Hello dear readers (:

I wanted to thank you all for your support; it really means the world to me. I also noticed that some people mentioned in the reviews that Snow was very OOC because she was able to keep two secrets. I just want you to know that I always try to stay truthful to the characters and the reason Snow was able to keep a secret was because she didn't have to lie. I really think that the main reason that she is not very good at keeping secrets is because she doesn't like to lie and secrets usually involve lies.

In season 3, we saw her telling Emma that Neal was alive because she was not capable of lying to her daughter and because she believed she was doing the right thing by telling Emma the truth. In this story, Snow only told a little lie (chapter 2) when Regina interrupted her conversation with Emma. Anyway, I hope this chapter helps you to understand a little bit more about the relationship between Snow and secrets.

Thank you again for reading this story. I hope you like this chapter.

The beauty is an illusion, and also a warning: there's a dark side to beauty, as with poisonous butterflies ― Margaret Atwood

That night, Regina's house had three more people at the dinner table. After the little talk with Emma, the women decided to dinner together.

They failed to call the men during the afternoon but Mary Margaret remained optimistic and kept telling that they probably had no signal at the sea, so they would have to wait a few days until they return. Despite that, Emma was feeling a little better; the talk with her mother and Regina really helped her facing her fears. Now, all that she wanted was to tell Killian about the little pirate she was carrying inside of her. She still had her doubts but now she was able to believe in a happy ending – in their happy ending. I just have to wait for his return – she thought – then all will be fine.

Once at the table, the boys shared what they have done during the day and Mary Margaret informed them about the new school projects. Regina made her special lasagna and almost forced Emma to eat all the food on her plate. She was thrilled with the idea of being an aunt, or maybe a godmother. She would certainly have a little chat with Emma about that subject.

She caught herself wondering how it would be like if she was on Emma's position. She always wanted to be a mother; to be pregnant. Robin and she never discussed the subject but maybe after the wedding they could have the baby talk; maybe she will be the next with a big belly; maybe one day her wish will come true.

After dinner, Mary Margaret and Regina started the dishes while Emma and the boys decided to play one of Roland's videogames.

"I was little surprise when you told me you were the only one who knew" – Regina said in a low voice.

"Why?" – Mary Margaret said a little bit louder than she intended to – "Why?" – she murmured, narrowing her eyes.

"Because you're not the best person at keeping secrets" – Regina stated.

"I can keep a secret!" – she replied. Regina raised her eyebrow and gave her a look – "What? It's true"

"You're a terrible liar, Snow" – Regina said as she cleaned the dishes – "In fact, I think you you're incapable of lying"

"There's a difference between lying and keeping a secret" – she mumbled.

"Whatever. I'm still impressed that no one found out"

"Well, maybe because I didn't have to lie to anyone" – Mary Margaret tried to explain – "It's not like someone asked me: Hey, is Emma pregnant?"

"Yet" – Regina added.

"She's going to tell him and then there will be no more secret to keep" – she stated.

"True, but only if Killian has a little chit chat with David" – Regina said with her devilish smile – "Because if the pirate doesn't has the guts to have the talk with David, then you still going to have a secret to keep"

"How do you even know about that?" – Mary Margaret asked.

"You and Robin really suck at lying" – she said.

"You can't tell anyone" – Mary Margaret murmured.

"Contrarily to some people I know what a secret is" – Regina said with a smirk. Mary Margaret opened her mouth to speak but Regina cut her off – "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to be a liar, a proper liar"

A few hours later Emma and Henry were at home watching one of Henry's favorite shows but Emma couldn't stop looking at the sea outside the big window of the living room. She was so caught up on her thoughts that she didn't even notice when suddenly Henry turned off the TV.

"Mom …" – Henry said causing Emma to look at him –"You don't have to pretend with me"

Emma was looking at her son with a confuse expression.

"I know" – Henry said reaching for her hand.

Emma could feel her heart beating faster after hearing Henry's words. He knew. How did he find out? Did Regina tell him? Did Mary Margaret tell him? Was her belly already big enough for him to notice?

"I … I …" – she tried to say, starting to panic – "How did you…"

"Mom, it's okay …" – he said, trying to calm her down – "I know how you feel. I feel the same way" – Emma blinked her eyes trying to follow what Henry was saying – "I miss him too" – Henry explained, giving her a shy smile – "It's strange, isn't it? Not even two day have passed and we already feel like something isn't right; like something is missing"

Emma let go the air she didn't know she was holding and smiled. She was glad that Henry didn't know about the pregnancy, she wanted to tell him with Killian by her side.

