Chapter 100!
Will Killian ever figure things out?
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Enjoy
:)
David just sat watching as Hook babbled excitedly down the mirror to Emma, he gave a smirk when he saw the Pirate's eyes dancing with joy as he told her how he had stopped the Shadow Man. David was currently sitting opposite Hook by the fire, both of them and Robin had been covered in blankets from Lark the minute they had got back and now the medicine was stitching Robin's head while David waited for his turn. In all honesty he had no idea what had caused the large gash on his upper arm but it was a ragged cut and it hurt... a lot.
"I tricked him Swan, he did not see the move coming... if only my torch had not burned out I could have ended the beast for good... but we will get him, don't you worry, no more shadows will be leaving here, I will see to that"
Hook's voice was VERY rough and David could see the purple finger shaped bruises forming on his throat but he looked happier than he had in a long time so David couldn't stop him talking, he just smirked and looked to Lark when he came down at his side as Robin stood and excused himself .
"Are you ready to get this stitched?" Lark asked looking at the bloody wound
David was just about to say yes when Hook laughed and called across the fire.
"Do you not have a nice bit of pink thread Mate?"
Lark gave a confused look but David just laughed back "Ignore him, the black will do just fine"
Hook was back to talking to Emma and after a few minutes Lark was done. David thanked him before pulling his blanket back up over his shoulders and making his way around the fire to sit next to his Brother. As he looked in the mirror it was to find Junior and Henry smiling back at him.
"Hey Grandpa" Henry greeted "How's the arm?"
"It's fine Kid" he replied with a smile "How was school?"
"It's Saturday Grandpa, there was no school" Henry laughed but then added "But yesterday it was fine, I got some more work for Junior too and if he gets out of here tomorrow he will be starting on Monday"
"Yeah?" David asked looking at Junior "You feel up to it?"
Junior nodded vigorously and beamed "Aye, I want to go. I am to learn to play the piano and Gina has one that I can practice on, I cannot wait... it will be the best day of my life"
Hook chuckled "Just don't over do it Lad, there is plenty of time to learn all that you want to"
"BELLE" Junior suddenly yelled looking over to his right
David could hear Emma and Snow welcoming Belle then she was talking to Junior with relief in her voice.
"Oh my goodness Junior, when I heard that you were here I just had to come and make sure that you were alright"
"I am fine thank you Belle, I feel much better already." he replied with a grin before looking back at the mirror and pointing "Look, we are conversing with Papa and Grandpa, do you wish to say hello?"
Belle's face suddenly squished into the viewer and she was grinning in a second "I am so happy to see you both, I was so worried"
"We are fine" Hook replied earnestly then he sighed "It is good to see you too Love... I was unsure if you were alright or not"
"ME?" Belle cried out "I am fine. Thanks to you Killian, you save me"
Hook suddenly gave a gasp and lifted his hand to his head and gave a frown.
"What?" David asked swivelling slightly to look at his Brother who had suddenly gone quiet
"Nothing... I just... had a strange dream last night" Hook mumbled
"What did you say?" Belle gasped "What dream? What happened?"
Hook closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly as if thinking "I was... in the clearing but I was by myself. Or at least I thought I was..." The Pirate suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Belle "Rumplestiltskin was there. He was talking nonsense, he said something about not being able to get to me because of a dream catcher. He picked it up and it was broken but that is wrong because the one here is fine, it is hanging up there..."
He trailed off when he looked up then seemed to remember something and peered behind him to look on the ground, except David knew it wasn't there.
"Uhm... yeah about that" David cringed "I accidentally stood on it, it got broken... sorry!"
"So the bloody Crocodile was right" Hook suddenly gasped
Belle's voice brought them both back to the mirror "What did Rumple do next?"
"He told me that he owed me... that I had saved you even after all that he had done then he blew some bloody sparkly dust straight down my throat. I damn well nearly choked to death"
"Is that what made you wake up coughing?" David asked suddenly wondering what the hell was going on
"Aye" Hook nodded but then he frowned "But it was just a dream"
"I don't believe it!" Belle cried out with a smile "He really did find a loophole"
"What are you talking about Love?" Hook asked in confusion
"I don't know exactly what he has done but I know it was him... he asked me to ask you how you have been sleeping"
David watched as Hook's eyebrow raised high on his head and thought hard "Better... better than I have in months. Devin is gone from my dreams. Even if I do find myself in a place where he used to be he is no longer there, I am at peace."
