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“Walsh?” Emma asked in shocked confusion as she stepped back.
 
The svelte man looked nearly as he did the last day she had seen him, on the rooftop in New York. There was a pain in her chest to remember how she felt that day.
 
“Emma, I was so worried!” He hugged her. “The whole time I was under the wicked witch’s control, I just wanted to get back to you. To protect you. To save you from her.”
 
“Walsh… I…” She felt as though she had been hit in the face.
 
“Can we talk Emma?” He asked gently.
 
“Yes! Walsh, of course we can talk! I just… I need to…” she turned to look back at the table where her family was.
 
Her mother and father exchanged a confused look. Henry looked pleased to see Walsh safe. But all she could see was Killian’s wide-eyed expression as he saw her in the arms of another man. She quickly stepped away from Walsh.
 
“Well.” Killian stood. “It’s been a lovely night. Your highness’s, thank you for your kind invitation. I was truly touched to hear your sons name.” He smiled at Snow and charming.
 
The pirate made his way to the door.
 
“No, wait- Killian!” Emma called after him.
 
“Emma!” Walsh held her hand. “I really need to talk to you.”
 
“Walsh I can’t right now! I have to-“
 
“Please!” He implored her. “Please Emma. I can’t go one more minute letting you think I deceived you!” His eyes were filled with heartbreak.
 
Emma turned and watched Killian’s leather-clad shoulders lumber out the door and around the corner.
 
“Please Emma.” Walsh begged again. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
 
“I know Walsh.” She sighed. “Let’s talk.”
 
She found a table just inside the window. She couldn’t stop herself from glancing outside, hoping to see Killian in his black duster returning to the party. But he was gone.
 
“I couldn’t get you out of my mind the whole time.” Walsh looked down at the linoleum table top. “I wanted to tell you. To warn you that the wicked witch was manipulating you.” The svelte man’s eyes were full of emotion.”
 
“How long were you under her control?” She asked, eyes still on the door.
 
“Decades.” He sighed.
 
“What?!?” Emma gasped.
 
“I met Zelena back in Oz. I was considered a wizard there.”
 
“O-Oz???” Emma’s mouth dropped open. “You’re the…the wizard of Oz?” She asked.
 
“They called me that. But I wasn’t an actual wizard. I-“
 
“You’re from my world.” She smiled. “I know the story.”
 
“I suppose most people do.” He laughed.
 
“But if you were under her control that long…”
 
“I was conscious. The whole time. I knew what I was doing, but I couldn’t stop myself. I had to follow the witches command. For years I hoped that I would die. But then I met you. And I fell in love.” He smiled.
 
“Walsh…” Emma’s eyes were sympathetic.
 
“I know it’s a lot to take in.” The wizard sighed. “You must have such a hard time trusting me, knowing that I deceived you for a whole year. But I never wanted to. You’re the best thing to happen to me in years Emma.” He placed his hand on hers. “If not for you, I would never have been freed from the witches spell.”
 
“Walsh it wasn’t real.” She sighed.
 
“It was Emma! I know you don’t believe me. But I did love you. I still love you. And I know our feelings were true once. You must have felt it too.”
 
“You’re right.” She looked into his eyes. “I did love you. But I was also missing a huge part of my life. And so were you. We may have known each other then Walsh, But now… we’re strangers.”
 
“But we don’t have to be.” He smiled. “We can start over. With our memories in tact.”
 
“It’s not that simple Walsh.”
 
“Why not? You’ve defeated the witch! Our lives can go back to the way they were!” He produced the ring he had given her, placing it on the table.
 
Emma let escape a laugh.
 
“What is it?” He asked.
 
“I’m certain.” She said looking down at the ring. Any doubt she had assuaged by the sight of it.
 
“Certain of what?”
 
“I can’t marry you.” She leaned forward taking both of his hands in hers. “A part of me knew it then, when I was missing my memory. But now all of me knows it. I can’t marry you Walsh.”
 
“Emma…” he looked sadly into her eyes.
 
“I understand what you’ve been through. And I’m not upset with you. Believe it or not I know a thing or two about being trapped in a villains control. And I know there is nothing you could have done to resist Zelena.”
 
“But…you don’t feel the same way for me that I do for you?”
 
“No.” She said sadly. “I don’t.”
 
“Is there someone else…?” He asked. A catch in his voice.
 
“Yes.” She smiled. “Someone I didn’t remember before. Someone I didn’t know I was missing.”
 
“And you’ve… chosen him.”
 
“Im sorry. I really am glad you’re ok.”
 
“How long have you been together?” He asked.
 
“Little less than an hour now.” She looked down at her watch.
 
“An hour? You’re leaving a year-long relationship for a man you’ve only been with for an hour?”
 
“Yes.” She smiled standing up. “And I have to go find him. He’s waited long enough.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian boarded the Jolly Coastman. As he untied the mooring rope from the dock he felt only a slight comfort at his beloved ocean. He tried to push the thought of her from his mind. The thought of her excuses, her reasons, her turmoil to have the man she was once engaged to back. He shook his head as he walked into the cabin and took the helm.
 
Looking out onto the glass-like sea, It was unusual for the ocean to be quite so clear this far out. He had taken the Jolly Coastman far enough that he could no longer see the shore.
 
“The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,The furrow followed free:We were the first that ever burstInto that silent sea.”
 
He recited. His heavy gaze following the horizon. He wondered what lay in store for him when he returned. He took his phone from his pocket and glanced at the catalog of numbers. He lingered on Emma’s, then moved along to Belle’s. He stopped. Watching the signal get weaker and weaker as he drover further and further out to sea. Soon he wouldn’t be able to call anyone. Placing the phone back in his pocket he removed the photo of his son. He wanted to run again. To find a portal back to the enchanted forest. To find his ship. Find his crew. Reclaim a life he was familiar with. But he remembered his sons words.
 
‘You’re a creature of love.’
 
He sighed. He knew he couldn’t leave her. He placed the photo back in his jacket. And tried once more to find solace in the ocean. In the distance he spotted a strange shape. Looking down at his tracking system he saw no island. But as he drew closer, he realized why.
 
“What the bloody hell is this?” He marveled as he came upon an iceberg, several times larger than his modest ship.
 
He began coasting around it, certain he’d never seen anything of the sort in Storybrooke’s ocean before. Certainly not within range of his ship. But as he came around the far side, he found what he had been looking for. An entrance, a cave opening into the iceberg. A clear and low portion creating an entryway. A perfect place to tie up a boat. But as he did just that, he became increasingly certain it was a trap. Once more He pulled out his phone, looking down to check if he was within range. But was not surprised to find he wasn’t.
 
“I’ve been waiting for you Killian. Come in.”  A woman’s voice echoed from the cave.
 
“Who’s there?” He demanded drawing his sword.
 
“That won’t do you any good captain. I would think you could recognize strong magic when you see it.” said the voice
 
“Aye. Hence the sword.” He lowered it but kept it ready. “May I ask whose magic I have made my acquaintance with?”
 
“You may call me, the Snow Queen.”
 
“A queen are you? Well I’m afraid we’ve already got one of those in town and she’s insufferable. So if you could just move on to the next town down the coast I’m sure they’ll be needing a queen.”
 
“How humorous for a man with his sword drawn.” The snow queen chuckled.
 
“I’ve been told I have a habit of laughing in the face of my death.”
 
“I have no plans to kill you Captain. But I won’t be going anywhere.”
 
“I was afraid you’d say that.” He sighed. “So what do I have in store for me? Monsters? A dungeon? Turkish delight?”
 
“Where’s your sense of adventure captain? Come in, let’s talk.”
 
“Adventure it is your majesty.” He readied his hook and his sword, making his way into the cave.
 
*****
 
Emma ran down the street towards the docks. Unsure what to expect when she found Killian. It killed her that he could think she rejected him again. Even if only for a moment. She pounded on the door to the boathouse.
 
There was no answer.
 
She let herself in. The channel was slightly frozen in the winter air. A crisp chill in the poorly insulated lower half of the building. She stumbled over some fishing traps in the dark as she made her way up the steps to the modest apartment. She knocked again.
 
There was no answer.
 
“Killian? Are you in there? It’s me!” She spoke through the door. “Killian, if you’re in there please let me in! We need to talk!”
 
“He’s gone.”
 
Emma turned to see Belle standing at the bottom of the stairs.
 
“Where is he? I need to talk to him!” She came down to meet her. “I can’t let him think there’s anything between me and Walsh!”
 
Belle smiled sadly. “Can you blame him for assuming the worst?”
 
“No.” She sighed. “I know I’ve put him through a lot. Even strung him along. But I’m not going to do that anymore. I have to talk to him.”
 
“It seems he’s taken his ship out.” Belle gestured to the dock outside. “The Jolly Coastman is gone.”
 
“What are you doing here Belle?” Emma asked.
 
“Same as you. I came to check on Killian. I saw his face when Walsh came in. He was heartbroken.”
 
A deep sadness came over Emma’s expression.
 
“I never wanted to hurt him. I should have gone after him.” She sat on the steps.
 
“Would you like me to wait with you?” Belle asked.
 
“I…I need to talk to him. I’m worried he’ll never forgive me.” She put her head in her hands.
 
“You really think he won’t?”
 
“After everything I’ve put him through? I’m surprised he hasn’t sailed away from me already.”
 
“Emma!!!” She heard her fathers voice.
 
“What’s going on?” She rushed out onto the dock.
 
“There’s been some sort of an attack! Robin Hood! It’s like he’s been frozen!”
 
“But…” she looked out at the sea, scanning the horizon for any sign of the Jolly Coastman.
 
“We’re meeting at a Regina’s house! Let’s go!”
 
“It’s ok Emma. You’ll be able to talk to him.” Belle put a hand on her back as they made their way to the car.
 
Still no ships on the horizon.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“You said you had been waiting for me… why me?” The pirate held his sword cautiously at the ready.
 
“You’re quite the legend Captain.”
 
“I’m flattered, but I’ve recently sworn off frivolous love making.” He said bitterly.
 
“There is a scroll that tells of the future. It says that you will open a portal from another realm and reunite me with my sister.”
 
“You know I’m nearly 300 years old? I’ve known many a woman. How am I supposed to know your sister?” He looked around the ice cave as he made his way through.
 
He could see the silhouette of a statuesque woman reflected off the icy wall.
 
“Not someone with whom I share blood but with whom I share birthright. She is a woman of great magical power.”
 
His stomach dropped. She could only mean Emma.
 
“Well, I won’t be delivering any person to you.”
 
“No you won’t. Because you fancy yourself a hero. But I sense great darkness in you.”
 
The cave shook. Killian looked down to see a cold light coming from the ice below him. He tried to move his feet, but they were stuck in place.
 
“You struggle against the darkness constantly. Why not just give in?”
 
Emma’s golden hair and pine forest scent flashed through his mind. The feeling of her lips upon his, their fingers intertwined.
 
“I have a reason to love the light.” He smiled.
 
“But she rejected you.”
 
He looked up in alarm. Upon the ice wall where the snow queen’s silhouette had been, there hung a round mirror with an ornate white frame. Within, Killian could see his own reflection. But with flashing red eyes. He quickly looked down to be certain Calypso’s pearl was still in place.
 “She’s with Walsh now. She chose the flying monkey. What did you expect?” Said his reflection. 
“That…that’s not…” he looked around the room. “What’s going on here?!? Snow queen!!!”
 
“ You really thought she’d be with you?!? You’re nothing! You’re evil! And you will always be evil! Stop acting like you’re a hero when you’re a villain!”
 
“
No. You’re wrong…” He whispered.
 “She could never care for you! You’re rotten! Your heart is filled with darkness, and it always will be! So stop fighting it and give in!” His raged reflection rushed forward shattering the glass. 
A cold wind blew in a strong gust straight at him. He braced himself against the storm, but felt the sharp sting of glass splintering against him. He fell to his hand and knees.
 
“The spell of shattered sight.” Came the snow queens voice. “How do you feel captain?”
 “I feel… like I’m not going to help you find your sisters.” He smirked.  “What? You should be enraged at your loved ones! You should be jumping at the chance to help me make them suffer! Your heart filled with darkness !” 
“Sorry love, I’m not much for being told what to do.” He laughed. “I’m afraid I’m too damaged for your spell.”
 
“You’re resisting the evil…” her voice remarked in surprise.
 “I resist evil every day. You think a little glass is going to make it harder?” He stood then held his head, swaying in place. “Ok… it’s a little harder.” 
“Remarkable. It would seem the scroll is right. You are indeed the henchman I am looking for.”
 “I’m not a henchman majesty. I’m a captain. I can’t be controlled by your magic!” He spat. 
“We shall see.” Her silhouette raised a hand, releasing the spell holding him in place. “You struggle to play the hero. But I shall find a way to show you what you truly are. A villain.”
 “You’re wrong.” He began to back out of the cave with his sword at the ready. “Your spell didn’t work because I’m neither a hero or a villain. I’m a pirate .”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma rushed into Regina’s lavish home. The merry men were gently laying an unconscious Robin Hood onto the couch. There was a streak of white in his hair and frost upon his eyes and lips. His skin beginning to turn blue with cold.
 
“What fresh hell is this?” Emma sighed.
 
“Robin!” Regina rushed past Emma, to the outlaws side. “What the hell happened?!?” She demanded of the merry men.
 
“We don’t know!” Little John exclaimed in a panic. “He made his way back to camp and collapsed! The frost has only gotten worse!”
 
“Well what do we do?!?” Regina looked around at the heroes. “How do we help him?!? How do we save him!?!”
 
“I think I may know…” Belle came in behind Emma with a book in hand. “This looks a lot like a spell from a distant land. One I’ve read about in my research. Ice magic is powerful and dangerous. But it can be stopped by
love
.”
 
“Like a sleeping curse?” David asked.
 
“It’s a similar concept. But ice magic deals with the heart. To melt a frozen heart, you need love.”
 
“Regina I don’t mean to put your relationship on the line here, I know it’s still kind of new, but is there any chance you or Robin love eachother?” Emma asked.
 
The queen looked nervously around the room at the company of heroes.
 
“I…” she began.
 
“Well? What is it? Do you love him or not?!?” Little John asked urgently.
 
“Of

course

I love him!” Regina shouted. “I do… he’s not just some man, or some outlaw…” she glanced at the lion tattoo. “He’s my fated true love…” she whispered.
 
“What…?” Emma breathed. “How do you
know
?”
 
“Years ago, in the enchanted forest, Tinkerbell used a spell to help me find my fate…”
 
“And it lead you to him? But how?”
 
“I was too…afraid…to accept that someone could love me.” A rare tear brimmed against her lashes as she looked down at the thief. “I ran…”
 
“My Queen.” Little John took a knee next to her. “This is the nobelest man any of us have ever met. If you can save his life…Please. Time is short.”
 
She saw the determination in his eyes. She looked around the room once more to see faces full of concern. Finally, she nodded with certainty, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on Robin’s cold lips. There was a flash. They had come to recognize it as a magical dispel. The company held their breath as the frost slowly receded. After an agonizing wait, Robin weakly blinked and opened his eyes.
 
“Robin!” Regina said with relief. “You’re ok!”
 
“R-Regina…?” He asked looking around. “How did I get here?”
 
“Robin! It’s good to see you up!” Little John clapped a strong hand on his back. “You did it your majesty!” Little John beamed at her.
 
“Did what?” Robin wondered, sitting up.
 
“We…we may have some things to talk about.” Regina sighed.
 
“Robin.” Emma approached. “Did you see who attacked you?”
 
“Attacked me…? Wait…” he held his head.
 
“What do you remember?” Emma leaned in.
 
“It…it can’t be…” The thief said in disbelief. “The last thing I remember was…a snowman?”
 
There was a loud knock on the door. A desperate and strong banging that continued on and on.
 
“Now what?” Emma sighed as Regina rushed to the door.
 
They all watched, waiting to see who would be knocking so furiously.
 
“Pirate?” Regina asked, confused to see Hook on her doorstep.
 
“Nice of you to join us Captain.” David crossed his arms.
 
“Killian!!!” Emma rushed forward.
 
“No, stay back!” He held a hand out, his left arm bracing his weight against the doorframe. “We’re in danger. We’re under attack. There’s a new enemy.”
 
“You’ve seen them? You know who it is?” Belle asked.
 
“Aye.” He huffed, wiping a cold sweat from his forehead. “The Snow Queen.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Hook, are you ok?” Emma asked. “What happened?”
 
They escorted him into the living room as he sat heavily in a chair, holding his hand to his eyes.
 
“I went out on the sea to…” he glanced up at Emma. “To clear my mind. I came upon what I thought was an iceberg.” He removed his flask and drank several long drags.
 
“Great.” Regina sighed. “Knowing our luck this will turn out like the titanic.”
 
“But you’ve seen this new enemy?” David asked.
 
“I didn’t see her. She cast a spell on me.” He took another drink then held his hand to his eyes once more.
 
“Well his hair isn’t turning white. It’s probably not the same one she cast on Robin.” The prince glanced at the revived outlaw.
 
“Good thing too.” Regina crossed her arms. “We got lucky with Robin. If Hook had been cursed we’d be hard pressed to find someone that loves him.”
 
“Regina!” Belle chastised, as hook continued to drink.
 
“What? He’s ok! Whatever she did to him can’t have been

that

bad!”
 
“She called it the spell of shattered sight.” Hook sighed, still rubbing his eyes.
 
“The…the spell of shattered sight…?” Belle sounded alarmed.
 
“You know it?” Hook asked, glancing up briefly before grimacing and looking away.
 
“When we were researching theoretical magic. Zelena’s spell. I read a lot about forms of magic that have never been cast. Or have at least been cast

very

rarely. The spell of Shattered Sight was one.”
 
“What does it do? Is he going to be ok?” Emma looked from the scholar to the drinking pirate.
 
“If that’s the spell she cast on him…he should definitely

not

be ok.” Belle said in alarm.
 
“What do you mean?” Regina asked.
 
“The spell of shattered sight turns you against your loved ones. It makes you see only the worst in people.” Belle looked around. “If she cast that spell on him he should be trying to

kill

all of us.”
 
“Well it’s a good thing he’s not! Maybe she did it wrong?” Said Emma.
 
“I don’t think she did it wrong. I’ve just managed to resist it.” Hook sighed.
 
“What did she do?” Regina stepped forward. “Did you catch a glimpse of the magic?”
 
“Aye. There was this mirror. I saw my reflection. It told me all my deepest fears and insecurities. And then it shattered and the pieces flew at me.” He tipped back the flask. “She said she had plans for me.”
 
“Killian…?” Emma stood in front of him cautiously. “I need to take a look at your eyes.”
 
He removed his hand, and looked up. Emma leaned in, looking over him. As he glanced into the light she saw what looked like thousands of splinters of glass reflecting the light back at her from within his forget-me-not-gaze. She gasped and stepped back.
 
“It seems the spell

did

work.” She said quietly.
 
“Then how is he still…

himself

?” David asked.
 
“Probably his resistance to magic.” Regina rolled her eyes. “He’s always been strangely immune to it.”
 
“What?” Emma asked in surprise. “How?”
 
“My guess? He’s a stubborn ass.” The queen smirked.
 
“Always a pleasure your majesty.” Killian swallowed more rum, leaning back in his chair.
 
“I’ve heard of his magic resistance too.” Belle added. “Rumple spoke of it back when he kept him as a slave in the enchanted forest.”
 
Killian’s fist came down hard on the arm of the chair. They all turned suddenly to look at him.
 
“Sorry.” He said through his teeth. “It may be best if we refrain from speaking of… the Dark One… for now.”
 
“Well how much longer can he resist it?” Emma asked.
 
“It’s hard to say…” Belle thought out loud. “I’ve never heard of anyone being able to resist magic this powerful before. We have no frame of reference.”
 
“We should probably lock him up. Just to be safe.” David said.
 
“No.” Emma said flatly. “He’s our

friend

we’re

not

locking him up.”
 
“I agree.” Belle added. “Whatever he’s doing to resist the darkness isn’t going to get better unless we help him.
 
“I’m not saying forever, just until we can figure out a way to break the spell. The last thing we need is the old Hook rampaging around Storybrooke with the Snow Queen.” The prince reasoned.
 
“Perhaps the prince his right.” Killian sighed. “I can resist it for

now

, but probably not forever.” He went for another drink.
 
“It won’t

be

forever.” Emma snatched the flask from him, corking the bottle. “We’re going to
fix
this Killian. You’re going to be ok.” She knelt in front of him and locked his gaze.
 
“And go easy on the Rum. The
last
thing we need is for you to lose control.” David sighed.
 
“Actually…” Regina started. “Perhaps drinking
isn’t
the worst idea.”
 
“What?” Emma asked, confused. “If he keeps drinking like this he’s going to die!”
 
“The spell deals with inhibitions. And as many of us know, drinking lowers inhibitions. So by that logic…” she shrugged. “Drink up Captain.”
 
Regina took the flask from Emma and handed it back.
 
“Sounds like you’re in for a hell of a night.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Come on Hook. Let’s get you home.” Emma helped him stand.
 
“I think I know the way love.” He made his way to the door.
 
“I’m coming with you.” She said adamantly.
 
“Emma I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” Her father stopped her. “He could lose control at any moment.”
 
“I don’t care!” She said loudly. “When we were stuck in the past Hook helped me! And I’m going to help him! You’re worried about him losing control? Find a way to stop it! I’m taking him home.” She turned and made her way out the door.
 
“Quite passionate Swan.” He smirked once outside. “But I’m afraid your father is right it’s best if you-“
 
She threw her arms around his middle and held him in a tight embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, hearing the beat of his heart.
 
“I’m sorry Hook.”
 
“Sorry for what love?” He asked, placing a gentile hand on her back.
 
“I shouldn’t have talked to Walsh. I should never have let you leave the dinner. If I hadn’t the Snow Queen wouldn’t have…”
 
“You couldn’t have known he would be back.” He said quietly. “I just needed to clear my head. I know you had a lot to think about. Ah-!” He held his hand to his eyes as they stung with a sharp pain.
 “There’s nothing to think about Killian. You told me when I kissed you it didn’t mean the same thing. But that kiss… it meant something.” She looked down. “And that didn’t go away when Walsh walked in.” 
He looked at her stunned.
 
“Well…” she nervously shifted her feet. “Say something.”
 
“I didn’t think…that you…” he stammered.
 “Didn’t think I’d chose you ?” She raised an eyebrow. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”  
She turned and made her way to her car. Killian grinned as she went. The spell didn’t seem so strong when she was around.
 
As the yellow bug pulled up outside his apartment, he again felt the sense of contentment he had at granny’s. He turned to her with a soft smile.
 
“Thank you for the ride. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissed the back of her hand.
 
“I’m not leaving.” She smiled. “I’m coming in.” With a quick turn she got out of the car.
 
“What-?” He said suddenly stepping onto the docks after her.
 
“Emma I can put myself to bed…?”
 
“You’re resisting the spell of an evil sorceress using only your willpower. Everyone thinks you could snap at any moment. But I don’t. In fact, I’m going to make sure of it. You’re not leaving my side until we fix this.” She power walked to his front door.
 
“Emma!” He caught up and stopped her. “There are a lot of reasons why this is a bad idea!”
 
“Like what?” She turned, her hands on her hips.
 
“Like I could lose control and attack you?!?”
 
“I’ve got magic and a gun. I’ll be fine.”
 
“Ok what about your father?”
 
“My father?”
 
“If he finds out you stayed the night he’ll kill me, Snow Queen be dammed.”
 
“Nice try captain. I’m staying here, end of story. I’ll just tell David I was keeping an eye on you.”
 
“Great. He already hates me. Ah-!” He held his hands to his eyes once more.
 “He doesn’t hate you. And nothing is happening.” She raised an eyebrow. “I just don’t want to leave you alone tonight. I’ll sleep in the chair.”  “Don’t be daft. I’ll sleep in the chair.” He unlocked the door at the top of the stairs.  “Or…” she stepped into the paint peeled apartment. “We could always just sleep like we did in the barn.” She shrugged.  “Emma.” He walked slowly towards her. “It’s admirable that you believe I can fight this off. But if I did lose  control, the last thing I would want is to hurt you .”  
“I know.” She smiled. “What do you have to do around here?” She looked about the apartment.
 
“I was honestly planning on drinking myself to sleep before you invited yourself in.”
 
“What do you usually do?”
 
“Read, listen to music.” He sat at the small table.
 
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” She read the title from his bookshelf.
 
“My favorite.” He smiled.
 
“Your favorite book? What’s it about?” She sat across from him with the tome in hand.
 
“It’s a poem actually. A rather long poem about a man’s journey at sea.” He pointed to the illustration of the Mariner on the front.
 
“Is this what you’re always quoting?” She realized.
 
“Her lips were red, her looks were free,Her locks were yellow as gold:Her skin was as white as leprosy,The nightmare Life-in-Death was she,Who thicks man's blood with cold.”
 
Emma looked up at him, as he closed his eyes and recalled the verse. She wondered how she had rejected him as long as she did. How she had denied the beautiful person she knew was in him for so long.
 
“Aye.” He smiled opening his eyes. “In the enchanted forest we had poetry and sea shantys. But here, you have…” he stood and opened the cabinet beneath the bookshelf. “Music.”
 
“Wow.” Emma grinned brightly at the turntable inside the cabinet. “That’s like, the only modern thing in here!” She laughed.
 
“I told you Cruca liked music.” He pulled a record out of his vinyl collection.
 
“You did, but I didn’t know you were so…old school.” She took the record he handed her. “Thomas Dolby. The Golden Age of Wireless. 1982.”
 
She removed the record from the sleeve and walked to the turntable dropping it into place.
 
“It was funny that you mentioned Bae liked him. This was always one of my favorite albums.”
 Emma smiled. “Neal liked She Blinded Me With Science. But I’m betting I can guess what your favorite song is.” She shot him a sharp eyed grin over her shoulder as she set the needle towards the middle of the record. 
The bright electronic tones played through the speakers. And Hook laughed.
 
“How did you know?” He raised an eyebrow.
 “Europa and the Pirate Twins?” She swayed to the music. “Lucky guess.”  
“Such a tragic song.” He closed his eyes and drank from his flask.
 
“It’s not that sad.” She shrugged.
 
“But he loses her. She doesn’t see him. They never got to be the Pirate Twins again.”
 
“And I suppose the sequel didn’t give you closure?” She asked.
 
“Bah.” He scoffed.
 
“Look at you! A music snob just like your son.”
 
He laughed as the song swelled to the climax. Emma put her head back, listening. He was captivated by the sight of her. He wanted so badly to kiss her, hold her. But as his eyes stung through the spell, he was content simply to have her near. He reached across the table and placed his hand on hers. With her eyes still closed, she laced her fingers between his.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killians eyes shot open. The stinging sensation of the the spell of shattered sight making his head ache as he saw the paint peeled ceiling of his apartment. He looked across the room, seeing Emma’s jacket hung next to the door with his. He glanced over. She was laying next to him on the bed. Sleeping soundly on his arm.
 
He smiled. They had finished The Golden Age of Wireless and made their way through a couple more vinyls before falling asleep. The hollow sound of the turntable spinning at the end of a record playing through the speakers. He winced. His head still aching. Slowly removing his arm from under Emma’s head, he sat up, covering her in a blanket before turning off the sound system. He threw on his jacket and stepped outside, drinking  deeply from his flask. The sting in his eyes felt less painful as the rum numbed his senses. He wondered how long he could keep this up. He considered taking his ship out once more to confront the snow queen, but thought better of it. As worried as he was that he may lose himself to the darkness, he trusted Emma. And he would continue to trust her.
 
“Do you know where I can find Emma Swan?” A voice asked.
 
He turned, surprised to see Walsh standing in the cold.
 
“I saw her car.” He pointed over his shoulder at Emma’s bug. “I know it’s a little late but I thought if she lived around here we could talk.”
 
“She’s asleep mate.” Hook said bitterly. “I’ll tell her you called.”
 
“You?” He asked. “
You’re
the one she’s with?”
 
“Aye. She’s with me.” He couldn’t hide a smile.
 
“Bastard!” He swung back his fist.
 
“Woah there!” He easily dogged the punch. “I don’t think Emma would appreciate us fighting.”
 
“She and I were

happy

you know!” He said through his teeth squaring up for another punch.
 
“You do know she was

brainwashed

right?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“She was

normal

! We both were! Which is more than I can say for
this

damn town!”

“You’re from Oz! What would

you

know about normal?” He dodged another punch.
 
“Plenty! Before I fell through that twister to Oz I

was

normal! I was just a regular guy! I was a traveling showman from Kansas! Who are you? Some

prince

? Some

sorcerer

? What makes you

better

than me?!?”
 
“Just a normal man mate. Well, perhaps a bit better

travelled

than most, and without a doubt better
looking
. But certainly not one you want to be fighting if you’re an average bloke.” He stepped back. “They call me Captain Hook.” He brandished his left arm.
 
“Hook? From the enchanted forest?” He stopped trying to hit him, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath. “The pirate?”
 
“Aye mate. The pirate. Care for a drink?”
 
“But you’re…my rival.”
 
“She’s made her choice.” He smiled. “Means we’re not rivals.”
 
“But-“
 
“Look, I can wake Emma and let her know what’s going on. Or we can have a drink and I can point out the single women for you at the bar. Up to you.”
 
“Emma told you she made her choice?” He said sadly.
 
“I’m as shocked as you are mate. I’m a bit of a bastard.”  He clapped his hand to the other man’s back with a toothy smile.
 
“You can’t be that big of a bastard if you’ll let me off the uh…hook… that easy.” He sighed eyeing the sharp prosthetic.
 
“Oh you’re

not

off the hook. Your buying. And I can drink

a lot.”

Killian lead the way to the Rabbit Hole.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“You weren’t kidding about the drinking.” Walsh put his head down in front of a row of empty glasses.
 
“Don’t quit on me now mate! I’ve got a curse to fight off. Ah-!” He held his hand to his eyes.
 
“How did you do it?” Walsh asked, sipping his gin and tonic. “How did you get Emma Swan to let down her guard?”
 
Hook smiled. “Bit like I got you to. By being a charming rogue. Only with her it took a couple of years, devastating injury, and the literal loss of my sanity.” He swallowed his entire glass of rum while ordering another.
 
“I didn’t drop my guard. I’m just… picking my battles. Seemed like a better idea to drink with Captain Hook than get murdered by him.”
 
“Smart choice lad.” He drank from the next glass. “And you’ve caught me in a good mood. No plans to kill you tonight. And Between you and me…” He leaned in. “I wasn’t entirely certain she wasn’t going to run off with

you

. That’s how I ended up with these bloody stinging eyes in the first place. Could have not gone into the ice cave
,
but

no!

Captain Hook likes to

punish

himself when he’s upset! That’s what Emma’s always

on

about…” He muttered.
 
“I only understood about

half

of that…” Walsh swayed on his stool.
 
“So here’s to picking our battles.” He raised a glass.
 
“Pbcking babbles.” He murmured as he drank his gin and tonic and placed his head down on the bar.
 
“Thanks for the drinks mate.” Hook finished his rum and patted the other man on the back as he turned and left.
 
A cold wind blew as he stepped out onto the street. Coming into view of the docks he smiled to see Emma’s yellow bug still parked outside. His heart was light to think she would still be asleep, and he could fall asleep next to her and see her in the morning. The stinging in his eyes was nearly gone at the thought of it.
 
“It’s

her

.” Said a familiar voice.
 
“Snow Queen!!!” Killian looked around.
 
“I’ve been trying to figure out how you’ve managed to

resist

my spell. But it appears the love she gives you is enough to stop my glass from reaching your heart.”
 
He turned quickly and came face to face with a tall thin woman dressed in a high collared gown. He was reminded of Regina’s wardrobe in the enchanted forest. Only with a lot more ice. He could feel the chill coming off her as she stood hardly a foot from him.
 
“What do you want?!?” He stepped back and drew his sword. “Come to try your spell again? Because it won’t work!”
 
“Not to fear captain.” She stepped back. “I came to talk.”
 
“The only thing I want to know is how to break the spell of shattered sight.”
 
“Only love can break the spell.”
 
“Love…” he breathed. “Emma…”
 
“But it only works if she loves you. Are you willing to gamble on that?”
 
“Ah-!” He held his eyes, dropping his sword.
 
“Regina may have been right. There

is

no one in this town that loves you.”
 
“She doesn’t

need

to love me!” He pulled out his flask and drank heavily to numb the sting. “I’ll find another way!”
 
“Oh captain. You’ve been so patient waiting for Emma. Aren’t you angry? Aren’t you upset at everything she’s

put

you through?”
 
“We’ve fought many battles! Ah-!” He could hardly open his eyes from the sting of the glass. “I wouldn’t change a thing!” He drank several pulls of rum.
 
“You’re stubborn captain.” The queen stepped forward and took his flask. “But now I know all that’s standing between you and the darkness is

her

, she simply has to be gotten rid of.”
 
“

No

…” he breathed. “No you can’t hurt Emma!!!”
 
“I wouldn’t dream of it! There are other ways to get rid of somebody.” She drank from his flask, corking it and placing it back inside his jacket.
 
“
Emma!!!
” He ran down the dock and into the boathouse. He dashed up the stairs and tore open the door to his apartment.
 
Emma lay sleeping peacefully just where he had left her. Still covered in the blanket he had put over her not a couple hours ago. He sat heavily in the moth eaten chair. His eyes began to sting terribly at the thought she would be gone. He drank a deep pull from his flask. His breathing was quick as he tried to maintain his control over the spell. He stood with a sigh and made his way out to the docks. The rum was beginning to catch up with him. He felt the familiar sensation of inebriation as he clung to the boardwalk rail. He knew he should stop drinking, but until Emma awoke, it was the only thing fighting off the Queens spell.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Sunlight streamed in the window over the bed. Emma gently woke to the sounds of gulls and waves outside the small apartment. She sat up, feeling well rested. She looked around and saw no one. The record cabinet was still open, several records piled on the table. The Rime of the ancient Mariner somewhere under all the vinyl.
 
“Hook…?” She said sleepily. But heard only the sounds of the marina.
 
She turned to sit off the bed. With a short laugh she saw she still had her shoes on. Her coat hung next to the door. Killian’s jacket was gone. With one last glance around the one room apartment she made her way outside.
 
The Jolly Coastman was still tied up to the dock. Squinting in the bright morning sun, She glanced up and down the harbor, but saw no sign of him. Driving slowly as she made her way into town, she hoped to pass him on the street. But as she pulled up to Grannys’s she had seen many faces she knew, but no Hook.
 
“Emma! How did things go?” Snow asked.
 
“Yes is there a

reason

you didn’t come back to the apartment last night?”
 
“I called and left a message…” she looked into her coffee cup as Ruby came by and poured.
 
“I told him you called but he’s still been like this all morning.” Snow sighed.
 
“You stayed at
Hooks
didn’t you? I don’t like it.”
 
“Would you
relax
? Nothing happened! I was just keeping an eye on him!” She sipped her coffee. “And you should probably get used to it because…I kinda

like

him.”
 
“Aww!” Snow smiled, holding baby Neal close.
 
“Like him? Like…

like like

him?!?” The Prince raised his voice.
 
“David!” Snow chastised as the baby began to cry.
 
“Sorry…” He whispered.
 
“Look, none of that matters right now. What matters is he was gone when I woke up. Have you seen him?”
 
“Can’t say we have.” Snow rocked the baby back to sleep. “But I’m sure it’s fine, maybe he went out on the water?”
 
“His boat is still on the dock. I have a bad feeling about this.” Emma gripped her coffee cup.
 
“Well, there’s no sense worrying about it. I heard your friend from the past has finally been cleared by doctor whale. Maybe he went to visit her?”
 
“I suppose we could check…” Emma sighed not feeling terribly optimistic.
 
“I better put Neal down for a rest anyway.”Snow smiled. “I’ll keep an eye around town for Hook. Let you know if I see him.”
 
“Thanks mom.” Emma smiled.
 
“Mary Margaret? Be careful. We don’t know if Hook is…Hook… right now. If you see him just call us ok?”
 
“I can take care of myself.” Snow sighed.
 
“I know you can fight my dear.” He leaned down and kissed her head. “But Neal hasn’t had his sword fighting lessons yet.”
 
“Right… I’ll call you then.” Snow smiled as they left.
 
“So… nothing happened?” David asked, getting in to his truck.
 
“Dad!”
 
“You chose the pirate to

punish

me didn’t you?”
 
“I can’t tell if you’re being funny or serious.” She held her hand over her eyes in embarrassment.
 
“Hey, I’m your dad. It’s my job to make you blush.”
 
“Well you’re succeeding!”
 
They drove for a moment in silence.
 
“He’s the one that showed me what I had you know.”
 
“Hmm?” David asked.
 
“I wanted to leave Storybrooke. But Hook kept telling me my family was here, and not to leave. He was right.”
 
“We all told you that Emma. What made it so different when Hook said it?” He asked gently.
 
“I think because he’s the only other person who knows…”
 
“Knows what?”
 
“What it’s like to be abandoned. What it’s like to think no one wants you. To run before you can be abandoned again.”
 
“Your mother and I aren’t going to abandon you Emma.” He reached out and held his daughters hand.
 
“I know.” She smiled. “That’s why I knew it was time to stop running.”
 
“Well, no matter how I feel about the pirate, if he helped you realize that, I’m grateful to him. And if he makes you happy…”
 
“Dad…” she sighed.
 
“What? I was just going to say I want you to be happy! But let him know I’ve got a sword with his name on it if he messes up. I don’t care

how

good he is at surviving.”
 
Emma laughed as the truck pulled up outside the hospital.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What’s your name?” Emma asked, sitting in an office with their captive from the past. “You don’t have to worry any more. No one can use it to hurt you. Or your family.”
 
“Marian…” she said quietly. “W-why did you do this to me?” She began to cry.
 
“I’m sorry Marian. Would you believe I did it to save your life?” Emma said sympathetically.
 
“I could have gone home! I could have gone back to my family!”
 
“No you couldn’t! You had to appear to be dead. We were never meant to save you!”
 
“But when I think of my little boy…growing up without me…” she wept.
 
“I’m sorry. I’m a mother too. I can only imagine how hard that must be. But this was the only way we could spare your life.”
 
“What do I do now?” She asked. “This is a strange world, and a strange time… what do I do?”
 
“We have a couple of people from your world who have recently assimilated here. I’ve set up a meeting with you tonight at the dinner. David will pick you up later and we’ll see about getting you settled in.” Emma smiled sympathetically.
 
“As…as confused as I am…if you’re right and you did save my life… thank you.”
 
With a nod of understanding, Emma left into the hall and gave a heavy sigh.
 
“Things just keep getting better and better.”
 
“This isn’t so bad.” David put a hand on her shoulder. “You saved a woman’s life! There are worse things than having to start over.”
 
“Yes but with Hook missing, it just feels like one thing after another.” She leaned her back against the wall.
 
“The merry men will get her squared away.   I hear Belle was looking for some help down at the library. Maybe we can get her a job there. And Regina will be coming by to help with Hook. You’ll see, we’ll all meet back at Granny’s and we’ll find a way to defeat the snow queen.”
 
“I think I’m going to stop by Hook’s place one more time. Just to see if he came back.”
 
“Here. Take my truck.” He tossed her the keys. “I’ll see you at the dinner later. Chin up!” He smiled.
 
Emma pulled up to the marina, the sun was a bright orange as dusk approached. The Jolly Coastman was still in port. As she walked heavily up the boathouse stairs she expected to see the room as she had left it. Vinyls strewn about. But to her surprise the sound system had been cleared out, along with every album. She gave a quick look around, the music was the only thing missing. Laying on the table was the battered copy of Rime of the Ancient Mariner. She picked it up and tucked it into her coat as she rushed down the stairs and headed to the diner.
 
“She’s a monster!” Shouted Marian right as Emma walked in.
 
“Emma! Thank goodness!” Belle rushed forward.
 
“What now?” Emma sighed.
 
“She doesn’t know Regina, she only knows her as the Evil Queen.” David sighed. “Maybe you could talk to her?”
 
“Regina?” Emma asked. “Are you ok?”
 
“What is wrong with you people?!?” Marian looked around wildly. “Why are you talking to her!?! Emma, she tried to kill you! She tried to kill both of us!”
 
“Things are different now! She’s changed!”
 
“Ms Swan I can speak for myself.” Regina composed herself. “Welcome to Storybrooke. Whatever I did to wrong you in the past…” She took a deep breath. “I am sorry.”
 
“Sorry? You’re
sorry?!?”
The incensed time traveler shouted.
 
“That’s actually

huge

character development for her.” Emma remarked. “Look, let’s just start over. Regina I’d like you to meet-“
 
“Marian?”
 
They all turned to see the merry men had arrived at the dinner. Robin stood in the door with a look of shock on his face.
 
“Robin?” She gasped.
 
“I thought you were dead!” He rushed to her and took her in an embrace. “I thought I’d never see you again!”
 
“And I you!” Marian cried.
 
“Mama?” Rowland asked.
 
“My baby!” She took the child in her arms.
 
Regina turned wide-eyed to Emma, in shock. “You…” she whispered.
 
“I…I just wanted to save her life…” Emma was confused.
 
“You’re just like your mother. Never thinking of consequences.” She turned and walked quickly out the door.
 
“Regina wait!” Robin called.
 
“So much for keeping my chin up.” Emma looked at her father.
 
“Emma…” David put a hand on her shoulder. “You couldn’t have known.”
 
“Yeah? Well let’s just add

that

problem to the list! We still have to deal with the snow queen! We still have no idea what happened to Hook!”
 
“Emma! Come quick!” Robin ran back in.
 
“What’s going on?” David asked at his alarm.
 
“The town…it’s on fire!”
 
“Of course it is.” The savior sighed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma rushed out into the street. She could see the flames from down the block. But before she saw the fire she heard the sound. Deep base tones and winding guitar chords played in a remix.
 
“What is that?” David asked.
 
“~Original Gangster~”
 
“Ice-T. Nice.” Henry smirked.
 
“Oh no. Emma’s stomach dropped. Henry! Get inside now!” She ran down the block towards Main Street.
 
“~Ten years ago

I used to listen to rappers flow

Talkin' bout the way

They rocked the mic at the disco.~”
 
Townsfolk screamed and ran as the flames began to spread from building to building.
 
“Emma! What’s going on?!?” Robin asked as he followed her and David.
 
“I think I may have found Hook.”
 
Rounding the corner, they quickly learned Emma was right. Hook was silhouetted by the fire behind him. The clock tower, hardware store, and Pharmacy burned in an inferno. Cans of paint and stain burst in the heat of the hardware store, glass shattered in the blaze of the pharmacy. But nothing compared to the screams. The screams of the townsfolk who ran for their lives. The employees who dove from the fire. And the shop owners who desperately tried to keep their earnings from perishing along with their lives.
 
“~So I tried to write rhymes

Somethin' like them, my boys said,

"That ain't you Ice,

That shit sounds like him.”

So I sat back, thought up a new track

Didn'T fantasize, kicked the pure

Facts.~”
 
He walked to the beat of the music, swaying his shoulders as he tipped his head back, drinking deeply from a bottle of rum. Windows smashed, glass and debris littered around the street. And at the center of it all was Hook, his sound system connected with multiple lengths of extension chord. He stepped to the music in a drunken sway the screaming drowned out by the lyrics.
 
“~ When I wrote about parties, It didn't fit

-Six in the Mornin'-

That was the real shit

O.G. Original Gangster

O.G. Original Gangster~”
 
“O.G. Original Ganster, Ice-T, 1991.” Emma recited.
 
“You know this song?” Robin asked.
 “ Everyone knows this song.” Emma sighed.  
“And I half expected a sea shanty.” David dropped his shoulders.
 
“It was in Hook’s record collection.” Her voice was a breath as she recalled better times from the night before.
 “He doesn’t seem like the rap type .” David raised an eyebrow and drew his sword.  “He has a very eclectic taste in music.” She sighed. “Dad, put the sword down. I’m still hoping we can resolve this without a fight.”  
“~When I wrote about parties

Someone always died

When I tried to write happy

Yo I knew I lied, I lived a life of crime

Why play ya blind?~”
 
“With Hook?” He asked in disbelief.
 “I said put the sword down, not away .” 
“Be careful Emma…” The prince warned as  he held his sword at his side. Robin standing at the ready.
 
She approached cautiously. “Killian…?”
 
“~ Cause anybody who's been there

Knows that life ain't so lovely

On the blood-soaked fast track

That invincible shit don't work

Throw ya in a joint

You'll be comin' out feet first~”
 
“Ah! Well if it isn’t sheriff David and his deputies?” Killian turned, still moving to the music. “Come to join me? Hanging at the dinner was getting a bit stuffy. Thought I’d bring the party outside.”
 “Ok, so I think it’s fair to say the Snow Queens spell took you. But you have to fight it Killian! We can break this spell, but I need you to use that stubborn will power of yours and hold it off .”  
“~ But I kick it to you hard and real

One wrong move, and you caps peeled

I ain't no super hero

I ain't no Marvel Comic

But when it comes to game I'm atomic~”
 “Fight the Snow Queen? Why would I do that? She’s given me permission to do whatever I want! ” He laughed gesturing to the burning clock tower. “So you set everything on fire?!?” ”Not everything! I left Granny’s. I like their Jello.” He smirked. 
“Let me guess? Back to your usual? Kill the dark one?”
 “Aye. That’s the plan. But first I have to help her majesty the ice box. ” He smirked at his own joke. “Why would you help her?” Emma asked.  “Honestly? Because it’s fun .” He grinned. “She gave me a load of rum, and told me to make an entrance! What do you think? Did I pull it off?”  
“~ This ain’t no fucking joke,

This shit is real to me

I'm Ice-T, O.G. ~”
 
She looked into his eyes. The Forget-me-not-blue was glossed by the red blaze of the fire. But as it flickered, Emma could see the shards of glass. Once cold and lovely against his steel blue. Now sharp and imposing upon red. The guitars whined in a remixed grove as he looked straight through her.
 
She felt a sad anger rise in her to be standing against him. She thought of Marian, Regina, the Snow Queen. Everything opposing her. A power surged in her hands. She held her palms out and slowly lifted them as she closed her eyes and concentrated. A mist rose through the air, clouding the side streets as the fog grew thicker. After a moment it began to rain and the fires began to die.
 “Oy! You’re going to ruin me sound system! ” Hook objected.  
As the fires slowly stopped Emma approached Hook.
 “Killian.” She said in a quiet serious voice. “I know you. I know you’re fighting this. You wouldn’t just give in to her. So fight it! No one is better at resisting magic than you. So be the man I know. Fight it!”  
“~O.G. Original Gangster

O.G. Original Gangster~”
 
“Just one problem bird.” He flashed her a dead eyed smile, the scent of rum heavy on his breath. “I’ve never met you in my life.”
 
“~ O.G. Original Gangster

O.G. Original Gangster~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“W-what…?” Emma asked in shock as the rain continued to fall. “But the…the song…?”
 
“Sorry lass. I must admit, you’re quite the beauty. When the Snow Queen told me to watch out for the blonde sorceress, I was picturing someone a bit more plain.” He gestured to her. “But if you can put out fires with the wave of your hand, it appears the Snow Queen is right. You’re the greatest threat to my fun. What was it? Eva? Eleanor?”
 
“

Emma

.”
 
“Right. Hardly a good name for a sorceress. Doesn’t quite roll of the tongue like Snow Queen does it? Have you considered changing it?”
 
She glared at him.
 
“I’ll tell you what Emily, I’ll make my retreat for tonight and let you off with a simple warning. The Snow Queen

owns

this town. You best stay out of her way.”
 
“Or what?” She asked.
 
“This time it was just buildings. Next time, it will be someone you
care
about.”
 
Though the fires had gone out his eyes still flashed red with rage, as he smiled and stepped back Emma felt a sharp pain in her chest to watch him walk away.
 
“No! Hook, no! You

can’t

leave!” She ran to him putting a hand on his shoulder. “Please, come
with
us! We can
help
you! The Snow Queen did something to your memory. But we can
undo it!
You don’t have to be her slave!”
 
“Slave? You’ve got it all wrong love. See, I’ve spent years in this bloody town trying to be a good man. And it’s caused me nothing but

pain

.”
 
“We’ve

both

struggled! We both worked so hard to find our family here! But things were
finally
good! You finally found your friends! Yes Baelfire is dead. But you were a man he could be

proud

of!”
 
“DO NOT SPEAK MY SONS NAME!!!” He stepped towards her, pushing her backwards knocking her off her feet.
 
He drew his sword and pointed it at her neck.
 
“Emma!” David rushed forward, his sword at the ready.
 
Robin raised his crossbow as they came to her aid.
 
“Stop. Right. There.” Hook demanded through his teeth. “Take one more step and I’ll cut her throat.”
 
“No, Killian you’re not that man!” Emma tried desperately to appeal to him. “You haven’t been that man for
ages
! Milah, she helped you!”
 
“You
are
quite the sorceresses.” He smirked. “The Snow Queen warned me to be careful of you. Quite right to. You seem to know a great deal about me. My son, my love...”
 
“Your weird taste in music.” She smirked.
 
“It won’t work.” He pressed the point of the sword to her throat drawing blood.
 
“Don’t hurt her!” The Prince rushed forward, Robin holding him back.
 
“Not to worry.” Hook stepped away. “The Snow Queen wants her
alive
.”
 
To Emma’s surprise he sheathed his sword and reached out a hand to help her up. He wore a gentile smile that made her heart beat loudly in her chest. With a confused look, she took his hand and allowed him to get her to her feet.
 
“What the-?” She managed to say as he grasped her roughly, turning her to face her father.
 
“Know this.” He whispered in her ear, his hand gripping her throat as she looked into her fathers worried eyes. “The

minute

you don’t fit into the Snow Queens plans, you’re

mine

. And when I jab you with my sword-“ her skin crawled as she felt his breath on her neck. “-you’ll

feel

it. I recommend you give up.”
 
“If you could remember who I was, you’d know you can’t defeat me.” She said determined. “I am not your
 enemy Hook. I’m your

friend

.”
 
“Captain Hook doesn’t

have

friends.” He let her go, shoving her towards her father as he stepped back.
 
David held her safely as Robin rushed forward and stood between them and the pirate.
 
“I’m
not
giving up on you Hook. This

isn’t

over.”
 
“I look forward to it.” He smirked, holding his arms out and giving a slight bow as he removed a vial from his pocket and disappeared into a puff of white smoke.
 
“This is bad…” David breathed. “Everything is burned and smashed! It’s going to take weeks to get this fixed! Look what he’s done to the

town
!”

“Prince David.” Robin put a hand on his shoulder.
 
He turned.
 
“Look what he’s done to

her

.” The thief nodded his head towards Emma.
 
She stood with a look of shock. Blood beginning to dry on her neck where his sword had cut her. She looked down at the wet sound system they had listened to so happily together. She got down on her knees and removed the record. Holding back tears she smashed it on the ground. Emma took a deep breath and held her head in her hands.
 
“Emma…” David got her to her feet.
 
“He doesn’t

remember

me dad. I thought he could fight it. I thought he’d be ok. I was so

stupid

.”
 
“No Emma. You were right to have hope.”
 
“Hope? What hope is left!?!”
 
“Emma we’ve defeated every enemy we’ve faced. This is no different.”
 
“It

is

different!” She shouted. “Because all those other times I had Hook! He got me through so much, and I took him for granted. What am I supposed to do when the enemy IS Hook?”
 
“He is NOT the enemy.” Robin stepped forward. “The Snow Queen is. We defeat her and Captain Hook shall have his memory back.”
 
“Or…” David thought, looking around the dark street. The scent of burning buildings still thick in the air. “Maybe if we can get his memory back… we can defeat the Snow Queen.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“~I make it alone. When love is gone. Still you’ve made your mark. Here in my heart.~”
 
Belle walked into the library as the morning Sun rose on Storybrooke. She could hear the music playing through the library speakers as she cautiously put her bag down.
 
“K-Killian…?” She called. “Come out. I know you’re here.”
 
“~One day I’ll fly away, leave your love to yesterday.~”
 
“Hello Belle.” He smiled coming out from behind a stack of books, holding his flask.
 
“~What more can your love do for me? When will love be through with me.”
 
“Let me guess…” She sighed. “You’re here to either kill me or hold me hostage?”
 
He laughed. “I promised you I’d stop doing that remember?” He walked slowly towards her, fiddling with the hook that was his left hand.
 “I remember. But I’m surprised you do.” 
“One Day I’ll Fly Away. Randy Crawford. Now we may begin. 1980.” He pointed up at the speakers.
 
“I like it.” She smiled sadly.
 
“I thought you might.” He returned her expression.
 
“What do you want Hook?” She stepped back.
 
“I came to apologize. I wanted to burn the clock tower but I hope your library is ok.” He sipped his rum.
 
“Is this a trick?” She asked.
 
“No. No trick. I know the Prince and Robin think I’m under the Snow Queens control, but surely you of all people can see that I am myself.”
 
“You burned the town… Killian wouldn’t do that…” She breathed.
 
“No. But Hook would.” He smirked and took a pull of rum. “I’ve been denying Hook for some time. But now that I’m not…I feel better.”
 
“~I follow the night. Can’t stand the light. When will I begin, my life again?~”
 “ Better how?” She asked sitting at a table. 
“I feel like myself again. I feel like… a pirate.” He grinned.
 
“What do you remember Killian?” Belle asked cautiously.
 
“I remember everything Belle.” He sat across from her.
 
“Not Emma.”
 
“The sorceress? What does she have to do with anything?”
 
“You used to care about her.”
 
“Never met her. Not before the other night.”
 
“She’s the savior Killian. How can you not remember?”
 
“Belle, the only thing keeping me in this town has been Henry. My grandson.”
 
“That’s not true.” She said sadly. “What do you know of this snow queen that you believe her?”
 
“I know she can defeat the Dark One.”
 
“So that’s it? Snow Queen comes to town and it’s back to your revenge?”
 
“You weren’t there. When I fell through that portal to the past… I saw him again. As he was… As a monster.”
 “And some have called him a beast! But I don’t give up on him the same way I’m not giving up on you ! Please Killian, let me help you.” 
He tipped back his flask. “Only the Snow Queen can help me.”
 
“~What more can your love do for me? When will love be through with me?~”
 
“And what can you do for the Snow Queen?”
 
“She has this scroll which holds a prophecy. Apparently I’m destined to open a portal to another realm and bring back her sister.” He shrugged. “I told her I don’t know anything about any portal. She said it will come to pass. But she knows of my quest to hunt the dark one. And she knows how dangerous he is. All she wants is her family. I can relate.” His eyes were dead of emotion as he took another drink.
 “Killian.” Belle placed her hand on his arm, a comforting grip on his sleeve. “You have a family. You don’t have to give in to the Snow Queen to find it. You had happiness.” 
“My happiness died with Milah. And Baelfire.” He stood, her hand trailed after his cuff.
 
“~Why live life from dream to dream? And dread the day that dreaming ends.~”
 
“The only person in this town I care about is Henry. And you.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Please, stay out of my way when the Dark One’s time comes. The Snow Queen can help me kill him. It’s going to happen. I just don’t want you to get hurt in the crossfire.”
 
“You know I can’t do that.” Tears built in her eyes.
 “I do.” He sighed. “And I’ll do anything I can to make sure you’re safe . But nothing is going to stop me this time Belle.”  
“~One day I’ll fly away. Fly fly away.~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma marched down the street with purpose.
 
“I’ll meet you at the library.” David said over the phone.
 
“No. Stay with Mary Margaret and Neal. If Hook paid a visit to Belle who knows what his next stop is.”
 
“Have you spoken to Regina? Maybe she can find a way to break the spell on Hook?”
 
“Regina wants nothing to do with me! I ruined her chance at true love!”
 
“Woah, Emma it’s ok.”
 
“I have to go dad. Call me if he turns up.”
 
She walked into the library. And looked around. Relived to see nothing on fire.
 
“Emma!!!” Belle rushed to her.
 
“Are you ok?” She asked with concern.
 
“Yes! Yes I’m fine.”
 
“He didn’t hurt you?”
 
“No he…he almost seemed like himself.”
 
“You know less than 24 hours ago he set this building on

fire

right?”
 
“That was sort of his thing back in the enchanted forest.” Belle smiled sadly. “But he actually apologized.”
 
“Oh! Well as long as he

apologized

!” Emma said sarcastically.
 
Belle sat down, Emma sitting across from her.
 
“I tried to keep him talking and learn as much as I could but-“
 
“Belle!” Rumple rushed through the door and to her side. “Are you hurt?”
 
“I’m fine.” She smiled. “I don’t think Killian would hurt me.”
 
“How soon we forget that he once

shot

you!” He knelt by her.
 
“And

you

held me prisoner.” She jabbed, Rumple looked guilty.
 
“Gold is there anything you can do to find him? A locator spell?”
 
“Alas, I can only use a locator spell if we have something that was recently on his person. Or I’d have found him myself and

killed

him.”
 
“Rumple, he needs our

help

.” Belle said sympathetically.
 
“The pirate is

your

friend not mine.” The Dark One scoffed.
 
“Well the Snow Queen is

everyone’s

problem.” Emma glared at Rumple. “How long do you think it’s going to be before the pawn shop is burning?”
 
“Let him try.” His hand pulsed with dark magic.
 
“Rumple!” Belle chided, her husbands magic fading.
 
“That pirate causes more trouble than he’s worth. If he comes after me and mine he’s dead.”
 
“That spell of shattered sight is not your basic magic.” Emma felt a panic rising in her chest. “If we can get Hook back he can tell us the Snow Queens plan.”
 
“You’re letting your

feelings

for the pirate get in the way of what needs to be

done

Ms Swan.”
 
“That’s

sheriff

Swan to you.” She stood and locked his gaze. “And it is

not

my job to

kill

people.”
 
“No, that’s why I have to do it

for

you.” He stepped up to her.
 
“Rumple! If you’re not going to help then go home!” Belle sighed.
 
“I’m not leaving your side while that pirate is about.”
 
“I’m fine. Killian isn’t going to hurt me. Go home and I’ll be right behind you.” She put a gentile hand on her husbands shoulder.
 
He kept his gaze locked on the savior, before glancing at her soft and calming expression.
 
“Say my name and I shall appear.” He said quietly to her, before turning back to the pawn shop.
 
“Wish you could have done that on our trip to the past…” Emma sighed sitting down. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at him the same.”
 
“What happened on that trip? Killian mentioned it too.” She sat back down.
 
“It was horrible… when I found Killian he’d hung him up by his own hook…” she looked at her left forearm.
 
“That’s…” Belle shook her head. “That’s not Rumple. That’s not who he really is. Just like burning the town isn’t Killian.” She said adamantly.
 
“It’s not so easy…” Emma sighed. “Caring about someone who is so close to the darkness.”
 
“Speaking of…have you talked to Regina?”
 
“She won’t answer.” Emma laughed, before returning to her dour expression. “Everything is falling apart.” She whispered.
 
“Emma.” Belle put her hand on the saviors. “We can fix this. We’ll get him back.”
 
“It’s not just that.” She sighed. “Walsh, Regina, Killian… it’s like all I can do is let people down. Even Henry, this morning Regina said she didn’t want to see him. And he was devastated! There was nothing I could do. And for a long time when things have gone wrong the one person I could turn to… But he’s gone…”
 
“He’s not gone Emma. If I learned anything from the visit he just paid me, it’s that he’s still in there. He came here to warn me. To keep me safe. That means he’s still a good man. He’s still my friend.”
 
Emma put her hand to her bandaged  neck where his sword had pierced her the night before.
 
“Call me if you find anything about his location will you?” She asked.
 
“Of course.” Belle gave her a look of sympathy as she walked down the street. Her shoulders heavy with the burden of the savior.
 
Once Emma was gone she looked down and opened her hand. In her palm was a button from Killian’s jacket. Perfect for a locator spell. But with the Dark One ready for his throat and the Savior lost from his memory, the only thing she could do to protect Killian was wait.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“~I have to go dad. Call me if he shows up.” The line went dead.
 
“She sounds stressed.” Snow sighed, holding baby Neal on the couch.
 
“I think she has a lot on her plate right now.” David closed his phone.
 
“You don’t have to like that she’s close to Hook David, but surely you can understand that she’s lost her best friend.”
 
“She’s still got us!” He objected.
 
“It’s not the same. We’re her parents, she can’t come to us with everything.”
 
“Why not? It’s not like she’s a teenager.” He looked out the window.”
 
“No. She’s an adult. Which makes it even harder. She’s come a long way towards seeing us as her parents David. But when it comes to love-“
 
“Love? Who said anything about love?”
 
Snow smiled. “This is all very

standard

you know.”
 
“Oh yeah? Is there a parenting book on how to raise a 30 year old in your 30’s?”
 
“If there is be sure to buy 2 copies.” She put a hand on his chest.
 
“At least with Neal we can go through the milestones.” The prince looked down at his son in her arms.
 
“Those milestones are

precious

. I remember when Bae lost his baby teeth. You’d think the boy had struck buried treasure.”
 
They both turned suddenly to see the Captain sitting on the kitchen counter. His legs splayed confidently, eating an apple pierced through his hook from the fruit bowl.
 
“His mother used to trade him real gold for the teeth. So I guess in a way they

were

treasure. I’d wager there’s still a little bottle of them stashed on the Jolly Rodger.” He flashed a dead-eyed smile.
 
He picked up a remote and pressed a button starting the sound system. Deep base notes and symbols coming through the apartment speakers.
 
“Hook.” David stepped in front of his wife and child. “Whatever this is about we can take it outside. Don’t hurt my family.”

“~Move aside and let the man go through, let the man go through.~”

“

Your

family? What happened to

our

family? What happened to bonding over our shared experience as

grandfathers

? You did, after all, name your child after my son.” He hopped off the counter and sauntered forward.

“~If I stole~”

“Stay away from my boy!” There was a panic rising in the princes voice.

“~Somebody else's wave To fly up.~”

“David stay calm!” Snow put a hand on his shoulder as the pirate approached. “What do you want Hook?”

“~If I rose Up with the avenue Behind me.~”

“Super Bon Bon. Soul Coughing. Irresistible Bliss. 1996.” He tossed the remote over his shoulder as wailing synthesizers came through the speakers. “I want Prince Charming.”

“~ Some kind of verb. Some kind of moving thing. Something unseen. Some hand is motioning.~”

“W-what do you want with David?” Snow asked.
 
“To settle a score.” He grinned.

“~To rise, to rise, to rise.~”

“What score?” David demanded.
 
“You’re quite hostile to me you know. You’re always happy to play the dutiful father and grandfather. But given the chance, you’ll always throw a man overboard.” He took a bite of the apple.

“~Too fat, fat you must cut lean. You got to take the elevator to the mezzanine.~”

“I-I’ll admit I’ve been hard on you. It certainly doesn’t help that you’ve been spending a lot of time with my kid.”

“~Chump, change, and it's on, super bon bon. Super bon bon, Super bon bon.~”

“The prince? I’ve never even touched the child!”
 
“I meant Emma.”
 
“Right right, the sorceress.” He nodded. “Not that it matters. The Snow Queen was very

broad

when she told me to cause chaos. I was given very few rules on how to go about my rampage.” He smirked casually pushing a vase off the counter to shatter on the ground.

“~And by the phone.~”

“If breaking stuff is all you want we could always leave.” Snow took a step towards the door as the baby began to cry.

“~I live in fear.~”

“Ah ah.” Hook smiled blocking her way. “I’m afraid I need a witness.”
 
“A witness for what…?” She asked cautiously.

“~Sheer chance,~”

“For Erica.”
 
“Who is Erica?”

“~will draw.~”

“The sorceress.”
 
“Emma?”

“~You in to here.~”

“That’s the one. You see, I can do pretty much whatever I want to make a mess for the Snow Queen. But it’s rather fun to torment

her

. And if it comes with some long overdue payback for

me

? Well that’s just gravy.”
 
He swung his left arm. The apple flying off and breaking into pieces upon the wall.
 
“Please Hook. I’m begging you. Whatever you have planned just leave my wife and son out of it!”
 
“Her?” He pointed to Snow. “I actually quite like her. She hasn’t been such a…royal prick… to me.” He shot the prince a toothy smile. Flashes of rage in his eyes against the shattered glass. “Besides. Someone needs to look after Neal.”

“~Too fat, fat you must cut lean. You got to take the elevator to the mezzanine.~”

Without warning he took a long step forward, leaping on to the coffee table. He kicked out with his foot driving it straight into the prince’s chest. David fell backwards with great force. His back breaking the glass of the window behind him as he fell through it to the street.

“~Chump, change, and it's on, super bon bon. Super bon bon, Super bon bon.”

“No!!!” Snow shouted running through the glass to look down.

“~Move as…and let the man go…let the man go…~Move as…and let the man go…let the man go…~”

David lay upon a crushed car below. A halo of glass and wood from the window frame around him. The car alarm blared, drowned out only by the sound of Hook’s music as Mary Margaret rushed down the stairs to her husband, Laying broken below. The baby screaming as Hook reached for another apple. He walked slowly to the window frame and looked out with a smirk, taking a satisfactory bite.

“~Move aside, and let the man go through. Let the man go through.

~Move aside, and let the man go through. Let the man go through.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Mom!” Emma rushed into the ER. “Is he ok?!? Is everything ok?”
 
“Your father is going to be just fine.” Whale approached.
 
“Fine?!? He was thrown out a window!”
 
“Kicked.” Snow corrected.
 
“It was one story down. Honestly under the circumstances it could have gone much worse. He sustained lacerations, a mild concussion, and some bruising to his ribs. But he should be back on his feet in no time, so long as he takes it easy.”
 
“I can’t believe this is happening.” Emma put her hands on her head.
 
“Emma calm down.” Snow urged.
 
“Calm down!?! How can I calm down?!? I ruined Regina’s life, there’s an Evil Snow Queen running around town and my best friend…” her voice cracked. “My best friend just pushed my father out a window!!! I see no reason to calm down!”
 
“Because this is what he wants.” Snow looked her daughter in the eyes. “He’s trying to get to you Emma. He told us so himself. And it’s working.”
 
“How can he get to me when he doesn’t even know who I am?” She paced the hall.
 
“David! David!” Belle ran into the ER with tears in her eyes, Rumple not far behind her. “This is all my fault!” She held her hand to her lip as it trembled.
 
