Hidden Treasures Chapter 91, an once upon a time fanfic

So I woke up super early today... guess what I did to fill in my time?

I couldn't leave you guys all weekend with nothing.

So here is my gift to you.

Don't worry, it's not a curse, it is a gift that should bring much joy.

As always please review

Enjoy

;)

The falling rain on the side of the teepee was what pulled David from sleep but when his eyes opened he found that they were no longer alone. The Chief and his wife sat on the floor in the middle of the tent and were whispering in a foreign tongue. David just lay listening to the mumbling voices for a while, he felt warm and comfortable for the first time in longer than he could remember and wasn't willing to give his bed up just yet. Ultimately he must have drifted off again because the next thing he knew was that Robin was at his side shaking him awake and practically shoving a bowl of food in his face.

"Hmmmm... Thanks" he mumbled peeling back his eyelids to find that it must be dark outside because the tent was now illuminated by the soft glow from several lamps scattered about the place.

"How are you feeling?" Robin asked perching himself on the edge of the bed

"Better" David replied in an instant then he was looking over at Hook "Has he woken at all?"

"Yeah, I helped him with a few essentials if you know what I mean then he managed some food but he's still tired David, I thought it best just to let him rest"

"You're not wrong there" David sighed out "I just hope he starts to feel better soon. Whatever Lark did earlier seemed to help"

Robin nodded and grinned "I did tell you that he could work miracles. He is currently working on a poultice to use on Hook's ribs, he didn't have anything made up earlier so I'm sure once he's put that on Hook will feel even better"

"Good" David replied before shoving a mouthful of food into his mouth. He gave a surprised look at Robin then his gaze fell on the bowl "This is amazing, what is it?"

Robin just shrugged "I have no idea, I told you before, I never asked. When myself and Roland first arrived I was unsure as to whether we would become the next meal or not so I kept my questions to myself"

David suddenly eyed the bowl differently and Robin gave a hearty laugh "It is not human flesh David, it was some kind of small animal, I just don't know what"

"Where did the Chief go?" David asked trying to change the subject quickly unwilling to look like an idiot any longer.

"He had another teepee erected... this one now belongs to Apenimon and Shilah" Robin replied with a smirk

"Shilah?" David asked with a frown

"You have had the name bestowed upon you... it means Brother"

David gave a few blinks and let his spoon drop into his bowl as he looked across at Hook "I like it, at least it's not as much of a mouthful as Apenimon"

Robin chuckled "I know what you mean"

"What's your bestowed name then?" David asked finally eating again

"I am known as Kajika which means "Walks with no sound" and Roland is Ciqala and that means "Little One""

"They're really into their literal names huh?" David chuckled

"That they are... Kuruk... or Bear as he introduced himself to you as, once fought off a bear with nothing more than his wits and a flaming torch. These people do not receive their proper name until the name finds them"

"Lark?" David asked with interest

"He has a way with animals and is frequently heard whistling to the birds... some say that he is so at one with nature that at night he transforms into many different forms and sleeps in the wilds but I have yet to see this for myself"

David laughed "He'll get on well with Ruby when we get back"

"I'm glad to see you being so positive about it" Robin smiled "And I really do hope that we can find a way, this island is getting more and more unstable as time goes on. I don't know what will happen if we can't leave"

"Well it's just as well for you that my daughter is the Savior. They will find a way Robin, you and Roland will get back to Regina"

Robin gave a thin smile before just reaching out to take David's empty bowl "Go back to sleep David, perhaps morning will bring some news that can help us in our quest"

David was still exhausted and before too long he found himself drifting off into sleep again with a smile on his face.

He was a Brother... he even had a name to prove it.

ONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIMEONCEUPONATIME

Emma woke early the next day to find her Mom still sleeping in the bed next to her. She gave a little sigh as she saw the sun beaming down outside, it seemed to be mocking her with the fact that it was very much still summer out there.

Emma pulled herself from her bed and wearily made her way to the bathroom for a shower. She just felt so tired, so empty all of the time that she was merely just going through the motions of routine now so once she had showered she headed to the galley to grab some breakfast. She was just about to plonk her butt down on the bench when Hook's voice sounded in her head.

"You know that you are being ridiculous Swan. Come on, snap out of it. Life is for living not just going through the motions. You are on THE most beautiful ship in all of the realms, the sun is shining brightly outside and you are going to sit there... in the dull gloomy light of the galley?"