Hook suddenly turned to David and gave a deep frown "Could it really be true? Did the bloody Crocodile do this?"
David shrugged "I don't know but if he did it will be for a reason. Think... what did you see in your dream?"
Hook suddenly shook his head "Nothing... that's the thing David, there was nothing there. I was alone until the Crocodile showed up... the only thing that was different was him"
Emma suddenly squeezed into the viewer "Don't over think it, whatever you are supposed to find will come to you and in the mean time I need to move you guys from the bed, that's a nurse here to take out Junior's stitches and then that Kid is getting a bath."
"YES" Junior cried out pumping his arm in excitement mimicking exactly how Henry did it
David chuckled at the kids happiness but when he looked at Hook expecting him to be smiling too he, he wore a frown on his face as he obviously tried to search his brain for what he was supposed to see.
"Listen Emma, we'll just go for now while Junior gets seen too." he said taking the mirror out of Hook's slack hand
"OK, no problem Dad, talk later and tell Killian not to stress and also" she slightly raised her voice and shouted to Hook "Stop talking so much, you need to rest that throat"
"Aye Love" Hook muttered. He gave a couple of blinks and looked back up at David before suddenly seeming to realize that the conversation was ending so added "Do not worry Love, Lark will sort me out in no time at all"
"Good" Emma called back then he heard everyone else shouting their goodbyes before the screen went blank.
He put the mirror down with a sigh. When he looked back at Hook he seemed to have lost his happiness "Come on, do not let this get you down"
Hook looked up and sighed "I just cannot shake the feeling that I am missing something that is right in front of my face"
"You're looking too hard" David added pulling himself up and reaching over to the pot of food that had been warming by the fire "Eat some food, you must be starving you never had breakfast"
Hook gave a nod and muttered "Aye" but David could see his brain still turning over, God he was gonna give himself an aneurysm at this rate.
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Junior had his eyes clamped shut as the nurse started removing his stitches but after she had done the first two he peeked them open and gave his leg a curious look.
"It feels strange Momma... but it does not hurt"
"Well that's good then isn't it" she smiled back still clutching onto his hand tightly.
The others had all left the room, Belle had assured Junior that she would return with Henry and Mary-Margaret after he had complained loudly that he didn't want her to go. Emma tried not to think about it but if Gold had been as happy as Belle claimed he had been whatever he had done must have been good... right?
But he had said that he couldn't help Hook or her Dad... so if he had just helped how had he done it?
"Momma?" Junior asked looking up at her "What is wrong?"
"Nothing" she replied quickly pulling a smile to her face as she watched the nurse do the last stitch "Annnnnnnnnd that's you done Kid"
The nurse stood back with a smile on her face "OK, you are stitch free Junior"
He grinned widely "I am to have a bath now"
"I heard" the nurse smiled back kindly "And as I would have it I just so happen to have THIS in my pocket"
The nurse pulled out a rubber duck... not just any rubber duck, it was a rubber duck painted to look like a Pirate. Junior burst out laughing and took hold of it in his hands.
"It is a Pirate duck Momma, look"
"I'm looking but I'm also not hearing any thanks" she chuckled back at the kid
"Thank you very much Martha, I like it very much"
Martha just gave a shy smile and looked at Emma "I saw it in the gift shop and couldn't resist... it is just a coincidence that he is about to have a bath, I had no idea until I just came in"
"Thanks and you can bet that that duck will get used to death, this one loves to play in the bath" Emma smirked before turning back to Junior "Come on, let me carry you and duck face to the bathroom. Then once you're done, how about getting into your new pajamas that Grandma brought in for you"
"I would like that" he replied with a nod then just held up his arms to be lifted clutching the duck in one hand and P.B. in the other
Emma hitched him up onto her hip and headed for the bathroom as Martha left the room, she sat him on the toilet while she ran the bath and couldn't help laughing to herself as he started speaking to his new duck.
