Sorry, I meant to give you warning that there would be no update last night. I went out for a meal with family so tonight's chapter is a longer one.
As always please review
Enjoy
:)
Killian grimaced as he woke up, the sun was shining in his face and it was making his dull headache flare. He gave a grunt as he turned his head trying to move across the pillow a bit to get out of the sunbeam but it didn't work. A sudden image in his head of David pulling the blinds closed had his heart beat thumping in his chest as he realized what this could mean, he opened his eye quickly to be faced with his worst fears... the quartz was lit up like a Christmas tree shining brightly across the room.
Instinctively Killian grabbed Junior and actually pulled him up into his arms so that the lad was draped across his front, he had to keep him safe... No one was touching him.
"David" He hissed not taking his eyes from the rock but when David didn't stir he looked around quickly prodding the Prince with his stump "Dammit Man, wake up"
"What?!" David grumbled but the minute he saw the light he knew what was going on, he was on his feet and rushing to the door
"Don't go out there!" Killian yelled but when Junior stirred in his sleep he lowered his tone "He can't get in, don't open the door... He could have magic David, we don't know what we are facing"
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?" David groused back peeking through the blinds "I was just making sure he wasn't right on the other side of the door."
Killian was sitting upright in the bed now but the light from the quartz was fading... the boy must be moving away.
"David check on the others... make sure that they are alright" Killian hissed wishing he could do it himself
"He can't get in Hook"
"Dammit I know that but I still just need you to check, for all I know he could have thrown a lit rag down the chimney or something"
"There is no chimney" David threw back but he was moving anyway first checking on Emma and Henry then Mary-Margaret and Neal before walking back over to the bed "They are fine, they're all fine Hook, you can relax"
"Gods..." Hook said flopping back onto his pillows and closing his eye trying to calm his racing heart. He heard a noise and when he turned his head to look it was to find David missing "David?!"
The Prince reappeared seconds later carrying Junior's lamp "How about I relight this? You know, for the boy... in case he wakes up or something"
"Aye" Killian replied with a sigh "For the boy"
David lit the lamp and placed it on the dresser next to the stack of books that he had used earlier to rest the iPad on.
"Can you help me lay him back down?" Killian asked with a grunt as he tried to move and it pulled on his now very sore ribs
"Sure" David replied pulling Junior up and settling him back next to Killian's side "You want a drink?"
"I would love a "drink" but that is not an option so no, I am fine for the moment Mate"
He watched as David moved to the kitchen to warm some milk for himself but now that Killian had seen the books on the dresser he was curious to see what was in them so he stretched across and managed to get hold of the top one with his fingertips, scooting it to the edge of the dresser where he got a better hold on it.
He opened it quickly and started flicking through the pages, there were long passages and many illustrations and before he knew it he was engrossed, in fact he was so focused on the book that by the time David came back over with his hot drink Killian had put the fact that Devin had been outside the pool house ten minutes before out of his head.
"What you got?" David asked putting his mug on his dresser and walking round to look at the books.
"Belle brought them over for Henry... I am unlikely to return to sleep anytime soon so I thought I may as well give them a browse. I will be quiet Mate, go back to sleep."
"Nah... Sleep is kinda overrated anyway." David said with a smirk walking around the bed and picking up the stack of books "Two heads are better than one... unless you're fighting a Hydra of course, those things are a nightmare"
With that he gave a laugh and walked back around the bed plonking the pile of books in the middle next to Junior before fixing his pillows and climbing back in. He picked up a book, grabbed his drink and lent back with a sigh. They just read in silence for a while until Killian finally closed his book with a sigh, it had not held any answers but he was surprised when he looked up at the clock to find that it was nearly four in the morning.