She gave a wide smile, pulled in a breath and headed up to the deck. The minute she stepped out into the bright sunshine she felt a million times better.

"That's it Love, don't give up living until I return. Our boys need you to be strong, to show them that life is fun and FULL of possibilities. I love you with all my heart and I promise that I will be home soon, I will find a way"

"I love you too" she whispered with a sigh

"What did you say Momma?"

Emma swung around looking for the kid, where was he? "Junior?"

"I'm up here" he giggled and instantly her eyes found him sitting in the crows nest

"What the... HOW did you get up there with that leg of yours?" she cried out putting her bowl on the guard rail and practically running the the bottom of the rigging.

"I climbed" he said with a shrug "My leg is not so bad now, it only pains me a little"

Emma found herself laughing, Hook would find this funny "Room up there for one more?" she asked squinting against the sun

"Aye" he cried out in delight scooting over a bit

As she climbed an image of Hook climbing next to her on that beanstalk pushed into her mind and a flutter ran through her belly.

"I knew then Swan, I knew you were the one for me. I thought that you were my final treasure but I was wrong. Look up Love, HE is our treasure. We may have set off that day to that cave to find a simple gem stone but what we returned with is worth more than life itself, so treasure him"

Emma was beaming from ear to ear as she pulled herself up and over the edge, she managed to turn around before pulling Junior into her side.

"You two OK?" she asked the boy and his bear

"Aye" he replied with a huge grin "We were just enjoying the early morning sunshine and watching the people up there"

He pointed and Emma's gaze followed to see a few people milling about "You know, I've never been up here before, it's kinda cool"

"It's way cool" Junior grinned "I can see everything. I even saw two Mermaids earlier" he stopped and frowned looking up at her "I didn't know Mermaids could walk on land Momma but one of them did just that"

Emma's heart nearly stopped "What? You saw a Mermaid walk on land?"

"Aye" he nodded back earnestly "Honest Momma, I am not lying, I promise"

Emma suddenly grinned as hope flooded back into her "I know kid. I just happen to know that Mermaid very well. Now did you see where she went?"

He gave a little nod and looked back up towards town "I think she went into Granny's a few minutes ago, I lost sight of her by the clock tower but she never emerged at the top of the next street so I assume that is where she went and the other one swam up shore."

Emma smiled as her eyes fell "Smart kid, very smart. Come on, you want to meet her?"

"Aye" he cried out in delight then he was pointing again and yelling "THERE SHE IS MOMMA, THERE SHE IS, SHE IS COMING THIS WAY"

Emma was suddenly yelling too "ARIEL"

Ariel was looking at the Jolly but not seeing her so Emma started waving her arms around madly and yelling again "IN THE CROWS NEST"

Ariel broke out into a huge grin when she finally say them "EMMA, COME DOWN. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU... I HAVE A MESSAGE"

Junior gasped and was suddenly laughing then he yelled back to the Mermaid himself "FROM PAPA?"

Emma saw the look of confusion on the Mermaid's face as she yelled back "FROM HOOK"

"PAPA, PAPA, PAPA... he is OK Momma" Junior cried before jamming his bear in his mouth and throwing himself over the edge of the crows nest to slither his way down the rigging

"Wait for me kid" Emma laughed as she climbed down after him.

By the time Emma hit the deck Ariel was standing waiting for her, they hugged tightly and Ariel whispered in her ear "He is alright Emma, both him and your Father are alright"

Tears were falling again but this time they were tears of utter joy and Emma found herself grabbing hold of Junior and pulling him up into her arms to sit on her hip.

"I told you he'd be alright didn't I, I knew he would find a way to let us know"

Junior was grinning too but his little bottom lip kept quivering as he pulled in a few deep breaths "Winter will come quickly Momma, we can be brave until then"

She pulled him into a tight hug and she could feel his tears suddenly falling against her neck, the kid was so happy she could practically feel him shaking and it melted her heart.

"Soooo..." Ariel said in an awkward tone "Hook has a Son"

Emma bounced Junior a little it to get him to sit up "Ariel this is Junior, Junior this is Ariel"

"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance" Junior said with a little nod of his head and a smile

"Oh, such lovely manners" Ariel cooed "I am very please to meet you too young man but what do you say to us going below deck and writing a message for Ho... your Papa? I can carry it back with me and he will know that you are OK. That was the one thing he asked of my Sister, the one thing he wanted to know was that his Sons were alright."