"How can you express your feelings better than your own mother? That's not fair" – she said smiling.

"Well, at least we can say that my ability to express my feelings it's not hereditary, so I guess you'll have to figure it out a way to be a little bit like me" – he teased her.

"Maybe tomorrow, kid. Now it's time for bed" – she said getting up from the couch.

Henry rose from the couch and climbed the stairs. Emma followed him until his bedroom. She sat on Henry's bed covering him with the blanket.

"I'm not as good as Killian at telling stories but I can read one of your books, if you want" – she said reaching for one of Henry's books behind him.

"What if I tell you one of his stories?" – Henry said.

"You're the one who needs to sleep, remember?" – Emma said, raising her eyebrow.

"C'mon mom, I promise to sleep after I finish telling you the story" – Henry said with puppy eyes – "Deal?"

Emma looked at him and ruffled his hair.

"Okay, Rumpelstiltskin" – she finally said – "But you better fall asleep as soon as the story ends"

Henry started to tell one of Killian's stories and Emma was surprised with all the details he was mentioning. He wanted to tell the story exactly as Killian had told him. After a few minutes Henry started to yawn and Emma noticed that he kept repeating the same words all over again so she gently continued the story for him. She remembered hearing Killian telling this story to Henry in one of the times she watched them from the doorframe of Henry's bedroom.

When Henry closed his eyes and fell asleep she kissed his forehead and turned off the light of the room.

She made her way down the stairs and opened the door that led to the beach. She could feel the soft sand on her bare feet as she walked through the beach.

It was a beautiful night, the sky was full of stars and the moon was brighter than ever. She sat near the water and looked at the sea.

"Are you thinking about me, pirate?" – Emma said to herself picking a sea shell from the sand – "I wish I could talk to you right now. I almost envy the sea for being able to see you, to talk to you … Why can't I talk to you like the sea?" – she said, throwing the sea shell in the water – "I miss you. Come back soon" – she said, getting up from the sand, making her way towards the house.

The men were sitting next the fire drinking some coconuts they found on the island. They tried to figure it out a way to leave the desert island but none of the plan sounded good enough to work out. Their only hope was to wait for help. Their family would eventually notice that they were gone for too long and would find a way to find them. They just needed to wait and make sure that they survive the wait.

"You know …" – Robin said – "I'm pretty sure that, after this, Regina will never let me put a foot on a boat"

"You're probably right" – David said laughing – "She may even curse Killian since he was the one who had this brilliant idea" – he added.

"Just drink your coconut" – Killian mumbled.

"I thought that pirates knew how to swim" – David teased him – "I guess I was wrong"

"I know how to swim" – Killian retorted

"That was not what it seemed like" – Robin said, winking at David.

"I hit my head, remember? Otherwise I would return to the boat in the blink of an eye" – Killian said – "I'm a bloody pirate!"

"And I'm a bloody thief who needs to sleep" – Robin said yawning – "Goodnight David. Sleep well, pirate" – he said, lying down on the sand.

Killian and David remained in silence looking at the waves crashing on the soft sand. If only they had a boat they could be at home in a few hours.

"What would you do if my answer was different?" – David said breaking the silence. Killian turned his body to face the prince. –"Would you marry her even without my blessing?"

Killian stood in silence for a few seconds before answering.

"Yes, I would" – he said, turning his attention to the sea.

"You would?" – David asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Yes, David, I would" – Killian repeated – "If she wanted to marry me then yes, I would marry her, even without your blessing" – he added.

"So why go through all this trouble?" – David asked.

"Because we're family and … because I wanted to this in a proper way" – he explained –"Besides, I know that you tend to be a little over protective over Emma, so…"

"Of course I am. She's my daughter" – David stated.

"And I'm not saying that it is a bad thing" – Killian quickly said – "I would probably be worse than you, if I had a daughter" – he said smiling.

"Are you saying that I should give you a hard time before I allow you to marry my daughter?" – David said.

"That won't be necessary. I already put us in a big mess"

"It was not your fault, Killian" – David said – "It was an accident"

"Still … the trip was my idea" – he said. David put a hand on Killian's shoulder trying to ensure his friend that the accident was not his fault. Killian looked at his friend and smiled – "You're a good man David, I'm glad we're friends"

"I'm glad we're friends too, Prince Charles" – he said with a smirk before lying down on the sand.

