Last night's update that I fell asleep typing... sorry!
Finished it this morning before work.
Might not be one tonight, I have a lot on.
Enjoy and please review
:)
"Come join me Love" Hook said through gritted teeth as he tried to shuffle over the bed but he was struggling to make any headway.
"Don't hurt yourself, I'm fine here" Emma said with a wince when he suddenly clamped his hand to his sore ribs only to hiss when his fingers touched his blankets but he was being stubborn and persisted, not wanting to give in.
"You may be fine with being over there but I am not" He gasped as he finally lent back on the pillows again and after a few breaths he gave her a smile "I have missed you Love. Please, indulge an old Pirate"
She couldn't refuse him so she kicked off her boots and climbed up to tuck herself into her usual spot on his left hand side being careful of his leg. He brought his arm around her and rested his stump on her hip, she loved how he no longer cared that their family saw it, he trusted them all so much.
"You OK?" Emma asked as she snuggled in, she had missed this too.
"Better now" he sighed.
She knew he was tired and from what he had said he was also in pain but there was nothing she could do about the latter, he wasn't due any meds for over an hour.
As they lay there they could hear the squeals of delight coming from the bathroom as Killian splashed about playing with his boat and she smiled into Hook's chest.
"You really were a cute kid"
"I think the words you are looking for are devilishly handsome... Pirate's are not cute"
"Yeah but he's not a Pirate yet" she chuckled waiting for the return quip but when he failed to answer she turned her head to be able to look up at him, he looked so lost just staring towards the bathroom that it tugged on her heart "What? What's wrong?"
He sighed before looking down at her "Nothing I suppose, it's just... you are right. He is not a Pirate and he need not ever be now... his future is still to be decided, he can be whatever he wants to be"
"And what would that be? What did you want to be when you were his age?" she grinned at him again expecting him to relax and tell her something ridiculous but he didn't. She could see the tears forming in his eyes as he spoke.
"Safe and loved" he whispered quietly and she could see the truth in his eyes "That was all I ever wanted for myself and... Liam"
Emma's heart clenched again as he gave her a quick nervous smile before looking away again, she brought her hand up turning his chin back so that he had no choice but to look at her again.
"Well he's already achieved that then hasn't he? Listen Hook, listen to him. He is happy, he is safe and believe me when I say this, he will NEVER feel unloved again"
She stroked his cheek as the first tear fell but he didn't seem to be able to stop more and all she could do was hold him tight when his face crumpled and he disintegrated into wracking sobs before her eyes.
"I didn't keep Liam safe, what if I fail this Lad too?" he howled against her neck
"It's OK" she soothed pulling him to herself "You won't... we won't. You're not alone now Hook, you have a family and we ALL stick together no matter what. You will both be fine, I promise"
He took a while to settle but eventually he pulled back with a wet sniff and Emma was quick to wipe his face with the sheet to clear away the wetness on his cheeks.
"I'm sorry Love" he sighed "This has just brought back so many memories, memories that I wish had just stayed forgotten"
"I know but you don't need to deal with this alone"
He gave her another smile and looked like he was about to speak again but the door suddenly opened and Mary-Margaret walked in.
"Hook" she cried walking over quickly "I am so happy to see you, how are you feeling?"
"I will let you know when I have figured it out" he chuckled then said "I am fine but I'll be even better when I can get out of here, any idea when that will be Swan?"
Emma pulled herself from his side and swung her legs off the bed before jumping to the floor "Whale said that as soon as you are able to get about on that cast by yourself you should be good to go. I'm pretty sure he wants you up and about later today so maybe another couple of days but I'll ask when he comes in"
"Thank you Love" He replied with a long blink, he looked exhausted after his emotional breakdown, she could literally the see fatigue weighing him down.
"Why don't you get some sleep, you can talk to Killian when you wake up, I'll need to get his discharge papers sorted soon anyway"
"Normally I would argue but I think you may be right Love, I am quite tired" he replied furrowing his brow as he tried to get comfortable and Emma could tell that he was in pain too so she walked around the bed to help him then smoothed his covers across his front, lent in and kissed him before whispering so only he could hear.
"You'll always be loved, remember that"
He smiled at her when she stepped back then let his eyes slide shut with a sigh. Emma turned and motioned for her Mom to follow as she walked to the bathroom where she could still hear Killian giggling. They both stood by the door watching as David perched on the edge of the tub and Henry lent over the end playing with the kid and his boat and she couldn't help but smile.
He was safe... and loved.
The sound of laughter rang out as Emma was brought out of her reverie and she laughed too when she watched her Son's happy face, he was enjoying having someone to look out for, it suited him, he had so much love to give and now he had someone to shower with it.
