My Bad, sorry, I posted the wrong chapter!
Long chapter ahead as I don't know when I'll get the next one out.
FYI... I cried a little writing this sooooo... good luck reading it!
As always please review
Enjoy
:)
"Damn it David, I told you not to let me fall asleep"
Killian grumbled pulling himself up from the sand but when David didn't answer him he turned to find his Brother sleeping by his side. Killian squinted up at the sun and soon realized that they must not have been sleeping long, thank the Gods for that. He looked back at David and gave a chuckle, as he saw his fair skin had started to go red. Killian himself didn't tend to burn as long as he was careful not to spend too much time out in the middle of the day... David on the other hand may just regret falling asleep later.
"David" he called out but he didn't move a muscle. Killian chuckled as he lent over to the side and prodded him in the ribs "Oi, You will regret this if you do not wake up and get out of this sun"
"Hmmmmm?" David opened a bleary eye and when he managed to focus on Killian's face he gave a groan "I was having a good dream and you just had to go and ruin it with that mug of yours"
"You will thank me later" Killian chuckled pulling himself up and heading back towards the water "You are burning"
"Great" David grumbled pulling himself up too
"I'm sure if you ask Lark, he will have something you can use" then he laughed hard "Just make sure that it will be safe to use on your more delicate bits"
"Very funny" David threw back as he waded into the water "My delicate bits are just fine. Let's just get back across that lake before it gets dark."
Killian gave a grin "Well don't complain to me later when the itch kicks in"
David suddenly laughed "Shut up... you would just love that wouldn't you?"
"I have to say that it would be quite amusing" Killian replied as they started swimming but in minutes the grin had disappeared to be replaced with a grimace as he struggled his way back to the other shore.
"You OK?" David suddenly asked when Killian dipped a little low in the water and took in some water
"Aye" He replied around a little cough "Just getting a bit tired now but do not worry, I will not slow you down. You will not need to "carry my ass" as you say"
"You know I didn't mean that" David sighed "I just wanted to go and being honest I still do BUT I know that you want to come and I get that so I will wait a couple of days."
Killian sighed too "I am sorry. I wish more than anything that I could just go now but I cannot and I don't want you heading off without me..."
"I get it you know, I wouldn't want you going without me either. It's fine, you just concentrate on being able to walk more than the length of yourself without keeling over but you should know I'm going out on a scouting mission tomorrow whether you like it or not"
"As long as Robin is with you and you promise that it is just that, a scouting mission I can live with that. I will busy myself, perhaps young Roland can join me for a swim"
"As long as you keep your pants on I can't see Robin having an issue with that" David chuckled
They hit the shore a few minutes later and as much as Killian wished that he could have made it back to camp unaided he couldn't. David gave him an understanding nod before just taking his left arm to give some extra support.
"Sorry" Killian mumbled as they headed back along the path
"Hey, it's alright. You have done way better than I thought you were gonna so just accept the help and be happy. You can do more tomorrow, I'm sure running around after Roland will keep you busy."
"Aye" Killian replied with a light smile "It will be nice to spend some time with the boy... I... I miss just relaxing with Henry and Junior so I am sure we will have fun" he pulled in a breath then smiled again "When we get home I have a feeling that Roland and Junior will become firm friends so I best get in the practice of looking out for the lad"
"You don't need practice" David said raising an eyebrow "Kids love you, you'll be fine"
By the time Killian sat back on his bed a few minutes later he was quite looking forward to the next day but for now he was tired and hungry. David had immediately headed to the fire and brought over some tea which Killian had drank down quickly in the hope that it helped with his growing pain levels.
A short while later Robin peeked through the doorway "We are having roast boar, would you like to join us around the fire?"
David looked to Killian with obvious concern but Killian was not about to miss out so he spoke before David had a chance to decline.
"Aye" he said pulling himself up "Roast boar sounds good to me"
David gave a resigned sigh and just followed as Killian made his way out into the clearing. It seemed like the entire tribe had gathered and Killian suddenly found himself slowing down when everyone stopped what they were doing and just watched as he made his way over. He didn't have much time to dwell on it as David was suddenly marching past him clapping his hand on his back.