“Your fault? How could this be your fault?” Emma asked.
 
“Hook came to visit me first…” she looked through the window at the Prince, sleeping as he pain killers did their job.
 
“It’s ok Belle. There’s nothing anyone could have done.” Emma’s hand trailed off Belles shoulder as she walked into the room to see her father.
 
“If the pirate had wanted to kill him he’d be dead you know.” Rumple said from behind her as they looked through the window.
 
“Yes…” Belle whispered. “Come with me Rumple.”
 
She walked into an empty room and turned. In one hand she held a button. And in the other the Dark One’s dagger.
 
“W-what are you doing?” He asked.
 
“I took this from Hook when he visited me in the library. If I had told Emma about it then she could have used it to find Hook before he hurt David.” She said in shame.
 
“Belle…” rumple said gently. “You don’t know that. Hook could have still hurt David. It’s not your fault.”
 
“But I kept this from her! From everyone! I thought if I could just talk to him…he really did seem like himself…”
 
“You know as well as I do that the spell of shattered sight does not leave behind a persons best self. The fact that Hook can even make decisions right now is nothing short of a miracle. That spell brings out the darkness and Hook is soaked in it. He’s not himself. And you are not to blame Belle.”
 
“But I could have done something! So now I need you to help me fix my mistake. I’m going to use a locator spell to find him. And Rumple…I need you to help me.”
 
“Belle no! The Snow Queen is dangerous! I can’t let you do this!”
 
“I was afraid of that.” She held up the dagger.
 
Rumple stopped and looked at her with wide eyed surprise.
 
“Belle, I gave you that dagger because I trusted you…” he said cautiously.
 
“I know.” Tears fell from her eyes. “But because of me, David is in the hospital. And my friend put him there. Hook saved me from Zelena. And now you and I are going to save him from the Snow Queen.”
 
She set the button on a table and removed a vial from her pocket pouring it over the item. It began to levitate and glow as Belle and the Dark One followed it out the hospital and towards the bluff.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Regina?” Robin knocked on her front door. “Regina please! I need to talk to you!”
 
The door opened magically. The thief sighed as he walked into the lavish house.
 
“Regina…?” He looked around. “Can we… talk…?”
 
“In here.” She called from the kitchen.
 
He walked in to see her sitting at her kitchen counter in a deep purple bath robe. A glass of bourbon in her hand.
 
“I thought you didn’t day drink…”
 
“I thought your wife was dead.” She said sharply, sipping some spirit.
 
“That’s not fair.” He looked down. “How could I have known? It’s been years.”
 
“It’s not you Robin.” She put the cold whiskey glass to her forehead. “It’s me. I’m the problem.”
 
“How do you mean?” He took a glass from the cupboard.
 
“This is punishment for my evil deeds. I’m a villain. I’ll always be a villain. And villains don’t get happy endings.”
 
“My men…they told me something interesting…” the outlaw trailed off. His hand on the corked bottle of burbon. “They said we’re fated lovers.”
 
Regina looked up. “They told you that did they?” She stood from the counter and walked into the living room.
 
“You knew?” He poured himself more bourbon than he meant to as he rushed after her. “How could you know?”
 
“A fairy told me. Does it matter?”
 
“Yes! I think I deserve to know my fate don’t you?”
 
“It’s not your fate Robin. It’s mine. I am fated to love you, and you’re fated to leave me.”
 
“Is that a part of the prophecy?” He asked.
 
“No. The prophecy was,
there’s your true love Regina, go get him! Psych!”
She drank.
 
“I don’t understand ‘
psych’
what is that?”
 
She smiled. “Nothing. Just…my life.”
 
“Then it’s not nothing.”
 
“Robin, why are you here? You should be with Marian.”
 
“Should I?” He stepped forward.
 
“She’s your wife!”
 
“Then why can’t I stop thinking of you?!?”
 
Regina closed her eyes. A mascara soaked tear leaving a dark trail down her cheek.
 
“I am a thief. And an outlaw. But I live by a code. And when I take an oath, it means something. I made an oath to Marian. Till death do us part. And it did! And then… it didn’t.”
 
“I know Robin! I understand! Oaths, codes and pledges may as well be meaningless in this world. But in our world… to you… they aren’t.” she smiled through her dark tears. “It’s honestly one of the things I love most about you.”
 
“Well don’t.” He stepped forward placing his hand around her waist. “Because I’m breaking it.”
 
He drank all of his burbon in one swallow, tossing the glass over his shoulder as he pulled her into a deep kiss. She relished in his sweet embrace. The feeling of his unshaven face against hers, the lingering taste of bourbon on his tongue. The scent of bark and forest brush upon his jacket. Regina had been raised her whole life being told she was royalty. Destined to be queen. But in Robins embrace, she wanted to run off and live in the woods.
 
She put her hands on his chest and pushed him backwards. She looked down at the ground, catching her breath. Looking up into his eyes, her own glossed with bourbon and sadness.
 
“I can’t. You can’t. Rowland.” She said in a low serious tone.
 
“Regina.” Robin placed a gentile finger under her chin. “I chose you. The best example I can set for my son is to live a life he can be proud of. What kind of example would I set for him if I didn’t show him to follow his heart.”
 
“And you just expect her to be ok with this? Marian? I’m the Evil Queen remember? Did she tell you? Did she tell you where Emma found her?” Tears fell from her eyes. “In MY dungeon! Don’t you see?!? All these years? All your pain at losing her? It was me! I did it! I killed Marian!”
 
“But you didn’t! She’s alive!”
 
“That’s not what matters! I never remembered killing Marian. And it wasn’t because I didn’t do it, it was because I’ve killed so many people that I have no way of remembering an individual. That’s why she came back. That’s why I don’t get a happy ending. That’s why…I’ll always be the Evil Queen.”
 
“I refuse to believe that! I’ve seen you do incredible things Regina! You saved Rowland in the Enchanted Forest! You saved the town from Zelena! And you saved ME from the ice queens spell! And… I know there is only one way you could have done that. True loves kiss. The lightest magic there is.”
 
“You’re being naive Robin.”
 
“And you’re being stubborn! Because you don’t think you deserve this. Do you know why I am your happy ending? It’s not because you need some man to complete you. It’s not because you need love to bring purpose into your life. It’s because you need someone who believes in you. Who doesn’t see you as the Evil Queen you have accepted yourself to be. I’m your happy ending Regina, because I will not

leave

you to be consumed by darkness! No matter how hard you push me away.”
 
“I…I’m scared…” she whispered. “I’m scared I’m going to lose everything again…”
 
“So am I. But I’d rather be scared with you than brave without you.”
 
Her final scraps of resistance fading away as she lost herself in the bliss of true loves kiss.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma walked down the street towards the marina. She had left her car at the hospital and stepped out to clear her head. Finding herself several blocks away and back at the shore. The gulls called above her in the chilly ocean sky as she glanced towards Cruca’s apartment. It had remained abandoned since the return of Captain Hook.
 
She sighed heavily, resisting the urge to go inside again. Reaching into her jacket she removed the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and opened it.
 
“Alone, alone, all, all alone,

Alone on a wide wide sea…”
 
She read aloud. Looking up at the horizon she felt her eyes sting with emotion. She had seen the look in her mothers eyes in the past. When she had looked through her without recognition. It had been so painful. And he had been there. He wiped the tears from her cheeks. He had the same look in his eye, that night on the street. She was nothing to him. That look, over and over, from the parents who didn’t adopt her. From employers who wouldn’t hire her for her jail sentence. From everyone before she had come to Storybroke. And now Hook.
 
“Alone, alone, all, all alone,

Alone on a wide wide sea!

And never a saint took pity on
My soul in agony.” She read again.  
“I don’t suppose that’s your favorite verse?” Came a voice.
 
Emma turned and saw Walsh standing on the dock.
 
“What are you doing here?” She asked wiping an unfallen tear before he could see.
 
“I was looking for you.” He shrugged.
 
“How did you know I’d be here?”
 
“I thought you lived here. With your boyfriend…?”
 
“My what?” She glanced at the door to Cruca’s apartment. “No… I don’t live here.”
 
“Is this about Hook?” He asked, leaning on the boardwalk railing next to her.
 
“You heard about that?”
 
“It’s hard not to. He burned down Main Street.” He laughed lightly.
 
“I sure know how to pick ‘em don’t I?” She laughed sadly. “The huntsman, the wizard of Oz, Captain Hook… even the Dark One’s son!”
 
“I missed that one.”
 
“He was the father of my child.” She put her head in her hands.
 
“Ok, so you’ve had a tough go at love.” He smiled.
 
“A tough go? Did you not hear that he threw my father out a window?”
 
“Ok more than a tough go.”
 
“Why are you here Walsh?” She sighed.
 
“He’s not that man.”
 
“What?” She looked up suddenly. “W-who?”
 
“Hook.”
 
“You met?” She was stunned.
 
“I…” He hesitated. “I came around the other night looking for you. Ran into him.”
 
“He didn’t hurt you?”
 
“Hurt me? No!” Walsh laughed. “He took me out for a drink! Well, he made me pay. But it was actually sort of what I needed.”
 
She smiled sadly. “That sounds like him.”
 
“I tried to fight him.” Walsh smirked at himself.
 
“And he didn’t hurt you?” She asked again.
 
“If I had known he was Captain Hook I would have thought twice about taking a swing at him. He must have really worn you down.”
 
Emma laughed. “You have no idea.”
 
“Hey, I tried to wear you down myself and look where it got me. Drinking with my romantic rival, Captain Hook.” He trailed off with a smile. “Do you love him?”
 
“I don’t think I even know what love is. But when I’m with him, I’m happy.”
 
Walsh reached over and took the book from her. “That’s a form of love.”
 
“It’s painful to see him this way. This is the worst part of him. And he always struggles against it. I know it’s not easy for him, but I wish I knew what there was about the darkness that made it so hard for him to resist.”
 
“There’s usually a difficult path and an easy path. I saw a lot of it during my time as the wizard. I tried to help people chose the good path, the difficult path. But when someone is in pain, the path of least resistance often seems like the only comfort. You’ve fought against evil. You know it’s not so cut and dry.”
 
“You’re saying Zelena wasn’t evil? After what she did to you?”
 
“Zelena was abandoned Emma. Surely you of all people can understand the pain that comes with that. I hate Zelena for what she did to me… to everyone. But what people often call ‘evil’ is far more likely the result of pain.”
 
“How do I end his pain?”
 
“I wish I knew. I could honestly see what you liked about him. He was under the spell of shattered sight, there was no reason for him to be kind to me. But he was. I wish I could come here and tell you your new boyfriend is an asshole, but instead I just wanted to tell you not to give up hope. If he can go for a drink with his romantic rival while resisting that much evil… I have to believe he’s still in there.”
 
“Thank you Walsh. I really needed to hear that.”
 
“What’s this book anyway?” He looked down and paged through.
 
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. His favorite. I thought maybe if I read it, I could find a way to get through to him.”
 
“Are those her ribs through which the Sun

Did peer, as through a grate?

And is that Woman all her crew?

Is that a DEATH? and are there two?

Is DEATH that woman's mate?” Walsh read the verse.
 
“It’s not a very happy poem.” She sighed. “It’s the story of a man’s struggle at sea. I get why he likes it.”
 
“Sometimes though the struggle is hard, it’s exactly what we need.”
 
“He and I struggled so much to find each other. I wonder if that’s all we’re destined to do. I wonder if our story will end like the poem, and all we’ll be is sadder and wiser.”
 
“Is it worth it?” Walsh asked. “After such a journey, you must have kept struggling for a reason. Is he worth it?”
 
“Yes.” She smiled. “He is.”
 
“Then there you go. A sadder and wiser Emma Swan.” He handed her back the book.
 
Emma took it from him and placed her hand on his shoulder, with a grateful smile.
 
“You saved me from Zelena Emma. I feel I owe you some happiness. Even if it’s not with me. I’m going to join the merry men. Maybe my experience with magic will be of help.” He shrugged.
 
“Thank you Walsh. I’m glad you’re back.”
 
“I guess I’m sadder but wiser too.” He smirked.
 
She looked back out on the water as she heard his footsteps grow quieter as he walked away from the water. Looking down at the book she found the page Walsh had read from.
 
“Is DEATH that woman's mate?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Belle and Rumple followed the shimmering button as it floated through the air leading them to Hook. Belle wore a determined look as she gripped the Dark One’s dagger and trudged through the cold forest brush.
 
“We can still go home. We can still turn around. You don’t have to do this Belle.” Rumple pleaded.
 
“Yes I do!” She stopped and turned to him. “I know you struggle with this Rumple, but he’s my friend. And he’s trapped. The only reason I kept the button a secret was because I was worried about what would happen if someone else found him first.”
 
“You mean if

I

found him first.” Rumple looked down.
 
“I know you’re a good man.” She stepped forward and put her hand on his cheek. “But your struggle against the darkness is not an easy journey. We can help him Rumple. You and I, we can find him together! We can free him! And no one else has to get hurt!”
 
“What if

you

get hurt? The snow queen is powerful! Powerful enough that even I cannot break her magic! Please, I’m begging you, turn back now.”
 
“I wish it were easier for you to follow me on this.” She looked down at the dagger in her hand. “Everyone underestimates me.”
 
“I’m not underestimating you Belle. You’re very powerful. You’d have to be to soften the heart of the dark one.” He ran the blade of his thumb softly across her cheek, wiping away her tears.
 
She smiled at him, though her tears continued to fall.
 
“But there is one thing in this world that scares me more than anything. And that’s losing you.”
 
“If I can soften your heart I can soothe his as well. Learning about the spell the snow queen cast on him may show us a way we can break it. I have to try. I won’t leave Killian to die at her hands.”
 
“If it comes down to it Belle… don’t make me chose the pirate over you. I won’t be able to live with myself.”
 
She hugged him close as they continued on to the bluff where the button lead. Against the hill was a cave. The outside appeared normal, but as they made their way inside it began to change into an icy cavern.
 
“Stay here and keep watch.” She commanded holding up the dagger.
 
“What? No! Belle take me with you!”
 
“I just need to see if he’s in there!” She stepped back. “I have to talk to him. See of I can reach him. I’ll summon you if I need you. Just wait here for now. I won’t be long I promise. It will be difficult for me to talk to Killian if he sees you.”
 
“Belle!” Rumple watched her walk into the cave.
 
Belle walked cautiously. The soft crunch of her shoes in the snow felt so loud in the echo of the cave. As she made her way through she came into a comfortable ice room with ornate furniture and bright lights coming from an icy chandelier. She heard the deep base sound of music.

“~You don't own me

Don't try to change me in any way.~”

Laying on the ground next to the couch was Hook. Unconscious.

“~You don't own me

Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay.~”

“Killian!” She whispered rushing to his side. “Killian wake up!” She gently shook him.
 
His head rolled limply at her touch but he did not stir. She saw a bottle of rum clutched in his hand. It rolled free spilling upon the ground as she again tried to rouse him. She leaned in cautiously checking his breathing. A strong scent of alcohol on his breath.

“~ I don't tell you what to say!

I don't tell you what to do!~”

“You can’t wake him.” Said a voice through the air. “He’s had too much to drink.”
 
“He can’t go on like this! He’ll die if he keeps this up!” She shouted.

“~So just let me be myself!

That's all I ask of you!~”

“His liver will hold a bit longer. He’s surprisingly stubborn.”
 
“What do you want Snow Queen?!? Why are you doing this?”

“~ I'm young and I love to be young!

I'm free and I love to be free!~”

“To find my family. Isn’t that what everyone wants? It was difficult to figure out how he was resisting my spell. A spell of such power should not be resistible. But he is truly unique. He is certainly the one destined to bring me my sister.” The snow Queens soft voice echoed off the ice.

“~To live my life the way I want!

To say and do whatever I please!~”

“We can help you find her! You don’t have to do this! The people in this town are not your enemies!”
 
“The world is your enemy when you’re like me. That’s why I need my sisters. They are the only ones who will understand.”
 
“I can’t let you hurt Killian anymore. You’re killing him!”
 
“He doesn’t seem to care as long as he can kill the dark one. Don’t you love the dark one? Doesn’t that upset you? Your friend and your husband always trying to kill one another?”
 
Her voice echoed from place to place. Belle looked around wildly trying to find where it was coming from.
 
“They both fight the darkness! It’s not the darkness that I love about them but their struggle against it! It’s who they are! And it’s what makes them beautiful! No matter how much pain the world has inflicted on them they will always fight against the darkness!”

“And what about you?”

The voice came from beside her.
 
She turned. Upon the ice wall there hung a round mirror with an ornate white frame. Within, Belle could see her own reflection.

“You betrayed him. You betrayed Rumple. He gave you that dagger because he trusted you and you used it against him.

” Said her reflection.
 
“N-no, I had to I needed help!”
 
“As if you don’t know.”
The reflection gave a dark smile.
 
“K-know? Know what?”

“That dagger is a fake. You think he would really give you the real one? Trust you with it? You think he’d actually give up the darkness for you? You’re a fool. A naive little girl. His love for you will always come second to that dagger.”

“N-no… No this is a trick. A lie! He wouldn’t do that-! R-Rumple-!” Her eyes grew heavy as she suddenly fell into a dead faint.

“~ And don't tell me what to do

Oh, don't tell me what to say!~

“Well well well. If it isn’t the Dark One.” The Snow Queen strode into the room, her white train trailing after her as she stepped barefoot through the snow.
 
“Ingrid.” Rumple said tersely.
 
“So you

do

remember.”
 
“How could I forget?”

“~ And please, when I go out with you

Don't put me on display
!~”

“Come to help your lady love?” She glanced at Belle laying unconscious in front of the mirror. The dagger fallen from her grip.
 
“I won’t let you cast that spell on her.” He growled.
 
“Oh please. Even if I could she would be a waste. You heard her reflection. Her greatest fear that would drive her to darkness is you. And you don’t fall into my plans.” She walked to the scholar and looked down at her sleeping form. “Pity. Her fears are true. You haven’t given her the real dagger.”

“~ I don't tell you what to say

I don't tell you what to do!~”

“You don’t know what it’s like to be controlled by it. To not be able to resist a command. I won’t let that happen again.”
 
“Then why give it to her at all?” She asked.
 
“I meant to…I really did. Even when she did use it against me, it was only over her guilt to help her friends.”
 
“Then why not give her the real one?”
 
“I won’t let

anyone

stop me from defending the ones I love against a threat. Not even the ones I love.”
 
“~So just let me be myself

That's all I ask of you!~”

“So she’s wrong. You don’t struggle against the darkness. You embrace it.”
 
“Is that so wrong? That must be precisely why you chose him.” He glared at the pirate, still unconscious on the ground.
 
“He’s not like you.” She waved her hand, the snow rising up and lifting Killians body from the ground and laying him gently onto the couch. “He does resist. He does struggle. Can’t you feel it?” She held her open palm above his body. “The darkness I have awoken in him has only scratched the surface. There is so much more to come. Such an incredible struggle. I wonder if he’ll survive.”
 
She brushed his bangs off his forehead, with a sympathetic expression.
 
“What do you really want Ingrid?” Rumple placed himself between the Snow Queen and Belle.
 
“Just what I said. My sisters.”
 
“And I suppose when you have them everyone else will go free?”
 
“You expect them to leave quietly?”
 
“So you really

do

want this town.”
 
“My sisters and I will live here together. In our own little pocket of magic. Undisturbed.”
 
“How?”
 
Ingrid glanced at the mirror on the wall.
 
“The spell of shattered sight… They’ll tear each other apart…” He whispered.
 
“That’s right.”
 
“You know I can’t let you.”
 
“That’s a little

heroic

for you isn’t it?”
 
“Hardly. You see, my wife and Grandson are in this town. And I will not let you take them from me.”
 
“Two people? I suppose I could spare two people. But I have more incentive than that to keep you out of my way Dark One.”
 
“And what would that be?”
 
She held out her hand and a round box appeared. Encrusted in gold with shimmering stars dotted across the lid.
 
“You still have it…” Rumple whispered walking away from Belle and towards the box.
 
Ingrid waved a hand over it. The box frozen into a thick layer of ice.

“~ I'm young and I love to be young

I'm free and I love to be free!~”

“Stay out of my way, and I will give you the box, and everything you need to use it. As well as your grandson, and your wife. Continue to stand against me and I will let them live long enough for you to see the hatred in their eyes when they turn against you. Do we have a deal?”
 
“My family

and

my power?” He looked from Belle to the box. “You have a deal.”

“~ To live my life the way I want

To say and do whatever I please!~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Mary Margaret I’m fine!” David objected as she tried to help him up the steps to the apartment.
 
A tarp covered the broken window. The glass and debris had been swept up but there was a significant draft through the loft as they stepped inside.
 
“David there is nothing wrong with taking it easy! You could have been hurt much worse!”
 
“Of course I know! Hook came into our home! He threatened you and our baby!”
 
“No, I’m pretty sure he was just after you.”
 
“Just because he didn’t hurt you this time doesn’t mean he’s not going to hurt you next time.” He sighed leaning heavily on the counter.
 
“He said he didn’t plan to hurt me. Because I’m

nice

.” She smiled brightly.
 
“Hook lies.”
 
“Not about you being a prick.” She scoffed.
 
“Sure. Kick me when I’m down.”
 
“David.” She placed Neal in his cradle and turned to her husband. “I think we should talk about Hook and Emma.”
 
“Aren’t I hurt enough?”
 
“That’s just it David. Hook is a problem.” She said seriously.
 
“I agree. We need to figure out what to do the next time he attacks. This is getting worse.”
 
“No, I mean, the way you treat him.” She sighed.
 
“He’s an enemy. How am I supposed to treat him?” He leaned his elbows on the counter.
 
“Hook attacked you because you’ve been hard on him David. And I think…I think to get him back you have to stop seeing him as your enemy.”
 
“Did you miss the part where he kicked me out the window?” The prince pointed to the tarp hanging over the broken pane.
 
“Do you remember Prince Charles and Princess Leia?” She placed two teabags in their mugs.
 
“Sure. It’s part of our story now.” He reached out and took her hand.
 
“It is.” Her eyes shimmered with affection for him as she closed her fingers. “Because I remember thinking you must be a good man. He returned your ring and you helped him because it was the right thing to do.”
 
“So did you.” The prince returned her affection. “You helped just because she saved you. That’s all it took for your to get us into the queens castle. And you almost died for it!”
 
“But don’t you see David? It was Hook that gave us the choice to help on our own. Does that sound like him? Does he seem like the sort to appeal to someone’s better nature?”
 
“No.” The prince scoffed. “It sounds like Emma.”
 
“Exactly! And he even said so! He said it was her that taught him to see the good in people. And I know it must be strange to think that Hook had anything to do with us falling in love… but he did. Because I never forgot that moment. Hanging in a net, a net YOU put me in by the way, looking at this charming prince who would risk his life  because it was the right thing to do.”
 
“That wasn’t Hook. That was Emma.”
 
“Yes! It was Emma! It was what Emma has done to change him! To make him an honorable man! Why do you think the Snow Queen erased her from his mind? Because she had to in order to corrupt him! She had to in order to turn him back to the darkness!”
 
“What do you expect from me Snow? You expect me to accept him with open arms? To let a pirate get closer to my daughter? I’m not sure I can!”
 
“But he’s not just a pirate David! He’s the man who raised Baelfire! Neal! The hero for whom we named our son! Can’t you see him as that man? As the man who saved your life in Neverland? The man who locked himself in a prison so that Henry would be safe? Who crossed realms to bring Emma home? And brought her back safely from the past? Can’t you see him as

that

man David?”
 
“When…when Baelfire died…I had to tell him. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I just kept imagining…what if it had been Emma? What would I do? How would I react? I’d be so lost… a father without his child… I can’t imagine anything worse.”
 
“He’s still that man David. Emma believes in him. Why can’t you?”
 
“I don’t have to. If you and Emma believe in him, that’s good enough for me.” He smiled.
 
“I love you David.” She set a mug of warm tea in front of him. “No matter how worried I was, I know he didn’t come here to kill you. Which means he’s still fighting the darkness. We can’t give up on him.”
 
“Well said my dear.” He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close. “Starting tomorrow, we’re going to save Captain Hook. And if I can’t do it for
him
…I can certainly do it for Emma.”
 
Snow gently hugged him with one arm, then sipped her tea, looking over at Neal in his cradle.
 
“Can’t promise that I won’t throw him out a window though.” David smirked taking a drink.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Belle sat up abruptly she was back at the pawn shop.
 
“Belle! You’re ok!” Rumple put his hands on her shoulders.
 
“No! No! You can’t be here!” She brushed him off. “I told you to wait outside the cave! I commanded you!” Her heart beat quickly in her chest as she panicked.
 
“You commanded me to keep watch! And it’s a good thing too. I sensed the Snow Queen and found you in front of her mirror! She nearly cast the same spell on you that she did on the pirate!”
 
“Hook… I couldn’t help him…” tears ran down her face. “He was passed out. She’s keeping him drunk! We have to save him!”
 
“That pirate is usually drunk anyway Belle!  What difference does it make?”
 
“He’s in pain! He doesn’t remember Emma! I have to get back! I have to help him!” She stood and made her way towards the door.
 
“I already went back. The cave is empty now.” He put a gentile hand on her shoulder.
 
“You did?”
 
“Somehow I knew that wouldn’t be enough for you dear.” He smiled. “The Snow Queen is gone. I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do.”
 
“B-but…” she turned. “How can I just leave him?” Tears ran down her face. “How can I leave him to be miserable and in her control like that? You know what it’s like to be controlled! You know how terrible it is!”
 
“Yes…” He glanced at the dagger in her hand. “I do.”
 
“Oh…oh no!” She dropped the knife as though it were hot. “Rumple! I’m…im so sorry! What have I done?!?” She dropped to her knees.
 
“Belle, it’s ok.” He knelt next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
 
“It’s not! It’s not ok! You must hate me!” Her tears continued to fall. “You gave me this out of love and trust and I betrayed you! How can you ever forgive me???”
 
“You were only concerned for your friend. Although I must admit, your devotion to the pirate…I get a bit jealous.” He smirked.
 
“Oh Rumple.” She put a hand on his cheek.  “It’s not like that with Killian and I. We’re just friends.”
 
“You forget, he’s stolen a wife from me before.” He looked into her eyes.
 
“You don’t have to worry about that. You told me about Milah. It was a commoners wedding. I always wondered if the two of you were ever in love. What we have is different. What we have is real.”
 
“Belle, I was just a hollow shell of a man then. I came alive when I became the Dark One. But Hook…Hook has always been this man. A dashing pirate. I’ve hated him for so long, sometimes I think I’ve convinced myself that he would take anything from me given the chance. Just like he took my wife and child. And now the two of you are close… it’s hard not to imagine the worst.”
 
“Even if you and I didn’t meet and fall in love, Killian and I aren’t compatible like that.” She chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about.”
 
“He did save you from Zelena.” Rumple shrugged.
 
“He saved
you
too.” She smiled.
 
“Don’t remind me.” He sighed.
 
“If only the two of you could put your differences behind you and see what you have in common…”
 
“What we have in common is that we’re both dark men. And you’ve seen the good in both of us.”
 
She smiled.
 
“But the trouble with darkness, is you can always lose yourself to it again. He’s lost himself Belle. And I know you and the others are going to try and help. But… if you can’t…if he remains lost I only hope you can move on.”
 
“Thank you Rumple. I’m not going to give up on him yet. But I’m glad I have you to help me.” She hugged him. “I’m so sorry I used you.”
 
“You can use me for whatever you like. Perhaps we can avoid the dagger though?”
 
She nodded looking guilty. “I don’t think I can hold on to this anymore Rumple.” She handed it back.
 
“No Belle. I gave you that and I want you to keep it. If you can love my flaws you can be damn sure I’m going to love yours.”
 
“But… I can’t be certain I won’t abuse it.”
 
“Welcome to my world. You’ve hardly sampled the Darkness. Imagine being immersed in it. Your cup is chipped. Hooks is shattered. It’s not going to be easy to put it back together. Even with someone as good as you trying to help him.”
 
“Cup…” she muttered. “A chipped cup…”
 
“What is it my dear?”
 
“Its a long shot. But I may have thought of a way to help Hook.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Henry woke in his room at Regina’s. He looked up at the white ceiling and poster covered walls, happy to be home. His tough love had worked. His mother had let him in. And for a change it seemed like things were going to be ok. She hadn’t told him, but he had seen the two burbon glasses on the counter. Robin Hood had been by.
 
“Hello Henry.”
 
He turned to see Hook sitting just inside his open window, flask in hand.
 
“Grandfather Hook!” He said in alarm getting quickly out of bed and backing away.
 
“It’s alright lad. No need to worry.” He sipped his rum.
 
“Grandfather… you threw my Grandpa out a window…”
 
“Ah, right. Forgot about that.”
 
“You

forgot?”

Henry said in disbelief.
 
“I’ve done quite a bit of drinking since then. Call this hair or the dog.” He drank from the flask. “But it’s worth noting your grandpa went home from the hospital the same day.” He shrugged.
 
“Is that supposed to make it better?” Henry asked.
 
“Doesn’t it?”
 
“What are you doing here grandfather?”
 
He picked up the iPod laying on the desk and began to scroll.
 
“The usual. Causing chaos. Not that you have anything to worry about. In fact I was hoping you could help me.”
 
“
Help
you? Why would I help you?”
 
Hook smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Because it’s

fun

.”
 
He plugged the iPod into the dock. Music beginning to play over the speakers

“~I made a wreck out of my hand

I put it through the wall

I made a fist and not a plan

Call me a reckless wrecking ball.”

“You have good taste in music.” Hook commented.
 
“Wrecking Ball, Mother Mother, Oh my Heart, 2008.” Henry listed. “What are you going to do?”
 
“Well the plan was to make a mess of your room what do you think?”  He stood next to him and looked around the space.

“~ I aim to break not one but all

I'm just a big ol' wrecking ball.”

“What? So I have to clean it up?”
 
“Oh no, not that kind of mess. This kind.” He picked up a pillow and tore it open with his hook. Down feathers flying about.
 
“Hey!” Henry objected.
 
“Oh come on Henry! You’ve never wanted to cause a bit of chaos? Nothing your mother couldn’t fix with a twitch of her nose.”
 
“Other than tearing up my pillows what were you thinking?”
 
“~I am unruly in the stands

I am a rock on top of the sand

I am a fist amidst the hands

And I break it just because I can.”

“Do you know how easy it is to drive a cutlass through drywall?” He put an arm around his grandsons shoulder.
 
“No…” Henry looked up at him.
 
“Nor I. Care to find out?” He offered him the hilt of his sword.
 
“~It takes a dedicated hand

To put it through the wall

You gotta wanna break the heart

Of all those pretty porcelain dolls
.”

“No one will get hurt?” He asked.
 
“Not today, I’m a bit too drunkover for that.”
 
Henry took the sword and looked longingly at the bedroom wall.
 
“Oh come
on
Henry. Have a go.” He gestured with the flask.
 
He stepped back and drove the sword into the wall. It went through easily. The preteen grinned and made another hole and another.
 
“~You gotta wanna be the drummer in the band,

You gotta wanna be a battering ram!

You gotta see the artistry,

In tearing the place apart with me, baby!~”

“That’s it lad! What else? Try the bedpost!”
 
“The bedpost?”
 
“Aye, give it a good slash! Wind up!”
 
“B-but I’m a kid…”
 
“Aye. So was your dad when he learned to fight. Right around your age.”
 
“M-my dad?” He looked at the sword.
 
“Aye. That was his you know.”
 
The sword was engraved with ‘Captain Baelfire’ just above the hilt.
 
Henry pulled back and slashed out with the sword. The knob of the bedpost fell to the ground, leaving a clean cut.
 
“Good form!” Hook smiled. “How about the windows! Get them next!”
 
Henry grinned and broke each pane. They continued to make a complete and total mess of Henry’s room, even going so far as to slash open the mattress and pull out the springs.

“~Because I can! Because I can! Because I caaaaan!~”

Hook threw a box of pencils into the ceiling fan. Henry laughed and shielded himself as they went flying every direction. He reached for the lamp on his table and tossed it against the desk with glee. The bulb breaking and the lampshade bending into scrap. He laughed and looked around for more things to throw.

“~Let’s break it! Just because we can!~”

“There see? Chaos isn’t so bad! How about we go out for some cocoa?”
 
“I…I shouldn’t…” He looked down.
 
“~Deface it! Just because we can!~”
 
“Like you shouldn’t mess up your room?” Hook raised an eyebrow. “Can you think of anyone better to play hooky with than your Grandfather Hook?”
 
“~Just because. Just because. Just because.~”
 
“Will you tell me stories? About my dad?” He asked.
 
“Henry, there is nothing I’d rather do than share stories of Baelfire with you over a hot cocoa.”
 
“Ok.” He smiled up at his grandfather.
 
He turned to the door.
 
“Where are you going?” Hook asked.
 
“Aren’t we getting hot cocoa?”
 
“Aye. But not that way.” He ripped the bedsheet into strips and tied them end to end. “We’re taking the pirate exit.”
 
He threw the sheet-rope out the window and tied the other end to the bed frame.
 
“If you’re thirteen and haven’t learned to repel out your window are you even thirteen?” He pulled on the rope to be certain it was secured. “Come along lad. And mind the glass! Adventure awaits!”

“~I am unruly in the stands,

I am a rock on top of the sand.~”

Henry couldn’t hide a bright smile as he held the rope and went out the window backwards just as Hook instructed.
 
“Good form! I’ll be right down after you!” He grinned out the shattered frame.

“~I am a fist amidst the hands.

And I make a wreck out of my hand.~”

Hook turned to the bedside table where the storybook lay covered in a dusting of down feathers. He shook it off and tucked it safely into his satchel before wrapping the bedsheet rope around his right arm and carefully stepping down the building after his grandson.
 
“~I make a fist and not a plan,

And I break it just because I can.

Because I can, Because I can…~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“You used a locator spell on him… without me…” Emma sat next to David in the loft across the table from Belle.
 
“I’m so sorry Emma! I know I should have told you!” The scholar looked down.
 
“What happened to the cave?” Emma said in exasperation.
 
“Rumple went back. Said it was cleared out. Didn’t find so much as a snowflake.” She sighed.
 
“And you saw the mirror? Like the one Hook described?”
 
“Yes. And it did the same thing he said. My own reflection telling me my deepest insecurities. Luckily Rumple got to me before she could cast it…” She paused. “I wish I had Killian to talk to…about what I saw.” She whispered.
 
“And you said Hook was… unconscious?” Emma choked on her words.
 
“I’m sorry Emma…” Belle whispered. “I should have told you.”
 
“Yes you should have.” Emma said sharply. “Did you learn anything that could help us?” She asked.
 
“It…it’s just an idea…” Belle fiddled with her hands.
 
“At this point I’m willing to try anything.” She let out a breath.
 
“You said that first night you saw him in the street he was drinking. And he’s been drinking every time you’ve seen him.”
 
“Belle, it would be weirder if he WASN’T drinking.” Emma raised an eyebrow.
 
“Well I got to thinking, he’s got a pretty strong resistance to magic. He can resist the spell of shattered sight, he’s the only one Rumple has ever described as being able to resist a command upon his heart. Maybe the rum is what’s making it harder for him to resist?”
 
“You’re saying she put something in his rum?” Emma asked.
 
“Possibly… but… I think so.”
 
“So maybe if we can get the rum away from him…” Emma thought.
 
“Actually at this point I get the feeling the only way to sober him up would be in the drunk tank.” David added.
 
“Good luck getting him

in

there. Doubt it would hold him even if we could.” The savior sighed.
 
“What about his pearl?” David asked. “The one keeping him sane?”
 
“What about it…?” Emma asked suspiciously.
 
“What if we…took it?”
 
“You want to drive him mad? No way.” Emma said adamantly. “I won’t do that to him.”
 
“Emma if he keeps escalating we may not have a choice.”
 
“We’re heros! We always have a choice! Besides, he has a tendency to attack when he doesn’t have it.”
 
Her phone rang and she answered to a loud yell. Holding the phone back from her ear she looked at the screen.
 
“Regina?” She asked. “Regina calm down! I can hardly understand you! Henry’s room? What do you expect me to do? He won’t clean his room at my place what makes you think I can get him to do it at yours? Wrecked? What do you mean wrecked?” She looked in alarm at David. “Henry is gone?!?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma stood in the destroyed bedroom. She recognized the shape of the holes in the drywall and the slashes in the bed. Made by a cutlass and a hook.
 
“H-He wouldn’t…” Emma whispered. “He just wouldn’t…”
 “Where is my son Emma?!? What has that pirate done to-?” The Queens voice caught in her throat.  “How? How could this happen? How could you not notice ?” Emma turned to her.  “You think this is my fault?!? We ran out of milk! I left for ten minutes to go to the pharmacy and when I came back the windows were broken! Don’t you recognize those hook marks?!? Where is he?!? What did he do to my son!?!”  
“I don’t know.” Emma clenched her jaw. “But we’re going to find him.”
 
“Damn right we are.” Regina’s hands pulsed with fire.
 
“Come on.” Emma stomped down the stairs and out onto Regina’s perfectly manicured lawn.
 
“Good form lad! Full speed ahead!”
 
Emma heard Hooks voice coming from behind the hedges. The incensed mothers turned onto the sidewalk to see Henry riding on his grandfathers back holding a cutlass. The sword pointed forward as though the boy were riding a horse into battle, still in his pajamas.
 
“Henry!” Emma gasped in relief.
 “Mom! Did you know my dad once fought of five men and won?!?” Henry smiled brightly. “With this sword!” “He fought more than that lad! Remind me next time to tell you about when Bae and I took on a whole ship! Just the two of us!” 
“Get away from him Henry!” Regina conjured two glowing balls of fire.
 
“Mom! Mom! It’s fine! We just went for hot cocoa!” He jumped off Hooks back.
 “It’s not fine!” Tears gathered in Reginas eyes. “You could have been hurt !”  
“No! Grandfather Hook wouldn’t hurt me! I’m…I’m sorry about my room.” He said, sounding guilty.
 
“I’m not. Made short work of her didn’t we Henry?” Hook gave his grandson a friendly elbow.
 
“Henry…” Emma said gently. “Come here.”
 
The boy glanced back at his grandfather with a sad guilt as he lumbered slowly to his concerned mothers.
 
“You son of a bitch.” Regina marched forward loosing a fireball at the pirate.
 
He dodged it and drew his sword.
 
“There we go Queenie! Ready for a fight?” He smiled.
 “Mom stop!” Henry placed a hand on her arm as she looked at the captain with rage. “He didn’t hurt me! We were just having fun! It was me ! I destroyed the room! We didn’t think it would be bad because you can fix it with magic!”  “Of course I can fix it with magic Henry, but I can’t fix you !” She held back tears placing her hands on his shoulders.  
“But if you can fix it what’s the problem?” He asked.
 “The problem is why he did it.” Emma hadn’t broken her glare from Hook. “He wanted us to think you were hurt . He wanted us to worry.”  
“Grandfather Hook… is that true?”
 
“Nothing wrong with a little scare Henry. Good for the blood.” He grinned. “He was never in any danger.”
 
“That’s too far Hook.” Emma said angrily.
 “You haven’t even begun to see me go too far love.” He licked his lips, a flash of red in his eyes.  “No…no we had a good time… you told me stories about my dad. You were just… using me…?” 
“Of course not Henry! I wanted to share with you all the best things about being a pirate! Just like your father and I did! Scaring your mums? That was just a little extra.” He winked. “Let’s do it again sometime.”
 
“Over my dead body!” Regina hugged her son close.
 “That’s the idea.” Hook grinned. “You see once everyone in this town is dead Henry and I can sail off on the Jolly Rodger. After all, that was what Bae always wanted for him. A good childhood just like he had. And once the Snow Queen is victorious there will be no Evil Queen, no Dark One, and no sorceress to stop us.”  
“But…but I don’t want that…” Henry said quietly.
 
“You will.” Hook smiled gently.
 “Henry stays out of this Hook. You and I, we can fight for eternity if we have to but my son stays out of it!” Emma squared her shoulders. 
“Oh Ella, when will you learn that your powers mean nothing to me?”
 “It’s Emma . And if you could remember my power you would know you haven’t seen anything yet!”  “Then show me.” He drew his sword again and stepped back into a fighting stance. “Show me the power the Snow Queen wants to see!”  
“Gladly.” She held her fists at her sides, and with a nod of her head sent a wave of energy towards him knocking him off his feet.
 “Hahaha! Now that’s more like it!” He smiled, as she stood. “That’s the sorceress the Snow Queen has been looking for! Come on! Give me your best shot!”  
She backhanded the air, sending him flying once more. He landed roughly on a park bench, splintering the wood beneath him.
 “Mom stop! This is what he wants !” Henry begged. 
“That’s right Elena! Show me your power!” He sat up, his lip and nose bleeding.
 “It’s Emma !” She said through her teeth.  “By any name you’re still pathetic !” He smirked and wiped his nose, leaving a smear of blood across his face. “All that power and it changes nothing ! So show me what you’ve got!” 
She closed her fist and he rose into the air. His feet kicking at the ground as it fell away.
 
“Mom!” Henry put his hand on her arm trying to get her to let go.
 “You better kill me Ellen. Because if you don’t I’ll keep coming. I’ll come for everything you love. One by one. Because unlike you, I have nothing to lose.” 
She looked at the pearl around his neck and thought of her fathers idea to take it. She saw the red in his eyes reflected back at her through shards of glass. Then she glanced at Henry’s worried face holding her arm, and with a deep breath slowly put Hook down.
 “It’s Emma . And you do have something to lose Hook. You’ve just forgotten.” She held her hand out to him. And looked him in the eye. “Come with me Killian. I can give you back what you’ve lost.”  “How would you know anything of loss ?”He spat blood through his teeth. “What do you know of agony ? Of pain ? You know nothing of me!!!” 
“I know you better than you know yourself.” With a sad smile, Emma closed her eyes.
 
“ Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched,

With a woful agony,

Which forced me to begin my tale;

And then it left me free.”
 
She recited. Her hand still outstretched to him. His expression softened, and his eyes quieted as he stared at her in shock.
 
“T-that…that’s from…”
 
“Your favorite poem.” she met his gaze. “Let me tell you the tale that will set you free.”
 
“W-what tale…?” He asked with a breath.
 
“Ours.” She smiled.
 
He began to reach for her hand, but before they could meet, he was gone in a haze of white smoke and snowflakes.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What the hell are you doing?!?” Hook barked as he appeared in the Snow Queens cave.
 
“Saving you from that sorceress.” She said calmly. “You were about to be put under her spell.”
 
“She knew! She knew things about me! How could she know that?!?” He wildly paced the floor. His blue eyes flashing as he tried to make sense of the sorceress.
 
“The same way

I

know captain. Magic. She’s trying to use magic to manipulate you.”
 
“She says that’s what
you’re
doing!!!”
 
“And you

believe

her?”
 
“How could she know? How could she know that poem?” He asked in confused frustration.
 
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner? It’s

everywhere

in this world! You’ll find it in every library, every bookstore, every sea captains shelf! The stories from your world bleed into this one Hook! It’s how everyone knows your story! And why everyone knows you’re the villain.”
 
“But why would she let me go…?” He asked with a breath. “Why would she release me? She has such power…”
 
“Not yet.” The Snow Queen crossed her arms. “We’ve hardly even seen her true power. Which is why I need you to unlock it.”
 
“I’ve tried! I burned the town! I threw the Prince out a window, I threatened Henry! What more can I

do?”

“You’ve done well Hook.” She placed a chilly hand on his shoulder. “I asked you to make her life chaos and you did. But you’ve been holding back. All that darkness inside you… why do you fight it?”
 
“I…I want to be a man my son would have been proud of…” His eyes glossed with drunkenness and memories.
 
“He’s gone Hook. Baelfire is gone. And what has being a man of honor gotten you? Nothing but madness, suffering, loneliness. That woman wants to control you, just as she has done everyone else in this town. If she gets her hands on you it’s over. She will not only take your mind, but worse, she will deprive you of your vengeance. She would have you stand alongside the Dark One. Is that what you want Hook?”
 
“N-no…” he whispered.
 
“I know you’re in pain captain.” She picked up a bottle of rum and placed it in his hand. “But you’ve almost broken her. You simply have to stop holding back. And then you will have everything. Your home, your grandson, your vengeance. You only have to give in to the darkness.”
 
“My code…” he looked at the bottle. “My honor…”
 
“You’ve broken it to achieve your ends before. All I’m asking is that you break it one last time.” Her voice was soft and devoid of emotion.
 
He pressed the bottle to his lips and tipped it back. The sting of the sweet spiced rum upon his throat as it dripped down his chin, chilling him.
 
“You must not let her touch you. You must not let her trickery fool you. But above all, you must not let her

kiss

you.” She straitened his lapel.
 
“

Kiss

me…?” He asked before tipping the rum back once more.
 
“As with any sorceress her kiss is powerful. It will strip you of the one thing you crave the most Hook.” She stepped back.
 
“What’s that?” He swayed on his feet as the rum took hold.
 
“Your thirst for revenge. Do you understand?”
 
“Yes, my Queen.”
 
“Do you know what you have to do Captain?” She asked.
 
“Yes… my Queen.” His eyes were heavy as they glossed with rum.
 
He tipped the bottle back once more, drinking until he lost consciousness.
 
*****
 
“Where did he go?!?” Emma looked around “I got to him! I reached him! Where did he go?!?”
 
“That magic…” Regina knelt and touched the ground where Hook hand once stood. “The Snow Queen.” There were still snowflakes in the air.
 
“Why would she

do

that?” Henry asked. “Why would she take him?”
 
“Because.” Regina smiled. “It was

working

.”
 
“What?” Emma turned.
 
“You were right Emma. You
were
getting through to him. Breaking through the memory spell.”
 
“You mean he was

remembering

me?”
 
“I think he was doubting he didn’t know you. If you can jog his memory, you may get him back.”
 
Emma’s chest hurt at the mere thought. He’d been torn away from her so painfully, she ached to believe he would return. Regina went into the house heading into the kitchen, her sensible heels clicking against the floor.
 
“Look, Regina, I know I’m the last person you want to help right now. But if it concerns Henry it concerns both of us. Is there any other way to break a memory spell?” Emma asked as she and Henry followed the queen.
 
“Memory spells are usually about the caster and the subject. We know the Snow Queen’s magic is too powerful to be broken. But with Hook’s resistance to magic we may be able to jog his memory.”
 
“What do I do?” Emma asked.
 
“Just what you were doing. Reminding him of those moments that only the two of you shared. No one knows him better than you Emma. You’re the only one that can get him back.”
 
“Henry, I have an idea. The storybook!”
 
“On it!” He smiled running up the stairs.
 
“Have you got a plan?” The Queen asked.
 
“We’re both in the book now. Hook and I together. Maybe if I can show him proof he knew me…”
 
“Not bad ms Swan.” Regina smirked.
 
“Thank you Regina.” Emma whispered. “I know you have no reason to help me but-“
 
“Don’t thank me just yet. If that pirate comes after my son again…” She poured herself and Emma some burbon.
 
“You know he was never in any danger right?” Emma locked her gaze.
 
“He just said he wants to take Henry away. That’s danger enough for me.” She drank.
 
“We can do this Regina. We can get him back.”
 
“You can get him back Emma.” She said tersely. “My only concern is my son. And if I have to go through the pirate to keep him safe…” She held her glass of bourbon for a moment in front of her lips. “…I don’t want to. But I will kill him.” She drank.
 
“Mom! Mom!” Henry ran down the stairs. “The book! It’s gone!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Is everyone here?” Emma asked looking around the dinner.
 
All the Merry men stood at attention. Walsh among them, looking a bit nervous. Robin with his crossbow over his shoulder. Marian sat at a booth with Rowland near by.
 
All 7 dwarfs flanked Snow and Charming. Neal sleeping peacefully in his mothers arms.
 
Regina and Ruby sat at the bar, looking fabulous and ready for a fight.
 
“So the plan is to get Hook to remember Emma.” Henry said determined.
 
“How do we do that?” Leroy asked in his signature grumpy tone.
 
“With these.” Henry placed a large box of walkie talkies on the table. “Everyone take one.” He began to hand them out.
 
“So with this device… we can talk to one another?” Robin looked at it confused.
 
“Yes.” Emma showed him how to turn it on. “Remember, Hook is dangerous. He’s still under the spell of shattered sight and he’s only escalating. If you see him, if he shows up, call me immediately. Merry Men? See Henry with instructions on how to use to walkies.”
 
“I’ll admit, I never understood magic in our world, but I think I understand it better than these things.” Robin turned over the walkie.
 
“~It’s not so hard.” Regina’s voice crackled over the speaker in his hand.
 
Robin smiled and looked across the diner at her. She returned his expression.
 
“Use them for whatever you need, but be sure to keep channel one open for Emma.” The prince spoke. “We never know where or when Hook will strike, so all we can do is be prepared when he does.”
 
The juke box suddenly came on and began to play a driven guitar beat.
 
“What the?” Ruby walked over to it and kicked it.
 
“What’s going on?” Emma asked.
 
“We may have found Captain Hook earlier than we expected…” Robin said cautiously opening the front door.
 
They all left the dinner and stood in the street. Every shop on the block was playing the same song. The music grew louder as they walked towards the marina.

“~AHHHHHHAHAHHHHHHHAHHHHH!!!!~”

The music blared.
 
“~AHHHHHHAHAHHHHHHHAHHHHH!!!!~”
 
“The Immigrant song. Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin III, 1970.” David said looking around for the pirate.
 
Emma turned to her father and raised an eyebrow.
 
“What? David Nolan liked Zeppelin…” He almost sounded embarrassed.
 
“Look!” Snow pointed towards the water.
 
“~I come from the land of the ice and snow, From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow!~”
 
The sun begining to go down created a silhouette of a ship on the horizon coming into the harbor.

“~Hammer of the Gods.~”

“It can’t be…” Emma breathed as the pirate ship came into port.

“~Will drive our ships to new lands

To fight the horde, sing and cry

Valhalla, I am coming.~”

As they raced to the marina they heard the sound of a cannon.
 
“Woah!” Charming dove out of the way as a hole opened in the street next to him. “How did he get his

ship

back?!?” Getting to his feet, he looked down into the small crater.
 
“Is that…?” Emma asked looking into the hole.
 
“Ice.” David touched the melting cannon ball.
 
“That means…” she looked up at the ship.
 
“The Jolly Rodger…” Regina sighed. “On the rocks.”
 
The boat was made of pure ice. Upon further examination she could see the Sun coming through the hull like glass. Standing on the rail with his arms crossed, Hook watched the town scream as his cannons crashed balls of ice through shop windows. Looking down at the marina with dour seriousness. He met Emma’s gaze.
 
“Hook! I need you to listen to me!” She rushed forward.
 
“No! The cannons!” Her father held her back.
 
Hook smirked. “

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them,

Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

While horse and hero fell,

They that had fought so well.”

“
That’s not the Rime of the Ancient Mariner…” Emma said quietly.
 
“Thought I’d switch to a new poem. Since you seem keen to use my favorite against me.” He grasped an icy rope and slid down it to the dock. “But the cannons are just the flare. How do you like my new ship Eliza?” He looked back at the icy boat.
 
“It’s

Emma

. You

have

to remember me.” She breathed
 
He tipped back a bottle of rum and drank deeply. “The ship was quite the surprise! You can imagine my pleasure to have her back.” He gestured. “But the Snow Queen’s gifts didn’t stop there. No no. You see my new ship needed a crew. And she gave me one.”

“~AHHHHHHAHAHHHHHHHAHHHHH!!!!AHHHHHHAHAHHHHHHHAHHHHH!!!!~”

Frozen specters sprang up along the rails of the ship. Dozens of men who appeared as icy mariners ready to follow their captain’s commands.
 
“No…Hook please we don’t have to fight!” Emma pleaded looking at his small army.
 
“That’s where you’re wrong Evelyn. Fighting is what pirates

do

. And when the Snow Queen has the town, the Dark One’s life will be mine. And I will finally be free.”

“~We come from the land of the ice and snow! From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow!~”

He waved his hand and the ice-pirates jumped onto the dock and rushed toward the town.
 
“Everyone! This is Emma!” She called into the walkie. “The Snow Queen’s army is coming!” I need
everyone
to defend! Over.”
 
“~What about
Hook?!?”
Came Regina’s voice.
 
“

I’ve

got Hook.” She responded. “Over.”

“~How soft your fields so green

Can whisper tales of gore

Of how we calmed the tides of war

We are your overlords!~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Townsfolk ran as ice balls rained over Main Street to the classic rock anthem blaring over every speaker. The ice pirates began to rush down Main Street, crashing in windows and throwing merchandise out into the street.
 
Regina stood firm in the center of the road, throwing fireballs at the cannon fire to melt them before they could hit the ground.
 
“Mama!!!” Rowland called running alone in the street.
 
An ice pirate stepped forward in front of the boy causing him to stop dead with fear.
 
“Rowland!!!” Marian yelled as she grappled with a pirate.
 
“No way snow man.” Regina took a long stride, holding her open palm to the ice form.
 
It splintered into thousands of pieces and fell to the ground as cubes.
 
“Regina!” Rowland hugged her leg.
 
“It’s ok sweetie. Let’s go get your mom. Stay close behind me.” She cautiously lead the way.
 
Marian managed to shove the pirate off her just as Regina conjured a fireball to destroy it.
 
“Rowland!” She dropped to her knees and picked up her son as he ran into her arms. “Thank you Regina.” Marian said with surprised gratitude.
 
“Thank me when we’re out of this.” Regina turned. “Stay close.”
 
“I can fight!” Marian insisted.
 
“Only when the child is safe.”
 
“Where is safe…?” She asked looking down the street at townsfolk running and fighting for their lives.
 
“The fairies. Get him to the convent.” Regina pointed around the corner.
 
An ice pirate shoved Regina from behind.
 
“Go! Now!” She insisted holding off the icy specter.
 
Marian clutched Rowland and rushed to the convent. Regina used her hands, engulfed in fire to hold off the ice pirate. His very form weak to her favorite spell. She grinned as she easily melted him little by little, before feeling a strike to the back of her head. She fell to her knees. Barely holding on to consciousness as she reeled from the hit.
 
“Regina!!!” Robin called running towards her.
 
The ice man who had felled her raised his sword to bring it down on her back. Robin rushed forward, knowing he would never make it in time. But a sword came through the middle of the cold body, the pirate managing to gasp before he crumbled into ice. Marian pulled back the sword as the pirate fell away. Regina collapsed to the ground.
 
“Marian!” Robin held Regina in his arms. “T-thank you…”
 
“If she can change, so can I.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get her someplace safe.”
 
“Merry Men!” Robin called into the walkie. “Emma needs backup!”

*****

“Hook…” Emma held out her hands non threateningly. “I don’t

want

to fight.”
 
“That’s a shame. Because that’s what I came to do.” He licked his lips.
 
“You and I, we can just talk.” She locked his eyes.
 
“Boring.” He tipped back his flask.
 
“That’s what we used to do! We would drink and talk. I loved that.” She smiled.
 
“Some sorceress

you

are! And to think you almost had me going with the poem! Surely you can come up with something less obvious that

drinking

and

talking

.”
 
“Ok, I’ll give you that one.” She sighed. “But don’t you remember everything we

went

through? I was there when you were Cruca!”
 
“Wrong on that one lass.” He crossed his arms. “I was nothing but

miserable

as Cruca. Thought about killing myself.”
 
“C-Cruca…” She whispered, at the thought of that version of him. “W-well what about Neverland? After the shadow almost got you… I sat with you in the clearing…”
 
“I lay

alone

in that clearing, waiting to either die from my injuries or my son to make it back in time to save me.”
 
“What about in the past? We go

in
together we come
out

together, remember? The Dark Ones castle?”
 
“I was tortured by the dark one when I fell into the past. That alone should have driven me mad.”
 
“No, Hook, these are all times we were
together
! You and I! We have this
amazing
past together, if only you could just

see

it…” she shook her head.
 
“My past is nothing but pain.” His eyes were cold and heartless. “After Baelfire died I lost any
reason
to live.”
 
“We had a home Hook! Both of us! Just for a
minute!
” She stepped forward.
 
“Ah. I see your

army

has arrived.” He looked over her shoulder.
 
She turned to see the Merry Men standing a safe distance back. Little John leading the way. Walsh nervously standing among them.
 
“Stand down.” She waved to them.
 
“Bad idea Elisha.” He grasped her roughly.
 
She gasped as her arm stung in his grip
 
“The ship and the pirates aren’t the only gifts the Snow Queen gave me. She placed a rather handy enchantment on my hook here. Get it? Handy?”
 
“You’re hilarious.” Emma said through her teeth as she struggled in his clutch.
 
He threw her to the ground. “

Stay there

.” He pointed, stepping over her and towards the Merry men.
 
“What are you doing?!?” Emma sat up.
 
“S-savior… should we fire..?” Little John asked holding up his crossbow as Hook marched towards him.
 
“No! Hook! Don’t hurt anyone!”
 
In a panic Little John let loose his arrow. Hook bobbed his head to the side easily avoiding the bolt. As John reached for the trigger to pull the bow back into place Hook leapt forward and grabbed him by the shirt.
 
“Don’t!!!” Emma shouted.
 
“This is your one and

only

warning savior. Release you power! Your

true

power!” He drew back his hook.
 
“I don’t know what you mean!” She cried.
 
“Wrong answer.”
 
The mast hook dug into little Johns arm creating a jagged wound. The Captain pulled back his hook, a stream of blood dripping from the sharp metal as he let the merry man fall to the ground.
 
“Little John!” She ran to his side holding her hands over the wound.
 
“Try all you like Evelyn. You can’t heal him.”
 
“It’s

Emma

.” She said as her hands glowed with energy.
 
“You can try and keep him alive. But he won’t stop bleeding. He’ll die.” His voice was taunting and callous.
 
“Little John, look at me, you’re

not

going to die.” She said seriously, tearing off the merry man’s sleeve to tie it around the wound.
 
“He might not.” Hooks voice said in her ear.
 
She bristled to feel his breath on her skin. A sensation that once set her mind on fire, now a fearful reminder of the cruelty he was capable of.
 
“But even if he lives the next person won’t be so lucky. Unless you show me your
true power.
You understand what I’m saying sorceress?”
 
“Show you my true power or…”
 
“Or someone

dies

.”
 
“No…Hook…” she whispered quietly.
 
Killian strode across the dock, his heavy footfalls feeling like the ticking of a clock. He walked up an icy ramp and onto his ship before turning to get one last look at the town in shambles.
 
“Weigh anchor.” He demanded, sailing off into the night.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How is he doctor?” Emma asked.
 
“It’s just as Hook said…” whale looked over his shoulder at little John sleeping in the hospital bed. “The wound isn’t healing. We can keep him alive for now by giving him blood, but eventually he will bleed out.”
 
“Just from a wound on his arm?”
 
“Blood is not something the body can do without sheriff. If this wound never heals, the blood will continue to flow. Because of its location we can keep him alive for some time. But without regular transfusions he’s done for.”
 
“What would happen with a worse wound?” Emma feared to ask.
 
“Death would be much quicker. But bleeding out is not a fun way to die.” Whale cautioned. “If Hook threatened to kill someone…he is more than capable with this enchantment. A vital wound would be untreatable.”
 
Emma looked through the window at the merry man who had thanked her so enthusiastically, remanded to bed.
 
“I know this isn’t your area of expertise Victor, but you wouldn’t happen to know how to break this enchantment would you?”
 
He shook his head. “I’d say your best bet is going to be Hook. Or the Snow Queen. It’s hard to say who would be more helpful… I’ll do what I can. But time is of the essence sheriff Swan.”
 
“Thank you Dr whale.” She whispered.
 
Henry watched his mother speaking to the doctor. He felt helpless. He ended up stuck in the convent during the attack on the town. He didn’t mind spending time with Rowland, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was supposed to play a bigger role in this story.
 
He could see the distress in Emma’s face as she spoke to David and Mary Margaret. Looking around, he realized he was remarkably unsupervised. His other mother had been admitted for observation after a considerable blow to the head. Robin Hood had not left her side.
 
And with the weight of the world on her shoulders Emma wouldn’t miss him. He quickly made his way towards the docks and boarded the Jolly Coastman. Hook had shown him where he kept the keys and how to use the navigation system. It wasn’t hard to access the ships log. Once he did, finding previous coordinates was easy. The last place the ship had been was a fixed location out in the harbor.
 
As the Jolly Coastman got closer to the location he felt a chill in the air. Colder than winters usually were in storybrooke. He wrapped his grey and red stripped scarf high around his neck as an iceberg came in to view. Even if he had any doubts it was the ice queens lair, the icy Jolly Rodger anchored to the cavernous iceberg  assuaged his doubts. He anchored the modest fishing vessel and hopped onto the floating island of ice. Hearing a song coming from the ‘Jolly Rodger on the Rocks. ‘
 
“Grandfather Hook?” He asked as he approached the icy ship. He heard somber music playing on the ship as he climbed a rope ladder to the deck.
 
“~The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.~”
 
“Grandfather Hook!” Henry came up onto the navigation deck and saw him laying against a barrel.
 
His chin laying limply on his chest, passed out, with his flask in hand. Henry shook him until he woke with a start.
 
“~It's strange what desire will make foolish people do~”
 
“H-Henry…?” He asked looking around and taking in his surroundings. “W-where am I?”
 
“The Snow Queen’s iceberg! Are you ok grandfather?” Henry asked helping him sit forward.
 
“Iceberg…? Henry you shouldn’t be here!” Hook quickly came to his senses looking around.
 
“I had to come see you grandfather!”
 
“~ I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you~”
 
“Why?” He held his head as he looked down.
 
“Because I’m worried about you. We all are.” He took the flask from Hooks hand.
 
“~ And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you~”
 
“That’s kind of you Henry, but I’m guessing you didn’t tell anyone you were coming here.”
 
“No, I didn’t…” he sounded guilty.
 
“Let’s get you home Henry.” Hook got to his feet, stumbling in his drunkenness.
 
“No! Hook, this is getting bad! What you did to little John…”
 
“Be glad he’s still alive. Next time won’t be so fortunate.”
 
“This isn’t who you are Hook! The Snow Queen has you under her control!”
 
“~ No, I don't wanna fall in love, ~this world is only gonna break your heart~”
 
“She doesn’t. If she did you’d be dead already. Which is why we have to get you out of here.” Hook looked around with concern.
 
“I’m not leaving!”
 
“~ No, I don't wanna fall in love, ~this world is only gonna break your heart~”
 
“Henry, you have to. If the Snow Queen finds you you’ll be in trouble. And there’s only so much I can do to protect you.”
 
“I don’t care! Grandfather, the Snow Queen cast a spell on you to make you forget!” Henry insisted.
 
“Lad, it’s a bit more complicated that that.” He held his head as it ached from the rum.
 
“It’s not! What’s more likely? That Emma cursed the whole town? Or that he Snow Queen cursed just you?”
 
“~ What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way~”
 
“These kind of curses have happened before mate.” Hook got down on his knees and looked into Henry’s eyes. “Look, I wish it were easier for you to understand. But this has to happen Henry. The Dark One has to die. The sorceress must be defeated. You’ll see.”
 
“~ What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you~”
 
Henry looked at the glass shards in his eyes and felt a sense of despair.
 
“Grandfather… do you have that book you took from my room?” He asked quietly.
 
“Sorry lad.” He opened the hatch to the captains quarters and grabbed the satchel hanging just inside the door. “The Snow Queen needed it.” He handed the book back to Henry.
 
“~ What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way~”
 
“No she didn’t.” He said. “She just didn’t want us to show it to you.”
 
“What do you mean?” The pirate asked.
 
“~What a wicked thing to do~”
 
“Look.” Henry opened the book to show a much younger, but similar looking Killian behind the wheel of his precious Jolly Rodger.
 
“~to make me dream of you”
 
“It’s a a storybook…” he looked at the pages.
 
“It’s stronger than that.” Henry looked at the book with respect for its power. “It’s the chronicle of all your stories. Everyone In storybrooke. Even yours.”
 
He opened a page to show Milah in his arms, the day that she died. Hooks expression softened.
 
“~ And I don't wanna fall in love ~this world is only gonna break your heart~”
 
“I thought she’d be with me forever…” Killian whispered. “But I remain a lonely traveler.”
 
“You’re wrong.”
 
“~ And I don't wanna fall in love ~this world is only gonna break your heart~”
 
Henry turned the page to show another image of himself, dancing at a ball with an elegant woman in a red dress. Killian leaned over the book, taking it in surprise and looking intently at the illustration.
 
“~With you…With you…~”
 
“What is this?” He asked in shock.
 
“It’s you and Emma. As Prince Charles and Princess Leia. You took a trip to the past remember?”
 
“My trip to the past…” he held his head. “The dark ones torture…”
 
“~ The world was on fire and no one could save me but you~”
 
“No! She saved you! Look!”
 
He turned the page to show the sorceress standing in a dungeon between himself and the Dark One.
 
“~Strange what desire will make foolish people do~”
 
“You changed the book.” Hook looked up at Henry in alarm.
 
“How could I? This book is immutable Hook! It only shows the truth! It’s how it captured you and Emma when you went back in time!”
 
“~ I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you~”
 
“We waltzed…” he held his head.
 
“Yes! You did! Please! Come with me! We can get you your memories back!”
 
“~ And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you~”
 
“You said he was clever captain.” In a puff of smoke the Snow Queen appeared. “Changing the book is quite clever.”
 “I didn’t change it!” Henry stood his ground.  
“~ No, I don't wanna fall in love~”
 
“Henry, stay back!” Hook stood between the Snow Queen and his grandson.
 
“~This world is only going to break your heart~”
 
“He’s seen my face Hook.” The Queen said coldly.
 “Then you shouldn’t have shown it!” Hook slowly moved Henry towards the ladder.  
“~ No, I don't wanna fall in love~”
 
“He can’t leave here.” The Snow Queens hand glowed with a white energy. “Not until I erase his memory.”
 
“You will not cast any spells on him!” Hook said adamantly.
 
“~This world is only going to break your heart~”
 
“It won’t hurt him captain. Just a simple erase of the past couple hours.”
 “I said not any!!! ” He shouted.  
Henry looked cautiously out from behind his grandfather.
 
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to go over your head on this one captain.” The Queen continued to walk forward.
 
