Dead Reckoning

Chapter Four

The next morning…

Emma and Killian awoke to the sunlight coming through the curtains hanging down over the windows as the sun rose slowly, then leisurely got themselves ready for the day ahead as they showered, changed, and Killian buckled his brace onto his arm and shoulder. The Captain of the Jolly Roger then packed a bag for his day out on the ocean with his stepson with whom he had spoken to the night before, and his girlfriend, including two extra swords with which he could continue Henry's fencing lessons and offer one to Violet should she wish to join in.

It was nearly seven-thirty when they walked into Granny's and found that they weren't the only ones eating breakfast that early. Snow and David were already there with Neal and so were Archie, Marco, and August. The newlywed couple came inside, then sat down in a booth across from their parents, while Archie moved away from the bar as Granny brought out his breakfast, then he joined the table where his oldest friend and his son sat near the Charming family. Regina, Henry, Violet, and Sir Morgan had yet to arrive.

"Emma, Killian… we're so glad you're here," Snow exclaimed excitedly as they sat down. "You've been talking about redecorating your home because everything that's in there now wasn't actually picked out by the both of you and last night, I had some great ideas. So, I thought we could look through some catalogues together that might help to inspire you and then after breakfast, we can all go shopping."

"Actually, Killian's taking Henry and Violet out on the Jolly Roger for the day while I'm at work," the Savior responded as Granny walked over with a pot of coffee in one hand, as well as a tray of mugs and a couple of hot chocolates with cinnamon for those who asked for some in the other, then carefully set it all down among her friends. "I also have to go over to speak with Lily about the trouble she's been causing down at the Rabbit Hole. Killian and I went over to the bed and breakfast to talk to her last night, but she wasn't home and neither was Maleficent."

Before they continued with their conversation, Granny took everyone's food orders, then Emma spoke up again saying, "Besides, Mom… Killian and I were hoping to be able to figure out what we wanted to do with our house alone. It's nothing against you. It's just that, after all we've been through with fighting against the darkness and the fact that we have kind of a prison and a large boulder that once held a sword for centuries in the middle of our basement because of my decisions while I was the Dark One, I felt it was something we needed to do on our own. As a way to try to help us to erase these memories a little. It's about time we did. I hope you understand."

Snow reached across the table and took her daughter's and her son-in-law's hands, then she replied, "Of course I understand. It's good that you're doing this."

"How long are you going to be out on the ocean for?" David then asked as he turned to Killian. "Just so we know when to expect you and Henry for dinner tonight?"

"No later than six o'clock," he answered after he took a sip of the coffee his wife had poured for him. "You wouldn't want to join us, would you, mate?"

Charming shook his head while he replied, "I'd like to, but I'll be busy out on our farm. I am a farmer again after all."

Killian nodded as he stated, "Ah yes. Of course. Speaking of farming, did you still need a hand with some of the work over the next few days? I may be one-handed, but there are some things I can still do to help you out."

"That'd be great," Charming answered and patted Hook's shoulder. "Thank you."

"Would any of the rest of you like to join us out on the Jolly Roger today?" the pirate Captain asked as he turned to look around the room, while Gold and Belle then entered the diner with their son in his mother's arms.

August nodded and then responded, "I'd like that, but it'll have to be another day. I can't today because Papa and I have a few projects we're busy with in the garage."

Marco continued, "If I could get over my fear of the ocean, I'd be happy to take you up on your offer, Captain. It was very kind of you."

"If you ever wish to rid yourself of said fear, I'd be privileged to help you do so any time," Killian replied sincerely. "You need only to ask."

"Thank you," the woodcarver answered quietly as he reached out to shake his friend's hand. "Perhaps I might join you and my son when he decides go out with you."

While Granny walked back out of her kitchen with their food in her hand and began to serve it to them with everyone's help, Mr. Gold walked over to the booth when his wife took a seat at the table beside Archie, then he looked around the room at everyone until his eyes stopped on Killian as he asked, "Please forgive my intrusion. Captain… might I have a word with you?"

Killian glanced apprehensively at his wife, then he turned back to the shopkeeper and left the booth to follow Gold over to the bar where they could talk more privately. The man who still carried the darkness within him wasn't unaware of his oldest enemy's uneasiness and he didn't blame him for it.

He finally spoke saying, "I realize things have still been strange and reasonably strained between you and I since everything's changed… since the final battle was won. Believe me, it hasn't gone unnoticed by me either. I don't know if we could ever be more than the enemies we've always been, but Belle has been helping me to become a better man, especially as of late by showing me what I can do to…"

"I've heard you've been trying to make amends to those you've wronged and hurt over the years," Hook responded before Gold could finish. "It's commendable to be sure. I believe that you truly are trying to change. I myself have tried to do the same in order to get to where I am after all I've done, yet you're the one person I never could come to. Our history is unlike anyone else's. You owe me nothing, I assure you."