"Come on Peg Leg, that smells amazing, get your butt into gear before it's all gone, I'm not listening to your stomach rumbling all night"
Killian gave a chuckle as the crowd of people laughed. He felt more relaxed and it had definitely helped that they had stopped mobbing him too. Once he was sitting on a large log by the flames a young girl handed him a plate full of food which he took with a genuine smile of appreciation and when the natives brought out their local brew after dinner he couldn't help grinning like a fool as he tipped the first cup of the delicious amber mead down his throat. Two cups later and he was beginning to feel very tired and more than a little happy as David grinned by his side. Most of the people had dispersed leaving only David, Robin and Lark still sitting with him.
"We should really get to bed" David said taking another gulp from his cup
"Noooooooooooooo" Killian drawled "We really shouldn't. You are no fun at all, we should have some more to drink, it has been a looooong time since we had something this good"
"It's been less than a week since you were acting like a drunk idiot and I had to pick you up off the floor" David chuckled taking another mouthful
"THAT was your own fault" Killian slurred "You stewed my tea and while we are on that subject will you stop dosing me with the strong stuff, I am onto your game Mate"
David grinned wider "It works so well though. I'm gonna take some home to give it to Emma maybe she can use it on Junior when he's bouncing around the Jolly"
Killian laughed "That might just work"
"I cannot wait to meet Junior, he sounds like a good lad" Robin suddenly said drawing Killian's attention
"He is and I cannot wait for you to meet him too. I would like very much if he and Roland were to become friends. I think that they will be good for each other."
"I like that plan" Robin agreed
Killian was just about to ask about taking Roland to the lake the next day when he suddenly clamped his mouth shut and was listening intently as an eerie sound carried across the island.
"What is that?" Robin gasped sitting forward
Killian sighed and let his head drop "It would seem that our only Lost One is still feeling lost. That is a sound that I have heard many many times while staying on this island. That is the sound of a Lost One crying... perhaps the boy will not be so hard to convince to return with us after all"
"I hope so" David said placing his cup down
And the gathering was done.
Robin was suddenly pulling himself to his feet and placing his cup down too. No words were spoken, he just bowed his head and headed towards his tent as the boy's wails carried on invading Killian's brain. It was a sound that never failed to sober him up and right now the effect was the same as David helped him to his feet. They silently made their way back to their tent stopping only briefly to take care of business.
Killian lay on his bed a few minutes later just staring up at the dream catcher than hung above him, he hoped that the crying would stop soon, it seemed to be stealing his happiness. The warm feeling that he'd had felt earlier was gone and a hollow feeling had settled in his chest... he missed his Swan and Henry but the feeling of Junior's missing heartbeat seemed to have doubled when the crying had started and now he was suddenly fighting back his own tears once more. He sighed and turned over so that he was facing away from David, he didn't want him to worry but he should have known that his Brother would know something was wrong.
"Try and get some sleep" David whispered "and just remember that we ARE going home. I know how that crying is making me feel so I can only guess what it's doing to you. I'm here if you want to talk."
Killian coughed to clear his throat and scrubbed at his face but he couldn't reply, words were beyond him so he just closed his eyes with a sigh... falling into a very unsettled night filled with strange dreams and Junior once more telling him that he knew the way home.
He awoke feeling tired and drained... unwilling to face the morning he just turned over and buried his face back into his covers.
"You will never be free of us" the Devins voices suddenly sounded in his head making him actually jump and open his eyes
"Leave me be" he growled at the disembodied voice
"My Papa said that you would like to take me to the lake" a tiny voice sounded behind him
He was turning around on the bed in an instant to find Roland looking at him nervously. He gave a smile to the boy and pulled himself up.
"Sorry Lad, I thought that you... that you were... uhm... someone else." he pulled in a breath and looked around "Has your Papa and David left already?"
Roland gave a little nod
"Well then lad, I better get myself up and ready to go then shouldn't I?"
