EXTRA long chapter tonight, I got a bit carried away lol
Mostly just a fluff chapter too
Oh well more for you guys lol
As always please review
"I tried to tell him, honest I did," Henry implored "I tried to make him understand that he must be mistaken. I mean why would Grandpa Gold want that gem anyway? It doesn't make any sense."
"It's alright Henry, Archie is going to talk to him later so maybe we can sort it then. Killian's probably just confused, this is a lot for him to try and understand" David said with a smile as he reached up to steer Henry down the corridor.
"No Grandpa, you don't understand... I think... I think that I might have caused their panic attack" Henry suddenly burst out shrugging out of his Grandfather's grip. The guilt of what he had done was weighing him down, he hadn't meant to freak out Killian but somehow he had managed to do just that.
Regina suddenly cried out "What? Henry no, how could any of this be your fault?!"
Henry sighed, he needed them to understand but not be angry with him. He didn't know how to deal with any of this. Sure, he had helped Rapha but this was different, Killian was so young and looked at him with such trust that Henry didn't want to let him down, he didn't want to get this wrong.
"Killian was trying to tell me that Grandpa Gold was going to hurt Hook... Killian had been frightened when Grandpa came in and he said that he hid in the bathroom and watched what happened through the gap in the door. I explained that while Grandpa Gold might look scary he was actually trying to help. I told him that he only used his magic today for good but Killian kept trying to interrupt me and going on about that stupid gem stone so I told him that no one was going to hurt anyone else and that he should listen to me, that I knew best. I thought that if I acted like his big Brother by being maybe a little strict he would drop the subject but instead of that he started to panic... Grandpa, what did I do?"
Henry could feel his own panic rising as tears formed in his eyes, he had no idea how to be a Big Brother and he had just failed at his first attempt, he felt awful but his Grandpa just smiled down at him.
"You didn't do anything Kid. Hook started the attack not Killian. He remembered something that happened in the cave that's what caused it not you. Come on, we'll go to Granny's and grab some lunch there and discuss this further then I think maybe you should go with your Mom for a while, I think she could maybe use the company for the night"
Henry sighed and nodded, he knew that his Grandpa was just trying to get rid of him but right now he would happily go, how could he face Killian? OK, maybe he didn't cause the attack but he now realized that he had been too harsh on his new Brother. Grandpa was right, Killian was probably so confused by everything and he had definitely been scared at the time. Henry berated himself yet again, why had he not just tried to reassure Killian more?
Why?
And why did Killian think that Grandpa Gold would want the gem? It was probably worthless, I mean the gold box that it was found in was probably worth so much more.
Wait, the gold box!
"Grandpa" Henry suddenly burst out as they walked along
"Yeah Kid?" David said turning to look at him as they continued
"When can I get my backpack back? It's still in the cave"
"Well I had thought about going out there with the dwarves to find the gem but we don't really need it now so I wasn't going to bother. I can buy you a new bag Henry, it doesn't matter"
"But Grandpa, the gold box is in it. I kinda wanted to keep it, it looked really cool, please can you get it for me? Pleeeeeeease" Henry pleaded
"OK, OK, alright" David said putting his hands up in mock surrender "I'll head out there at some point but I'm not sure when it will be"
"Thanks Grandpa" Henry replied in earnest as they carried on towards the diner.
Henry wracked his brain trying to think of a way that he could make Killian less scared and less confused when he suddenly had a thought.
"Grandpa, where is Killian going to be staying while Hook is still in the hospital? If I'm staying with Mom tonight do you think he could maybe stay too... I mean if that's OK with everyone else."
"I think that your Mom might be too tired for that Kid" David said with a sad smile "Maybe another time"
"Nonsense" Regina barked "If it is alright with Swan and Guyliner I'd be happy to have the boy. I can make pie, he'll love that"
Regina's eyes twinkled brightly at the thought and Henry looked quickly to his Grandpa who gave a little sigh of resignation.
"I can't see it being a problem, we can ask when we head back but just remember that he might be really tired"
"I know Grandpa, don't worry." Henry gushed out then turned to Regina "Mom can we go to the store, we need to get him some new clothes and new bed covers"
Regina chuckled "I'm not sure we need to go that far but we can certainly go to the store. I think Young Master Jones is going to have a lot of fun on sleepover nights with his Big Brother and his Gina "
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Rumple was happy, he could finally relax a little. He hummed a little tune to himself as he moved around the back shop gathering up the things he needed to continue with his plan.