He remembers – Killian thought, remembering his trip to the past with Emma and what he said to David: I'd go to the end of the world for her, or time.

He looked at the sea thinking about Emma and in a way to come back to her before he closed his eyes and fall asleep.

Maybe I'll see you in my dreams, Emma … Jones.

The next morning

Emma woke up with a hand pressed to her abdomen and tears on her cheeks. She quickly looked at the side of the bed where Killian used to lie hoping to see him but she immediately remembered that she had slept alone.

It was just a nightmare –she said to herself trying to erase the bad dream from her memory.

In her dream Killian and she were walking through the beach; she had told him about the pregnancy and Killian had his arms wrapped around her body but suddenly she couldn't feel his touch anymore.

She turned her body to look at him but he had disappeared. She looked around the beach but all she could see was sand and water. She started to run at the same time she called his name. She searched for him for hours without success until she saw a ship like the Jolly Roger at the sea; the ship was moving away from her and when she looked at the helm of the ship she saw him – Killian was at the helm of the ship, sailing away from her.

She yelled his name but he didn't look at her. She continued to yell as the ship disappeared little by little into the sea. He was leaving her.

She went into the water and started to swim but when she was almost reaching the ship she felt something grabbing her feet and pushing her to underwater. That's when she woke up, finding it hard to breathe.

She immediately grabbed her phone and searched for Killian's number. She tried to call him but the only sound she heard was the machine saying that it was not possible to complete the call as dialed. She tried again only to hear the same message. Still no signal – she thought. After a few more calls this time to her father and Robin, she finally gave up.

She got out from the bed and went to Henry's bedroom. After waking up him she made her way down the stairs and walked into the kitchen. She started to make breakfast trying to distract herself from the dream.

A few minutes later Henry entered in the kitchen.

"This is all for breakfast?" – he asked, sitting on one of the chairs of the table kitchen.

Emma looked around the room and realized that she was surrounded by food.

"Not that I'm complaining …" – Henry said, picking one waffle from the plate – "… but don't you think you made a lot of food?"

There were two plates full of waffles next to Henry; three plates with pancakes; at least six breads all over the table; eggs in the frying pan; a plate with lots of bacon; three glasses of orange juice and a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon.

The kitchen was a mess, not only because of the amount of food, but also because of the plates, glasses, cutlery and pans scattered all over the place.

"I guess I'm a little distracted this morning" – she said realizing that the stupid dream was still on her mind.

It was just a dream, just a dream, just a dream, just … The sound of her phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. She reached for it immediately with the hope of hearing Killian on the other side.

"Hello?" – she quickly said.

"Hi, honey" – a familiar voice said.

"Mary Margaret, hi …" – she said, trying to disguise the disappointment in her voice.

"Is everything okay?" – her mother asked.

"Yeah … everything is fine" – Emma said – "Have you talked to da- David, this morning?" – she asked.

"No" – Mary Margaret said –"I tried to call him but they probably have –"

"No signal" – Emma completed.

"Don't worry; I'm sure they're fine" – Mary Margaret softly said – "Besides, stress is not good for the bab-"

"I know" – Emma interrupted her. She remained in silence for a few seconds before speaking again –"Did you eat breakfast yet?" – she asked.

"No, I was just making my way to the kitchen"

"Great! You can eat it here, then" – Emma immediately said.

"Oh no, I don't want to bother you, you should rest and –"– Mary Margaret tried to say before Emma interrupted her.

"Actually, I was hoping you could help me. I think I made enough food for an entire week" – Emma said.

"I'm on my way, then" – Mary Margaret said smiling.

After eating breakfast together, Emma made her way to the sheriff station, while Mary Margaret had to go to Granny's so she could drop off Neal with Ruby and Granny; after that, Henry and she went to the school.

"Maybe we can make a raft" – Robin suggested.

"No, it's too risky" – Killian said – "And even if it wasn't we wouldn't know in which direction to go"

The men were trying to find a way out of the island for hours without success. Their best idea was to wait for some fishermen to pass by the island so they could ask them for help.

"I thought you knew how to navigate using the stars" – David said looking at Killian.