“Stop. Right. There.” Killian held his hook to his own neck.
 The Snow Queen laughed. “You expect me to believe you’re going to kill yourself over your grandsons memory ?” She asked doubtfully. “Try me.” He grinned. “You see, I know that you need me. There is some prophecy I’m supposed to fulfill. So you want me alive.”  
“That’s true. But I still have a hard time believing you’d kill yourself.”
 
“Have it your way. I was looking for a good excuse anyway.” He drew back his hook.
 
“~This world is only going to break your heart~”
 “ No!!!” The snow queen shouted.  
“Henry get out of here.” The captain smiled, still holding his hook over his neck.
 “I’m not leaving you grandfather!” Henry stood confidently behind him.  
“Come now captain.” The Snow Queen cautioned. “Be reasonable.”
 
“Never.”
 
He gripped a fistful of Henry’s jacket at his back, and with a mighty heave, tossed the boy off the ship, and towards the ice berg. He stood quickly out of the snow and ran to the Jolly Coastman.
 “That does not fit in with my plans Captain.” The Snow Queen said angrily as she watched Henry sail away.  “Well, it didn’t fit in with mine either. Boy took me flask .”  
“~This world is only going to break your heart~”
 “Not to worry Hook. I forgive you.” She stepped forward with a dead look in her eyes. “And I’ve brought you some more rum .” She handed him a glass bottle filled with a golden amber liquid.  “You see, that’s what I love about you your majesty.” He said between drinks as he lay back down on the icy deck. “You’re so…damn…reasonable” He tipped back the rum until he fell into a drunken sleep. 
“~Nobody, loves no one.~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Regina blinked, opening her eyes to see the hospital ceiling.
 
“What happened?” She asked holding her left temple.
 
“You were knocked out.” Said a voice next to her.
 
Regina turned to see Marian at her bedside.
 
“Robin just took Rowland to get something to eat. He’s going to be upset that you woke up while he was gone.” She smiled sadly.
 
“Why…? Are you…?” Was all Regina could get out as she gingerly sat up.
 
“Everyone has said you changed. I wanted to see for myself.”
 
“No offense, but I don’t feel the need to prove my progress to you.” She said sharply.
 
They sat for a moment on silence.
 
“I’m…I’m sorry.” Regina whispered, breaking the tension. “This whole being good thing is new to me. It’s not so easy.” She looked away.
 
“I can imagine its different for you.” Marian said.
 
“When you’ve done as much wrong as I have, you begin to feel like you can never come back. You can never have a second chance. But in this town that’s exactly what I got. I found my son here. He changed me. Made me want to be a better person. All I can do is try.”
 
“Well, that’s good enough for me.” Marian sat forward.
 
“W-what?” Regina asked surprised.
 
“Robin believes in you. And honestly, that was never going to change my mind. But I saw you in that fight. You were protecting the town with more passion than anyone. Risking your life even. And when Rowland went straight to you…” she paused. “Well, I was having a hard time trusting my husband but not my boy.”
 
“He’s a good kid.” Regina smiled. “I have enjoyed spending time with him.”
 
“Do you know how long I was in your dungeon?” Marian asked.
 
Regina looked away. “No. I…I have no recollection of you… I killed many people as the Evil Queen.”
 
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Marian chuckled. “I was in there for six months. I had lost hope of ever seeing my son or my husband again. But for Robin and Rowland I’ve been dead for 2 years, give or take a couple dark curse’s.”
 
“I don’t follow.” Regina said, confused.
 
“I had much less time to move on than Robin and Rowland. But I do understand that they moved on with their lives. Robin even fell in love. And his feelings for you didn’t change when I came back.”
 
“Marian, I never told him to leave you. I expected him to stay with you. I know that Rowland needs his mother. If you want me to back off. I will.” She looked down at her hands.
 
Marian smiled. “Now I’m certain.”
 
“Certain of what?”
 
“You and Robin belong together.”
 
“W-what?” Regina said stunned.
 
“Robin and I loved each other. But things were never easy. I left a life of nobility to live in the woods. I actually got used to it.” She smirked. “But I want to be

chosen

. I

deserve

to be chosen. And Robin has chosen you. And I completely understand why.”
 
“Really?“ Regina laughed. “Because I don’t.”
 
“When I met Robin he was a darker man. He stole from whomever for whatever. And he tried to change for me. He really did. But finally he realize that he was a thief. I only showed him a different way to do it. You’re still the Queen Regina. What kind of Queen do you want to be?”
 
“Not an evil one. Not anymore.” Regina said looking Marian in the eyes.
 
“I think Robin came in to your life to help you with that.” She returned her gaze.
 
“What about you?” Regina asked.
 
“I’m just happy to be alive and have my son back. And a part of me…a part of me is happy enough for Robin that I’ve forgotten to feel sorry for myself.”
 
“I wanted to hate you.” Regina said. “When you first came back I wanted to be that Queen again and end you.”
 
“But you didn’t. In fact, you apologized!” Marian laughed.
 
“You have no idea how hard that was.” Regina held her aching head.
 
“Your friend Emma did.” Marian pointed out.
 
“I suppose she did. I’ve never really thought of her as my friend.”
 
“Maybe you should.” Marian stood. “And for what it’s worth, you saved my sons life, maybe someday

we

can be friends too.”
 
“I think I’d like that. Thank you Marian.”
 
“For what?”
 
“Being here. When I woke up.”
 
“You’re welcome Regina.” She smiled as she left.
 
After a moment Robin and Rowland came in. Both of them full of concern for her. But to the Queen’s surprise seeing the man she loved and his boy only brought her half the joy she felt to reconcile with Marian. Storybrooke, again, felt like a place where villains and heroes alike could find a happy ending.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The bolt from the crossbow shot through the can knocking it to the ground.
 
“There you go Walsh!” Robin exclaimed happily. “See? I told you you’d get it!”
 
“Took me long enough…” Walsh sighed as he lowered the crossbow with a satisfied smile. “I’m definitely better with the gun.”
 
“Perhaps. But the crossbow is much stealthier. Not that marry men are out to shoot anyone in the back.”
 
“This is certainly new to me. I was never one to engage in battle in my past.”
 
“What changed your mind now?” Robin asked.
 
“This whole town fought Zelena with such a passion. Even at great loss. And that man, Hook, he helped lead the charge along with you, David, Emma…”
 
“And Regina.” Robin added.
 
“Yes of course.” Walsh smiled. “I feel as though if I didn’t fight this time, I’d be leaving someone else to the same fate I suffered.”
 
“That’s a noble thought. And I don’t suppose your own safety makes a difference?” Robin clapped and hand on his shoulder.
 
“In the past it did. It’s why I hid behind a curtain and pretended to be a wizard. But now…? Well, I feel like even if I were to come to harm… it’s better than being afraid. Life doesn’t happen behind a curtain. So here I am. Fighting the good fight.”
 
“We’re glad to have you.” Robin beamed. “The training you’ve given my men in magical items and avoiding spells has been invaluable.”
 
“Well, even if I’m of no use in battle, it’s nice to know I could contribute something.”
 
“You’ve contributed a lot to this town!” Emma smiled walking up the wooded hill to the target range.
 
“Emma!” Walsh smiled. “You didn’t happen to see me hit that can did you?”
 
“Afraid not.” She laughed.
 
“Well he did. He’s a crack shot.” Robin winked as he retrieved the bolt.
 
“How are things?” Walsh asked.
 
Emma looked down, with her hands in her back pockets.
 
“That bad?”
 
“The enchantment is holding. And Hook promised the next time would be fatal.”
 
“What about your power? Do you know what he means by your true power?”
 
“I wish I did. He had

No Sleep Til Brooklyn

blasting over every speaker in town last night on a loop. Took forever to figure out how to shut it off. How am I supposed to access my true power if I can’t even stop the

Beastie Boys?”

“You’ll figure it out.” He smiled affectionately.
 
“Yeah but will I figure it out before someone

dies
?”

“Emma…” He put down the crossbow. “None of this is your fault.”
 
“Are you sure? Because if

feels

like it is.”
 
“He’s right sheriff. This is the Snow Queens doing.” Robin approached.
 
“Each attack feels more and more like Hook. Like he’s that old enemy that I just can’t shake.”
 
“You mustn’t think like that!” Robin urged her. “That’s what the Snow Queen wants. That’s what this has all been about. Pushing you.”
 
“It’s working.”
 
“Well, you’re not alone. I can hit 3/5 soup cans.” Walsh shouldered the crossbow.
 
“You’re my number one guy when soup cans attack.”  She looked up with slight amusement.
 
“Hey, you’re the

savior

. I’m happy to follow you.”
 
“Mom!!!” Henry ran up the slope towards them.
 
“Hey kid, I thought you were with Regina?” Emma asked confused.
 
“And she thought I was with

you

.” He sighed.
 
“Wha-? Henry! Where have you
been?!?”
Emma asked in alarm.
 
“I went to see Hook.” He held out the flask.
 
“You did WHAT?!?” She screamed, taking it from him.
 
“Mom! It’s fine! I’m fine! Look! Grandfather didn’t let anything happen to me!”
 
“Oh great! I’ll call him to

babysit!”

Emma said sarcastically taking Henry by the arm and leading him back towards the camp.
 
“I got through to him! He remembered!”
 
“He did…?” She stopped abruptly.
 
“Uh…a tiny bit?” He pinched his fingers together.
 
“Oh great! And

then

what?”
 
“Then the Snow Queen showed up…” he looked down.
 
“WHAT?!?” Emma bellowed. “Henry what were you

thinking!?!”

“That I could reach him! Like you did! And for a second it worked! He remembered the waltz! And I took his flask. Not that it will help.” Henry’s voice cracked. “He’s getting bad mom. He was passed out.”
 
“That’s how Belle found him too…” Emma looked concerned.
 
“We’ve gotta save him. Or we’re gonna lose him…” He held back tears.
 
Emma gave her son a look of sad sympathy. She had been so caught up in herself she had forgotten about him. Her expression changed suddenly, and she turned her head.
 
“Mom, what is it?” Henry asked.
 
“Go home

now

Henry.” She said seriously. “I hear music.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“No…this is too soon! He attacked yesterday! Now he’s back!?!” She looked up into the trees as the sound of cymbals grew louder.
 
“Merry men! Be on your guard!” Robin said into his walkie.
 
“Uh… you have to push the button.” Henry pointed.
 
“Oh. Right.” Robin repeated his warning.
 
“Henry go home this instant!” Emma barked.
 
“Mom! I can help! Hook won’t hurt me.”
 
“Henry Daniel Mills!!!” Emma snapped.
 
He looked at her with fearful concern. She stopped and put a hand on his shoulder.
 
“Henry…I’m not worried about you getting hurt. I’m worried about what you could see.”
 
“What I could see…?”
 
“Hook threatened to hurt someone Henry. I’m going to do everything I can to stop it. But I don’t want you to see him like this. I don’t want you to see your grandfather at his worst. Do you understand?” She asked gently.
 
“I…I do.” He nodded.
 
“And, I need you to do something for me. I need you to get ahold of David and have him send anybody that could help. Hook has an army. This is very important. Can you do this for me?”
 
“Yes mom.” He nodded confidently.
 
“Be careful on your way back Henry. I don’t think Hook would hurt you but the Snow Queen still could.”
 
He threw his arms around her shoulders.
 
“I love you mom. You be careful too.”
 
She hugged him back and watched as he ran through the woods back towards town. It was a cloudy overcast day. The canopy of the trees cast enough shade that the Merry Men’s camp was shrouded in shadow. But somehow the sound of the cymbals, base, and synthesizers carried all around them.
 
“Hook!” Emma called. “Come out! Your fight is with me! Leave everyone else out of this!”

“~I'm becoming less defined as days go by~

Fading away~

And well, you might say, I’m loosing focus~”

“Hello Elvira.” She heard his voice behind her.
 
“Elvira? Ok now you’re just making stuff up.” She dropped her shoulders as she turned to face him.

“~ Kinda drifting into the abstract in terms of how I see myself~”

“
Do you have something to show me sorceress?” He looked at his hook.

“~Sometimes… I think I can see right through myself.~

“
I…I need more time…” Said quietly.

“~Sometimes… I think I can see right through myself.~

“
I’m afraid that’s not in the cards Elizabeth.” He grinned.

“~Sometimes I can see right through myself.~”

“The Snow Queen is a profoundly patient woman. But she’s in quite a hurry to unlock your power.”
 
“I don’t even know what that means! How am I supposed to do it if I don’t know how?!?”
 
“See that’s what I said.” He paced slowly around her. “But she seems fairly convinced that all you need is… a push.”
 
“No one has to die Hook. If the Snow Queen wants me she can have me. But leave everyone else alone.”
 
“Admirable.” He smirked. “If it were me I’d take your offer. I’d be happy to… have you.” He licked his lips.

“~Less concerned about fitting into the world. Your world that is.~”

“So that’s it?” She stepped back. “We’re going to fight?”
 
“Aye.” He grinned. “We’re going to fight.”

“~Cause it doesn't really matter anymore~”

Emma reached for the sword at her side and nervously drew it.
 
“~No it doesn't really matter anymore~”
 
Hook drew his cutlas.
 
“~No it doesn't really matter anymore~”
 
“Engarde.” He smiled rushing forward and clashing their swords together.

“~None of this really matters anymore.~”

They fenced along the dirt hill. Emma heard sounds of combat all around her. Out the corner of her eye she saw merry men engaged in battle with specters of icy pirates.
 
“Henry said you remembered.” Emma said as she held off his sword.
 
“Clever sending the boy to mess with me.” He grinned. “You are certainly a worthy opponent.”
 
“I didn’t send him. He came on his own. He cares about you Hook. We all care about you. We’re your family.”  Her eyes were sad.
 
“MY FAMILY IS DEAD!!!” He pushed her sending her rolling down the hill towards the camp.
 
“~Yes I’m alone, but then again I always was. As far back as I can tell, I think maybe it’s because…~”
 
“
Henry came to see you because you’re his grandfather! He said you kept him safe! He’s Baelfire’s son! You have a life here Hook! A happy one!” She got to her feet quickly readying her sword.

“~Because you were never really real to begin with~”

“Clever,  clever, sorceress.” His voice was sharp as he walked slowly towards her.

“~I just made you up, to hurt myself.~”

“
And yet you still can’t access your true power.” The pirate curiously did not reengage her.

“~I just made you up, to hurt myself.~”

“If I do have some deeper power, you really think bringing it out is the best idea? After everything you’ve done?” She snarled.

“~And I just made you up to hurt myself~”

“Is that a threat?” He chuckled.

“~I just made you up, to hurt myself.~”

“
Do you really want to find out if it is?” She tracked his movement. Her sword at the ready.
 
“~And I just made you up to hurt myself~”
 
“
See, that’s how I’m
certain
you don’t know me.” He scoffed.
 
“What do you mean?” She asked confused.

“~And it worked. Yes it did!!!~”

“
Captain Hook always survives.” His eyes flashed red with rage.

“~There is no you there is only me!

There is no you there is only me!

There is no fucking you there is only me!

There is no fucking you there is only me!

Only

Only

Only

Only~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hook turned quickly running into the campsite among the fray of fighting between merry men and ice pirates. He smiled madly as he watched Emma chase him with her sword drawn.
 
“What shall it be Emile?” He grabbed the nearest merry man. “How about him?” He held his sword to the frightened woodsman’s throat.
 
“No!” She shouted rushing forward.

“~The tiniest little dot caught my eye, it turned out to be a scab~”

He threw the man aside, sheathing his sword. As another merry man ran past he grasped his arm and held out his hook.
 
“How about this one?” He laughed.

“~And I had this funny feeling, I just knew it’s something bad!~”

“
Your fight is with me!” Emma stepped forward, lunging with her sword.

“~I just couldn’t leave it alone. I kept picking at that scab.~”

He ran from her again. She followed him through the forest trying to get between him and anyone he could hurt.

“~there’s a doorway trying to seal itself shut but I climbed through~”

“
These are all faceless men! To unlock your power I think we need someone a little more important don’t you?”
 
Emma could hear his voice through the crowd.

“~Now I am somewhere I am not supposed to be~”

She gasped. Coming through a group of sparring thiefs and pirates she saw him holding Robin.
 
“NO!!!” She yelled. “Don’t you dare hurt him!”
 
“~And I can see things I know I really shouldn’t see~
 
“Oh! Struck a chord!” Hook grinned.
 
Robin waited, and then lashed out with his elbow catching Hook on the brow, drawing blood.
 
“Hahaha!!!” Hook cackled letting the thief go as he held his head. “Should have known you’d be tricky!”

“~And now I know why, now, now, now I know why~”

“You’ll not harm any more of my men!” Robin stood next to Emma, his crossbow ready.
 
“I promised you a murder. And there is one more familiar face I see.” The Captain ran to the top of the hill, Emma and Hood on his tail.

“~Things aren’t as pretty, on the inside.~”

Standing at the high vantage point was Walsh, looking into the crowd, shooting ice pirates with his crossbow. Managing to hit 3/5. He never even saw as Hook sprinted towards him and grasped him roughly with his right hand.
 
“Walsh!!!” Emma called. “Hook! Stop! Look, I give up!” She dropped her sword. “Take me to the Snow Queen. I’ll do whatever she wants.”
 
“Emma!!!” Walsh gasped.

“~there is no you there is only me.~”

“
At long last. It would seem I found the right one.” He held his hook to the frightened man’s neck.

“
~there is no you there is only me.~”

“
No take me! I’ll go with you Hook! Don’t hurt him!”

“~There is no fucking you! There is only me!~”

“
Not to worry. I’m not going to hurt him.” He grinned.
 
Emma held her hands out non-threateningly as she slowly approached.

“~There is no fucking you! There is only me!~”

“I’m going to

kill

him.” The captains eyes flashed red as he drew his hook across the slender man’s throat.
 
“WALSH!!!!!”
Emma shouted, seeing the fear in his eyes as blood soaked his front.

“~Only…only…only…only…~”

Hook shoved the wizard forward down the hill. Emma ran to catch him. She held her hand to his throat in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. Her hand glowed with a bright energy as she tried in vain to heal him. His eyes were filled with terror as he locked her gaze. She watched tearfully as the light inside him faded and he slipped away.
 
“Walsh…” She whispered. “Walsh…

WALSH!!!”

“Just remember, you could have prevented this Ella.” Said Hooks voice callously as she closed the dead-man’s eyes. “If you had only accessed your power, you could have saved him. But you didn’t. He’s dead. Because of you.”
 
A massive pulse of bright magic radiated from Emma’s chest. Hook was thrown off his feet along with all of the merry men. The spectral ice pirates burst into snow flakes in an instant. The tents were blown over, the camp fires put out, leaves and pine needles fell as the trees shook. Emma got up slowly and looked around. Not a soul was left standing. The merry men were unharmed. Looking down at her wrist, she saw a yellow ribbon. Clean and crisp against Walsh’s blood on her hands.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“HAHAHAHAHA!!!” Hooks laugh bellowed through the woods as his music came to an abrupt halt after Emma’s magic. “I’ve done it!” He cackled. “I’ve unlocked the sorceress’s power! The Dark One’s demise is at hand!!!”
 
Emma turned slowly, her eyes full of grief and flashing with power. She swept her arm. Hook was thrown through the air.
 
“You think you’re so good at surviving.” Her voice echoed with power. “Let’s put that to the test.”
 
“Bring it on blondie.” He got to his feet, wiping the blood from his brow on his sleeve.
 
She stepped forward, tossing him through the air once more and into a tree.
 
“Is that the best you’ve got?” Hook stood holding his left arm as his shoulder hung limp. “I thought for certain after I killed that pathetic man you’d have more in store for me.”
 
She opened her palm at him. His voice caught in his throat as he rose several feet in the air.
 
“I can see every bone in your body.” Her voice echoed. “What if I separated your ribs?” She wondered.
 
“
Uhn
…” he gasped as his chest shifted and cracked.
 
“I could pull them out you know… one… by…one…”
 
“AG!!!”
He gave a short gasp.
 
Robin watched in horror as Hooks body twisted and writhed in the air.
 
“Emma stop!” The outlaw grabbed her arm.
 
She turned to him suddenly. Her eyes alight with anger and pain.
 
“This isn’t you!” Robin stepped between her and the pirate. “And this isn’t him! He’s not your enemy Sheriff Swan! The Snow Queen is!”
 
Hook fell to the ground.
 
“W-Walsh…” She gave a tortured sob as she looked at his body.
 
“It’s not your fault Emma.” Robin took her into an embraced. “None of this is your fault.”
 
Hook gasped and rolled over, holding his chest and breathing heavily. They all felt a chill in the air as a mist filled the forest. Emma turned towards the pirate to see a tall statuesque woman in a high collared gown standing with her back to them at the top of the hill next to Hook.
 
“Well done Emma.” Her voice carried through the trees. “Your power is truly incredible.”
 
“Why are you doing this?!?” Emma wept. “What do you

want

from me?”
 
“I’ve gotten what I want.” She held up her wrist, showing an identical yellow ribbon.
 
“What’s going on?” Emma looked at her own ribbon and tried desperately to remove it, to no avail.
 
“It is a power that binds us. And now, I can access your power.” The snow queens hand pulsed with a light energy similar to Emma’s. “I have all my power… and yours. And my dear captain…”
 
She reached down and gently touched him.
 
“

AH!!!”

He recoiled in pain at her touch.
 
“You’ve done so well.” She opened her hand over him.
 
A white light covered his body as he was healed. His pained expression relaxed and slowly got to his feet.
 
“The…the Dark One…” He gasped as he sat up, holding his ribs as they mended.
 
“Nearly Captain. Your revenge is at hand.” She placed her palm gently upon his cheek. “You have served me so well.”
 
“I will stop you.” Emma looked at the Snow Queens back, her face hidden by the ornate collar.
 
“No Emma.” She said quietly, though her voice carried through the trees. “Not only will you not stop me, but you will join me. For we are sisters. Bound by love.”
 
She held up her wrist with the yellow ribbon.
 
“What is this thing?” Emma tried again to remove it.
 
“Patience sister. We are waiting for one more.”
 
She raised her hand and in a flash of snow, the Queen and Hook were gone, leaving Emma, Robin, and the Merry Men, with Walsh’s body.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma sat at the kitchen counter, her eyes wide with shock. Her mother rushed over placing a blanket over her shoulders. Emma hardly moved. She simply stared into space.
 
“He…he’s dead…?” Henry asked quietly through tears. “Walsh is dead?”
 
“Henry…” Snow put a hand on her grandchild’s back.
 
“Grandfather Hook…” Henry put his head in his hands. “How could he?”
 
“He’s not himself Henry…” Snow said gently.
 
“Look, I… I hate to say this, but maybe we need to change tactics with him.” David said seriously.
 
“To what David?” Snow asked, directly. “More death is not the answer!”
 
“Im not saying we should kill him! But maybe he is himself! Maybe he was always this man! Maybe we can’t get him back! Even without the spell on him he had reason to hate Walsh! Maybe that’s why he killed him!”
 
“He wouldn’t.” Emma finally spoke.
 
“Emma I know this is hard for you, but we don’t know-“
 
“I know.” Emma said certainly.
 
“Know what?” David asked.
 
“I know he would never do this. Not the old Hook. Not my Hook.” She continued to stare blankly.
 
“It may seem that way but-“ her father started.
 
“They talked! They spoke before Hook was lost to the spell!” Emma threw off the blanket. “Walsh told me! He tried to fight him! Hook was under the spell of shattered sight! He was resisting one of the darkest spells we’ve ever seen! And you know what he did? He and Walsh went out for DRINKS!!!”
 
“What?” David said stunned. “When?”
 
“The night before Hook was lost.” Emma sat back down and resumed her blank stare. “The man I know did not kill Walsh.”
 
“The Snow Queen did.” Henry stood. “When I visited them she tried to cast a spell on me. Hook risked his own life to stop her. He’s still in there. I’ve seen her face! She’s the ice cream lady! Maybe if we search her shop?”
 
“You did an amazing job Henry.” Snow said gently. “But right now we have to deal with Hook.”
 
“Maybe I can help.” They turned to the door to see Regina holding Hooks flask.
 
“Mom!” Henry rushed to her. “Did you find anything?”
 
“Only that she’s definitely using the rum to alter his memory.” She placed the flask on the counter. “There’s a spell on it. Without a doubt. It seems like troll magic.”
 
“Is there anything that can stop it?” Snow asked.
 
“I…I’m not sure.” Regina looked down. “But Emma got through to him the day he came after Henry. And Henry got through to him on the ship. You’re grounded for that by the way.” She said to her son.
 
“With everything that’s been going on I’m actually ok with that.” Henry sat heavily on the couch.
 
“So your best idea is keep trying to jog his memory?” David asked. “I think it’s time to take his pearl.”
 
“The thing controlling his madness? Are you insane? Do you know what could happen?” She accused the prince.
 
“I can’t believe it could be worse!” David objected.
 
“It could be MUCH worse!” Regina argued.
 
“We’re not taking his pearl. We don’t need to.” Emma stood once more. “I’ll deal with Hook.”
 
“No offense Emma, but Robin told me what happened in the forest. I don’t think you’re in a good place to handle this right now.”  Regina sighed.
 
“I know exactly what to do. No more games, no more of the Snow Queens ultimatums. I’m going to stop Hook. Once and for all.” She said with determination.
 
“Emma…maybe Regina is right. Maybe you’re too close to this.” Snow said gently.
 
“I know what I have to do. I know how to end this. Hook won’t kill anyone else. Because I am going to stop him. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m not overwhelmed anymore. I know exactly what to do to put and end to this.” She walked to the door.
 
“Emma! Please!” Her mother begged. “Let us help! Let’s come up with a plan! Together!”
 
“I have a plan. Captain Hook will meet his end. Tonight.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Snow, David, Regina and Henry followed Emma outside and into the street. They watched as she raised her hand. A pulse of light emanating out from her palm and up into the sky.
 
“Emma! Think about this!” Snow urged. “You’re still emotional! You’re still dealing with Walsh’s death.”
 
“Walsh is dead. Nothing is going to change that. Hook is alive. And he’s mine.”
 
“All yours my lady.”
 
Emma turned suddenly to see the Pirate Captain standing in the street several paces away.
 
“Oh good. You’re here.” She said flatly.
 
“I’ve learned to come when I’m called.” He smirked. “Are you going to invite me to the funeral?” He raise an eyebrow. “Or did you call me to

talk?”

He spoke the final word with a laugh.
 
“No.” She said. “I called you to fight.”
 
She held open her hand, a cutlass appearing in her clutch as the yellow ribbon glowed.
 
“Finally!” He smiled. “And here I thought killing that pathetic man would only make you softer.” He drew his sword.
 
“Just you and me this time.” She said seriously. “Give me your word.”
 
“Aye.” He smirked. “No help from me pirates. No help from the snow queen. If you can beat me in a duel, you can kill me yourself.”
 
“And you’re not worried about my magic?” She asked.
 
“I’m terrified of it.” He said amused. “But you hero types often have a code. I expect I’ll get in a bit of a sword fight before you rip the bones out of me.”
 
“So you expect to die?” She asked.
 
“That’s the secret to survival love. I always expect to die.” He shrugged.
 
They circled one another with swords at the ready.
 
“I honestly thought you’d be tucked at home in bed after I dispatched with your former paramour.” Hook bragged. “I was in such a hurry to answer your summons I didn’t even prepare a song.”
 
“Allow me.” Emma smiled opening her hand.
 
Bright electronic tones played through every speaker on the street. With a smile, Hook met her eye.
 
“Europa and the Pirate Twins. Thomas Dolby. The Golden Age of Wireless. 1982.
”
He recited. “How did you know?”
 
“Lucky guess.” She swayed to the music.
 
For a moment, Hooks expression changed.  He blinked as though something had flashes in his mind. With determination Emma rushed forward locking his sword.

“~father traveled, hers as well. Europa…”

The lyrics were deep and somber against the bright music. The uplifting electronic kind that Baelfire loved.

“Do you remember this Killian?” She asked as their blades clashed.
 
“What? You think you’re the first person to discover Golden Age of Wireless?” He scoffed.
 
“We listened to this together, the night I lost you.”

“~Then war took her away. We swore a vow that day!

We’ll be the Pirate Twins again! Europa!~”

“Are you my Pirate Twin?” He said in a taunting childish voice. “How sweet. You’re really grasping at straws love.”
 
The clang of their swords rang through the street to the beat of the music.
 
“I’m not grasping at straws! I know everything about you! ” She blocked and parried. “When you were a child you father abandoned you and your brother! You grew up as an indentured servant on a ship! You loved to watch the sunset.”
 
His expression changed again. But he returned with a look of rage. He took a step forward and a mighty swing. She felt the power of it radiate up her arm, as she stepped backward defending desperately against his attack.
 
“You’ve read the storybook! You’re using my past against me! As if it would work! As if you could turn me from my quest for vengeance!”
 
“I know things that aren’t in the storybook! I know you were always trying your best to follow your brothers example, but it was difficult for you! You followed him into the navy!”
 
“Im not the first pirate who served in the navy!!!” He stepped backwards as Emma went on the attack.
 
“You traveled to Neverland where he was poisoned by Dreamshade and died! You never forgave the king for killing your brother. Or yourself.” Her strikes were quick and agile.
 
“Stop…” he said quietly going on the defensive.
 
“But piracy suited you. You sailed the sea, became the most feared pirate in all the enchanted forest! You were ruthless! But then you met Milah.”
 
“STOP IT!!!” He took a great step forward with a wide slash.
 
Emma lost her balance and rolled backwards. She came to her knees, slowly standing, with her sword at the ready.
 
“She reminded you what it meant to be a good man. And you had an amazing life with her! You loved her so much you adopted her son, Baelfire. You raised him! He was the first one to call you Captain Hook after you lost your hand protecting them!”
 
Hook attacked again. She did her best to hold him off and their blades clashed.
 
“When she died you were thrown into Neverland. Baelfire followed you and you were reunited! You met Tinkerbell and Rufio! Rufio was like a son to you too… you were devastated when you found his body. Up in the trees…”
 
“Don’t speak of Rufio!!!” He barked.
 
“We were there together! Me, you, and Neal. We went to save Henry! You trapped yourself in Pandora’s box to get us all home safe!”
 
Emma smiled as his expression changed.
 
“Pan cursed us and we were separated. You and Baelfire were torn back to the Enchanted forest. You were going mad from the box, but Neal saved you. He put you on the Jolly Rodger to heal your mind!”
 
“Keep my sons name out of your mouth!!!”
 
“NO!!!” She shouted. “Because I loved him too! He saved more than just your life in the enchanted forest! He saved all our lives! He sent you a message to come back and get me, and bring me home. You outran a curse and traded you ship. Just so we could see each other again…” Her expression was sad.
 
“If not for this pathetic town my son would still be alive!” He shook his head trying to maintain his rage.
 
“He died a hero! And you were devastated. You tried to get rid of the part of you that was Hook! But we got you back!” She circled him with her sword waiting for him to attack again. “And with your help, we defeated Zelena.” She smiled.
 
“I could have killed her for what she did to Bae…why didn’t I?” He said quietly.
 
“Because you’re a good man. You believe in second chances. You spared her.” She smiled. “But we fell through her portal and into the past. Where you showed me that storybrooke was my home, because that’s where my family is. And that’s where you are.”
 
“Shut up!!!” He began to attack once more.
 
“After everything we went through, after all your pain and loss, you finally had a home. Here. With people who care about you! Belle, Henry, and me.”
 
“Rrraaaaaa!!!!” He came down with an overhead slash.
 
“~ Buy her singles and see all her films,

Paste her pictures on my windowsill,

But that's not quite the same - it isn't, is it? Europa, my old friend

We'll be the Pirate Twins again! Europa!~”

“But she made you forget. I made a mistake and let you go. And now the Snow Queen has taken your memory from you, and left you only with your pain.”
 
“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!” He screamed stepping back, brandishing his sword with deep heaving breaths.
 
“You think you deserve pain Killian. You think that because of what you’ve done there can’t be anything more. That’s why you torture yourself. That’s why you seek revenge, and trap yourself in boxes, and lock your mind away inside your hook. You’re so accustomed to the pain you don’t know how to live without it.”
 
“No… Killing the Dark One will soothe my pain… how could you know…how could you know me…?”
 
Emma stepped forward. “Because we’re pirate twins. Doing things the easy way. Trying to hide the pain. Finding each other…we didn’t do that the easy way. We struggled.”
 
“Stop!” He clashed their swords once more.

“~Blew in from the hoverport, she was back in London.~”

They fenced back and forth. She met his blade and with a half-moon arc freeing it from his grasp.
 
“How did you learn that?” He asked, stunned.
 
“You taught me.” She smirked dropping her sword.

“~Pushed past the paper man, calling her name.~”

“The Snow Queen shall get me my revenge! You want to take it from me!!!” He raised his hook.
 
“Emma!” David called. “The enchantment!”

“~She smiled for the cameras as her body guard grabbed me~”

“You said this song was tragic. Because he didn’t get the girl.” Emma grasped his high collar with both hands. “But you did Killian. You got the girl.” She smiled leaning in.
 
“No!” He gasped, bringing his hook between them. “I will have my vengeance!!! I don’t care if the Snow Queen wants you alive!”
 
“Emma!” She heard her family cry, the mast hook drawing close to her chest as he desperately held her back.

“~Her eyes were gone forever as they drove her away~”

“I can make you remember.” Emma’s whispered as she met his lips.
 
The sharp end of the hook pierced her clavicle and was drawn painfully across her chest. She’d never forget the sting of magic, as she felt his soft lips upon hers once more.

“~We’ll be the Pirate Twins Again! Europa! Oh my country!

I’ll stand beside you in the rain! Europa!

Ta republic!~”

They drew apart. He slowly opened his eyes. She watched as the shards of glass splintered away, leaving his forget-me-not blues, filled with a profound melancholy.
 
“Emma…?” He blinked.
 
Her heart beat loudly to hear him speak her name. She smiled, then gasped.
 
“Emma?!?” Killian said in alarm as her knees gave out.
 
He held her close, looking down at her wound, his own doing.
 
“Help!!!” He shouted. “Someone HELP!!!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Emma! Emma hold on!” He begged with tears in his eyes.
 
“You said my name…” she said quietly.
 
“Of course…” he smiled. “How could I forget my pirate twin?”
 
“Let’s keep that between the two of us.” She smiled back weakly, tightly gripping his hand as the pain in her chest grew.
 
“Emma, I’m so sorry.” He hung his head.
 
“It wasn’t…you…” she said as her eyes fluttered.
 
“Emma!” David came running over, removing his jacket he pressed it to her wound. “We have to get her to the hospital! Hook!” The prince looked up suddenly, anger in his eyes.
 
“Please! I want to help!” He begged.
 
“…Killian.” David said, taking a deep breath. “Keep the pressure on her wound while I get the truck.”
 
Hook nodded and firmly held the coat. Regina, Snow, and Henry soon joined them full of concern.
 
“Mom!” Henry said tearfully.
 
“We’ve got you Emma.” Snow held her hand.
 
Regina held her palm above the wound. Then looked up. “It won’t heal. She broke the spell on him but not his hook.”
 
“I didn’t- If I had- I never wanted to-“ He stammered.
 
The truck pulled up. Hook quickly lifted Emma into his arms and got into the passenger seat.
 
“Henry! Stay with Neal!” Snow instructed sliding in the back.
 
“But what about my mom!” He asked.
 
“They’re going to take care of her Henry.” Regina put her arms on his shoulders. “We’ll take care of the baby.” She nodded confidently to Snow who looked nervous, but nodded back.
 
As the truck sped down the road, Killian kept the pressure. He wanted to break down, he wanted to run away, he wanted a drink. But more than anything, he wanted Emma to be ok.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The Captain stood in a state of shock, looking through the widow as Dr Whale stitched the 10 inch gash across her chest. Snow and Charming ran in from the parking lot.
 
“How is she?!?” Snow asked.
 
“He’s stitch-“ Hook swallowed the lump in his throat. “-stitching her up now.” He looked down.
 
Snow abruptly stepped forward looking him in the eye. She wore a look of sad anger as she locked his gaze. As much as he wanted to look away, he couldn’t. He had nothing to say. He was filled with a terrible guilt and fear. The princess drew back her hand and slapped him across the face.
 
“Mary Margaret!” David said in alarm.
 
The mother wrapped her arms around the pirate and took him into an embrace. Killian had never been more confused. He almost preferred the slap.
 
“We were so worried about you.” Said Snow quietly.
 
“M-me…?” He stammered, pushing her away. “This is

my

fault!

I

did this to her! I attacked the town! I stabbed little John! I…” he went pale. “By the gods…I killed that man… I killed Walsh.”
 
He doubled over holding his hand to his mouth.
 
“Hook?” Snow asked in concern.
 
He rushed to the sink and retched. “I killed the man.” He gasped. “In front of her.” He heaved.
 
“You were under the Snow Queens spell. But you’re not anymore.” The mother rubbed his back.
 
“Why are you doing this?!?” He pushed her hand away. “After what I did! Why are you…? Why don’t you hate me?”
 
“Hating you hasn’t kept you out of our lives.” David smiled sadly. “Believe me I tried. But look what a little patience and acceptance has done for Regina.” He shrugged.
 
“You’re part of our family Hook. We’re glad to have you back.” Snows hand trailed off his shoulder as the parents went to speak to Dr Whale.
 
Killian looked down at his left arm, the reflective silver clouded by Emma’s dried blood. He ripped off his hook, Furiously throwing the cuff down the hall. He gripped a fistful of his hair as he slid down the wall and grit his teeth. He had never felt more confused in his life.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I brought you some clean clothes.” Belle said quietly standing in the door. “Regina removed the enchantment from your hook.” She placed the cuff on top of the clothes.
 
   Killian turned to her, heavy circles under his eyes, as he quietly stepped behind a curtain and changed out of the blood-stained attire. Emma’s blood.
 
“I know you’re going through a lot right now…” she said softly from the other side, a catch in her voice. “But I’m just so glad you’re back.” Tears fell down her cheeks.
 
“Everyone keeps saying that…” His voice was a hoarse whisper. “Like I didn’t put this town through hell. Like I didn’t do all that damage. Cause all the chaos. Hurt all those people. Kill-“
 
“Don’t you dare!!!” She shouted. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for this. You would never. I know that spell. I know how hard you fought it. That spell never took full control over you. She had to mess with your mind just to make it work even a little!”
 
“If that’s what I can do with a little evil, imagine a lot.” He opened the curtain, still looking defeated. “I’ve been that man before Belle. I’ve killed men for the smallest slight. The man who terrorized this town… he’s just the tip of the iceberg. I can go lower. I can do so…so much worse.”
 
“I remember the man you were Killian. I know better than anyone how far you can go, and how far you’ve come. We will always fight to get you back.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “How’s Emma?”
 “ D-dying.” He gasped. “She’s dying.” He looked through the window. “She needs blood but I’m not a match. Her parents both are. The greatest crime I committed was on myself.” He whispered. “Because now I have to watch her die.”  
   Belle was silent. After a moment she tightened her grip on his shoulder.
 
“Well. Are you?” She asked.
 
   He turned to look at her.
 
“Are you just going to watch her die?”
 
“No.” He said with determination looking back at Emma. “She not going to die.”
 
   Belle smiled as Killian turned and marched with purpose out of the ICU.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hook made his way to the dock. He rushed up the stairs into Cruca’s apartment and rummaged through the cupboards and drawers. Finally he came upon a small shell. He gripped it and rushed back down the boathouse stairs. He pulled open the door to see his grandson standing on the other side.
 
“Henry!” He said with surprise.
 
“Where are you going?” He asked.
 
“Henry, I don’t have time.” He walked around him and out onto the dock. The sun had begun to rise.
 
“You’re going to help Emma aren’t you? You’re going to help my mom!”
 
“So you understand why I don’t have the time.”
 
“I’m coming.”
 
“Like hell.”
 
“How are you doing it?”
 
Hook stood on the edge of the dock looking down into the water. He held the shell to his lips and blew a strangely deep note.
 
“Is that mermaid magic?!?” Henry asked excitedly. “Are you calling a mirmaid?!?”
 
The water began to bubble with a bright blue light. After a moment, a head of warm red hair broke the surface.
 
“Cool.” Henry smiled.
 
“Hello Hook.” Said the mermaid tersely.
 
“Hello Ariel.” He sighed. “I need a favor.”
 
“Like I would help YOU.” She frowned.
 
“You’re going to

want

to help me.” He scratched his head.
 
“Why is that?” She scoffed.
 
“Because I’m going to screw over the man who killed your love. Again.”
 
“You’re going after that bastard of a pirate?” The mermaid asked.
 
“Aye.”
 
“As bad as last time?”
 
“Well, not likely THAT bad, but he’ll suffer for sure.” He shrugged.
 
“What do you need?” She smiled.
 
“I need you to take me to another realm.”
 
“Yeah
right
!” She sneered. “I can BRING you something thats easy enough. But I can’t TAKE you! You’ll

die

before we get there! It’s under water the whole way you know.”
 
“I do. That’s why I need you to revive me when we get there.”
 
“That’s your plan?!?” Henry starred wide eyed.
 
“That’s cutting it pretty close Hook. The chances of you being brain damaged, or just not waking up at all are pretty high. Even for

you

.” The mermaid crossed her arms.
 
“That’s a risk I’m going to have to take.”
 
“
Thays STUPID.” Henry put his hands on his waist.
 
“You have a

better

idea?” Hook raised an eyebrow.
 
“I

do

actually.” Henry gave a mischievous smile, reminiscent of Baelfire’s. “But you have to let me

come

.”
 
He turned and ran to the dock storage shed. He wrapped his scarf around his hand and smashed in a window.
 
“What are you

doing

lad?!?” Hook asked in surprise.
 
“Thinking like a pirate.” He smirked reaching through the window and producing 2 emergency air canisters used in diving.
 
“That’s…brilliant…” Hook marveled.
 
“I don’t like it.” Ariel frowned. “Humans aren’t supposed to travel through mermaid portals. This could be a one way trip…”
 
“Not to worry.” Hook examined the canister. “I’ve got a plan for the return.”
 
“Alright.” She sighed. “Let’s get going.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I still don’t know how I feel about you coming…” Hook sighed as he prepared his own air canister.
 
“Well, too bad.” Henry read the instructions on his. “I’m sick of sitting on the sidelines while everyone else fights.
 
Killian glanced at his grandson. “You have to promise me something Henry…” he said quietly but seriously.
 
“Maybe. Depends.” The boy shrugged.
 
“If things get bad you have to leave me and get back to Emma.”
 
“…I don’t like it.” Henry furrowed his brow.
 
“Too bad. That’s the deal. Will you honor it or not?” He turned to him.
 
“Fine.” He sighed. “But let’s try to come home together, yeah?”
 
“Yeah.” Hook nodded.
 
“So where are we going?” Henry asked.
 
“We’re going to find the Jolly Rodger.”
 
“Your ship?” The boy asked. “Why?”
 
“Calypsos Balsam. The goddesses magic can overcome any spell. It will heal Emma, and Little John.”
 
“Sounds good.” Henry smiled. “Operation Pirate Ship.”
 
Hook smiled. “I like it.”
 
“So what do we do?” Henry asked Ariel.
 
“Well you have to get in the water. I’ll do the rest.”
 
“This is going to be cold.” Henry looked into the winter bay.
 
“That’s the easy part. The hard part will be making it through the portal not meant for humans. Are you ready?”
 
“Ready as we’ll ever be.” Hook looked down.
 
He placed the breather in his mouth and leapt off the dock. The water was shockingly cold. His grandson jumped in after him. Hook nodded to Ariel and she took both of their hands. Hook opened his eyes beneath the water, breathing steadily through the respirator. In front of them he saw a blurry but bright light as a portal opened and the mermaid swam toward it with surprising speed. He glanced at the shape of his grandson one last time as the cold faded from the water closer to the portal as they were drawn in.
 
*****
 
“Killian! Are you ready?” Emma asked.
 
“Aye.” He smiled, leaning in and gently kissing her cheek. “I can’t believe she’s graduating.” He sighed.
 
“I know. She’s gotten so grown up.” Emma put her head on his shoulder.
 
“Such a strangely normal thing to celebrate.” He looked in the mirror. “I’ll never get used to sitting through speeches. Reminds me of the navy.”
 
His reflection showed wisps of grey hair along his temples and scattered through his dark fringe. Though his close-cut auburn beard had greyed very little. Hints of crows feet forming along his eyes, along with a creasing of his brow. He glanced at Emma standing next to him. Her hair was golden as ever. A slight distinction in her laugh lines, but her braided-tuck updo was ageless. She threw on a deep red peacoat, and adjusted his tie, placing an open palm on his chest.
 
“Are you sure it’s ok if I wear the hook?” He looked at his left hand. “I don’t want to embarrass her.”
 
“Killian! We’ve been through this! You can wear what you want, but we’re not embarrassed about regular people seeing your hook! Why do you always say that?” She dropped her shoulders.
 
“People don’t wear things like this in the real world.” He sighed.
 
“But you said the fake hand is awkward and makes you look like you’re doing the robot.” Emma smiled.
 
“I’m fairly certain people outside Storybrooke have seen robots more often than they’ve seen pirates.”
 
“You’d be surprised. That Disney franchise doesn’t quit.” She laughed.
 
He looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I just don’t want to ruin this day for her.”
 
“There is nothing you can do to ruin this for her.” she smiled gently, looking into his eyes.
 
“Nothing?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
Emma stopped and thought for a moment.
 
“I won’t LET you do anything to ruin this day for her.”
 
“There. Why couldn’t you just have said that from the beginning. Tempus fugit! Let’s be on our way.” He held out his left elbow for her to take.
 
“That’s it? You’re not worried anymore?” She laughed.
 
“Are you kidding? I’m terrified. But as long as I have you looking after me I know it will all turn out fine.” He grinned.
 
“I know you prefer the hook. And I prefer you the way you are. And so does she.” Emma put her head on his shoulder.
 
“Damn what anyone else thinks?” He smiled.
 
“It’s the pirate way.” She chuckled.
 
He stopped, turning to face her as they reached the door.
 
“I love you Emma Swan.” His blue gaze met hers.
 
She put her arms around his neck, drawing him in to a gentile kiss.
 
“I love you….
  
  …..Killian Jones.”
 
*****
 
A strapping young man in a leather curass ran through the verdurous forest, smiling as he looked over his shoulder. He leapt over logs and ducked under branches, all the while keeping a watch behind him. He stepped behind a large tree and waited. Listening to the sound of footsteps through brush nearby. As the footsteps drew further and further away he slowly looked from behind the trunk, seeing only the forest through the trees. Breathing a sigh of relief he slowly sat down.
 
“Who are you running from this time?”
 
He looked up suddenly. A young woman in a dark blue tunic and a leather bodice sat confidently upon a fallen tree.
 
“How did you find me?” He took deep breaths.
 
“Whenever I end up in a new realm I just look for whoever is chasing the charming rogue.”
 
“Funny story.” He smiled. “I actually get charming from ONE side of the family and rogue from the OTHER.”
 
“Who are you running from this time?”
 
“What.” He said.
 
“Like I don’t get to ask?” She looked him up and down with attitude.
 
“No, it’s WHAT I’m running from. Not who.”
 
“Oh god. I thought it was just a pissed off card shark! What did you do?!?”
 
“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were going to show up! I thought I was just pissing it off by myself!”
 
“For the last time pendejo! What is chasing you?!?”
 
“A Jabberwocky ok?!? I’m being chased by a Jabberwocky!”  He sighed.
 
A high squealing yell echoed through the trees. They looked up as the branches shook and leaves fell. The quake of footsteps came thundering closer and closer as a hulking shape lumbered through the trees.
 
“What possible reason would you have to provoke one of those things?!?” She gasped as she saw its white eyes and horrible fish-face coming straight towards them at the end of a long serpentine neck.
 
“Honestly? I thought it would make a good story!” He yelled standing up and running.
 
“¡Estupido!” She shouted, running beside him.
 
“I didn’t say it was smart!” He smiled.
 
“So what’s your plan?!? How do we survive this?!?” She asked.
 “My plan was simple!” He stopped and kissed her passionately before stepping back and drawing his sword. “What’s your plan?” 
He turned and ran in the direction of the monster. A bright smile across his face as he charged ahead toward the jaws that bite and the claws that catch.
 
“¡Espera! Come back!!!
   Henry!!!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Henry sat up, the strange vision he had just had still clear in his head. He looked around. The sky was blue. It was temperate, but there was a crisp chill blowing in from the sea. Gulls called overhead as he looked down at the pebble stone beach. He reached for the air canister. The gauge read empty.
 
“We made it.” Henry smiled. “But we’re definitely not going BACK that way…”
 
Looking to his right he saw a harbor town, with lovely green roofs, surrounded by brown-stone parapets. It was warm and inviting on the crisp spring morning.
 
“Where are we?” He asked. “The enchanted forest? …Grandfather Hook?”
 
He turned to his left to see Killian laying with his back to him. His shoulders shaking slightly. Arms and legs drawn into his chest as he trembled.
 
“Grandfather!” He reached out and placed a hand on his arm.
 
“Don’t!” Hook said sharply, contracting in pain at his grandsons touch.
 
“Are you hurt? What happened? Was it the portal? I feel fine! Was it the visions? I had the strangest dream…”
 
“S-so did I…” Killian whispered. “But it’s not that.”
 
He rolled to lay on his back, looking up at the sky. He was pale, with dark circles under his eyes and a cold sweat on his brow. He clenched his jaw and took deep breaths, clutching his arms to his chest.
 
“What’s wrong Grandfather?” Henry asked.
 
“It’s nothing…” Hook sighed letting out a breath. “Just sobriety sickness…”
 
“Sobriety…?” Henry asked confused. “The Snow Queen… you’re having withdrawal.” He said in shock.
 
“I suppose that’s what they call it in your world. I haven’t had a drop of rum in nearly a day now.” His body shook as he wiped his forehead on his sleeve. “I just need a moment.”
 
“Grandfather, you said you had a vision too… what was that?” He asked looking out at the water.
 
“Probably an effect of the portal.” Hook sighed, still trembling.
 
“But…what I saw…could it have been real?” Henry asked. “Could a portal really show us the future?”
 
“It’s hard to say Henry…but it could also just be our minds filling in the blanks.” The captain spoke through deep breaths as he tried to calm the ache in his chest and head. “We can’t let it distract us. We have to get back to Emma.”
 
“I saw her…” Henry smiled. “In my vision I saw my mom. She was happy.” He glanced over at Hook. His hair was dark, and his features were youthful. Seeing his mom and Killian so happy together, some decades older, gave him hope. “Does that mean she’s going to live? Does that mean she’s going to be ok?” He asked.
 
“Perhaps.” Hook tried to sit up then held his head and laid back down. “Perhaps not.”
 
“What did you see?” Henry asked.
 
“I saw you.” His voice was quiet. “You were grown, running through the woods with some bonny lass on a grand adventure.”
 
“Really?!?” Henry asked excitedly. “That means we succeed! That means it’s going to be ok! We’re going to make it! Moms going to be alright!”
 
“We don’t know that lad. The portal could have just messed with our heads.”
 
“But it also could have shown us the

future!”

“We can’t-

Ag!

” He held his head. “Henry-!”
 
“You need

help

.” The boy stood. “Stay here Grandfather! I’ll get someone and be back!” He turned and sprinted down the beach towards the harbor town.
 
He couldn’t help but smile as he ran. He had seen Emma. He had seen Hook. They were happy, they were together. His heart beat with excitement to be on an adventure in a new world. It didn’t matter that Hook didn’t believe in their visions. He did. He would find help. He would find the Jolly Rodger and get the balsam to save his mother, and they would return to storybrooke for hot cocoa with cinnamon.
 
As his shoes pressed into the pebble stone beach he delighted in the chime he heard with each footfall. Hook had seen him on a grand adventure. And for the first time, he wasn’t stuck at home. He was in another land. He was a part of the story.
 
”Operation Pirate Ship.” He said to himself, grinning as the town drew near.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Have you heard of the Jolly Rodger?” Asked Jim.
 
“The pirate ship taking royal vessels?” Robert looked up from his mug.
 
“The Jewel of the Realm they once called her. Now her crew sails against the King.”
 
“Who is her captain?”
 
“Jones they call him. It’s said his eyes burn like fire when he kills a man.” Jim drank.
 
“A frightening tale to be certain. But what of the Queen Anne’s Revenge?” Robert raised an eyebrow.
 
“What of her?”
 
“Don’t they sail along side?”
 
“Rumor has it.”
 
“Captain Jones must be quite the pirate to throw in with Blackbeard.” Robert sighed.
 
“He’s making a name for himself to be certain. You don’t suppose they’re lovers?” Jim laughed.
 
“Why do you ask?”
 
“Many know that Blackbeard doesn’t get on with women. Captain Jones can’t be that fierce if he’s Blackbeards little pet.” Jim scoffed.
 
A sword pierced the table between the two men. They looked up from their mugs at the cutlass coming to an end at a left hand covered in jeweled rings.
 
“That’s enough of

that

lads. It’s bad form to speak of a man behind his back.” Said the swords owner.
 
“Well said

old friend.

” Another sword stuck in the table on the opposite side. “Why not say it to our fronts?”
 
“B-Blackbeard!” Jim stammered at the pirate Captain in a lavish red coat. “Which must make you…” He glanced to the interruptor.
 
“Captain Killian Jones. Pleasure is mine. Pleasure

would

be yours, but you called me Blackbeards

pet

. And I don’t

like

that.” He smirked.
 
“M-my apologies Captain Jones.” Jim looked down.
 
“Don’t apologize to him! You’re nothing but a scavenger taking from Blackbeards reputation!” Robert gripped his mug handle for courage. “You

philanderers

can get your kicks with each other elsewhere. We were minding our own business!”
 
“And you could have

kept

minding your business.” With a flash a dagger was at Robert’s throat. “But you didn’t. You insulted a pirate captain.”
 
“Now now Killian. One shouldn’t

kill

where they

eat

.” Blackbeard crossed his arms.
 
“Who made

that

rule?” Killian smirked at him with maniacal glee.
 
“Cut his throat now and the tavern will be covered in blood. Do you really want to find a new bloody tavern? Or rather…

less

bloody?”
 
“I suppose I don’t. Good point

old friend

best not.” He took the dagger from Robert’s throat.
 
“Thank you Blackbeard. I never expected such quarter from a
man-lover.
” He rubbed his neck where he had narrowly avoided Captain Jones dagger. “I shall remember your mercy.”
 
“Mercy?” Blackbeard scoffed. “Who said anything about

mercy

? I simply advised him against killing you

inside

.”
 
The man hardly had time to react before Killian grabbed him by the hair and dragged him from his seat.
 
“No! No, help! Someone help!” The sailor struggled as Captain Jones drew him by his head across the tavern floor. “Please! Someone! Anyone! He’s going to

kill

me!”
 
The tavern door shut and the patrons went back to what they were doing. Blackbeard sat across from Jim. He picked up his companions drink and took a swig.
 
“So what’s

your

story?” He asked.
 
“M-my friend…” the man looked at the tavern door.
 
“Don’t waste the thought on him, he’ll be dead in a moment.”
 
“Captain Jones would kill him just for a slight?”
 
“He’d kill him for less than

that

.” The Captain drank. “Captain Killian Jones sure has his demons.”
 
“-No! No don’t kill me! His eyes! His red eyes!!! Noooo-“
The voice came from a distance outside the tavern door then went suddenly silent.
 
After a moment the door was kicked in and Killian Jones stood with a dagger in hand, a bloody splatter across his face as the red faded from his eyes.
 
“Bled like a pig that one.” He sighed sitting down at the table next to the companion of the man he had just murdered, roughly putting an arm around his shoulder.  “What’s your name sailor?”
 
“J-Jim.” The man stammered, his friends blood still warm on Killians face. “Jim Hawkins.”
 
“Well Jim, killing your friend has me thirsty. And you still hurt my

feelings

.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“Begging your pardon Captain! Begging a thousand pardons!”
 
“Oh don’t beg.” Killian smirked winking at a tavern maid across the room. “Drinks are on you tonight Jim.” He let him go and drank from Jim’s cup.
 
“Y-you’re not going to

kill

me?” He asked.
 
“I was

going

to, but I think you’ve caught the attention of my

old friend

Blackbeard here. And I’ve caught the attention of

that

bonny lass.” He stood and walked over to the maid and her two companions.
 
“M-my life is spared because he saw a woman?”
 
“Happens a lot.” Blackbeard smirked. “So sailor, ever been with a man?” Blackbeard raised an eyebrow.
 
“L…long nights at sea…” Jim looked away.
 
“Aye, many of us yearn for a touch after a few nights on the wide ocean. Time enough and it matters not if that touch is from a woman or man. Some men develop a taste for it.” Blackbeard looked Hawkins up and down. “Tell me Jimmy, have you got the taste for it?”
 
“Blackbeard…sir. My friend was just murdered.”
 
“Aye, but what’s a little murder and sex to a seasoned sailor?” He drank. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
 
“Are you offering to pay me sir?” Jim looked at him confused.
 
“No. I’m offering to pay you

handsomely

.” He placed a satchel on the table, a small cache of gold a jewels spilling out.
 
“Is that what the two of you do? Go into taverns, murder people, and then sleep with their friends for money?”
 
“Captain Jones rarely has to pay.” Blackbeard laughed. “Women-folk can be so simple. I’ve found a man is easier to motivate with money. What say you Jim? A handsome reward for a handsome sailor?”
 
Looking at the gold and jewels reflected in the candle light, Jim’s eyes lit up with greed and glory.
 
“Lead the way Captain Blackbeard. You’ve bought yourself a handsome sailor.”
 
As they reached the tavern door, Jim turned to see Killian Jones engaging the tavern woman in a deep and lustful kiss. Stepping out into the street Blackbeard put his arm around the sailors shoulder leading him towards the harbor and the Queen Anne’s revenge.
 
“Look away Jim.” The captain warned as they rounded the corner.
 
A body lay in the street. Blood dripping across the ground. The once considerable red flow slowing to a thick syrup as it cooled in the chilly night air.
 
“So this is the life of a pirate…?” Jim thought out loud.
 
“Gold, Rum, sex, and violence.” Blackbeard grinned. “Could be worse. You got the sex and the gold. You could have gotten the rum and violence.”
 
Jim looked down at his gold once more, then back to Blackbeard. He was certainly a handsome man. And for that amount of gold Jim was fairly certain he could get by without a woman for the rest of his life. He leaned in and kissed the fierce Captain. Their stubbled cheeks scraping one another roughly as they made their way to the captains Quarters of the Queen Anne’s Revenge.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Henry no!!!” Hook got to his feet, clutching his arms to his chest. “We have to stay together!”
 
He bent over and retched, gasping as his whole body ached. He fell to a knee, breathing heavily as his vision blurred. He took deep breaths hopping the throbbing ache in his head would subside. But each time it did, his chest felt tight, and his heart beat increased uncontrollably. He felt sick to his stomach, his hand trembling.
 
This was not the first time he had experienced sobriety sickness. But it had never been so bad before. He had never felt such pain in the past. A bit of rum was always something he enjoyed. But in excess it was poison. He recalled his time with the Snow Queen, all the rum she had given him. He felt like such a fool to think it was anything but a trick. But mostly he marveled at the cruelty of the ice witch to poison him without a second thought.
 
He looked up, watching Henry get further and further away. Cursing his favorite spirit as he was forced to lay upon the beach once more and wait for the pain to subside. He slipped into a deep sleep, unable to do anything but lay still as his body worked through the alcohol poisoning.
 
*****
 
Henry approached the town. His peacoat and jeans weren’t as out of place as he expected, but he certainly did look a bit odd. He saw many a puzzled glance. One woman even turned with her child and walked the other way. The marketplace was bustling with life and commerce. He saw a shop selling what looked like potions.
 
“Excuse me…?” He approached. “I was wondering if you could help me?”
 
“I don’t want any trouble…” the shopkeeper looked him up and down.
 
“You won’t get any from me.” He held up his hands.
 
“What do you want?”
 
“My grandfather, he’s sick. I was wondering if you had something that could help him?” Henry looked at the bottles on the ship stand.
 
“That depends. What ails him?”
 
“He’s suffering from withdrawal.”
 
“Withdrawal? What is he withdrawing from?” The shop keeper asked confused.
 
“I guess you may know it better as sobriety sickness.”  Henry shrugged.
 
“Sounds pretty typical of a pirate.” The shopkeeper scoffed.
 
“H-how did you know he was a pirate?” The boy looked confused.
 
“Your sash.” The vendor pointed to his neck.
 
“My scarf? What about it?”
 
“Only pirates wear stripes like that around these parts.” The man crossed his arms.
 
“Oh…well,
I’m
not a pirate.”
 
“You said your grandfather was.”
 
“He is, but we’re not here to engage in any piracy.”
 
“Good thing too. Our Queen is a powerful magic wielder. She doesn’t suffer pirates within our walls.”
 
“Do you have anything that can help my grandfather or not?” Henry sighed.
 
“Have you tried water?” The man raised an eyebrow.
 
“I was hoping I could buy one of your potions. You know, for a quicker solution?”
 
“Tch, you pirates are always looking for a quick fix. Where do you think you are? looking for a potion? I sell glogg lad! This may cure your grandfathers sickness for a moment but he’d be worse off later!”
 
“What’s glogg? Some kind of spell?”
 
“Spell? What spell? Glogg is mulled wine! We don’t have sorcerers or potions around these parts!”
 
“But you said your queen was a powerful magic user!”
 
“Aye! But she’s the only one! We haven’t seen magic around these part’s in years! Unless you count the trolls, or the queens.”
 
“Then how do I help my grandfather?”
 
“Sober him up! Toss him in the fjord! Do I look like I care what happens to a pirate? Bastards stole my entire shipment of rum! I’d be destitute if not for the queens generosity!”
 
Henry sighed with exasperation. “Can you at least tell me where I can get some drinking water?”
 
“Sure. I’ll sell you some.” The shopkeeper handed over a large glass bottle of water. “That will be five coppers.”
 
Henry reached into his pockets. “I don’t suppose you have change for a twenty?” He held up a bill.
 
“What do I want with paper? Coin lad! Give me your coin!”
 
“I’ve got some quarters…” He opened his hand, filled with change and scraps of lint from his pocket.
 
“What in the…? I can’t take this? What sort of coin is this?!?”
 
“I’m sorry! I’ll pay you back I promise! I just have to help my grandfather!” He gripped the bottle by the neck as he turned and ran.
 
“Stop!!! Thief! Pirate! Someone stop that boy!” The shop keeper called as Henry sprinted down the cobblestone road back to the beach.
 
“It’s just water!!!” Henry cried out as he heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him.
 
A large horse stepped in his way. He came to a quick stop looking up at a severe looking guard.
 
“What are you doing inside the wall pirate?!? You want us to kill the prisoner? You know the deal!”
 
“Prisoner? What prisoner! I’m not a pirate!”  Henry breathed heavily.
 
“He said his grandfather was a pirate!” The shop keeper ran up behind him, doubled over and breathing hard from the run.
 
“Where are your parents boy?!? What do they do?” The guard demanded.
 
“I’m not from here! My mom is the Sheriff and my dad… well, he was a pirate too I guess.  But I just need to help my grandfather! Please!”
 
“Your mother is a sheriff?” The guard asked. “Men. Take this boy into custody. It sounds like he’s been stolen away from his family by pirates.”
 
“No! I wasn’t! My father was a great man! Captain Baelfire! You must have heard of him!” Henry pleaded.
 
“Better lock him in the hold with the other pirate. Who knows what trickery Captain Blackbeard has planned this time.”  Said the guard.
 
“B-Blackbeard…?” Henry asked quietly. “Oh no.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Ah!!! Captain Jones!!!” The tavern maid cried out tilting her head back into the bed.
 
“Not so fast love.” He smirked. “Save some time for the other two.”
 
Killian thrust his hips into the woman below him as he pleasured two more maids with either hand. The woman on his right poured rum into his mouth, before he flexed his fingers and she dropped the bottle as her legs went weak with ecstasy, collapsing to the bed. The woman on his left kissed him, tasting the rum on his lips.
 
“Ah! Ah!
Ahhh!!!”
The woman in front of him cried, arching her back before falling limp.
 
“I believe that I deserve your

full

attention now Captain.” Said the woman on his left as he disengaged.
 
“Of course love. Far be it from Captain Jones to leave a woman unsatisfied.” He lifted her legs pressing into her with a sharp thrust.
 
“Yes Captain!” She cried. “Ahnn! Yes!”
 
He kissed down her neck to her collar bone as he felt her grip tighten on his shoulder with pleasure. He continued his rhythm until the feeling of pleasure began to rise in his abdomen. He pulled back, stroking the length of himself as he reached climax. He fell heavily onto the bed next to her. The other two women slipping into a deep sleep as Killian’s chest rose and fell with exertion.
 
“Impressive captain. It’s been a long while since I’ve seen a man leave three happy women in his wake.” She breathed heavily, accepting a handkerchief from him to clean her front.
 
“I have a reputation to uphold.” He grinned, taking a breath.
 
“I must admit, I wasn’t sure you were

interested

in women. Most handsome men that travel with Blackbeard

aren’t

.”
 
“Which just leaves more women for

me

.” He smirked reaching for a bottle of rum.
 
“Many sailors don’t speak of it, but we all know that long trips at sea breed restlessness among the crew.”
 
“It’s never been a problem for me.” He shrugged.
 
“Why is that?”
 
“I’m dashingly handsome.” He smiled. “Even when I’m not chasing women they come to me.”
 
“A pretty face will do that.” She ran the back of her hand down his cheek. “So you and Blackbeard have a good thing going.”
 
“Divide and conquer on the sea, divide and conquer at the tavern. It’s quite nice to have a mate that doesn’t step on my toes with the women. Not that he could compete with
me
.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“Not for women, no.” She laughed. “But what about treasure?”
 
“What about it?” He stood and found his trousers.
 
“Captain Blackbeard is quite famous for his looting. Arguably the most famous pirate ever known. Don’t you ever have trouble making a name for yourself in the shadow of the Queen Anne’s Revenge?”
 
“For now.” He said bitterly. “But my day will come just you wait. Someday Captain Killian Jones will be known as more than just a legendary lover.”
 