"Duck Face this is P.B., he is to be your new Brother. Now I know that you are a duck and he is a bear but that does not matter, all that matters is that you love each other and ALWAYS look out for one another." He looked up at her and smiled "P.B. is happy to have a new Brother Momma but he says that he will sit by the door and be look out while Duck Face plays with me in the bath... he does not want to get his Pirate coat wet"
Emma schooled her features into a serious look "I think that is a very good idea, do you want me to help P.B. to his lookout post?"
Junior nodded so Emma tugged the bear from his hand and carried him over to the doorway "Right P.B. you need to keep look out, if you see ANYTHING you need to tell Junior, alright?"
She made him nod his little head so that Junior could see before setting the bear down on the floor, the kid was still jumpy after the whole shadow thing so anything she could do to help him feel relaxed she would do and when she turned back around he was smiling.
A few minutes later he was settled in the bubbles, she quickly gave him a wash being careful with his sore leg then did his hair before just letting him play... it felt like it had been forever since they had done this and Emma found herself smiling widely as he splashed about with his duck.
After a few minutes he gave a little frown, he tilted his head and scratched behind his ear exactly how Hook did when he was nervous.
"What's up Kid?" she asked sitting down on the side of the bath
He squinted up at her "Papa was telling Belle earlier that he had a strange dream last night"
"Mmmmmm" she agreed
"Papa said that the Crocodile... I mean Mr Gold visited him in his dream."
"Yeah but it was just a dream kid, Mr Gold can't do anything to Papa, he's alright"
Junior gave a deep frown and nodded a little before speaking again "He visited me too Momma"
"Who did?" Emma asked suddenly twisting around and kneeling down next to the bath.
"The Crocodile" Junior replied "I thought it was just a dream but if he visited Papa too maybe it was real"
"What did he say to you?" Emma asked as her heart thumped in her chest, what the hell was going on?
Junior pulled in a deep breath "He said that he was sorry. He said that he had been wrong but at least one good thing came from the gem stones. He said that he wanted to help Papa but he needed my help"
"OK" Emma said wanted to know more but not wanting to hurry Junior
Junior frowned again "I don't really know what he meant but he said that Papa and I were once the same person but not anymore, he said his dagger knew the difference and that he could use that to his advantage. He said that in the dream world if someone dreamt something it made it real. I was confused but he said not to worry, he said that he had something that would help me dream of a way to help Papa."
"Sooooo... what happened?" Emma asked excitedly
"He blew some magic powder into my face to start with, then I was dreaming that..." he paused and looked nervous
"Hey, it's alright, you can tell me"
He sighed "It is silly"
"No it's not, come on, you can tell me"
"I dreamt that I was the Crocodile Momma, I had gold shiny skin and had a spinning wheel" he looked really embarrassed and actually squirmed uncomfortably for a second but then he looked up at her again and carried on "It was strange to say the least but it only lasted a few minutes then Mr Gold came back. He said that I had taken his burden for only a short time but the results would last a lifetime. He said that because he had been freed from his dagger for a short while that he could now help... he said that while our link was no longer joining us in this life that it still existed, that he could use it to his advantage... I didn't know Momma what he meant, I thought it was just a dream"
"Well I'll be damned" Emma gasped out in awe
"What is it Momma?"
"I think we just found the Crocodile's loophole Kid... it's you"
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"I am a loophole" Junior cried out the minute Killian focused on the mirror
"Sorry?" Killian asked in confusion, he had obviously misheard "You are a what?"
"A loophole Papa, I am a loophole" the lad grinned like a mad man
"I don't understand Junior... where is Momma Swan?"
"I'm here" she grinned leaning in from the side "And he's right, he's a loophole"
"Am I missing something? What the bloody hell does that mean?"
Junior was back to excitedly talking "The Crocodile found a way to help you... it was me. I am the loophole. You and I are NOT the same person and his magic dagger knows that"
Killian blinked widely then suddenly realized what had been said and growled "What did the Crocodile do?"
"Don't worry, calm down he didn't actually come anywhere near him... well not really" Emma reassured "It's complicated but let's just say you weren't the only one to get a visit while you were sleeping. Look, it doesn't matter about the finer details all that matters is that our Kid helped Gold help you"
Killian gave a smile "Aye, you are right. Sorry Love but after all that the Crocodile has done it is hard to believe that he isn't in this for himself"
Junior gave a frown then said earnestly "He was sorry Papa, he told me that he had been wrong and that I was a good thing to come from the gem stones. I think that maybe we should forgive him, after all it wasn't all his fault that things happened the way they did... everybody can make a mistake, can't they?"