"And I do … but in order to do that first there has to be stars" – he said pointing to the clouds in the sky – "and second it would be easier if we used the sextant that is lost in the sea forever"

"Great, so even if we had a boat we wouldn't know in which direction to go" – Robin stated.

"Probably not …" – Killian said, scratching his head –"At least not without some guide, like a compass or a map"

"Or a GPS" – David added.

"We're officially lost" – Robin said letting himself fall on the sand.

"Don't worry, they are going to find us" – David said, sitting next to his friend – "We just have to wait"

"I don't think that Regina, Mary Margaret or Emma know how to sail a boat" – he said.

"And they don't have to …" – David said, touching Robin's shoulder – "Regina and Emma have magic; they'll find a way to find us"

"Until then" – Killian said, grabbing Robin's hand and extending his hook to David –"I suggest we start to search for some food"

"I already miss Regina's lasagna" – Robin said as they made their way into the jungle.

Emma was sitting at her desk. She had a lot of paper work to do, in fact, she was literally surrounded by papers.

She was trying for hours to organize all the documents of the station but the more she tried, more documents appeared. She tried to focus in her work but she couldn't; she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen or had already happened.

The memory of her last dream invaded her mind. She grabbed the photo of Killian and she with both of her hands. She didn't know how long she was looking at the photo until she heard Regina's voice.

"Hello, Sheriff" – she said, sitting on the chair in front of Emma's desk.

"Madame Mayor" – Emma said, meeting Regina's eyes – "What can I do for you?" – she asked.

"The question is: what can I do for you" – she said, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her lap. Emma gave her a look saying without words that she was not following – "If you need to take some time out …" – Regina explained – "You know … since you're pregnant" – she added, after making sure that there was no one else in the station.

"Regina, I …" – Emma tried to speak.

"I'm serious, Emma" – Regina interrupted her – "There is no problem at all … maybe a month?" – she suggested.

"A month?" – Emma asked in disbelief.

"You're right … maybe two months" – Regina said, thinking out loud.

"Regina, I'm fine …" – Emma tried to explain – "Besides, a month is already too much, don't you think?" – she added.

"No" – Regina said like it was the most obvious thing in the world – "I'm the Mayor, remember? And if I say that a month it's not too much, then it's not too much"

"And I appreciate your concern but I'm fine, really" – Emma said –"As you can see I have a lot of work to do" – she said, pointing to the papers over her desk.

"Precisely!" – Regina exclaimed – "Don't you see my point?"

"Regina, I'm just two months pregnant" – Emma said after she took a deep breath – "We can talk about that when I reach the forty week" – Regina opened her mouth to protest but Emma cut her off – "Have you spoken to Robin, today?"

"No …" – she said with a sad expression – "I know that Snow said that they probably don't have signal in the high sea but I'm starting to freak out!"

"Yeah, me too" – Emma mumbled.

"No, no, no… you can't!" – Regina quickly said. Emma looked at her confused –"Stress is not good for the baby, Emma! We shouldn't be talking about this!" – Emma tried to speak but Regina continued to talk – "You know what? We don't need to freak out because tomorrow they will be back and everything will return to normal, right?"

"Right" – Emma said, thinking what could be considered normal in their lives.

It was already night when Killian, David and Robin found a small river in the center of the island. They had tried to find food and water during the all day, but the best they could find was some fruit. The coconuts they had drank didn't satisfy their thirsty, so finding water became their priority.

"Clean water, finally" – David said, leaning down so he could drink some fresh water.

The reflection of the moon on the water made the river look like it was made of silver. It was a beautiful island, more beautiful than Neverland; at least there was no Peter Pan to hunt them.

The men drank all the water they were capable of saving in their stomach.

"Go ahead" – Killian said, washing his face while Robin and David made their way to the beach – "I'm right behind you"

After cleaning his face and his hand he drank a little more of fresh water and started to rise from the ground when suddenly a sound in the water caught his attention. The sight of a woman emerging from the water almost made him lost his balance. The woman had long brown hair and eyes black as night; her lips were pink and she had tanned skin.

A mermaid – Killian thought as her tail turned into two long legs.

"Hello sailor …" – she said with a seductive voice – "or should I call you pirate?"

"I prefer Captain" – he said, trying to reach for his sword, quickly realizing that he had lost it.

"So do I, Captain Hook" – she said, approaching him – "or do you want me to call you Killian?" – she smiled, showing her perfect teeth.