“Well sir, I shall keep your existing legend alive as you pursue the other.” She held out her hand. “For a legendary lover you are indeed.”
 
He took her outstretched arm helping her off the bed.
 
“Much obliged my lady.” He kissed her wrist.
 
“Whats the plan then? To make your name bigger than Blackbeards?”
 
“Afraid I’ll be keeping that to myself love.”
 
“Afraid of some competition from a tavern maid?” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“Blackbeard admires men, I admire women. The difference between us is Blackbeard believes women pose no

threat

to him.”
 
“And
you?”
 
“I have
no doubt
that a woman will be the

death

of me.” He smirked. “

Marvelous creatures

you are. It’s why I can’t get enough.” He held her close.
 
“So you won’t tell me of your treasure hunt?”
 
“It’s unwise to speak of a treasure that hasn’t been

found

. Especially if you’re the one that intends to

find

it.”
 
“Then it’s only the
love making
for me.” She pouted.
 
“Not to worry lass. Once the treasure is mine I shall return to tell you my
dashing tale.”
 
“And I suppose you’re not interested in more love making with a
marvelous creature?”
She stepped back, letting the moonlight fall across her naked body.
 
“I have to keep my first legend

alive

don’t I?” He grinned taking her into a deep kiss.
 
“I look forward to your return Captain, and your tales of treasure.”
 
“Return? I was planning on making love to you

now

.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“But the others…” she looked over at the women sleeping nude on the bed.
 
“Let’s be

loud

shall we?” He lifted her leg and held her close as he laid her backwards. “See if we can

wake

them for another round.”
 
“Oh Captain!” She cried happily as he excited her passion once more.

*****

“Good morning Jim.” Blackbeard walked into his large captains quarters. “How are you feeling?” He offered him a horn of water.
 
“A bit sore I’ll admit.” He gratefully accepted the horn.
 
“Aye but quite a bit

richer

for it.” The Captain winked.
 
“I’ll admit, I’ve only rarely taken with men before. But you…”
 
“Only a

man

truly knows how to pleasure another

man

.”
 
“Do you…come into port often?” He asked.
 
“When the wind blows favorably. Why? Fancy another visit from Blackbeard?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“I…I wouldn’t mind.” He shrugged.
 
“I’ll do you a better turn. Come

with

me. Sail aboard my ship. The men that catch my fancy always get special privileges aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge.” He sat on the edge of the bed.
 
“Oh? And

how many

men would that be?”
 
“Jealous Mr.Hawkins?”
 
“Perhaps.” He shrugged.
 
“There’s no room for

that

lad.” He put a hand on his shoulder. “We be pirates. Every man gets
his share.”
 
“That man… that Killian Jones…”
 
“He’s caught your scent now. Hard to say what he’d do to you.” Blackbeard raised an eyebrow. “You’d be safer aboard my ship. I can

protect

you.”
 
“H-he’d come for me?” Jim breathed.
 
“Killians bloodlust knows no bounds. And the man is

obsessed

with vengeance. You called him my
pet
. I’d wager he doesn’t

like

that.”
 
“He killed my friend without a second thought…”
 
“No harm will come to you while you’re a part of my crew Jim Hawkins.” He put a tender hand on the other man’s cheek.
 
“Then Captain, you’ve got yourself a new cremate.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Wake up Killian.” Said a gentile voice. “You have to wake up.”
 
He blinked heavily, the sun was bright as it began to set. The sky beginning to turn his favorite shade of red.
 
“…what…?” He said quietly looking up to see a woman looking over him with golden hair, in a simple white gown. “Emma…?”
 
“Henry is out there Killian, you have to find him.”
 
“Emma, what are you doing here?” He asked.
 
“I’m not here. You’re hallucinating.”
 
“Emma. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I tried so hard to resist the Snow Queen.”
 
“What part of I’m a hallucination don’t you get?” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“You certainly SOUND like Emma.” He smiled.
 
“That’s because I’m in your head.” She gently brushed his bangs off his forehead. “You can still hear my voice in your ears. Just like you can hear Milah. And Bae.”
 
“They’re dead Emma, but you’re not. I can still save you.” He gasped.
 
“You’ll have to hurry.” She looked down.
 
Blood began to soak the front of her gown beneath her clavicle.
 
“No…no Emma!” He sat up suddenly.
 
He was alone on the beach. The sun beginning to set.
 
“Henry…I have to find Henry.” He got to his feet, wincing as a pain ached in his head. “He should have been back by now.”
 
“You lost my son?” Hook turned, instead of Emma in a blood soaked gown he saw Baelfire, in his crushed red velvet captains jacket. His long hair blowing in the wind. An iron meat hook clutched in his left hand.
 
“Bae! You’re… a hallucination…” Killian dropped his shoulders.
 
“That’s right.” His son smirked. “Been hitting the sauce a little hard haven’t you father?”
 
“I didn’t know.” He turned away from his son and headed towards the town.
 
“Didn’t know? Please, like you’ve never had too much to drink before.” Bae scoffed. “It’s your favorite thing to do to numb the pain.”
 
“I wasn’t

in

pain! At least…not until the Snow Queen came long. I had her, I had Emma. I had a new life. I was going to start over.” He said quietly.
 
“Yeah, with the mother of my child.” Bae laughed. “You’re pretty messed up you know that right?”
 
“Yes I know.” He sighed.
 
“And now you’ve lost Henry. Some hero

you

are.” Baelfire walked along side him, his feet making no sound upon the pebbles.
 
“Why are you doing this Bae?” He asked.
 
“I’m not. I’m dead. I’m a hallucination. You’re doing this to yourself.”
 
“Leave me be.” Hook said through his teeth.
 
“How about a

different

lost boy?”
 
Hook turned to see Rufio, standing confidently with his hands on his hips. A cutlass driven into his heart.
 
“Stop.” He said quietly. “I haven’t got time for this.”
 
“No time for me? But you
killed
me you slug-slimed-scab-peeler! You can’t even take a minute to talk to the boy you betrayed?”
 
“This is all in my head… an effect of the sickness.”
 
“You mean poison.”
 
Hook turned to the hallucination once more. This time seeing his brother, in his navy uniform, dark veins of Dreamshade creeping up his arm from the deep cut caused by the thorn.
 
“I have to get to the town.” Killian continued to walk.
 
“You always did love drinking that poison brother.” Liam said. “I warned you. It turns good sailors into bad men.”
 
“I was never going to be as good as you Liam. I was always the screw up.”
 
“You

were

a pretty big screw up. I’d probably still be alive if I didn’t always have to look out for my little brother. Who couldn’t follow orders, couldn’t stop drinking rum, couldn’t keep his

cutlass

in his

sheath

.”
 
“STOP!!!” He turned to his brother, then stopped and vomited.
 
“There there.”
 
Killian froze at the voice.
 
“Liam was never going to be proud of you for being a pirate my love. But I was. It was why I became a pirate myself. I wonder what would have happened? If I hadn’t followed you. If I hadn’t left my husband for you. I wonder if I’d still be alive.”
 
Hook looked up to see Milah in her pirate silks and curass.
 
“Milah…” he breathed.
 
“You killed my

son

Hook.” She said with sad eyes.
 
“No…” He whispered. “You told me to
forgive
myself…”
 
“Forgive yourself? Do you really think you can be
forgiven?
Look at all the people you’ve killed. Baelfire, Rufio, Liam, me. Even that woman Emma is dying because of you. Because you plunged your hook in her. And not the way you wanted to,
if you know what I mean.
” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“This is all in my head… I have to find Henry.”
 
“Henry and I were close you know.”
 
Hook stopped. The new voice, one he could not bear to turn and see. He took a deep breath and kept walking.
 
“When he lived in New York I would help him with his homework. And Emma she was happy there. And safe. And certainly not

bleeding to death.”

“I don’t even know you Walsh. Why are you

haunting

me?” Hook said as the svelte man in a blazer jogged to keep up.
 
“Why do you
think?
You
killed
me idiot.”
 
“I…I’m sorry…” he kept walking.
 
“Yeah yeah. I know. Sorry about your son, sorry about the lost boy, sorry about your brother, sorry about your first mate. You’re one sorry son of a bitch aren’t you? You killed your

dad

too. Should we bring

him

out?”
 
“STOP!!!” He shouted, not breaking his stride.
 
“No, I don’t think I will. You see, if you had let Emma leave, if you hadn’t convinced her to stay,

none

of this would have happened!”
 
“The Snow Queen was going to attack wether Emma left or not. I just didn’t want to see her lose her family.”
 
“You’re such a liar!” The Wizard laughed. “You wanted her to stay because you wanted her for yourself! As if you deserve her. You remember what the Snow Queen said. You’re soaked in darkness Hook. And Emma is made of light. Not only did you fail her, if you keep pursuing her you will taint her.”
 
“I just have to

save

her.”
 
“Like you saved everyone else you loved?” Walsh laughed. “It doesn’t end with me you know. There’s hundreds of people in your head that want a piece of you. People you killed, betrayed, ruined. You want Emma so badly you can taste it. Every time you’ve kissed her you have craved her body. You wanted to throw her down and take her. You’re disgusting.”
 
Hook closed his eyes tightly. He tried to think of himself alone on the beach. That maybe the ghosts of his guilt would leave him.
 
“I’m not going away Hook.” Said Walsh. “You can wish I would all you want, but I am a scar upon your heart. One that can’t be healed. Just like the wound you left on Emma. Did it feel good?” He asked. “Did you like the way it felt when your Hook penetrated her?”
 
“No!!! It was the worst thing I’ve ever done! I’ll never forgive myself for it!”
 
“The

worst

thing?” Asked Baelfire.
 
“Even worse than me?” Rufio laughed.
 
“Surely not worse than your brother.” Liam put his hands on his hips.
 
“Or worse than your first love.” Milah smiled.
 
“Yes.” Hook breathed. “Hurting Emma was the worst thing I’ve ever done. I tortured her friends and family. I killed Walsh just to hurt her. I forced her power with pain and suffering. And yet she wouldn’t give up on me. She broke the Snow Queens spell at the cost of her own life. Hurting Emma… it’s the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
 
In front of him he saw her once more. Her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, looking soft and heavenly against the white gown. Blood soaking her chest and spilling all the way down to the beach as her wound bled.
 
“You’re pretty messed up man.” Walsh chuckled. “Even if you succeed. Even if you make it back. It’s over. You’ve ruined your life. She’ll never forgive you. She would have been better off with me.”
 
“It doesn’t matter.” His voice was strained. “It doesn’t matter what happens to me. I just have to save her
. If it’s the last thing I do, I am

going

to save her.”
 
“Suit yourself Captain.” Walsh sighed. “But you better hurry.”
 
Killian saw Emma one more time before he closed his eyes, and the ghosts were gone. He quickened his pace as the town drew near. First he had to find his Grandson.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“The kings jewels?” Blackbeard said doubtfully. “You’re a fool Killian. It can’t be done.” He drank his mead.
 
“It can! You just have to get a man onboard!” He smiled, biting down on the end of his quill as he looked over a parchment of ship schematics.
 
“You’d send one of your own men into the kings navy?” Blackbeard asked.
 
“Half me crew was in the navy to begin with! I can have a man pass for crew and disable the cannons before we even come up on her! The jewels will be mine!”  He smirked sitting back and drinking his rum.
 
“A score like that would make a name for you.” Blackbeard drank his mead.
 
“It’s about more than that

old friend

. Stealing the Kings Jewels will send a message. That no King is more powerful than his people!”
 
“It’s hard to imagine you being the political type.” Blackbeard scoffed.
 
“I’d hardly call Anarchy a political opinion.” Killian laughed.
 
“What’s this really about Killian? Why this score?”
 
“I told you about my brother…” He said quietly. His eyes were heavy as he reached for a full stein of rum and downed it quickly in one go. “He was killed in service to the king. Did everything they told him to. He was a good and loyal man.”
 
Blackbeard looked at him as he reached for the bottle of rum and poured himself a full and generous portion. Killian rarely let slip emotion other than lust, rage, or his mad glee to be a pirate. But sadness was something Blackbeard had only seen in him after years of sailing side by side.
 
“The king sent us on an errand he told us was for good. But it was for evil. My brother believed in his king. And it got him killed.” He drank deeply.
 
“Aye. That’s how you became a pirate. I know the tale Killian.”
 
“That’s why this score matters. I want to make a name for myself as a pirate. I want everyone to know the name Captain Killian Jones!”
 
“Instead of just the women?” Blackbeard laughed.
 
“Aye. Instead of just the women.” Killian chuckled. “The kings jewels will be stolen by me. And when everyone tells the tale of the man who robbed the king blind, they will talk of Captain Jones. And the king will know the name of the captain in his navy. And know he ought never have messed with the brothers Jones. I shall have my revenge. And I shall have the kings jewels.”
 
“Quite confident aren’t we

old friend?”

Blackbeard smiled.
 
“Jealous you didn’t think of it first?

Old friend?”

Killian laughed.
 
“I still think you’re mad. But Poseidon favor your plan. I’d hate to lose you as a mate.”  He held up his glass.
 
“Going soft on me Edward?” Captain Jones laughed, raising his own glass.
 
“Oy! I told you not to say that name!” Blacked kicked him under the table.
 
“What’s wrong Captain Blackbeard? Is the ghost of

Edward Teach

haunting you?”
 
“Not all of us can have such a good pirate name as

Killian Jones

.” He laughed.
 
“Auburn-beard doesn’t roll of the tongue as nicely as Blackbeard.” Killian scratched his chin. “Perhaps someday I’ll have myself a pirate name of legend. But for now I remain Capatain Killian Jones.”
 
“Did you say Killian Jones?” A barmaid holding two large steins stopped.
 
“Aye.” He smiled looking dashingly into her eyes.
 
“I don’t suppose you’d want to wait until I’m done with work?” She asked with a bashful smile.
 
“Why wait love? I’m here now.” He winked.
 
“A girl has to make a living.” She giggled.
 
“Someday Killian, you’ll learn to do things

my

way.” Blackbeard pulled one of his many treasure filled pouches off his belt and let it fall open on the table.
 
“For those of us that enjoy the company of women, I assure you, the best part is the chase.”
 
He looked into the woman’s eyes and freely took in her shapely form. She laughed and looked away, spilling a bit of beer.
 
“Sweetheart would you please just take him upstairs and have your way with him for money so I don’t have to watch the chase?” Blackbeard sighed.
 
“Have my way with him?” She looked Killian up and down. “Does that mean I can do whatever I like?” She put down the steins.
 
“What did you have in mind love?” Killian kissed her hand.
 
“Have you ever tried it with a blindfold?” She whispered in his ear.
 
“Can’t say I’ve ever been the one

in

the blindfold.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“And then I’ll tie you to the bed.” She smiled.
 
“Oy! What did I say about not chasing in

front

of me?!?” Blackbeard rapped his knuckles on the table drawing their attention away from each other and to him.
 
“Fine.” The tavern maid picked up the pouch of treasure and tucked it between her breasts. “Captain Jones, I will be upstairs preparing your ropes and blindfold.” She winked walking away.
 
“I suppose I owe you for the night.” Killian smiled as he stood and looked after the woman excitedly.
 
“Think nothing of it.” Blackbeard sighed. “What’s buying sex between

old friends?”

“Don’t wait up

old friend

.” He walked quickly after the maid.
 
Blackbeard watched him go, being certain he was gone before slowly glancing down at the schematic.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“No! Stop! I’m not a pirate! I’m just a kid!” Henry cried as they shoved him into a jail cell. “Come back! I have to help my grandfather! Come back!!!”
 
The door to the prison closed with a heavy hard clang. The air in the jail-cell was hot and stagnant. Henry took off his jacket and laid it on the ground over the straw sitting down heavily with an annoyed sigh.
 
“Damn. You’re a kid. The least they could do after locking me up for a week is put me in a cell next to someone I can fool around with.”
 
Henry looked up to see a man in a white shirt in the cell next to his.
 
“Who are you?” He asked.
 
“Bartholomew De La Rossa.” He smiled. “Better known as Barbarossa.”
 
The man was rather dashing for a prisoner. He was thin and muscular with a sharp jaw and cheekbones. Even in the dark of the jail cell Henry could see his auburn red hair. Beneath a thin straight nose was a slightly lighter shade of beard and mustache, fashioned into a stylish close-cut vandyke beard. He wore a billowing white shirt, open at his chest to reveal a large gold pendant. A grey sash wrapped around his head to hold back his long hair, accented by a large gold hoop earring.
 
“M-my names Henry.” The boy said nervously.
 
“Nice to meet you Henry. Sorry about the fooling around comment.”
 
“It’s ok. Henry laughed. I’m 13 I’ve been to the movies.”
 
“What are movies?” Barbarossa asked.
 
“Just…something where I’m from. How long are they going to keep us here?” Henry asked.
 
“You have nothing to worry about lad. The Queen is a good woman. She wouldn’t let any harm come to a young man such as yourself.” Barbarossa rested his elbows on his knees.
 
“I left my Grandfather on the beach. He must be so worried.” Henry sighed.
 
“Oh that’s good. Tell the Queen that she’ll let you out in no time!” The other prisoner laughed.
 
Henry looked down sadly.
 
“Oh… I’m sorry lad.” Said the prisoner. “I didn’t mean to make light. I do hope your grandfather is ok. It’s nothing serious is it?” He said gently.
 
“My grandfather is good at surviving. I just feel bad that I left him on his own. I thought I could get him some help. But now I’m in jail. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
 
“Well, you could have worse company.” Barbarossa smiled.
 
“I suppose I could.”
 
“What are you in for Henry?” He asked.
 
“Piracy.” Henry chuckled, showing his scarf.
 
“What a coincidence.” Barbarossa pulled another sash from inside his shirt bearing a similar stripped pattern to Henry’s scarf. “So am I.”
 
*****
 
Killian made his way into town. He still felt terrible, but the hallucinations had subsided and he had nothing left in his stomach to throw up.
 
Stumbling down the cobblestone street he soon found himself in a bustling market. The vendors packing up their wares for the day.
 
“One Glogg.” He sighed placing a doubloon on the stand.
 
“You don’t look to good.” The vendor handed over a bottle of wine.
 
“I’ve been better.” Killian bit the cork, spitting it to the ground as sweet taste of spiced wine met his tongue. “I’ll take some water too.” He threw down another gold piece.
 
“It’s been a funny day for foreigners.” The shopkeeper laughed. “I thought the pirates were bad before. Now they’re using children.”
 
“What do you mean?” Killian wiped the wine from his lips. The sting of alcohol calming his stomach.
 
“Some young boy in pirate stripes tried to steal from me earlier. The pirates get younger every time.”
 
“Young boy?” Killian placed the wine bottle down and tipped back the bottle of water drinking deeply.
 
“Said he was trying to help his grandfather…”
 
The bottle of water landed heavily on the stand as Killian put it down.
 
“Which way did he go?!?” He reached across the stand gripping the man’s collar in his fist.
 
“The guards took him! He’s in the custody of the queen! You’d need an audience with her!” The man said, frightened.
 
Killian smiled and stepped back drawing his sword.
 
“What are you doing?!?” The shopkeeper shouted.
 
“Getting an audience with the queen.” He grinned, drawing back his sword and slashing through several bottles of glogg.
 
“No! Guards! Help!” The vendor ducked as spiced wine and glass rained over the street.
 
Killian reached for another bottle of glogg as he sheathed his sword and leaned heavily against the modest market stand.
 
“Good wine you’ve got here. Could use a splash more rum if you ask me.” Killian drank as the sound of hoof beats drew near.
 
“I’ll consider your input.” The wine merchant peaked from behind his stand as the guards thundered up the road.
 
“These pirates, you said they wore stripes?”
 
“Aye. Blackbeards men. To distinguish themselves. The queen has one of them locked in the dungeon. It’s the only thing that has stopped the attacks.”
 
Killians expression turned serious. “Blackbeard isn’t one to answer a ransom for one of his crew…” Killian thought out loud. 
 
“That’s what I thought. But when the queen captured the flagship vessel,  Blackbeards attacks stopped the same day…”
 
“Flagship…” Killian wondered as the mounted guards gathered around the stand and drew their weapons. “Curious.”
 
“Stand down pirate.” Said the captain of the guard.
 
“Gladly. Sorry for the mess boys. Had to get your attention somehow.” Killian raised his arms and stepped forward.
 
“He destroyed my wares!” The merchant complained from behind him.
 
“Here.” Killian placed a handful of doubloons on the stand. “No harm done.”
 
“Pay or not you can’t come into our city and cause chaos!” The guard objected.
 
“You sure? I think I did ok.” He shrugged, glancing at the glass and wine running through the street. “I’d like to see the queen.”
 
“And I’d like a home out in the country, but we can’t always get what we want.” The guard scoffed.
 
“The queen is going to want to speak to me.” He laughed.
 
“Why is that?” The guard raised an eyebrow.
 
“Because it sounds like you have a pirate problem. And if your problem is Blackbeard, I happen to be the expert of getting rid of Blackbeard.”  He smirked.
 
“Who are you?” The guard asked puzzled.
 
“Captain Killian Jones. Blackbeards nemesis.”
 
“Killian Jones? Can’t say I’ve heard of you.”
 
“Perhaps you know my more colorful moniker. Captain Hook.” He raised his left arm.
 
“Hook!” The guard raised his sword prompting his men to do the same.
 
“That’s more like it.” Hook laughed. “Now if you don’t mind I’m in a bit of a hurry. I’d like to see your queen.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What do you mean someone by that name was already

on

the boat?!?” Killian yelled at his sailor.
 
“I went to check in Captain! Just like you said! But they sailed off

without

me!”
 
“But if you’re not on the ship to disable to cannons how are we supposed to

take

her?!?” He shouted.
 
“We remember Liam captain. We are ready to

fight

.” Said a loyal crew mate straightening up.
 
“I can’t.” He clenched his jaw. “We’ll lose half the men.”
 
“We’ve taken ships like this before!” Said another sailor. “We’re faster than her sir! We can take her from the bow!”
 
“A ship filled with navy sailors stocked to the teeth with guns? How can I send me men into that?”
 
“We’re ready captain. We’re ready to make the king

pay

.”
 
He turned his head and looked out at his crew. The men drew their swords, ready for a fight.
 
“It’s your call captain. What do we do?” Said the first mate.
 
“Bosun, weigh anchor!”
 
*****
 
The Jolly Rodger was fast. The fastest ship on the sea. A large military vessel stood no chance against her. But as she sailed straight and true they all saw the blazing fire on the horizon.
 
“Captain! What is that?!?” Asked the helmsman.
 
“It can’t be…the kings ship!” He said in shock.
 
The large boat was on fire. Barrels of shot and powder burst in the blaze, the sails alight as the fire crept up the masts. But as they drew nearer they saw another ship. Smaller than the military boat, but larger than the Jolly Rodger. She began to sail around the burning ship as she made her way towards the Jolly Rodger.
 
“Can it be Captain? The Queen Anne’s revenge!!!”
 
“Men! Mind your tongues! Ye’ll not speak unless spoken to!” Killian shouted. “Bring her alongside Blackbeards ship!”
 
As the Queen Anne’s revenge drew near, he saw Blackbeard leap onto the rail holding a line to the mast.
 
“Ahoy!” He smiled. “I’m afraid if you’ve come for the Kings Jewels you’re too late

old friend!”

“I can see that.” Killian said tersely.
 
“Don’t look so sour Killian! A pirate takes what he wants! Besides, I saved a bit for you!” Blackbeard tossed a golden crown through the air.
 
Killian caught it with his left hand and handed it to the bosun.
 
“Come now! Your plan was a success! And now you know.” Blackbeard laughed.
 
“How fortunate that I have an
old friend
to test my plans out for me.” He locked the other Captains Eyes.
 
“I paid you for your services.” Blackbeard scoffed as he looked at the crown.
 
“Not quite
old friend
. You see my men were prepared for battle. Now that they won’t be getting it I’m afraid their blood is a-boil.” Killians eyes flashed red.
 
“What are you suggesting

old friend?”

Blackbeard drew his sword.
 
Killian paused and waited for a moment, then smiled. His eyes returning to his steely blue stare.
 
“Wine, women and song of course. I think you owe us an evening at the tavern.
On you.”
 
Blackbeard smiled. “That’s quite a

bill

to pay!” He sheathed his sword.
 
“I hear you’ve recently come into a small fortune.” Killian raised an eyebrow.
 
“What would you say…?

Good form…?”

“We shall follow you ashore. Lads, a night of drinking and sex on Captain Blackbeard! What do you say?!?” Killian raised a first to his crew.
 
“HUZZAH!!!”
The men of the Jolly Rodger called.
 
“After you Captain Blackbeard!” Killian bowed.
 
The Queen Anne’s Revenge pulled away as the crew went back to work. Once the other ship was far enough away the first mate came to stand behind his Captain.
 
“What’s the plan sir?” He asked.
 
“The plan is, we wait.” Killian said through his teeth.
 
“Wait Captain?” The first mate asked confused.
 
“Aye. Blackbeard is the most famous pirate to sail the high seas. With revenge as with women…it’s all about the chase…” He drew his cutlass and looked at the sharp edge.
 
“And what of Blackbeard sir?”
 
“Blackbeard has taught us well. Lessons that can’t be learned from anyone other than an
old friend.
We shall take his reputation, his loot, and then his heart.”
 
“Aye Captain.” The first mate smiled. “At your command.”
 
Killian watched his rival’s ship sail towards land. A rage beating like a drum in his chest.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“-then Vader reaches out his hand and says, No Luke,

I

am your father.”
 
“What?!?” Barbarossa said with his mouth open. “No! After he cut off his
hand?!?”
 
“Yep.” Henry smiled. “And then Luke lets go and falls hundreds of feet down down down below cloud city.”
 
“How did he survive???” Barbarossa leaned forward.
 
“He fell into the garbage scute until he was below the city, hanging off a flimsy metal wire! And that’s when he used the force to tell Leia where he was.”
 
“Incredible. You’re quite the story teller Henry. If things don’t work out with you returning to your world I can certainly get you a job aboard my ship as entertainment!”
 
“Thanks for the offer, but it’s not my story.” Henry looked down.
 
“Some other bard then?”
 
“By the name of George Lucas.” Henry laughed.
 
“Never heard of him.”
 
“Well everyone in my world has.”
 
“And you think less of yourself because of it?” Barbarossa asked.
 
Henry looked up, a bit shocked.
 
“I…I know it’s crazy to compare myself to George Lucas.” He laughed. “But there are so many incredible people in my life… it’s easy to feel ordinary by comparison. I came on this trip, didn’t even tell my moms where I was going, and left my grandfather on the beach because I thought I could be a great adventurer.”
 
“Why cant you be?” Asked the prisoner.
 
“Look what happened.” Henry laughed. “All I had to do is get water for my grandfather and I wound up in jail.”
 
“It’s not so hard to find yourself in jail. Speaking from experience.” Barbarossa held out his arms. “You know what I like to do?”
 
“What?” Henry asked.
 
“I make believe I’m this amazing pirate. That people tell my tale across realms. And I walk into every tavern, every ship, every… well, jail, and pretend I own it. But in reality…” he laughed. “The ship I had I got from my lover. Any power I have comes from him too. I’m not the best fighter, not the best adventurer, not the best pirate. In fact I’m fairly certain the only thing I’m actually the best at is sex.”
 
Henry laughed.
 
“Sorry I know you’re a bit young.”
 
“I know what sex is.” Henry smirked.
 
“Right. Movies.”
 
“Yeah.” Henry smiled.
 
“Point is, anyone you meet who seems like they know what they’re doing is full of shit. We’re lucky in life to identify one thing we’re good at. And even then we’ll doubt it for our entire existence. All I can tell you lad, is don’t be the best at doubting yourself. There’s enough of that going around as it is.”
 
“Thanks Barbarossa.” Henry smiled. “That’s actually good advice.”
 
“Tell me about your grandfather. You seem to care about him a lot.”
 
“I do. He’s been through a lot lately. He tends to blame himself more than he should. He’s a good man. And he raised my father to be a good man. But coming from a life of piracy…he seems so confused. I wish I could help him.”
 
“Pirate eh? I may know him. Who is your grandfather?”
 
“They actually

do

tell his tale across realms.” Henry smiled. “They call him Captain Hook.”
 
“Hook? Captain Hook is your grandfather?” Barbarossa asked in shock.
 
“You know him?” Henry looked up.
 
“
Know
him? I knew him back before he was called Hook! I knew him as Captain Killian Jones.” Barbarossa laughed. “It’s funny you should call him a good man. When I knew him he was the most ruthless pirate to sail the high seas! Took the title from Blackbeard himself.”
 
“So, you see the reputation I’m up against.” Henry laughed. “How did you two know each other?”
 
Barbarossa raised an eyebrow.
 
“Wha-? You and…but he’s…”
 
“My greatest accomplishment.” Barbarossa laughed. “I’m the only man to ever ensnare the great Killian Jones.”
 
“Wow.” Henry marveled.
 
“He’ll kill me for telling you. They should know better than to lock me in here with a kid.” Barbarossa laughed, putting his hands on his head. “You’ve certainly got genetics on your side if you’re related to that man.” He laughed.
 
“We’re not blood related.” Henry smiled. “He adopted my father.”
 
“Right… I heard the tale of Killians battles with the Dark One. Whatever became of Captain Baelfire?”
 
“He died.” Henry looked down. “He died a hero.”
 
“I’m sorry lad.” Barbarossa said gently. “Still fresh I take it?”
 
“Yeah. I thought going on this adventure would make me more like him. Like my dad. But instead I feel…powerless.”
 
“Just you wait Henry. If I know Killian Jones he’ll be coming through that door any minute.”
 
“You think so?” Henry looked up.
 
“I know so. And then…well, then the

real

adventure begins. Because Blackbeard is coming for me. And no one in all the realms makes Blackbeard angrier than your grandfather.”
 
“Why?” Henry asked.
 
“You know how I told you we all have something we’re good at?”
 
“Yeah.”
 
“Well, for Killian Jones, it’s revenge.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The Jolly Rodger and the Queen Anne’s Revenge had been sailing for a couple of days. A long journey back to the Enchanted Forest. Blackbeard was surprised to hailed by her nonetheless.
 
“What’s the trouble?” Blackbeards first mate asked as they came along side her.
 
“Captain Jones found a stowaway. Thought your men could use some entertainment.” Said the Bosun.
 
“Killian does love his blood sport.” Blackbeard sighed. “Very well, I haven’t seen a man walk the plank in some time. And it’s still a days sail to the mainland.”
 
The men ran planks between the two ships as Blackbeard came aboard the Jolly Rodger to see the crew on deck.
 
“My crew is carefully chosen.” Killian paced the deck in front of his men. “Many of you sailed under my brother and share my hatred for the king. We’ve picked up a few men along the way, but when I leave port with 15 men, you can imagine my surprise when the bosun informs me we have an extra.”
 
“He sure does like to make speeches.” Blackbeard laughed to his first mate as they watched.
 
“I made an oath to my men that they would each get their fair share of loot. Does anyone want a smaller share?”
 
“No!!!”
The men called.
 
“Then what do we do with…” He drew his knife picking a man out from the crowd. “The extra?” He threw him to the deck.
 
“To Davy Jones!!!”
The men called.
 
The sailor got quickly to his feet. “Captain Jones! I didn’t mean to disrespect you sir! I am a great admirer of yours!”
 
The sailor was thin and muscular with auburn red hair and a stylish beard. Only slightly shorter than Killian. His amber eyes were warm and inviting as he drew in close to tempt the captain.
 
“Pity admiration doesn’t save lives.” He snapped his fingers, the men running out the wooden board. “He walks the plank!” Killian demanded.
 
“No! Captain Jones! Surely I can be of SOME service to

you

and your

men

. I am

renowned

for my skill as a lover.” He put a suggestive hand on his shoulder.
 
“Afraid you appealed to the wrong captain.” He looked the handsome man up and down. “To Davy jones with him!”
 
“Stop!” Blackbeard called, his eyes wide with lust for the slender stow-away.
 
Killian bristled. “How many times must I tell you Blackbeard. You have
no
authority on MY ship!!!” He barked through his teeth.
 
“I’ll pay.” Blackbeard countered.
 
“I don’t trade in humans,
old friend.”
 
“Then give him to me for free.” Blackbeard raised an eyebrow.
 
“How do you know he

wants

to go with you?” Killian asked.
 
“I want to go with you!” The stowaway called over Killian’s shoulder.
 
“There you have it. What do you say old friend? Spare a life?”
 
“Don’t think you can step on to my ship and have your way.” He said through his teeth.
 
“I’ll owe you one captain jones.” Blackbeard said quietly.
 
“I’ll hold you to that

old friend

. Even if it’s at the point of my sword.”
 
Blackbeard smiled and motioned for his men to bring the stowaway aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
 
“Come now Killian, what can I do to sate your bloodlust?”
 
“Give me one of your men in trade.” He crossed his arms.
 
“One of

my

men? What

for

? To walk your plank? Cruel even by

your

standards.”
 
“To show that I’m not trading
something
for

nothing

. I’ll give you the fancy boy-“
 
“Oy! I’m not a

boy

I’m a

man!

” Called the stowaway.
 
“And you give me….” Killian looked around Blackbeards crew. “

Him

.” He pointed.
 
“Me?” Asked Jim Hawkins looking surprised.
 
“Aye. It’s a deal.” Blackbeard smiled.
 
“Captain! You said no harm would come to me as part of your crew!” Jim whispered.
 
“Not to worry Jimmy, you’re no longer a

part

of my crew. You’re a part of captain Jones’s crew.” He clapped a hand on the sailors shoulder shoving him on to the Jolly Rodger. “

You

can come with me.” Blackbeard smiled at his new toy, leading the red haired man towards the captain’s quarters.
 
Jim watched as the Captain looked the new man up and down. The men pulled the planks connecting the two ships and the Queen Anne’s Revenge pulled away.
 
“You. Sailor. To my quarters.” Killian demanded marching up the stairs to the navigation deck.
 
“His quarters? I thought Captain Jones didn’t

fancy

men?” Jim looked to his new cremates nervously.
 
“He
doesn’t
.” The bosun laughed. “He wants to

talk

to you.”
 
Jim swallowed a lump in his throat. Recalling some months ago when he had met the two Captains in the tavern. The Queen Anne’s Revenge had sailed away. He was at the mercy of the Jolly Rodgers crew and her murderous captain. Coming down the steps into the captains quarters he wasn’t sure what to expect. But he certainly wasn’t expecting a stein of Rum waiting for him.
 
“Take a seat.” Killian motioned with his hand across the table.
 
“Captain Jones I-“
 
“Take. A. Seat.” He demanded.
 
Jim sat and quickly drank his rum. Killian poured him some more.
 
“What do you think about Captain Blackbeard sailor?”
 
“He…was my captain…” Jim said nervously.
 
“Captain and lover if I’m not mistaken.” Killian drank his own rum.
 
“I didn’t think you were one for judgement.” Jim looked down.
 
“A man can get his pleasures from whomever he likes. Plenty of my crew get on with men. It makes no difference to me. A sailor is better off when he’s sharp. And repressing one’s desires does not a sharp sailor make.”
 
“Then why ask about my time with blackbeard?” Jim wondered.
 
“I want you to speak freely sailor. What do you think of Blackbeard?”
 
“And you’re not going to kill me for what I have to say?” He asked.
 
“Kill you? Why would I kill you?” Killian laughed.
 
“That night at the tavern…?” Jim asked.
 
“It’s hard for me to recall a single night at a single tavern.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
Jim smiled. “You don’t remember. You don’t remember meeting me.” He put his head in his hands.
 
“Can’t say I do.”
 
“That bastard Blackbeard…” Jim looked down at the table.
 
“Go on.” Killian prompted.
 
“I spent months on his ship thinking he was protecting me from

you

! And you don’t even

remember

me! When he traded me to you just now, I thought for sure you were going to kill me!”
 
“And Blackbeard knew of this fear you had of me?”
 
Jim ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Yes. Told me he was holding you off.”
 
Killian laughed. “Well good. It looks like I picked the right man.”
 
“For what?” Jim asked.
 
“To help me get my revenge.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“On your knees for the Queen pirate!!!” The guard shoved him roughly down.
 
“Oy! Watch it! I’ve got a headache.” He winced.
 
“Leave us.” Said a melodious voice as Killians head was held down in genuflection by the guards.
 
“But your majesty-!”
 
“I can take care of myself.”
 
“As you wish.” The guards let him go and left.
 
Killian looked up slowly holding his head. He was in an ornate throne room, alone with the Queen. A slender woman in a turquoise embroidered gown with a high collar and long sleeves. Her platinum blonde hair was tucked back in a tight updo, capped by a small crown.
 
“So you’re Captain Hook?” She asked cautiously.
 
“Aye…” He stood slowly. “I’m afraid you have me at a loss Majesty. You know me, but I’m unfamiliar with this realm or it’s Queen.”
 
“Bold of you to come to Arendel and demand audience without knowing the monarch.” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“Yes, I suppose that was a bit rash of me.” He smiled. “But I’m in a terrible hurry. And you have my grandson in captivity.”
 
“How long have you been in Arendel?” She asked.
 
“Couple hours now?” He looked out the window at the setting sun.
 
She smiled. “You’ve been here hours and your grandson has been thrown in jail and you’ve caused a disturbance in my market. You truly are a pirate of legend.”
 
“You should see what I can do in a

day

.” He raised an eyebrow with a half-smile.
 
“How did you come to Arendel?” She asked slowly descending the small flight of stairs to stand on his level.
 
“Through a portal, your majesty.”
 
“A portal?” She asked, her voice rising in decibel. “How? What manner of portal? Where did you come from? Can you open another? Can you go wherever you wish?”
 
“Woah! Just a moment your Majesty. I still don’t know your name!” Hook stepped back as she rapid fired questions.
 
“I am Queen Elsa, of Arendel.” She straightened as she spoke, regaining her composure.
 
“Pleased to meet you Elsa.” He gave a short bow. “May I have my grandson back?”
 
“Your grandson was the one in pirate stripes stealing from my people?”
 
“Uh…” Hook looked around awkwardly. “Would it help if I told you he was 13?”
 
“Yes.” She nodded. “I have no intention of keeping a child locked in my dungeon. He shall go free.”
 
“Thank you your majesty.” Hook gave her a grateful smile.
 
“But what of you Hook? There are no pirates allowed in my city. And you caused quite a mess…”  she paced.
 
“You sound like you want something from me…” he mused.
 
“Blackbeard and I are in a standoff because I tried to buy a magic bean from him. But when it came time to pay he asked for far more than even I can give. That money belongs to my people. I couldn’t spend it…” she whispered.
 
“That’s…admirable of you your majesty.” Killian was surprised at how much he liked her. She was direct and straightforward, not something he often saw.
 
“When I refused he began to attack my ships. His men would come into town and cause chaos. Finally I captured his flagship vessel just to end the debauchery…”
 
“Sounds like Blackbeard.” He smiled. “Tell me your majesty, why do you need a magic bean?”
 
“M-my sister is lost. Trapped in another realm…” she looked down. “I have to find her.”
 
“Do you know where?” He asked.
 
“All I know is she traveled to a land called mist haven. Or… you may know it as the enchanted forest. But while she was there a dark curse was cast and she was ripped to another realm. If you came through a portal and you’re from mist haven you must know the realm I seek!”
 
“I do. I can get you there.” He nodded. “But first I need to get my Grandson Henry. We have to get my ship back and figure out how to get the bean from Blackbeard.” Hook began to feel a cold sweat on his brow. “It’s going to be tough. The man hates me. We may need more than just my ship.”
 
“That’s not a problem. I have help. Zheng Yi Sao.”
 
From behind the throne hidden in the shadows stepped a woman in fine oriental silk. She was older with a great deal of grey streaking her black hair and crows feet around her eyes.
 
“Zheng Yi Sao is the captain of the the most fearsome pirate fleet to sail the sea, and a dear friend. I hired her to help defend my people from Blackbeard. She has been invaluable in our fight against the pirates.” Elsa held out her arm in introduction of the great fleet commander.
 
“Hello Hook.” She smiled approaching.
 
“Mulan?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I don’t understand…” Blackbeard said as he thrust his hips into the other man. “How can you feel this

good?

” He asked.
 
“What’s wrong Captain? Ahn-! Thought you knew what good sex was?” The red haired man taunted.
 
Blackbeard sped his pace, quieting the stowaway as he clenched his eyes.
 
“What’s your name sailor?” He held the man’s legs as he rocked his hips.
 
“Bartholomew…” He gasped as the Captain handled him roughly. “De La Rossa”
 
“That’s a mouthful.” Blackbeard turned him over and entered him from behind. Changing positions in the hopes of prolonging their time.
 
“I’ve been thinking of going by Barbarossa.

Ahn-!

But it’s sort of stealing from

your

name.
 
“Red beard? Sounds a bit better in a different language.”
 
“I thought so-

ah!

-too!”
 
Bartholomew was slender but muscular. His body was smooth with hardly a scar on it. Blackbeard felt himself drawing close to climax with every motion. The sight of the man’s long red hair falling over his shoulders exciting him, as the pleasurable sensation of being inside him increased.
 
“I’ve never had someone who felt as good as you Barbarossa.” Blackbeard leaned over his back and whispered in his ear.
 
“Don’t I

know

it.” The other man smiled with a glance behind.
 
“How would you like to be my first mate?” Blackbeard asked.
 
“You’d ask a man to be your first mate just because he

feels good?

” He laughed before Blackbeard again silenced him with a thrust.
 
“I’d do anything to feel you whenever I wanted.” He smiled. “Ah-!”
 
Blackbeard moved his hips into the other man and felt the warm feeling of pleasure rise within him. Taking in a deep breath as he finished, he fell to the bed next to him.
 
“I may just break your heart Captain.” Barbarossa leaned in and kissed him.
 
“Why do you say that?” Blackbeard ran his fingers through the red locks of hair.
 
“I’m a free spirit. I follow the wind.” He raised an eyebrow. “Never stay in one bed for long.”
 
“That doesn’t bother me.” Blackbeard smiled. “So long as you return to

my

bed, I’d be happy.”
 
“Then call me first mate Barbarossa.” He smiled with expressive thin lips.
 
“You know, I
actually
wanted to seduce that Killian Jones. I never expected to find myself in bed with

Blackbeard

. Not

today

anyway.”
 
“

Don’t

talk about Killian Jones.” Blackbeard sighed.
 
“

Jealous

are we?”
 
“Killian Jones is a Casanova. Always running into port to find some woman.”
 
“Whereas you stay on the sea and find a man?” Barbarossa brushed a curl of hair off Blackbeards forehead.
 
“I wish I knew why I

hated

that man so much.” He sighed.
 
“Maybe because he’s

better

than you?” Barbarossa raised an expressive eyebrow.
 
“I should

kill

you for that.”
 
“You

cant

kill me. I feel too

good

.” He ran a hand seductively down his bare chest.
 
Blackbeard sighed, unable to look away.
 
“Killian Jones is a handsome man.” Barbarossa looked out the window.
 
“He’s not my type.” The captain scoffed.
 
“You never thought of having a go?” Barbarossa smiled.
 
“He’s not interested. And when it comes to Killian Jones neither am I.”
 
“Well I consider that a personal challenge. I enjoy making a man question himself.”
 
“You really

do

follow the wind don’t you?”
 
“I follow my passion Captain. Speaking of, I don’t believe I’ve had

my

turn yet.” He smiled sitting up.
 
“We can certainly do something about

that

.“ Blackbeard kissed down his chest, savoring the sweet taste of the man he was utterly enchanted with.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Mulan! You’ve aged!”
 
“And you are as young as ever” She laughed. “I’ve spent years in other realms. Some of them time moved differently.”
 
“So…how long has it been for you…? Since Neverland?”
 
“Centuries.” She smiled. “I was so young then.”
 
“But if you’re centuries old, Atlanta…?”
 
Mulan looked away, the ghost of time passing across her eyes. “Atlanta died.”
 
“I…I’m sorry.” Hook said sadly. “Atlanta was a good friend of mine. I will never forget her.”
 
“She lived a long life. She died peacefully. We had so many years together. I’ve managed to carry on without her.”
 
Hook placed his hand on her shoulder.
 
“She was an amazing pirate, and an amazing woman.”
 
Mulan nodded her gratitude. The hint of tears being held back from her aged eyes.
 
“This way captain. I will take you to your grandson.” Elsa lead the way.
 
As they walked down the steps to the dungeon, Hook felt sick to his stomach once more. His head began to spin. He held the wall for balance as Elsa opened the door to the jail.
 
“Henry!” Hook rushed past her upon seeing his grandson.
 
“Grandfather Hook!!!”
 
“Are you ok? Are you hurt?!?”
 
“No I’m fine! I’m sorry I left you grandfather! I thought I could-“
 
“It doesn’t matter Henry.”  he smiled. “It’s just good to see you’re ok. Queen Elsa, please release him!” Hook pleaded.
 
“This is a new side of you. What happened to the ruthless pirate I knew?”
 
Hook bristled and turned to see the other prisoner, leaning his arms against the crossbar of his cell.
 
“Barbarossa…” Hook said through his teeth.
 
“Hello lover.” The pirate smirked, with a dangerous stare.
 
“Don’t call me that.” He said darkly.
 
“I’ll call you what I please after you used me to get to Blackbeard.” Barbarossa glared.
 
“I didn’t make you do anything you didn’t want.” Killian guided Henry towards the stairs.
 
“Wait!” Henry stopped. “What’s going to happen to Barbarossa?”
 
“It doesn’t matter Henry.” Hook wiped his sleeve across his forehead. “We have to get the Jolly Rodger back.”
 
“If you want your ship you need to talk to the queen.” Barbarossa pointed to Elsa.
 
“You have my ship?” He turned.
 
“I do?” She asked.
 
“It was my vessel.” Barbarossa smiled.
 
“The flagship?” Elsa reached into her cloak and removed a bottle. “This is your ship Hook?”
 
“My ship!” He grasped the bottle and looked inside.
 
Sure enough a miniaturized version of the Jolly Rodger was contained within.
 
“H-how?” Killian looked up at the Queen.
 
“He was attacking my harbor! I had no choice…” Elsa looked away.
 
“Then all I need is for you to undo the spell!” He handed it back to her.
 
“There’s a problem with that…” she said sadly.
 
“Queens shite at magic!” Barbarossa laughed.
 
“I’m good enough to stop you!” She held out her hand and an icy gust blew through the dungeon toward Barbarossa.
 
He raised his arms to shield himself as the cold wind pushed him backwards.
 
“Aye.” He smiled looking up. “You’re powerful lass, but when it comes to control even Blackbeard knows you can’t hack it. You turned your whole kingdom into a frozen tundra only a few short years ago. That’s how Blackbeard knew you weren’t a real threat.”
 
“She doesn’t need power. I can transform the Jolly Rodger back with… with…” he trailed off, glancing towards the back wall of the dungeon.
 
“Killian…?” Barbarossa looked him up and down. “You don’t look so good.”
 
He had gone pale, eyes fixed on the wall.
 
“What’s going on?” Mulan asked.
 
“Grandfather…? Are you ok?” Henry placed a hand on his arm.”
 
“Walsh…” Killian whispered.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I want all the maps brought to my room. Especially the ones from the- AG!!! Barbarossa!!!” Killian shouted, walking into the brig to find two men intertwined.
 
He stepped back and shut the door.
 “What is that slut of a pirate doing back on my ship?!?” He shouted.  “~I believe you answered it with the slut part!” Barbarossa shouted through the door.  “Bosun! Wait here! When the sailor that’s in there with him comes out give him ten lashes!” Killian said to Jim. “I hope it was worth it!” He called to the door.  “It- is-! oh- yes-!!! ” Said the voice through the door. 
Killian stomped up the stairs to the main deck in a rage.
 “I have one rule! No shagging Barbarossa on my ship!!! ” He Shouted to the crew. “By land have at him! I don’t care! But I’m sick of running into Blackbeards lover in every nook and cranny of my vessel!!!”  “He doesn’t do it for us captain.” Laughed one of the men.  
Killian turned to him with such a furry he saw his eyes flash red.
 “T-that is to say… he does it to bother you Captain Jones sir!” Said the deckhand nervously gripping his mop. 
“How do you mean?” Killian growled.
 “Well… he wants to get caught. Tells us so himself. Likes it better that way.”  “NO MORE BARBAROSSA ON MY SHIP!!!”  He barked stomping up the steps towards the captain’s quarters. “And someone send Blackbeard a bird to come pick up his slut! Better yet! Set him adrift at sea!” His voice called from the captain’s quarters.  “Is he gone?” Barbarossa poked his red head out from below deck.  “Yes he’s gone. You get us into trouble you know.” Sighed the deckhand pushing a mop.  “But it’s worth what you get in return from me.” He smiled pulling his shirt over his shoulders with a glimmer in his amber eyes. “Why does Blackbeard put up with you?” The deckhand laughed.  “You know why.” Barbarossa winked, tying his sash about his head. His golden earring glinting in the ocean sun. “There’s my ride!” They turned to see the Queen Anne’s revenge coming in some distance behind them. 
”If you’re with Blackbeard why do you get on with every sailor who catches your fancy?”

“Because I can.” He shrugged.
 
”Blackbeard can only protect you from Captain Jones so long.” The deckhand warned. “It’s unwise to tempt fate.”
 
”Tempting fate is what I do best.” Barbarossa smiled. “And mark my words, I shall have that man someday. That Killian Jones. How Blackbeard envies him so! And I love to excite his passion.”
 “I think I fancy a swim along the sandbar.” Barbarossa leapt up onto the rail and looked down into the crystal clear water of the tropical archipelago. “To the Queen Anne’s Revenge? Are you mad? She’s twenty fathoms away!” “Swimming is a great way to stay lean after all that rum.” He smiled, running a seductive hand up his chest. “It’s bad luck to learn to swim…” said the deckhand.  “It’s far worse luck not to. Especially when you’ve been thrown overboard as often as I have.” With an expressive thin lipped smile, Barbarossa leapt from the ship and into the sea.  
The bosun watched from the navigation deck at Barbarossa making his way quickly through the water towards the Queen Anne’s Revenge, before descending into the captain’s quarters with a bundle of maps.
 
“What do you have for me Jim Hawkins? Good news I hope.” Killian drank deeply from his stein with a frustrated sigh.
 
“I think I’ve finally found it Captain.” Jim grinned. “Treasure island.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Walsh, leave me be…” Killian held his head with a trembling hand. “You can’t

be

here…”
 
“There’s no one

there

Hook!” Mulan glanced from the pirate to the back wall. “Who is

Walsh?”

“Walsh is

dead

…” Henry said softly. “Grandfather, Walsh isn’t there
!”
 
“I never meant to

hurt

her! If I’d have known I would

never!

” He said to the wall.
 
“What’s going

on?!?

” Elsa looked around the jail cell in confusion.
 
“
Ah-!”
Killian held his chest in pain. “No! I’m not going to
give up
on her! I’m going to

save

her, even if she never wants to
see
me again…”
 
“He’s
sick
.” Henry put a hand on his back and tried to help him remain standing. “He needs

help!”

“He needs

rum

.” They all turned to Barbarossa. “He’s succumbing to
sobriety sickness.
The
poison
left his system too quickly. His body can’t
adapt
. He’s hallucinating.”
 
“What?” Mulan said confused. “He’s been a bit of a
drunk
in the past but I’ve never seen him like this before
.”
 
“How long has it been since he’s had a drink?” Barbarossa asked.
 
“Only about a
day
.” Henry helped support his grandfather as he held his aching head.
 
“He was poisoned pretty

badly

wasn’t he?” Barbarossa asked.
 
“There was a
witch
…” Henry and Mulan laid Killian onto his back as his eyes darted about the room hallucinating. “She kept him drunk to
brainwash
him.

Really

drunk. But how is getting him drunk again going
 to help?!?” Henry objected.
 
“It’s not.

I

am. Let me out and I can help.” Barbarossa removed his own flask.
 
“What are you going to

do?

” Elsa demanded angrily.
 
“Has anyone else ever dealt with alcohol poisoning?” He looked around at the two women and the child. “No? Then let me

help

.”
 
“I’m
not
letting you go free.” Elsa glared.
 
“Look, you need help and he can help you right? Why else would you throw in with
Captain Hook?
I can bring him around, make him

useful

again.”
 
“Why

would

you?” Mulan said sharply.
 
“Because I want to get back to Blackbeard.” He smiled. “And if there is one thing I know about
Killian Jones
, it’s that he

gets

what he

wants

. So if I can help

revive

him, he can enter into negotiations with Blackbeard, and I will be on my way back to my lovers tender embrace.”
 
“Let him out.” Mulan sighed.
 
Elsa unlocked the cell. Barbarossa knelt at Killians side. He tried to tip the flask into his mouth to no avail. The redhead took a deep swig. Pulling back his long hair, he leaned in and pressed his lips gently to Killians. With a sputtering cough he swallowed the rum. Barbarossa took another pull, and gave Killian one more shot. He gasped, his eyes still looking around the room at things that weren’t there, but the trembling of his hand and shoulders slowly began to fade.
 
“He needs

water

.” Barbarossa corked his flask. “And a moment to rest.”
 
“Thank you.” Henry smiled to the pirate.
 
“Don’t thank me yet kid.” Barbarossa sighed. “He’s not out of the woods until he can work the alcohol out of his
system.
Given how badly he’s been poisoned, it should take days. More likely weeks.”
 
Henry and Mulan got Killian to his feet. He stumbled weakly as they each put one of his arms around their shoulders. Barbarossa began to follow as they hauled him up the stairs.
 
“Not so fast.” Elsa stood in his way. “You can come, but you’re not going free.” She fashioned manacles to his wrists.
 
“Not very

trusting

are we?” He gave a thin lipped grin.
 
“After Blackbeard

betrayed

me? Not a chance.”
 
“You don’t have to trust me majesty. But know this, I

will

get back to my lover. And I believe that man is the best way to do it.” He nodded towards Killian, being dragged up the stairs by Zheng Yi Sao and his Grandson.
 
“Why?” She asked suspiciously.
 
“Because despite the
hatred
Blackbeard has for Killian, he’s the

reason

we fell in love.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Ahoy! Captain Blackbeard!” Killian waved from the deck of his ship.
 
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” He asked as the Queen Anne’s revenge came alongside the Jolly Rodger.
 
“Came to
congratulate
you. Heard of your capture of king Midas’ treasury vessel.” Killian flourished his hand. “That’s the biggest score of your career! There isn’t a soul who isn’t speaking of Blackbeard the Pirate!”
 
“Congratulate me? Or ask me to take you out for a drink?” The fierce captain raised an eyebrow.
 
“Well, if you’re offering.” Killian smiled. “I happen to have a mutually beneficial opportunity.”
 
*****
 
“And that’s how we came upon the map to…” Killian looked over his shoulder. “Treasure island.”
 
“No… it’s a myth!” Blackbeard laughed.
 
“Would I lie about treasure old friend?”
 
Blackbeard locked his gaze. “So you’re saying the treasure is real?”
 
“Real? Blackbeard, I am telling you I have the

map

to the island!”
 
“Show me.” He scoffed.
 
Killian looked over his shoulder once more then removed a parchment from his breast pocket and placed it upon the table.
 
“It can’t be…” Blackbeard examined the map. “But that would mean it’s been…”
 
“Yes.” Killian smirked.
 
“All along…”
 
“Under everyone’s noses.”
 
“Why would you share this with me

old friend?”

“The path to the island goes straight through navy infested waters.” He pointed along the map. “The Rodger is fast, but she can’t outgun that many naval ships.”
 
“So you need the power of the Queen Anne’s Revenge.” Blackbeard nodded looking down at the map as he scratched his beard.
 
“Not to mention the best way to prevent you from stealing it from me is to cut you in on it,
Old friend.
” Killian placed the map back in his pocket.
 
“About that…” Blackbeard looked into his cup. “I want a 7/3 split.”
 
A dagger pierced the table. Killian’s rings glinting upon the hilt.
 
“Don’t

play

me Blackbeard!” He barked.
 
“Fine. 6/4” Blackbeard drank.
 
“Why should

you

have a larger share?!? I found the map! I got the location!”
 
“Aye, and you’ll never reach it without me!”
 
Killian clenched his jaw.
 
“It’s just distribution Killian. I have a
larger
ship crewed by

more

men. We need a bigger share.” He shrugged.
 
“Don’t insult my

intelligence

Edward!” Killian spat.
 
“Fine. You want the truth? Why the uneven split? Because I
said so.
You want that treasure? Take it or leave it!”
 
Captain Jones eyes flashed red.
 
“How about this

old friend.

Tonight’s on me.” Blackbeard smiled.
 
“And tomorrow night as well.” Killian lifted his cup.
 
“6/4 split it is.” Blackbeard knocked his stein.
 
They drank deeply until all the men of both ships were in their cups.
 
“How does that not bother you…?” Killian gestured to Barbarossa, flirting with a man across the tavern. “You’ve given that man more power than anyone that has caught your fancy before. And yet he sleeps with anything with a pulse.”
 
Barbarossa slipped his hand inside the belt of a man at the bar. The man’s eyes went wide as he turned in the hopes no one would see.
 
“I enjoy putting on the jealousy. And so does he. He stages rendezvous so that I’ll walk in on him, I’ve even found him with a couple of women. I scream and yell, sometimes kill the man.” He shrugged.
 
“A bit dramatic isn’t it?” Killian raised an eyebrow.
 
“He has a flare for the dramatic.” Blackbeard smiled. “And then, we have at one another. Our passions never burn brighter.”
 
“But it’s all an act? You’re not really jealous? Not at all?”
 
“Not of these simple men. They can’t

satisfy

him.”
 
“But there’s a
less
simple man that would ignite true jealousy in you?” Killian chuckled.
 
“Perhaps.”
 
“I’d hate to meet the sorry son of a bitch that ignites your

true

jealousy.” He drank.
 
“I don’t think it’s something either of us have to worry about. That son of a bitch is

you

.” Blackbeard said in a deep voice.
 
“Me?” Killian coughed into his cup. “And Barbarossa?” He laughed.
 
“He’s been interested in you since we met.”
 
“I’m aware. Doesn’t change

my

interests. Barbarossa only wants what he can’t have.”
 
“True.” Blackbeard smiled, feeling his rum. “I’ve sailed with you for many years Killian. I’ve never truly envied a man in my life. I’m

Blackbeard

for Poseidon’s sake!” He gave a short laugh. “But my time with Barbarossa… I’m taken by him. Like no one I have ever met. His thirst for life, adventure, sex. It’s strange, I make love to men but… I’ve never…

loved

a man…” He drank deeply, rum spilling down his dark beard.
 
“What do you know. Blackbeard meets his match.” Killian flashed a gentle smile.
 
“I have. I love him. And that’s why…you’re the only man I’m jealous of. The only man who could steal the one I love away from me. If Barbarossa were to achieve his ends and sleep with you… I think it may just break my heart.” His head bobbed drunkenly on his shoulders.
 
“A dark old heart like yours? Well
old friend,
 I’m happy for you. As for your jealousy, I’ve never been interested in men before. Do you

really

think I’m going to start now?” He clapped a hand on his shoulder. “But do me a favor and keep the little slut off my ship would you?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Henry and Mulan helped Killian through the lavish castle hall, practically dragging him. Elsa lead the way into a finely furnished war-room. A table was laid out with detailed maps of the land, miniatures of ships placed around the parchment.
 
“Wow…” Barbarossa looked at the strategy table. “All this and you still had to capture

me

to stop Blackbeard? When I get back I’m going to suck that man dry.”
 
“

Excuse

me?!?” Elsa said loudly.
 
“Begging your pardon your majesty.” Barbarossa curtseyed.
 
“He’s burning up!” Mulan placed a hand on Killians head as they laid him onto a couch. His head hanging limply on his shoulders. Eyes glossed with sickness.
 
Barbarossa reached for a pitcher of water. He removed his striped sash and soaked it.
 
“Queen Elsa, do you mind?” He held it out to her.
 
She glared at him, but with a wave of her fingers froze the cloth. Barbarossa rushed to Killians side and placed the frozen sash over his forehead. The pirate captain sighed and closed his eyes.
 
“Is he going to be ok…?” Henry asked.
 
“I’ve never seen alcohol poisoning this bad before…” Barbarossa admitted. “But I should be able to get him back on his feet.”
 
“No. I mean… is he… going to be ok…?”
 
Barbarossa heard the concern in the young man’s voice.
 
“Henry…” he said gently. “Hook being your grandfather, I take it you know him pretty well.”
 
Henry nodded.
 
“What’s he best at?”
 
“Surviving.” Henry gave a sad, but reassured smile.
 
“Chin up lad. We’ll have him squared away before you know it.”
 
“Thank you Barbarossa.” He nodded.
 
“You can call me Bartholomew if you like.” He shrugged. “Barbarossa is my pirate name.” He took Killians wrist and felt for a pulse.
 
“What’s a pirate name for?”
 
“To strike fear into the hearts of our enemies. It’s why we take names like Blackbeard, and Hook.” He laughed gently.
 
“You don’t want me to be afraid of you?” Henry poured a glass of water and placed it on the table in anxious anticipation of his grandfather’s revival.
 
“You seem like a good lad Henry. Killian is lucky to have a grandson like you.”
 
“Queen Elsa!” A guard rushed in. “Blackbeard has broken the truce and come into the harbor! He heard we captured another pirate! He’s inquiring about the prisoner.”
 
“That would be my

man

.” Barbarossa grinned.
 
“We’re running out of time…” Henry said under his breath, standing to speak with Mulan and the Queen.
 
Barbarossa was left with the catatonic pirate captain. He smirked and reached his shackled hands to the cup of water, pouring it over his head.
 
“Ah-! What-?” Killian blinked and sat forward.
 
“Welcome back.”
 
“Where’s Henry?”
 
“With the queen.” Barbarossa poured another glass of water and handed it to him. “That’s an amazing grandson you’ve got there Killian. He deserves a better grandfather than the likes of you.”
 
“I’m sure his mothers will have no problem never letting me see him again when we get back.” He drank deeply from the cup.
 
“What happened to the fierce pirate captain who bested Blackbeard? Now you’re being poisoned by witches. throwing in with a monarch. Hardly a force to be reckoned with. When did you become so pathetic?”
 
“I’m a different man than when I knew you Barbarossa. At least…I’m trying to be…” He held the cool cloth to his head and closed his eyes.
 
“Well, Blackbeard is about to escalate. You once humiliated him and took the power of his name without harming a single sailor.”
 
“Couple of navy men died as I recall…”
 
“A single pirate then.” Barbarossa scoffed. “What are you going to do about it? Captain Hook?” He handed him his flask.
 
Killian tipped it back taking a deep swig.
 
“I’m going to do what I do best. But first I need my ship.” He sat forward, Barbarossa helping him to his feet.
 
“Blackbeard has delivered an ultimatum.” Elsa said gravely. “Return Barbarossa or my people are going to die.”
 
“He thinks you captured another one of his men. He’s worried you’re going to harm his lover.”
 
“What makes him so special?” Mulan asked looking at the first mate with disgust.
 
“I’m fantastic in bed.” Barbarossa winked.
 
“What would you have done? For Atlanta?” Hook asked.
 
Mulan looked away.
 
“I can’t let him harm my people Hook…” Elsa said. “Bean or no bean, my kingdom must come first.”
 
“Not to worry you majesty. I have a plan.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Cannons blasted all around them. The Jolly Rodger sped on ahead unimpeded as  the Queen Anne’s Revenge returned fire. A cannon ripped through her lower hull causing the whole ship to shudder.
 
“He wouldn’t

leave

us would he?” Barbarossa looked out at Killian’s ship.
 
“

Damn

that pirate!” Blackbeard watched the Jolly Rodger sail further and further away as the Queen Anne’s Revenge slowed under fire. “Get ready for a

fight

boys! Here comes the navy!”
 
He drew is sword and pulled the pistol at his belt taking aim at the first man that dared set foot on his ship. The sailors came aboard, pistols and swords flashing in the bright sun. A decorated officer rushed up the steps, flanked by two men, and held Blackbeard in their sights.
 
“Surrender pirate! You’ve been
boarded!”
Said the officer.
 
Blackbeard smirked and gave a nod of his head. The officer gasped as a sword protruded through his chest.
 
“No one

boards

Blackbeard but
me!”
Barbarossa whispered with a thin lipped smile as the man fell to his knees, the other two men turning to face him.
 
“Make short work of them lover.” Blackbeard laughed, as Barbarossa killed another man.
 
“I-it doesn’t matter Blackbeard…” the dying officer whispered as blood dripped from his mouth. “The
other
ships will be here in a moment. You’re done for.”
 
Blackbeard looked at the dying man coldly, then slit his throat.
 
“Ha!” Barbarossa stepped forward and dispatched with the second.
 
“Barbarossa…” Blackbeard looked at him with sad emotion.
 
He was surprised to see a flash of fear in his his eyes. “It…it’s not true. We can

escape

them.”
 
“The Queen Anne’s Revenge is damaged. Unless we can repair the rudder we’re stuck.”
 
“Then let’s hail Killian!”
 
“No.” Blackbeard smiled. “This is what he wanted. This was his plan.”
 
“Killian? Leave us at the hands of the king?!? Never!” He looked down onto the deck of fighting pirates and navy men.
 
“Quite right.” They turned to see Captain Killian Jones standing upon the rail of the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
 
“Killian!” Barbarossa smiled.
 
“Pirates of the Jolly Rodger! Kill every naval man in sight!” Killian ordered joining the fray.
 
The Jolly Rodger had come up upon the other side of the navy vessel. In the blasts of smoke from cannon and pistol fire she had crept up nearly unnoticed. Cannon’s rang out from the faster ship’s hull as they blasted the navy vessel to pieces. The battle between officers and pirates raged until the final sailor was killed and the pirates were victorious.
 
“Well done

old friend

.” Blackbeard looked up with a smile, his shoulders rising and falling heavily as the fight drew to a close. “I really thought you were going to

leave

us.”
 
“Make no mistake

old friend

, I shall be there when you fall. But it certainly won’t be to the kings swine! We are

victorious

men!!!” He raised his sword, looking out on the ship.

“Huzzah~!!!”

The pirates called.
 
“I don’t like the looks of that fleet Killian.” Blackbeard looked through his telescope. “With my rudder damaged there is no way we can outrun them.”
 