"Actually, I believe I owe you more than anyone else, for all of the pain I've caused for you since our dark rivalry began," the Dark One replied honestly, looking down at his hands he was resting on the countertop in front of him. "I know we won't become friends as you are with everyone else in this town with one act of kindness or overnight. It will take time. I simply ask that you remain open to the possibility, so long as we both continue to be the men our wives deserve. And to start my amends to you, I'd like to offer you your hand back without a price attached, or any kind of curse cast over it… that is if you would like it returned to you?"

Killian looked down at his hook in frustration while he answered grimly, "I have let go of my hate for you, Gold. At least on most days. I've even learned to let go of what you did to Milah and you taking my hand centuries ago. I stole her away from you and Baelfire in the first place. A cruel act I can't ever make up for. Our hate for one another never would have started were it not for me. Her death and the loss of my hand is as much my fault as it is yours. But, I'm not ready to accept anything from you to help make up for the rest, for how you used my desire for my hand… It later allowed you to rip out my heart so you could use me as your puppet, then eventually tried to crush it."

Before Killian finished, he thought back a brief conversation shared between him and the Dark One while down in the Underworld minutes after Emma had saved him from Hades' dungeon as he remembered turning to face Gold despite the pain from the cruel God's torture and saying angrily, "I hear you took away my sacrifice. Everything I did to save my friends all went to give you back your power. I should kill you."

"Acknowledged," the villain uttered simply without showing Killian any kind of remorse for his actions.

"But… you helped get me out of there, so I should say…" the Captain responded more calmly in order to acknowledge some form of gratitude to his enemy for helping Emma to find him.

However, Mr. Gold interrupted him smugly, "Thank you. No need."

Hook then stated crossly, "Stay of execution. We're even… for now."

"I just wanted to get home, the Dark One replied after he glared at the pirate in silence for several seconds. "And yes, you're welcome, Captain."

"Nor have I forgiven you for taking away the one chance we had to destroy the darkness that's still inside of you now," Killian continued more softly, sensing everyone's eyes on them despite their efforts to ignore the conversation between them. "I've come to realize that my hate for you all these years have somewhat been misplaced, in the moments I felt the darkness consuming me as it destroyed every part of me that was good, every part of me that made me human. You see, it was really the darkness I despised and I realized then what it must have done to you too. However, I tried to destroy that darkness from this world once and for all, to save us all so that no one would ever suffer because of it again. But your greed and your lust for power made my sacrifice mean nothing because it still lives. I want to believe you won't ever become the monster I made you again, but it's only been a few weeks since the final battle, since you've chosen to fight for the good of the heroes. It's taken me a long time to change and I still haven't forgiven myself for all I've done while I was a villain either. Until you prove yourself worthy of everyone's forgiveness… until I'm able to forgive you as well as myself for those things, I can't accept anything from you. So please, save yourself the trouble and allow things to remain as they are, or allow time to help us fix the things of the past. I'm sorry."

When Killian finally finished saying his piece, he turned to Granny, who was staring between the two men while concern lined her face after she had walked out of her kitchen again a few minutes ago with another tray of food in her hands. Before the old woman could object, he awkwardly took the tray from her in an effort to help her, then brought it over to the booth and set it down on the table before everyone. Killian saw the worry for him in his wife's eyes while she looked up into his as he did so, but he couldn't hold the gaze between them any longer out of shame for allowing himself to create a scene in front of everyone and immediately turned away when Emma tried to reach out to touch his cheek. However, he couldn't just walk out without her following after him to find out what was wrong.

Killian finally leaned down next to Emma as he tenderly kissed her cheek, then he whispered, "Forgive me, love. I assure you, I'm alright. But I'm afraid I've lost my appetite. If you would, let the lad and Violet know I'm out preparing our ship. She'll be ready to set sail once they arrive. I promise, I'll see you later tonight at your parents'. I love you."

Killian was gone without another word before Emma could stop him from leaving or could even try to figure out what just happened and Belle looked up at her own husband as he slowly walked back over to the table, took a seat in the chair beside her, then she asked, "What was that all about? Is everything all right between you two?"

"I'm afraid making any amends to the man I've hurt the most isn't going to be nearly as easy, just as I expected it wouldn't be," Rumple answered sternly.

"Exactly how was it you tried to make amends to him?" the Savior asked him crossly.

The Dark One ignored her tone as he looked over at Emma and responded, "I'm afraid was a bit insensitive. I offered him his hand that I took from him without there being a price attached to it. I failed to think that it would only dredge up his memory from when I had done so some time ago upon his request, then used his simple to desire to be able to hold you with both hands on your first date against him."

Emma shook her head, then replied, "He'll be able to forgive you in time, Gold. Killian just needs to be able to see you mean what you say."

"Believe me, I understand," he said quietly.

"You've come a long way," Archie answered sincerely. "You should be proud."

Gold looked at the psychiatrist, then he turned back to his wife and smiled while he responded, "I have Belle to thank for that. Belle and my son. Love is more powerful than I've allowed myself to acknowledge since I became the Dark One centuries ago. If only I could have truly recognized it back when Baelfire was still alive."

Belle took her husband's hand in her own, then she replied, "He knew there was still love in your heart, Rumple."

"I hope so," he uttered.

"Hope is a really good first step," Snow answered their old enemy whom they could all see he truly appeared to be sincere.