"Anything of interest in yours?" he asked but when he didn't get a reply he looked at the Prince to find that he was sleeping. Killian tugged the book from his hand and put it to one side. He could feel the dull ache in his head building so he gave the quartz one last nervous look just to make sure that there was no danger before deciding that he should at least try to sleep. But no matter how much he willed it sleep evaded him, he kept opening an eye expecting the quartz to be lit... it never was but each time he did this his heart rate picked up in anticipation. His headache started to feel worse eventually getting to the point that he started to feel nauseous, it felt like one of those my grain things that he gotten after his first attack. He looked to his left for help but David was still asleep, should he wake him? Or would it abeit by itself?
In the end the decision was made for him when Junior gave a low groan and peeked open his eyes to look around, he gave Killian an understanding nod as he came up onto his knees and shook David awake.
"Grandpa" he moaned
"Hmmmm?"
"Grandpa"
Suddenly David's eyes were open in a flash "What is it Kid?"
"Our head hurts and our belly feels like we may... how does Henry say it?. Like we may puke"
"OK Junior" David said sitting up "Good boy, I'll help OK?"
Killian could hear David moving quietly around the bed as Junior cuddled back into his side. David whispered "Hook? You got a migraine?"
Killian just hummed in consent but it worked, David understood. He heard the Prince walk across to the kitchen but he was back in seconds. He tapped the side of Killian's face causing him to open a bleary eye to see the Prince's worried face in the dim light.
"Here, just be grateful that Emma thought to bring these over" he held out the single pill that Killian had taken in the past, normally he just swallowed his pills down but this one was different, this one had to dissolve on his tongue. Killian took it quickly and just closed his eyes again hoping that it worked quickly, if they caught these my grains early they could be stopped from turning into a three day torture session. But David wasn't done he was back in another short while holding a large glass of that horrible cola stuff
"You know the drill Pirate, you know it helps plus you've not drank anything for hours. Drink"
Killian couldn't argue, one of the ingredients in that vial concoction seemed to help so he tried to take the glass to drink it but David wasn't letting it go, he held onto it right along with Killian until the whole thing was gone and he supposed he couldn't blame David, he probably would have just spilled it down his front if he hadn't.
The fizzy liquid sat heavily in his stomach and for a good few minutes Killian was convinced that he was going to lose it again but little by little his stomach settled and the pain ebbed enough to let him fall into sleep with the boy still by his side.
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David gave a heavy sigh as he stretched out his back and looked at the clock, it was still early. Maybe the Pirate could get a few hours decent sleep before Whale came over. The last thing Hook needed was a lecture from that man.
David had a quick wash and got changed then made himself some toast and grabbed some juice before heading back over to the bed still unwilling to leave the Pirate for long. He pulled the sheet up and fixed the pillows before sitting down to eat. After demolishing his breakfast he picked up another of the books and started flicking through the pages but he stopped on an illustration of Blackbeard that was about half way through and just gave it a hard stare. Under the drawing were the words "Edward Teach"
What?
This was Blackbeard! He started looking through the pages and eventually found a passage containing that name.
"Edward "Blackbeard" Teach (1680-1718) was a legend in his own time. Born in England, he plundered ships traveling to and from American colonies- as well as vessels in the Caribbean Sea. Although his reign of terror only lasted two years he became one of the best known sea robbers in all of history"
Wait... Blackbeard was in this realm?
How was that possible?
David flicked to the next page to find a whole passage on how Blackbeard had died... this made no sense, as far as David knew Blackbeard was still alive. How could he be in two places at once?
It hit him like a brick "Oh my God, there were two of him! He had the gem AND there were two of him!" he hissed to himself
That was it, David had to read more. He practically devoured the book getting more and more disappointed as he read when he found no more useful information until about five pages from the end he came across one passage that had his heart racing in his chest.
"Blackbeard went to his death with a smile on his face saying
"You may have killed me in this life but I still live on, you will never be truly free of me until the Jewel is no more, until that day I can still return"
No one was ever sure to which jewel Blackbeard referred after all there were thousands upon his vessel but in the end it made no difference, the Pirate was dead and his reign of terror was over."
Blackbeard was dead?!
But the Blackbeard in the Enchanted Forrest still lived!
If he had really been duplicated like Hook and Junior surely when one died the other would too?!
How was this possible?
And why was one here and one in the Enchanted Forrest?
Maybe that was why they were in different realms, maybe that way they were free of their link... maybe, he needed to wad more.
"Dammit... there has to be more information in here" he grit out but there wasn't and David tossed the book down in frustration
"What's wrong with you?" Mary-Margaret asked in a sleepy voice as she walked in carrying Neal in her arms
David leapt from the bed skidding to a halt by her side as she flicked on the kettle "There were two of them Mary-Margaret, there were two Balckbeards. I think that he got duplicated like Hook, well not exactly like Hook, I think both of him were fully grown men but you know what I mean. He had the gem after all PLUS I found a book from THIS world that talked about him, it had an illustration and it was definitely him, no doubt about it. But... he died and the other Blackbeard from our realm is still alive, isn't he?"
Mary-Margaret blinked widely "I think so. David how is that possible?"
"They were in different realms Mary-Margaret and I think that's the key to it. I think they found a way to break the link"
"What? No David. That can't be the only way. What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that just maybe, the only way to break the link between Hook and Junior would be to send one to a different realm"
Mary-Margaret gasped, gave him a death stare before she bustled back into the bedroom leaving him still in the kitchen. He stared after her, he hadn't meant that they were going to do it! David gave a sigh and followed, he hadn't even made it fully through the door when she rounded on him
"And you know what I say to that David? I say if you even so much as try I will NEVER speak to you again, we are NOT breaking up this family"
"Woah, hang on" he said defensively "I never said we were going to do it. I just said that it might be the only way. I wouldn't do that Mary-Margaret, I wouldn't send Junior away... I love him too you know"
She deflated before his very eyes and he just pulled her into his arms holding her close, she whispered against his chest.
"We need to find another way David"
"I know. I'll keep looking... I promise. I will do everything in my power to keep this family together, that kid's going nowhere"
"I'm sorry." She said looking up at him with a little frown "I'm just so worried. I want this all to be over, I want to be able to enjoy the time we have with him without this link hanging over his head"
There was a sudden crashing noise from the other room and in an instant Junior's pained cries were ringing out throughout the house. David was moving in a second expecting to find the kid on the floor but when he rounded the doorway it was to find Hook sprawled out next to the bed gasping in breaths. David thought that he was having a panic attack and rushed to his side as Mary-Margaret comforted the kid but when he bent over the Pirate, Hook growled up at him.
"Back off David... I thought you understood, I thought that we were all in this together... you will not do this and you will not stop me, we are leaving"
"What?... Hook what the hell are you talking about?"
"Dad?" Emma suddenly spoke from the laundry room door but the minute she saw that Hook was on the floor she was by his side "God Killian what the hell did you do to yourself?"
"Swan... we are going to the Jolly, help me up Love" he gasped trying to pull himself up on the edge of the bed
"What? Are you crazy? What the hell is going on here? What happened? Would someone talk to me"
Junior suddenly wailed from the bed "Grandpa wants to send me away... I don't want to go Momma... I don't want to be alone"
No no no... this was all going so wrong.
"OK STOP" David yelled out stopping the proceedings "I am NOT sending anyone anywhere OK?"
He went straight to Junior and dropped down next to the bed looking him straight in the eye "Kid, I promise you I would NEVER send you away..."
"I heard you" Hook grit out as Emma helped him to sit on the edge of the bed "You were discussing us while standing just there, I heard you with my own ears David, do not deny it"
Suddenly David was annoyed, is this what Hook really thought of him? After everything that they had been through? He stood up and stared ready to let Hook have it but he held his tongue when he heard Junior give a sob, he wouldn't do this in front to the kid
His anger fizzled as he looked down at the boy who looked so scared as he cuddled into Mary-Margaret and David knew that Junior was picking up on Hook's emotions. David looked back at Hook who was still giving him the stink eye, how could the Pirate think that he'd do this?