“We don’t have to outrun them, we just have to make it to the treasure.” Killian sheathed his sword.
 
“And

then

what? They’ll be upon us before we can make our escape.”
 
“I can repair your ship.”
 
“You can?” Barbarossa asked, impressed.
 
“Captain Jones is not a name that often gets me service in a ship yard.” Killian put his hands on his hips. “I’ve had to learn to repair my ship meself over the years.”
 
“Impressive.” Barbarossa smiled.
 “It’s a straight shot from here. If we can fix your rudder to run true we can make it to the island.” He pointed at a distant spec on the horizon. “Keep her straight using the sails and stay close to the Jolly Rodger. We’ll survive this yet old friend.”Killian clapped a hand on Blackbeards shoulder. 
“Good form.” Blackbeard grinned. “To Treasure Island?”
 
“Aye.” Killian smirked. “To Treasure Island!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As Elsa lead the way to the harbor, Killian took Henry aside.
 
“I have an important job for you.” He said seriously.
 
“Anything!” The boy said excitedly.
 
“I…I’m not my best self right now Henry. But if I don’t drink…” He looked down at Barbarossa’s flask in his hand.
 
“You see Walsh…” Henry trailed off.
 
Hook clenched his jaw and nodded his head.
 
“What can I do to help?”
 
Hook handed over the flask. “I need you to hold this for me. I…I can’t. I’ll drink it all.”
 
“What do I do?” He asked taking it.
 
“If I start to sweat, or hallucinate… the pain in my head…”
 
Henry smiled sympathetically. “I’m going to set my watch to go off every hour.” He pulled back his sleeve to look at his wrist. “Then you can have a bit of rum to keep you sharp without having too much.”
 
Hook beamed at him affectionately. Flashes of Bae bringing tears to his eyes.
 
“Thank you Henry. Barbarossa was right, I don’t deserve you.”
 
He threw his arms around his grandfather’s middle and hugged him tightly.
 
“Yes you do Grandfather Hook.”
 
“I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.” He put his hand on his back. “

Ahem-!”

He cleared his throat forcefully holding back emotion. “We better get out there. Your mom is waiting.”
 
They rushed out to the harbor. The Queen Anne’s Revenge visible out in the bay as Elsa’s ships held him back from the parapet walls. Hook stood on the harbor looking down into the water. He held the shell to his lips and blew a strangely deep note. The water began to bubble with a bright blue light. After a moment, Ariel’s head broke the surface.
 
“I thought I told you that I can’t take you back.” She sighed. “And before you ask, no I’m not going to revive you.” The mermaid crossed her arms.
 
“A mermaid…” Elsa marveled. “I’ve heard of them but never seen one!”
 
“I have ears.”
 
“Sorry…” Elsa looked away awkwardly.
 
“I need your help with something else Ariel.” Hook stepped up to the water.
 
“I’ve already done you more favors than you deserve.” She glared. “But maybe if I get something in return.”
 
“What do you want?”
 
“You’re going to fight Blackbeard aren’t you?” She asked.
 
“Aye.”
 
“Take me with you.”
 
“A pirate battle is no place for a mermaid princess.” Hook sighed.
 
“That man killed my love. Take it or leave it pirate.”
 
“Fine.” Hook agreed, pulling out the bottle.
 
“Considering your reputation I expected it to be bigger.” Ariel looked into the bottle.
 
Barbarossa let out a stifled laugh.
 
“Oy! It’s unwise to insult the size of a captains ship!”
 
“They’re very sensitive about it!” Barbarossa whispered to Ariel with a wink.
 
The mermaid tried to hide a smile.
 
“I need you to change it back.” Hook sighed.
 
“Me? I’m not magical.” Ariel shrugged. “And you’ve burned your bridge with Ursula the sea witch.”
 
“You’re a daughter of Triton. You can break any spell made in his ocean.”
 
“Well, I can certainly break MOST spells. Alright, I’ll help you. But don’t forget I’m coming with!”
 
“No offense…” Elsa stepped forward. “But how are we going to take a mermaid along?”
 
Ariel reached into her bag and removed an ornate bracelet. She placed it on her wrist and then swam to the shore. Hook reached out a hand helping her step up into the harbor stones and onto land.
 
“Legs!” Elsa marveled. “Can all mermaids summon legs?”
 
“Only the really stubborn ones.” Ariel smirked.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“The greatest treasure hunt of all time and I’m stuck on your bloody ship…” Killian looked up from inside the wheel chassis.
 
“It can’t be helped

old friend

. If we don’t get the rudder fixed neither of us is making it very far with the treasure.” Blackbeard sighed.
 
“You better bring me back my share…” Killian growled.
 
“You’re on my ship. What do you think I’m going to do? Sail away without it?”
 
Killian sat up, his hands streaked with grease from the mechanism. He wiped his hands and looked down over the stern into the water.
 
“It’s certainly going to be a moment before we’re ready.” he sighed. “Once she’s repaired I’ll hang a lantern in the window of your quarters. You should be able to see it from that bluff.” He pointed to a cliff top capped in greenery.
 
“Barbarossa. Stay here and make sure the ship is running as she usually does.” Blackbeard instructed his first mate.
 
“Leaving me a babysitter?” Killian raised an eyebrow.
 
“You’re mad if you think I’m leaving you on my ship unattended

old friend.”

Blackbeard smiled.
 
“Fair enough.” Killian laughed.
 
Blackbeard gave the order and the skiff’s were lowered with all his crew. Barbarossa stood and watched as the men rowed ashore.
 
“You really believe in this treasure Captain Jones?” He asked.
 
“As thought I’d held it in my own two hands.” He smiled returning to the chassis. “Look down over the stern and tell me if the rudder is moving.”
 
“No. Nothing. Still jammed.”
 
“Ah-! Damn.” Killian sat up and he’d his hand where he had jammed it in the mechanism.
 
“Did you really learn to service your own ship? I don’t know many captains who would get their hands dirty.” Barbarossa cleaned the grease from Killian’s palm and looked at the wound.
 
“We can’t
all
have the benefit of Blackbeards fame.” A cut had opened of he heel of his left hand.
 
“That’s going to need stitches.”
 
“Why don’t you get him fixed up.” Jim Hawkins came up the stairs. “We can take it from here captain.”
 
“Thank you Bosun.” Barbarossa tied a linen cloth around Killian’s bloody hand as he lead him to the Capatains Quarters. “Blackbeard keeps a kit in here somewhere…” the first mate rummaged around in a lavish chest of drawers.
 
“No wonder Blackbeard always stays aboard his ship.” Killian looked around the Captains Quarters, several times larger than his own.
 
“Planning to buy a bigger ship with your share?” Barbarossa asked, producing a sewing kit.
 
“Wouldn’t dream of it. The Jolly Rodger is small, but no ship can beat her. I’ll stay on that ship till the day I die.” He smiled.
 
“Hold still this is going to hurt.” Barbarossa poured a small vial over his hand.
 
“Ah-! What the hell?” He drew his hand back.
 
“Oh don’t be a baby.” The redhead laughed. “It’s just distilled rum. Rubbish for drinking, but it will prevent infection.” He threaded a needle.
 
“I can see why you keep returning to Blackbeard.” Killian looked up at the  paintings and silk curtains as Barbarossa sewed his wound.
 
“If you were Blackbeards lover you’d be privy to such luxury as well.”
 
“He’s not my

type

.” Killian chuckled.
 
“What

is

your type Captain Jones? I’ve seen you with so many tavern maids I’m beginning to think you don’t

have

one.”
 
“True. I enjoy the company of women of all shapes, colors and sizes. Far be it from me to deprive anyone of the pleasure of my company.”
 
“Except me.” He cut the final stitch and closed the kit.
 
“What is it about me that you want so badly?” He asked.
 
“I would not have expected such modesty from YOU.”
 
“Truly.” He stood. “I don’t understand Blackbeards world.”
 
“Well, what do you like about women?” He asked.
 
“Breasts.” Killian shrugged.
 
“Just breasts? What happened to all shapes, colors and sizes?” Barbarossa scoffed. “Well what of small breasted women?”
 
“What of them?”
 
“Not terribly unlike a man are they?”
 
“I couldn’t say.”
 
Barbarossa pulled his long locks off his shoulders to show his neck. His shirt was open exposing his smooth chest.
 
“A curve of the body, is a curve of the body.” The scent of tobacco and rum wafted from his hair. “A caress is a caress.” He ran his hand gently up Killians arm. “Are men really so different from women?”
 
“You’re quite skilled at your craft Barbarossa.” Killian marveled.
 
“And yet you are not the least bit curious? Captain Jones?” His amber eyes were sharp and lustful.
 
“I wouldn’t say the

least

.”
 
“Close your eyes.” The first mate whispered in his ear.
 
Killian obeyed.
 
“Now instead of thinking of a man or a woman, just feel.”
 
He placed Killians right hand on his slender, bare chest, and slowly drew it down over his abdomen. Killians hand slipped behind his back beneath his shirt and pulled him in. With his eyes still closed, he kissed the other man. The scent of rum and tobacco alighting his mind. He stood and held Barbarossa as he would a woman. Kissing him with a deep and lustful passion as they stumbled towards Blackbeards bed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ariel took the bottle from Hook, pressing her lips to the glass before throwing it in a high arc into the bay. There was a flash of light. A magical dispel just before the Jolly Rodger appeared once more.
 
“Isn’t she marvelous.” Hook smiled.
 
“You’ve got your ship Hook.” Elsa said cautiously. “What’s the plan?”
 
Elsa stepped around him and out to the water. As her foot fell upon the sea it froze beneath her creating a path to the Jolly Rodger.
 
“Perhaps it’s best we not discuss it in front of the prisoner…” Mulan glanced sidelong at Barbarossa as they followed the queen.
 
“Quite right.” Hook agreed, again beginning to show signs of withdrawal as he wiped a cold sweat from his forehead.
 
Henry’s watch went off just as Elsa raised her hands. A pillar of ice brining the company up to the deck of the Jolly Rodger.
 
“Grandfather!” He stepped forward handing him the flask.
 
Hook drank deeply taking a breath as the alcohol quieted his sickness.
 
“Henry, you and Ariel should take Barbarossa below. Elsa, Mulan and I shall discuss our next course of action.” Hook drank again.
 
“So what? I’m stuck babysitting?!?” Ariel objected.
 
“Not at all princess.” Hook smiled. “My grandson will be babysitting YOU.”
 
Henry smirked as Ariel pouted.
 
“Here you go Henry.” Hook drew his cutlass and handed it to his grandson. “I trust you remember how to use it?”
 
“You can count on me!” Henry said excitedly.
 
“Good Form.” He clapped a hand on Henry’s shoulder as he turned to walk towards the bow.
 
“Grandfather?”
 
“What is it lad?”
 
“You forgot to give me back the flask.”
 
Hook froze. “A-aye.” He turned and placed the bottle back in Henry’s hand. “Be careful lad.”
 
“I will grandfather”
 
“You know he didn’t forget.” Ariel scoffed as they made their way down into the hold.
 
“He’s dealing with a lot…” Henry said quietly.
 
“Leave the boy alone.” Barbarossa glared at Ariel. “Can’t you see this is hard on him?”
 
“Why are you sticking up for him? Aren’t you his prisoner?”
 
“Technically I’m the queen’s prisoner.” He smiled.
 
“What are we supposed to do while they talk strategy?”
 
“Well, Henry here is quite the story teller.” Barbarossa smiled sitting on a cot as they made their way into the bunk room.
 
“Actually, I think I’d rather hear one of your stories.” Henry smiled.
 
“Mine?” Barbarossa asked, gesturing to himself with his shackled hands.
 
“Yeah. I love pirate stories.”
 
“I don’t.” Ariel frowned.
 
“It’s for the best I’m sure. None of my stories are exactly… appropriate.” He raised his eyebrows.
 
“Don’t you have any stories about my grandfather?” Henry asked. “He’s told me about my dad, but I don’t know much about who he was before he met him.”
 
“He was…ruthless.” Barbarossa looked off into space with and expressive grin. “He tried to kill me the first time I met him.” He laughed.
 
“He did…?” Henry asked softly.
 
“You have to understand Henry, pirates have their own world. We have our own laws. Our own morality. One does not become a pirate because they had other options.”
 
“Speaking from experience?” Ariel raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
 
“Yes.” Barbarossa looked at her with a deadly serious stare. “Speaking from experience.”
 
Ariel looked away.
 
“Grandfather Hook told me he became a pirate because of his brother.” Henry thought aloud.
 
“Aye. The story of Captain Liam Jones is one that often moved Killian to violence. But he’s met his fair share of tragedy since then. Some of it is legendary like his struggle against the Dark One.”
 
“Yeah…” Henry sighed thinking of his grandpa Rumple.
 
“But few speak of his first mate Milah. A legendary pirate herself. She was known across to realms as the woman who tempered the great pirate Killian Jones. And yet, she was not a woman to be trifled with. A man once stabbed Killian in the back. It is said that she had her crew drag that man to the dock and strung him up to be eaten by gulls. The word ‘coward’ carved into his head with knife. That’s the morality of a pirate Henry. You disobey the laws of a duel and pay the consequences. By our laws Milah was justified in torturing that man.”
 
“My grandmother Milah did that…?” Henry asked.
 
“There I go. Telling inappropriate stories.” Barbarossa shook his head.
 
“No. I… I’m glad you told me. Grandfather Hook doesn’t talk about her to me much. I think it’s painful for him.”
 
“Of course it is.” Ariel said sharply. “Nothing is worse than losing your love.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian pressed his lips to the other man’s. A strange sensation to feel his beard against his own. But he was surprised to find the curve of Barbarossa’s back against his hand exciting his passion. He marveled at Barbarossa skill as is tongue expertly teased his own. Ripping off the white shirt, Barbarossa’s smooth hairless chest reminded him of a slender woman. But his muscular abdomen was firm as Killian kissed from his navel up to his collar bone. Gently biting his neck as he found his way back to his lips.
 
“No sense in teasing me now Captain Jones.” He smirked. “I’ve been wanting this for a long time.”
 
“All the more reason to be patient.” Killian smiled. Stepping back to remove his shirt as Barbarossa laid backwards onto the bed.
 
“You’re quite the rugged man.” Barbarossa ran his long fingers through the hair upon Killian’s chest. “It’s no wonder the women can’t resist you.”
 
“Women can’t resist me because I’m an incredible lover.” He lowered himself slowly down upon the other man, whispering in his ear.
 
“Show me Captain.” He heard a smirk in Barbarossa’s voice as his breath made the hair on his neck stand on end.
 
Freeing him from the confines of his trousers, Barbarossa licked up the length of him. Looking up with seductive eyes as he took him into his lips. Killian tilted his head back at the soft sensation of Barbarossa’s throat around him. His head bobbed in a gentle rhythm, the soft hum of his voice a passionate sensation as Killian marveled at the skill of a man who knew what he was doing.
 
“What do you think Captain? Better than a woman?” Barbarossa licked his lips.
 
“Should have known you’d be a messy eater.” He pushed him backwards once more pulling off Barbarossa’s canvas pants and tossing them aside.
 
His hands on the bed on either side of the first mate, he lowered himself, pushing Barbarossa’s knees up with his legs as he tried to press into him.
 
“Not quite captain.” Barbarossa smirked. “When you’re with a man you’re seeking a slightly different spot.”
 
Killian clenched his eyes as Barbarossas hand closed around him, directing him to his warm opening. Slightly frustrated, he pressed his hips forward entering him.
 
“Ah-!” Barbarossa tilted his head back. “I’ve waited so long to feel you Captain!” He cried with a smile.
 
“Then I better not disappoint.” He began to thrust his hips into the other man, surprised to enjoy the sensation as much as he did.
 
He wrapped his arms around the man’s back, breathing into his shoulder as he kept an even pace.
 
“Yes-! Ah-! Captain-! Jones-!”
 
Killian separated from him, throwing him down on the bed and rolling him over as he pressed roughly into him once more.
 
“No need to be gentile Captain.” Barbarossa breathed, looking over his shoulder seductively. “We are men of action.”
 
Killian felt a powerful sense of competition as he sped his pace. The sound of their bodies coming together a rude rhythm as he slammed into him with short sharp thrusts.
 
“W-wait…” Barbarossa’s gasped. “T-too soon.”
 
“You want me to stop now? What happened to your sense of adventure?” Killian said into his ear.
 
“Ah, ah, AH-!!!” He gasped, his hips shaking.
 
Barbarossa hung his head.
 
“I never expected to finish already…” he gasped.
 
“Who said anything about being

finished

?” Killian did not slow.
 
“Ah! Ah!” Barbarossa’s voice cracked in his throat as he continued on. “Captain Jones-!”
 
“You thought a night with me would be over so quickly?”
 
“I’m not- usually- so- fast-! Ahn!”
 
“You don’t have to make excuses to me Barbarossa. I

know

I’m good.” He pulled the man up, lifting his legs by the crook of his knees and thrusting
deeply.
 
“Captain!” Barbarossa’s voice was dry and wispy as he gasped and wrapped his arms around Killians neck. “I’m… again…”
 
“Almost.” He slowed nearly to a stop.
 
“No! I’m close!”
 
“Then you’ll have to wait for me this time.” He pulled back, nearly leaving him as he slowly drew in and out.
 
“Killian… AH-!!!”
 
He thrust into him with one swift motion. Barbarossa again drew to climax. His chest heaving.
 
“I thought I told you to

wait

.” Killian licked his lips, turning him to his side going deep.
 
“Im not sure… how much more…”
 
Killian closed his hand around him, stroking his length as he gyrated his hips.
 
“You’re not going to leave a man

adrift

are you?”
 
“Not by

reputation

…” He gasped.
 
“Then you better
hold on.”
Taking him around the shoulders with both arms he pressed his hips roughly into him until he felt a pleasurable sensation rising in his abdomen. “Ah…” he gasped as he drew near.
 
“Yes captain! Ah-! Ah-!
AHN-!!!”
Barbarossa shuddered as he felt Killian slow to a finishing pace.
 
The first mate kissed his neck as Killian let out a breath and fell forward, the two of them breathing heavily.
 
“How was it Barbarossa?” Killian raised an eyebrow. “Everything you hoped for?”
 
“And then some.” He gasped. “And what about you Captain Jones? Fancy yourself a man-lover now?”
 
He looked out the back window of the captains quarters, and saw the glint of the setting Sun against a telescope at the top of the cliff. Blackbeard’s red coat unmistakable within the green brush. Killian pulled Barbarossa into a deep and passionate kiss. Their still naked bodies in full view of the large widows.
 
“No Barbarossa. You’ve served my purpose.” He said callously. “I won’t be needing you anymore.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

There was a knock at the door.
 
“Come in!” Killian stood and began to put his trousers on.
 
“All ready out here Captain Jones.” Jim Hawkins walked in.
 
“Splendid.” The captain fastened his buckle and found his boots. “Send the men in to finish this room.”
 
“T-this room…?” Barbarossa wore a look of shock.
 
“Why yes.” Killian smiled. “They’ve already removed the sails and all the treasure from the ship, except of course
this
room. “I had them save it for last.”
 
“Y-you’re robbing us…?” His eyes were wide, his jaw slack.
 
“Robbing you? Heavens no. You make me sound like a common

thief!”

The sailors from the Jolly Rodger began to filter into the room, removing the paintings from the walls, the silk from the curtains, even the candlesticks.
 
“I’m fairly certain in our line of work they call this…

piracy

.” He placed a gentile hand on Barbarossa’s cheek. “Now if you’d like to keep your clothes I recommended you get dressed. They’ll be taking the bedsheets as well.”
 
“Y-you can’t…” The first mate breathed.
 
“I already have.” Killian smiled. “You see, about a year ago Blackbeard stole the kings jewels from me. I’ve been plotting my revenge ever since. But it wasn’t until

you

came along that I managed to perfect it.”
 
“Me…? Why me?” He looked around as the lavish room was stripped bare.
 
“Because, Barbarossa, you’re Blackbeards

favorite

treasure.” His eyes were gentile and shimmering blue. “The only thing he truly
loves
.”
 
Barbarossa turned and looked out the back window.
 
“No… He saw us…” He whispered, seeing the skiff rowing towards the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Blackbeards eyes alight with rage.
 
“I made certain he did. What’s wrong? I thought you

liked

to excite Blackbeards jealousy?”
 
“I never knew…I never wanted him to see me… with you… he… loves me…?”
 
“Congratulations Barbarossa. Now you truly are the oceans
greatest whore.”
Killian strapped on his cutlas, then hooked the fingers of his left hand onto his shirt, throwing it over his shoulder as he walked out the door.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Killian Jones!!! Where is he?!?” Blackbeard burned with rage as he stepped onto the deck of the Queen Anne’s Revenge. “I’ll kill him!!! I’ll kill that scabrous traitor!!!”  “Hello old friend.” Killian smiled coming out of the captain’s quarters. Light scratches on his bare chest. The hints of bruises from Barbarossa’s kiss upon his neck.  “You… You think you can take my lover?!? For what? Some slight years ago?!?”  “Some slight? You stole not only the score that would make my reputation , but the jewels that would sear my brothers name into the mind of the king! And for what? Jealousy? Because you knew someday I’d be better than you? You made a mistake when you crossed me Blackbeard. And now, you will never forget it.”  
The Captain of the the Queen Anne’s Revenge looked around his ship. The sheets had been removed from the mast. Every rope, every barrel, every mast hook was gone.
 “You think you can rob me?!? Lads!” He called. His sailors drew their weapons. “I have twice as many men as you do!!!” “I don’t need many men. I just need one . Mr Hawkins?”  
From the captains quarters came the Bosun of the Jolly Rodger, dragging Barbarossa along with him. His trousers still undone, his billowing white shirt open upon his smooth chest. Arms bound behind him.
 
“Blackbeard!” Barbarossa cried out as he was forced to his knees.
 
“You see old friend, I’m going to sail away from here with everything that you own. Leaving you only with the empty frame of your ship. You get to watch as I meet the horizon with your greatest score, and then some.” He smiled.
 
“The treasure was gone! There wasn’t a single stinking doubloon! If you think-“
 
Blackbeard stopped.
 “What do you know mr Hawkins? It appears he finally figured it out. “There never was any treasure…” Blackbeard whispered.  
“Not quite. The treasure of this island is very real. And currently buried in my own stash. King Midas’ treasure? Your greatest score? Well, that’s weighing down the hull of my ship.” He smiled. “And now, thanks to you, the fame and reputation that goes with it.”
 “I won’t let you sail away with my bounty!!!” He shouted.  
“Oh yes you will. In fact, order your men to surrender.” Killian smiled.
 
“Never.”
 
“Mr Hawkins?”
 “ Ah!!! ” Barbarossa cried out as the dagger was pressed into his neck.  
“No!!!” Blackbeard stepped forward, a look of concerned alarm on his face.
 
“Your surrender? Captain Blackbeard?” Killian looked at his nails casually.
 
“Drop your weapons men.” He said bitterly.
 
“You expect us to give up the treasure of a lifetime to save your little pet?!?” Said one of his crew.
 
Blackbeard removed his pistol and fired upon the man, killing him instantly.
 “I SAID DROP YOUR WEAPONS!!! ”  
The crew did as they were told.
 
“That’s more like it.” Killian smiled.
 
Blackbeard pulled back the hammer on his pistol once more and pointed it at Killians head.
 
“Why shouldn’t I just kill you now?” He asked.
 
“Because even if you shoot me, my friend Jim here will gladly shower your deck with Bartholomew De La Rossa’s blood. You’ve met my friend Jim. He was once your man. And I needed someone who knew the habits of you and your crew and could make his way around your ship.”
 
“I thought better of you Jim…” Blackbeard handed over his pistol.
 “That’s funny Captain. I thought the same thing of you when I was traded for this man’s life.” Jim smirked.  “You really think you’ll get away with this? You really think you can hide from me?” 
“For what I’m paying him, he won’t have to. He can buy his own realm.” Killian laughed. “And everyone by land and sea will finally know the name Killian Jones. The man who beat Blackbeard.”
 
“You’ll never make it back alive!”
 “WRONG!!!” Killian shouted. “You see, I already made it past that naval blockade without you. The FIRST time I came to this island! You know why you hate me Blackbeard? You know why you can’t stand the  sight of Captain Killian Jones?!? Because I am better than you! I outran that blockade! I found the mythical treasure island! And then I tricked you into coming here so I could take your greatest score right out from under your nose! And just to show you how much better than you I really am, I screwed your love .” 
The crew of the Jolly Rodger gathered the weapons of Blackbeards men. Taking all of their jewelry and knives along with them. Even the buckles of their belts, and the gold of their teeth. Once they had every single thing of value aboard the Queen Anne’s revenge, Killian raised his hand and summoned his ship along side.
 “You and I were friends once Killian. You don’t have to do this to me.” Blackbeard said as the Captain of the Jolly Rodger stood upon the rail, holding Barbarossa by his bindings.  “You did this to yourself . We could have been a great pirate fleet you and I. But you had to excite my taste for vengeance . And now you will live to regret the day you betrayed Captain Killian Jones. The greatest pirate of all time. ” He cut his binds and shoved Barbarossa forward into his lovers arms. “Goodbye old friend .”  
Killian tossed him a burlap sack. Blackbeard opened it to find the crown he had given Killian from the king’s jewels. In a rage he threw the crown across the deck as he watched the Jolly Rodger pull away, laden with the treasure of the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
 “I’m sorry…” Barbarossa whispered as they watched her shrink towards the horizon. “I never knew Edward… I never really knew how you felt about me.”  “It doesn’t matter. Killian did.” Blackbeard turned to his empty ship. “And he knew seeing the two of you together would kill me. As if taking all of my treasure wasn’t enough.”  
“He didn’t though.”
 “Oh? Was he kind enough to leave me a single doubloon? ” Blackbeard ran his hands through his hair in defeat.  “No.” Barbarossa stepped up to him and looked him in the eye. “He left you me .”  
Leaning in, he kissed the pirate captain with soft and gentile lips. Blackbeard held him and returned his kiss, as he desperately grasped the only man he would trade the world for.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Henry sat with his mouth open. Ariel couldn’t hide a look of shock either.
 “He took everything …?” Henry asked.  
“Down to the gold in one man’s teeth.” Barbarossa laughed.
 “That’s… thats… the best pirate story I’ve ever heard!” Henry smiled. “So that’s how Grandfather Hook became a bigger name than Blackbeard.” “Barbarossa!” Killian appeared in the doorway, his eyes flashing at the first mate. “What the hell kind of stories are you telling my grandson?!?”  
In a flash he had Barbarossa by the neck holding him to the wall.
 
“Don’t hurt him!” Henry leapt to his feet.
 
“After all these years Killian. You still want a piece of Barbarossa.” He licked his lips.
 
“Shut your mouth!” Killians grip tightened on his neck.
 
“It’s not my fault you’re ashamed of who you were.” Barbarossa chuckled.
 
“I never regretted what I did to Blackbeard.” Killian said through his teeth.
 “Aye. But do you regret what you did to me?” Barbarossa asked.  
“Henry, Ariel, go up on deck. Zheng Yi Sao needs you.” Hook demanded.
 “You can’t hurt Bartholomew!” Henry insisted.  
“I’ll be ok Henry.” Barbarossa said gently.
 “But with any luck Blackbeard won’t be.” Ariel smiled as she ushered Henry out of the room.  “W-what does she mean…?” Barbarossa asked “Killian you’re not going to hurt Blackbeard are you?”  
“It’s no concern of yours. You’re just bait.” Hook dropped him roughly to the ground.
 
“Killian! Please! Don’t hurt him!”
 “What do you care?” He scoffed.  “BECAUSE I LOVE HIM!!!” He shouted.  “Oh please. I know you Barbarossa. You don’t love anyone.”  “You’re wrong! You don’t know because you think you won that day you took everything from Blackbeard!”  “Won?” Killian laughed. “I destroyed him!”  
“No. You didn’t.” He smiled.
 “You think after everything that happened that day Blackbeard was the victor?”  “No.” Barbarossa smirked. “ I was.”  
Hook chuckled dismissively. “Yes Barbarossa you’re the only man who has slept with Killian Jones.” He faced the door.
 “That’s not why I won.” Barbarossa got to his feet. “I’ll spare you the details of poor orphaned Bartholomew, sold into sexual slavery to pay his fathers debts. I have spent my whole life being used and passed around. After a while I started passing myself around.” 
Killian stopped and turned.
 “Since I was a child younger than Henry, I was taken advantage of. Men had their way with me wether I had a say in it or not. The only way I could take control was to decide who I was with myself . Taking on with one man to save me from another. But I would still get used and tossed aside.” He let out a pained laugh. “Even YOU used me and tossed me aside.” 
Killians shoulders tensed.
 “But that day… you gave Blackbeard a choice . All the treasure in the world… or love . And he chose love .”  
“He had no choice.”
 “He did! He could have chosen to let you cut my throat! He could have done what any pirate would have and fought for his gold! But he laid down his weapons… and watched you sail away with everything . His reputation, his riches, his dignity. But not me . For the first time in my life, someone chose me . And that’s why I won.”  
Hook walked toward the door.
 “Killian wait!” Barbarossa gasped. “I’m Begging you. Don’t hurt Blackbeard. I’ll do anything .” He hung his head. 
“Come along Barbarossa. It’s time for us to prepare you to see your love.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Barbarossa wore a somber expression as he made his way on deck.
 
“Bartholomew?” Henry asked gently. “Are you alright?”
 
“I don’t know what’s going to happen…” he said sadly.
 
“Killian isn’t going to hurt you.” Henry reassured him.
 
“It’s not me I’m worried about…” He looked out towards the edge of the harbor and the Queen Anne’s revenge.
 
“That story you told me… he’s not that person anymore. He’s changed.”
 
“A pirate is a pirate Henry. You really think he wouldn’t do anything to achieve his ends?”
 
“I think… he may surprise you.”
 
“That man he’s been hallucinating… Walsh… how did he die?” Barbarossa asked.
 
Henry was silent.
 
“Come now Henry. Be honest.” The prisoner said in a heavy tone.
 
“He killed him.”
 
“That’s what I thought.”
 
“But- you don’t understand…”
 
“If he kills Blackbeard I’ll never forgive him.” Barbarossa’s voice caught in his throat.
 
“Hey.” Henry put a hand on his arm. “Trust me.”
 
“I do trust you Henry.” Barbarossa smiled sadly. “I just don’t trust that you know Killian as well as you think you do.”
 
“Are you ready?” Killian approached Barbarossa holding a rope.
 
“Is that for me?” He sighed.
 
“And here I half expected innuendo.”
 
“I’m in no mood.”
 
“That’s a first.” Hook handed the rope to his grandson. “Tie it just like I showed you Henry.”
 
“Your majesty, is everything ok?” Zheng Yi Sao asked Elsa.
 
“I…I’m frightened. Using my power… it’s unpredictable…” she removed her long glove and looked at her palm. “I don’t even know how I managed to shrink that ship… when Anna is around it all feels so easy. But when she’s not… I’m worried. Worried I could lose control. Worried I could kill someone. What do I do? What happens if someone dies…? Because of me…?”
 
“I’ve killed before your majesty. And I’m not going to lie. You’re right to fear it.” Zheng Yi Sao said seriously.
 
Elsa turned to face her in alarm.
 
“But sometimes we fear things for a reason. Like taking a life. And sometimes we fear things without reason. Like the power you are born with.”
 
“You weren’t there last time. When I froze my kingdom. The entire fjord…covered in ice and snow.”
 
“I’ll bet it was beautiful.”
 
They turned face Barbarossa.
 
“What?” He shrugged. “I’ve never seen snow like that before. I’ll bet it was beautiful.”
 
Zheng Yi Sao smiled sympathetically at him. “You see Queen Elsa? Sometimes you just need a change in perspective.”
 
“Yeah

right

.” Ariel said with her arms crossed. “Half the people here have killed someone and half have not. You expect me to believe everyone who has killed regrets it? You expect me to believe anyone who hasn’t would feel the same way?”
 
“I regret it.” Barbarossa admitted freely.
 
“I regret it.” Killians voice caught in his throat.
 
“And so do I.” Mulan looked down.
 
“Fine.” Ariel stepped forward. “Then answer me this. Would you kill again?”
 
The group was silent.
 
“Of course you won’t answer.” Ariel said bitterly. “Because you know the answer is yes. It’s easy to SAY you regret something. But have you ever considered that you’re all just

killers?”

“Ariel! Stop!” Henry objected.
 
“Why should I? You want to know the truth your majesty? You don’t have to worry about killing anyone. Because in the end some people are just killers. And it’s not always a bad thing. Is it wrong for you to kill to save your kingdom? Is it wrong for someone to kill to save themselves? Is it wrong to kill someone who wronged you so that no one ever has to feel that pain again? Kill or don’t kill your majesty. But don’t delude yourself into thinking the answer is a simple one.”
 
“I no longer find mermaids whimsical…” Elsa sighed.
 
“And what are you Ariel?” Mulan’s strode forward. “A killer? Or not a killer?”
 
“What do

you

think?” Ariel scoffed.
 
“Elsa.” Hook stepped forward. “You don’t have to use a great deal of power. It’s a ruse.  And once we succeed and get the bean, I can take you to Storybrooke and I will help you find your sister.” His blue eyes pierced her with honesty.
 
“Mulan?” Hook turned. “Best get ready.”
 
She nodded and departed in the skiff.
 
“Henry? Is Barbarossa ready?”
 
“Are you sure this isn’t too tight?” Henry asked as he finished tying the rope around   The prisoners chest and arms.
 
“He won’t be harmed Henry. One more thing.” Killian took Barbarossa’s stripped sash and placed it around the prisoners mouth.
 
“Mmmph!!!” Barbarossa grunted.
 
“That’s better.” Killian smiled. “Elsa?”
 
She ran her hand behind her head, the tucked braid coming free and falling over her shoulder. She extended her left arm, a spark of magic passing across her as her gown began to change from the black and deep green, into one of shimmering ice. Raising her right arm, the magic continued to pass over her until she was clad in a long ice-blue dress that gave off a slight chill. She was stunning.
 
“I’m ready.” She said confidently.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As the Jolly Rodger came up on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Elsa stepped up to the rail looking regal in her new dress.
 
“Ahoy your majesty! Come to pay me?” Blackbeard stood with his feet apart upon the rail.
 
“I’ve changed tactics Blackbeard.” She said sternly.
 
“Oh? Where is Zheng Yi Sao? Can’t stand up to the power of my ship?” He laughed. “I held her off before, I can do it again.”
 
“Her pacifist tactics weren’t working for me. So I found someone who has bested you before.” She crossed her arms. “I believe you’re familiar with Captain Hook?”
 
“W-what-?” Blackbeard breathed.
 
“How nice to see you again
old friend
.” Killian said, strutting confidently down the stairs.
 
“Killian! Where is he?!? What have you done with Barbarossa?!?”
 
“Nothing yet.” He raised his hand, Barbarossa was lowered from the mast beam. Hanging in the air by a rope tied around his chest. A gag in his mouth. “But I’ve got some ideas. Care to watch me try them out?”
 
“You won’t get away with it this time Killian! I have 60 men at my command! You haven’t even got a crew!”
 
“I dont need one. I have

her

.” Killian smiled pointing to Elsa.
 
“Her? She can’t even control her powers!” Blackbeard scoffed. “You’ve got nothing old friend!”
 
“Turns out I don’t need control.” Elsa smiled. “I just need to
let it go.”
 
She held out her arms. A chill crept into the air. A thick fog started to accumulate on the water. It rose higher and higher into the sky shrouding the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
 
“You should have honored our original arrangement Blackbeard. Now surrender or I sink your ship!”
 
Ice began to build on the water. The Queen Anne’s Revenge creaked as the timbers expanded with frost.
 
“I don’t think you will. You see, I did my research. Apart from being a powerful, albeit unhinged, magic user; Queen Elsa is know for her kindness, generosity, and poise. I doubt Killian could have convinced you otherwise. No matter how good he’s rumored to be in bed.”
 
Elsa grimaced at his comment.
 
“You won’t be taking anything from me this time. I will have my lover back. And the Queen shall pay me handsomely if she wants to get her hands on that bean. I have the upper hand this time Killian.”
 
“As always old friend, you only

think

you do.” Killian smirked. “Elsa? If you please.”
 
The Queen closed her fists in a sweeping motion. The fog parted in an instant. Surrounding Blackbeards boat on all sides were small junk ship rigs, filled with armed sailors.
 
“I believe you know my fiend Zheng Yi Sao? Her fleet is actually much larger than this. But she goes where she is needed. She is an adviser to the queen here, and was kind enough to lend us some ships.”Killian crossed his arms and smiled broadly. “Lost again old friend. Blackbeard, I have you surrounded.”
 
The sound of pirates dropping their cutlasses rang through the Queen Anne’s revenge. Blackbeard held strong to his sword, he locked Killians eyes, and watched as a bead of sweat dripped from his temple.
 
“It’s not over yet old friend.” Blackbeard smiled. “I challenge you to a
duel
. Winner gets the bean. And keeps his
life
.”
 
Killian drew his sword. “It was always going to end this way.

Old friend.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What is he doing?!?” Henry looked over the rail from the navigation deck, where he and Ariel had lowered  Barbarossa to hang from the the mast.
 
“They’re going to fight?” Ariel said, sounding pleased. “Hook is the better swordsman! He’ll win!”
 
“He can’t fight! He’s sick!” He glanced at the time counting down on his watch.
 “But Blackbeard doesn’t know that.” Ariel thought.  
“Help me get Bartholomew down!”
 
“But Hook didn’t say to-?”
 “Just help me!” Henry struggled with the ropes just as the alarm on his wrist went off. “No…” He gasped. “Bartholomew!” Henry removed the dagger Killian had given him and cut the bindings. “They’re going to fight! We have to stop it!” He got him to his feet.  
Barbarossa rushed to the rail and looked down. Killian and Blackbeard clashed swords once, to signal the start of the duel.
 
“It’s too late.” He said.
 “What?!?” Henry objected. “What do you mean it’s too late?!? Can’t you talk to them? Can’t you do something?!?”  
“Killian has accepted the duel. I can’t interfere.” Barbarossa hung his head.
 “Well Ican!” Henry rushed down the stairs. Ariel and Barbarossa on his tail.  “I’ve waited a long time for this old friend.” Blackbeard smirked. “And yet it’s a shame that I’ll be killing you today.” 
“You seem rather sure of yourself.” Killian ignored the pain pulsing in his head.
 
“There’s something off about you. Something I plan to use to my advantage.”
 
“Grandfather!!!”
 
“Stay back Henry!” Hook warned, keeping Blackbeard in his sight.
 
“You can’t!”
 
“Henry… do you remember what you promised me? Before we left?” He asked quietly.
 
“No! I’m not leaving you! Operation pirate ship remember?!?”
 
“Henry.” His voice was soft and low. “If only one of us is making it back it’s going to be you. You have to save Emma. This is what I brought you for.” He rushed forward with an overhead slash.
 
Blackbeard blocked it easily.
 
“Stop! This is pointless!” Henry argued.
 
They continued to fence across the deck. Hook giving way to Blackbeards fierce attack as he sweat and ached with pain. Killian stepped backwards blocking blow after blow. Each time he tried to step forward to address Blackbeards attack, he found his strikes did not have his regular speed or strength. He gave way more and more as they fought across the deck.
 
“Stop this!” Henry’s watch continued to go off. “You don’t have to fight!”
 
As they clashed Hook felt himself slipping away. His head bobbed on his shoulders as he struggled to stay alert. His eyes were heavy and out of focus. He looked up slowly and saw Walsh over Blackbeards shoulder, standing still, eyes locked on him just as the boot struck his chest and he fell to his back. Blackbeard stood above his greatest foe, looking down with a broad smile.
 
“It’s over old friend.”
 
“T-Then take your prize.” His eyes were heavy and out of focus.
 
Barbarossa put his hand over Henry’s eyes and pulled him back. Blackbeard raised his sword, then gasped. Dropping his weapon to the ground. Ariel stood behind him. Her knife stabbed into his ribs.
 “NOOO!!!!!” Echoed Barbarossa’s cry as he rushed forward.  
Ariel pulled back the knife, a stream of blood washing across the deck.
 
“That was for Prince Eric.” She said coldly.
 
“Grandfather!!!” Henry rushed to Killian and gave him the flask.
 “No!!! Edward! No! ” Barbarossa held him in his arms.  
“Killed by a woman…” Blackbeard laughed. “T-This would be a far more fitting end for y-you old friend.” Blood stained his lips.
 
“Don’t speak Edward!” Barbarossa pressed his hand to the wound. “The bleeding won’t stop!”
 
“He deserves it.” Ariel looked down in anger. Her lip trembling.
 
“You! Queen Elsa!” Barbarossa looked up. “You have magic! Please! Heal him!”
 
“I-I can’t!” She said sympathetically. “I don’t know how!”
 
Henry helped Killian to his feet. Still covered in sweat, and holding his head, but his eyes in focus.
 
Barbarossa sobbed. “Killian!” He looked up. “Killian Please! You owe me this much!”
 
“Grandfather Hook?”
 
Hook stepped away from his grandson and walked up the navigation deck steps.
 
“No…no… Edward… Blackbeard… don’t leave me…”
 
“The ship is yours Barbarossa.” He said weakly. “You’re the only man I ever loved. The only man I ever will.” His eyes fluttered as his life began to slip away.
 
“I’m sorry…” Ariel said quietly. “I was wrong… I’m not a killer. Isn’t there anything anyone can do?”
 
“There is.”
 
They all turned to see Hook. Returned with a small leather pouch.
 
“This will heal him.”
 
“W-what is it?” Barbarossa asked between tears.
 
“Calypsos Balsam.” Henry smiled taking  the pouch. “Let me help.
 
He spread a bit of the orange salve onto Blackbeards wound.
 
“Ah-!” Blackbeard cried as Barbarossa held him close.

The captain reached his hand behind,  clutching his lover to him as he tensed and writhed in his arms.
 
“Edward!!!” The first mate said in alarm. “What’s happening?!? What-?”
 
He looked at the wound as Blackbeards body relaxed. It appeared freshly healed. Signs of the puncture still visible through the slash in his coat.
 
“You’re…you’re going to be ok…” Barbarossa laughed through tears of relief. “Edward!” He embraced him and kissed him desperately.
 
Blackbeard took in deep breaths holding his side as the wound continued to cause him pain.
 
“He’ll heal fully in time.” Killian tucked the leather pouch back into his jacket.
 
“Thank you Killian.” Barbarossa continued to hold his love. “Henry was right. You’ve changed.”
 
Henry beamed at his friend Bartholomew.
 
“Now, about my bean.” Elsa stepped forward.
 
“T-the challenge is void.” Blackbeard coughed weakly. “I would have been victorious if the mermaid had not interfered.”
 
“We need that bean Blackbeard!” Hook objected. “And I still have you surrounded!”
 
“Then let us resume our fight!” Blackbeard got to his feet, hardly able to stand. “I’d say we’re on even footing now!”
 
“Edward enough! You nearly died!” Barbarossa stood by with concern as Blackbeard brandished his sword.
 “No! It will never be enough! I am Blackbeard the Pirate! And there is no one I hate more than Killian Jones! I will have your blood if it’s the last thing I do!!!”  
Killian woefully reached for his sword, but before he could draw it, Blackbeards expression changed, becoming a blank and empty stare. He fell heavily forward onto the deck. Standing behind him was Barbarossa, holding the small barrel of shot he had used to club his lover over the head with.
 
“Bartholomew…?” Henry said confused.
 
Barbarossa reached into Blackbeards ornate hat and removed a shimmering bean from a concealed fold. He looked up and tossed it to Killian.
 
“You’d better go before he wakes up.” He sighed.
 
“Thank you… Barbarossa…” Hook smiled gently.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Elsa, Henry and Ariel quickly prepared for departure as Barbarossa commanded the men of the Queen Anne’s Revenge to take the captain’s unconscious form aboard.
 
“He’ll be cross when he wakes up.” Killian laughed.
 
“He’ll forgive me. He always does. By then we’ll be far away from here.” The first mate watched as the ships prepared to separate. “There’s something about you Killian. Something different. Henry told me so but I didn’t realize what he was saying. Perhaps neither did he.”
 
“What do you mean?” He asked.
 
“I mistook it for weakness.” Barbarossa laughed. “Funny how they look the same sometimes. But you’re not pathetic, you haven’t gone soft, you’re not weak. You’re in love aren’t you?”
 
Killian looked down with a sad smile.
 
“You were always suited for love Killian. I’m happy for you.” Barbarossa’s amber eyes shone with sincerity.
 
“For what it’s worth…Bartholomew… I’m happy for you too. And him.” He nodded his head towards Blackbeard. “But what I have waiting for me when I return… let’s just say my past has caught up with me.”
 
“It’s not like you to give up.” Barbarossa raised and eyebrow.
 
“There are some things you can’t come back from.”
 
“Maybe you should let

her

decide that.” He smiled placing a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let your sorrow get in the way of your happiness. Trust me. You’ll only find yourself alone in a sea of unfulfilling lovers. Best of luck to you Killian Jones. I sincerely hope I never see you again.”
 
Hook smiled with amusement, as he turned and made his way to the navigation deck he raised a hand to the first mate. Barbarossa hailed him back as the boards connecting the two ships were drawn and the Queen Anne’s Revenge sailed away.
 
“Thank you Zheng Yi Sao.” Elsa said sincerely. “But I am afraid I must ask you one more favor.”
 
“Happy to help Queen Elsa. You’ve been an invaluable friend to me and my fleet.”
 
“I have to leave Arendel to find my sister. I don’t know when I will return. Or how.”
 
“I have confidence in you your majesty. Even if you don’t have it in yourself.” Mulan smiled with the wisdom of age.
 
“The running of my kingdom is going to be left to my bauers. But I worry that my shores are not safe. The kingdom of the southern isles is looking for any excuse to invade my land.”
 
“The waters of Arendel shall be protected by my fleet until your return.” Mulan bowed her head.”
 
“Thank you my friend. You shall always we welcome in Arendel.” She removed the modest crown from her head and passed it to her.
 
“And what of you Ariel? Back to the sea?” Hook asked.
 
“No…” she looked down in shame. “I thought I knew what I wanted…I thought I knew how to get over Eric’s death… but when I stabbed that man… I’ve never been so lost in my life.”
 
“The place we’re going, Storybrooke, it’s a place for second chances.” Henry smiled brightly. “You could come with us.”
 
“I’d like that.” The mermaid looked up at the boy.
 
“Then we’re off!” Hook smiled. “Mulan, it’s been a pleasure as always.”
 
“Take care Hook, Henry, Elsa. Ariel?” She turned to her. “What they’re offering you is forgiveness. You haven’t taken a life. Remember what it felt like the moment you regretted what you did. It could save you someday.”
 
“Thank you Zheng Yi Sao. I shall remember your wisdom.”
 
As soon as Mulan departed, Hook looked at the bean in his hand. Despite their struggle, their adventures in Arendel, he felt a far greater anxiety to return to the town he had terrorized. He remembered Barbarossa’s words, but considered them wishful thinking.
 
“There’s not a moment to lose.” He said sadly. “Emma is waiting.”
 
He threw the bean into the ocean, a portal opening in a large whirlpool before them.
 
“Tie down mates!” Hook called. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride!!!”
 
The ship sailed toward to portal and slipped into the ocean, back to Storybrooke.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The Jolly Rodger shuddered and shook as it came through the portal landing heavily upon the sea.
 
“Is everyone ok?!?” Hook called untying his lifeline. “Henry!”
 
“I’m alright!” The boy called.
 
“Elsa! Ariel!”
 
“We’re here!” The Queen called.
 
Hook brought the ship into port. The spire of the clock tower still showing signs of scorching from his rampage as they pulled up to the dock.
 
“I have to get the balsam to the hospital!” Killian rushed to the ramp. “I’m sorry I don’t have time to waste!”
 
He leapt onto the dock. Unsure if the pain in his chest was from the sickness or his anxiety to make sure Emma was safe. But whatever the case, he was forced to push it aside as a fireball flew inches from his head.
 
“YOU
SON OF A BITCH!!!”
 
He looked up to see Regina storming down the boardwalk at him. Her pantsuit and heels looking no less intimidating than her Evil Queen attire as a rage burned in her eyes, like the fire burning in each of her hands.
 
“You took my SON Hook!!!” She shouted loosing another fireball. “You’re going to pay!!!”
 
“Regina!” He held out his hands. “Henry is fine! I have to get to the hospital!”
 
In her rage she threw more magic his way. He did his best to dodge the attacks as he felt a powerful ache in his head.
 
“Mom! Don’t!” Henry ran to the rail of the ship, his watch beginning to chime as Hooks sickness again took hold.
 
Hook fell to a knee, Regina stepped up to him, looking down with rage as she drew back her hand.
 
“STOP!!!” Henry leapt onto the dock and placed himself between his mother and grandfather. “He didn’t take me! I wanted to go!”
 
“He’s threatened to take you before!”
 
Henry was surprised to see tears in her eyes as her lip trembled.
 
“I didn’t know where you had gone! Or when you were coming back!”
 
“Mom!” Henry threw his arms around her.
 
The fire in her hands subsided as she held her son close.
 
“Henry! I was so worried!”
 
“I’m fine mom! We had to get Hooks ship back! To save Emma!”
 
“E-Emma…” Hook gasped holding his chest. “Someone has to help E-Emma…” he fell heavily to his side, gasping as the pain shot through his head.
 
“What’s wrong with him?” Regina asked, with little care.
 
“He’s sick! It’s the Snow Queen! She gave him so much rum when he was under her spell… he’s been poisoned. It’s withdrawal.” Henry knelt next to his grandfather. “They said it would take a long time for the poison to leave his system. But now that we’re back… he needs help.”
 
“No…” Hook said weakly from the ground. “Emma… we have to get to…Emma…” his eyes drifted out of focus as the sickness took him once more.
 
“Mom! Please! Help me get him to the hospital!” Henry begged her.
 
“He doesn’t need a hospital.” She sighed. “He needs to sober up.”
 
“Regina…” Hook looked up at her. “Please…you have to get this to Emma.” He removed the leather pouch from his jacket. His hand shaking as he held it out to her. “It’s the only thing that can…save…her…life…”
 
Regina gave a heavy sigh of exasperation, then knelt next to him and placed her open hand upon his chest. It glowed with a violet energy that spread across his entire body.
 
“What are you doing…?” Henry asked as his grandfathers body relaxed.
 
“Healing his sickness.” Regina grumbled. “You can take the cure to her

yourself

Hook.”
 
“Mom!” Henry hugged her with a bright smile as Hook sat up. “Thank you.”
 
Regina slapped Hook across the face then pointed to him with a threatening finger.
 
“If you ever take my son away without telling me again, I’ll take your other hand.” She said seriously.
 
Killian nodded, with a serious understanding. “Thank you Regina.”
 
“Don’t thank me. Just get to the hospital. Emma doesn’t have long.”
 
Hook gripped the leather pouch and ran down the dock.
 
“Mom!” Henry smiled. “I know you’re mad, but I just got back from the craziest adventure!”
 
“You can tell me about it over hot cocoa.” She smiled. “And have I mentioned you’re grounded?”
 
“You don’t have to. I already know.” He laughed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hook ran into the hospital. Regina’s magic had done the trick. He felt back to his old self. There was no more pain or ache in his head or chest. No more ghosts haunting him. But despite her spell, the anxiety he felt was much worse.
 
“Hook!” Snow rushed up to him as he came down the hall. “Where have you been?!? What happened to Henry? Emma has been asking for you… she’s…fading…” the mother looked down.
 
“No time to waste princess!” He looked through the window at David looking pale from transfusions as he sat at his daughters bedside. “I have a cure to save her!”
 
“You do???” Snow asked taking his hand. “Hurry! Let’s get it to her!”
 
“No!” He stopped dead in his tracks. “I…I can’t. Here.” He handed her the lather pouch. “You just have to put this on her wound. It can heal Little John as well.”
 
“Aren’t you coming?”
 
“I can’t…” He glanced through the window at Emma’s golden locks falling across the bed. Her cheeks pale from blood loss.
 
“Killian…” Snow looked at his pained expression sympathetically.
 
“Don’t worry about me. Please. Save Emma.”
 
The mother nodded, but kept her eyes upon his face as she walked into the hospital room. Killian watched through the window as David stood quickly. Snow gently woke Emma and spoke. She nodded her understanding as her mother pulled away her bandage to reveal the large gash.
 
Hook looked away. When he glanced back he saw Emma arch her back, twisting her neck and gripping the bed sheets as the balsam painfully healed her wound.
 
Emma opened her eyes. “M-mom…?” She asked as the pain subsided. “Dad…?”
 
“Emma!” Mary Margaret smiled through tears. “You’re ok!
 
She looked down at her chest. A long red scar across her front. Still tender to the touch.
 
“He did it.” She smiled. “Killian, where is he?”
 
“He’s-“ Snow turned to the window but he was gone. “He was just there… David.” She addresses her husband. “Take this to Little John, and get some rest. You’ve given a lot of blood.”
 
She handed him the pouch and smiled sadly at him.
 
“I have to find Hook.” Emma began to sit up. “I have to talk to him.”
 
“Emma, take it easy.” Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re still healing.”
 
“And Hook is still hurting!”
 
“He’s safe, he’s back. He crossed realms to heal you Emma. Take your time and recover.”
 
“Mom, the last time I let him go…he became a pawn of the Snow Queen. I can’t do that again. He didn’t let me go. And I won’t let him go.”
 
Snow sighed but nodded. “I’ll get your clothes.”

*****

Emma made her way to the dock. Surprised to see the Jolly Rodger in port. She ran to the ship and climbed aboard. It had been some time since she had been on the Jolly Rodger, but after searching every inch of it she found nothing. She rushed to the dock and tore open the door to the boat house, rushing up the stairs to Cruca’s apartment. She found it empty. Dropping her shoulders she shuffled down the stairs holding the wound on her chest. Back outside she looked up towards main street. The sun was high in the sky as she looked, defeated, towards the dinner.
 
Walking inside she found Henry and Regina sitting at a table. She sat down and looked up at her son.
 
“Emma!” Henry said happily. “Killian got you the balsam!”
 
“Yeah.” She looked down at her chest, the red scar still highly visible under her low cut tshirt.
 
“Mom?” Henry asked. “Are you ok?”
 
“I can’t find Hook.” She sighed. “He saved my life and he’s nowhere to be found.”
 
“Have you checked the bar?” Regina asked, with a scoff.
 
“He was just healed of

alcohol poisoning,

you think he’s at the bar?” Henry asked.
 
“Yes.” Emma put her head in her hands. “He’s probably at the bar. What happened while you were away?” Emma asked.
 
“A lot.” Henry smiled. “But he was determined to save you.” Henry said quietly. “He feels terrible about what he did.”
 
“It wasn’t his fault.” Emma said sadly.
 
“I doubt he

believes

that.” Regina sighed
 
“Suddenly you have sympathy for
Hook?”
Emma asked.
 
“Generally no.” Regina sighed. “But he seemed pretty

tortured

when he came back.”
 
“Where have the two of you been?” Emma drank from a glass of water, glancing at her son.
 
“Yes Henry, tell Emma the tale of where your grandfather took you.” Regina sighed.  “Nothing like a story of pirates to quiet a mother’s worry.”
 
“Pirates?!?” Emma gasped.
 
“It was

awesome

.” Henry smiled.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian sat at the bar drinking his fifth glass of rum. It was a wonder he was still allowed in the rabbit hole. But when he had showed up he was served his regular drink of top shelf rum without argument. He looked heavily down into his cup as he took another sip. He noticed someone sit down next to him, but didn’t bother to look up.
 
“So, you’re

back

.”
 
He tensed to hear Emma’s voice.
 
“You should be in the hospital. What are you doing here?” He said quietly.
 
“I could ask you the same thing. I heard from Henry you just got over a nasty bit of alcohol Poisoning. Imagine my lack of surprise to find you at the bar.”
 
“It…it’s tough to be back here.” He sighed. “After everything…”
 
“You still turn to rum.”
 
“Sometimes it’s the only comfort.”
 
“It doesn’t have to be.” She said gently. “You have people here who care about you. People who want to help you.”
 
“Like who?” He scoffed.
 
“Well, like

Henry

for starters. And… and

me

.” She looked down at the bar.
 
“I

stabbed

you Emma. I cut you with my hook.” He drank deeply from his glass. “I saw your wound and I…I couldn’t…”
 
“You’re not to blame Killian.” She whispered.
 
“I am Emma. For Little John, for you, and for Walsh.” He kept his eyes on his cup, taking another swig.
 
“Henry told me about Arendel. That you were seeing him.”
 
“What of it?” He said coldly.
 
“You don’t have to bear that weight Killian. I know you were under the Snow Queens spell. I know without it you would never have killed him.”
 
“Tch. You act like you

know

me.” He scoffed.
 
“I

do!

I

know

you! You’re a better person than even

you

believe!”
 
“I’m not that man Emma!!! I’m not a Prince, I’m not a gentleman.

This

is who I am

most

of the time!” He raised his glass, gesturing to himself. “You can dress me up as Prince Charles all you like, but truth is I am

Hook

. I am

dangerous

. I am a

killer

. He’s not the

first

man I’ve killed in cold blood and I’d wager not my

last

. So run along home princess. Run along home while you still

can

.”
 
“I know what you’re doing Killian! You’re trying to get me to
blame
you! I’ve seen you do it before! But it won’t work on me. Three fingers of whiskey!” She raised her hand.
 
“What are you doing?” He slurred his words as she tipped back the entire glass. “Emma!”
 
“Hypocrite.” She smiled ordering another and throwing it back.
 
“You just got out of the hospital! Stop!” He stepped forward as she ordered a third.
 
“No! If this is how

you’re

dealing with Walsh then it’s how

I’m

dealing with Walsh!”
 
He looked at her in a stunned silence.
 
“Let’s…” she wiped the whiskey from her lips. “Let’s pretend like we’re going through the
same thing ok
…?” Tears brimmed her eyes as the whiskey quickly rushed to her head. “And that I’m not doing ok

either

… and maybe I

need

you… to be not ok

with

me.”
 
He reached out and took her hand, keeping his eyes down. She gripped his hand back.
 
“What happened sucks Killian. Walsh didn’t deserve to die. But you fought so hard against the darkness. I can’t blame you for what happened. I could

never

blame you…”
 
“Bar keep…” He let her go and raised his hand. “Two

waters

please.”
 
Emma flashed him a sad smile.
 
“To Walsh.” He held out his water glass.
 
“Walsh.” Emma held up her own.
 
They each drank reverently. She looked his way as he glanced down at the bar. They sat in silence for a moment before a call came in over the radio.
 
“~Emma!” Said David’s voice. “~get someplace safe! The Snow Queen has attacked again!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hooks shoulders tensed at the mention of the Snow Queen.
 
“I’m on my way!” Emma answered.
 
“~Emma no! You’re still recovering!” David objected.
 
“I’m fine dad. I’ll be there soon. Killian?” She glanced up. “Will you come with me?”
 
“Why would you

want

me to? I think we both know I can’t stand up to her.”
 
“Killian.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I lost you to her once. The safest place for you to be right now is with me.”
 
He looked down at her hand and nodded. Paying the bill and standing to follow her.
 
“What is it this time?” He asked as they walked out into the street.
 
“An ice wall, it appeared on the street down by the water. There are reports of blonde in a blue dress.”
 
“Down by the-? A blue dress?” Hook stopped.
 
Emma turned to face him, just as he looked away.
 
“That’s not the snow queen…oh no…” Hooks eyes went wide.
 
“What is it?” She asked.
 
“Elsa…”
 
“Who the hell is Elsa?”
 
“When Henry and I went through the portal into another realm we met a Queen. She needed to come here to look for her sister. She’s…a powerful magic wielder. Her abilities are not unlike the Snow Queen’s.”

“The Queen of Arendel? Well, that’s good isn’t it? You can just ask her to take down the magic!”
 
“No, it’s

not

good.” Hook reached for her hand and looked down at the yellow ribbon upon her wrist. “This is

exactly

what the snow queen wanted.”
 
“What do you mean?” She glanced at him.
 
“The prophecy.” He turned away. “When the Snow Queen had me… she spoke of a prophecy that I would open a portal and bring through a great sorceress from another realm. And I did…”
 
“But how…? You’re not under the snow Queen’s control anymore!”
 
“It doesn’t matter!” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Fate is fate. Everything happened just as it was foretold. I went to Arendel to get the Balsam to fix what I had done wrong.” He looked down at the street. “I’m such a fool… I went there to save you. But I was

always

intended to harm you. Always intended to go there to get the cure. Always fated to bring Elsa here. And then I

left

her. I

forgot

about her. She must be so frightened. I have to
help
her!” He turned and rushed towards the dock.
 
“Hook
wait!”
Emma ran after him “I’m still confused about the whole

fate

thing!”
 
As they ran towards the water they saw the wall, several stories high rising from the street.
 
“That…that’s incredible!” Emma marveled.
 
“Elsa!” Hook called running up to the frozen edifice. “Elsa! It’s Hook! I’m coming to help you!” He began to climb up the embankment.
 
“Killian wait! I don’t like the look of this!” Emma glanced at the precarious icicles hanging above them.
 
“Stay here.” He said as he continued to climb.
 
“Like

hell!

I’m coming
with
you!” She climbed behind him.
 
“Emma, it’s dangerous! You’re still

recovering

.”
 
“So are

you!”

She objected.
 
“Me? I’m

fine!”

“No you’re

not!

” She climbed after him. “You’re not

thinking

clearly! You spent weeks as her brainwashed servant! Drunk out of your mind! You can’t just come back from that like nothing happened!

Think

about this! Let’s wait for David!”
 
“It…it doesn’t matter…” Killian felt an ache in his chest to know she was right. “All that matters is helping Elsa.”
 
“Hook?” Came a voice from above them. “I’m sorry! I can’t stop it!” The ice shook.
 
“I’m coming Elsa just hold on!” He reached a ledge and pulled himself up. “Elsa!” He rushed forward.
 
“Stay back!” She held up her hands, the ice beginning to shake.
 
“Killian…” Emma said cautiously, looking up at the quaking stalactites above them.
 
“Elsa! Take a deep breath! It’s going to be ok! I’m going to

help

you!”
 
“I… I… I’m scared!” She put her hands on her head as the ice shook.
 
“Hook!!!” Emma looked up just as the ice began to fall, she rushed forward throwing her arms around him from behind pushing him out of the way as the large columnar ice came crashing down behind them.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Nnnn…” Emma sat up slowly holding her head.
 
She was laying on Hook, who had landed heavily beneath her when she had pushed him out of the way.
 
“Killian! Are you alright?” She asked gently shaking him.
 
She rolled him onto his back with some difficulty. A small bloody welt on his head where it had struck the ice.
 
“Nnn…” He stirred, but did not wake.
 
Emma heard a soft sobbing and looked up. The woman Killian had been speaking to was huddled in a corner with her hands over her head. Her gorgeous blue dress the same color as the ice cavern all around them.
 
“H-hey…” Emma said cautiously. “I don’t suppose you could… get us out of here?” She looked around.
 
The woman shook her head.
 
“Ahss-!” Emma gasped holding the wound on her chest.
 
She had landed heavily on Killian when she had pushed him out of the way. A sharp pain shooting through the still mending scar.
 
“I’m sorry.” Elsa whispered. “This is all my fault.”
 
“Do you mind if I ask what happened?” Emma spoke gently.
 
“I came through the portal on Hooks ship… he left, he had to help someone. I started to explore the town but…”
 
“This land isn’t like yours is it?” Emma held her arms around herself for warmth, trying to use her magic to heat herself to no avail.
 
She shook her head.
 
“What was it that scared you?” Emma asked.
 
“Everything. Everything here scares me. I came to this land unprepared. The buildings, the boats, even the ground is strange! And then this…thing…came speeding towards me… I never expected a strange metal thing to move so fast… like a carriage without a horse.”
 
“We call those cars.” Emma laughed. “Sorry, I’m laughing because I get it. This place must be strange. Your name is Elsa right?”
 
She nodded.
 
“My name is Emma.”
 
“Oh. You’re Emma.” Elsa smiled. “He was very determined to get back to you.”
 
Emma looked at Hook sadly.
 
“E-Elsa…” Killian stirred.
 
“Hook!” Emma rushed to his side.
 
“I’m sorry Hook!” Elsa said sadly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
 
“It’s not your fault Elsa, it’s mine.” He held his head as he sat up. “I should have come straight back as soon as I delivered the balsam. Instead I was selfish…”
 
“That’s not fair Killian.” Emma said gently. “You’ve been through a lot.”
 
“It’s no excuse. I rushed here without thinking. And once again I’ve put you in danger Emma…”
 
“
You
have?” Elsa scoffed. “I saw something new and built an ice wall in the middle of your town! This is

my

fault.”
 
“Wow. Maybe you

both

need therapy.” Emma laughed.
 
“~Emma! Come in Emma! Say something!” David’s voice crackled over the walkie.
 
“What is that?!?” Elsa asked in alarm, the ice cavern beginning to shake.
 
“It’s a device, that I can use to talk to my father on the other side of that wall.” Emma pointed to cave in behind them. “But if you want to…melt that… we can

all

talk…?”
 
“I can’t… when it comes to my power…I don’t know how to control it.”
 
“I get that.” Emma said. “I have powers too. They never seem to work the way they’re supposed to do they?”
 
“Anna helps.” Elsa looked down.
 
“Anna?” Emma asked.
 
“My sister. It’s why I came to this world. Anna… she’s…missing.”
 
“Well, we can’t look for her in here. How can we melt that ice?” Emma asked.
 
“I’ve been able to control it before…but without Anna… I’m lost.”
 
“W-well, how did she h-help you…?”
 
“Emma! You’re trembling!” Hook said in alarm.
 
“Of c-course. We’re stuck in an

i-ice

c-cave.” She held her arms as she tried to stay warm.
 
“Here!” Hook went to remove his coat.
 
“Don’t you d-dare!” She said adamantly. “We’re s-stuck tog-gether. You need your c-c-coat!”
 
“Not as much as

you

do! I do better in the cold remember?”
 
“What about h-her? You must be f-f-freezing!” Emma glanced at Elsa.
 
“The cold never bothered me.” She shrugged.
 
“~Emma! Come in!” David said urgently over the walkie.
 