Junior nodded again and gave a wide smile as he hugged P.B. in a bit tighter "Henry and I are just fine"

"I am glad" Ariel replied with a sweet smile before looking to Emma "I thought that Andrina... my Sister... had simply heard Hook incorrectly when she told me he had said "Sons", I assumed that he was just talking about Henry. How wrong was I?"

Emma gave a sigh "It's a long story Ariel, one which I will happily share at some point but I need you to get word back to Hook, he must be going out of his mind not knowing if Junior is OK or not, their connection is not as simple as it first looks"

"Let's go then" Ariel grinned then looked to Junior "Do you want to show me the way?"

Junior nodded furiously so Emma set him down "Momma, my crutches are behind the barrel"

Emma gabbed them and handed them over and he was off not being very quiet about it, if they had wanted to surprise Henry and Mary-Margaret they would have been disappointed but Emma didn't care she was beaming from ear to ear as she followed behind her Son and the Mermaid as he yelled at the pitch of his voice.

"PAPA AND GRANDPA ARE ALRIGHT... WAKE UP HENRY... WAKE UP GRANDMA. WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE BACK... THERE IS A MERMAID HERE TO HELP US"

Killian awoke with a smile on his lips but the dream skittered away from him before he could store it away in his mind... had he been climbing rigging with Swan?

He peeked open his eyes to find the teepee still quite dull and the rain was battering down on his soft leather surroundings but he didn't care, he was warm and dry and he felt better than he had in days... that was until he tried to sit up and his ribs tried to kill him.

"Gah" he gasped out immediately dropping back down onto his bed

"Don't move so fast then you idiot" David's muffled voice came from the other bed

"Wonderful advise" Killian grumped back "I shall remember that in future"

"Yeah well" David's voice got clearer as he pulled his head from beneath the covers "Hopefully Lark will have something soon that will help but for now I can get you some tea if you want it"

Killian sighed "As long as it is just that, I do not wish to sleep any more so some light pain relief will be sufficient."

"I can do that" David said around a yawn as he hauled himself out of his bed "Wow, I feel so much better"

Killian smiled "I know the feeling, I have not felt this good in weeks..." he then chuckled "aside for the searing agony in my chest I mean"

David worked quickly making the tea, it would seem that someone had kept the fire burning through the night something for which Killian was grateful. He could tell by the light that it was probably very cold outside and if previous cycles followed the same pattern this rain would surely turn to snow before too long. Unwilling to aggravate his ribs more than necessary Killian waited for David to come over before he tried to move.

"Help me sit up Brother"

David chuckled as he pulled Killian up from his bedding "It's official you know"

"What is?" Killian asked through clenched teeth

"The Brother thing" David said sitting down next to Killian on the edge of the bed "My name here is now Shilah, it means "Brother""

"Catchy" Killian chuckled back but then gave a serious look "And fitting"

David just nodded and picked up the tea before handing it over "I think you're past the stage of me feeding you, you got it?"

"Aye" Killian replied as he took the cup and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls before asking "Any news yet?"

David sighed deeply "Do you really think I'd let you sleep through it if there was? You heard the Mermaid, it's gonna be a couple of days. Come on, let's get you up, you have got to need to pee by now"

Killian knew David was right but he couldn't help but feel the happiness that he had felt after waking up leaving him so with a sigh he allowed David to pull him upright. He took the first tentative step fully expecting his hip to rebel against him but he stopped with a gasp when he found that although there was still some pain it felt MUCH better than it had in months.

"What wrong?" David asked in concern

"Nothing is wrong" Killian replied with a quick glance to the side "Let me go"

David gave a worried look but did as he asked and Killian was suddenly grinning like a fool as he managed to walk unaided for the first time in what felt like forever.

"Whoa... what did Lark do to you?" David gasped in awe

"I have no bloody idea Mate but whatever it was I owe him"

"How's the shoulder?" David suddenly asked in excitement

"Still sore and very stiff but that feels much better too" Killian beamed then he chuckled "Come on, let's go for a walk in that rain... Right now I'd walk through a bloody blizzard just to keep moving, it's been so long since I could do this by myself"

"Come on the Apenimon, let's go" David grinned at him before ducking out of the tent.

Killian narrowed his eyes as David disappeared and he muttered to himself as he slowly followed "I'll give you bloody "Apenimon" Mate... Right across the back of your head. We'll see how "Worth of Trust" I am after that!"