The pulse of green energy that washed across the island was Henry giving up his heart to Peter Pan. With boy leader back to full strength and Henry dead to the world and under a preservation spell.
A somber mood took over the group of hero's, villain's and assassin's as Regina, Emma and Neal returned Henry's lifeless body to the camp. The trio of parents settled his body down on a cot as they gathered defeated seeing their failure right in front of them.
The pain was felt none more so than the assassins that had felt that power that now resided in the boy leader. The magics that surrounded the island was slowly building into something now one present would be able to fight now that Rumpelstiltskin was stuck inside his own Pandora's box.
"Gold is in a box" Mary Margaret started in dismay breaking the silence that had enveloped the group "And David and Romeo can never leave the island"
"Snow" Romeo gently called out to his goddaughter "that does not matter. I have already made peace with that a long time ago. I'm sure David will too" David nodded along to the Master Assassins words "What matters is Henry" Romeo looked towards the former Queen "How much time do we have left?"
"Maybe an hour before the preservation spell wears off" Regina tells the man as she sits over her son
"If he's airborne, he can be anywhere on the island" Neal told the group
"Now is just as much time I suggest we get started looking" Hook added
Regina, ignores Hook's suggestion and stomps over to Felix with Amelia and Emma hot on her heels not knowing what the former Queen would do
"Where is he?!" she demands out of the lost boy and Pan's right hand man taking his front in her hands
"Gone" Felix answered the Queen "There's nothing you can do. He's already won. Pan never fails"
"You won't talk? How about I make you talk?" she goes to rip out his heart, but is stopped by Emma who pulls her away from the boy
"Regina, wait" the blonde tries to calm her down
"There's no time!" The Queen argued with the blonde
"I don't think torture is our best move here" Emma say's to reason with the angry mother "Look at these kids. They've been to hell and back. We need to try something else"
"Yeah, we tried the cute and cuddly" Regina argued "They don't respond to reason. What else do you have to offer?"
Emma looks over Regina's shoulder to her mother "What every kid wants. A mother"
With time running out by the second. Emma crouched onto the balls of her feet to address the Lost boys that were still tied up and fully awake on the ground. Tom, Romeo's young apprentice sat with one of the younger lost boys clinging to him for comfort as the male Assassin stood next to Captain Hook behind Felix, Pan's right hand and most loyal out of all the lost boys.
Regina's hand sort out Amelia's as they stood side by side behind the blonde as they went along with her plan to talk to the boy's.
"Guys, listen to me" she started "We are not going to hurt you. I know you're loyal to Pan and I get that, but you are making a terrible mistake. For a long time, I thought I was never gonna find my family. I was an orphan like all of you. A lost girl. And I was reminded today that I am not alone" The blonde looks to her parents "That I have a lot of people who love me. And I never thought that was gonna happen. If that can happen to me, it can happen to you"
"Pan is the only family we need" Felix barked at the blonde's words
"No, family doesn't do what he did" Emma argued with the teen "Pan lied to you and made you do terrible things. He lied to Henry and convinced him to give up his own heart!"
"To save the island" the young boy clinging to Tom spoke up to the blonde
"No, to save himself"
"Don't listen to her" Felix orders the other boys "Pan cares about all of us"
"No, he doesn't" Emma spoke up once again "We care about you. And we can save you. We can take you home with us. To our land. There's no reason to fear Pan anymore. Until he absorbs the power from Henry's heart, he can be stopped"
"You just have to tell us where he is" Mary Margaret tells the boys
Felix stands up "Leave now while Pan still allows you to breathe" Hook and Romeo forces the teen back down with a hook and strong hand on each shoulder "That's the only hope you'll get"
Emma walks to the teen "Where… is Pan?"
"Not. Telling"
"Can you really bring us home?" the boy clung to Tom asks the blonde
"Shut your mouth!" Felix spits at the boy as Emma goes to the boy
"Yes, with your help"
Tom saw the difference of the blonde he had met days before that let the dark brunette take his heart. She wasn't the mother that would do anything to get a simple message to her son. She was a mother desperate to save her son's life. Everything they've done since coming here was to save his life. Something he wished his mother would do or him. Then he saw something that had changed his mind about keeping his mouth shut.
He saw Romeo's daughter holding the dark brunette hand, the woman that took his heart. Not only did Henry have one mother that cared for him. He had three. He was lucky. He just wanted one. Maybe he could get that if he went home with them
"His thinking tree" Tom blurts out to the savior making her look at him
"NOOO!" Felix screams at the boy Pan had trusted as his third in command in horror
"Yes, his thinking tree" another boy speaks up
"STOP IT ALL OF YOU!" Felix continues to protest trying to fight of the Captains behind him
"What is that?" Emma asks looking at Tom for the answer
"That's where he goes when he wants to be alone" he answers the blonde. Romeo looks on in pride at his young apprentices bravery to turn his back on the other lost boy's something he's only seen his daughter ever do "You can find him there. It's not far"
"No, don't trust her!" Felix screams at the teen
"Can you tell us where that is?" Emma ask's Romeo's apprentice
"But you have to swear... swear that you'll take us with you" Tom tells her making Amelia smile to herself at the boys confidence to hold the adults around him to their promise
"I promise. We are going home"
"The Pixie Woods?" Regina questioned the boy she used to get a message to Henry day's ago "That's where he is?"
"It's just north of here" Tom tells the former Queen "It's where the pixie dust used to grow"
Emma looks to Hook and Romeo "You know where that is?"
"Aye" Hook confirmed "The whole region is deserted now. No one but Pan has set foot in those woods in centuries"
"Then let's make history" Neal tell them
"We're gonna need you here" Emma tells her ex "Once we get Henry's heart, it's a race back. We need help on both ends"
"Okay"
"What do you need from us?" The Prince asks Henry's father
"Let's gather up the Lost Boys and get them aboard the Jolly Roger" At that The Lost Boys grin excitedly at each other "Prepare the ship to fly"
"Let's hope you have a Pegasus sail" Hook adds "Otherwise, we're at the mercy of the trade wings"
Neal hold up the coconut that holds the shadow "Pan's shadow is in here. It'll get us home. If your ship holds together"
Grabbing the younger Captains shoulder stopping Hook from saying anything to his rival for Emma's affections "If the Jolly Roger is anything like the Jackdaw and long as your plan holds together, she will" Romeo tells Neal with a firm nod
Neal nods to the man that had abandoned his all those years ago before turning back to Emma "Henry's gonna be with me the entire time. Nothing is gonna happen while you two are away"
"You mean three" Mary Margaret spoke up "I may be trapped on this island for the rest of eternity, so if you think I'm not going to be spending my last moments with my daughter, you're crazy"
"I'm with you too Swan" Amelia announced to the blonde
"Lia.."
"I promised you that I would make sure what happened to my son happened to yours. Just ask your mother or Regina. Once I make a promise, I keep it"
"Okay" she nods to the Assassin "Let's do it"
Months Ago
The small town of Storybrooke hadn't changed since Amelia Smith had come to the sleepy town to get away from her past. For as long as she could remember she stuck to the same routine. During the day she would spend most of her time upstairs in the bar she had inherited from her father, catching up with any paperwork that crossed her desk or by helping downstairs putting away deliveries or tending the bar on busy nights with her manager/ bartender Luke. When lunchtime came around she would head to Granny's from something that would take her through until closing, before returning just before opening.
Today was like no other as she stood behind the bar after what it felt like hours battling more paperwork that had magically appeared from the Sheriff and Mayor's office. Both offices were always trying to find a way to shut her down. From charges of late night assault's on their unruly drunk patron's to liquor licences that seemed to run out overnight. But her lawyer would simply wave his hand to cut any red tape that wrapped around her wrists
While Luke her bartender was out back dealing with their new delivery, it was up to her to take stock of the new bottles that had arrived with her back towards the bar as her green's eye's scanned each bottle individually. It was payday today, that would mean the car would be busier than usual as the residents kicked back to relax after another long week
"Hi!" she suddenly hear's a young boy's voice behind her. Slowly turning around the redhead was met with the image of a young boy with brown hair sat at her bar on one of the high stools with a striped scarf around his neck and a navy-blue coat sporting a sweet innocent smile on his face. She knew this boy from around town. Henry Mill's the Mayor's son.
"Hello there" she drawled out in greeting
"I'm Henry" he tells her
"I'm Amelia" she says taking a step towards the bar "Are you lost?"
"Nope" he replies popping the 'p' shaking his head at her keeping the smile on his face.
He had found her. He had read of the infamous Black Widow that served the Evil Queen and Rumpelstiltskin in the Enchanted Forest. He hadn't had a lot to go by as the book focused on her time with the Queen. At first he thought she was just another villain in a world of fair-tales but that all changed when she helped Prince Charming get his baby daughter and faced the Evil Queen head on while the curse she helped to enact.
She like everyone else here were stuck in their cursed lives. He had only seen her on occasion around town, but whenever his adopted mother saw the redhead she would quickly move them along as if she was scared of her.
She went as Smith here. He wondered why as she went by Montage in the books.
"Okay" she drawled taking a step towards the bar to lean down in her elbows opposite him "But you do know you're a little young to be in here, right?" he only nods at her "And I could get in a lot of trouble with the mean sheriff if I don't call your Mom and tell her where you are?"
"I know" he says as he brings out a large book that looked a little too big for him and placed it on the bar in front of him "But while we wait, can I ask you a few questions?"
A gentle smile grew on her face as she watched him open the book up and flick through the pages until he got to his desired spot "Sure" she says "Why not?"
It didn't take long for Regina, Amelia, Emma and Mary Margaret to march north of Pan's camp to find the boy leader's thinking tree.
The assassin lead the band of mothers through the jungle cutting down leaves that got in their way with the sharp edge of her Kukri blade with Regina behind her. Cutting out one last jungle leaf the redhead led them to a small clearing with a large tree sat in front of them with a rock with Pandora's boxes sat upon it's surface.
"Look" Regina gains the groups attention to see the box sat upon. Emma takes out her sword as they all approach the tree. Mary Margaret sets aside her bag of arrow shafts on the ground and moves to take the box.
"Careful" Amelia pushes Mary Margaret back away from the box "Pan wouldn't have just left it behind for no reason"
"It's David's and Romeo's only way home" the pixie haired woman argues with the Assassin "Without Gold, we're stuck here" She tries to grab the box, but vines ensnare her from behind
Despite her awareness of her surroundings she didn't account for vines to suddenly seize her and the others from behind as they untangled themselves around their torso's and legs as they are dragged backwards until their back hit the truck trunk making them drop all their weapons. The redhead tried to fight off the natural assailant only for them to tighten enough to render her arms useless, as they are locked against her chest crossed over the other
Even her hidden blades would be useless, unless she wanted them to end up in her own neck.
She and the other's struggled against the vines trying to find a way out only for Pan himself to emerge from behind the same tree they were being held against.
"You're still at it. Don't you know—" Pan's voice made Amelia growl in displeasure as he picks up a dropped sword "Peter Pan never fails" he tells the woman in confidence "I didn't expect you to find me. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. You're mothers" he tells them "Quite tenacious about your offspring even if some of them are still missing" he sent towards the red head only to be met by a deadly glare "Believe it or not, I understand that. But if you're looking to see Henry again, I have to tell you there's only one place you'll be reunited—in death"
"Having trouble moving?" he taunts the quad as the continued to fight against the vines "Can't be surprised given where you are. Do you see what is hastening your demise is your regret?"
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked the teen
Pan looked up almost fondly at the tree they were trapped against "This tree is the site of a very important event for me. I abandoned my boy here after my daughter was taken from me" he tells the mothers
"You have children?" Regina questioned the teen
"I'm older than I look" he simply states to the former Queen
"If you have children, you must regret losing them, too" Emma tried to speak to Pan's softer side, but Amelia had an incline that he had no other sides than the one that stood right in front of them.
"But I don't. Quite the opposite, actually" he picks the box from the rock "See, I have him all boxed up so I don't lose him again" he showed them before looking straight at Amelia "And my girls own daughter is right here with us, it's just like having her here again" he looked at Amelia almost lovingly as her green eye's met his.
He was her grandfather. Evil truly did run through her veins.
"Rumpelstiltskin is your son?" Regina questioned him in disbelief
"That he is" he confirmed looking at Amelia. He took a couple of confident steps toward her so he stood right in front of her, almost nose to nose as he looked over the woman's that was the spitting image of his Juliet "Which makes me your grandfather" he says to the redhead slowly as the other watched the interaction "I must say I am glad to see you do take after my Julie more than your pathetic father" the only retort he got from the Assassin was her lunging forward trying to get to him with gritted teeth. He didn't even blink at the redheads defiance. It only made him miss his Juliet even more.
"How's that possible?" Mary Margaret questioned making him look away from her friend "You're—"
"Younger than him? Not really" he scoffed at the Princess as he gives his attention to the pair "Just like you and your daughter"
"You're a fraud" Amelia spat at the boy "Your magic is weakened. You can't even hurt us; let alone Rumpelstiltskin" a dark chuckle left the Assassin as she met her grandfather's eye
"You're right, Amelia" he told the redhead with a sickly smile that made her stomach churn "But that's why I'm here. This tree will protect me till my power's restored. And then well... then I get to have some real fun. Then I won't ever have to worry about my child again. Something we will all soon have in common"
Emma lunges at him, but fails due to the vines making the other's jerk "There has to be another way" the blonde says out load
"You're not going to get to me. See, this tree attacks the regret inside anyone who comes here, and you, you've got plenty" he points Emma's sword at the blonde's neck
"I regret not taking a better shot at you when I had the chance" the savior retorted
"That's not all, is it, savior? No. I have your son's heart inside me. I can feel just how much you let him down time and time again" he taunted the blonde
"Leave her alone" Mary Margaret tells the boy making him turn to her
"Perhaps I should" he tells the former Princess turning to her "After all, what chance did you have of being a good mother? Look at the example you set. Abandoning her for twenty-eight years"
"Shut your damn mouth" Amelia seethed from her place on Emma's other side making Pan turn towards her again
"This coming from the mother that didn't fight hard enough to save her family. Did you ever try and find your son while you served your Queen and killed your brotherhood?" he taunted the redhead "Or were you too busy warming her bed to give a damn" he whispered into her ear, still loud enough for the others to hear.
Tears gathered in her eyes as regret filled her mind for not trying enough to find her Tom. He was still alive somewhere, but she couldn't bring herself to go looking for him as the years went past. She didn't want him to see the woman she became.
"Are you finished?" Regina interrupted Pan's taunts towards her old partner
"Last words from the Queen" he quipped stepping back from the four women, his words having gotten to three of the four "Perhaps a deathbed confession from the one who has the most regrets of all"
"Yeah, there's one problem with that" she started calmly towards the boy "I did cast a curse that devastated an entire population. I have tortured and murdered. I've done some terrible things. I should be overflowing with regret, but, I'm not" The Queen states as she easily pulls herself from he vines, setting the other three free of the vines "Because it got me my son" quickly stepped forward she pushes her hand into the boy's chest ripping out Henry's heart from Pan's chest making Pan collapses on the ground and reaches for the box, only for Regina picks it up
Regina looks towards Amelia, Emma and Mary Margaret with a smirk, holding both the heart and box in her hands "Now, let's go save Henry"
She had no idea how her son had managed to find the back street dive, but one thing she did know is that he was going to be grounded until he was eighteen.
Letting herself into the Hidden Ones, the Mayor was greeted with the image of her son at the bar surrounded by men and woman that used to work for her Black Widow. With the widow herself perched on the bar stool next to her son as roars of laughs come from the group as Henry laughed along side them with a half a glass of orange juice sat next to him.
Hearing the door open it was Amelia to see her first as her green eyes meeting her's. Throughout the curse she had managed to keep her distance from the beautiful redhead that had betrayed her all those years ago. It wasn't the first time she had spoken to the woman, often bumping into her in the town and the diner, but each time she saw her cursed self, it reminded her of the hurt she felt. But the redhead had no idea what she had done to hurt her so much. The only way she could torture the woman was to come up with anything that would disrupt her business. Only the forced closures never seemed to active anything as Mr. Gold would sweep in and save the day. So instead of fighting she just sent her the odd mountain hill of paperwork that would trap her inside her office.
The worse thing she could do to the assassin was to limit her freedom to the confides of the four walls. She liked being outside, stretching those toned and trained legs of her's that would allow her to climb any wall that got in her way. She partially enjoyed it when her cursed self would lose it's temper and find herself in a jail cell overnight to cool off until Gold bailed her out and getting any charges thrown away. Her cool and collected demeanor was now a slave to violent outbursts that would see drunk patrons end up in hospital.
She also clouded her mind as a grieving mother and wife pining after her dead husband and lost son, not ever being able to move on. In the early days she had Sydney Glass follow her movements curious to how her curse had affected the assassin. Most Sunday's she would spend her day' working out. After a hard run on the hike trail she would end up at the docks to cool down, taking a seat on a bench looking out to sea as if she was trying to look for something in the horizon until she simply got up and left.
Slipping off her stool the redhead owner cleared her throat to gain her employee's attention "Get back to work everyone, his mother's here" at that they all said goodbye in a series of pat on the shoulder or ruffling his hair as they disappeared from the floor leaving them alone. Gathering his things she escort's the 10 year-old across the bar floor to stand in front of his mother
"Madam Mayor" she greets her with polite smile "you got my message, I'm surprised not to see the Sheriff with you" she jokes with the woman
"Miss Smith" she politely replies as she straightening out her suit jacket as she found herself under the redhead's gaze
"Hi Mom" Henry speaks up reminding her of his presence a scowl grew on her face seeing her son in this..place.