“Dad!” Emma said. “We’re trapped in here with this woman Elsa. She’s looking for her sister Anna. I need you to f-f-find her!”
 
“~Anna?” David asked.
 
“Yes! Hurry! It’s not getting any w-warmer in here!”
 
“Emma, please!” Hook began to take off his jacket again.
 
“No! I’m not going to take your jacket while you freeze to d-death Hook!”
 
“This is all my fault.” Elsa wept.
 
“You were just trying to save your sister.” Killian said in a somber tone.
 
“You were just trying to save Emma…” Elsa reasoned. “We’re not so different.”
 
“We are.” Hook lamented. “You’re a good person Elsa. Me? I was trying to fix my own mistake. Emma only needed saving because
I
put her in danger. You’re looking for your sister so you can be a better person. I’m afraid I am too far gone.”
 
“You’re not Hook! What happened wasn’t your fault!”  Emma placed a hand on his shoulder.
 
“It was!!!” He pulled away from her looking at the ground. “I
knew
what I was doing the
whole time!
The Snow Queens spell didn’t

make

me do anything! It was

my

idea to burn the town!
My
idea to hurt David! My

choice

to kill Walsh! And it was beyond a doubt my idea to hurt

you!”

“I don’t

blame

you for that!!!” She shouted stepping in front of him.
 
“You

should!”

He looked away.
 
“Well
too bad!
I finally got you back Hook! Why won’t you

forgive

yourself? Why won’t you
move on?
Why won’t you
LOOK
at me?!?”
 
“BECAUSE I CANT STAND TO SEE MYSELF IN YOUR EYES!!!” He shouted, turning from her. 
 
“Hook…” She reached out a hand for him but he shrank at her touch.
 
“Ever since I met you Emma… I’ve seen the man I want to be when you look at me. After everything I’ve done…I can’t look into your eyes and see the person I c-could have b-been…” His voice began to shake from the cold.
 
“Y-you still a-are that person Killian…you think you can’t come b-back but you’re w-w-wrong.”
 
“Em-ma… you’re f-freezing. Please.”
 
She stopped him from taking off his coat and walked towards him. Again he looked away. She put her hands on his shoulders. Pushing him gently down to sit upon the ledge. She sat on his lap and leaned her back into his chest. Pulling his jacket around her.
 
“T-there.” She said adamantly. “This way we’re

both

warm.”
 
He wrapped his arms around her. His heart beating painfully loud in his chest as he held her close and smelled her pine forest hair. The ache he felt to think of her faded away as she settled comfortably into his embrace. He placed his cheek against her cold ear and closed his eyes, as he experienced the first comfort he had known since the snow queen had taken him.
 
Sharing their warmth helped. But after a while the two of them felt their consciousness fading as they grew colder and drifted away.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“~Emma! Come in Emma!” David’s voice cracked over the radio.
 
“H-hello?” Elsa asked into the speaker, imitating the way Emma had done it.
 
“~Emma?” He asked.
 
“No, my name is Elsa. Emma’s here. She’s… I think she’s passed out!”
 
Elsa reached down and touched Emma’s cheek feeling little warmth. She placed her hand upon Hook, feeling a similar lack of heat.
 
“I’m sorry! I never meant to

hurt

them!” She said in a panic.
 
“~Elsa I want to help you! But I need you to help me! This sister of yours Anna. Can you tell me anything else about her? Something I can use to find her?”
 
“She… she has red brown hair….” Elsa started.
 
“~Good, what else?”
 
“She’s clumsy.” Elsa smiled. “She talks a lot. Says practically everything to cross her mind out loud. She’s good… so very good natured.”
 
“~She sounds like a wonderful person.” David’s voice held the sounds of a smile.
 
“She is. I pushed her away for so many years… but somehow when we came together again, we were still… sisters. Like no time had passed. Like nothing could ever get in the way. She left for the Enchanted forest to get answers for me. To ease my mind before her wedding. I thought she would be ok because Kristoff went with her.”
 
“~ Did you say Kristoff?” David asked. “~Elsa are you from Arendel?”
 
“What…? How did you know?”
 
“~This Kristoff, is he a tall guy with square shoulders and blonde hair? Sort of a round  jaw? And a big nose?”
 
“You know him?!?” Elsa said excitedly.
 
“~Yes I knew him!”
 
“Go get him! He has to be with Anna!”

“~Elsa I’ve asked around town and no one has seen her. But if you can let us in we can work together and help you
find
her!”

“I can’t! I need Anna! I’m a monster without her!”
 
“~We know monsters pretty well in this town.” David said gently. “~I mean… look at Hook. If you’re from Arendel, I’m sure you get your fair share of pirates.”
 
“You have no idea.” She gave a half hearted laugh.
 
“~But Hook has come such a long way here. He’s our friend. Even the Evil Queen, who terrorized me and my wife for years. She’s become our family. This town is for second chances Elsa. Whatever monster you think you are… we’re here to help you find the person I KNOW you are. But you have to let us in. You have to let us help.”
 
Elsa wore a look of determination. She glanced at Emma and Killian. Their cheeks were a pale blue tint, but they remained frozen in their embrace, trying desperately to stay warm. With a deep breath she held her hands to the wall and concentrated. A circle began to form in the ice. It slowly pushed through until it opened upon the other side. David quickly ran through, directing the dwarfs toward Hook and Emma.
 
“I’m sorry.” Elsa took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I put them in danger.
 
“You also saved them.” David smiled at her sympathetically. “You did a good thing.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and walked her outside.
 
Looking down from the ice wall she could see the strange buildings and metal carriages going by. But with people to help her it didn’t seem so frightening anymore.
 
“Elsa of Arendel? Welcome to Storybrooke.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian heard the soft sound of beeping as he opened his eyes to see the fluorescent lights of the hospital building.
 
“Morning sunshine.”
 
He turned his head to see Emma laying in the hospital bed next to his. Wrapped in a large heavy blanket.
 
“What happened…?” He asked, reaching up to feel a bandage on his head where he had been struck by ice. His own cover falling down his chest as he did.
 
“Minor frostbite.” She pulled her hands out from under the thick blanket to look at her red blistered fingers. “But the upside is all the hot cocoa you can drink!” She smiled.
 
He looked away.
 
“Killian… we almost died… are you really going to keep avoiding me?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Why?!? After we struggled so much, why can’t you let yourself be happy?!?”
 
“BECAUSE I

HATE

MYSELF!!! I am filled with nothing but rage, vengeance, and selfishness! And then I look at Belle, Henry, and you… all these amazing people who care about me…And I worry that if I let these amazing people, who make me a better man, get too close… they’ll be corrupted by it. By me.”
 
Emma was silent as his voice trailed off leaving them in a deafening hush.
 
“I…I don’t think I can just pick up where we left off.”  He finally said.
 
Emma rolled out of her bed. The blanket wrapped around her shoulders and hanging down past her legs. She shuffled slowly to his bedside. He looked down with heavy eyes.
 
“Killian. Look at me.”
 
“Emma…I… I can’t.”
 
“Killian… LOOK at me.”
 
He slowly glanced up meeting her eyes.
 
“What do you see?”
 
“I…I see…”
 
“The man

I

see you as?”
 
He closed his eyes and put his head back against the pillow.
 
“I think I’m

broken

.

Far

too broken.”
 
“Then let’s

fix

you.” She sat on the edge of his bed and took his hand in hers. Her fingers were still a bit cold. “I’m not going anywhere Killian. I’m going to help you through this. So don’t give up.”
 
“Why would you help me Emma? After what I put you through?”
 
“Because maybe I see myself reflected back in your eyes too. And maybe…I like what I see.”
 
He smiled softly. “What do you see?”
 
“A shared experience. Two people who know the same struggles. Who always try and do things the easy way, which turns out to be the hard way.”
 
“Pirate twins?” He laughed.
 
“Pirate twins.” She smiled.
 
“You were right Emma. I’m not thinking clearly since I’ve been back. All the things I’ve been putting off… being tortured, by the Dark One, losing Bae, being manipulated by the Snow Queen… I’m not sure how to fix myself. I’m not sure I

can

be fixed. I don’t want to drag you
through
that. I’m not sure we
can
be pirate twins.”
 
Emma held out her pinky to him.
 
“What’s this?” He asked, raising his own pinky.
 
“A vow.” She smiled sadly, locking their fingers together. “We’ll be the pirate twins again.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Hello Killian. Where would you like to start?” Dr Hopper asked.
 
“I thought you were the one who was supposed to tell
me
that.” He sighed.
 
He sat holding the bridge of his nose in disbelief to find himself in therapy.
 
“You don’t have a history of liking my questions.” Hopper smiled.
 
“Well…I’m trying to change that… I’m trying to… be different.” He looked down at his hand.
 
“I’m happy to hear that Killian. Do you want to tell me why?”
 
“Emma.”
 
“You’re trying to change for Emma?”
 
“No. I’m trying to change because of Emma. Because I want to be a better person. I want to…forgive myself. She’s the one that made me believe I could. I don’t know that I’ll ever be worthy of her… but if she believes I can be forgiven… I want to know what that feels like.”
 
“What do you

think

it feels like?” Hopper asked.
 
“For years I have had an ache in my chest. In my heart. As if a constant anchor of guilt is dragging along with me. The only time it wasn’t there was when I was with my family. Bae and Milah. When they died, the anchor got heavier. I’ve almost gotten used to it. I think forgiveness would be drawing that anchor after all these years. And finally be able to sail free.“
 
“A poetic metaphor.”
 
“When Bae died, I came to you, and…I swear, I spoke to Milah. I actually spoke to her.”
 
“Hypnosis is an effective way to reach into our subconscious.”
 
“You hypnotized me?”
 
“You hypnotized yourself. People view hypnosis as a party trick. But in reality it’s more akin to that sensation you get when you relax into some good music. Or reading a good story, when you actually feel like you’re there. The mind is a powerful tool. One could even compare it to magic.”
 
“Then…how do I do it again?”
 
“Well, to start let’s identify your guilt. What do you feel most guilty about?”
 
“That’s easy. I got a sobriety induced performance of it on the beach in Arendel.”  He scoffed.
 
“What did you see on the beach in Arendel?” Dr hopper crossed his legs.
 
“I saw the people I have wronged the most. My brother, Rufio, Milah, Baelfire, Walsh…Emma.”
 
“That’s a lot of people you care about. But what happened when you spoke to Milah last time? Didn’t she tell you to forgive yourself? For your son? For Baelfire?”
 
“I still feel some guilt. But it’s latent. Ever since then… I only blame myself for bae when I’m at my worst.”
 
“And you were at your worst on that beach. What voice do you recall? Who was speaking to you?”
 
“Liam.”
 
“Your brother? What did he have to say?”
 
“Told me off for drinking.” He laughed.
 
“How did that make you feel?”
 
“Like it was really him.”
 
“Did Liam often tell you off for drinking?”
 
“All the time!” Killian chuckled. His smiled slowly faded to a look of sorrow. “I remember the first time…”
 
He closed his eyes. He was young. Far too young to be drinking. But he had seen his father do it. He wondered. And then, he saw Liam. He tore the flask from his hand and shouted at him.

“You’re just like father!!!”

Killian opened his eyes with a snap and looked around.
 
“It’s alright. You’re in my office.” Hopper said calmly. “Why did those words hurt you so much Killian? To hear him say you were just like your father?”
 
“Our father was a coward. He sold his own children for a boat to escape.” Killian spat in a rage. “When I found him years later and he had replaced us so easily… he had to die.”
 
“Killian, come back!” Dr hopper snapped his fingers.
 
Hook looked up suddenly. A flash of red fading from his eyes as he saw Dr Hopper.
 
“I want you to close your eyes. And go back to the first time your brother told you off for your drinking.”
 
“I…I’m not sure I have the strength to hear him say it again…” he whispered.
 
“There’s more to the story Killian. Close your eyes.”
 
With a deep breath, he did as the doctor asked. He was a young boy who had stolen a sailors flask. They all slept so soundly when they drank rum. It seemed so pleasant. He drank a little and grimaced at the sting. But the sweet taste of honey and orange peel gave it a pleasant finish. After a moment he felt his head grow light and the painful thoughts of his father’s abandonment slipping away to the more pleasant times. His brother rose high above him like a mast as he reached down and grabbed the flask with a rage in his eyes. Hatred burning through him as he spat the words.
 
“You’re just like father!!!”
 
Only a boy, he shrank and cowered under the towering form of his enraged brother.
 
“Killian! Take a step back!” Dr hoppers voice pierced the painful memory.
 
Suddenly he was a grown man, in his long captains jacket and vest. In front of him he saw his brother. A young boy. Huddled and crying.
 
“You’re just like father… father sold us for a boat and a bottle of rum. He chose rum over us… you can’t leave me too Killian. You can’t leave me too.”
 
“Liam.” He reached out a hand to the boy. “I’m sorry…”
 
“You often forget brother. I was abandoned as well.”
 
Killian turned to see Liam, grown. He stood on the Jewel of the Realm at dawn, in his finest navy dress.
 
“I had a purpose after father left. Look after my little brother. I don’t think I would have made it through childhood without that purpose… I would have cast myself into the sea long ago without you by my side brother.” He walked the deck.
 
“You were always so strong. I thought of you as this perfect man. A life I could never achieve.”
 
“I was as broken as you were Killian.” Liam places his hands behind his back, looking down at the ship.
 
“But you did so much! You accomplished so many things, even with me dragging you down.”
 
“And yet I died in service to a king that didn’t deserve to lick my brothers boots.” He smiled.
 
Killian laughed with tears in his eyes.
 
“You did the right thing that day Killian. You listened to your gut and would not compromise your morals. The king was looking for a deadly poison to wipe out a population. You stopped that.”
 
“At the cost of your life.”
 
“How soon we forget who poisoned me with the Dreamshade. I did it to myself Killian. I was a fool who trusted my king over the word of my brother.”
 
“I could have-“
 
“Stop.”
 
Killian hung his head.
 
“You take on such a burden brother. Sometimes you need to leave other people’s burdens to them. I made the wrong choice that day Killian. Not you. You have to forgive yourself for my death”
 
The sun began to set upon the water as quickly as it had risen.
 
“We had a good life brother. It was a hard life, but we looked out for eachother. I died proud of the man you were that day. Don’t let the weight of your wrong doing hold back the glory of your accomplishments.”
 
“Killian…?” Dr hopper was sitting forward in his chair with a look of concern. “Are you ok?”
 
He sat with quiet tears streaming down his cheeks. He quickly brushed his sleeve across his face.
 
“How do you feel about your brother Killian?”
 
“Like the anchor is being lifted.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Good morning!” Snow said brightly rushing around the kitchen as Neal napped nearby in a bassinet.
 
“Good morning…” Elsa said nervously coming down the stairs to the loft.
 
“We didn’t have the chance to meet last night! I’m Mary Margaret. Or… I’m Snow White. It’s complicated.”
 
“So…what do I call you?” Elsa asked.
 
“It’s…complicated…?” Snow sounded sweetly confused.
 
“We’re back!” Emma came through the door with Henry. “Everything we need for a good-old-fashioned bad guy strategy meeting.” She placed a bag of coffee beans on the counter next to a dozen bagels from Grannys.
 
“Grandpa went to get Belle. Robin is coming with mom. What about-?”
 
“Henry~!” Snow whispered.
 
“We can
talk
about Hook mom.”
 
“Oh…” Mary Margaret trailed off. “Is he…coming…?” She tried to sound casual.
 
“I’m… not sure…” Emma said honestly.
 
There was a knock at the door. Emma cleared her throat of emotion as she went to answer it.
 
“That’ll be Belle and Dav-“
 
She stopped dead. On the other side of the door was Hook. He wore black jeans with a finely pressed collared shirt in a deep navy blue. A dark slate waistcoat a fitting accent beneath a black leather jacket. Unlike the simple work clothes he wore as Cruca, he looked rather like a pirate. Retaining his eyeliner and ostentatious jewelry with a stylish flare.
 
“Killian!” Emma’s chest was light.
 
“Am I early?” He asked.
 
“N-no come in!” Emma stepped aside. “You look-“ She tried desperately to think of a word other than
cool
.
 
“I know.” He smiled coming through the door. “I figured now that I’m settling into Storybrooke as myself and not just Hook or Cruca I may as well look the part.”
 
“Looking good Grandfather! I see you went with the Cuban heels!”
 
“Aye, good suggestion mate. Very similar to me pirate boots.” Killian looked down at his feet.
 
“You knew about this?” Emma raised an eyebrow to her son.
 
“Operation Sharp Dressed Man.” Henry grinned.
 
“ZZ Top, Eliminator, 1983.” Hook listed the album with a smile.
 
Emma let escape a laugh.
 
“May I?” Killian asked sliding past Emma as Mary Margaret tried to cook several things at a time.

He gave himself some distance as he walked around her. Her expression fell slightly at his avoidance. Throwing a towel over his shoulder he took one of the pans from Snow.
 
“Does he seem…different to you…?” Emma asked Henry as she looked in awe at the man who had walked through the door.
 
“Therapy will do that to a guy.” Henry crossed his arms.
 
“Really? He actually went to see Dr Hopper?”
 
“He told me to tell you.” Henry smiled. “He’s got an appointment every day this week.”
 
“Wow. He looks…healthy.”
 
Henry laughed. “Yeah, I’m proud of him too.”
 
“Something smells delicious!” David smiled coming through the door with Belle.
 
“That would be the coffee!!!” Snow hurried about the kitchen as Hook took over the stove.
 
“Killian!” Belle exclaimed rushing past David to embrace him.
 
“Oh!” Hook smiled holding out the pan of eggs at her hug. “Hello Belle. I’m sorry I didn’t come see you.”
Emma’s heart ached as he smiled and placed his left arm around her. 
“I’m just glad you’re here.” She stepped back smiling up at him. “You look good Killian.”
 
“I’m trying.” He said with an air of sadness. Though he flashed a dead eyed grin.
 
“It shows. Is there anything I can do to help?”
 
“I could use a plate?” He shrugged.
 
Emma watched Belle and Hook’s reunion. Bitter that it had gone so much differently than her own.
 
“Mom?” Henry said gently. “Is everything ok?”
 
“Huh? Oh yes. Everything is…fine…”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Thank you all for meeting here.” Emma stood in front of the group.  “There have been new developments in the fight against the snow queen. This is Elsa.” Emma gestured to the newcomer.
 
“Aka, Snow Queen 2.0” Regina sighed.
 
“Now Regina…” Robin chided, though he failed to conceal a smile.
 
“How did we end up with another Snow Queen?” David asked.
 
“I’m not a Snow Queen!” Elsa crossed her arms. “Well…I am a queen…and I can make snow…” she opened her hand.
 
“Elsa wait-!” Hook began.
 
A small flurry started to fall in the apartment.
 
“Hey!” Regina shielded her head from snowflakes. “We didn’t ask for AC!”
 
“Sorry…” Elsa put her hands down and dropped her shoulders, the snow gradually coming to a stop. “I…I don’t have much control over it.
 
“What does having Elsa around mean for the snow queen?” Belle asked.
 
“…Hook?” Emma said gently.
 
“When…when I was working for the Snow Queen, she told me of a prophecy. She’s looking for two sorceresses. She called them her sisters. She wanted me to…” his voice caught in his throat as he looked down.
 
“It’s ok Killian.” Belle placed a hand on his back.
 
“She wanted me to unlock Emma’s power because she believes Emma is one of her sisters. The ribbon marks her.” He pointed to the yellow ribbon, still unremovable from her wrist. “The other sister is Elsa.”
 
“Me? Why me?” Elsa asked.
 
“I don’t know. I’m truly sorry Elsa. I didn’t realize when I brought you here that I was fulfilling the Snow Queens prophecy. I brought you right to her…” He looked down.
 
“It’s not your fault Hook.” Elsa said. “I asked you to bring me here. Even if you had told me of the Snow Queens plan, I probably still would have come looking for Anna.”
 
“So what do we do?” Robin asked. “How do we stop the Snow Queen.
 
“Well, we have Elsa, so long as the Snow Queen doesn’t get her we can at least hold her off.”
 
“G-get me…?” Elsa asked in alarm.
 
“She’s powerful. She has incredible ice powers, and is adept at memory spells. It’s how she kept Hook for as long as she did.” Emma looked up at Belle comforting Killian, feeling an ache in her chest. “This ribbon somehow gives her access to my power and makes her stronger.” Emma glanced at her wrist. “If we can prevent her from accessing your powers…that may just do the trick.”
 
“How did she get to you? How did she access your powers?” Elsa wrang her hands nervously in front of her.
 
“She used me.” Hook answered. “She… had me t-torture Emma until her true powers were unleashed. I got to her through her friends and family.”
 
“But that means… if Anna is here… she could be in danger…” The room grew cold and a small flurry of snowflakes gathered around Elsa.
 
“I’m afraid so.” David said gently. “But we’re going to

help

you Elsa. We have a lot of experience with the Snow Queen. And now that we have Hook back we can learn from her inside man.”
 
“I know you don’t know us very well.” Snow’s expression was sympathetic as she held Neal. “But if you can find it in your heart to trust us, we want to help you Elsa.”
 
“The merry men will keep an eye out for the Snow Queen. Regina has cast a spell around our camp to protect us.” Robin stood.
 
“I’ll get into the ice cream shop. Now that we know that’s who she’s been hiding as maybe we can find some answers.” David also got to his feet.
 
“What can I do?” Hook joined them.
 
“Maybe you can help me?” Belle smiled at him. “I’ve been doing research to see if I can learn more about her spells. You’ve seen more of her magic than anyone.”
 
Hook nodded at her with a sad smile.
 
“I’ll help too.” Emma stepped towards Hook and Belle.
 
“Actually…” Snow put a hand on her daughters shoulder. “I thought you could help us find Anna. I have census records taken during each curse. If we can find out what happened to her, maybe we can prevent the Snow Queen from using her against Elsa.”
 
“Then it’s settled.” Regina crossed her arms.
 
“We’ll meet again to see what progress we’ve made.” David nodded.
 
“Prince David, Princess Snow, thank you for the food and coffee.” Robin bowed gallantly as he and Regina made their way to the door, David close behind them.
 
“Shall we?” Belle asked Hook gesturing to the door. “I thought we could stop at Granny’s on our way to the library. You can tell me about your adventures in Arendel.” She smiled.
 
Hook nodded as they made their way into the hall and down the stairs.
 
“Killian!” Emma stepped out after them, looking down the banister.
 
He looked up. “Yes?”
 
“You…you look good. In your new clothes. It suits you.” She smiled sadly.
 
“I always look good.” He grinned and followed Belle.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma walked back into the apartment with a heavy sigh.
 
“Something wrong?” Elsa asked.
 
“Things are just…so messed up.” Emma put her head in her hands.
 
“How do you mean?” Snow came back from putting Neal to bed.
 
“Killian said…he told me that…”
 
“He broke up with you.” Snow said gently.
 
“What? We weren’t even…” Emma put her head back down. “Yes, I suppose he did break up with me.”
 
“Broke what? Am I missing something…?” Elsa asked confused.
 
“Killian and I never even had time to
be
together. How can we

break up?”

“Oh I see.” Elsa nodded. “You’re infatuated with one another.”
 
“That’s hitting it on the nose.” Snow gave a haughty laugh.
 
“Mom!” Emma objected.
 
“What? You and Hook have been dancing around one another since Neverland! Well…

he’s

been dancing. You were pretty oblivious for a while.” She shrugged.
 
“The only time we had together was right before the Snow Queen attacked…” Emma looked down. “I want him to get what he needs. I want him to get better. But…I miss him.”
 
“Wasn’t he…just here…?” Elsa was confused.
 
“You don’t really get romance do you?” Snow laughed.
 
“I suppose I don’t.” Elsa smiled. “But, when Anna is around I don’t feel afraid. I don’t feel like a monster. I just want my sister to be near me and in my life. Is that what you mean?”
 
“Yes.” Emma closed her eyes. “I just want him in my life.”
 
“So what’s the problem?” Elsa asked. “It doesn’t seem like he’s avoiding you?”
 
“Seeing him be himself…the new clothes, the change in attitude, how he was with Belle… he used to be that way around me.”
 
“He’s been through a lot. It’s honestly amazing he lasted as long as he did before having a breakdown. Give him space to come to terms with it. He just doesn’t want to burden you with his recovery.” Snow placed a gentile hand on her daughters.
 
“But…I WANT him to. I want him to lean on me. I want him to let me help…”
 
“Some things we just have to do on our own Emma. Give him time. He’ll get there.”
 
Emma nodded, but didn’t feel any better.
 
“We’ll get the census records out and start going through them. Why don’t you rest for a while Emma? You’re still healing from your wound.”
 
Emma walked up the stairs to the loft taking off her jacket. She felt exhausted from their meeting, and everything facing them with the Snow Queen. She looked into the mirror on the armoire. The scar upon her chest was still a bright red. She wondered if he had seen it. She wondered how it made him feel. Placing her hand gently on top of it, she tried to concentrate her power to help it heal. The yellow ribbon on her wrist glowed, but the wound remained the same. She sighed and laid down on the bed looking up at the ceiling. She thought of laying with him. Of being in his arms. The way he always held her so that she felt wanted. In the past when they had slept in the barn. In his room after they listened to music just before the spell of shattered sight had taken him over. And in the ice cave as they slowly lost their warmth. She thought of her mothers words. To give him time.
 
Reaching into her pocket she unravel the headphone chord to her iPod (it’s 2015 they have iPods) placing them in her ears she closed her eyes. The bright musical tones of Thomas Dolby’s Golden Age of Wireless were both comforting and melancholy. She wished she knew how to make him feel the way he made her feel when he held her in an embrace. Wanted.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How are you feeling Hook?” Dr Hopper asked.
 
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to people asking me that.” He laughed.
 
“Why?”
 
“I… I guess I feel like people shouldn’t care.”
 
“Why do you say shouldn’t?”
 
“Well, I held YOU captive once. What do you think? Is it odd to care about how I’m feeling?”
 
“You’ve met Marco? Geppetto?”
 
“Aye.”
 
“We have a bond over shared trauma. I wronged him once. I never got over it.”
 
“Never?” Hook asked.
 
“Sometimes trauma isn’t something that goes away. Sometimes we just have to live with it and do our best. But despite my experiences with Geppetto, our friendship has withstood the test of time, curses, and hardship. I’m grateful for him. He knew that I regretted what I did to him. Which in turn has shown me that often what we see as evil is actually desperation. I don’t see you as a bad person who held me hostage Hook. I see you as a man who has been through a lot. And struggles with that trauma.”
 
“That’s… rather big of you.” Killian looked down.
 
“Turns out even the smallest cricket can be the bigger person.” Hopper smiled. “Yesterday we spoke of your brother, Liam, and his death in Neverland.”
 
Killian was surprised to find he hardly flinched at the mention of his brothers death.
 
“That wasn’t the last tragedy you suffered in Neverland was it?” Hopper pressed.
 
“…Rufio…” Hook whispered.
 “He was on that beach in Arendel, when you were at your worst. Why has Rufio stayed with you? All these years?” 
“He was a vision of my future… with Bae. A part of me felt that if I could save him…I could save Bae. But I killed him. To save my own son, I killed him. And then lost Bae that same day.” He put his head in his hand. “Like it was all for nothing.”
 
“Was it for nothing?”
 
“No. I saved Atlanta and Tinkerbell by killing him. But it didn’t make it any easier. It didn’t make me feel any better that I had a good reason.”
 
“You didn’t put yourself in that situation Killian. Pan did.”
 
“I know.” He sighed.
 
“Tell me about Rufio.”
 
“He was a lot like Bae. Perhaps that why they hated eachother. Rufio was so brave. He was about the same age that Bae was…when I lost him…”
 
“And when you knew Rufio… how old was Baelfire?”
 
“He was grown… he had become his own man.”
 
“You never got that time with him.”
 
“It was my own fault. I lost Bae the day his mother died because I couldn’t hold back my rage. Bae begged me to go, but I was so blinded by losing her… I lost Bae too.”
 
“Is that why Rufio was so important to you?”
 
“Baelfire lost his family. He was a lost boy just like Rufio. But Bae had so much rage, and Rufio had this… whimsy.”
 
“You saw him as a young boy.”
 
“Rufio was in service to pan, but he always managed to have fun. Like it was all a game to him. Calling names, leaping off trees and masts as though he could fly.  Sword fighting with a bright smile on his face.” Hook looked down, his voice caught in his throat. “He didn’t deserve to die like that…”
 
“So many people have told you his death wasn’t your fault. Why is it so hard for you to let Rufio go?”
 
“Have you ever killed someone?” He looked at the doctor.
 
“I…” Hopper looked shocked. “I may as well have…”
 
“Then you know why it’s so hard to let go.”
 
“We can find forgiveness through people Hook. Like I did with Marco.”
 
“When…when we were in Neverland, Emma said I was manipulative. For not really telling her what happened with Rufio.”
 
“What did you tell her?”
 
“That I killed a lost boy who trusted me. That I betrayed him and stabbed him in the heart.”
 
“Is that what happened with Rufio?”
 
“Yes! And yet… it’s not the whole story.” He looked away.
 
“Why do you think she was angry to find out what really happened?”
 
“Emma says I look for people to blame me for my actions. When I can no longer blame myself.”
 
“Do you think that’s true?”
 
“Perhaps. I…I don’t do it on purpose. Or at least, I don’t realize I’m doing it. Not until Emma started pointing it out.”
 
“Why do you think you do it?”
 
“When we were in Neverland… Baelfire was so upset with me. He hit me across the face and blamed me for Rufio…”
 
“Is that what you wanted?”
 
“Yes. I wanted the blame. I wanted the pain I felt on the inside to be on the outside. I couldn’t contain it anymore.” His breathing became rapid. “I wronged Rufio. I wronged my son! And when Baelfire blamed me for it, when he hit me. I got to ignore the pain inside me.”
 
“Take a deep breath Hook.”
 
“He hit me again, and again, and for a moment when I was on the ground bleeding I felt like I was doing the right thing. Finally being punished for what I had done. I wanted him to keep hitting me until there was nothing LEFT!!!” The silence after his outburst rang through the office. “But Emma said something strange… she said that was easy.”
 
“Easy to let your son punch you in the face?”
 
“Emma said… physical pain was easy for me. But not emotional pain. And I think that’s why it’s easier to let people blame me. Hate me. Hurt me.”
 
“You feel like you deserve it.”
 
“Yes.”
 
“That’s a heavy burden to bear Hook.”
 
“Burden to bear…?” Killian closed his eyes and shook his head.
 
“That’s what you told Tink. Remember? Old man Hook?”
 
Killian turned to see Rufio standing on the Jolly Rodger at dawn. Feet apart, fists on his hips. A confident smile on his face.
 
“Hey there Captain Cry Baby.” The boy laughed.
 
“R-Rufio…” Killian breathed.
 
“You’ve put a lot of strain on yourself Hook. Taken on a lot of burdens.”
 
“I… I don’t know how to let go…”
 
“I know the feeling.” Rufio smiled jumping up on the rail and hanging from a rope to lean over the sea. “I couldn’t let go of my responsibility to protect the lost boys. And…I was so scared to leave Neverland. I didn’t want to grow up. I guess now I never have to.” He pulled himself back into the rail and crouched on the edge.
 
“When Pan told me to kill you, I was so determined that I would defy him. I never wanted any harm to come to you. You said you wished you had a father like me. I failed you.” He looked down.
 
“No. You misunderstood me.”
 
“What?” Killian looked up at the boy.
 
Rufio sighed and hung his leg off the rail. Swinging it back and forth as he looked out at the horizon. “I had my own dad you know. Boys don’t end up in Neverland because their parents are attentive. I didn’t want you to be my new dad. I wished my dad was like you. Then maybe… maybe I would have wanted to
 grow up. But Baelfire always knew you were there for him. And he spent years looking for you. Fighting me. And I couldn’t help but wonder… what’s it like to have a dad like that?”
 
“Baelfire didn’t have a father like that either. I’ve forgiven myself for his death. But…not for the hardships I’ve caused him in life.”
 
“Could have been worse.” Rufio leapt off the rail. “You could have abandoned him. Like your father. Like my dad. But you didn’t. And he knew that. He always knew that.”
 
“Not being as bad as my father doesn’t make me feel better.”
 
“Did laying me to rest?”
 
Killian froze.
 
“I know that was difficult for you. Finding my corpse. But she was there. Emma. She helped you. Kicked your ass a little too. And it was almost enough.”
 
Killian smiled and gave out a breath of laughter. “Almost.”
 
“You still tried to punish yourself. Locked away with Pan inside Pandora’s box. As if you were as bad as he was.”
 
Killians hand closed around the pearl on his neck.
 
“You felt like you deserved to be in there didn’t you?”
 
“I did.”
 
“Captain Cry Baby! Captain Cry Baby!” Rufio sang.
 
“What would you have me do?!? Pan needed to be stopped! I wasn’t going to let him hurt my son or my grandson!”
 
“There’s the pirate I knew.” He smiled. “You torture yourself, but in the end, you want what’s best for the people you love. Do you really think that’s not good enough? When you went mad your son did the hardest thing he ever had to do. He sent you off to sea to cure you. And then when he knew he was dying, he sent you to Emma. He wanted you to be happy. Maybe to honor him, you should DO that!”
 
Rufio snatched the pearl from around his neck and ran up the stairs to the navigation deck.
 
“Hey! I need that!” Killian ran up the steps behind him.
 
Rufio turned. The sun began to set upon the water as quickly as it had risen.
 
“You don’t need it Hook. You haven’t needed it for some time now. You have people who care about you and want to lift your burdens. You just have to let them. You’ve known the pain for so long it may be frightening to let it go. But you can

heal

Hook.” Rufio held out his hand and gave him back the pearl.
 
Killian slowly took it.
 
“I’m sorry Rufio.”
 
“It’s ok Hook. You had no choice.” He smiled as the sun went down behind him.
 
Killian opened his eyes. He looked down at his hand, clutching Calypso’s pearl.
 
“What do you think Hook? Can you let go of that burden?”
 
“Maybe I can… maybe I can heal.” He stood and made his way towards the door.
 
“I’ll see you tomorrow Killian.” Dr Hopper said in his gentle voice.
 
“Dr Hopper?” He turned at the door.
 
“Yes?”
 
“For what it’s worth. I’m sorry. For kidnapping you.” He met the doctors eyes with sincere remorse.
 
Jimminy smiled. “I forgive you Killian.”
 
Walking out into the hall Hook saw Ariel waiting outside.
 
“Oh.” She said as he stepped out.
 
“I never expected to find you here.” She looked down at her lap.
 
“Neither did I.” He laughed and scratched his head. “Are you seeing Dr Hopper?”
 
“Yes.” She sighed. “Turns out… maybe I haven’t dealt with Eric’s death.” She fidgeted with her hands.
 
“Well, it seems like you’re on your way. Good luck.” He walked towards the stairs and then stopped. “Ariel? Why…why don’t you take this. It was once a great comfort to me. Maybe it can be for you too.”
 
He handed her Calypso’s pearl. She gazed into it and saw a Long Beach below a seaside kingdom. With tears in her eyes she looked up.
 
“Thank you Hook.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma walked into Granny’s. Looking up she saw Killian picking up a drink carrier with his hook. She froze in place. Unsure if she should leave or say hello. He turned to the door and saw her.
 
“Emma!” He flashed a bright smile.
 
“H-hi…” She returned his expression awkwardly.
 
“I was just about to meet Belle at the library.”
 
“Oh… well, don’t let me keep you… I’m sure

Belle

is waiting.”
 
“Would you like to join me? You could get your hot cocoa to go?” His gentle blue eyes were inviting.
 
“Sure.” She felt herself easing back in to being around him.
 
“How’s the search for Anna coming?”
 
“We haven’t found anything so far…” Emma looked down at the street as they slowly made their way towards the library. “I don’t think we will.”
 
“Why do you say that?”
 
“The Snow Queen is clever.”
 
“Aye.” He clenched his jaw.
 
“How’s the research coming?” She asked looking down at the sidewalk.
 
“Rather well actually. We’ve found several myths of snow queens in history and fiction. As well and more information on ice spells. Belle is quite brilliant at finding a new angle to research. Just as I think we’ve hit a dead end she finds a new angle and we’re back on track!” He laughed.
 
Emma scowled. “Well I’m glad you two are having

fun

.” She said sarcastically. “You certainly don’t need me around.”
 
“Emma?” He stopped in front of the pharmacy.
 
“Sorry… that was… bitchy. I’m sure you’re doing a great job.” She turned to walk away.
 
“Emma wait.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
 
“I…I know you’re friends with Belle. But…

we

used to be friends too.”
 
“Are you saying you miss me?” He smiled.
 
“Of… of

course

I miss you.” She looked at him stunned. “Killian, no matter what feelings we had for each other… you were my best friend. That’s who you’ve always been to me. As Cruca, as Hook, and now as Killian. When you were under the Snow Queens control, you were right in front of me, but somehow so far away. And now you’re here but you’re just out of reach.” She raised her hand to touch his face.
 
He clenched his jaw and stepped backward with a gasp of breath.
 
Emma looked down, withdrawing her hand. “Just out of reach.”
 
“I’m sorry Emma. I don’t meant to-“
 
“Hello Captain.”
 
Emma and Killian turned suddenly to see the Snow Queen standing in the middle of the street. Killian Stepped back. The drinks he was holding falling to the cement as his back hit the wall.
 
“Stay back!” Emma took a step forward. “Don’t come any closer! Killian close your eyes!”
 
“What? You think the spell of shattered sight will

work

on him again?” The Snow Queen laughed. “It never
properly
worked on him anyway.”
 
“Killian? Are you alright?” Emma asked over her shoulder.
 
“I…I don’t have my cutlass…” he breathed, the pharmacy wall behind him.
 
“That’s not like you.”
 
“It clashed with the jeans.” He said sarcastically, though he still had fear in his voice.
 
“Not to worry. He

served

my purpose. He brought my sister from another land just as he was meant to. I’m sorry he had to harm you to do it though. How are you healing Emma?” The Snow Queen asked gently.
 
“What do you want?” Emma drew her gun.
 
“I came to ask how Elsa was settling in? She must have been so anxious to create that ice wall.
 
“Stay away from her!” Killian took a step forward.
 
Emma held out a hand to stop the unarmed pirate.
 
“So hostile Captain. And after you did such good work for me. You got me Emma.” She smiled looking at the yellow ribbon on her own wrist.
 
Emma glanced down at the pair on hers.
 
“I would never have helped you by choice.” Hook breathed.
 
“You can’t fight fate Captain. You were always going to be the dark soul that helped me. And now that Elsa is here my plan is coming together.”
 
“We’re going to stop you.” Emma raised her gun.
 
“No. You’re going to

love

me.” The Snow Queens expression was gentile and her voice quiet as always. “Keep at your research. What you find may surprise you.”
 
She disappeared and in flurry of snow, appearing again between Hook and Emma. Killian pressed his back to the wall once more, feeling a tightness in his chest as his breathing became quick and sharp.
 
“You know Captain, you’re always welcome to

come back

and work for me.” She reached out a hand to touch his cheek, her cold skin sending a chill down his spine as he tried to stay as far from her as possible. “You were so
ruthless
and
cunning
. Do you really think your friends will

ever

accept you back?” The Queen whispered.
 
“That’s enough out of you!” Emma grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her so they were face to face. “You touch him again and I’ll

end

you!”
 
“Your magic is no match for mine Emma. Not since I have access to your power.” She held up her wrist.
 
“Who said anything about

magic?

” Emma pulled back her fist and struck the Snow Queen across the face.
 
She looked up in shock, holding her cheek where her lip bled.
 
“Let’s go blondie.

You

and

me

.” Emma stepped back raising her fists.
 
“Not today Emma.” The Snow Queen said angrily.
 
She raised her hand and disappeared in a flurry once more. Emma looked around the street to make sure she was gone.
 
“

Ah

…” Killian held his chest and slowly fell to a knee.
 
“Hook!” Emma dropped to her knees. “Are you ok?”
 
“I thought I was
done
with these bloody panic attacks…” he sighed clenching his eyes.
 
“It’s not every day you have to look your abuser in the face.” She smiled sadly.
 
“Maybe not for most people…” he glanced over at the pawn shop. “But I thought I’d be used to it by now.”
 
“Killian… I’m sorry to be so…

abrasive

. You’re going through a lot and I want to support you. I feel like I should do better.”
 
“You don’t have to apologize to me Emma. You don’t ever have to apologize.” He shook his head. “Thank you. For what you did just now. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here.”
 
“Then why are you keeping me away?” She asked with a catch in her voice.
 
“I…” he glanced into her eyes, then quickly looked away. “I should probably go get my cutlass.”
 
She helped him to his feet. They walked slowly towards the harbor. The silence was painful.
 
“I want to give you space Killian… but, I’ve never felt more alone.” She finally found her voice as they arrived at the Jolly Rodger.
 
“Alone? Why would you feel alone?” He asked.
 
“You

broke up

with me idiot! How am so

supposed

to feel?!?”
 
“Broke up-?” He turned with a look of shock.
 
“For lack of a better word…” she sighed.
 
“Since the Snow Queen’s spell was broken, I have been trying so hard not to hurt you.” He laughed sadly. “And I

still

hurt you.”
 
“I don’t need you to protect me Killian.” She looked down at her right fist. Bruised from punching the Snow Queen.
 
“No.” He smiled. “You don’t.”
 
“But… I still

need

you. The time we had together was so short. And now it’s

gone

.”
 
He looked down. “It’s not gone.”
 
“It’s not?” She looked up.
 
He raised his eyes to look at her and then held up his hand, his pinky extended. With a sad smile she locked her pinky around his.
 
“Go get your sword. I’ll wait here and walk with you to the library.”
 
He walked up the ramp to the Jolly Rodger.
 
“Killian?”
 
He turned.
 
“Henry says he’s proud of you. And no matter how long it takes… no matter how long you remain out of reach… I’m proud of you too.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

After a long day going through the census books Emma sighed heavily, walking in to Granny’s for a well earned grilled cheese.
 
“Emma!!! Good! You came!” Little John rushed to her side. “We were hoping you’d make it!”
 
“Came to what? What’s going on?”
 
“Didn’t you get my voicemail?” Leroy asked. “We’re having a party! Little John is out of the hospital, they just repainted the clock tower and replaced the windows on the pharmacy. And you punched the Snow Queen in the face!”
 
Leroy pulled a string to reveal a large banner showing a grainy photo of Emma following through on her punch.
 
“Wha-? How did you-?”
 
“Security camera across the street at the pharmacy caught the whole thing!

Atchoo-!

” Clark sneezed.
 
Emma couldn’t help but smile. “Do you think I could get a copy?”
 
The doorbell rang, everyone turned to see who had arrived. A hush fell over the group. Killian and Belle stood in the doorway.
 
“Did I miss something?” Belle asked. “Are we having a party?”
 
“We are. But HE’S not!” Leroy pointed at Hook.
 
“Yeah!” Sneezy held his handkerchief to his nose. “We’re celebrating undoing all his damage! My pharmacy was closed for a week because of you!”
 
“I…” Killian looked shocked. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I’ll grab my food and be on my way.”
 
He put his head down and walked towards the counter where a sympathetic Ruby had his order.
 
“Shut it Leroy!” Emma said angrily. “You’re not always the greatest person to be around you know!”
 
“Yeah but I never

killed

anyone! Why should we accept him back with open arms? Why should we accept him at all? Fat lot of good he’s done for the town!”
 
“Leroy!” Belle chided.
 
Emma grabbed him by the collar and dragged him up to her face.
 
“I punched the Snow Queen in the mouth today. You really want to get on my bad side?”
 
Killian hurried to the door with a grease stained bag in his hand. Making his way quickly through the crowd of angry townsfolk he drew close to the exit. He kept his eyes down until he bumped into someone.
 
There was a crash as little Johns drink shattered to the ground. The large man looked at Killian and shook with fear. The Captains eyes went wide as the manifestation of his worst self looked back at him. The bag in his hand fell to the floor as he quickly pushed past his victim and out into the street.
 
“Killian wait!” Belle ran after him. She turned at the door. “You should all be

ashamed

of yourselves!”
 
As soon as she left, people began to speak and mill about again as though they’d never come in. Emma felt a rage rising inside her. She stepped up onto a stool then onto the counter.
 
“LISTEN UP BECAUSE I AM ONLY GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE!!!” The silence after her voice was deafening. “No one will be laying anymore blame upon the former enemies of this town! Storybrooke is a place for second chances! We don’t make villains here! We show them the path to good! The Evil Queen and Captain Hook are reformed! And if you have a problem with them being a part of this town? Take it up with me.” She stood in front of the banner of her and the Snow Queen.
 
“Well said Emma.” Ruby smiled as she stepped off the counter.
 
“You may be the sheriff but you can’t tell us what to do.” Leroy crossed his arms.
 
“Fine. For you Leroy, let me put it this way. Hook and Regina were some of the most feared villains before I came to this town. If your bad attitude turns them back into what they once were? You won’t have a sheriff to protect you. Got it?”
 
He slowly uncrossed his arms. “Got it.”
 
“Enjoy your party.” Emma said bitterly walking toward the door, picking up the bag Hook had dropped.
 
She rushed down the street towards the harbor. She saw a light on aboard the Jolly Rodger and made her way up on deck. She froze when she saw Belle and Killian sitting along the rail. A pang of envy in her chest to see them.
 
“It’s alright Killian. Fear makes people do terrible things. Give them some time.” She placed a gentile hand on his back.
 
“You didn’t see the look in his eyes… I feel like a monster.” He put his head in his hand.
 
“You’re working on yourself Killian. That’s all anyone can ask for.”
 
“They can ask for my head.” He laughed. “I can’t say I’d blame them.”
 
“Don’t worry I put the kibosh on that.” Emma came up the deck.
 
“Emma…” Hook turned slowly.
 
“I’m sorry that happened Killian.”
 
“You don’t have to be here Emma… that party was for you.” He turned away. “I saw the banner.”
 
“Nah. That party wasn’t for me. I have a preferred guest list. And let’s just say you’re on it and Leroy is NOT.” She laughed. “I brought you your food. You know there’s like… 3 different kinds of Jello in here?”
 
“There, you see Killian? Your favorite.” Belle smiled.
 
“Your…favorite?” Emma asked.
 
“Oh, was that a secret? I thought everyone knew you liked Jello.”
 
Emma let escape a laugh.
 
“It WAS sort of a secret…” Killian sighed.
 
“Oh. Sorry~!” Belle whispered slipping off the rail next to him and excusing herself to the lower deck.
 
“So…what other secrets are you keeping from me? Are you going bald?”
 
“Me hair is thick as a mooring rope thank you.” He said adamantly.
 
“Woah. Touched a nerve.” She laughed sliding onto the rail next to him. “How are you doing?”
 
“Better than I’ve been.” He sighed.
 
“Therapy is really doing you some good huh?”
 
He hung his head. “Seeing the Snow Queen today… and seeing little Johns face when he looked at me… I want to drink until I pass out.”
 
“How about some Jello instead?” She opened the bag. “How long have you been addicted to the jiggly?” She gently shook the bowl in her hand watching the red gelatin move.
 
He laughed reaching for the spoon. “Since I got hit by that car.” He took a bite.
 
“Just when I think I know everything about you

Killian Jones

.” Emma took the spoon from him, taking her own bite.
 
“It would take a lifetime to learn
everything
about me,

Emma Swan

.” He smiled taking back the spoon.
 
“I think I could spare a lifetime.” She smiled as they took turns finishing the bowl.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Rumple! I’m home! I- what’s this?” Belle asked in surprise as she walked in to find a rather expensive, rather large suitcase waiting for her.
 
“A surprise.” Rumple smiled.
 
“Are we going somewhere?” She smiled brightly.
 
“I thought we could take a little trip. We haven’t been on our honeymoon, so I thought I’d plan one. What do you say to a trip to New York? We can see the museums, take a carriage through the park, spend as long as you’d like in the library.”
 
“Oh Rumple! That sounds incredible! But… I can’t leave now… even if you could find a way around the Snow Queens barricade, I can’t leave my friends to that witch… not after what she did to Killian.” She looked down.
 
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with the pirate lately.” Rumple didn’t try to hide his ire.
 
“There’s no need to be upset.” She smiled. “You know there’s nothing between Killian and I! Besides, he’s heart broken over Emma right now.”
 
“It’s hard not to be jealous when I have such a lovely wife.” He took her hands. “Perhaps you can spend a little more time with me? I miss you.”
 
“I miss you too!” She stepped in close. “I can absolutely make more time for you.” Belle smiled brightly.
 
Rumple looked over her shoulder and saw the Snow Queen. He raised his hand and Belle was stopped in place.
 
“You’d better have a good reason for being here.” Rumple said through his teeth.
 
“I may need your help.” She sighed.
 
“You know how this works dearie. You don’t get something for nothing.”
 
“Oh, I’m giving you something. Have your forgotten this?”
 
She held out her hand and a round box appeared. Still frozen by her magic, but visible beneath the ice. Encrusted in gold with shimmering stars dotted across the lid.
 
“What do you need?” Rumple reached out for the box. His eyes wide with greed.
 
“A locator spell.” She withdrew the prize.
 
“That hardly seems outside your purview.”
 
“Not just any locator spell. I’m looking for the troll glass.” She turned away.
 
“I see.” Rumple smiled. “So you don’t have enough to cast the spell again.”
 
“I have plenty to cast the spell again. But not at the scope I’m hoping for.”
 
“You intend to reach the entire town.”
 
“I believe you’re familiar with my plan.” She nodded. “The remaining pieces of the the troll glass are in storybrooke. I just have to find them.”
 
“If I help you find the remaining fragments…you’ll give me the box?” He pointed to her hand.
 
“I’ll give you something better.You need more to access its power. There is a reason all other Dark Ones before you have failed.”
 
“And you know? How I can succeed?”
 
“Of course. It’s a matter of a simple final ingredient.” She smiled.
 
“I’m guessing I won’t get the box until your plan is complete…” He kept his eyes on the frozen artifact.
 
The Snow Queen smirked and slowly nodded her head.
 
“And our arrangement? That my wife and grandson will not be harmed?” Rumple looked up.
 
“Remains intact. However, in order to get the final piece of your puzzle, I first need both my sisters and all the pieces of the glass.” She pulled back the box.
 
“Very well. I shall prepare the spell for you.” Rumple grinned with an impish giggle.
 
“You shall get you ingredient when I get my spell.”
 
Rumple scowled. “I’ll need a piece of the mirror.”
 
She reached to her Snow Flake necklace and removed a shard of glass from the center. “A piece, from the Captains eye.”
 
Rumple turned and opened his safe removing a small bottle. He placed the shard inside, spinning its contents gently. It reacted. The bottle developing a thin layer of frost before becoming a shimmering silver color.
 
“Pour this on your jewel and it will lead you to the other fragments.” He pointed to her necklace. “Now. My ingredient?” He handed her the bottle.
 
The Snow Queen smiled and leaned in whispering in his ear.
 
“I see…” He gave a low quiet laugh. “No wonder Dark One’s before me could not complete the ritual.”
 
“But you can?” She asked.
 
“As it so happens I have just the person in mind. Did you ever doubt me Ingrid?”
 
“I ought to have learned not to.”
 
“I will have the box. And I will sever my ties to the dagger. I shall be the first Dark One to retain my power and autonomy.”
 
“Then we have an agreement.”
 
“That we do dearie.” He giggled. His voice becoming again like his other world persona. “That we do.”
 
Ingrid waved her hand a disappeared in a flurry of snowflakes. Rumple took his place once more in front of his wife. Glancing over her shoulder to be certain they were alone before removing the spell and letting her move again. Belle blinked and then glanced over her shoulder where he was looking.
 
“What is it?” She asked.
 
“Nothing dear. I thought I saw a customer.” He adjusted his demeanor to suit his wife.
 
“I’ll make more time for you Rumple.” She gave him a look of sympathy. “Thank you for your patience. I know you and Killian don’t like eachother. But I’m grateful for your understanding.” She locked him in a tight embrace.
 
“I may not like the pirate, but if having him as a friend is important to you, I will be supportive.” His smiled was gentile and caring.
 
“I love you Rumple.” She kissed him sweetly.
 
“And I love you Belle.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How are you Killian?” Dr hopper asked.
 
Hook sighed and leaned his head back against the couch.
 
“Recovery isn’t easy.” Archie smiled. “But I think at this point you’ll agree that it’s worth it.”
 
“I… I suppose I would.” He looked away.
 
“Not to pry, but I saw what happened at the party the other night. Would you like to talk about it? Leroy has a way of getting to people…”
 
“It wasn’t him. It was Little John.” He closed his eyes putting his hand upon his forehead.
 
“What about Little John got to you?” The doctor asked gently.
 
“The way he looked at me. With fear. With absolute terror. I certainly can’t blame the man. He was hospitalized for days because of me…”
 
“It’s good that you can understand where he is coming from. Little John does have a right to his reaction. But why do you blame yourself when you were under the snow queens control?”
 
Killian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His fingers tracing the edge of his hook.
 
“What if I wasn’t?” He asked in a low voice.
 
“Killian, I know you were under two very powerful enchantments during your time with the Snow Queen.”
 
“I remember. I didn’t know who Emma was, sure, but the spell of shattered sight didn’t affect me before I forgot her. That man I was… a man without a reason to live… he’s me. He’s who I am.”
 
“Why do you say that?”
 
“Because I remember my life before Milah. My time in Arendel was a reminder of my early days. And that man was not under any spell.”
 
“It’s not always who we were Killian. It’s who we can become. The man in front of me has chosen to be better. Give yourself credit for that. Milah may have been the
reason
you changed. But you
changed!
Look at what you accomplished Killian. You became a devoted father. And you were devoted to Milah as well werent you? Why was she on that beach with you in Arendel?”
 
“Because I always wondered what it would have happened…” He closed his eyes. “If I hadn’t taken her away from the crocodile. I wonder if she would still be alive?”
 
“You think if she had lived, it somehow makes her death your fault?”
 
Baelfire stood on the Jolly Rodger at dawn. The sun rising over the water. He wore his modern clothes. Casual and comfortable, a simple grey tshirt under a button down shirt.
 
“Do you really think she would have preferred that?” Neal placed his hands in his pockets, his shoulders rolled forward.
 
Killian couldn’t help but smile. “No. I’m sure she wouldn’t have. She was always an adventurer, your mother.”
 
“And you loved that about her.” He grinned.
 
“I loved everything about her. You and I never shared blood. But I never hesitated to see you as my son… because I loved her. And you were blood related to her. That was enough for me. It’s all I ever needed to call you my own. When you died… I lost the last piece of that love that I had left.”
 
“She helped you forgive yourself for my death. I’m here so you can forgive yourself for hers.”
 
Killian felt an ache in his chest.
 
“Father…you said it yourself. She would have followed you no matter what. She was never meant to live the life that my papa had planned for her. You saw that as much as she did. It’s why you took her away that day.”
 
“Her wild spirit.”  Killian smiled sadly.
 
“You hated the Dark One as much as I did for what happened to her. But when it comes to revenge… it’s just another way you torture yourself.”
 
“Torture myself?” He asked in shock.
 
“Revenge is pain Killian. You follow it to your own detriment, and take it on like a punishment. Who are you getting revenge for? Why would your loved ones ever want you to subject yourself to that?”
 
“I hadn’t thought of it in that way.” He looked out over the water.
 
“Moms life, and my life, they were good. They were better because of you. And we loved you as much as you loved us.” Neal placed a hand on his fathers shoulder.
 
“I was always proud of you Bae.”
 
“And I was proud to be the son of a pirate.”
 
The sun began to set as quickly as it had risen. Balefire was a dark silhouette against the warm orange sky behind him.
 
“One more thing father.” His voice carried like an echo. “You can be a good man without forgetting who you are. You once taught me of having a code. So remember your code. But you’re a pirate. Start acting like one.”
 
Hooks eyes snapped open.
 
“Killian?” Dr Hopper asked. “Is everything alright?”
 
“Aye.” He grinned. “I feel… better.”
 
“Well that’s some good progress!” Hopper marveled.
 
The sound of screams echoed out in the street. Hopper grabbed the arms of his chair in alarm as Hook stood and rushed to look out the window.
 
“What is it?” Hopper asked in fear. “What’s going on?”
 
“The Snow Queen. She’s back.” He glanced down into the road.
 
“Wh-what do we do???”
 
“You stay here.” Killian drew his cutlas, a glimmer of adventure in his eye. “This is a job for a pirate.”
 
He rushed out the door and onto the street.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Regina walked nervously into the dinner. She glanced around until she saw Marian sitting at a booth. She nervously approached. Her hands in front of her as she waited for her to look up.
 
“Hello Regina.” Marian said with an awkward smile.
 
“T-thank you for meeting me.” She looked at the ground. Standing for a good long while.
 
“A-are you going to join me…?” Marian asked confused gesturing to the seat across from her.
 
“Y-yes. I’m sorry I… I don’t entirely know how to act around you.” Regina sat rigidly.
 
“If you had told me a year ago that I would be making the Evil Queen nervous I would have laughed.” Marian smiled.
 
“So would I.” Regina admitted.
 
“What did you want to talk about?” She asked.
 
“I… I actually wanted to give you some things.” Regina placed a folder on the table.
 
“What’s this?” Marian opened it to find children’s drawings and paintings.
 
“Some things of Rowlands. I thought you may like to have them. These are drawings he did at my house. Look, this one is of you. He thought of you even before you came back.” Regina smiled to see the artwork.
 
“This…” Marian eagerly paged through the folder. “This is amazing! You kept all this?” She looked up in surprise.
 
“Of course! I have a folder at my house just like it of Henry’s things.” Regina let slip a genuine smiled of unbridled happiness. “Several actually.”
 
“Wow. Regina you’re… a wonderful mother.” Marian returned the expression.
 
“Thank you Marian.” Regina said with grateful surprise. “I also brought you this.” She placed a picture on the table.
 
“Rowland!” Marian smiled at it. “This is a photo-graphic?”
 
“A photograph yes. I have a million of Henry. This was from when I taught Robin to use the camera. He could not stop taking pictures of his boy.”  She laughed.
 
“Sounds like Robin!”
 
“Yes, I decided that day that I would wait to show him how to use the camcorder.” She said quietly. “Here I brought you all the photos he took.” She handed her an envelope. “That was just my favorite one.”
 
“Regina you’re…not at all who I would have expected you to be. And I mean that as a compliment.”
 
“For what it’s worth, Marian, you’ve surprised me as well. I’ve never seen such strength in a person before.” Regina glanced down.
 
“Thank you Regina. And I’m glad that Rowland can have someone like you in his life.”
 
Regina let out a breath of happy relief. “So… you don’t mind…? If I spend time with Rowland?”
 
“Again, if you’d asked me a year ago if I would leave my child with the Evil Queen…?” Marian smiled. “But… you’re not.”
 
“Not…?” Regina asked.
 
“Evil.”
 
Regina wore a look of pure shock. Tears threatened to fall from her lashes. She looked up and took a deep breath, hoping the rush of emotion would pass. She welcomed a distraction. But then she heard the screams.
 
“What’s going on?!?” Marian looked out the window.
 
“The Snow Queen.” Regina said through her teeth. “She’s back.”
 
*****
 
Emma walked into the library. Belle was shelving books at the end of the hall.
 
“Oh! Emma! I’m glad you’re here!” She placed the books she was holding on the shelf and made her way to the front.
 
“Is… Killian here…?” Emma asked trying to look casual as she glanced around.
 
“He’s at Dr Hoppers for his session. It’s really doing wonders for him. Isn’t it incredible he doesn’t need Calypso’s pearl anymore?”
 
“He…he doesn’t…?” Emma asked in shock.
 
“No, recently he has been perfectly fine without it. I thought you knew…?”
 
“Well I DON’T ok?!? He doesn’t

tell

me things anymore! He tells

you!

And

Jimminie Cricket!

” Emma snapped at the librarian.
 
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Belle asked.
 
“You knew he got rid of his pearl… You knew he liked Jello… when he got back from Arendel you got a hug. I got…

dumped

.”
 
“Emma are you jealous of me?” Belle couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You know I’m married to his nemesis right?”
 
“Yes. But… it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I had finally let myself care about him.

Really

care… and then as fast as I had him I lost him.” She sat heavily in a chair. Her shoulders hanging in a limp pout.
 
“I know a thing or two about losing someone you…

really care

… about.” Belle sat opposite her. “When Rumple died… I felt so lost. But Killian isn’t dead. He’s just working on himself.”
 
“Why does he have to do it

without

me?” She asked.
 
“Maybe you should ask him?” Belle suggested.
 
“Everyone keeps saying he needs

time

…”
 
“Time, yes. He needs time. But I don’t know that he doesn’t want you

around

. He just touched a great evil. I think he’s worried it hasn’t left him.”
 
“You should have seen him when the Snow Queen appeared the other day… the only time I’ve seen him so scared of someone was…” Emma glanced at Belle then looked away. “Well… in the past. With the Dark One. He even left his cutlass on his ship!”
 
“Ah yes. He told me about that.” Belle sighed.
 
Emma looked up at her bitterly.
 
“Sorry.” Belle said awkwardly seeing the jealousy in her eyes once more.
 
“What did he say?” Emma asked gently.
 
Belle bit her lip and glanced at the door.
 
“I shouldn’t ask about private conversations…” Emma looked down.
 
“He said he was worried the people in town would see him as he

was!”

Belle blurted out.
 
“What?” Emma asked in shock.
 
“He said he thought if he carried his cutlass people would see him as the man who terrorized the town. It’s… it’s also why he changed his clothes…”
 
“Well you just know

all

his deepest thoughts don’t you?” Emma said sarcastically.
 
“Emma.” Belle sighed. “Married to Rumplestiltskin.” Belle brandished the ring on her finger.
 
“Sorry!” Emma put her head in her hands. “It’s like I can’t help it! It comes out as bitchy but the truth is…”
 
“You miss him.” Belle smiled at her sympathetically.
 
“
So much
.” She sighed. “I never knew I

could

miss someone this much.”
 
“Well, I have something that could cheer you up!” She smiled. “I found a book with details about the spell of shattered sight. We’re translating it. It’s slow going but I think once we know more about her magic we will be able to figure out her plan.”
 
“That’s amazing Belle.” Emma smiled. “Good work.”
 
They heard screams out in the street and saw flashes of magic through the window.
 
“What’s that?!?” Belle stood.
 
“Trouble.” Emma stood and reached for her gun.
 
Belle rushed behind the library counter and came back with a baseball bat.
 
“Where’d you get that?”
 
“I put it back here after Hook chased me through the library.” Belle sighed.
 
“A wooden bat? You know he has a sword right?”
 
“It was the only thing I could find at the shop that wasn’t

enchanted

.” Belle shrugged.
 
“Alright,

league of their own

it is.” Emma smiled as the two of them rushed into the street.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian ran out onto the street looking around as people screamed and ran for their lives. Running through the town were snarling ice-pirates. Swords drawn, chasing people from homes and buildings He quickly grabbed his sword drawing it.
 
“Hook!” Leroy shouted upon seeing him. “It’s Captain Hook! He’s back! He’s terrorizing the town!”
 
An ice pirate stepped up behind him and shoved him to the ground. The toothless attacker raised his icy blade, then fell into a pile of ice as Killian’s cutlas sliced through him. He stood above Leroy, looking down at him with a sharp and steely stare.
 
“Y-you’re not commanding them?” He asked.
 
“No, I’m not.” Killian sighed sheathing his cutlass and offering his hand to the fallen dwarf.
 
“T-thanks.” Leroy took his hand and began to get up.
 
Hook let go and he fell back to the ground.
 
“Sorry mate. Couldn’t resist.” He grinned, turning he drew his sword once more.
 
The ice pirates were easy enough to dispatch with. Killian took down several in no time flat. Before long he began to feel like his old self again.
 
“The Snow Queen is here!!! Everybody RUN!!!” Leroy shouted sprinting down the street.
 
Hook turned to see the statuesque woman in a white gown surrounded by pirates. The sight of her still filled him with fear. But he swallowed the catch in his throat and stepped forward.
 
“Hello Captain. How nice to see you again. You’re looking like your old self. Have you considered my offer? Would you like to come back to work for me?” Her voice was smooth and quiet among the screams.
 
“Never.” He said through his teeth.
 
“That’s a shame captain. It seems such a waste to kill you.” She raised her hand.
 
Killian took a step back to prepare for an attack.
 
“Hey! There’s only room for one Queen in this town! And that’s ME!” Regina loosed a fireball, turning the Snow Queens attention from Hook to her.
 
“Your magic is nothing compared to mine!” She stepped forward and held out a hand to Regina.
 
She was lifted off the ground. Her sensible heels reaching below her in the hopes of finding the street as it sank away. Her breath catching in her throat.
 
“Let her go!” Marian said loosing an arrow.
 
The projectile flew inches from the Snow Queens face, the fletching cutting her cheek as it passed. The Snow Queen turned in a rage marching towards Marian as Regina fell to the street, taking in a deep breath.
 
“How DARE you?!?” The Snow Queen raged as the archer notched another arrow.
 
“Leave her be!” Hook rushed forward lashing out with his sword.
 
The Queen snapped her fingers, and a host of ice pirates appeared between her and Hook. Before Marian could draw back the bow the Snow Queen sent a blast of ice at her, striking her in the chest.
 
“Marian!!!” Regina rushed to her side.
 
Emma stepped out of the library. Belle close behind her. The savior looked around the street as people ran. Piles of ice sat at regular intervals where pirates had been dispatched.
 
“What do we do?!?” Belle asked from behind her brandishing her bat.
 
“Uh… swing at anything made of ice.” Emma nodded. “Oh, and watch out for the Snow Queen.”
 
“Emma!” Belle exclaimed. “Is that…Killian?” She pointed.
 
Emma grinned. “That’s

Hook

. He’s

back

.”
 
Killian’s sword cut through two pirates in front of him. A third tried to catch him from behind, but he ducked out of the way, spinning to catch it with his hook. Emma smiled brightly, feeling a sense of relief to see him back in his element. She didn’t even notice the pirates creeping up on them which Belle was more than happy to dispatch with her bat.
 
“I tire of this!!!” The Snow Queen held her hand toward the clock tower.
 
Closing her fist, the glass of the clock face shattered outward onto the street. The Queen stooped to lift a shard, and placed it upon her necklace.
 
