I woke early again so as my two year old cousin would say... Tah-Dah
As always please review
Enjoy
:)
"ARIEL" Mary-Margaret cried out as she rushed forward and threw her arms around the Mermaid.
Emma smiled as she watched first her Mom then Henry hug the life out of Ariel while Junior pulled himself up on to the couch and managed to give a few little excited bounces while singing.
"Papa is fine, Grandpa is fine, Papa is fine, Grandpa is fine aaaaaaaannnnnnd they are coming home"
"OK Kid, calm yourself down before you hurt yourself" Emma chuckled as she took his hand and motioned for him to sit down.
Ariel sat next to him and gave him a wide smile "Aren't you just the most adorable little boy child I have ever seen. Now do you have paper? Perhaps Emma can help you write your message"
Without missing a beat Junior looked to Emma "Can we not make a video thing using your talking phone so that Papa and Grandpa can see how happy we are that they are alright"
Emma grinned and her eyes went wide in wonder "You are a genius Kid but I'll use Papa's "Talking phone", it has a full charge so they'll be able to record a message and send it back. I have a waterproof box that we can put it in, I'll go grab it, be right back"
Emma practically sprinted to her cabin, all the time grinning to herself. She hauled open the drawer and grabbed the cell phone that she had flung in there the first night that they had got back to the Jolly. She had turned it off not wanting to see the picture of them all smiling up at her every time she nudged the cell so when she turned it back on she gave a laugh when the full battery sign showed on the display.
"Just hang on Hook, we are all fine I promise... Junior is fine"
She was running back to the hold in less than a minute where she found the others all chatting excitedly.
"Momma" Junior yelled out "Did you get it?"
"I did" she grinned back "Now, if Ariel will just help me we can all sit together and record the message. Come on, everyone on the couch."
Emma quickly explained to Ariel what to press once they were ready and in seconds they all sat with HUGE grins on their faces.
"OK I think Junior should speak first then maybe Henry then Grandma and then finally me"
"And Neal can wave along with P.B." Junior added seriously raising his bear up
"Great idea" Emma said giving him a little tickle to which he squealed loudly, the kid was far too excited for his own good. "Right Ariel, let's get this done before Junior bursts with excitement, which could get messy!"
Ariel laughed then schooled her features before pressing the button and giving a little nod.
"PAPA" Junior yelled out then he babbled quickly "You are OK, I am so glad to know that you are OK... I have missed you so much that I thought that I may die, my heart had hurt too much to bear but now it soars with joy to know that you and Grandpa are alright. I love you Papa... and you too Grandpa and LOOK" he suddenly held up P.B. and Emma nearly snorted with laughter "P.B. and I... that's what we call Pink Bear now, P.B., well P.B. and I have been making a scrap book filled with photos of all the fun things that we have been doing so that you could see that we have been brave while you have been away. I will show you when you get home but Henry wants to say something now. Bye bye Papa, bye bye Grandpa"
"Good job kid" Emma said tugging him in and dropping a kiss onto his head "Henry, your turn"
"Hey Grandpa, hey Old Man" Henry started in a much calmer voice "I miss you guys too. Killian I promise that I am looking after Junior, he is fine. He is getting his stitches out soon and will be starting school on Monday but he's already started practically devouring my school books so I hope that they can keep up with him." he gave a little laugh as he looked at Junior who was still grinning like an idiot "Grandpa, I'm looking out for Neal too, he misses you. I love you guys, see you soon."
Emma looked to her Mom who seemed to fighting back tears as she took in a deep breath.
"My Charming" she half laughed half sobbed "I miss you so much. I know that you will be just fine, you both will. We are all fine here so you don't need to worry about us just look out for each other until we can all be back together"
Suddenly Emma's heart was thundering in her chest as she realized that it was her turn to talk, how was she going to be able to do this without losing it but then Junior turned and whispered up to her in a not very quiet voice .
"Be brave Momma, be brave for Papa and Grandpa"
Emma pulled in a breath and smiled for the camera "Hey guys. As you have heard we are all fine, even P.B. here" she gave a laugh as Junior held the bear up again and made him do a little happy dance "We have found a way to bring you guys home too but it's gonna take a bit of time to fix so just stay safe OK. We need you guys to come home so please just keep your heads down and do what Hook does best"
She gave the camera a wink knowing that Hook would know that she was telling them to stay alive, she needed them both back so much.
"Dad, you guys can record a message and send it back, Ariel wants to help, there's a full charge on this thing and loads of space"
Junior suddenly lent to the side and took hold of Neal's little hand making him wave as the baby sat giggling on Mary-Margaret's lap. Everyone laughed when the Kid spoke for his bear in a deep little voice.
"We are waving goodbye now, send back a message soon. We all love you"
Emma nodded to Ariel who pressed the button again to stop the recording and let out a sigh "Wow, that was amazing, they are going to love it."
"Yeah guys you did all did great" Emma agreed getting up from the couch, she took the cell back from Ariel and held it tightly in her hand "I'm just gonna go get this ready to go, be back in like two minutes"
She took off from the hold before anyone could argue and headed for the galley to grab one of the water tight food containers that she used to carry soup to work but before she put the cell in she had another message to record.
She quickly flicked the camera app open and started recording herself "Hey guys, I had to do this away from the kids. I wanted to keep them happy, don't worry they know this already but I didn't want to bring it up in their first message. You need to know the whole story, we do have a way to bring you home BUT one of the things we need to make the potion is a flower that only blooms in winter. We are trying to find a way to hurry it up but at the end of the day if we can't we can still bring you home so please don't give up hope. You ARE coming home, it may just not be for a while. I miss you guys so much but we are honestly all fine. Junior is trying so hard to be brave and he makes me proud every day to call him my son. It was his idea to send the video message, I guess he's picking up on technology a bit quicker than you Hook. Send back a message soon Dad, I need to see you two with my own eyes and so does everyone else. Love you guys."
She gave the camera a little wave before ending the recording and turning off the cell so that the battery would still be full by the time Ariel got back. She then grabbed a towel and folded it around the cell and jammed it in the container to stop it rattling about before heading back to the hold. She had mixed emotions as she handed it over, she was happy to the point of tears but a huge part of her just wanted to scream with the pain that she felt at the thought of being separated from Hook for another six months.
In the end it was easier to stick a smile on her face and bid the Mermaid a safe journey back, so that is what she did, waving as she stood on the deck with a very excited Junior sitting on her hip and Henry cuddling into her Mom at her other side.
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In the end Hook's walk in the rain had literally just been a pee break followed by a quick trip around the camp where so many people wanted to shake his hand that David had faked Hook being tired and headed back to the teepee, all the faces just seemed to be too much for the Pirate to take and David had seen the panic starting to build. David had also noticed him starting to limp quite badly by the time they were getting back but Hook was still just grinning like a fool as he dropped his now VERY wet behind back down onto the edge of his bed ten minutes after leaving it.
"That was...invigorating" Hook chuckled and David was glad to see him looking so relaxed, it could have been so different after what had just happened.
"That's one word for it but if you don't get out of those wet pants you're gonna regret your little adventure." David laughed "Robin left some clothes ….. here, put these on"
David chucked over the soft leather pants and top before changing himself too. He managed to hang up their wet pajamas again quite close to the fire before sitting himself down, stoking the flames and throwing on some more wood. Hook was suddenly making his way over too and struggling down onto the floor.
"You could have just stayed on the bed" David hissed in sympathy when Hook groaned and gripped his ribs
"I could have" Hook replied giving a quick grin "But this is much more fun"
David shook his head and laughed, the Pirate was an idiot. Hook sat opposite him still smiling to himself and David wanted to keep it that way, he didn't want him falling back into his own thoughts so he spoke to break the silence.
"I seem to remember the last time we sat by a fire together you wore a different face"
"Aye" Hook replied but then he frowned and David's gut dropped, he had wanted to cheer him up.
"What's with the face?" he asked tentatively
"Bloody Prince Charles!" he suddenly burst out "She got to be Princess Leia, why was I not Prince Han?"
David laughed "I guess she was thinking on her feet"
"I would even have accepted William but Charles!" Hook reached up his hand and unconsciously rubbed his fingers over his ear making David grin even wider.
David laughed a bit more before adding in an indignant voice "YOU Pirate got my Daughter's first dance at her first ball"
"I taught her how to dance too" Hook grinned back
"What?" David asked with a frown
"Aye, two left bloody feet she had but I managed to teach her enough before hand so that she would look every part the Princess that she is"
"YOU!" David asked raising an eyebrow "You can dance?"
"When will you learn Brother?" Hook replied "I am a Pirate of many talents"
"Hmmmmm" David mused "So come on, spill. How did the fearsome Captain Hook learn to Dance"
"Ah ha, that would be telling" Hook laughed suddenly seemed unwilling to share as he scooted sideways a bit and lay down on his back next to the flames with a grimace.
"You OK?" David asked in concern
"Aye Mate, just still not very good at sitting without something behind me, I am fine"
"You know you don't need to do that?" David said going back to the dance conversation
"What?" Hook replied turning his head to look at him
"Hide" David sighed "I thought you trusted me? Why will you never tell me anything? You just laugh and change the subject"
"Sorry" Hook replied with a sigh of his own "I am just so used to having to hide everything that I forget that I don't need to with you."
David just stayed quiet hoping that Hook would carry on and he was right as the Pirate smirked and looked back at him "You know it will take away the mystery"
David chuckled "Maybe, like when you find out how a magician does a trick"
"What the bloody hell is a magician?" Hook asked with a frown
"Doesn't matter, tell me"
Hook let out a long sigh and shook his head with a laugh "I read it in a book"
"WHAT?" David cried out actually coming up onto his knees "You learned how to dance from reading it in a book?"
"Aye" Hook laughed back "I did tell you it would ruin the illusion Mate."
"Well it does lead me to another question" David said raising an eyebrow "What the hell were you doing reading a book about dancing?"
"I have had a LOT of spare time in my lifetime" Hook chuckled "A book on dance is better than mind numbing boredom"
"So what else have you read?" David was suddenly enjoying this
Hook gave him a nervous look before letting out a sigh "The worst one I have ever read was one on dressmaking"
David was howling with laughter now and was happy to see Hook laughing too "Dressmaking?"
"Aye" Hook nodded wearing a grin "The worst of it was I couldn't even try any of the things I learned out due to this bloody thing"
He held up his left arm and suddenly David wasn't laughing so hard, he gave a little cough to calm himself "You wanted to try to make something?"
Hook gave a nod "I cannot explain it David. Once I have learned something I get an overwhelming urge to do it. It has always been that way, even as a child"
And there they were faced with the fact that they were about to discuss Junior. Hook gave a deep frown then a quick smile.
"Books to me were a way of escaping" he stopped and gulped "The Captain was a terrible man David, the things he did to me are unspeakable... I just thank the Gods that Junior escaped his clutches before too much damage was done"
"You can talk to me about it if you want" David said in a serious voice
But Hook seemed done with it "It was all so long ago David."
"I know but it obviously still bothers you. I just want you to know that I'm here if you need me"
"You always are" Hook replied letting his eyes close again.
David thought that he had gone to sleep, they had been sitting in silence for a while when Hook suddenly turned his head with a feral grin on his face.
"Once there was this one book that I found... well... OK, I stole it from..." He seemed to suddenly be thinking that he maybe shouldn't say but then he grinned again "What the hell? I stole it from Regina's place... oh David you have no idea what that woman is capable of... in the bedroom department if you know what I mean"
"Stop right there Pirate, this conversation just got all kinds of wrong. That is Mary-Margaret's step Mother AND Henry's Mom you are talking about and that is weird enough without you putting images of her up to... stuff with Robin Hood that I most definitely don't want to know about"
"Someone say my name?" Robin suddenly asked as he pushed through the doorway holding two bowls of food
Hook burst out laughing as David went bright red and got quite flustered, Robin didn't seem to care though he just headed over and grinned at the Pirate.
"I see you are feeling better Mate"
"Aye" Hook replied pulling himself up with a grin still plastered all over his face even though his hand was now clamped over his ribs. He then looked David right in the eye and said "I still have that book if you would like to borrow it"
"What book?" Robin asked innocently dropping down next to David
David had no words he just shook his head as Hook gave him a wink, he was gonna get it when Robin left!
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Killian had been right, the rain had turned to snow and before evening had fallen the camp was covered in a thick blanket of the white stuff. He huffed out a sigh as he let the flap to the teepee fall closed and hobbled across to his bed where he dropped down with a groan.
"How's the hip?" David asked from his bed where he lay on his back with his arms behind his head.
"Fine" Killian grit out "But my bloody ribs are killing me"
"Well lie down then " David said turning his head to look at him "You want some tea?"
"Maybe in a while" Killian sighed before shuffling himself so that he could lie back on his bed
He closed his eyes and let himself relax, he was beyond tired but was also happy, he had managed to go the whole day with only one short nap. That to him was a major breakthrough and he could feel the difference in himself, he just felt better than he had in a long time, Lark truly did know his stuff and as if on cue the man himself ducked through the door flap holding a bowl in his hand.
Lark shook the snow from his hair and headed over to Killian's bed "I am sorry that I have taken so long making this but the island does not provide like it used to, I had to trek for half a day to find the berries I needed"
David was suddenly by the bed too and he asked "What? I thought Neverland had a never ending supply of food?"
"Maybe in years gone by but in recent times we have had to move camp several times so as not to put too much pressure on the surrounding area but each time we move it is becoming harder and harder to find the same foods that we used to. The weather seems to be effecting the wildlife's ability to reproduce"
"Another damned good reason to find a way off this island" Killian growled
But then Lark was suddenly dropping down onto the edge of the bed and tugging on Killian's top to get to his ribs. He shifted slightly to release the fabric for easier access and within seconds he was letting out a moan of pure bliss as the poultice seemed to seep right into his very soul. A warm sensation seemed to flow to the very point of his pain and instantly soothed it to a bearable level.
He could already feel sleep tugging at him by the time Lark finished and he lay watching as the Medicine Man explained to David when he should next use the berry mix. Killian managed to thank Lark with a few mumbled words before finally closing his eyes with the intention of going to sleep.
His dreams were strange, he kept seeing Junior's face but it was not like before... Junior was being silly, trying to make him laugh and kept repeating over and over again "I am alright Papa, I promise"
He briefly woke to find the teepee in darkness and David snoring loudly. Killian just settled himself back down and let sleep take him again and Junior was back but so was Swan.
"I miss you Swan" he said pulling her into his arms
"I miss you too but we are fine" she replied with a grin stepping back from his arms but as he stood looking at her the face changed and he was staggering backwards when he was suddenly faced with Devin.
"You will never be free of me Captain"
He was starting to panic but then something unexpected happened, Junior walked calmly up to Devin and stood right in front of him with his arms crossed.
"He may never be free of you bad boy but he is no longer afraid of you... he will figure out soon enough that HE himself has the answer to getting home.
Junior turned and looked at Killian but he had changed into Henry who was now smiling widely at him "I believe in you Old Man, you know how to get home. You have seen the way with your own eyes you just need to figure it out"
He was suddenly lurching from his sleep when someone gave him a shake, his eyes fell on David and he was about to berate him for waking him when his Brother spoke the words he had been waiting for.
"We just got word, the Mermaid is back"