"You're happy this afternoon" Belle said with a wide smile as she walked through the bead curtain
"I am aren't I" he replied with a lazy smile
"That's what doing good things does for you Rumple, you are practically glowing with happiness. It's nice, it suits you"
"Well my sweet get used to it because from here on in THIS is whom I want to be" he walked around the table and took hold of Belle's hand before bowing down and kissing it sweetly "Now, I just need to go and talk to the Blue Fairy about a few ideas that I have had to try and help Miss Swan. I may be a little while but don't worry I'm sure we can have this fixed in no time at all, our Savior will be back to her usual evil defeating self in no time"
"I love you" Belle cooed as she lent in and kissed him on the cheek "I'm just going to sort through the new stock anyway so take your time"
Rumple bid her farewell and headed straight to the convent, he hated that place but needs must.
Ten minutes later he stalked his way up the front steps and walked through the large open doors to find Blue kneeling down praying by the large stained glass window near the alter. The minute his shoes hit the stone floor she looked up, she was on her feet in seconds hurrying towards him with her hands held out.
"You cannot be in here Dark One, this is no place for you, this is a place of all that holy and good"
"Oh stop your babbling" he grit out and before she had a chance to say another word he plunged his hand into her chest and ripped out her heart.
She never made a sound except for the small gasp that left her lips when he tugged her heart free. The shock on her face was almost laughable but he just held up the heart and whispered into it.
"You will carry on with your daily duties and you will have no recollection of this meeting then tomorrow I think you should suddenly have the urge to visit out Dear Captain Hook, you have been so worried about him after all. You will assure all who are present that you and I have been working tirelessly trying to figure out how to return the Saviors magic but alas it is proving to be a thankless task but they need not worry, you are going to carry on for as long as it takes. You my Dear are going to become my secret little spy, I need you to keep an eye on that family. All it takes is for one of them to concentrate on that gem stone for too long and all my work will be undone, while it is just an after thought I can carry on without interruption but if it once again becomes a priority to them I will be most annoyed and we all know that it is not a good idea to annoy the Dark One."
With that he lowered the heart and moved it behind his back, the Blue Fairy shook her head like she was coming out of a dream before refocusing on him.
"I said get out of here Dark One, we will continue our studies at a later time, I have things to do right now that do not concern you. We can reconvene in the Library again later tonight, I feel we are making good progress"
Rumple grinned to himself, he loved having power over someone else, he did enjoy having little puppets to do his bidding.
"Alright Dearie. The Library as agreed, I will be there"
With that he gave a slight bow and turned swiftly striding towards the outside world again where the sun shone brightly. He paused on the long stone steps and held up the still beating heart in his hands looking at the wonder of magic before him then shoved it into his jacket pocket not being particularly careful, if the Fairy felt it he didn't care.
"Next stop... the detention center, I do believe I have some Lost Ones to Collect"
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Killian gave a slight groan as he tried to move and his ribs protested loudly, what had happened? His limbs felt heavy and he felt a bit jittery!
Gods he'd had another attack.
He let out a heavy breath and peeked open an eye to find Swan sleeping by his side, she had slid down the bed a little so that she was lying facing him and he couldn't help the smile that formed on his face at the sight of her... his Swan.
"She is pretty isn't she?"
Killian peered down to see his younger self lying further down the bed on his back with his knees bent, feet flat on the blankets. He lay facing the same way as him put the lad had tipped his head right back and was currently looking at Killian with his head in an upside down position.
"Aye Lad, she is but don't you be getting any ideas, she is mine" Killian chuckled
The boy rolled over onto his stomach and supported himself on his elbows letting his legs swing about in the air and Killian noted the lad's hair was sticking up from being rubbed against the blankets, something Emma called "Bed Head" when it happened to him.
"Where did Henry go?" he asked with wide eyes
"I don't know" Killian replied with a slight shrug, he let his eyes wander around the room, the others had all gone but when he looked at the clock on the wall he took a wild guess "Perhaps they went to fetch some food, are you hungry lad?"
The boy gave a little nod then frowned as he started picking at a small hole in the blanket "The food here is strange"
Killian couldn't help the laughter that escaped him "I know what you mean but it is much better for you than sea biscuits"
"I like sea biscuits" the boy said raising his gaze again
"That's only because you have not known much else, believe me Lad, you are in for a treat."
The boy suddenly pulled himself up to sit cross legged on the bed and gave a wince as he let his arm settle into his lap.
"Does your arm still pain you?"
The boy shook his head and mumbled "Pins and needles"
They sat in silence for a few minutes as the boy looked around the room once more, Killian had expected him to ask about something he could see but when the boy turned back to face him he frowned again and asked.
"Why did the boys hurt you?"
Instantly Killian heard Devin's voice in his head but he fought it hard, he knew that he couldn't let him in, not now that he knew that his attacks affected the boy too so he pulled in a few deep breaths and when that didn't work he started to hum his favorite song.