"How do you know my name?" – he said stepping back.

"It's always nice to know the name of the man you're rescuing" – the mermaid said.

"Rescuing? Are you here to rescue us? Did they send you to help us?" – Killian said unable to hide the hope in his voice.

"Not us" – she corrected him –"You"

Killian looked into her eyes and immediately realized that she couldn't be trusted. She was hiding something.

"Who sent you?" – he asked, his voice serious.

"Can't tell" – she said smiling.

"You can't or you won't?" – Killian insisted. The mermaid smiled again and began to brush her hair with her fingers – "Look, I won't leave the island without my friends, so if you're really here to rescue me, help them too … otherwise I'm not going anywhere with you"

"I can persuade you" – she seductively said.

"I doubt that" – Killian said –"Are you going to help us or not?"

The mermaid bit her lip and looked at him. He remained in silence waiting for her answer but after a few seconds he realized that the mermaid wouldn't change her mind. He started to make his way back to the place where Robin and David were when suddenly he heard her calling his name.

No … it's not possible – he said to himself, hearing again the sound of a familiar voice.

"Killian …" – she said again – "Why don't you look at me? I've missed you"

He closed his eyes. He knew that if he looked back it would his undoing. He tried to take a step forward but the sound of her voice froze all his movements. He tried to remind himself that she wasn't real, she wasn't her, but then he felt her soft hand touching his back.

"Don't you miss me?" – she murmured in his ear.

Unable to stop himself, he turned his body so he could look at her.

"Emma …" – he said so low that he wasn't sure that he had actually spoken.

"Yeah … it's me" – she said, caressing his cheek.

Killian continued to look at her, feeling the need to touch her blonde hair; her soft skin. She smiled at him and leaned her head to kiss him but before she could reach his lips he spoke.

"No …" – he said before their lips touched – "You're not real. You're just an illusion. She's in Storybrooke and …"

"Shhhh …" – she said, touching his lips with her finger – "I'm here. I'm real"

"No …" – Killian said, trying to resist her.

"Don't you remember what I said to you?" – she murmured – "I said that I would save you. Let me save you" – she said, leaning her head so she could kiss him.

He was not able to stop her when she kissed him. She grabbed the back of his head and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him even closer. But then, while she kissed him Killian felt like something wasn't right; like something was missing. There wasn't any connection between them. He felt empty while he kissed her.

He grabbed her arms and pushed her away; the water was already touching his waist.

"No, you're not her. You're not Emma" – he said looking at the woman in front of him; the woman with Emma's face.

"I can be. I can be whoever you want me to be" – she said – "All you have to do is kiss me" – the mermaid said kissing him again and he immediately felt the difference between her kisses and Emma's. There was no love on the mermaid's lips, only lies.

"No, stop!" – he tried to say between her kisses – "I don't want an illusion. I want reality or nothing" – Killian said, pushing her away.

"And this doesn't feel real?" – she said approaching him. She kissed him again, trying hard to open his mouth with her tongue.

"No, it doesn't" – Killian said, stepping away from her – "I know how a real kiss is and this isn't it. I know the difference".

The mermaid smiled and showed her true face before speaking:

"You know … I was just trying to add some pleasure to our trip but if you don't want it then I guess we'll have to do this in the hard way" – she said looking at him with her black eyes – "Because I'm not the type who breaks a deal"

The mermaid grabbed his arm and pushed him into the water. He tried to let go from her but she was swimming so fast that all he could feel was the water hitting his face.

He didn't think twice when he leaned his hook to her tail. The mermaid immediately stopped when she felt the hook hurting her tail. The red color of her blood started to mix with the water.

Killian removed his hook from the mermaid's body. She tried to hit him with her tail but failed. He tried to reach the surface but she was faster than him and grabbed one of his legs.

He was starting to lose his strength; he needed air. Suddenly he felt someone grabbing his arm, pulling him out of the water. He gasped for air.

"What the hell is going on?" – David yelled. He and Robin were grabbing both of Killian's arms.

Before he could answer him, he pushed them aside and hit the mermaid's chest with his hook. She fell into the water as soon as Killian removed his hook from her chest. Both men watched her dead body disappear in the river.

"We really need to find a way to leave this bloody island" – he said, letting himself fall in the ground.

I hope you liked this chapter. Thank you for reading and please share your thoughts with me (: