So it was Robin... at least in my tale he gets to live!

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Enjoy

:)

Emma chuckled to herself when she glanced up from her book. She was sitting in her chair looking across at the couch where her Mom sat at one end while Junior lay sprawled out at the other with Pongo lying next to him. The dog currently lay on it's back with it's legs pointing in different directions and it's tongue lolling out the side of it's mouth as it snored loudly. In among the pile of limbs both canine and human Emma could see a little pink bear smiling across at her.

"Pongo made himself at home" she giggled to Henry who sat on the other chair with his nose in a book

He looked up and grinned widely "Yeah he did. When's Archie picking his up?"

"We're gonna drop him home tomorrow, he's on a sleep over" Emma grinned back.

She suddenly had an idea. Putting her book aside she grabbed her cell and took a few photos of the sight before her, P.B. needed more memories for his scrap book after all. She thought that when they were taking Pongo home tomorrow that they could stop in at the store and grab a nice hard back book so that they could start printing off the photos and sticking them inside.

Junior would enjoy that.

Suddenly the kid made a little whimpering noise in his sleep. Emma was about to jump up but Pongo just turned his head and snuffled his nose into Junior's neck. The kid gave a little giggle and brought P.B. up a bit higher in his arms before settling back to sleep with a sigh.

"I swear that dog has magical powers" Mary-Margaret whispered raising a brow

"And that surprises you how? Mom, it's Storybrooke." Emma scoffed with a laugh

"I know" Mary-Margaret cried back indignantly "It's just a little disconcerting when the animals seem to be more human than some actual people!"

"I know what you mean" Emma chuckled back

Henry closed his book with a sigh "Nothing in that one but I was thinking. Maybe we should have a look out at Zelena's old place, maybe she had books on how to open portals. You know, from when she... you know, went crazy."

"I like that idea Kid" Emma said with a nod "But right now I think it's bedtime for Junior before he ends up bathing in dog slob" They all laughed as Emma stood up and Pongo raised his head with a goofy looking smile. "Come on Pongo time to get the boy and his bear to a proper bed"

Pongo carefully extracted himself from the couch but didn't go too far, he sat with his nose on the arm just watching Emma carefully.

"Don't worry, I'll be gentle" she sighed to the dog which caused him to stand and wag his tail enthusiastically. She was damned sure if Junior hadn't been sleeping Pongo would have given a loud bark but instead he just gave another goofy grin.

Emma pulled the Kid up into her arms where he snuggled into her neck with another sigh. She had Junior settled in "P.B.'s" bunk in no time, lighting his lamp and putting it on the dresser where she knew he would see it if he woke before heading back to the hold where she found Henry saying goodnight to Mary-Margaret.

"You heading to bed too Kid? It's not that late"

"I know but I'm tired and besides... I thought I'd go back to school tomorrow. Killian wouldn't want me falling behind while he's gone plus I can maybe see if I can find some stuff to bring home for Junior to do"

Emma swelled with pride "Both your Dad and your "Old Man" would be very proud of you Henry, Junior is one lucky kid to have you as his big Brother"

"Thanks Mom" he replied with a smile stepping into her outstretched arms.

She hugged him tightly and dropped a kiss on his head "Sleep tight Kid. I love you"

"Love you too" he replied giving her one last squeeze before pulling himself from her arms and heading out the door

Emma was exhausted, she just hoped that Junior slept through the night. She had half thought about sneaking into one of the bunks but in the end decided that he had to get used to sleeping in his own bed... besides he had P.B. to keep him company. He had really taken to that bear and Emma found herself smiling as she imagined Hook's face when he saw that Pink Bear was here to stay. Maybe when they stopped at the store tomorrow she could get some fabric that her Mom could make P.B. some cool Piratey looking clothes from... soften the blow a bit!

"What are you smiling at?" Mary-Margaret chuckled

"Hook" Emma chuckled back "He's gonna hate the fact that Junior loves P.B. so much"

"Probably but it will make your Dad's day...he'll think it's the ultimate revenge that Junior is carrying Pink Bear around and Hook won't be able to do a damned thing about it"

Emma suddenly gave a frown "Would you be OK to watch Junior for a few hours tomorrow morning? I like Henry's idea about heading out to Zelena's old place. I might give Regina a call and ask her if she wants to join me then she can come back here for dinner."

"Sure" her Mom replied with a smile "If there's any chance that we can find answers you can count me in to help. I'll take Junior out for a while, I can use Hook's wheelchair so he doesn't get too tired on his crutches."

"Sounds like a plan, he'll like that. Maybe you can take him to Granny's he seems to have taken a shine to both Granny and Ruby"

"Either that or it's just their ice cream but either way he really knows how to lay on the charm to get what he wants"

Emma laughed "Yeah, something that his Papa is all too good at too"

"And your Father... those two are more a like than they want to admit" Mary-Margaret smirked

"Which is kinda freaky when I think about it..." Emma trailed off curling her lip "OK, change of subject please"

She picked up her book again and gave a heavy sigh as she went back to looking for any clue as to how to get them home.

"We'll find a way Emma" her Mom said and when Emma looked up she could see that she meant it.

"I hope so... I miss them so much"

"Me too." Mary-Margaret whispered back "me too"

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Killian remembered only too well the dream that had caused his panic attack earlier that night... it kept playing out in head, cycling round and round and while Tink's tea had helped him sleep for a while, once it's effects had worn off Killian had found himself staring into the darkness as someone snored from somewhere on the floor. The fire had died down, it now gave off practically no light at all and Killian found himself wishing that there was a lamp.

A lamp always helped focus his mind but it was something he couldn't control right now so for the moment he was using the strange shaped crack in the cave ceiling to concentrate on instead.

He kept pulling in deep breaths as his heart rattled against his ribs... his single heart... but his mind seemed determined to keep bringing the image back to his head... Junior... holding the gun in his hand as Devin literally dropped dead.

He had felt it seconds later... the sheer panic and feeling of horror as Junior had realized what he had done and the lad had dropped the gun as if it were red hot. Killian had tried to reassure him with his own feelings but then the portal was upon him and all he could focus on was trying to get far enough away.

Killian's hand clutched at his chest... he missed the boy so much his heart ached.

He gave a shuddering breath and his chest hitched as Junior's face popped back into his head...potentially the last thing that the boy had experienced was the worst moments of his life... how had he allowed that to happen?

He had vowed to keep him safe but in the end it was the Lad that had saved him... it was supposed to be the other way around!

"Hook?"

He jumped and gave a gasp as suddenly Robin was whispering by his side... not now... he couldn't deal with his pity. Gods, why did he have to be the one to wake? Killian's chest hitched again and all he wanted in that moment was to be left alone but Robin wasn't going anywhere.

"Hey, it's alright, it's just me" Robin whispered sitting himself down on the edge of the bed with a worried look on his face.

Killian just closed his eyes... he couldn't bear to see his worry... he didn't deserve Robin's concern.

Not after he had helped to bring Zelena back... they had ruined Robin's happy ending!

And worst still they had ruined Regina's too.

Robin gave a sigh "I get it you know. The racing heart, the dizzying feeling that you get because your breathing is all to pot. The total feeling of hopelessness at not being able to control your own damn body and the muddled mind and heavy limbs for hours later"

Killian opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

How did he know?

"Yeah, I've had a few of them in my time too" Robin chuckled "All thanks to your Crocodile no less."

Killian was so distracted by Robin's revelation that his breathing eased enough for him to speak.

"W-what happened?" he muttered letting his eyes slide shut again for a few seconds

"The Dark One had something I needed and I stupidly thought that I could steal it without being detected. Long story short I was captured. I only survived because Belle freed me but the things that beast did to me plagued me for months."

"Belle is a g-good w-woman... I dread to think what G-Gold would h-h-ave done over the y-years if she d-did-dn't keep him in check"

He gave a shiver and suddenly Robin pulled up Killian's blankets before removing his own one from around his shoulders and putting it on top.

"Hang on, I will put more wood on the fire" he whispered

Killian watched as Robin tiptoed around David then added some kindling to the embers and after they caught he put on the logs before grabbing the kettle and putting it above the flames to heat. Killian's chest hurt from his ragged breathing and his shoulder felt like it was on fire so if Robin was about to provide him with some more tea he was not about to refuse it.

Robin dodged David again, stooped down and grabbed another blanket from the floor before heading back to the bed and sitting himself down again.

"You feel any better?" he asked quietly

"Aye Mate, I w-will be just fine in a m-minute. Thank you. It is reassuring t-to know that I am not alone in dealing with this"

Robin just nodded before furrowing his brow "When I used to have my attacks Marian would talk to me about things we had done in the past, she would just sit by my side until I felt a bit more in control"

Killian chuckled "Does that mean I am about to be regaled with tales of your life gone by?"

Robin grinned widely "Only if you want to listen but compared to the life of a Pirate I fear my life may be quite dull"

"Dull? I doubt that very much. From the stories I have heard you seem to have kept a certain sheriff on his toes"

"Ahhhh... you have heard of Nottingham have you?" Robin asked with a smirk raising an eyebrow "I must admit that I did enjoy needling that man, he was always such a pompous fool"

He suddenly looked over his shoulder when the kettle started to bubble, he looked back to Killian and gave him a quick smile "Back in a minute"

Killian closed his eyes, he let out a sigh and suddenly Junior was back but this time he was smiling, grinning like he had just done something really mischievous. That little happy face brought a sudden burst of joy to Killian and a smile slid onto his face. It would seem that even without their link the Lad could still bring him comfort. Suddenly another face popped into his head and he frowned as he opened his eyes again.

"How is Roland coping with being here?" he asked Robin when he walked back over

"You know boys Hook, he is having the time of his life. The tribe have been teaching him hunting techniques and he is learning their language too... he just accepts that this is how things are now"

Hook gave another frown as his worry niggled in his gut "I know that you have befriended the Piccaninny Mate but I heard what you said to David earlier. You plan to take me to their camp and I am afraid to say that I cannot go, it can never happen"

"What? Why?" Robin said placing the cup of tea on the side

"The chief..." Killian replied with a sigh "He will NOT be happy to see me. He thinks that I killed his daughter"

"Whoa...You are THAT Pirate?" Robin suddenly gasped, his eyes going wide.

"Aye" Killian agreed "He will probably kill me on sight even though his daughter is anything but dead. She is currently living happily back in Storybrooke"

"Wait" Robin said closing his eyes and raising his hand to his head "The Chief... we're in Neverland...so his daughter... his daughter would be Tiger-Lily?!"

"Aye" again Killian agreed "She was captured by Pan's shadow and sent away, I was blamed for her death"

"Wait... Hook, you don't understand. The Chief, he knows that it wasn't you. He said that a Fairy had told him many years after the incident that the Pirate was not guilty of the crime for which he was accused PLUS he had also helped a young lad escape the island to get away from the little eagle"

"Little Eagle was the name that the tribe gave to Pan... The Fairy would have been Tinkerbell and the boy I helped escape was Rufio. They are in Storybrooke too. Rufio is with Tiger-Lily, they are now married and are raising Rufio's younger Brother Rapha and Tink lives in a house on the edge of town but let me get this correct. You are sure that the Chief will not kill me?"

Robin nodded his head and grinned "He will probably shake your hand Mate. He claims that the hero Pirate was the person who started the end of the little eagle's reign of terror. You're not going to believe it but there is a shrine to you back in camp"

"A SHRINE" Killian barked out "What the bloody hell?"

"You have become legend Hook except here you are now known as "Apenimon", that's why I didn't realize it was you... although recently you may have fallen slightly out of favor after the change in weather but if we can find a way to save this tribe and get them back to Storybrooke with us, you my friend may just become a deity. Since the day the Chief found out his daughter was not killed here in this land he has prayed to the gods that she will come back to him"

There was silence for a few seconds as Killian tried to take everything in

"Apenimon?" Killian muttered "What kind of name is that? What was wrong with Hook? Or even Captain when I come to think of it!"

"It literally means "Worthy of trust", you should be honored" Robin replied with a smile "They know they were wrong Hook, you have nothing to fear from them"

Killian closed his eyes with a sigh. As if it wasn't hard enough already dealing with his failure he was about to let a whole tribe down. Robin must have taken his quietness for pain as he suddenly lifted the cup and nudged Killian in the leg.

"We can carry on this talk later, I think for the moment you should drink up and get some more sleep"

Killian just nodded before gulping down some more of the tea. His mind was racing as he settled back on his pillows... he was a hero in Neverland?

Wait... he was a hero in Storybrooke too.

He was a Pirate, he was a Father... he was a survivor.

What was he doing wallowing in self pity?

He was going to be marrying the Savior!

He needed to get home.

Suddenly his fight was back... if he was going to marry the savior he needed to do some saving. Yes, he needed to get back to his family but Tiger-Lily needed her family too. There had to be something on this damned island that could help them get home.

He could fix his and Swan's past mistake... Regina and Robin could be together again!

He started going through options in his head, he needed to at least find a way to get a message home, to let them know that they were alright...suddenly he was hauling himself upright and throwing back his blankets.

"HOOK?" Robin yelled out jumping back up

"Mermaid's Lagoon" he gasped clamping a hand onto his ribs

Suddenly David was on his knees next to the bed too "What's going on? Hook?"

"Ariel" Killian gasped out again "We need her help again. There is a shell in that cupboard, I saw it while making dinner. It may take a while for our message to reach the right Mermaid, most are nasty creatures unwilling to help anyone but themselves but with that shell, if we can find her we can get a message home"

"Of course" David laughed clapping him on the shoulder but the Prince was suddenly cringing when Killian gasped in pain and he muttered "Sorry, I should really stop doing that, you think I'd learn!"

"Aye, you would think!" Killian replied through clenched teeth before turning the grimace into a grin "But right now nothing could dampen my mood. We can send a message home David but more importantly if we can send a message home... they can send one back."