Chapter Nine

Dreams

"What did you see, sweetheart?" Killian asked Harper. He was sitting on the couch, Harper in his lap. Henry and Belle stood in front of them.

Harper shook her head and buried her face in Killian's chest.

Killian kissed her head. "It's okay, love. It was just a dream. You can tell us."

Harper sniffled. "No, Daddy. No."

Killian sighed. "Please, Harper. Tell Daddy what you saw."

Harper whimpered. "But I don't want to."

"Please, Mommy will be able to come home sooner, " Killian tried.

Harper pulled back and looked at Killian, tears trickling down her face. "She will?"

Killian nodded. It wasn't a lie. If they found out where Emma was, then they could go find her and bring her home. "Aye."

Harper rubbed her eyes. "O-okay." Killian rubbed her back continuously to let her know that he was there. Harper sniffled. "Mommy was in a-a cage. She was sitting on the floor. Mommy looked really scared and sad. I think she wants to come home."

Killian nodded. "She does. What else did you see?"

"It was really dark. Then a man came in and he had white hair. He was holding a box. He took something out of it and-and forced M-mommy to drink it. Mommy s-started c-crying." Harper leaned back down against Killian. "Please, Daddy. I don't want to say anymore."

Killian pulled her closer. "Shh. It's okay. It's okay. Thank you."

Harper didn't respond. She just sat there, curled on Killian's lap.

"I'll come back in the morning, see if we and figure this out," Belle said. "Goodnight." She walked towards the door and walked out.

Killian paced around the kitchen the next morning. It was early. He hadn't gotten any sleep last night. He was worried to much. He kept thinking that sleep was just a waste of time.

"Killian, can I come in?" Belle's voice came from behind the front door.

"Yeah," Killian said. He kept pacing.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Belle asked, setting a pile of books and some to-go cups of hot chocolate from Granny's down on the table.

Killian shook his head. "No."

Belle gave him a sad smile. "We'll find her, and I think I have a pretty good idea of where she is."

Killian snapped his head in Belle's direction and then rushed over to her. "What did you find?"

Belle opened one of her books. "I researched potions that are found in other realms. There are multiple places, yes, almost in every realm, but I found a place in a kingdom called DunBroch where the ingredients for powerful potions are found, and there is a woman there that can help us."

"You did?"

Belle nodded.

Killian smiled. "Thank you, Belle!"

Belle smiled just a little. "There is just one problem."
Killian's smile faded. "What is it?"
"We don't have a way to get there. We don't have any magic beans or anything."

Killian ran his hand over his face and sighed. "We can figure this out. First, I need to call Snow and David and probably Regina."

Within the next twenty minutes, David, Snow, and Regina were all in the kitchen of the Jones household. Henry was awake now, too.

Belle explained what was going on.

"Well, we just have to find a magic bean," Regina said. She looked at Snow. "Does Anton still have some?"

Snow shook her head. "No. The crops were really bad this summer, we only got a few."

"We can use those few beans," Killian said. "Where are they?"

Snow shrugged. "I don't know, Killian. We have to ask Anton."

"Where is he?" Killian asked, walking over to the door and grabbing his shoes and jacket.

"Killian, hold on. We have to figure out a plan," Regina said.

"We already did. We get the beans. Belle and I go into the portal and find Emma," Killian said.

"It won't be that easy, Killian. It never is," Regina tried.

"Dad, come on," Henry said.

Their conversation was interrupted by a glass-shattering scream.

"Harper!" Killian ran up the stairs. He ran straight to his and Emma's room, which is where Harper had been sleeping. Harper was tossing and turning, screams escaping her throat. Killian picked up Harper. "Hey, hey. It's okay. Daddy's got you. Daddy's got you."

Harper settled a little and rested her head on Killian's shoulder. "I don't want to go back to sleep."

Killian rubbed her back and swayed slowly. "You don't have to, darling."

"When's Mommy going to be back?"

Killian kissed the top of Harper's head. "Soon, I promise."

"Are you working for someone?" Emma asked King George.

"That's none of your business," the king said.

"But, if you're just going to kill me after you… take my baby… what does it matter if I know?" Emma asked.

"Exactly my point. You can die without knowing the answer to both of your questions. Now, shut up! I'm working on a new potion."

Emma just looked down at her stomach. She rubbed her hand over her almost non-existent baby bump.

"Anton," Snow said. She was in the mines with David. They had left Killian behind to stay with Harper. Harper was starting to get attached to Killian. She hadn't let him put her down at all this morning.

Anton looked up from where he was mining. He helped the dwarves out during the winter because he couldn't farm. "Snow, David. Hi. What can I do for you?"

"Do you still have those magic beans?" David asked.

Anton nodded. "Yeah. What do you need them for?"

"I'm sure you've heard the news," Snow said. "Emma's missing."

Anton nodded. "Indeed I have." He pulled out a small leather bag from his pocket and handed it to Snow. "There are five beans in there."

Snow nodded. "Thank you so much!"

Killian didn't even hear someone knock.

"We have it!" Snow shouted. She and David walked into the living room where everyone was.

Killian stood up, leaving Harper on the couch. Harper whined, "Daddy."

Killian looked at her. "I'm right here, darling. It's fine." He looked at his parent-in-laws. "Give it to me."

"Hold on, Killian," David said. "We need to figure out the plan."

Belle nodded in agreement. "We have a plan. Killian, Regina, and I will go." Regina was for magical backup, Belle was the only one who knew where to go, and Killian was going because he wouldn't stay here and he was good with a sword.

David nodded. He wanted to protest, he wanted to go as well, but he knew that this was a good plan.

Snow handed the bag of beans over to Belle, knowing she wouldn't rush into things. She looked at Killian. "Bring her home."

Killian nodded. "I will." Killian walked over to Harper, who was sitting on the couch. He knelt down in front of her. "Daddy has to go."

"No!" Harper shook her head and launched herself at Killian, wrapping her arms around

his neck. "You might get taken too!"

Killian wrapped his arms around Harper's small body. "I'll be okay, darling. I'm going to get Mommy."

Harper shook her head again. "Mommy's not safe, that means you won't be safe."

"That's why I have to go get her, so she'll be safe."

Harper paused. "Can I come?" She pulled away.

Killian shook his head. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous. You're staying here with

Henry, Grandma, and Grandpa."

"Please, Daddy…" Multiple tears escaped her eyes.

Killian kissed her head. "I love you." He stood up and walked over to Belle and Regina.

"Daddy!" Harper cried. Henry picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Killian didn't look back, he knew it would just break him if he did. Belle threw the bean and they stepped through.

There we go. They're off to go save Emma. Hope you enjoyed it!