His miserable mood was suddenly gone when Roland gave a wide smile showing his dimples "Can we take a picnic with us?"
"I am sure we can sort something Lad" Killian grinned pulling himself upright "Come on, let us go and see the Chief's wife"
"You mean Tala" Roland grinned
"Aye, if that is her name" Killian smiled "Tala"
"It means wolf" Roland said slipping his hand into Killian's as they started towards the door.
Killian's smile faltered for a second as he looked down at Roland only to see Junior smiling back up at him, he shook his head and blinked hard.
"Are you alright Mr. Hook?"
"Just Hook or even better call me Killian" he replied pulling a smile to his lips as Roland came back to him "Come on Lad, we have much fun to have"
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It had taken Emma forever to get Junior to settle, he had been clingy since the incident in the park and in the end he only agreed to go to bed because Henry said that he would go too and read some of his new library book to him. She sighed as she stood in the doorway a while later watching as her two boys slept peacefully, Junior had P.B. tucked in his arms and Emma gave a smile as the bear peeked out at her.
She chuckled as she headed across to Junior's lamp and lit it, why was it not already lit?
Shaking her head with a sigh she tugged the book off of Henry's bed and put it on the side before sneaking out of the door and heading back to the hold.
She had literally JUST sat down with a sigh when she was up and running back to the bunk room when Junior started screaming like she had never heard him scream before. She thundered down the corridor followed by both Regina and her Mom and burst through the door to find Henry kneeling on the floor trying to console a very upset Junior.
"What happened?" Emma burst out coming down on her knees next to the boys.
Junior pulled himself from Henry's arms and launched himself at Emma "The monster was hiding Momma, he tried to get me"
"You're OK, there's no monster here" she soothed pulling him into a tight hug
"He was here... he was. I saw him by my lamp" he descended into more tears and Emma knew he wasn't going to settle in the bunk room for the night.
She pulled herself up taking him with her and turned to take him back to the hold but she paused on her way to the door.
"What is it Swan?" Regina asked when Emma narrowed her eyes at the extinguished lamp
"The lamp" Emma said walking over to it "I lit it when I came in but look"
"I lit it too before our story" Henry added quickly with a frown
Emma turned to him "Did you see anything Kid? Anything at all?"
He shook his head "No, the first thing I knew that anything was wrong was when Junior started screaming"
"I am frightened Momma" Junior cried into her neck "Where is P.B.? He is frightened too."
Henry ducked back onto Junior's bunk, he pulled the bear from the blankets and held him up "Here he is, you better take him, he needs a hug."
Junior just reached out and tugged his bear out of Henry's hand and snuggled into him as he still clung to Emma.
"Come on little man. Why don't we go back to the hold?" Emma soothed rubbing Junior's back "You coming Henry? I thought we could maybe watch a movie"
"Sounds like a good idea" Mary-Margaret agreed
"I'll make hot cocoa" Regina added "Henry can you help me?"
"Sure Mom" Henry replied
Fifteen minutes later they were settled in the hold with "How to Train Your Dragon" starting to play. Junior had not uttered a word since he had asked for his bear but he was watching the movie as he lay snuggled into Emma's front. She had curled herself on one end of the couch and she gave him a little tug, pulling him in tighter as the movie played out and that's how her day ended. Emma must have fallen asleep where she was because the next she knew was that she was waking with the world's biggest crick in her neck and a Mermaid smiling down at her.
"I've got their reply" Ariel grinned holding up the container "You better wake up everyone else"
Emma groaned as she turned her head, God her neck would never be the same again but she nearly burst out laughing when she found her family all draped over the furniture sleeping soundly. They had apparently all stayed to make sure Junior felt safe but she knew that she was about to make the Kid's day when she slid her fingers up his sides and tickled him.
"Come on sleepy head, Papa and Grandpa's message is here"
His eyes flew open and his smile was back as the happiness took over his whole face "Truly?"
"Yip, look who's here" she nodded her head at Ariel who gave him a wave
"ARIEL" he yelled out waking everyone else and in minutes the room was full of excited chatter.
"OK OK" Emma yelled out "I know that you are excited but Kid, you need to use the bathroom before we do anything. Henry can you take him while I get things ready?"
"Come on Junior, let's go before you burst" Henry laughed taking Junior's hand and leading him out of the room.
Emma immediately turned to Ariel "Please tell that they are OK, I don't want Junior watching it if Hook is a mess"
"He is doing really well Emma, I promise. He maybe just has a few bruises that you can see that is all"
Emma sighed in relief "Thank God for that"
Junior was hobbling back into the room seconds later and Emma suddenly realized that he didn't have his crutches, they were probably still in the bunk room from last night.
"You be careful on that leg" she warned
"It is fine Momma, I can manage" he grinned pulling himself up onto the couch and settling down "May we watch Papa and Grandpa now"
Emma let out a sigh and chuckled "Yeah Kid, that's the plan. Come on scoot up so everyone can see."
Junior ended up sitting on Emma's lap, Henry was on her right and Mary-Margaret was on her left while Regina stood behind the couch so she could watch over her shoulder. Ariel on the other hand stood back and wore an uneasy look on her face... what was she not saying?
"What's wrong Mom?" Henry asked pulling her attention back to her boys
"Nothing Henry, absolutely nothing. We ready?" She asked with a grin
"Aye" Junior replied but he snuggled into her front and Emma could tell the kid was nervous.
She hit play and almost instantly she could feel him starting to shake, she glanced down at him as Hook told them to tell Tiger Lily that they were staying with her tribe to see him wearing a little smile on his face but the tears were flowing down his cheeks and his hand was fisted in his pajama top just over his heart. She tugged him in closer dropping a kiss onto his head then looked back at the screen.
Her Dad looked good apart from a couple of bruises on his face but the difference in Hook was nearly unreal. He was sitting up straighter than she had seen him in a long time and yeah, he had new bruises too but from what she had heard Devin had beaten him pretty badly so that was to be expected but he looked healthy, he looked happy. Then he faltered in his speech and her Dad's hand came up onto his back telling him that he could do this. When he looked back at the camera and burst out how much he missed her... missed them all Emma was crying too as she clutched onto Junior. The pain in Hook's eyes was almost too much to take, he looked so lost without them. Then he set the time for the wedding right in front of everyone and she was laughing at the awkward dorky face he pulled, she turned to her Mom to find her eyes brimming with tears too and those quickly fell when her Dad started talking but suddenly Hook was telling them to plan the wedding and Mary-Margaret practically squealed with joy actually clapping her hands a couple of times... then the message was over and everyone was both happy and sad.
"This is ridiculous" Regina suddenly burst out pulling herself from the back of the couch "What we need is a way of communicating that is instantaneous... Ariel is going to swim herself to death at this rate"
Emma's heart was racing as she suddenly understood what Regina meant and she gasped "Of course, a mirror!"
"Exactly Miss Swan" Regina replied raising one sleek eyebrow on her head before digging in her purse to come out with a double sided compact just like the one they had used when they had talked to Henry in Neverland "And I have just the thing"
"Awesome" Henry cried out but Junior looked really confused as he wiped the tears away from his face
"What is it Gina?" he asked with a frown
"THIS" she held up the compact as she snapped the two sides apart "Is a magic mirror... or it will be in just a second. I may just have enough power left to make this work."
She waved her hand over the two pieces before smiling widely "There. Now what we must do is ask Ariel ever so nicely to take this half back to your Papa and Grandpa and we keep this half with us. Once both parties have their half you will be able to talk directly to each other... no more recording messages and waiting days for a reply"
Junior's eyes were like saucers, he turned to Ariel and pleaded "Please will you do this one last trip? It would be very much appreciated if you delivered this mirror to my Papa"
"Of course I will" Ariel cried out in joy "I will set off in just a few minutes but first I must talk to... Emma... well, your Momma for a second"
"Thank you Ariel, you are most kind" Junior replied pulling himself off of Emma's knee to drop down onto the couch so that she could get up.
Emma started towards the door and Regina made to follow but Ariel surprised everyone by turning to the woman who had once taken her voice and practically whispering "I am sorry, I need to talk to Emma alone"
The Mermaid looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her up as Regina stared at her but the former Evil Queen just stepped back and said with a kind smile "Of course"
Emma and Ariel made their way to the galley and the minute they were inside Emma hissed "What's going on?"
Ariel took a deep breath and let it out "Two things. There is a second message that David did not want the boys to see..."
"Yeah, I figured that out when I saw it on the screen" Emma interrupted looking down at the cell in her hand "But why can't Regina see it?"
"That's not why I said she couldn't come" Ariel looked really nervous as she glanced at the doorway making sure that no one was there "Oh my goodness. David wanted me to tell you and only you that... that Robin Hood is with them in Neverland."
"WHAT?!" Emma yelled at the pitch of her voice
"Shhhhhhhhhh" Ariel looked terrified as she looked at Emma "He did not want Regina to know that he is there."
"I don't understand" Emma hissed "He left with Marian to go to New York over a year ago... how did he end up in Neverland?"
"I'm not sure of the details, something to do with it not being Marian, it was actually Zelena but that is not important right now what is important is that you know... David wanted YOU to know"
Emma nodded her head "We need to find a way to get that flower quicker, we NEED to get them home. Regina deserves to be happy too and I intend to make that happen"
A few seconds later Henry and Junior came into sight as they passed the galley door "Sorry, we're not listening. We're just getting changed and grabbing Junior's crutches"
"That's OK Kid" Emma smiled. If the boys were out of the hold they could all watch the second video without being disturbed "We're done anyway"
Junior gave a little smile and headed off leaning heavily on Henry as Emma headed back to the hold. The others gathered quickly around and Emma pressed play on the second video. She watched in horror as the reality hit her full force in the gut... Junior's "Monster" was a Neverland shadow... Xylo's shadow to be precise. She looked at her Mom with worry but suddenly the same screaming from the night before started again and Emma was on the move
"JUNIOR" she yelled running straight from the room
"GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER... JUNIOR... NOOOOOOOOOO" she could here Henry shouting then a huge crash but then there was silence and her heart leapt into her chest, what the hell had happened?
She burst through the door to find Henry breathing heavily as he again knelt on the floor clutching on to Junior tightly but this time Junior was totally lifeless and Emma's heart gave a lurch at the sight of him...
He was gone... what the hell had happened in here?
"It was a shadow Mom, I turned around from the dresser and he was pulling Junior's own shadow away" Henry blurted out as both Emma and Mary-Margaret dropped down next to the boys.
Tears were streaming down Emma's face as she looked at the pale ghostly face of the small boy being cradled by his brother...
She had lost him.
"I hit it with Junior's lamp" Henry carried on "I managed to set it on fire, it's gone... do you think there are more coming?"
Emma didn't know and right now she couldn't think about anything else other than the boys in front of her, she pulled in a gulping gasp and reached forward to comfort Henry letting her hand clutch onto his arm, this was going to kill him... Henry pulled Junior in tighter and tucked the kid's head under his chin... why did this have to happen?
It was so unfair...
Oh God, Hook!
How was she supposed to break this too him?
Suddenly she was sobbing as the pain finally sunk in. Junior was gone and she had told him that the monster was not real when it was all too real and just waiting for him to return back to the bunk room... this was her fault, she should have listened to him.
But then Emma's world flew back into focus when Junior suddenly gave a little cough and started cry. Emma hands came up to her face in surprise as Henry brushed his hand through Junior's hair and whispered
"It's alright, I've got you. I killed the monster, he won't EVER be able to hurt you again... I stopped him and I will keep you safe, I promise"
Emma launched herself forward and wrapped her arms around the both of them, they were both OK. She felt her Mom join in the hug as tears streamed down her face, she couldn't speak, she couldn't do anything other than hug them tightly while sobbing her heart out... she thought she had lost him and it nearly broke her.
But they were safe... they were both safe and that's all that mattered.