a way home."

"I don't want to go there," Emma said. "If anything, maybe we should consider some place without magic again. Maybe that's the way to protect them."

"What about you?" David asked Killian. "Don't you ever want to go back home?"

"Home is a complicated concept for some of us. I have no desire to return to the land where I was actually born. The place where I lived the most years was actually Neverland, and as I'm sure you know, I have no desire to go back there. As far as I'm concerned, the Jolly Roger was my home until quite recently."

"Then where do you intend to settle?"

A loud bang on the door sent into motion a series of activities that David would always remember. The moment the noise startled Killian, he turned, positioning himself between Emma and the door, enchanted sword in hand and all of his focus centered on whatever the threat might be. Emma reacted too, although more defensively, a white field surrounding the pair emanated from her. Those knee-jerk reactions, those simple defensive and protective actions that came without a single thought in world, seemed to provide proof for David of the real feelings shared by Emma and Killian.

The knocking came again, followed by Henry's voice shouting, "Hey, guys? You home?"

The moment they realized there was no threat, Killian and Emma stood down, but Killian's arm still went around Emma as they breathed a sigh of relief. David could see as plain as day just what Emma meant to the man.

When Henry managed to open the door with the key just a second later, he rushed in with printouts of talismans similar to the one his mother had brought back. Regina was behind him, and said, "The shadow is probably controlled by someone else. Someone who's made of flesh and blood. All of those demons you described were controlled by him too. He likely controls the most powerful demon he's been able to harness or maybe a collection of souls, into one shadow, like an extension of himself, a servant or minion to do his bidding in other worlds. This being, such a compilation of evil, is probably what the Captain faced."

"You think a real man is controlling the shadow?" Killian asked.

"I'm almost certain, based on our research. But if he has all of these spirits, these demons, to protect him, he has a powerful army to contend with."

"So how do we find him?" Emma asked.

"Well this is the interesting part," Regina said with a smile, "Storybrooke might not be the only place in this world with a pocket of magic. Gold did a good job of hiding that from me. Or perhaps he didn't know. But I think there might be a few other places."

"Where?" Emma asked.

"New Orleans, maybe," Henry answered. "At least we think."

"You believe we can find this man and the shadow there?" Killian asked. "Perhaps we can destroy this thing before our children are even born."

"If he's not, I think we'll find answers there. Perhaps a few of us can go check that out. Emma can wait here where she and the twins are safe. Killian, Regina and I can go," David said. "That is…if it's safe to cross the town line."

"I believe it is. We'll go find out," Regina said.

"Killian isn't going anywhere without me," Emma said.

"Think of your children and what's safest for them," David replied.

"But we can protect him. The magic I have…he may need it. We stick together."

"She's just like her mother. You talk to her," David said Killian. "Convince her she's safest here."

"Emma and I made an agreement," Killian replied. "We've agreed to make any such decisions as team. We've also agreed to stick together."

Emma replied. "I'm not helpless. If anything, I'm stronger than I was before."

"That may be," Regina answered, "but we won't know for sure if there's magic elsewhere until we go. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to use magic to transport myself somewhere only to find out there's no magic there and I can't easily get back. Or it might even be a trap to get us somewhere far away from magic. I think it's wise to be prepared with magical and non-magical weapons, but I wouldn't rush in just yet. You need to know exactly how to use this talisman before you get there. You need to be ready for the battle in case you walk right into it."

"I want to come," Henry announced. When the room fell silent he protested, "Family sticks together, right?"

Emma worried immediately that he'd feel left out of a changing family, and that was one thing she did not want to happen. She wanted to be sure Henry didn't feel pushed aside, while keeping him as safe as possible. "Let your mom and I talk about what we think is best and we'll make a decision together," Emma said.

"Until you find a new home, come back and stay with me," Regina offered.

"Why are you so willing to play host?" David asked.

"If Henry's going to spend time with them, he needs to be somewhere safe. And if this shadow is as strong as it sounds, it's in all of our best interests to make sure Emma and the pirate succeed…before it's too late. Something this interested in power isn't going to stop until it gathers every last bit of magic it can find."