"I thought you knew me better than this Killian" he said with a sigh "You REALLY think that I would send him away? If you think that, well, you don't know me at all!"
He shook his head and stepped away from the bed slowly making his way to the door and just before he stepped out into the bright morning sunshine he looked back to see Hook looking torn obviously realizing his mistake but David didn't care anymore, he just needed space away from all of this.
"I'm going to the station" was all he said in a quiet voice, he didn't stop when he heard Hook call out after him... they both needed time to calm down and if David was being honest Hook was lucky right now because if Junior hadn't been been there... well he didn't know what but it would have been ugly.
"Dad" Emma called running up to stop in front of him "Dad please, come back inside. What the hell is going on?"
"Emma just... please... just give me some time. I need to be by myself"
"No Dad. The last thing we need is for you to run off... I had enough of that yesterday with Junior. Stay, talk to Hook. He's in there going crazy because he doubted you. PLEASE just come back inside. We need to sort this"
She looked at him like only she could and his resolve vanished, he just sagged in resignation and when she took hold of his hand and tugged him back towards the steps he gave a smirk at the joy on her face.
"It's just as well I love you kid because right now I could easily punch your Pirate in the mouth but I won't... for you"
"Believe me, if I find out that he's been an idiot I might just do it for you" she laughed back
But David's smile fell as he started back up the stone steps... he could literally feel the tension in the air but the minute he stepped back into the room Junior thumped into his legs still crying. David hoisted him up and pulled him in, he could feel the kids heart thumping through his chest and he knew that Hook must be feeling it too.
"We are sorry Grandpa... do not be angry. We are sorry" He cried against David's neck as he clung on for dear life
David looked to the bed to find Hook lying with his eyes clamped shut and his hand clutched to his ribs but in a second he looked up at him with that same haunted look from the night before and David's anger was gone... Hook was only trying to do what was best for the kid, he thought that he was doing the right thing.
"Mate..." he gasped
"Forget it Hook... it was a misunderstanding" David said raising a hand to cut him off
"But..."
"No buts Hook... It's not my fault that you are an idiot and jumped to the wrong conclusion. You know I'll never quite understand that too because you really did used to be quite bright" David shot back looking at Junior in his arms before grinning "What they hell happened?
Hook just gave a lazy smile obviously revealed by the banter "One too many hits to the head Mate... I am sorry... I just wanted to protect him,"
"I know" David said dropping down to sit on the edge of the bed as Emma and Mary-Margaret headed to the kitchen to give them space to sort this out "We all do you know, you just have to trust us"
"I do" Hook gasped out "Like a Brother remember? I meant it when I said that David. You are the closest thing to Liam I have had since the day I lost him..."
"You're forgiven" David said with a sigh before pulling Junior to sit on his lap and talking to him "Now if I remember correctly you and me were going to have fun in that pool out there"
Junior gave a little nod as he wiped the tears from his face with the palm of his hand and asked in a small voice "May I sail my big boat?"
"Only if I get a go too" David said pulling him into his front and hugging him again but he felt the kid nod again.
Junior had obviously taken the thought of being sent away hard but David would fix this... this one would be easy.
He'd have this kid laughing in no time and when he gave him a little tickle David grinned at the giggle that met his ears... yeah, this problem he could deal with.
So this chapter shows you where my crazy brain got the idea for this story. It always kind of annoyed me that Blackbeard was in the Enchanted Forrest after all he is not a Fairy Tale character nor even a work of fiction. He was a real life Pirate from Bristol, England so I started thinking of a way to explain how he could be there and this is what I came up with.
I did use a little bit of artistic licensee when it came to Blackbeard's final words... he was actually decapitated so I'm sure that he ever had any dying words but hey, I can embellish the truth a little, right?