“Whatever you’re planning, you won’t get away with it!” Hook rushed forward, having defeated all her pirates.
 
“I liked it better when you feared me Captain.” She said severely.
 
“I’m a pirate. I never back down from a foe.” He raised his sword.
 
“That’s a good way to die.” She snapped her fingers.
 
More than a dozen ice pirates appeared in a circle around him.
 
“I enjoyed working with you Captain Hook. But you’re of no further use to me. So much for the great survivor.”  She said coldly as the pirates raised their swords in unison.
 
“Hook! No!!!” Emma began to run down the street.
 
She held up her hand trying to use magic to dispatch the pirates. But the ribbon on her wrist glowed, and her magic remained sealed at the Snow Queens command. Killian turned when he heard her voice. He locked her eyes with a grave expression and held it as the pirates rushed towards him from every angle. He had no chance of avoiding so many swords.
 
“Killiannnn!!!!” Emma screamed, keeping her eyes upon his forget-me-not-gaze as she rushed to him. Knowing full well she would never make it in time.
 
Seconds before the swords pierced him, the ice pirates disappeared into dark clouds. Hook gasped and looked down at his torso. Not a single wound on him.
 
“What-?” He said turning to the Snow Queen.
 
“How…?” She asked.
 
“That would be

me

dearie.”
 
Behind the Snow Queen was Rumplestiltskin.
 
“I’ve had about enough of you terrorizing this town during business hours.” Said the pawnbroker.
 
“Rumple!!!” Belle said with a smile.
 
“That clock tower is a part of my

wife’s

library. I’ll thank you not to damage it.” He crossed his arms.
 
“This is bold. Even for

you

dark one.” The Queen said to him quietly.
 
“You have

your

plans, and I have

mine

.” He said under his breath. “You have what you came for. I suggest you make your exit.”
 
“Remember our

deal

Dark One.” She said.
 
“Remember I can help you

better

if it remains between

us

dearie.”
 
The Snow Queen turned.
 
“Until
next time.
” She said, raising her hand to disappear in a flurry of snow.
 
“Rumple!!!” Belle rushed to her husband. “You

saved

him!” She threw her arms around his neck. “You saved him, because he’s my

friend

.”
 
He held her and looked into her eyes.
 
“Of course. I can’t stand to see you cry.” He ran the blade of his thumb tenderly across her cheek.
 
“How about to see me
smile?”
She beamed at him.
 
“That makes saving the pirate

worth

it.”
 
“Killian! Killian you’re
ok!”
Emma ran up to him, but stopped short, resisting the urge to hug him.
 
“That was a bit close even for

me

.” He sheathed his sword. “I certainly didn’t expect the

crocodile

to come to my aid… Emma…?”
 
He looked up to see her standing a couple feet from him. Her hand reaching slightly out, a tearful expression on her face as she held back from touching him.
 
“Emma are you alright?” He asked.
 
“I thought you were going to

die

… there was nothing I could

do

…” she looked at the yellow ribbon on her hand.
 
“Hey.” He stepped forward taking her into a gentile embrace. “It’s ok. You’ll get your power back.”
 
“Y-you’re… you’re not afraid to let me

touch

you…?” She asked, burying her face in his shoulder.
 
“I was never afraid of

you

Emma. I was afraid of

myself

.” He let her go stepping back and looking away. “But I’m getting better.”
 
“You

are

getting better.” She smiled, a single tear falling from her lashes. “I can tell.” She brushed her hand beneath her eye, wiping away the brief emotion.
 
“

Marian!!!”

They turned to see Regina kneeling next to the maid, holding her chest.
 
“What’s going on???” Emma asked.
 
“The Snow Queens spell! There was nothing I could do!” Regina said desperately.
 
“Marian what’s wrong?” Belle asked gently.
 
“I’m cold…” she breathed. “So… c-c-cold…” A lock of her hair turned white before their very eyes.
 
“The ice…” Regina said sadly. “It struck her heart.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian felt the soft sensation of Emma’s skin as his right hand ran slowly up her torso. He closed his fingers around her breast causing her to arch her back with pleasure.
 
“Yes… Hook, I want you.” She gasped as his tongue passed over her clavicle and up her neck.
 
He breathed in her scent as her pine forest hair lit up us mind. He ached to be a part of her. Longing to press himself inside her soft warmth. His heart beat in his chest like a drum as his breathing came quick and eager.
 
“Emma…” he whispered. “Emma?”
 
Her flesh was cold and her body was still. He looked down to see her naked corpse covered in a violent spray of blood. His hook pierced into her chest.
 
“NO!!! NO EMMA!!!” He cried sitting up in bed. His chest heaving.
 
He looked around and found himself in the captains quarters of the Jolly Rodger. He glanced quickly at his left arm. Seeing only the gnarled flesh where it was cut off at the wrist. His hook hug upon the wall over the bed, where he always placed it. Trembling he reached out and took it. He sighed dropping it to the bed, holding his head in his hand.
 
He pulled his sleeveless undershirt on and made his way up on deck. The crisp spring air a refreshing way to wake up.
 
“Ahoy.”
 
Killian turned to see Emma walking up the navigation steps with coffee.
 
“E-Emma…” he was almost alarmed to see her. “What are you doing here? How’s Marian?”
 
“She’s doing ok for now. We’re not sure how long she’ll last…” she looked down.
 
“I see…” He looked out at the water. His dream still fresh in his head, making it difficult to see her. “I…I had better get dressed.”
 
He glanced down at his unbuckled jeans and simple black tank.
 
“Actually, could I talk to you for a minute?” She approached offering him a coffee cup.
 
He kept his distance, but accepted the beverage.
 
“S-something wrong?” He asked.
 
“About yesterday. When you nearly died…”
 
He smirked. “I almost die a lot. I’d written that one off already.” He laughed.
 
“I
didn’t.” She pouted. “But… I meant Gold.”
 
“The crocodile? What about him?”
 
“Did he seem… chummy…? With the Snow Queen to you…?” She looked out at the water sipping her own drink.
 
“Something on your mind Swan?” He placed his cup on the railing to fasten his belt.
 
“You don’t suppose they know eachother do you?”
 
Killian stopped. “They did have words yesterday. And… it’s unlike him to interfere in town affairs. Belle doesn’t even like to ask him for help.”
 
“Belle thinks he saved you for her…”
 
“But you have other thoughts?”
 
“I thought… maybe you remembered something from your time with him? Did he ever speak of anyone? Like her? Did you ever see them together?”
 
“Can’t say I did. But the Dark One was careful not to reveal his plans to me. He would send me on his errands. Only keeping me in the castle to-“
 
“Torture you. I remember.” Emma widened her eyes and sighed recalling their trip to the past. “I’ll never see him the same way after that.”
 
“Belle loves him. I want to belive her that there is a good person inside. He was Baelfires father after all. And if I could see the good in my son surely I can see the good in his father. But… I don’t trust him.” Killian fastened his hook to his left wrist.
 
“That’s good enough for me. I don’t trust him either.” She stepped forward.
 
He took a step back, hiding his hook behind his back.
 
“Everything ok?” She glanced him up and down.
 
“Just… some strange dreams.” He sighed.
 
“Anything I can help with?”
 
“What are the chances of going back and undoing my time with the Snow Queen?” He laughed looking at the scar on her chest.
 
“Hey.” She stepped forward. “I know you’re still struggling with that, but this is not something you have to worry about.” She held her hand gently over the red gash.
 
“I’ll always worry about you.” He smiled sadly. “I worried I would hurt you

before

the Snow Queen. Now when I close my eyes I keep seeing my hook in your chest.”
 
He kept his left hand behind his back. Emma stepped forward bringing his arm around front.
 
“Careful, it’s sharp…” he tried to step away but she remained close.
 
She ran her hand down the shining silver. A gentile smile on her face.
 
“I was never afraid of your hook. Not for one minute. You had your spark back yesterday Killian, what’s changed?”
 
“I don’t want to hurt the people I care about anymore.” He recalled his dream. “I’ve hurt so many people with this. You little John, Walsh.”
 
“You told me how you got it.” She lifted his hook between them.
 
“The Dark One…”
 
“No. That’s how you lost your hand.” She corrected. “You told me Neal gave you the hook. He was the first one to call you Hook. I understand the duality you struggle with. Hook and Killian. Even Cruca struggled with that duality. But I don’t think you can leave your struggle behind. It’s a part of you. Like this hook. It’s second nature to you now. You’ve spent more of your life with the hook than without it. Don’t you think the people in your life understand your duality?”
 
“How can they?
I
don’t even understand it.”
 
“Get dressed.” She smiled. “I want to talk to the crocodile. I need an expert around to help me.”
 
*****
 
“Rumple! Do you have the catalogue? I found some more items we haven’t registered.”
 
“Of course darling, it’s right here.” He handed it to her with a smile.
 
The bell on the door rang. Emma walked in with Killian close behind.
 
“Belle, we have company.” Rumple sighed.
 
“Emma! Killian!” The scholar smiled happily. “Did you find something about the Snow Queen?”
 
“Possibly.” Emma glared at Gold.
 
“Something I can help you with Sheriff Swan?” Rumple said coldly.
 
“I want to know what you’re hiding about the Snow Queen.” Emma demanded.
 
“What?” Belle said confused. “He’s not hiding anything.”
 
“I’m sorry Belle, but we believe he is.” Killian said heavily.
 
“And after I saved your life. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I’m not getting gratitude from you Captain.”
 
A flash of red crossed Killian’s eyes, he quickly looked away in an attempt to calm his rage.
 
“I think you know the Snow Queen.” Emma crossed her arms.
 
“I’d expect this from Killian but not you. Emma, if he knew the Snow Queen he would tell us!” Belle objected.
 
“I don’t think he would. She kept her eyes on the Dark One. And I’m not so sure he would save Killian. You hate him. I saw you torture him in the past. Why would you suddenly save him now if there wasn’t anything in it for you?”
 
“He did it for me!” Belle stepped up. “Because Killian is my friend! Emma, I know you’re struggling with your feelings about Killian and I spending time together, but that’s no reason to accuse Rumple…”
 
“I…I’m not…” She looked over her shoulder at Hook who looked confused. “Just, look me in the eye and tell me you don’t know the Snow Queen. I’ll be able to tell if you’re lying.”
 
“Ah yes. You’re super power.” Rumple laughed. “I’ll do you one better. Simply ask Belle to use the dagger on me.” He turned to his wife.
 
“What-? Rumple no. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for doing good!” Belle placed a hand on his shoulder.
 
“Ms Swan wants proof, and I am happy to cooperate.” Rumple locked Emma’s gaze.
 
“Fine.” Belle sighed, reaching into her purse and taking the dagger.
 
She held it in front of her, clearly afraid of its power. She looked up at her husband and took a deep breath.
 
“I command you, Dark One, to tell them the truth.”
 
“The truth is… I know nothing of the Snow Queen. But I wish you the best of luck in your quest to defeat her.”
 
Belle lowered the dagger. Emma wore a look of suspicious confusion. Hook locked his eyes on the Dark One with a steely stare. Rumplestiltskin looked back at his greatest foe.
 
“Emma!” David ran into the shop and approached his daughter. “Come quick! We’ve found someone who knew Anna!” Elsa came into the shop behind them.
 
“That’s great news!” Belle exclaimed. “That means she was definitely in storybrooke.”
 
“We finally have information on Anna!” Elsa smiled with an air of hope.
 
“Perhaps I can help.” Rumple turned and reached into the display case for an armored gauntlet.
 
“What’s this?” Elsa asked picking it up.
 
“This gauntlet is from the kingdom of Camelot. It points the way to a persons greatest weakness.” He flourished his hand over the glove.
 
“No.” Belle chuckled. “It points the way to the thing a person loves the most.” She came up behind him and placed her hand on his back. “It can help you Elsa.”
 
“But what do we owe you for it?” Emma demanded.
 
“Consider yourself lucky. You’ve caught me feeling helpful.”
 
“I doubt that.” Emma snapped.
 
“Emma enough!” Belle objected. “I realize you’re dealing with misplaced jealousy, but Rumple is only trying to help! He saved Killian because he knows he’s my friend. He’s helping Elsa because it’s the right thing to do. After all your talk of second chances in this town why is it so hard for you to accept my husband?”
 
“I…I’m sorry Belle.” Emma looked down in shame. “Thank you for your help Gold.”
 
Elsa took the Gauntlet and they all headed for the door.
 
“Something I can do for you Captain?” Rumple asked as Killian stayed behind and kept his eyes on the Dark One. “Or would you like to thank me for saving your life?”
 
“Until next time…crocodile.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Marian! How are you?” Robin rushed into the vault.
 
“I’m…c-c-cold…”
 
“There has to be something! Something that can stop the Snow Queens magic!” Regina threw a book down and reached for another.
 
“What do we do?!? How do we save her?!?” Robin held his head in his hands.
 
“Robin!!!” Regina yelled tersely. “Marian is in a fragile state of magic right now. It’s best we not upset her.” She held her hands out to calm herself.
 
“I’m sorry.” The archer sighed. “What can I do?”
 
“Keep her warm.” Regina directed looking for another book.
 
“I don’t unders-s-stand.” Marian said pulling the blanket around her as Robin put his arms around her shoulders. “What’s h-happening to me?”
 
“It’s… a frozen heart.” Regina said with calm exasperation.
 
“What does that mean? Is there a way to c-c-cure it…?” She asked.
 
“We’ve encountered it before. But, it’s going to be difficult to figure it out this time.”
 
“What happened before? H-how did you c-cure it?”
 
Regina looked down, closing her eyes.
 
“Love. We cured it with loves kiss.” She sighed.
 
“And there is no one in Storybroke that loves me.” Marian sighed sadly.
 
“Rowland! What about Rowland?!? Surely he loves his mother!” Robin pleaded.
 
“That could work. We can give it a try.” Regina nodded.
 
Robin stood and rushed out of the vault.
 
“Hate for Rowland to s-s-see me like this.” She shivered.
 
“It will save your life Marian.” Regina said gently.
 
“No it won’t.”
 
They turned to see the Snow Queen standing in the hall of the vault.
 
“Get back!” Regina raised her hands casting a barrier across the archway.
 
The queen stepped forward, holding up her hand to test the magic.
 
“Clever.” The Snow Queen smiled “Blood magic.”
 
“What makes you think it won’t work?” Regina said through her teeth.
 
“It is more than just a frozen heart that affects her.” The Snow Queen smiled. “You see, I’ve seen true love among family before. And I’ve learned to change my magic to work around it.”
 
“True love is strong enough to break any magic!” Regina said adamantly.
 
“Yes, but familial love and romantic love are leagues apart. And while my grasp of romantic love is…lacking… I have a stronger understanding of familial love than most. And I can guard against it. The boys love won’t work on her.”
 
“What do you want from us?” Regina tried not to sound defeated.
 
“From you? Why… nothing. I came for your mirror.” The snow Queen pointed to the dark and ornate mirror on the wall.
 
“Well what a shame. It’s in here and you’re out there.” Regina put her hands on her hips.
 
“For now.” The Snow Queen smiled. “Shame about your friend. She hasn’t got long.” She raised her hand, disappearing into a flurry of snow.
 
“R-Regina….” Marian whispered as her hair became more and more white.
 
“Marian save your strength. Robin will be back with Rowland any minute.” The Queen knelt next to her.
 
“Sh-she said it wouldn’t w-w-work.” She shivered.
 
“We have to try.”
 
“You were such a g-good mother to Rowland before.”
 
“I feel like I’ve found a new calling in being a mom.” Regina smiled sadly. “My mother was overbearing, controlling…abusive. The thought of any child going through that terrifies me. But Rowland missed you so much! And Henry loves Emma. Even Snow White. I have all these examples in my life of what it means to be a good mother now. I’m glad I could be that for Rowland for a time.” She looked down sadly.
 
“C-c-can you be that again?”
 
“You mustn’t think like that Marian! We’ll find a way to save you!”
 
“I’m glad I got to m-meet you. As Regina, as a mother. And not the E-e-evil Queen.”
 
“It means so much to me that you can see me that way…” She looked down. “Which is why I am going to SAVE you Marian! I respect you! Mother to mother.”
 
“M-m-mother to mother, I am glad you are my friend.” Marians shoulders rose as she gasped for breath.
 
“Marian!” Regina helped guide her back on the couch as her skin became a translucent blue. And she froze into a form of ice.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma, Elsa, and David were walking quickly down the street as Killian came out of the pawn shop. He jogged to catch up, coming up behind Emma.
 
“What did Belle mean…? Jealousy?” He asked as he kept a quick pace with her.
 
“Killian…” Emma sighed. “Do we have to talk about this

now?”

“It seems a bit relevant to me.” He shrugged. “Belle was pretty certain that was your reason for questioning the Dark One’s motives.”
 
Emma stopped and turned to him. “Do

you?”

“No.” He looked down. “I believe you. He’s hiding something. I have no doubts.”
 
“Then why question
my
motives?” She demanded.
 
“Because I’m

worried

about you.” His eyes were gentile as he locked her gaze. “I’ve been through a lot. But so have you. Maybe you could benefit from talking to Dr Hopper as well.”
 
“A couple therapy sessions and suddenly you’re an expert?” She scoffed.
 
“You-you’re right. It’s not my place. I’m sorry.” He turned to follow David and Elsa.
 
“Wait.” Emma reached out her hand and took his arm. “I… I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m struggling Killian. We were so close to happiness, and then it all disappeared. It’s this stupid town…” she sighed. “It’s like I’ll never be done with the attacks. My job as the savior… It’s like it will never end. And because of it, you’re on the fringe of my life when I want you to be a part of it.”
 
“I am a part of it Emma.” He stepped up. “I’m sorry I can’t be the man that you-“
 
“Stop.” She looked up into his eyes. “Don’t apologize for what you’re doing. For seeing Dr Hopper, for wanting to be a better person, for doing the work. I meant it when I said I was proud of you. What I’m dealing with is nothing in comparison.”
 
“Well if I can’t belittle my accomplishments then you can’t belittle yours.” He reached out to touch a strand of her hair, then stopped. Closing his hand into a fist and letting it fall to his side.
 
“That’s fair.” She gave a half hearted laugh. “I’m… I’m jealous of you and Belle.” She sighed.
 
“Belle and I? Why?” He asked confused.
 
“We used to be close. I used to know you. And now I feel like anything that there was between us is now between you and Belle.”
 
“I have no romantic feelings for Belle.” He laughed. “Not even sexual feelings if I can be frank.”
 
“It’s not that… it’s… the emotional connection.”
 
“You think we no longer have an emotional connection?” He sounded shocked.
 
“Do we?” She asked sincerely.
 
“Emma I-“
 
“We’re here!” Elsa stopped in front of the hardware store. “We’re finally going to get some answers!”
 
Emma rushed past Hook and into the store. Dopey stood behind the counter in his purple beanie.
 
“Him?!?” Emma demanded. “HE’S your lead?!? He’s mute!”
 
“Someone told us you had seen a couple of people. Some people were looking for.” David stepped up to the counter.
 
“My sister Anna. And her fiancé Kristoff.” Elsa opened a slip of paper containing a sketch of the two. “Have you seen them? Please, it’s important.”
 
Dopey nodded his head enthusiastically pointing at the paper.
 
“What where they here for?” David asked.
 
Dopey walked around the counter and into the isles. They followed him through the merchandise to the farming and irrigation section.
 
“Farming? What was she doing working on a farm?” Elsa wondered aloud.
 
Dopey shrugged.
 
“Elsa, I think it’s time we use that gauntlet.” Emma said seriously. “We know she was here. We know she was in Storybrooke. Now all we have to do is find her!”
 
Nodding her head Elsa stepped outside. David, Emma and Hook close behind her. She cautiously lifted the metal glove. Hesitating to put her hand inside.
 
“What is it love?” Hook asked. “Don’t you want to find your sister?”
 
“More than anything.” Elsa breathed. “But so far everything we’ve found has hit a dead end… what if this just takes us to another.”
 
“You’re thinking of it the wrong way.” David put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ve found information about your sister that has lead to dead ends, but we know she was here. We know you’re on the right track.”
 
“Aye love.” Hook agreed.
 
“You’re so close Elsa. Don’t let fear stop you now.” Emma said confidently.
 
With a deep breath Elsa placed the gauntlet on her hand. She reacted in alarm as her hand turned palm up. Fingers spread wide open.
 
“Uh…I’d like to find my sister. The person I love the most…?” She requested.
 
Her hand turned palm down then closed into a fist. Elsa glanced at Hook, Emma and David with uncertainty. Suddenly her index finger extended and her arm was jerked to the side pointing down the street.
 
“It’s this way!” Elsa exclaimed. “The magic is leading us this way!” She rushed the direction it was pointing.
 
“Finally. We’re making some progress!” David smiled following her.
 
Emma let out a sigh of relief and started to go after them. She turned to see Hook standing still.
 
“Are you coming?” She asked.
 
“I have an appointment with Dr Hopper. But, I’d like for us to talk Emma.” He said seriously.
 
“Of course Killian. How about tonight? I’ll meet you on the Jolly Rodger at dusk?”
 
“I’ll see you tonight.” He smiled.
 
She watched him walk away before turning and following Elsa and David down the street and out of town towards the countryside.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How’s Rowland?” Regina asked.
 
“He’s still in shock after seeing his mother as a block of ice.” Robins voice shook. “How did the Snow Queen manage to get around true loves kiss?”
 
“She didn’t.” Regina sighed. “She said she knows familial love. She’s learned to guard against it. I even reached out to Elsa to see if there was anything we could do.” She sat heavily on the couch.
 
“Regina, I know I’m asking a lot. But please, can we help Marian? I…I don’t want my son to have to go through losing his mother again.” Robin sat next to her
 
She reached out and held his hand. “I will do anything in my power to save her Robin. But…I don’t have a clue if any of my magic will work.
 
“I believe in you Regina! I have been so humbled by the way you and Marian have connected. I couldn’t have asked for more powerful, compassionate women on my life.” He gripped her hand back. “I have faith that whatever has to be done to save Marian, you will do it.”
 
“Robin I… I don’t know how to say this…”
 
“I love you too.” He smiled.
 
Regina’s heart felt light to look into his gallant eyes and hear the words.
 
“I know we were sort of… robbed of our opportunity to tell each other.” He interlaced their fingers. “But I do love you Regina.”
 
“These past few weeks with you… the last time I was this happy was before I became the Evil Queen. As happy as I am just being Henry’s mother. I still felt like something was missing.”
 
“
Just
being his mother?” Robin laughed. “It never ceases to amaze me how women write off these types of feats. Being a mother is a greater accomplishment than being a queen, running a household, holding a job. And yet I hear you and Marian both say things like
just a mother
. As though that isn’t enough. As though you should have to accomplish more to be worthwhile. Regina, there are so many incredible things about you. And being a mother, well, it’s the most important thing in your life. I know it. You know it. Even Marian was able to build an amazing respect for you around it.”
 
“That’s what makes this so hard!” She put her head in her hands. “I’m trying to stay objective. Find some magic to save her! But all I can think of his Rowland. All I can think of is that poor boy losing a mother like Marian.”
 
“He still has you.” He reached out to take her hand once more.
 
“It’s not the same Robin!” She stood and walked away from him. “Rowland needs his mom! He’s so young! And… and when Henry was his age, I was not a good mother to him. I made him doubt himself. I made him think he was crazy! All to try and force love from him! Marian… Marian is my friend. And I want to honor her by doing the best thing a mother could do for another. I want her to watch her child grow. There’s a small part of me that wants to be selfish and hold back. Keep the happiness I have built for myself. But then I see your son…”
 
“Regina, you’re not making any sense…” He approached her.
 
“I know a way to save Marian…” She whispered.
 
Robin smiled. “I knew it. I knew you could help her!”
 
“But to do it, I have to give up my happiness. I have to go back to being…just a mother.”
 
“Regina…” Robin sighed.
 
“You loved Marian once Robin. If romantic love is all that can save her… there’s only one thing left to do.”
 
“W-what are you saying?”
 
“I can’t be selfish… I have to think of Rowland. I can either let Marian die, and have all the happiness in the world. Henry, Rowland, and…you. Or… I can restore your memories of a time when you loved her. And your kiss will bring her back.”
 
“Restore my… are you saying you can… MAKE me love her again?” He wore a look of shock.
 
“No. No one can make anyone love anyone. It’s one of the immutable laws of magic. But if you loved her once… I can restore that. But in order to do so… you will no longer love…me.” She gasped and let out a shaking breath.
 
“No Regina! There
has
to be another way!” He turned her to face him, holding her arms and looking desperately into her eyes.
 
“There
isn’t
Robin! Why do you think I kept this solution to myself so long?!? It’s the last resort! The
only
way to save her! What kind of person would I be if I put my love, my happiness, ahead of her
life?
Ahead of
Rowlands
life with his
mother
? I can’t
do
that. If I did, then I would be…the Evil Queen.”
 
“I…I am in awe of you Regina. But what if…
I’m
not strong enough…?”
 
“What?” She stepped in and placed a hand on his cheek.
 
“I wasn’t kidding when I said mothers are strong. Stronger than fathers… you and Marian are both…
stronger
than me. Because I don’t think I can give you up like that.”  He looked down in shame.
 
She grasped both of his hands. “Then let’s do it together.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, streaking them with a dark mascara. “Because I’m not strong enough to do this alone.”
 
“But if we do this… you WILL be alone! How can I…?” Placing both his hands upon her face he looked into her eyes.
 
“We can’t be selfish… our love is not more important than her life.” She turned from him and walked out into the hall.
 
“Then… then give me this night.” He said quietly following her. “Give me one more night of happiness. With you. And then…then I will do the right thing.” He looked down.
 
“One more night?”
 
“To hold you in my arms. To revel in the person that you are. The love that we share. Give me one more night. And we shall revive Marian in the morning.”
 
With a large step towards him, she took him into a deep and passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around the small of her back and held her desperately to him. They stepped backwards down the hall towards the bed. As she fell backwards into the silk sheets she knew that her happiness was short lived. She knew that in a few hours they would say goodbye. The thought of him saying those words made her chest ache with a long forgotten pain, even as his touch brought her immeasurable pleasure.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma’s mind raced with thoughts of Killian. Her patience with his recovery growing thin as her heart ached to be near him. She sighed knowing she was being selfish. That she needed to support him even if they never got back the life they had for that brief moment.
 
“Uh-!” Emma cried walking into her fathers back. “Sorry.”
 
“Are you Ok Emma?” David asked turning to her.
 
“Yeah.” She said shortly.
 
“Emma…?” He asked gently.
 
She looked down. Then shook her head from side to side.
 
“Anything I can do?” He asked with a hand on her shoulder.
 
“You and mom… you went through so much to find eachother… did you ever think it wouldn’t stop? Did you ever think it would be that way forever? Just… being brought together only to be torn apart?”
 
“Oh, all the time!” He laughed. “I still feel that way sometimes!”
 
“Really?” She looked up.
 
“And not just about Snow, about you too.”
 
“Me?”
 
“When you were a baby. Just born. An infant who had just taken their first breath. I had to rush you down the hall to your nursery, the nursery where you were meant to grow and be loved and cared for. I fought dark knights to keep them away from you. And then… then I watched as you disappeared into that wardrobe. My daughter, my heir. I’ll never forget bleeding on the floor of that nursery, thinking to myself that it was over. That Snow would be ripped into another world without me. That my daughter would grow up without me. I thought I was going to die. And the struggle would finally be over. That the forces against your mother and I had finally won.”
 
“Ok, my problems don’t feel so bad now.” Emma opened her eyes wide.
 
“But look at me.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m here with my strong, independent, beautiful daughter. And your mother, and your brother. Snow has never been more beautiful to me than she is with our child in her arms. The point is, conflict and struggle always feels like it will never end. But the only way it can end is if you keep fighting to come out the other side. Look at Elsa.”
 
They glanced down the country road to the Queen of Arendel following the gauntlet.
 
“She’s been missing her sister for a whole year. She had to battle pirates and cross realms to get here. But I believe she will find her. You know why?”
 
“Because you’re infuriatingly optimistic?” Emma asked sarcastically.
 
“Because I found you.” He smiled at his daughter with affection.
 
“Don’t give up on your friend Emma. Hook is on a journey I do not envy. I have seen Regina go through her own struggle of evil to good. And it’s not pretty. But look at her. She has Henry, and Robin. Don’t give up on Hook.”
 
“I don’t think I could if I wanted to.” She smiled. “You…you know we’re

more

than friends right?” She asked.
 
“One thing at a time Emma.” He sighed. “I’m still working on coming around to Hook as a good guy. I’ll cross the bridge of your feelings for each other when I get to it.” The Prince grumbled.
 
Emma laughed. “You and me both.” She leaned in to her fathers shoulder as he put an arm around her.
 
“This is it!” Elsa exclaimed. “This is where Anna was staying!”
 
“Zelena’s farm house…? It can’t be! We went over every inch of this place looking for her and Gold!”
 
“You know this place?” Elsa asked.
 
“More than I wish I did.” Emma sighed, glancing at the rain-water trough in the yard.
 
“There has to be another clue!” Elsa ran to the house and pulled on the door.
 
“Hang on Elsa, we’ll come back with a key.”
 
“I can’t wait that long!” She held open her hand, freezing the lock and gaining entry. “Anna?!? Anna!!! Kristoff! Anna!!!” Elsa ran from room to room.
 
“You really think they could have been here?” Emma asked her father as Elsa rushed through every inch of the house.
 
“If they were before they’re gone now.” David sighed.
 
“Do you think we should tell her?” Emma said quietly.
 
David was silent. He watched the Queen rush around with desperation on her face. He stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
 
“No!” Elsa shouted turning to face him. “I won’t stop looking! It lead us here! She must have been here!”
 
“Let us help you look.” The Prince smiled.
 
Emma marveled at her fathers sense of hope. With renewed passion she sifted through every room. She walked up the stairs and found a modest bedroom. Opening the wardrobe she found clothes for a petite woman, and a broad shouldered man. Turning to the drawer on the bedside table she found a notebook with a flower drawn on the cover. She opened it to see strange writing.
 
“Elsa!” She called, leafing through the book.
 
The Queen ran up the creaking old stairs and onto the bedroom.
 
“Do you recognize this?” Emma asked.
 
“Arendel crocus.” Elsa’s fingers gently ran over the drawing on the cover. “Anna MUST have been here!”
 
“This writing, I can’t read it.” Emma handed her the book.
 
“The writing of my people.” She smiled. “Runic.”
 
“You can read it?”
 
She opened the first page, an icy tear coming to her eye.
 
“Not only can I read it…” she smiled. “It’s written to me.”
 
“Elsa! Come quick!” David’s voice came from far off in the house.
 
Emma and Elsa rushed down the stairs.
 
“Down here!” David called, beaconing them into the basement.
 
“What is it?!?” Elsa rushed into the cellar. “What did you find?!?”
 
As they came to the bottom of the steps they found a room filled with writings tacked to the walls. Some of them runic, some of them in other languages. Potted plants, long dead, were scattered about the basement. Some of the parchment on the walls bearing illustrations of tall winding stalks.
 
“What is this…?” Elsa asked.
 
“Dopey pointed us to the farming section…” Emma marveled. “What was she trying to grow?”
 
“Magic beans.” David smiled. “Elsa, your sister was trying to get home to you as hard as you were trying to get to her.”
 
“Anna…” Elsa traced her hand down a page bearing the image of a sprout.
 
“Wow… she must have gotten this information from Tiny…” Emma smiled. “She’s pretty smart. She was trying to grow her own magic beans to get home to you. It looks like she nearly succeeded.”
 
“But you said you had been here before. Why didn’t you find her then?” Elsa asked.
 
“This house was the base of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
 
“From Oz?” Elsa wondered. “You don’t suppose she could have… hurt Anna…?”
 
“There’s a simple way to find out.” Emma sighed. “We can ask her.”
 
“Emma, you don’t mean…” David breathed.
 
“Yes. We have to talk to the witch. We have to talk to Zelena.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How are you Killian?” Dr Hopper asked.
 
“Good. Bad. It comes and goes.”
 
“Sounds like you’ve experienced some of the bad?”
 
“I…I had a dream about Emma.”
 
“It’s not unusual to dream about someone you care about.”
 
“Is it normal to dream about hurting them?”
 
“Dreams are tricky. They’re a window into our subconscious. What happened in your dream Killian?”
 
“I was…Emma was… I shouldn’t say.” He looked away.
 
“Why is that?” Hopper prodded gently.
 
Killian raised an eyebrow.
 
“I see.” Hopper nodded his head with a gentile smile. “You dreamed you were being intimate. Have you and Emma ever…?”
 
“No! No we’ve… we’ve only kissed.”
 
“But you want to?”
 
“Want to? Do you know who I am? Do you know my reputation in the Enchanted Forest? I’m Captain Hook! I’m a legendary lover! Tavern maids would seek ME out!”
 
“So it’s been a while?”
 
“It’s been ages for me.” He put his head in his hand. “But that’s no excuse to dream what I did about Emma. To dream of hurting her.”
 
“Did you? Dream of hurting her?”
 
“We were… getting intimate, in my dream. And then before I knew it she was covered in blood. And my hook was in her. Why would I dream that? Why would I dream of having her only to hurt her?”
 
“Guilt doesn’t always manifest in ways we expect Hook. You feel a great deal of pain for what happened during the Snow Queens hold on you. Don’t you think this is your minds way of manifesting your guilt?”
 
“I shouldn’t dream of that. We’ve never been together. I shouldn’t…see her…like that.”
 
“There’s nothing wrong with having sexual thoughts about people. It’s what we do with them that matters. You said it yourself. It’s been a while. And you

want

Emma, don’t you?”
 
“Want her? I can’t keep myself away from her. Even though I’ve hurt her.”
 
“Maybe you’re trying too hard.”
 
“Trying what?”
 
“To stay away from her.”
 
“But if I were to let myself get close and something like that happened… I don’t know what I would… I think I would die.”
 
“Have you had dreams like this before?”
 
“Not dreams no.”
 
“But something similar?” The Doctor asked.
 
“On the beach in Arendel. I saw Walsh. He told me off for feeling what I do about her.” He looked away.
 
“You think your sexual feelings for Emma are wrong?” He asked.
 
“I…I crave her…” he admitted. “I want her more than anything.”
 
“It seems like she wants you too. What’s holding you back?”
 
“I don’t want to hurt her! I don’t want the evil that is a part of me to…to…”
 
“You think you can somehow…infect her…? With evil…?” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Like a magical STD?”
 
“Don’t laugh. It’s not funny.” Hook scowled.
 
“I’m sorry Killian. I don’t mean to laugh. But Emma is her own person. Taking that kind of step forward, that’s up to her as much as it is up to you. Don’t you think she gets a say in it?”
 
“Of course she does! And if I’m being honest, between the two of us, she’s made more aggressive advances that I have.”
 
“Has she?”
 
“When I was split between Hook and Cruca, she… there was a moment… but that was Cruca.” He shrugged.
 
“And what about Hook?”
 
“There was a time in the past. When she was distracting Hook. Me. The past me. I thought she was going to sleep with him.” He said bitterly.
 
“Him? Don’t you mean you?”
 
“That man is not me. Not anymore. I was there. I watched it happen.”
 
“Were you jealous? Of yourself?” He asked confused.
 
“Apparently I’m jealous of a lot of forms of myself. I’m jealous of Cruca. Jealous of Hook. The only one she hasn’t tried to…
get on
with, is me. Killian.”
 
“You think she doesn’t want to?”
 
He looked away.
 
“What did Walsh say? On the beach in Arendel?”
 
“He said I was disgusting. For craving her. For wanting to take her.”
 
“What do you think Killian? Was it Walsh saying that? Or was it you?”
 
He closed his eyes. “I…I don’t… was it… W-Walsh…?”
 
His head bobbed on his shoulders.
 
“Killian?” Dr Hopper asked. “Are you alright?”
 
Walsh stood on the Jolly Rodger at dawn. He wore his thin fitted suit. His mop of hair silhouetted against the sky.
 
“Hello Killian. It’s nice to see you again. Certainly under better circumstances.”
 
Looking down he felt strange. Unlike his other interactions, he felt like this was real. He could smell the ocean air. Feel the crisp wind as it blew across the ship. He rocked with the familiar sway of the ocean.
 
“Walsh?” He asked. “What are you doing here? I hardly knew you.”
 
“I came to forgive you for killing me. And to tell you that Dr Hopper is right. It wasn’t me on the beach saying those things to you. None of those visions were real.”
 
“You can’t forgive me. You’re in my head.” He sighed.
 
“I’m not.”
 
“What…what’s going on?” He looked around his ship.
 
“On the beach in Arendel you were hallucinating. I am visiting you from the other side. Just like Milah did. Just like Liam, Rufio, and Baelfire.”
 
“That’s not possible… this is just in my head… I’m in therapy.” He said shocked.
 
“That’s why I came. I’ve seen what you’ve been doing. The guilt you feel over taking my life. I wanted to hate you once Hook. But you were kind to me. You helped me. So I am here to help you. And to tell you to forgive yourself for my death.”
 
“There’s no way… there’s no way this is real. Any of it. How could it be?”
 
“Unfortunately I can’t give you answers. But I
can
give you proof.”
 
“Proof?” He gasped.
 
“There’s only one person in Storybrooke that knows my middle name. Emma.”
 
“So you’re going to tell me your middle name to prove I’m being visited by a ghost?” He raised a skeptical eyebrow.
 
“Too easy?” He laughed.
 
“Why would you want to
help
me Walsh? After what I did to you?”
 
“Because I can see why Emma likes you.” He smiled. “And because I know what it’s like to be controlled by an evil sorceress. You could use a break Hook. And since you won’t give yourself one. I thought I would do it for you. You’re not disgusting for wanting Emma. She’s an amazing woman, and she cares about you.”
 
“As much as I don’t want to believe you…I’ll admit, it’s a relief to hear.”
 
The sun began to set as quickly as it had risen. They stood on the Jolly Rodger at dusk.
 
“My name is Walsh Zoroaster Oak. You killed me Killian Jones. But I forgive you.”
 
“Thank you Walsh. I am so sorry for what I did to you.”
 
He saw the wizards smile fade into the dying light of the sun as he opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor in Dr Hoppers office. The doctor standing above him with a look of alarm.
 
“Hook! Are you ok?!? What’s going on? You passed out!”
 
He got up quickly. The doctor holding his arms out to catch him in case he fell.
 
“What time is it?!?” He asked looking out the window.
 
“It’s nearly dusk! You’ve been passed out for over an hour!!!”
 
“I have to get to the dock. I have to talk to Emma.” He made his way to the door.
 
“But just a moment ago we were talking about Walsh!”
 
“It’s fine I’ve been forgiven.”
 
“Well, that’s good, but you should go to the hospital! It’s not normal to pass out like that!”
 
“Since when is anything normal around here?” He laughed.
 
“That’s not the- Hook wait!” The doctor called.
 
Killian rushed out the door and headed straight for the Jolly Rodger. The Sun setting a deep red in the sky.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

My dearest big sister Elsa,

I am so sorry I left you. I can only imagine your sorrow when Kristoff and I did not return. I could not bear the thought of walking down the aisle unless you were as happy as I was.

The day we said goodbye on the docks, I thought I would see your again soon. I wish you could have seen mist haven. The people there are so accustomed to magic, if only you could have grown up among people who understood you.

I learned a great deal about mother on my journey. I met a great sorcerer who had met with our mother when she was young. It’s strange to hear people speak of her as Queen Gerda. Because to me she was mother.

As you know, mother and father were not able to complete their mission to mist haven. Their ship went down on a stormy sea before they could complete their journey. But I thought if I could learn more of their destination I could discover their true mission.

People in our kingdom fear magic because they do not understand it. It is my sincerest hope that with you as our Queen, the people of Arendel will come to see magic as I see you. A beautiful and powerful force for love and good. And even if my mission should fail, and I should never learn our parents purpose in leaving for mist haven, I hope you know that I see you as my sister first. And then my Queen. And then a shining beacon of magic and mysticism.

There is a curse coming Elsa. A curse I cannot escape. It is going to take me to another land. But as I write this, with my fiancé by my side, all I can think of is you. I pray you get this message. But it is far more likely that it shall be swept away with me. Into another world. Into another realm.

I just want you to know Elsa. I am ok. Kristoff is with me and we will get home to you no matter what it takes. You’re my sister and I love you. I will not abandon you. Be strong Elsa. By my royal blood I swear, I shall see you again someday.

You will walk me down the aisle. And you will be as happy as I am. I love you Elsa. I’m coming home.

*****
 
Elsa closed the journal with a snap. Tears falling from her eyes leaving trails of frost on her cheeks. She sat in the dinner at Grannys. A glass of water bearing signs of frost as her emotions swirled as snowflakes around her. Emma and David sat across from her in full support.
 
“Your sister loves you.” David smiled. “We’re getting close Elsa. Don’t despair.”
 
Elsa clutched the book to her heart looking around the dinner as she held back tears.
 
“Even when she was gone she thought of me. I…I feel terrible.” The Queen gasped.
 
“How can you feel terrible?” David asked. “After reading your sister’s beautiful words?”
 
“For years I isolated myself from her. We were young when our parents died. I should have been there for her. But I was afraid. Afraid of my power. Afraid I would hurt her. Afraid that being near her I could lose control. But I was wrong. I’ve never been in better control of my power than when I’m around Anna. All those years, she was right on the other side of the door. And I didn’t open it.”
 
Emma looked at Elsa with sympathy. She couldn’t help but think of Hook. So close yet so far.
 
“Elsa we will speak to Zelena tomorrow. She can give us some answers. But until then you have this journal. You have your sisters words. You know she was trying to get back to you. We can figure this out.”
 
“Yes.” She nodded, still clutching the book to her heart. “Thank you David. Thank you Emma. I could never have done this without you.”
 
“That’s what we do here Elsa. We help people.” Emma smiled.
 
“Even in Arendel, Hook didn’t hesitate to support me.” She looked down at the table. “Anna is right. Things would have gone differently for me if I had grown up in Mist Haven. In the Enchanted Forest where magic is known by all.”
 
“We put in a lot of work with Hook too.” David laughed. “I think it’s has less to do with understanding magic and more to do with understanding people. Whatever reason your parents had to journey to the Enchanted Forest, they were trying. Trying to make your life better. That’s what parents do for their children.”
 
“I wish you could have told me that a year ago.” Elsa let out a strained laugh. “If I hadn’t blamed myself for my parents departure, Anna would never have left. She’d be married and we would all be home in Arendel. And now I’m blaming myself for that too. Will it ever end?”
 
“You grew up feeling your magic was a burden.” Emma reached across the table and took her hand. “It’s not easy to let go of that guilt.”
 
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.” Elsa looked up.
 
“Not my experience no.” Emma looked out the window at the first traces of dusk in the sky. “But I know first hand what guilt can do to a person. How hard it is to come back from it. How difficult it can be to let someone through that door once it is closed. But you opened that door. And because of it you and Anna were able to heal. Even if you’re still healing. You’re doing it together. And isn’t it better that way?”
 
“Yes.” A bright smiled spread across her face. “I thought she would be safer, if I did it alone. I just needed to know she wanted me. That I could come out of that room. That I could be her sister. That I could come back.”
 
Emma stood. “I have to go.” She grinned. “I’ll see you tomorrow Elsa. We’ll get more answers.”
 
“Emma?” Elsa asked. “Where are you going?”
 
“To open the door.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma stood on the Jollyrodger at dusk. She felt a pain in her chest that he had not yet arrived. Perhaps she was too early? Perhaps too late.
 
“Emma!”
 
A wave of relief washed over her to turn and see him in the dying light.
 
“I’m here Hook. I’m here to talk.” She held back a stammer.
 
“I want to talk about what happened. While I was under the Snow Queens spell.” He was panting and out of breath after running from Hoppers.
 
“Killian…” she looked away. “What is there to talk about? I know it wasn’t
you
. But you don’t seem to
care
.”
 
“I
do
care. But I need you to understand, it

was

me. That was

me

. I did all those terrible things. Worst of all, I

harmed

you.” He stepped forward, looking down at her scar. “And I need to

beg

your forgiveness Emma.”
 
“You don’t have to-“
 
“PLEASE!” He shouted, looking down at the deck. “Please Emma. I need to ask for your forgiveness. It’s

important

to me.”
 
She walked slowly towards him, placing a gentile hand on his cheek. He looked up, their eyes meeting with a prolonged meaningful stare.
 
“Killian.” She said quietly. “I

forgive

you.”
 
He let out a breath of emotion. Taking her into a tight embrace. He lay his head against hers as he held her close. The anchor of guilt lifting from his conscience, as he finally felt at peace. She was in his arms at last and he was in hers. Pulling back, his eyes shimmered with hints of unfallen tears. Emma held back emotion of her own at the sight of his smile. A sense of relief washing over her to have her friend back.
 
“You must have had a good session today.” She smiled.
 
“Actually it was rather frightening. But… in order to forgive myself for what I did to you… I had to learn to

accept

forgiveness.”
 
“That seems like something worth celebrating.” She smiled. “What do you say we go to Grannies and have a drink?”
 
“A drink?” He raised his eyebrows. “I haven’t had a drink since you gave me a talking to in the bar.” He smiled.
 
“R-really?” She asked surprised. “That was like, a week ago. You haven’t had a drink since?”
 
“I’m working on not running from my problems.” He shrugged.
 
“Well, what about a drink as celebration? We’ll just get one.” She smiled.
 
“That sounds perfect.” He offered her his left elbow.
 
She took it, walking arm in arm down the ramp and towards the dinner.
 
“Emma. About Walsh…” He started.
 
“I forgive you for that too.”
 
He smiled. “I was hoping you could tell me his name. His full name. I…I feel I should know.”
 
Emma smiled. “His last name was Oak. He had this fancy little store The Wizard of Oak. It’s a good thing I was missing my memories or I would have kicked myself for not noticing that one!” She laughed. “But he had a really interesting middle name. Zoroaster. I always told him I wanted to call him that. But he wouldn’t let me.” She sighed placing her head on his shoulder. “I think I needed to talk about him. I think that was why I missed you so much.”
 
“I’ve missed you too Emma.” He rested his head on hers.
 
He glanced down the street. Grateful to be able to be near her again. But unable to shake the realization that his vision had come to pass.

Walsh Zoroaster Oak.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Regina’s blouse fell open as Robin undid the last button. Kissing down her abdomen  he found the zipper of her skirt and slowly pulled it down. He tenderly slid her fashionable clothes off her legs and shoulders. Removing his own shirt he looked down at her laying in the silk sheets. Her soft skin calling to him as his heart ached to think it would be the last time he would have her.
 
He began at her ankle, kissing up the inside of her leg. Following the curve of her body to her soft warm center. She arched her back as she felt his tongue brush pleasurably across her opening. He savored her taste. Loving her every reaction as her voice escaped in a soft pleasurable moan.
 
“R-Robin…” she gasped as her legs quivered. “I… I’m…”
 
He read her reactions. His lips kissing her pleasure as she contracted in ecstasy. As she relaxed he crawled above her. Tossing his jeans to the ground behind him as he looked into her eyes.
 
“I love you Regina.” He breathed.
 
She could feel him upon her threshold. She moved her hips to welcome him inside. Tilting her head back with a gasp as she felt him, taught as a bowstring. He let out a breath at the sensation of her warmth all around him.
 
“No matter what happens…” He whispered in her ear as he moved his hips. “I want you to remember this love. I want you to remember that you earned it.” He continued his pace. “That you are worthy of it. Ah…” He gasped to be inside her. “It belongs to you.

I

belong to you.”
 
Tears fell from her cheeks and soaked the pillow as he voice caught in her throat. She placed her hands on his lower back and pulled him all the way into her. She slowly opened her eyes to see his gallant face. Looking into her, he knew every part of her.
 
“I don’t know if I can ever love again.” She said quietly.
 
“Don’t think of that now.” He placed his hand upon her cheek, filled with emotion to be a part of her. “Just think of this. Of us. This feeling. If…if I can’t remember it, I’m going to make damn sure you do.”
 
He moved his hips into her, his rhythm growing faster as their pleasure built in unison. He rested his forehead against hers as they both reached their climax. He kissed her neck as she looked up at the vault ceiling. Unable to stop the tears from falling. After a moment of peace in each other’s arms, Robin stood, pulling her hips along the bed to rest upon the edge. His yearning for her had not ended. He pushed inside her once more, interlacing their fingers as he thrust his hips, watching her abdomen contract as she again felt the ecstasy of his touch.
 
“Say you love me Regina.” He asked. “If I can only have one more night of your love, please, say you love me.”
 
“Robin…” Her voice was stained with sorrow. “I love you. I truly love you.”
 
He lifted her shapely legs with his arms, kissing from her shin to her knee as he continued his rhythm.
 
“Will I remember?” He wondered aloud. “Will I remember this? Will I remember your skin? Your voice? The way it feels to be a part of you?”
 
She sat up, summoning him back onto the bed taking his face softly between her hands.
 
“I shall keep the memory for you.” She could not hold back her tears. “It will be precious to me.”
 
He took her into a deep kiss as he let his love for her go. Unable to hold back his own tears as he pressed agains her again and again until he reached his peak once more.
 
“Regina…

ah

… I love you.” He breathed, slowing to a finishing pace.
 
“I shall always love you Robin. Always.” Tilting her head back she could feel his pleasure inside her.
 
They lay next to one another, looking into each others eyes as Robin drifted into a sad but peaceful sleep. Regina waited patiently until his breathing slowed to a restful pace. She stood, the cold air of the vault a jarring change from Robins warm embrace against her bare skin. She removed a vial and stepped over to the bed. Poring it gently over his lips.
 
“I wish I were stronger Robin. Strong enough to hear you say goodbye. But I’m not. As painful as it may be, I will always cherish your love. I will always remember. And when you wake…your pain will be gone.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“So…Barbarossa?” Emma asked as they walked to Grannys.
 
“Henry did

not

tell you about that did he?!?” Hook demanded.
 
“Well he told me most of the story. Kids got a gift. I felt like I was there.” She laughed. “And I remember what you said about your

dalliance

with Blackbeards
lover.
”
 
“Aye. That would be the one.” He looked up with a sigh.
 
“Henry met your boyfriend.” Emma sang tauntingly.
 
“Oh Stop.” He laughed.
 
“Is it weird that I think it’s kinda hot? Remind me to tell you about my friend Lilly sometime.” She let out a breath of amusement.
 
“I would

love

to hear about you and your friend Lilly.” He grinned.
 
She elbowed him in the ribs but continued to laugh. As they arrived at Grannys Emma cheerfully ran up the steps and held the door.
 
“Drinks are on me tonight.” She gave a slight bow as she ushered him in. “For all the progress you’ve made.”
 
“Why thank you my lady.” He nodded his head back.
 
He still felt a knot in his chest to be around her. But as they smiled and laughed, it became easier and easier.
 
“I do feel a bit bad celebrating while Regina is working to cure Marian, and Elsa’s sister is still missing.” He sat on the stool.
 
“Hey. One drink is hardly in bad taste.” She put a gentile hand on his arm. “And…and maybe I need this. Since the Snow Queen took you, this is the closest I’ve come to having my friend back.” She looked down at the the counter.
 
“Whiskey and Rum.” Killian raised his hand.
 
Ruby nodded with a happy smile, glad to fetch them their regular drinks.
 
“You’ve done a lot of hard work in a short amount of time.” She said as Ruby slid her drink across the counter to her. “You changed your wardrobe, you no longer need calypsos pearl, you’re fighting again. What a difference a week makes.” She took a sip.
 
“It may have only been a week but it feels like years.” He drank from his glass with a satisfied sigh. “God I missed rum. That week took forever without it. I nearly ate my weight in Jello.”
 
“There’s nothing wrong with a little rum in moderation. You’re just learning not to use it as a painkiller.”
 
“What am I

supposed

use as a painkiller?”
 
“Me.”
 
He coughed into his rum glass spilling it down his chin.
 
“I meant for

talking

and stuff!” She punched him in the arm.
 
“Of course!” He sighed reaching for a napkin, the memory of his dream still fresh in his mind.
 
“But I mean it Killian. You don’t have to keep doing this on your own. I want to help you.”
 
“You are helping me Emma.” He smiled. “Right now you’re helping me.”
 
Finishing his glass, he stood and took her by the hand kissing her wrist. He looked into her eyes and smiled gently.
 
“Have a good night.” He flashed her his blue stare. One she had truly missed.
 
“Good… good night!” She called after him watching him walk out the door.
 
“He seems better.”
 
“Gah-!!!” Emma jumped as she turned to the stool on her left to see Henry. “Kid! What are you doing here?”
 
“Spying on you and Grandfather Hook.” He smirked.
 
“You can just call him Hook around me. It’s still kind of freaks me out that he’s your grandfather.” She sighed.
 
“How’s he doing?” Henry sipped his hot cocoa with cinnamon.
 
“He’s doing really good.” She grinned ordering her own cocoa. “He’s almost back to his old self.” She let escape a sigh.
 
“What is it?” He asked.
 
Emma reached across the counter. “It’s like we’re so close.” She pulled the salt and pepper shaker and placed them mere inches apart. “Like all I have to do is reach out and grab him.”
 
“Why don’t you?” He asked
 
“Everyone says he needs time…” she sighed, pulling the shakers apart.
 
“What do
you
think?”
 
“I’m impatient, I’m a bad example.” She slid she shakers back together.
 
“Mom.
What do you think?”
Henry pushed the shakers away.
 
“I want him back.” She whispered, folding her arms upon the counter, resting her chin on them.
 
“What are you waiting for?”
 
“I don’t know if that’s what

he

wants…” she put her face into her arms.. “What do you say? Am I crazy?”
 
Henry smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. He slowly stood and walked over to the jukebox selecting a song. A driven guitar, base, and drumbeat played over the speakers as he returned to the stool.
 
“If You Wanna, The Vaccines, 2011.” She smiled.
 
“I like this song.” Henry laughed. “Grand- uh, Hook likes this song too. He likes the words.”
 
“He loves lyrics.” She drank her cocoa.

“~ We'll give it just another couple of months or so

Then you'll be okay

That's what all the friends I do not like as much as you say~”

The song played loudly through the dinner. Emma and Henry listened in silence as it swelled to the verse.

“~ But if you wanna come back, it's alright, it's alright

It's alright if you wanna come back

Do you wanna come back? It's alright, it's alright

It's alright if you wanna come back to me!~”

Emma put her head down. “Is it wrong? For me to want him back?”
 
“No.” Henry laughed. “Mom, no one knows better than you how much progress he’s made. If you think he needs time, give him time. But… maybe he just needs someone to tell him he can come back if he wants.”
 
She turned to him with a look of shock. Glancing back into her empty cup of cocoa she listened to the song. She turned quickly and ran out of the dinner. Henry smiled and looked back at his own mug as he heard the doorbell chime.
 
Emma ran down the road, her heart beating quickly, her feet falling to the beat of the song still playing loudly in her head as she imagined the guitar riff. She saw his dark jacket over his brooding shoulders as he approached his apartment. Illuminated by the street light in the dark, she could no longer keep herself from him.
 
He heard her footfalls along the dock, turning just in time to catch her as she threw her arms around his shoulders taking him into a passionate kiss.
 
“Mmm!” He let escape the sound of surprise as he realized he had her in his arms.
 
His eyes closed and his arms wrapped around her holding her close, he turned his head to take her deeper in the kiss. Emma’s heart was light as she felt a rush of relief to be with him. She didn’t want the kiss to end. She never wanted to be apart from him. She heard the music playing as though she were still in the dinner.

“~But if you wanna come back, it's alright, it's alright

It's alright if you wanna come back

Do you wanna come back? It's alright, it's alright

It's alright if you wanna come back to me!~”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The door to the boathouse fell open, Emma pushed Hook through it pressing his back to the wall as she took him again into a deep kiss. His hand ran through her hair, his tongue brushed against her own. The scent of leather and boat wax filled her as they stepped slowly up the stairs to his apartment, without breaking their lips from one another along the way.
 
He fumbled for his keys, still engaged in the kiss. As the door came open she grasped the lapel of his jacket pulling it off his shoulders. He let it fall to the floor taking her again in an embrace. She stepped back to remove her own jacket pushing him backwards onto the bed as she crawled on top of him.
 
“Emma…” he breathed as her hands untucked his shirt.
 
In a furious passion she pressed her fingers into his abdomen, feeling her way beneath his clothes up to his rugged chest.
 
“Ah, Emma wait…” He breathed.
 
“I’ve

been

waiting.” She smiled reaching for the hem of her shirt.
 
“Emma!” He grasped her around the middle and turned her quickly to lay on her back. “Wait…”
 
He closed his eyes breathing heavily. She looked up at him with sad confusion as the moonlight streaming in through the window lit his pained expression in the dark apartment.
 
“You…you don’t want…” she breathed. “I’m such an idiot.” She put her hands on her head with a heavy sigh.
 
“No. No it’s just…” He smiled. “One thing at a time.” He laughed.
 
“I went too fast for you. And I ruined it.” She looked up at the ceiling.
 
“You didn’t ruin anything.” He leaned in placing a gentile kiss upon her lips. “But… I need to take things slow.”
 
“Does that make me the first woman Killian Jones has turned down for sex?” She laughed in embarrassment.
 
“Believe it or not, no. I’m as shocked as you are.” He smiled rolling to lay on his back next to her. “I didn’t know how much I needed this though. Just this.” He found her hand on the bed, interlocking their fingers.
 
“Does that mean…?” She asked, trailing off.
 
He let go of her hand and found her pinky with his. “Pirate twins.” He laughed.
 
“Ok, taking it slow.” She smiled. “But… you do WANT to right…?” She asked.
 
“You have
no idea.
” He chucked, letting go of her hand to shift his belt uncomfortably.
 
She smiled sitting up. “We can take things at whatever pace you need Killian. But…I want to help you. And I think I can do that better if we’re together.”
 
“I agree.” He flashed her a debonair grin. “But we haven’t even been on a

date

. I only had my first glass of rum today. Save some time for romance.” He winked.
 
“Rum and Romance?” She laughed. “Sounds nice. Alright. Waiting on the sex.” Emma let out a sigh.
 
“But if you want, you can still stay the night.” He shrugged.
 
“Really?” She flashed him a happy grin.
 
“Of course! I just… need to excuse myself for a moment.” He kissed the back of her hand and headed for the bathroom.
 
“Are you going to… you know…?” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“What? No!” He objected in embarrassment. “I just need to…” he let out a heavy sigh. “Splash some cold water on my face…”
 
Emma laughed. “Do you have something I could wear to bed?” She looked around the paint peeled apartment.
 
“Bottom drawer.” He called from the bathroom. “Cruca’s clothes are clean and I hardly wear them anymore. Help yourself.”
 
She approached the dresser and smiled as she looked through the white undershirts and workers jeans.
 
“Are you sure it’s ok if I spend the night? Since you want to take it slow?” She asked  selecting a white tshirt.
 
“Of course Swan. I love having you around.”
 
“If I told you a year ago you would be turning me down for sex what would you say?” She laughed as she removed her shirt and slipped into the comfortable white T.
 
“Are you kidding? I would have propositioned you on the spot!” He laughed.
 
He stepped out of the bathroom with a towel over his shoulder to see her folding her jeans. Cruca’s undershirt was large on her, but only came down just past her hips. Her thin shapely leg’s illuminated by the moonlight. His eyes grew wide as he looked her up and down. He turned quickly and walked back into the bathroom.
 
“Where are you going?!?” She asked.
 
“To splash some cold water on my face!!!” He shouted back.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian opened his eyes to see the peeling paint of his apartment ceiling. Gulls called outside in the marina, he smelled the scent of pine. Turning he saw Emma. Her golden hair falling over her shoulders as she lay on her side with her head on the pillow he sat up with a smile reaching out to brush a strand from her forehead. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled.
 
“Good morning.” He said softly.
 
“Good morning.” She sighed contentedly.
 
“I’d offer you breakfast but I’m afraid I haven’t got a kitchen.” He looked around the small apartment.
 
“Yeah I always wondered about that. What did Cruca eat?”
 
“Cruca was miserable. And as miserable people do, he mostly ate canned fish.”
 
“I’ll pass on the can of fish but I’d take some Jello if you have it.” She laughed.
 
“I’m afraid the only thing I have is tea.” He smiled. “What do you say we adjourn to Grannys?”
 
“Grannys it is!” She smiled sitting up. “I think this is the first time we’ve woken up together.”
 
“You’re forgetting the barn.” He chuckled touching the light hint of a scar on his nose. “My sincerest gratitude for avoiding the head smashing.”
 
“Don’t thank me yet, the day is still young. I could always head-but you later.” She joked leaning in and kissing the bridge of his nose.
 
She climbed out of bed, reaching for her jeans. Killian smiled watching her dress.
 
“Aren’t you coming?” She asked.
 
“Just enjoying the view.” He smiled reaching for his hook.
 
“Hey, you’re the one that didn’t want to do anything.” She chuckled.
 
“Again. It’s not that I don’t

want

to.” He got out of bed. “But…you’re special to me Emma. I want to do things right.” He said approaching her to lay a soft kiss upon her lips.
 
She turned away to hide a blush. He walked to the dresser in his black tank and short boxer briefs. Emma smiled tilting her head as she watched him sort through his top drawer to find clean clothes.
 
“Something I can help you with Swan?” He asked raising his eyebrow as he slipped the sleeve of his collared shirt over his hook.
 
“Just enjoying the view.” She laughed.
 
Smiling and joking as they made their way down the stairs he stopped halfway and turned standing one stair below her.
 
“Swan, I just wanted…I wanted to say…” He looked down at the steps.
 
“What is it?” She put her hands on his shoulders.
 
“I…I’m happy. To have you near me. It feels right.” He let escape a brief laugh.
 
“I’m happy to

be

near you.” She leaned in and kissed his forehead. “Pirate twins again.”
 
They made their way down the the steps he put his arm around her affectionately as he opened the door. They both froze. David stood in front of them, his fist raised, about to knock. His mouth fell open to see Hook with his arm around his daughter. Killian quickly removed it and stood with his limbs rigidly at his side.
 
“Dad!” Emma exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
 
“I came to get Hook so we could meet about Zelena.” He sighed heavily, unable to conceal a brief glare at the pirate before walking swiftly up the dock.
 
“Dad! It’s not what it looks like!” Emma rushed after him as Killian closed the door behind him.
 
“So much for happy.” He sighed, though he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.
 
“Oh, do you two live together?” Elsa asked innocently as the three of them came up the dock.
 
“No!” David barked.
 
“Something wrong?” Elsa asked confused, as the father and daughter stomped out of the marina.
 
“You’ve got a sister?” Killian sighed stepping up to Elsa as Emma chased her irate father.
 
“Yes… we’ve been looking for her for a week…?” Elsa puzzled.
 
“She got a fiancé, how did you feel when they started dating?”
 
“Oh.” Elsa’s voice dropped as she understood. “You and Emma?” She asked.
 
“Aye. Me and Emma.” He let escape a grin.
 
“I take it David does not approve…?”
 
“Who is your sister dating?” Hook raised an eyebrow.
 
“An ice cutter who grew up in a barn and talks to reindeer.” She sighed crossing her arms.
 
“And I am a pirate.”
 
“Oh.” Elsa dropped her hands in realization. “Well for what it’s worth I think you’re a good guy.” She shrugged.
 
“Thank you your majesty.” Killian smiled with genuine appreciation.
 
“Is this a recent development?” She asked.
 
“We were almost together. Before my trip to Arendel. But then… things got in the way.” He looked up at Emma walking after her father from under his brow.
 
“But now there’s nothing in the way?” She asked.
 
“I wouldn’t say nothing.” He sighed. “But… I’m not going to let the world come between us anymore. I want to be with her. If she wants to be with me too…why should I let anything stand in our way?”
 
Elsa looked ahead and smiled as they made their way into town.
 
“-all I’m saying is nothing happened! I stayed the night! I’ve done that before, it’s no big deal! All we did was-“
 
“Emma!” David interrupted her. “I

really

don’t want to
know!”
 
“Where are we going anyway?” Emma asked looking around.
 
“If we want to get Zelena out we have to talk to Regina. My PLAN was to get Hook. I assumed you were at Granny’s since that’s where your

car

was.” He rolled his eyes. “Regina is meeting us at the dinner.”
 
“Well since we moved the party to the street I thought I’d join you.”
 
They turned to see Regina standing under the trellis arch. Her arms were crossed, she looked different. Gaunt and pale with rosy pink skin under her eyes.
 
“Regina! How’s Marian?” Emma asked.
 
“Fine. Thanks to me she’s going to make a full recovery.” She stepped off the curb marching down the street towards the hospital.
 
“That’s incredible!” Emma marveled jogging to catch up.
 
“Maybe to an amateur like you. But I am the Queen. My magic is far superior. Even to the snow Queen. “
 
“Regina? Are you alright?” Emma asked.
 
“I’m fine.” She said in a deep voice.
 
“Are you sure?” The prince asked.
 
“Could we get this over with? I have a city to run ever since Snow White asked for MATERNITY LEAVE from her job as mayor.”
 
“What about Robin?” Emma asked. “Isn’t he coming with you?”
 
“No!” Regina snarled. “He’s with Marian.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As they arrived at the hospital David reached out taking Hook by the shoulder.
 
“I think we should have a conversation about your intentions with my daughter.” David sighed.
 
“Bit old fashioned, even for me. And I still pay with doubloons.” Hook rolled his eyes.
 “I know your reputation Hook. Emma isn’t some conquest.”  “Aye she’s not.” He brushed his arm off his shoulder turning to the prince to meet his gaze.  “I have Traveled to multiple realms, Neverland, Pandora’s box, the Enchanted forest, Arendel. I’ve fought lost boys, flying monkeys, witches, Queens, pirates, even my own DEMONS just to be near her! I wouldn’t risk my life for someone I see as loot, mate .” He glared at the Prince running his hand through his hair in frustration. “Whatever we become is up to her as much as it is me. And I’m not going to leave her just because you are feeling like an overprotective father! I just got her back. I can’t let her go again, because I….”  
He trailed off looking at the Prince who wore an expression of shock.
 “I just can’t .” Killian shook his head.  “Fair enough.” The prince cleared his throat beginning to walk into the hospital. “Killian?” Charming stopped and turned. “I can’t let her go again either. For the same reasons you can’t. Take care of my daughter. And don’t give me any more reason not to like you.” He smirked.  
“Aye.” Killian returned his expression. “I don’t intend to.” He laughed.
 