The laughter suddenly died when her Dad jumped up gasping wildly covered in water after Killian had given a particularly large splash. The Kid suddenly looked frightened, like he was going to be in trouble but it didn't last as David suddenly burst out laughing and yelled.
"Right Henry, tickle him, two against one" and with that her Dad and Henry launched forward and in seconds Killian was screaming with laughter again.
Emma turned to look at her Mom who was giggling too, she had the best family...then a sudden thought came to her.
"How's Regina?"
Mary-Margaret's face suddenly turned serious, she jerked her head in a "follow me" motion and walked back through to the other room where Hook was now sleeping soundly and whispered.
"She was just getting ready to go when she had another episode, Whale has sent her to have a CT scan, that's where she is now even if it did take me forever to convince her to go... she is not happy"
"What happened?" Emma asked in another whisper
"We were just talking, she was sitting in the chair by her bed and we were trying to come up with a plan to help get your magic back. She suddenly clutched her head and slumped forward, if I hadn't grabbed her she would have fallen to the floor Emma, it was so scary."
Emma reached into her pocket and grabbed her cell, she glanced at Hook before looking back at her Mom.
"I'm gonna call Belle, maybe she can get Gold to help. If Regina has started to get back her magic maybe he can hurry it along a bit and maybe figure out how to get mine back"
"As much as I hate to ask Gold for anything I think that that might be a good idea, I'm worried about her Emma... I'm worried about you. What happens if you start to get the same symptoms?"
"I'm fine Mom, don't worry about me"
"I'll always worry about you Emma, you are my Daughter." her Mom gave her a loving look then added "I'm going to check if Regina is back and if she is I'll bring her here, I think she'd appreciate the company for a while. Ask Belle how Neal is for me please, I miss him."
"Sure Mom" she replied with a smile as she pulled the door open so they could both walked out into the corridor, Emma didn't want to disturb Hook more than necessary so she'd talk out here. She gave her Mom a little wave as she walked off to head back to Regina's room but Emma couldn't help wondering if her Mom was right? Would she suddenly start fainting? The last thing any of them needed was Emma ending up in hospital too so she hit dial and listened while the cell rang just hoping that Gold would help.
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"OK Emma, yes of course. I'm sure he will be only too willing to help, he was going to go and see Regina later today anyway"
Rumple listened from the back shop as Belle spoke on the phone through in the front. What had happened now?
"Of course, no problem. He's fine, just had his breakfast. Yes, he's been an angel. OK, see you soon. Bye"
Belle suddenly appeared through the bead curtain with the young Prince on her hip, Rumple pretended to be busy with some trinkets but looked up at her with an easy smile.
"Emma?"
"Yeah" Belle replied then frowned deeply "Regina fainted again, she's still at the hospital."
"Oh dear... that doesn't sound good" he replied putting down the pocket watch he held in his hand and walking over to his wife "Maybe I should head over there. I have been thinking and I think I may know how to help with the magic problem"
"REALLY?" Belle chimed with a sudden smile
"I think so. Just give me another few minutes and I will be ready"
She looked ecstatic by the news and practically hopped on the spot "Oh Rumple, I love you so much. I will just gather up Neal's things and then we can go together." with that she scuttled from the room.
He waited until she was out of sight before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the jewel and whispered.
"I cannot risk taking you near them" with that he turned to the bookshelf behind him, opened a small pot and dropped the gem inside "Don't worry, I have a plan to find your counterpart but first it seems I may have been a bit heavy handed with my magic with that pair of idiots. I need to do some damage limitation but with everybody being in the hospital at once maybe I can make them ALL a little hazy on the relevance of the gem stone then I will be free to pursue my goal in peace... with a little help from some old friends."
With that he smirked to himself as he dug in his pocket once more to come out with a necklace that he had been working on, he had cast a spell on it to make it appear exactly like Regina's necklace that she always wore, the one with her beloved tree on it but this one was different. This one would give her just enough magic to make her believe that her own magic was returning but not enough to be a problem. Oh yes, he was going to have fun being the only one in Storybrooke with powers... well asides from that infernal fairy. The smirk dropped from his face... she would lose her's soon enough, he needed her magic to make the gem stone work, he was not prepared to lose his own magic no matter what the outcome would be. This way he could lose the darkness but maintain his magic. It was the best of both worlds. His smirk was back and as Belle stuck her head back through the curtain he changed it to a wide smile.
"Are you ready?" she asked
"I am" was all he replied... he was more than ready. He had waited centuries and soon he would be free.