"What is that tune?" the boy's voice cut through his concentration
"It is just a song that I like" Killian replied letting out a long breath still trying to calm himself
"Does it help to sing when the boys talk to you?"
Killian's eyes popped open and he gasped in a breath "What?"
The Lad looked a bit frightened but carried on "When the boys were bad to you, they said horrid things. I hear them in my head too and it scares me. If I sing too will it take them away?"
Killian blinked hard, the boy knew... he knew what those hellions had done to him, what they had said to him... Gods, he didn't want that for the Lad. Killian could feel his heart rate picking up again and Devin's voice was once again taunting him but in an instant it disappeared when the boy suddenly scooted up the bed and took hold of each side of Killian's face in his small hands and started singing.
Hush, hush, time to be sleeping
Hush hush, dreams come a-creeping
Dreams of peace and of freedom
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby
It worked, Killian was instantly calmed, he hadn't heard that song in a very long time. Liam had sang it to him on many a night when he had been frightened. His Brother had said that their Mother used to sing it to them but Killian had no recollection of that, to him the song was Liam's.
"My Liam used to sing that to me" the boy said with a sad smile
"Mine too Lad, mine too" Killian replied pulling the boy into his arms and holding him tight to his side where the boy seemed to be happy to stay.
"My Liam always said that no matter what people do to you that you cannot let them take away who you are" the boy suddenly spoke looking up at him "You cannot let those bad boys take away who you are."
"I won't Lad I promise" Killian replied with a sigh "My Liam used to say that too but for a while I didn't listen, I got lost along the way but then I found Emma and she helped me find who I was truly supposed to be"
"Why did you get lost?"
Killian sighed again, this was going to be hard but he had faith that the boy would understand.
"Well... my Liam died" he paused waiting for a reaction but the boy just looked at him like this Liam had no relevance to his own so Killian carried on "We were both in the Navy, Liam and I. He died on a mission and I didn't take it very well. I commandeered our Ship and became a Pirate."
The boy's eyes were wide in horror and he gasped "You mutinied? You could have gotten into trouble for that!"
"I know Lad" Killian chuckled "But I was not thinking straight and for the longest time I did bad things myself, I pushed Liam's words from my mind. I was angry at him for leaving me alone but then something happened. I met a woman called Milah and I fell in love. She helped me try to be a better person, everything was going to be good again but then a bad man took her from me too. Again I was lost, I was angry at everything and promised to get revenge on the man that took my Milah"
"Did you?" The boy's eyes were like saucers now and he gripped onto the sheet that sat across Killian's hips as if it would bring some kind of protection to him,
"No Lad" Killian sighed "I did try but along the way I met Emma... she saw me for who I really was. I was lost Lad, I was so caught up in the grief of losing both Liam and Milah that I couldn't see anything else. Nothing else mattered to me other than killing that damned Crocodile but Emma took me into her family and little by little I found myself again. You will have that too Young Master Jones, you are part of this family now too"
"I would like that very much" the boy smiled up at him but then that frown was back "But why did the boys hurt you?"
Why would he not leave that alone?
"They were trying to hurt Henry and a lot of other people too so I tried to stop them but they bested me." he glanced down again to see the boy looking frightened "Do not worry Lad, they cannot harm anyone anymore. You see, your Grandma saw to that"
Killian grinned widely, he needed to break the tension so he chuckled and lightly tickled the boy
"Really? How?" the boy giggled as he wriggled trying to get away and when Killian stopped the boy pleaded "Tell me, please tell me"
"The baddest boy of all was trying to hurt Henry and myself but your Grandma hit him clean in the face with a sizzling hot frying pan... knocked him out. She broke his nose and he even lost a tooth!"
"Coooooooool" The boy suddenly sat up "I always knew there was something good about Grandma, she is nice."
"Aye Lad she is and she is VERY good with a bow and arrow too" Killian replied with a smile "You are safe here, no one will hurt you I promise"
"What about you?"
"I am safe too" Killian motioned down himself "This was an accident Lad, no one did this to me"
"But the scary magic man wants to hurt you"
Killian sighed, how could he explain this ?
"I will agree with you that the scary magic man is not a very nice person SOMETIMES but in this instance he was trying to help me"
"That's what Henry said too" the boy said with a pout "But I know what I saw"
Something in the boys face made Killian believe him and he was just about to ask more questions when the door pushed open and Mary-Margaret's head popped in.
"Oh good, you are both awake" she cried as she walked back in to the room with bags from the diner "We brought food."
"Where is Henry?" the boy asked in dismay when he did not come into the room
"Henry is spending the night at Regina's" Mary-Margaret replied gently
Hook looked at the boy's face as he realized that Henry was not returning and the Lad looked so sad just sitting on the bed. David started talking to him and reassured him that he would see Henry all too soon but Mary-Margaret was also talking and Killian realized that she was speaking to him in a whispered tone.
"Regina was wondering if it would be OK for Killian to stay with her and Henry tonight, I think it might be a good idea, he certainly can't stay here and I think that Henry needs this, he's blaming himself for the panic attack earlier"
"How can he think that it was his fault?"
"Long story but what do you say? Can I let her know that we'll drop him off later?"
Killian looked back to the boy who was now giggling as David pulled silly faces at him
"I think that is an excellent idea, he seems to be well enough. It will do them all good. What say you Lad? Do you want to stay with Henry and Regina tonight?"
The Lad instantly grinned like a mad man and yelled out "Aye, Henry and Gina!"
Killian looked to the side, how was Emma still sleeping the Lad was practically bouncing on the bed now.
"Good, I'll call her and let her know, now who's hungry?" Mary-Margaret said cheerfully
"Me" the boy suddenly cried out before turning to Emma and shaking her a little "Swan, Grandma brought food, wake up"
Killian grinned widely at Emma as she stirred from her sleep and mumbled
"Did he just call me Swan?
Killian just laughed quietly to himself as Emma extracted herself from the bed, she turned and ran a loving hand down the boy's face and smiled at him.
"You OK now?"
"Aye" he cried back actually getting to his feet and jumping slightly on the bed in excitement
"Hey be careful Junior, we don't want to hurt Hook's leg do we?" David blurted out taking hold of the boy's arm trying to calm him down
The boy instantly stilled and looked quickly over his shoulder and whispered "Sorry"
"Do not fret "Junior" I am fine but perhaps you could help Swan get the food ready, I am starved"
With that the boy gave one more little bounce before sitting in the edge of the bed and sliding on to the floor. He was like a tightly wound spring and Killian smiled widely when Emma laughed at him as he tried to help her.
"What did they get for Hook? He is going to need something really good to help him get better. Is it broth? Did they get Broth Swan? Or perhaps some salted meat and tack?" He looked up at her in wonder as she pulled out some takeout cartons and set them down.
"I have no idea what "salted Meat and Tack" are! You've both got something called pasta so why don't you go with Grandma and wash your hands and I'll dish up?" Emma said ruffling his hair
He looked up at her with a frown "Why would I wash my hands? They are perfectly clean... look"
He held his hands up to show here but Mary-Margaret stepped in.
"They may look clean but they can always be cleaner, come on Killian let Emma get the food out" she held her hand out to him and he took hold of it but he didn't start walking he just looked up at her and spoke in a confident voice.
"My name is not Killian anymore Grandma"
"Oh... is that right?" Mary-Margaret said with a kind smile letting go of his hand "Well come on then, introduce yourself"
Killian held his breath, he had no idea what the boy was about to say and he was praying hard that he hadn't chosen to be called Liam, that would just be too strange. The boy stood up straight, he brought his feet together and clutched his hands together in front of himself which was a little awkward with the cast on his arm but he didn't let it stop him.
He gave a little bow and spoke in his most polite tone "Good afternoon M'Lady, my name is Junior Jones, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance"
Mary-Margaret gave a small curtsy and replied "Good afternoon fine sir, my name is Mary-Margaret but you may call me Grandma and I too am very pleased to make your acquaintance but if we do not end these formalities soon your food will be cold so what do you say? Shall we wash those hands of yours Junior?"
"Aye" he cried out and with that he turned on his heals and ran towards the bathroom yelling "I'm going to make magic with the toilet too"
Swan laughed at Killian's side "Someone needs to explain about over sharing to that kid"
"I don't know Love, your Father seems to enjoy informing the world of his business. Perhaps it runs in the family" Killian said with a grin
"Hey, it's good to share, what can I say?" David laughed as he helped Emma with the wheeled table and when the Prince turned away Emma lent in close and whispered
"You OK?"
"I am fine Love, young Junior Jones saw to that... it's strange you know. To begin with he brought back too many memories for me that I found it all very overwhelming but now... now I find that it seems to help. We talked while you slept, we spoke of Liam and it was good, I think we both benefited"
"I'm glad" she whispered as Mary-Margaret and Junior came back into the room then she stood and spoke to the boy "Right come on kid, lets get some food in that belly"
Killian ate slowly, he wasn't really very hungry but he knew that he needed to eat to keep up his strength, the last thing he wanted was to start losing weight again so he persisted even when he had eaten more than enough but eventually he pushed the remaining food away with a sigh. He was tired, his limbs still held the heaviness that he often got after a panic attack but it was obvious to all present that Junior was not suffering from the same affliction as he practically bounced around the room declaring that his pasta must have magical properties to taste this good.
The boy was safe and loved... Killian let his eyes slide closed to the sound of giggling laughter... they were both safe and loved.