"Henry, what are you doing here?"
"He got lost on his way back home" Amelia quickly spoke up for the boy "He came in here and asked us to call you"
Regina looks towards him "Is that true?" Henry quietly nods at her before she looks back at the redhead "Well then, thank you. But he knows better than to talk to strangers"
Amelia bit down at the use of the term stranger. She'd known the boy his whole life, albeit this being the first time having spoken to him, trying to answer question she had no clue about like believing in soulmates or having jumped from anything taller than the clock tower. His fascination with a book of fairy tales of late had gotten him some trouble of late. Asking residents about their 'previous' life before getting 'cursed' the Evil Queen, his mother.
"No problem, Madam Mayor" she replied "Happy to help"
"Come along Henry" at that the woman turned and left the bar as the boy ran after her with his book in his arms
"Thanks Lia!" he calls back earning a playful wink from her, making him smile, before turning to leave the redhead alone to continue her cursed life until he finds his birth mother to break the curse. Maybe then he would get the Black Widow's full story. Until then he had to help find everyone's happy ending, wondering how the redhead fitted into the story.
He couldn't wait to get to know her.
Rushing through the Neverland jungle the mother's arrive back on the Jolly Roger with Henry's heart in their possession
"Henry?" Emma yelled once they boarded the ship "Where is he?"
"He's over here!" Neal answered the blonde's call waving them over to the higher deck. Henry's mother's kneel over his body as the other's gathered around the boy.
Romeo went to his daughter side as to see worry for the young boy etched across her face. He could see the love she held for the even if he weren't her own. That is how he knew his daughter had not fully turned dark after years of hunting down his former brothers for his 'death'.
"Hold on, Henry" Regina whispered encouragement to her son before pushing his heart back into his chest. The group of hero's and villain waited with bated breath as they looked for any sign of the boy's recovery.
"Henry?" Emma called out to her son as everyone looks on anxiously. Only for Henry remains to remain motionless "Are we too late?"
"Come on Henry" Romeo heard his daughter say under breath "Fight" she urged the boy. As if he heard the redhead's words he suddenly gasp back to life making relief flood over his loved ones faces as he sit's up to be embraced by both his mothers.
"Woah, woah, woah. Take it easy, buddy" Neal tells his son
Henry looks to his family with regret in his eyes "I'm sorry. I wanted to save magic"
"It's okay. It's okay" Emma tried to reassure
"I-I wanted to be a hero"
"Hey, there's plenty of time for that" his grandpa told him
"Right now, it's time to rest" Mary Margaret tells her grandson
"Welcome back, young sir" Captain Hook announced to the boy making him look to the pirate "Only the best for our guest of honor. Don't you think? Captain's quarters"
Henry looked around him to see his family and Captain Hook gathered around him with one new addition with next to Amelia "W-ho are you?" he asked the stranger curiously looking at the leather gauntlets similar to Amelia's.
Amelia crouch down next to him as happy tear brimmed her eyes "Henry, this is someone important to me" Henry watched Amelia closely as she looked back to the man in Assassin robes and sabers on his waist "Meet Captain Romeo Montague of the Jackdaw"
"Your Dad?" he gaped in happiness for the redhead. Amelia nodded with tear filled eye's as he practically threw himself into the red head's arms wrapping around, her neck. She easily caught the young boy holding him tight cradling the back of his head resting her chin in his shoulder as the others watched on with watery smile's themselves seeing the woman melt for the eleven-year-old boy she had become fond of since the curse broke.
She finally had a family after so long alone and Henry was a huge part of that.
Once the pair parted and Amelia gently set Henry back onto the hard deck Romeo crouched down next to his daughter "Hello there " he greets the young boy "I've heard a lot of good things about you, young man"
"Really?"
"Enough to get this rowdy bunch to work together to find you anyway" Henry laughed at the older man's humor "You better get some rest young man, you've been on quite the adventure"
"Come on. I'll tuck you in" Regina told her son taking him to the Captain's quarters
With Henry safe and sound tucked in the Captain's Quarter's from his grand adventure, Amelia watched with her father beside her as Neal opened Pandora's box and release the old man from the trap his father put him into. With Emma and her parents nearby, they waited idly for the Dark One to return ready to create a cure for David and Romeo once they got home.
Dark red mist left the box and flouted in the air until Rumpelstiltskin appeared on the deck. Seeing his son the old man engulfed his son in a warm hug which was reciprocated by Neal himself.
"Where's Henry?" Rumple quickly asked after his grandson
"He's safe" Neal answered him "He's safe"
"I told you I wasn't gonna hurt the boy"
"I know, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me Pan was your father?"
"Because I didn't want you to know I was as bad a father as he was. Because we're both the same; me and him. Because we both abandoned our sons"
"No, you're not the same. You came back for me, Papa" the father son duo hug again as they bury the hatchet that had strained their relationship for so long. She had to admit it was good to see the old man safe and sound once again.
"He's back then" her father spoke up stood next to her as they watched Rumpelstiltskin being freed from Pandora's box.
"He's back" she repeated looking up to her father with folded arms "And with that, your banishment's over for good Father. I'll see to it myself"
A teary smile grew on the older Assassin's weathered face as the word he wished to hear leave his daughter's lips for the first time as he gathered her into his arms cradling the back of her head like his did when he held her for the first time all those year's ago.
The redhead held the man as tight as she could feeling the water skin that would keep him alive long enough to get him to Storybrooke, tear's leaked from her eye's at the thought of a second chance with the man that had trained and raised her.
However, their moment was interrupted as he suddenly felt his daughter stiffen in his arms and push herself out of his arms reaching for her Kukri blade. The older assassin saw her eye's widen in fear as she felt something even he hadn't felt come onboard the ship, something that feared her as she quickly sought out her uncle who had felt the same presence in the Captain's Order.
Pan was here.
"Amelia?" her father called out to her only for it to go ignored by the redhead
"Stay here" Rumple ordered his son and Romeo grabbing the box he was trapped in "Find Regina" She nodded and ran down to retrieve the Queen
Below deck Pan held Henry at knife point on the bed his adopted Mother had previously tucked him into "Wha-what are you doing?" Henry stammered at Pan in fear
"I wanted your heart, Henry. But your mother took it away from me. Left me for dead. What a mistake" Pan tried thrusting his hand into Henry's chest attempting to pull out Henry's heart, but is burned by Regina's enchantment "Ugh!" he screamed in pain "Oh, how clever, instead of going for his chest. He tears into Henry's back to rip out his shadow
Henry screams out in pain as the boy leader partially succeeds pulling the eleven year old's shadow from his body "What are you doing?!" he yells as Pan ignores him as he continues
"Blood magic works both ways, father" Gold states as Henry and Pan look up to see the Dark One at the door, nothing more is said as Gold opens opens Pandora's box to trap his father once and for all.
Still refusing to let go of Henry's shadow as the box sucks him in, at the last possible moment without the Dark One noticing. Pan switches his body for Henry's as Henry goes into his
"No!" Henry in Pan's body protests as he's is absorbed into the box
Regina rushes into room with Amelia not too far behind her to find the boy unharmed "Henry? Henry? Henry" she panics rushing forwards to see to her son
"It's okay. I'm okay" 'Henry' reassures his mother
"Are you sure?"
"He's a strong boy, Regina" Gold compliments the woman "You raised him well"
Pan's last attempt of getting Henry's heart was enough to convince everyone they needed to get as far from Neverland as they could and return home. With final preparations being made to fly, Amelia and Mary Margaret gathered the Lost boy's to the edge of the deck to hold onto the ropes ready for the journey ahead.
Tom, Romeo's apprentice was dawdling a little to long for the redheads liking as she took the front of the teens front taking him by surprise and gently encouraging him backwards to the edge with the other's taking the teen by surprise at the woman's encouragement.
"Stay here" she told him with a friendly smile, he nodded at the Assassin as she took the spot next to him as Regina waited near the wheel ready to trap Pan's shadow in the main sail as Neal held the coconut holding the shadow in front of a small cannon with Emma waiting nearby to light it.
"Ready, Regina?" Emma looked to Regina who nodded confidently, her eye's sought out Amelia who was already looked at her next to Tom. Amelia gave the former Queen a wink and smirk telling her she had this in the bag.
Hearing the familiar hiss of the fuse as they waited for the eventual boom with a protective hand in front of Tom. Just before it fires, Neal opens the coconut halves to free the Shadow, who is catapulted into the air by the cannon. Quickly reacting Regina uses her magic to force the Shadow into the ship sail, which turns black.
"You think it'll fly?" Emma questioned the Queen
"It has no choice" she answered the blonde
"Then let's get the hell out of Neverland" Emma ordered the pirate and Captain Montague as the veteran sailor's to take charge
"As you wish, m'lady" Romeo answered the blonde with a smile towards the savior
"Bosun, weigh anchor!" Hook announced. Powered by the Shadow sail, Amelia felt the ship lifts into the clouds and begins flying them home.
The wind whipped through Amelia's short curls as they took off out of the water into the sky as the Assassin let out a breath she had been holding in since they arrived on the mysterious island Greg and Tamara had taken Henry to.
She was going home at last. At last, she could rest knowing she would never have to see Pan's face ever again.
As peace settled around the ship so did the passenger's. David stood with his daughter on deck watching the night sky go past them.
"You know, when we first landed on this island, you said we would all need to work together" her father started
"I was just trying anything" she brushes David words off
"Well, to be honest, I didn't think it was possible" David told his daughter with his wife nearby giving out food servings to the Lost Boys "Hero, villain, assassin, pirate... that we could all be united, but we were because of the most important piece of the puzzle. Leader"
"I'm just glad we were all able to work together and get Henry home" Emma told him "Get all of us home"
Romeo looked out into the dark horizon at the stern with a new sense of peace knowing his daughter was okay. For year's he was plagued with nightmares that she had been found and killed or captured by his brothers after they found out who she was to him. She had found a life away from the Creed only for it to find her again and tear her life apart, but he was stronger for it, he saw it now.
She was like her mother nothing would take her down. Pain made her stronger.
"Like to take the wheel Captain?" Hook offered the older Captain Montague taking the Assassin out of his thoughts as he steered the ship through the night sky.
"I'm afraid by steering day's are over Killian" He politely declines "The Jolly Roger's a fine vessel but she's no Jackdaw"
"Aye, she's faster" Hook bantered with the senior Captain nodded with small laugh
The two went back into comfortable silence until Romeo broke it "Would you do this old Captain once last favor?"
"Aye" Hook asked the man curiously
Romeo looked towards his daughter speaking to Tink and the young Lost Boy Tom with a comfortable smile on her face "Keep an eye on her for me" the one-handed pirate looked oddly at the senior Captain he came to respect despite their difference with the odd request. Then his eye's traveled his front for the item he needed to survive. The water skin was missing.
"Where's your water mate?" his voice lowered making sure no one overheard their conversation
"I threw it overboard shortly after we left the water" he tells the pirate honestly "It's time I find my wife again"
Hook's jaw clenched at the Captain "And when exactly did you make this decision?" he said through gritted teeth
"Shortly after Henry woke up. You saw her with him, she has a family now, they'll look out for her now"
"I think she's got her heart set on you living for little while longer" Hook tried to reason with the older Captain
Romeo shook his head at the younger Captain "This…Storybrooke is not my home. Nor was Monteriggioni after Juliet died. I stayed for my daughter; she was the only thing that kept me going some days even if I had to teach her the way of the Creed. I never wanted this life for her, I prayed each day she would find something more than the Brotherhood and she has, even if it had to take down a dark path. I was ready to die a long time ago Killian. It's time"
Hook's head fell forward at the thought of the old Captain meeting his maker, even in his own terms. He liked the man enough not to see the man go. He was a legend. He lived up to the stories that were told about him and more.
"Aye" he relented. If the man was ready to die. He couldn't take that away from him "I'll keep an eye on her. I swear"
"Thank you" Romeo told Hook with a sad smile "You're a good man Killian"
After his talk with Hook, Romeo ventured down to the main deck where he found his goddaughter with the lost boys as he had started to feel the full effect of the dream shade as his side ached from where Claudius had stabbed him with the poisoned blade, he could feel it starting burn as the poison fast tracked to his heart. It wouldn't take long this time. Snow had finally looked up to see him as he came to stop in front of her
"Godfather Romeo?" the former Princes called out to the elder assassin standing up straight from where she was helping the lost boys
He let out a chuckle at her sweet concerned voiced "You haven't called me that in years" he told the Princess with a tight-lipped smile "I still remembered you as the girl that risked getting her new dress dusty from a hug from me and now you have a husband, a grown daughter and a grandson. I've missed a lot"
"You have" the pixie haired woman lightly chuckled "But that doesn't matter now, you can catch up once we get home and get the cure for you and David and then we can catch up on everything" a laugh escaped the Assassin's mouth at the woman's "What?"
"It's nothing, you sound just like your parents" the pair grew quiet at the mention of Queen Eva and King Leopold. His friends. She had told him when he returned to their camp that her father had died at the Queen Regina's hand and how she had to leave the palace fearing her own safety "I am sorry, I wasn't there Snow"
"You weren't. But Amelia was" she told him "She helped me through my worst times, I owe her everything, I just wish I were there for her more, I can't imagine what she must've went through"
"You couldn't have done anything Snow; she knew what she was doing going down that path" he tried to reassure the pixie haired woman in front of him "I can only thank you for giving her a second chance"
A watery smile grew on the Princess face as she nearly threw herself into his arms like she did when she was a child, the man easily caught her in a fatherly hug that was long awaited between god daughter and god father.
"I've missed you" she whispered into the man's shoulder
"Me too Snow" the older man gently pulled back from the embrace to hold the Princess's by her shoulders "but you have a family now you don't need this old man to keep an eye on you" he told the young woman only for a wave of dizziness to wash over his vision making him stumble back from the Princess.
He would've been on the deck if it wasn't for a set of slender hand's he knew well to catch his back and elbow
"Are you okay old man?" his daughter's teasing voice caught his ear, a rye smile grew on Romeo's face at his daughters nickname for him as she gripped his elbow as Snow took his other one with concerned looks on their faces
"I'm not old" he retorted as he gained his footing once again "It seem's I've lost my sea legs from all these years of being on land" he panted, Amelia saw the sweat that covered his forehead, reminded her of how sweaty David got before drinking the water.
"Come on, you'll feel better below deck" he nodded to his daughter as she and Snow guided him below deck before leaving Amelia with her father
Once she settled her father down on one of the bed's, holding her father's hand as he slowly set himself onto the cot with heavy breaths as she sought out the water skin keeping him connected to Neverland, but it was nowhere on his person. Was it still on deck? Did he drop it? Did somehow take it from him?
"Where's your water?" she asks her father who is only getting sicker by the minute the longer he is away from Neverland
"Amelia" he groaned in pain as he made himself comfortable on his back
"Where is it?" she asked him again
"It's gone" he finally told her "I threw it overboard before we left Neverland"
"Then I'll get David's even if I have to pry it out of his cold dead hands" she went to storm out of the cabin only for his still strong hand to grip her forearm stopping her from leaving him
"Stop" he orders her "You're not taking that man's chance to live"
"Then I'll force Hook to turn the ship round and get some more" she went to leave again only for Romeo to use his dwindling strength to pull her back
"You are not doing anything of the kind" he scolds her "You will only put your family in more danger if Pan find's you again. Dying or not, he will want payback for beating him"
Amelia gulped down her anger towards her father's action as her eyes stung from the oncoming tears of what her father wanted to do "You'll die" a shaky breath escaped the red head as she turned her head to look down to her ailing father
"I've lived so many lives Amelia. It's time" relenting she knelt by her father's cot side clasping his hands in her's in a tight grip
"Please don't do this to me" she begged him as hot tear's fell from her eye's "I've just got you back" the crack of her voice made the older Assassin wince to himself
The Assassin looked at his daughter with sad eyes as she no longer resembled the woman she had grown into when he was banished but the girl as she sat next to her mother's lifeless body trying to fight off the tears only to lose to the pain she felt in her heart.
"I do not blame you for hunting down the others" he started "I felt the same way after your mother passed, I wanted someone to pay, someone to feel the pain I felt, you only did what I would've done if I hadn't had you to look after"
"But you didn't" she spat at him as her temper took over "You let them hurt me for years"
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it. If there's one single regret I have is that I didn't take you far away from the Brotherhood as soon as your mother died, but there was a bigger battle that needed to be won if the Assassins were ever going to be put back onto the right path" he told her as he felt the poison slowly travel towards his heart, taking his shaky hand out of hers that rested on his stomach his took his daughter's face as she nuzzled her face into his aged and callused hand "A fight beyond any of us… one I now have to pass onto you"
"What fight?" she asked in confusion
"You will have to discover on your own like I did I'm afraid, it goes' beyond what's deemed as good and evil in this world. I wish I could tell you more, but I can't. Just promise me you will find that life outside the Brotherhood, it's not worth your life anymore"
"I promise" she sniffed as he lent his head back on the pillow and let his heavy eye's close as he felt his heart trying to fight against the deadly poison, but he couldn't fight it off for long. He simply just needed to let go, and it'll be over.
And he did.
AN:
R.I.P Romeo
Thanks for reading this chapter.
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