Killian smirked "Since when did you turn into Archie?"
Junior beamed back at him and gave a giggle "I am not Archie, I am Junior"
"Aye, that you are Son, that you are" Killian agreed "And I am very proud of you, you are a good boy and I think that maybe you are right. The Crocodile did not need to try and help me yet he has so I think that we should all accept that and move on"
"Agreed" Emma called
Killian heard Belle's voice in the background "You are all too good you know, no one would blame you all if you ran Rumple out of town"
Junior turned away from the screen and gave a little frown "But he is Henry's Grandpa and Henry loves him"
"That's right Kid and this family sticks together, right?" Swan said pulling Junior into a hug
"Right" he grinned back
Killian looked up as David wandered over and held out his hand "Right come on, you've been hogging that thing all morning, I want to talk to my beautiful wife"
Killian chuckled and looked back at the screen "Give the mirror to Grandma Junior, Grandpa wants to talk to her. I love you Son and we shall talk again very soon, I promise"
"I love you too Papa" Junior replied and Killian's heart lurched as he watched the lad raise his hand and clench at his pajama top, he knew what Junior was feeling, he was feeling it too... would the hollow feeling ever leave them?
"Laters Old Man" Henry threw in sticking his head in from the side and waving
"Bye Henry, I love you too Son"
"I know" Henry replied with a grin before disappearing from sight.
"Talk later" Swan said with a smile "I love you Killian"
"And I you" he replied and suddenly tears were forming again, he missed her so damned much.
David took the mirror and sauntered off to the other side of the teepee dropping down on to his bed while he chatted. Really for the lack of anything else to do Killian copied his Brother's move and headed to his own bed. He was still a bit cold from his earlier adventure and gave a shiver as he removed his blanket from his shoulders so he could lie down. Minutes later he was settled down in the warmth and gave a sigh as he thought about what Junior had done to help the Crocodile, he still didn't fully understand but he had got the impression that Swan would fully explain it to him later so he tried to put it out of his head. He tried to think of something else. He tried to think of happier times, of how he was going to be marrying Swan... how handsome Junior and Henry were going to look as they both stood by his side while he waited by the alter. He peeked open an eye to look over at David and gave a grin. David would be his Best Man AND he would get to walk Emma down the aisle... lucky Bastard!
He settled back down and now that his mind had settled on this idea he found himself thinking how the day would pan out.
Would there be snow?
Not if he didn't get a move on and figure out IF he did indeed know another way home but then maybe a spring wedding could be nice too. He suddenly envisaged himself standing in a field of wild flowers, they were beyond beautiful but he knew that was not what he wanted so he shook his head trying to clear the image from his head.
He now stood on the deck of the Jolly, there was a HUGE Christmas tree sitting at the bow with it's lights sparkling into the night sky. He grinned widely as he walked towards it.
"You will get your Christmas Wedding Love" he chuckled "and it will be glorious. We will be a true family before St Nicholas comes to call... Junior is going to have a ball, we are going to spoil our boys this year, you and I."
Swan suddenly threaded her arm through his and snuggled into his side looking up at the tree too, she was smiling as she reached forward and touched one of the baubles.
"It's so pretty Killian"
"It is for you Love, a pretty tree for a pretty lass"
She giggled and snuggled in further when he raised his arm up and pulled her into his side, they stood just looking for a few minutes until she spoke.
"You know this isn't real Hook"
"I know Love but let me be for a while, I have missed you"
"I've missed you too" she snuggled back into his side "Just don't put things off too long"
"I won't, it's just good to not be facing my demons for once... this is nice, sleep no longer holds the fear it did before"
"I'm glad" she said snuggling in closer against the cold "I have been so worried about you"
"I know Love but it is over now, Devin is gone..." he gave a laugh "And the ironic thing is that it is down to the bloody Crocodile that I can now do this."
Swan gave a deep sigh and pulled back from his arms "I'm going to go... you need to wake up."
"What?" he was confused "Why?"
"The Shadow Man is back Killian... go, you need to help"
His eyes flew open to find the teepee shaking around him. Seconds later David's face appeared above him and he practically screamed.
"Get up, we need to move... the whole camp is being destroyed."