Taking a deep breath he walked into the hospital following Regina’s lead with the others down the stairs to the ward in the basement.
 
“Did my dad read you the riot act?” Emma asked sliding in next to him.
 
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He smirked.
 
“Really? Because before the Snow Queen you seemed kind of scared of him.” She laughed.
 
“Aye, before the Snow Queen I was afraid of a lot of things. Now I’m only afraid of one.”
 
“What’s that?” She turned to him, an amused smile still on her face.
 
“Losing any more time with you.” He said gently.
 
Her expression softened as she looked into his blue eyes. “Well…you don’t have to worry about that.” She grinned. “I’m not going anywhere.”
 
After a moment she cleared her throat and stepped ahead down the stairs. Regina took a deep breath as she unsealed the room containing her sister. A shimmer of magic fell away as she opened the door.
 
“Hello sis. Come to pay me a visit?” Zelena sat in the far end of the cell upon her cot. A book in her hands with various others on a modest shelf In the corner. “You don’t look so good Regina.” The witch smirked.
 
“You’re one to talk Jolly Green Giant.” Regina snapped.
 
“Let’s go Zelena, we need you.” Emma motioned for her to stand.
 “What’s in it for me?” The witch remained sitting.  
“You get to go outside for a day.” Regina crossed her arms.
 “How could I refuse?” Zelena rolled her eyes shutting her book. “After you kept me in here for months , a day outside sounds delightful .”  “Your magic is still locked by that cuff.” Regina pointed. “So don’t try anything funny . Emma and I will use our magic to stop you if you do. This is Elsa. She is a powerful magic user as well. You’re out numbered Zelena. Keep that in mind. David?”  
The prince stepped forward and cuffed her, leading her out the door. Regina stayed behind in the cell taking a deep breath.
 “Hell of a bluff love.” Killian said leaning against the doorframe.  
“What are you talking about?” Regina turned.
 “We have three powerful magic users? When in fact you have 3 broken magic users.”  
“I may have bluffed about Emma, but Elsa and I are strong as ever.” She sighed.
 “Elsa can’t control her power. And you? There’s something off about you. You’re slipping.”  “Like you would know.” She sighed.  
“I do actually.” He stood from the doorway. “You forget, we’re a lot alike. What’s going on Regina?”
 
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
 “If I’ve learned anything it’s that if you’re struggling you don’t have to do it alone .” He approached with compassion.  
“Are you offering to help?” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“Maybe I am.” He stood in front of her.
 “I was hoping you’d say that.” She reached out grabbing his lapel, locking him in a deep and lustful kiss.  
Killian put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back, disengaging his lips from hers with a look of shock.
 “Regina! You’re with Robin! And I’m with Emma!” He said in surprise.  “Y-you’re back with Emma? Since when?!?”  
“Since last night! Even if I wasn’t I have no intention of resuming our dalliances.”
 
“Figures.” She scoffed, walking around him to leave.
 
“Regina, what’s going on. Tell me.” He grabbed her arm. “What happened with Robin Hood?”
 
“He’s in love with Marian.” She looked down.
 
“Marian…? What? How?” Killian asked in confusion.
 “It was the only way to save her. I gave him a potion to restore the love they once had.” She kept her eyes to the ground.  “You did that…to save her…?” He marveled.  
“It was the only way.”
 
“Regina… go see Dr Hopper.”
 “Oh yeah? Is that your suggestion Captain Therapy?” She barked.  “It’s my suggestion as your friend .” He dropped his shoulders.  “We’re not friends. We were barely even lovers. I’d prefer you pour me a drink .”  
“I’ve cut back on my drinking.”
 “Then you’re of no use to me.”  “Regina!” He called stopping her in the doorway. “If you need someone, just to talk . I’d be happy to get a drink with you. But… take it from me, running from your problems with rum and sex doesn’t help. It only makes things worse .”  “I have no intention of running from my problems with rum and sex. I prefer burbon .” She walked out of the cell.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“You knew this was coming David.” Snow smiled, holding the baby with one hand and her phone with the other. “Emma and Hook have been doing this dance for some time now.

-I don’t care if you don’t like the word dance, get used to it.” She laughed.

“-well try being stuck home with the baby the whole day!

-I know you could stay home with the baby too, I just…I can’t leave him…

-what do you mean you sent over a babysitter?

-David! Wait!” She looked at the phone as the line went dead. “What is your father planning…” she looked down suspiciously at her son.
 
There was a knock on the door.
 
“How’s that for timing?” Snow scoffed, as she went to open it. “Ariel?”
 
“Snow! It’s been years!” The mermaid smiled.
 
“It’s so good to see you!” The mother reached out and took the mirmaid in an embrace.
 
“I was happy when David called! I’m looking forward to babysitting your son.” She smiled. “Babies are so much easier in your world. They can’t swim around.” She looked up at the ceiling fans.
 
“Yeah, about that, we don’t need a babysitter. I’ll be staying home with Neal.” She smiled sweetly.
 
“But… aren’t you busy with the Snow Queen?” She asked.
 
“David has it covered with the Snow Queen.”
 
“You don’t want to help?”
 
“I…I just… I… Neal…” she turned away. “Would you like some tea?” She asked with a smile.
 
“Snow what’s going on?” Ariel was suspicious.
 
“Nothing! Nothing is wrong! We just don’t need a babysitter.”
 
“You know, it’s healthy to not always be around the baby….” The mermaid suggested.
 
“I’ve left the baby! I left him with Henry and Regina when Emma was… was…stabbed…” she looked away.
 
“Hey, Snow… I’ve been seeing Dr Hopper…”
 
“DON’T tell me to go to therapy. That’s as likely as me letting go of Neal.” Snow said seriously putting on the kettle.
 
“I wasn’t going to…” Ariel looked down. “I was actually going to tell you… about my trip to Arendel with Hook.” She sat at the counter looking into the pearl around his neck.
 
“Emma tells me Henry is quite good at recounting it.” She laughed.
 
“I thought I was doing ok. I thought I had a purpose. I thought I could kill the man that took Eric from me.” Ariel stared off into space with a blank expression. “But… then when I did it, and Blackbeard was dying… I felt terrible. His lover was pleading for help. And I just saw myself losing Eric all over again. And no matter how much I hated Blackbeard… I couldn’t put his lover through what I had…”
 
“W-what did you do?” Snow asked, hanging on her every word.
 
“I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t undo what a I had done, I couldn’t live with what I did.” She looked into the pearl around her neck.
 
“Why are you telling me this Ariel?”
 
“I haven’t seen you in years Snow…but, everyone in the realms knows your story. It was tragic what happened to you. You gave birth and had your daughter ripped out of your arms the same day. I can only imagine how difficult that was…” Ariel looked up.
 
Tears were streaming down Snows cheeks. She clutched Neal close to her as her sorrow fell into his blanket. The baby began to stir as she shook with emotion.
 
“Snow!” Ariel rushed to her side. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! Is there anything I can do?”
 
“C-could you t-take Neal…?”
 
“Yes of course!” Ariel gently took the baby.
 
Snow but her hands upon the kitchen counter breathing deeply as her tears slowly stopped.
 
“It… it happened again you know.” The princess finally spoke. “With Neal… the Wicked Witch came and took him from me.”
 
“But you got him back!” Ariel cradled Neal. “Just like you got Emma back!”
 
“Did I get Emma back?” Snow looked up. “I missed out on nearly 30 years of her life.”
 
“Snow, despite what you are going through, the one time you were able to leave your son was for your daughter. You are an amazing mother. No matter what time you lost with Emma, you are here for her now.”
 
“But what if it happens to Neal?!? Even Hook lost time with his son because of this crazy messed up world we live in! Neal could be taken any second! He could fall through a portal, he could be taken by a sorcerer, he could roll over in his sleep and die!” She gasped.
 
“And Emma could have never come back.” Ariel shrugged.
 
“Are you trying to help?” Snow sighed.
 
“After I stabbed Blackbeard, I didn’t know how to live with the consequences of my actions. Hook and Zenhg Yi Sao helped me. They gave me a second chance. You got a second chance with Emma, and with Neal. Are you going to live in fear? Or are you going to use it?”
 
Snow wiped her eyes. “Formula is in the fridge.” She smiled reaching for her coat. “I can be reached by phone at any time. Do you know how to use a phone?”
 
“Yes.” Ariel smiled. “Not as easy as a shell, but I’ve figured it out.”
 
Snow took one last look back at her baby. She still felt a weight of anxiety in her chest to walk alway from him. But she had a daughter out there. And she was determined not to lose either of her children.
 
“I’ll only be gone a few hours Ariel. Thank you for watching Neal. And…and for helping me.”
 
“You’re very welcome Snow.” We will be here when you get back.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They walked up the hill to the farmhouse. Emma took a deep breath as they crossed the yard. She jumped as Hook put a hand on her shoulder.
 
“Emma, is everything ok?” He asked.
 
“What? Yes. I just… I don’t like being here with you and Zelena again…”
 
“Again? What do you mean?”
 
“You don’t remember?!?” She dropped her shoulders.
 
“What am I supposed to remember?”
 
“How about you DIED here once…?” Emma gapped at him.
 
“You’ll have to be more specific…” he scratched the back of his head.
 
“Seriously? She

drowned

you!”
 
“Ah yes, now I remember.” He smiled.
 
Emma gave a heavy sigh of exasperation.
 
“Sorry! I was passed out for the better part of it!” He laughed. “Zelena’s magic is neutralized. Why worry about it now?”
 
“How about because my magic is locked inside?” She said quietly holding up her wrist to show the yellow ribbon. “Because all I have to protect you is my gun???”
 
“You worry about protecting me?” He smiled.
 
“Of course… our relationship doesn’t exactly have the best track record.”
 
“Relationship?” He raised his eyebrow, an amused grin still on his face.
 
“Could you stop enjoying this? I’m kind of freaking out here…”
 
“Can’t help it. Say relationship again.”
 
“Killian…” she sighed.
 
“Emma, there is no sense in worrying about something that hasn’t happened. You may think you only have a gun, but you also have a fiery spirit, two fists, and a body that won’t quit.”
 
She flashed an exasperated smile.
 
“It’ll be fine love.” He took her into a gentile embrace. “But… at the risk of waiting too long… there is something I have to tell you…”
 
“What?” She asked stepping back with a sigh.
 
“Regina kissed me.” He grimaced, closing his eyes.
 
“What? What in the-?”
 
“She didn’t know we were back together! She’s depressed and going through a tough time. I pushed her off right away I swear!” He kept his eyes closed.
 
“She’s depressed…?” Emma asked quietly. “What happened?”
 
“I’m… not sure it’s my place to say…”
 
“She must be pretty depressed to kiss

you

.” Emma opened her eyes wide.
 
“Thanks.” Hook scoffed.
 
“Sorry.” Emma laughed. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just mean… she kinda hates you. Sorry again.”
 
“That one doesn’t bother me.” He laughed. “So you’re not upset? That I kissed Regina?”
 
“

Did

you?” Emma raised an eyebrow.
 
“No! She kissed
me!”
 
“Then what’s the problem? I thought you were just telling me Regina was depressed?”
 
Hook laughed. “And here I thought you’d be jealous. You’ve bitten my head off for Regina before.”
 
“Nah, it turns out I’m only jealous of platonic librarians.” She chuckled.
 
“Emma!” They turned to see Snow White hiking up the hill.
 
“Mom! You’re here! Without the baby?” She asked.
 
“I’m trying out new things.” She took her daughter into an embrace. “I’m so happy for you Emma.” She said warmly. “And Killian! You too! I knew you would find eachother.” She held each of their hands with a grin.
 
“Y-you’re not going to give me the

watch out for my daughter

speech?” He looked from Emma to her mother.
 
“I’m guessing you got enough of that from David.” She laughed.
 
“It’s good to have you here mom.” Emma smiled turning to walk towards the farmhouse.
 
“Hook?” Snow said as he began to follow.
 
“Yes?” He asked.
 
“Watch out for my daughter.” The bandit Snow White shone through her peaceful exterior. “Or else you’re going to have to watch out for me.”
 
Killian smirked as he followed the women into the house.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“We need to know how you found this house.” David crossed his arms looking at Zelena.
 
“It was abandoned when I got here.” Zelena shrugged. “Apart from a horribly kitch sense of decor, whoever lived here kept it rather clean. The barn was even tidy. As though someone occasionally slept out there.” She scoffed.
 
“That would be Kristoff…” Elsa said with a sigh.
 
“Mary Margaret!” David smiled as his wife walked in. “You left Neal!”
 
“Ah yes. How is the young Prince?” Zelena smirked.
 
With a quick step Snow crossed the room and and dealt a severe punch to the witches mouth, knocking her to the ground.
 
“How come

she

gets to punch her and I don’t?” Regina snarled.
 
“I wouldn’t mind a go

myself

.” Killian said through his teeth.
 
“Get in line.” Emma sighed.
 
“So you’ve made it clear you

all

want to kill me.” Zelena spat blood. “Why am I here?”
 
“My sister is missing. I need you to help me find her. We believe she was the last person to live here before you inhabited it. I need to know what you saw.” Elsa’s voice was cool and calm.
 
“Sisters aren’t really my THING.” Zelena laughed from the floor. Blood on her lip.
 
Elsa knelt next to her with a soft expression. She reached out a hand and touched a strand of Zelena’s hair. Zelena gasped and crawled away backwards as the strand turned white.
 
“Ice magic!!!” She gasped. “Are you insane?!? You’re working with an ice witch?!?” She looked around.
 
“W-what’s an ice witch?” Snow asked.
 
“Natural born magic users! Born with strong powers that take little to no effort! They are cold and calculating and rarely understand human emotions.” Zelena looked her up and down.
 
Elsa looked shocked.
 
“Things often go wrong for them. And when they do…they freeze everything in sight! They’ve toppled kingdoms and destroyed empires! They were nearly wiped out but the gene is recessive. It survived in some royal bloodlines… you are an
Ice Queen
aren’t you?” she said through her teeth.
 
“Tell me what happened to my sister or I will SHOW you an Ice Queen!” Elsa stepped forward.
 
A cold wind blew through the house. Snowflakes appeared all around them hanging in the air.
 
“Elsa…” Killian said cautiously. “Do you know what you’re doing love?”
 
“Anna was here! I know she was here!” Elsa opened her palm in Zelena’s direction.
 
The white began to spread through her hair. The Wicked Witch gasped in alarm as she began to shiver.
 
“Elsa he may be right…” Emma held her hands out non-threateningly. “Maybe we need to take a step back.”
 
“If you know about my power then you know what happens when the Ice reaches your heart.”  Elsa’s eyes were cold and fixed upon her.
 
“Take it off!!!” Zelena got up to her knees and held her shackled wrist to her sister. “Take off the cuff Regina! She’s going to KILL me! She’s going to kill all of us!”
 
“Tell me where my sister is!!!”
 
Icicles formed on the ceiling above Zelena, slowly inching downward.
 
“Elsa!” Killian stepped between the Queen and the Witch.
 
“No! The icicles!” Emma reached out to him, her mother holding her back.
 
“I know you’re scared… and I know you’re desperate. But this isn’t who you are.” He held his hand cautiously to her.
 
“You don’t know me!” She looked intently at the witch, the sharp spikes of ice growing above Killians head.
 
“I know enough! Elsa I hate the monarchy! But… I wish I could have sailed under a Queen like you. Someone who loves and respects their people! This isn’t you Elsa! Your fear has become anger! I know it well!”
 
“She’s standing between me and Anna!!!” Elsa shouted.
 
“Remember what happened in Arendel? How Ariel regretted what she did to Blackbeard? I swear to you. You will regret this.”
 
Elsa looked into his melancholy eyes. With a gasp of alarm she looked up at the spikes above his head. She quickly raised her hands. The deadly ice spikes bursting into a flurry of snowflakes. Killian smiled brightly through the snow. He slowly approached Elsa.
 
“You did great your majesty.” He placed his hand on her shoulder.
 
Elsa looked up in fear. “But I-“
 
“Trust me. Don’t go there. You did good.” He smiled.
 
“I’m sorry.” Elsa approached Zelena. “But please, if you know anything about the people who lived here before you. Please tell me.”
 
Elsa reached out her hand and touched Zelena’s hair once more. The wicked witch gasped as the white receded and the ice left her.
 
“T-there was a diary.” Zelena keep her wide eyes on the Ice Queen. “It was in runic. My runic isn’t great. But she kept writing…”
 
“We found her journal. In the bedroom. It just contained letters to me. Daily thoughts like her favorite kind of pudding in this world, and what Kristoff likes on toast!” Elsa sighed.
 
“You must have missed the one in the magic bean room.” Zelena smirked. “How do you think I learned about Ice Witches? What I picked up from your sisters journal was so alarming I did my OWN research! You’re monsters! You’ll do anything to get what you want and keep it!”
 
“No… no I’m not like that…” Elsa held her head.
 
“Oh really? You never froze anyone before? Have you covered a realm in winter yet? I hear the ice palaces are beautiful though.” Zelena flashed her taunting smile.
 
“No… no it was an accident!” Elsa shook her head.
 
“Don’t listen to her.” Hook cautioned. “Regina?”
 
The Evil Queen raised her hand, a purple scarf appearing tied across Zelena’s mouth.
 
“That’s better.” He smiled.
 
“Elsa it’s going to be ok. We’re going to find Anna. We have another clue. We’ll find that journal and bring her back.” David stepped up to her.
 
She nodded her head. “Thank you.” Elsa whispered. I don’t know what I would do without all of you.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Elsa clutched the new journal to her chest. Snow put an arm around her and lead her outside. David and Regina followed with Zelena. Killian took one last look around before stepping out the door. He quickly received a punch in the arm.
 
“Ah-! What the-? Emma? What was that for?!?” He objected.
 
“Why’d you have to step under those icicles?!?” She shouted.
 
“What-? I needed to break her concentration on Zelena!”
 
“You almost died

two days

ago on Main Street! Can’t you give me a

bit

more time between attempts on your life?!?” Emma opened her eyes wide. “What am I doing?” She gasped. “What was I thinking?!? You’re almost dying all the time!!! What did I do to myself? How am I going to cope?” She took deep breaths.
 
“I’m right here you know.”
 
“Killian this is not funny! I can’t watch you run into death every other day! Not while I don’t have my magic!”
 
“Emma, I don’t need you to protect me.” He smiled.
 
“What if I’m not DOING it for you? What if I’m doing it for me?” She sighed. “Maybe I don’t want you dead! did you ever consider that?”
 
Killian glanced over his shoulder making certain no one was looking. He wrapped his arm around her, his hand firmly spread across the small of her back as he pulled her into a kiss in one swift motion. He kissed her deeply and and passionately. She quickly began to lose herself in his grasp. Her mind going blank. But as quickly as he had engaged her he let her go.
 
“You don’t have to worry about me love. I’m a survivor.” He grinned, taking her hand and leading her down the stairs to the yard.
 
“Can you be a

safer

survivor?” Emma sighed, trying to calm her passion.
 
“How about we just get you your power back?” He squeezed her hand.
 
“What’s your plan? March right up to the Snow Queen and ask her?” Emma said sarcastically.
 
“Looks like I may get the chance.” Killian breathed as he looked ahead to see the statuesque woman in a white glimmering gown.
 
“Watch out!!!” Emma shouted as the witch raised her hand.
 
Regina and David were thrown backwards falling to their backs. Zelena looked around in horror as the frightening witch slowly walked her way.
 
“Mmmmph!!!” The Wicked Witch struggled against the gag turning to run.
 
“What are you doing?!?” Emma ran towards the Queen, Hook right behind her.
 
“Hey! Get away!” Snow loosed and arrow.
 
With a wave of her hand the Princess was tossed backwards like the prince and evil queen. The Snow Queen gave a gentle wave towards Zelena. The morning dew upon the grass rising up to freeze her legs as she fell to the ground.
 
“Mmmph!”
 
“Get away!” Emma drew her gun.
 
“Don’t worry.” The Snow Queen smiled. “I’ll bring her right back.”
 
Emma pulled the trigger. The Snow Queen disappeared into a flurry of flakes taking Zelena with her.
 
“What the hell…?” Emma gasped looking around. “What does the Snow Queen want with the Wicked Witch of the west?”
 
“It’s not the witch she wants.” Regina sighed. “It’s my sister.”
 
“What do you mean?” Snow got to her feet.
 
“She paid me a visit in my vault. Said she wanted my mirror. I sealed it with blood magic.”
 
“So she’s going to your vault?” David asked.
 
“Yes so she can- oh no… Robin!!!” Regina got to her feet waving her arms across herself and disappearing in a cloud of purple smoke.
 
“Regina!!!” Emma looked around. “Damn!” She pulled roughly at the yellow ribbon trying to get it to come off.
 
“Emma you’ll hurt yourself!” Killian rushed to stop her.
 
“I’m the savior without magic powers! I may as well be useless.”
 
“One thing at a time love. We’ll get you magic back. Even if that means we have to defeat the snow queen without it.”
 
“We have a new lead Emma! Let’s start there.” David smiled.
 
“And leave Regina to face the Snow Queen alone? Not a chance.” She turned and marched through the yard.
 
“I’m with you Swan.” Killian followed.
 
“I’m going to find Regina. You take Elsa back to the loft.”
 
“Elsa still has her magic. I’d rather save you, there’s someone dangerous out there.”
 
“I don’t have time to argue with you about this! Can you for once just do what I say?”
 
Elsa looked at him with a confused expression as Emma marched down the hill and towards the woods.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Robin woke gently. He felt strange. But stranger still he found himself nude in a bed of purple satin sheets. He glanced at the table next to him seeing a note written in swooping cursive.

Robin,

Marian is in the next room.

She needs true loves kiss to wake her.

There is no time to waste.

“Marian?” He said aloud standing and reaching for his boxers and jeans.
 
He ran into the next room to see his wife frozen in a block of ice.
 
“Marian!” He rushed to her kneeling at her side. He pressed his lips gently to hers.
 
The ice began to recede. Marians white hair turning a deep dark shade of brown. Her skin became warm, hints of frost fading from her lashes. Slowly she blinked opening her eyes.
 
“R-Robin?” Marian asked sitting up. “What happened? Did it work? With Rowland?”
 
“Rowland? No, I got this note.” He showed her the paper. “Marian thank the gods you’re alright! What’s going on?” He asked confused.
 
“I was frozen by the Snow Queen. Don’t you remember?” Marian looked him up and down.
 
“S-Snow Queen…? Yes… yes I suppose I do remember. But…it’s like it’s not complete. It’s like some days… some moments are missing.” He held his head.
 
Marian glanced down at the note.
 
“This must be Regina’s writing…” she said quietly.
 
“I’m so glad you’re alright.” Robin leaned in to kiss her.
 
Marian pulled back and gave him a strange look.
 
“Robin what are you doing? You’re with Regina.” Marian said puzzled.
 
“Who is Regina?” He asked.
 
Marians eyes went wide. Looking around she saw a note upon the table. Rolled and tied by a purple ribbon. She opened it to find the same cursive writing.

Marian,

I’m not sure what Robins memory will be when he wakes you. I should have stayed to make sure you were alright. But I couldn’t. Robin’s memories of your days together are renewed. The only thing that could wake you was love. So I gave it back to him.

Memory spells are difficult, but in analyzing the magic the Snow Queen used on Captain Hook, I was able to synthesize my own, taking him back to your days in Sherwood Forest.

I left him all the memories I could. But to be certain the spell would work I had to remove any trace he had of me.

I love Rowland. My gift to him is his mother, and my gift to you is your family back. I know I can never make up for what I did to you in the Enchanted Forest. But with this I can give you back what was taken from you.

With Respect,

Regina Mills

Marian looked down at the letter with tears in her eyes.
 
“I can’t.” She looked up. “I can’t just jump back into my old life.”
 
She placed a hand on his cheek.
 
“Marian, I’m confused.” Robin held her shoulders.
 
“You had love Robin. Love that wasn’t with me.” Her hands gently framed his face. “I still love you. But I never expected to find you having moved on. Because of Regina I was actually excited to start my new life. I was excited to be a mother, and my own woman. Excited at the thought that I would be defined by something other than Robin Hood. A part of me wants to accept her gift. Be a family with you and Rowland again. But sometimes being a family means something more than a mother and a father and a child. Family’s include other people. And, as unusual as it was, Regina was a part of our family. I can’t let her do this. If she can take your memory, she can give it back.”
 
Leaning in she kissed his cheek.
 
“Marian, please, none of this makes any sense.”  He examined her expression, desperate to understand.
 
“Come Robin, it will make sense. I promise.” She held his hand and looked into his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m still excited for the future.”
 
“Impressive. Remind me not to underestimate the Evil Queen.”
 
They turned quickly to see the Snow Queen standing in the archway with a red headed woman.
 
“Stay back!” Marian reached for the nearest blunt object.
 
“Not to worry. Im not here for you.”
 
With a wave of her hand, Robin and Marian fell to the floor, asleep.
 
“Now…” The Snow Queen turned to Zelena, taking off her handcuffs and gag. “I need you to remove the spell your sister placed upon this vault, stopping me from reaching that mirror.” She pointed.
 
“Why should I? If I do you’ll just kill me!” Zelena cried.
 
“You are inconsequential to me. A tool that I need to achieve something. I don’t care what happens to you after you remove the spell.”
 
“If I remove the spell… you’ll set me free?” She asked cautiously.
 
“I have no reason to keep you.”
 
“Well…” she glanced down at the leather cuff. “I can’t use my magic until you take this off.”
 
“Gladly.” The Snow Queen lifted her arm. “But in case you’re planning on trying to attack me with magic, I heard what you said to Elsa. About Ice Witches being monsters? You are right to fear us.”
 
Zelena looked into her eyes as she removed the leather cuff and saw only the cold. She felt a ripple of fear run through her as she slowly turned to the archway and dispelled the barrier.
 
Ingrid walked up to the dark twisted mirror and held open her hand. The mirror shattered outward across the vault floor. She bent her knees, reaching down to grab a shard of glass, placing it on her necklace. She turned to leave the vault.
 
“Your majesty?” Zelena wore a bright and devious smile. “I have an idea. An idea that could benefit us both.”
 
“What would that be?” She asked in a cold monotone.
 
Zelena smiled and held up the two pieces of parchment with swirling cursive across them.
 
*****
 
Marry Margaret and David were making their way back from the farmhouse when the snow queen appeared in the road with Zelena, shackled and gagged. Snow braced herself against the dashboard of the truck as her husband slammed on the breaks.
 
“What in the?” He got out of the car and walked cautiously towards them in the road. “Easy now… Let her go.”
 
“I told you I’d bring her right back.” The Snow Queen smiled, disappearing into a flurry, leaving Zelena behind.
 
“Really?” Snow sighed rushing over to help with the witch. “She just borrowed her for a moment?” She reached to remove the gag.
 
“Wait!” David cautioned. “You and I don’t have magic. Maybe it’s best if we be as cautious as possible until we can get her to Regina.”
 
Zelena adamantly shook her head no.
 
“Yes, maybe you’re right…” Snow sighed leading the witch back to the truck.
 
*****
 
Regina rushed into the vault, alarmed to see glass strewn about the floor.
 
“Marian! Robin!” She called desperately looking around.
 
“Regina!” Marian exclaimed coming from down the hall. “You’re alright!”
 
“What happened?” Regina asked.
 
“The Snow Queen appeared so we hid.” Robin came around the corner. “Did she get what she came for?”
 
“R-Robin…” Regina looked down.
 
“Robin Hood actually.” He bowed. “And you are?”
 
“Regina. Mills.” She turned away.
 
“Pleasure. Marian tells me you helped her overcome the curse that was upon her. You have my gratitude.” He offered her his hand to shake.
 
Regina looked at his hand but did not take it.
 
“Don’t mention it.” She sighed.
 
“There must be something I can-“
 
“No really. Don’t mention it.” She said shortly.
 
“As you wish.” Robin pulled back his hand.
 
“How are you feeling Marian?” Regina asked.
 
“I have Robin.” She leaned in and kissed the thief deeply. “I’m on top of the world.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian threw a dart hitting the board squarely on target. He trudged forward to the wall removing the projectile and stomping back to the line to throw another perfect target. As he reset once more he reached out for his glass of rum then closed his hand without it, pulling his fist back to his chest he took the dart and again landed right on target with a deep sigh.
 
Ruby raised an eyebrow “Hook you’ve been doing this for half an hour and you haven’t had a single sip of your drink. Would you like me to bring you something else?”
 
“I’m not supposed to drink when I am upset.” He sighed.
 
“So… you’re waiting to not be upset?” She asked confused.
 
“Aye.” He threw another dart, hitting slightly off center.
 
“If you’re not going to drink while you’re upset why get a drink?” She asked.
 
“I was upset.”
 
“Old habits?” Asked the wolf.
 
“Old habits.” He threw another bullseye.
 
The door chimed and Emma walked in as Killian removed his dart from the board.
 
“Is it the Snow Queen?” He asked as she marched up to him. “Did I miss a meeting?”
 
“No.” She said nervously. “I’m not here about the Snow Queen. I’m here about you. I’m sorry I snapped at you yesterday.”
 
“It’s alright love, I know you were under stress. I’ll try not to put myself in harms way while you’re struggling with your magic.” He gave a smirk reaching for his glass of rum.
 
He looked into the glass then shook his head putting it back down.
 
“I thought about what you said yesterday about being a survivor?”
 
“Like I said love, you don’t have to worry about me.” He turned to line up his shot once more.
 
“Good, because I’m here to ask you out.”
 
The dart hit flatly against the wall nearly a foot from the board falling to the ground. Killian turned, raising an eyebrow.
 
“On a date… a real one.” Emma sighed nervously.
 
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you out?” He tried to hide a smirk.
 
“I should have known you’d be old fashioned, what are you like 200?”
 
“More like three. And though Neverland and magic have given me experience, as you can see I’ve retained my youthful glow.” He flashed a debonair smile. “I accept on one condition. You let me plan the evening.”
 
“I know how to plan a date!” Emma objected.
 
“You know how to chase monsters and witches. I know how to plan a night out.” He grinned.
 
“Tonight?” Emma asked. “Eight?”
 
“It’s a date.” His blue eyes flashed with cunning. “See you tonight.”
 
Emma smirked at his beaconing expression, as she turned she glanced back at him, blushing as he held her in his gaze all the way to the door.
 
Ruby stacked dishes with a pleasant smile as she watched killian reach for his glass. His eyes still on the door after she left, he lifted it to his lips taking a drink.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Elsa,

The beans get closer every day. I hesitate to leave the farm. Kristof thinks he can find some help with my research in town. But these plans are so fragile I hate to leave them alone.

He has been to the hardware store, but you have no way of knowing what that is. How could you? You’re from Arendel and in Arendel the closest thing we had to a hardware store was a blacksmith. And as princesses we never really went to the blacksmith. I mean why would we? We had other things going on like-

“Uh, Elsa? Can you skip to the relevant part?” David asked.
 
“Sorry.” Elsa smiled sadly. “Anna writes like she talks. She’s never been able to say anything other than everything that was on her mind.”
 
“I like her.” Snow smiled.
 
There was a knock on the door. Regina let herself in pacing the floor nervously.
 
“Did everything go ok Regina? Is the witch back in her cell?” Mary Margaret asked.
 
“Yes.” Regina said shortly.
 
“Did you learn anything from her? Like what the Snow Queen wanted?” David stood.
 
“I think I already know what the Snow Queen wants.” Regina wrung her hands. “Which is why I didn’t talk to my sister. I locked her back up and came straight here.”
 
“What is it?” Elsa stood closing the journal.
 
“I… I can’t be sure. But I have to talk to the bookworm.”
 
“Regina, you’re making us nervous.” Snow said cautiously.
 
The door opened and Emma walked in.
 
“How did it go?” Elsa asked brightly. “Did he accept your courtship?”
 
“What?” Emma said in alarm. “It’s just a date!”
 
“Right. Of course.” Elsa shook her head with a smile. “You have such strange words for things here.”
 
“We’re in the middle of fighting the Snow Queen and you’re going on a date?!?” Regina barked.
 
“It was my idea.” Elsa stepped up. “My sister Anna delayed her wedding for me. I won’t have anyone else putting their life on hold.”
 
“Well while you’re off plundering with the pirate some of us are doing actual work!” Regina snarled.
 
“There will be

no

plundering!” David objected dropping his fist onto the counter.
 
“There there sweetie.” Snow gently rubbed his back.
 
“It’s just dinner! What’s the big deal?” Emma shrugged.
 
“Well I’m going to be working to stop the Snow Queen! When you’re done playing around with your pirate maybe you could lend a hand!” Regina stomped to the door slamming it behind her, leaving a ringing silence in the apartment.
 
“Mom!” Henry called from the loft, summoned by the loud slam of the door. “How did it go? Are you going to sail off into the sunset?” He laughed.
 
“There will be

no

sailing!” Charming objected.
 
“There there sweetie.” Snow rubbed his back sounding mildly annoyed.
 
“We have a date tonight.” Emma sighed.
 
“Where are you going?” Henry came down the steps to lean on the banister.
 
“I don’t know. He’s planing it.” She shrugged.
 
“Wow, That means it’s going to be awesome!” Henry raised his eyebrows. “What are you going to wear?”
 
“Uh…” Emma looked down at her red leather jacket and jeans. “This…?”
 
“Oh no you’re

not!”

Snow gasped.
 
“When we left New York I wasn’t exactly packing anything sexy.” Emma sighed.
 
“There will be

no

sexy!”
 
“Ok David, that’s enough.” Snow held out a finger to her husband.
 
“No sexy…” He said quietly turning to check on the baby.
 
“It’s not like Storybrooke has a lot of options for boutiques. Who even makes clothes around here? Bluebirds and mice?”
 
“You and I are sort of the same size.” Snow smiled “or we were before I got pregnant!” She laughed. “Hang on I’ll grab some things from my closet for you to try.” The mother rushed away excitedly.
 
“Maybe Regina is right. Maybe I shouldn’t be going on a date while the Snow Queen is out there…” she sighed.
 
“She’s just…having a hard time right now, that’s all.” Henry looked down. “But you should go out. You and grand- and Hook have waited long enough. And if you wait for things to be peaceful you may never go
 on a date!”
 
“You’re probably right about that.” Emma sat at the kitchen counter as Henry went to help his grandma.
 
“Am I wrong or are you nervous?” Elsa asked.
 
“You’re not wrong.” Emma looked down.
 
“Why?” She asked with genuine confusion.
 
“I don’t know.” She laughed. “I’ve been on plenty of dates.”
 
“What makes this one different?” Elsa sat next to her.
 
“I couldn’t say.”
 
“Could it be who it’s with?”
 
Emma opened her eyes wide.
 
“Did I say something wrong?” The Queen asked.
 
“No, I… you may be right.” Emma said in shock.
 
“Oh. Is it because he’s a pirate? I have a friend who is a pirate. Zheng Yi Sao. They’re not all bad people you know.”
 
Emma laughed. “No, I actually love that he’s a pirate. Even though I’ve used it against him before…”  she glanced over her shoulder making certain they weren’t being overheard. “We… we call ourselves pirate twins.” She smiled speaking quietly.
 
“That’s strange, you don’t look the same at all.” Elsa wondered.
 
“No, sometimes people use ‘twins’ to mean ‘alike’ not identical.” Emma enjoyed how literal Elsa could be. “It’s from a song we enjoy.”
 
“Oh. Then yes, I suppose you are alike.” Elsa chuckled. “You can both be a bit prickly.”
 
“Prickly?” Emma sounded offended.
 
“If it’s not because he’s a pirate, and you’re very alike, what’s the problem?”
 
“That’s the thing. There isn’t a problem. I like him. A lot. And that terrifies me. Chasing the snow queen is easy compared to going on a date with a guy I actually like.” She laughed. “I just can’t help but wonder if it will be that

easy

. If I can actually
be
with him…”
 
“If he wants to be with you and you want to be with him, why should you let anything stand in your way?” Elsa asked.
 
“Wow. I love that.” Emma smiled.
 
“Oh good.” Elsa stood and went to join David with the baby. “Because I heard it from Hook.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Regina opened the door to the library rushing in. Suddenly she stopped and took a deep shuddering breath. The thought of Marian kissing Robin playing on a loop in her mind. Her breathing was short and sharp as she gasped for breath.
 
“Regina!” Belle ran around the corner and to her side. “Are you alright?” She guided her to a chair.
 
She sat and took some deep breaths. After a moment, once her breathing evened out, she looked up at Belle. Sitting up straight she adjusted her jacket to remove any wrinkles and quickly wiped the salt from her eyes.
 
“I’m fine.” She said shortly. “I was just… in a hurry to get here, I must have lost my breath.”
 
Belle looked at her filled with sympathy. “Is there something I can help you with Regina?” She asked.
 
“I hear you’ve been researching the Snow Queen.” Regina continued to recompose herself.
 
“Yes! It’s fascinating. According to my research there have been many snow queens! It’s as if it’s a trait inherent in some people. Which is not rare among magic users. Plenty of people are born with an innate ability to perform magic. While others at born un able, or at least unlikely, to ever be a magic user. Each person gifted with magic seems to have an innate ability with certain spells.

As far as I can tell these Ice Queens are born with a highly abnormal ability to manipulate ice magic. They can even combine their ice abilities to amplify other aspects of their magic. They can even create complex LIFE!”
 
“What?” Regina said astounded.
 
“Those ice pirates that Killian was controlling? He said they could speak! They could form thought! I’m telling you that our friend Elsa can snap her fingers and create a life form.”
 
“That’s not like a sorceress, that’s like a Goddess…” Regina marveled.
 
“In all my research, these Ice witches are as close to gods as they get.”
 
“Well do we know anybody that has met a God? Or a Goddess?” Regina wondered.
 
“Actually yes.” Belle laughed. “Killian.”
 
“The pirate has met gods?!?”
 
“Multiple apparently. And Rumple I’m sure has met a few himself.”
 
“Do you think you could get the Dark One tell us about these gods?”
 
*****
 
Rumplestiltskin heard the chime as the door to the pawnshop opened. He remained focused on the watch movement he was repairing before hearing a voice that made his blood boil.
 
“Hello crocodile.” Killian said through his teeth.
 
“This is still a place of business. And seeing as you have nothing of value to trade, I suggest you be on your way.”
 
“Oh but I do.” He tucked his thumb and hook into his belt as he sauntered forward.
 
“What would that be?”
 
“My silence.”
 
Rumple put down the tool and looked up.
 
“You see… I know the dagger you gave Belle was a fake.” He paced the shop with arrogance. “So if you want me to keep that between us. I’ve come for a favor.”
 
“How would you know?” The Dark One said angrily.
 
“I’ve chased you for centuries my crocodile. You really think I can tell the difference between the real and fake dagger? All I have to do is tell her to summon you with it. When it doesn’t work, she’ll know you would never give up your power for her.”
 
“Tread Carefully. I might just take your other hand.”
 
“Funny you should say that. Because my hand is exactly what I’m here about.” He turned to face him.
 
“Beg your pardon?”
 
Killian closed his eyes. “I’ve got a date with Emma. Should things go well, should she want me to…hold her… I would like to use both hands.”
 
“How sweet captain. I see blackmail brings out the romantic in you.” He turned to a cabinet retrieving a large glass jar.
 
He placed it gently on the counter. Killian gapped as he looked at his own left hand suspended in solution. He bent to look closely at the familiar scars. Where he had jammed a finger in a cannon. Where he had broken open a knuckle on a man face. Where Barbarossa had stitches him up.
 
“You kept it… all these years…” He felt a pang of fear in his chest, quickly burning to a rage as he looked up. His eyes a flaming red.
 
“You’d be surprised the amount of spells that call for a pirates hand specifically.” He chuckled, reminiscent of his otherworld persona.
 
The pawnbroker held open his hand above the jar moving it in a circle. Killian looked down for the first time in two centuries and saw his left hand. He gasped, flexing his fingers as though they had never been gone. The solution of the jar still wet upon his skin, he reveled to feel anything but the leather cuff. Looking up he saw his hook in the imps hand.
 
“A word of caution dearie. That hand belonged to the man you used to be. A cunning selfish pirate. It connects you to him. Who’s to say the influence that man could have on you?”
 
“Nice try crocodile.” He laughed, gesturing with his left hand. “You can’t fool me. I’ve worked on my demons. And no hand is going to undo that.” He smirked.
 
“Just you wait captain. I’ll be returning this to you soon enough.” He held up the hook and cuff.
 
Killian locked him in a deadly stare just as Regina and Belle walked in.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What are you doing here?” Regina snarled. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for your date?”
 
“Date? What date?” Belle asked. “Ah! With Emma! You have a date with Emma!!!” Belle jumped up and down with excitement.
 
“Yes it so happens I do.” Killian laughed to see her so happy for him.
 
“Killian!” Belle took him in to a happy embrace, pulling him in so tight he was forced to duck down to her level.
 
Rumple scowled.
 
“What are you doing here Captain Romance?” Regina rolled her eyes.
 
“Right. Not that I’m not happy to see you, or hear your amazing news, but the pawnshop is usually the last place i expect you.” Belle looked from Killian to her husband.
 
“I came to give the Dark One my long overdue thanks for saving my life the other night. He, as an offering of peace, returned my hand so that I can properly escort Emma on our date tonight.” He smiled.
 
“You did that?” Belle looked at her husband in shock. “Rumple, you have truly impressed me lately.” She said with love in her eyes.
 
“We’re a long way from mending any bridges, but I am willing to accept the idea that the Dark One can change.” He locked the eyes of his foe.
 
“It’s a start.” Belle smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Have a wonderful time tonight Killian. You deserve it.”
 
“Thank you Belle.” The pirate said tenderly as he turned to leave the store.
 
“Wait!” Regina stopped him. “Since we have you both here why don’t we ask you at the same time?”
 
“Ask what love?” Killian turned impatiently.
 
“What do you know about Gods and Goddesses?” Regina asked.
 
“Well, unless you want to know how they perform in bed I’m afraid I can’t help you.” Killian raised an eyebrow.
 
“No. Thank you.” Regina said with disgust.
 
“We know of your involvement with Calypso, but have you met any other gods?” Belle asked.
 
“I’ve met pandora.” Killian looked up at Rumple. “She is a goddess isn’t she?” He asked.
 
“That she is.” The Dark One placed his hands upon the counter. “The goddess of-“
 
“Madness.” Killian interrupted. “You get this strange feeling in the presence of a god. Much like the feeling you get being around him.” He pointed to his nemesis.
 
“He’s a lot of things, but a god?” Regina scoffed.
 
“The Dark One’s power is close to that of a god, yes. Some may even say Demi-god. But I sense it’s not me you’ve come to talk about.” He looked from Regina to his wife.
 
“Belle? What’s this about?” He asked gently.
 
“We found information on the Snow Queens power. The power of ice witches. They compare them to gods.”
 
“Aye.” Killian stared off into space, remembering his time with the snow queen. “That feeling. That uneasy feeling… she is so powerful, she may have just achieved that height.” His voice was a whisper.
 
“Killian.” Belle placed a hand on his shoulder snapping him out of his stupor. “You don’t have to be here for this. I know you’re still recovering.” She said quietly.
 
“R-right. I have to date to prepare for.” He flashed a dead eyed smile as he turned to the door.
 
“What can you tell us about Ice Witches?” Regina turned to Gold.
 
“Not my area of expertise. I’ve heard they are rare. Only appearing in family’s, never having one of their own. But they form strong bonds with people. Stronger than most. But the thing about bonds, is they can be broken. And when the heart of an ice witch breaks, everyone will suffer.”
 
“Why didn’t you tell us this sooner?!?” Regina demanded.
 
“I didn’t know it to be true. Or relevant. Cora’s power came from envy. Much like her first daughter Zelena. Regina’s power comes from fire and darkness. It doesn’t make much difference to know.”
 
“How do we stop an Ice Witch whose power is near the level of a goddess?” Belle wondered aloud.
 
“That’s not the question you should be asking yourself.” Rumple scoffed.
 
“Then what is?” Regina demanded.
 
“Ice Queens are rare. Extremely rare. What are the chances you’d end up with two of them in the same town?”
 
“Elsa…” Belle said quietly.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian headed back to the Jolly Rodger, lamenting losing time to prepare. But it would certainly be easier now that he had two hands.  As he headed to the Marina he saw someone crouched in front of the door to the library. He sighed heavily and walked over to the man, in deep concentration as he attempted to pick the lock.
 
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Killian sighed.
 
“If ya don’t mind, I’m trying ta concentrate.” Said the dull man with the cockney accent.
 
“You’re a few sailors short of a crew aren’t you mate?” Killian asked leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.
 
“Wot do you mean by that exactly?” He turned.
 
The pirate leaned in and opened the door.
 
“Opening hours till ten.” He pointed to the sign inches from the thief’s face.
 
“Very generous…” Said the man with a sigh.
 
In a flash Killian had him by the collar, yanking him to his feet.
 
“Oy! Watch it”
 
“The thing is, this is my

friends

library. And I’ll be dammed if I let some fool of a thief break in and

ruin

it for her.”
 
“Take it easy mate! I’ll make it up to your girlfriend! You’re

hurting

me, let go!”
 
Killian released him looking intently at his left hand. Surprised by his reaction.
 
“She’s not my girlfriend.” He said after a moment. “But you can make it up to

me

, and the librarian never has to
know
.”
 
“Make it up to you? How?” He asked.
 
“You’re going to help me get my ship ready for a date.

With

my girlfriend.” He smiled.
 
Killian gripped him roughly by the shoulder and lead him to the marina.
 
“What’s your name mate?” The Captain asked.
 
“Will Scarlet.” He said nervously.
 
“Ah yes.” Killian murmured. “Robin Hood told me about you.”
 
“You know Robin?” Will asked as he lead him towards the Jolly Rodger. “Are you one of the Merry Men?”
 
“Afraid not. I know Robin, but I’m far too big for his story. I have a legend of my own.”
 
“Oh yeah? And wot do they call this legend eh?” Will scoffed.
 
“Captain Hook.” Killian pushed him to fall onto the ships deck.
 
“Captain Hook?!?” He gasped, looking up from his back. “I’ve changed me mind! I’ll make it up to the librarian! Wait a tick. Captain Hook? Haven’t you got… twice as many hands as he does?”
 
“I recently dug up some old treasure.” He looked down at his left fist. “Not that I needed the hook for my name to be known.”
 
“I’d never heard of ya before you was Hook.” He shook his head.
 
“Captain Killian Jones?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“The man who found Treasure Island with Jim Hawkins?!?” Will gaped open mouthed.
 
“Ah yes, how is old Jim?” Killian smiled.
 
“Rich enough to never talk to ME again!” Will marveled.
 
“Listen Will, I didn’t bring you here to talk. You’re going to scrub my ship. Stem to stern. And when you’re done you’ll clear anything that’s an eyesore off the deck and make it look nice you hear?”
 
“I don’t suppose you’re going to pay me for it are you?” He asked.
 
He grabbed his collar roughly jerking him forward. “I’ll pay you by not taking the library out of your hide.” He said through his teeth.
 
“Alright alright! I’m going!” Will held up his hands. “Wot are you going tuh be doing while I’m scrubbing your bloody deck?”
 
“I have dinner to prepare.” He stepped below deck.
 
He could hear Will above him grumbling to himself as he scrubbed away at the ship. Killian looked down at his left hand examining it front to back in the dim lamp light of the ships hull. The Dark One was lying. He had to be. There was no way the hand was exciting his thirst for violence. He took a deep breath to calm himself. He thought of something different. Of Emma. He smiled to himself and went to work preparing a their meal.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Elsa sat intently reading her sisters journal she had decided it would be best to read it herself and then recount her tales rather than read her sisters every thought out loud. But as she read she grew more and more silent.
 
“I still feel bad going out when-“
 
“Mom! You’re

going

on your date!” Henry smiled. “Now let’s see the dress.”
 
Emma stepped out in a light pink gown. Her hair done up and the slightest hint of makeup on her face.
 
“That’s the one.” Henry smiled. “You look beautiful mom.”
 
“You really do Emma.” Snow said through tears.
 
“Is that just the corset? Where is the rest of it?” Elsa asked putting down the book to rest her eyes.
 
“This

is

the rest of it.” Emma looked down in confusion.
 
Snow quickly snapped a picture before Emma could object.
 
“Mom. I’m 32.” Emma sighed as Snow shook out the Polaroid.
 
“Hey! I never got to send to to a ball or prom! Let me have this!”
 
There was a knock on the door. Emma straightened her dress, taking a deep breath as she reached for the door knob. She opened it to see Killian waiting on the other side. He looked up at her from under his brow. His lips falling open to see her in the soft pink dress.
 
“You look stunning Swan.” His voice was a breath.
 
“And you…” She trailed off.
 
He had traded in his leather jacket for a black silk blazer, Well cut slacks, and a deep burgundy waistcoat over a collared shirt. The top few buttons casually unfastened to show some of his rugged chest.
 
“Can I come in…?” He asked as she realized she was staring.
 
“Yes! Of course! Sorry! I was just surprised.” She stepped aside to let him in.
 
“I have many surprises in store.” He stepped into the apartment, pulling a red rose from behind his back with his left hand.
 
Emma smiled and took it, not giving it a second thought.
 
“Uh…Emma?” Snow said in shock.
 
“What?” Emma looked over at her family staring.
 
She glanced over, taking a step back in surprise to see he had two hands.
 
“How… did you…?”
 
“The Dark One was kind enough to restore what he once took from me.” He glanced at his left hand. “It seems he has changed somewhat.”
 
“So what do I call you now? Captain Hand?” Emma smiled at her own joke.
 
“Killian will do.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek.
 
David cleared his throat loudly.
 
“You two should get out of here before David gives you his overprotective dad speech.” Snow laughed.
 
Emma reached for a basket on the kitchen counter, looping it over her arm.
 
“You can spare yourself the trouble mate, I assure you your daughter couldn’t be in better hands.” Killian grinned.
 
“That’s exactly what worries me. Especially now that you have two of them.”
 
“I can take care of myself!” Emma said quickly ushering the pirate to the door.
 
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?” David asked.
 
“

Goodbye!”

Emma laughed with embarrassment as she quickly rushed into the hall.
 
Killian gave a nod of respect to charming and followed.
 
“Hurry let’s get out of here before they tail us.” Emma rushed down the steps.
 
Killian hurried to catch up with her, offering his arm. She slowed down taking it with a smile.
 
“So what’s the plan for tonight? Restaurant? Movie? Rock concert? I may not be dressed for that last one.”
 
“Actually I thought I’d treat you to some cooking you’d never had before.” He smiled as they made their way out into the street.
 
“Whose cooking is that?” She asked.
 
“Mine.” He said proudly.
 
“You cook?” She marveled.
 
“Aye. A pirates culinary prowess is a sure sign of experience, I’m intent to show you what I can do.”
 
“Well, that goes with my plan. I brought dessert!” She held up the basket.
 
“Oh good, because that would be where my prowess ends. I’m rubbish at desert.” He smiled.
 
“Well together it sounds like we made a whole meal.” She leaned into him as they walked down the street arm in arm. “Wait, how did you cook? You haven’t got a

kitchen

. Cruca’s apartment is tiny. And where are we eating for that matter? Did you sew a bunch of old tshirts together to make a table cloth?” She laughed.
 
“How many times do I have to tell you love? I’m a gentleman.”
 
They rounded the corner to see the jolly Rodger lit up with strings of light along each mast, sail, and rope. The bulbs stood out against the black velvet sky. The boat illuminated in a warm glow as only the hints of sun remained far out on the horizon.
 
“A night out with Killian Jones is not one you will soon forget.” He looked at her intently.
 
She could hardly turn away from the lustrous boat, but she couldn’t help but look at him. Amazed to think they were finally together after such a struggle. She leaned in and gently kissed him. Surprised to feel both his hands upon her back as he held her near.
 
“It’s already a night I won’t forget.” She smiled happily.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emmas smile grew brighter with every step towards the ship. He helped her up the ramp to the deck. The usually crowded deck covered in rope, barrels, and rigging was spick and span. The only thing upon deck was a two person table with a simple white table cloth. A small candle burning at the center between two covered dishes. A soft classical music playing from his speaker system mounted to the top rail.
 
“Wow, Killian, this is amazing. I’m not going to lie. I half expected Grannys.”
 
He pulled out her chair for her, sliding it in as he stood behind her.
 
“Funny you should mention grannies because…” He lifted the cover on her plate to reveal a toasted sandwich.
 
“You made me grilled cheese???” She exclaimed happily.
 
“Aye. Very

special

grilled cheese.”
 
“Grilled cheese is my favorite.” She gave a girlish smile as he pulled the cover on his own grilled cheese.
 
“I’ve gathered.” He laughed. “I thought I’d pair the grilled cheese with a drink. May I?” He raised a bottle of rum.
 
“Rum and grilled cheese?” She laughed.
 
“Aye, there’s a reason love. Try a bite.”
 
She picked up the bread, savoring the sound of the crispy crust crunching under her fingers as she bit into the bread.
 
“Iv vat pineapple?” She asked with food in her mouth.
 
“Aye. Hence the rum.” He reached for his own cup. “My own spiced blend. Heavy on the orange, lighter on the cloves. With a dash of honey.” He raised his glass.
 
She lifted hers meeting his across the table. As she sipped she marveled at the taste of the rum with the buttery salty-sweet grilled cheese.
 
“You’re quite the chef Hook. I mean… Killian.” She laced her fingers between his on his left as she ravenously took another bite of grilled cheese.
 
“I’m glad it’s to your liking. What did you bring for dessert?” He sipped his rum as she took the last bites of her sandwich.
 
With a bright smile she reached into the basket and removed a plate. Holding the kitchen towel in front of it to pull it back for a dramatic reveal.
 
“Jello!” He smiled brightly.
 
“I wanted to make you something special.” She chuckled.
 
“Very special! Gelatin and water.” He watched the orange mould form jiggle on the plate.
 
“This one is extra special. Emma raised an eyebrow cutting into the mould and handing him a piece of the orange shape.
“Gelatin, water, and… rum.”
 
“You can put RUM in jello?!!” He opened his mouth taking a large bite. “Mmmph.” He sighed contentedly.
 
“You like it?” She laughed as he went in for another bite.
 
“You’re a culinary genius.” He smiled.
 
“Don’t give me the credit, college kids had this one down long before I came along.”
 
She watched him take another eager bite.
 
“Not too bad on the dinner I’d say. We’ve had our favorite food, dessert, drinks.” He lifted his glass.
 
She lifted hers back.
 
“Why don’t we head out to sea?” He asked looking up seductively from under his eyebrows.
 
“Taking me sailing? I might have known. How like a pirate.” She stood.
 
“I have a couple things for us this evening, as far as entertainment goes.” He began to untie the ship from the dock. “Swan could you tie-“
 
He stopped glancing down at the ships cleat.
 
“Impressive bowline.” He raised an eyebrow to see her knot.
 
“I’ve done some reading. Would you believe I wanted to impress you?” She chuckled at herself.
 
“You-“ He took her hand. “-have impressed me every day since the moment I met you.”
 
He pulled her close putting his arm around her as they walked up to the navigation deck.
 
“
Every
day?” She laughed.
 
“Aye. Every day. Since I met you, right there.” He pointed towards Main Street.
 
“I suppose it

was

right there wasn’t it?” She held her arms with her hands as she shivered, the night wind picking up around them as the Jolly Rodger pulled out of the marina and on to the ocean.
 
“Feels like decades ago.” He placed his old pirate duster over her shoulders.
 
She couldn’t help but marvel at his forethought to keep it on the navigation deck for when she inevitably got cold. She stood next to him, looking out at the moonlight reflecting on the calm sea as the town shrunk behind them.
 
Killian pulled the sheet, letting it slack as he released the chain dropping the anchor. Reaching in to his pocket he produced a remote. He pressed it, the lights boardering the ship went out, leaving them standing on the ship in the dark. Emma gasped looking up at the stars. They were far enough out that the light pollution had faded significantly. The stars were bright and plentiful in the night sky. The Milky Way tracking its path across the dark above them.
 
“Killian… it’s beautiful…” She could not tear her eyes away.
 
He pressed the remote again. The classical music changing to a gentile guitar.
 
“Dream a Little Dream of Me.” Emma swayed to the sound.
 
“The Mama’s and the Papa’s.” Killian stepped up to her taking her hand in his left.
 
“1968.” She glanced at their palms, still unused to him having both hands.
 
He placed his right hand upon the small of her back. She sighed contentedly at the familiar sensation. He held her close and began to move to the music.

“~Stars shining bright above you,

Night breezes seem to whisper I love you,

Birds singing in the sycamore tree,

Dream a little dream of me.~”

“Ok.” She laughed gently. “I’m impressed.”
 
“Good date?” He smiled.
 
“Yes. This is a wonderful date. You’ve actually managed to make me forget that we’re under siege from an evil Snow Queen.”
 
“I’ve only seen you on one date before, I figured I had to measure up.”
 
“He set the bar pretty high, he proposed that night.” She rolled her eyes. “Although… This night is already one that I won’t soon forget.”

“~Stars fading, but I linger on dear,

Still craving your kiss.

I’m longing to linger till dawn dear,

Just saying this~”

He held his hand above her head spinning her to hold her back against his body. His warm cheek against hers, they continued to sway, looking out at the stars upon the sea.

“~Sweet Dreams til sunbeams find you,

Sweet Dreams that leave all worries far behind you.

But in your dreams, whatever they be,

Dream a little dream of me.~”

She stepped away from him turning to look into his shimmering blue eyes. She felt her knees go weak as her chest fluttered with butterflies. She held his gaze, until she was close enough to feel his breath upon her lips. Her eyes closed slowly as she felt his kiss. Gentile and comforting, as he held her close.
 
The music faded out as he walked with her to the ships rail. She sat upon the banister looking out into the water. He took his place next to her.
 
“Something wrong Swan?” He asked.
 
“No.” She looked sadly down into the ocean. “Not a thing.”
 
“Then why do you look sad?”
 
“When we go back,
everything
will be wrong. I guess I’ve ruined things for myself. I don’t want this to end.” She looked up with a laugh, concealing a brimming tear.
 
“Hey.” He moved in close. “I know fighting villains is what you do Swan. But what I do is whatever I want.”
 
Emma laughed.
 
“And I want to be the one to remind you, that even as the savior, you get to enjoy life. So whenever you’re feeling your job is too much, you’ve got a dashingly handsome pirate ready to sail you away. And we can have this. Whenever you like.”
 
She threw her arms around his shoulders, concealing her tears from him. After a moment when she found her voice, she whispered.
 
“I never knew how much I needed you in my life Killian.”
 
“I intend to stay in your life Swan.” He pulled her in and placed his chin on her head as he held her tightly.
 
“Good.” She put her arms around him.
 
She heard the melodic electronic music as Europa and the Pirate Twins came over the sound system. Killian stood off the rail and beckoned her to her feet. Emma winced.
 
“That’s some grip you’ve got there.” She laughed looking down at her right hand on his left.
 
He quickly let go of her. “Sorry. Still getting used to it.” He closed his hand into a fist and put it behind his back.
 
“That’s ok, so am I.”
 
“Look.” He pointed up. “You see those stairs.” He held her with his right hand pointing with his left.”
 
“Like that?” She drew an ex across the sky.
 
“Deneb, Gienah, Delta Cygni, Sadr, and Albireo. Stars that form the northern cross.”
 
“It’s gorgeous.”
 
“I’m glad you think so.” He glanced down looking into her eyes. “It’s been helping sailors chart their path along the sea for thousands of years. I myself have used it many a long night on the ocean. The stars are the same you know? Across realms. It’s funny to realize that this constellation of all the stars in the sky would lead me here.”
 
“Why is that?” She asked.
 
“It has another name. Cygnus. The Swan.”
 
Emma let out a breath, leaning in she took him into a deep and passionate kiss. After a moment she quickly stepped back.
 
“~we swore a vow that day. We’ll be the pirate twins again! Europa!~”
 
“There’s that hand again.” She laughed looking at his grip upon her shoulder.
 
He quickly let her go.
 
“I apologize.” He looked away.
 
“Hey.” She pulled him back.
 
“Emma, I wanted tonight to be perfect.” He glanced at the hatch to the captains quarters, then down to his left wrist.

“~we’ll be the pirate twins again! Europa! Oh my country!~

“~ I’ll stand beside you in the rain! Europa! Ta republic!~”

“It is.” She looked up again at the constellation as Thomas Dolby drifted out, the classical music coming over the speakers once more. “It’s really perfect.”
 
Killian sighed looking away from the door to his room.
 
“We should get you home. I promised your father.” He laughed.
 
Emma looked a bit sad, but nodded. She stood by his side as he brought the ship back into the harbor, and they returned to Storybrooke.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They came up the steps to the door. Emma turned on the landing and smiled at him.
 
“Thank you Killian. After a night like that, the Snow Queen doesn’t stand a chance.”
 
“Renewed spirit?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“Renewed lots of things.”
 
He held her left hand in his right lacing their fingers.
 
“I worried my clumsy hand had cast a pall over the evening.”
 
“No.” She lifted his hand, interlocking her fingers so she held both of his hands. “Not in the slightest. Do you want to come in for some tea? With my parents, a newborn and a human ice maker?”
 
He laughed. “Maybe next time.”
 
“Next time? I don’t remember asking.” She smirked.
 
“That’s because it’s my turn.” He locked her with his forget-me-not gaze. “Will you go out with me again?”
 
“I look forward to it.” She leaned in, kissing him with increasing passion.
 
Her tongue brushed his with a soft sensation as she breathed and stepped away. She turned, letting him take the pirates duster from her shoulders.
 
“Goodnight Killian.” She glanced back at him as she opened the door to the apartment.
 
“Goodnight… Emma.” He watched until she shut the door.
 
Emma stepped inside and put her back to the door, taking a deep breath. A host of emotions running through her head. She tried desperately to sort through them as her shoulders rose and fell in a soft rhythm.
 
“How did it go?” Snow’s voice came from the couch.
 
Emma looked quickly to her right to see her parents looking at her with various states of emotion. Snow, bright and bubbly. David, arms crossed and severe.
 
“Where did you go? What did you do? I want to know everything!”
 
“I

do not

want to know everything.” David scowled.
 
“Was there a good night kiss?” Snow clasped her hands in delight.
 
“That for example is one of the things I don’t want to know about.” David sighed.
 
“Goodnight!” Emma said quickly turning to the stairs.
 
“She seems happy.” Snow said contentedly.
 
“Yah…” David marveled. “Maybe I was wrong about Hook. Or… Killian.”
 
“I can hear you!” Emma sighed as she made her way up the loft.
 
She dropped heavily onto her back once she reached the bed. Looking up at the corrugated metal ceiling of the apartment. She had never been on a date that left her this way before. A part of her had been hoping he was ready for a higher level of intimacy. But after such an amazing evening she didn’t care how long she had to wait. Despite the Snow Queen, everything with Killian was going perfectly.
 
She sat up and unzipped her dress. Opening the armoire to hang it, she saw a white tshirt in the hamper from a couple nights before. Cruca’s undershirt. She had intended to wash it and return it to him, but hadn’t gotten around to doing laundry. She looked about nervously, as though someone could be watching her. Removing it from the basket she slipped it on and lay in bed. The smell of the shirt a pleasant reminder of her night as she slowly drifted to sleep.
 
*****
 
Emma heard a voice from down in the loft waking her suddenly. She looked up at the window. The sky only just beginning to turn blue. Birds singing to herald the new day as she looked around sleepily to find out where the voice had come from.
 
“Emma!!!” She heard her mother shout. “Emma hurry!”
 
“M-mom?” She sat up, rubbing her eyes.
 
Snow came to the top of the stairs a phone in her hand, a look of concern on her face.
 
“What’s going on?” Emma asked.
 
“I just got a call from the hospital! Dr Whale said he had to call me about the incident because technically I’m still the mayor…” Snow tried to slow her breathing, but could not hide her worried expression.
 
“Incident? What incident?” Emma lifted the sheet over herself to hide the mens shirt she was wearing.
 
“It’s Killian. He’s at the hospital.”
 
“What?!?” She threw off the sheets in alarm and reached for her jeans. “Why?!?”
 
“Dr Whale said… Dr Whale said he cut off his hand.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian kept his eyes on the door to the loft. He hung the captains jacket over his elbow and turned to walk down the stairs. He felt a bit dismayed. But took comfort knowing the night had gone well for the most part. He looked down at his left hand as he made his way towards the harbor, flexing his fingers in and out. He examined every cut, every scar, every knuckle. He could not deny it was indeed his own left hand.
 
As he reached the dock he glanced up at his ship. It was beautiful covered in light, still freshly scrubbed. He sat down at the table for two and sighed heavily.
 
“Don’t know wot your problem is. I think I did a fine job.”
 
Killian looked up to see Will Scarlet with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
 
“Leave.” The Captain said shortly, putting his face in his hands.
 
“No I don’t fink I will. You see, I scrubbed me heart out on this ship and got nothing to show for it but some blisters.” He held up his raw hands.
 
“This is your final warning.” Killian stood to walk up the steps to the upper deck.
 
“Oh no you don’t!” Will spilled whiskey across the freshly cleaned planks of the Jolly Rodger as he grabbed Killian by the blazer. “I did good work and I intend to be

paid

for it!”
 
“Big mistake.” Killian said through his teeth brushing him off.
 
“I know how to value my time!” He burped, the smell of whiskey wafting from his throat. “And I deserve pay!”
 
With a swift step down the stairs Killians left fist met the dull man’s nose sending him to the deck.
 
“It’s not wise to test my anger!” He stood over him grasping his collar with his right hand. “I warned you to leave. Next time perhaps you’ll listen.”
 
His left fist met Wills face with a sickening crack.
 
“No matter how little brains you’ve got, any good thief knows not to mess with Captain Hook!” His eyes flashed blood red in the light of the bulbs as his fist made contact one last time.
 
“I’m s-sorry! L-let me go mate!” Will pleaded.
 
Killian looked down. His left fist covered in blood. Will had red streaming from his broken nose. His eye was already beginning to swell shut, and his lip was split in a nasty cut.
 
“Don’t hurt me anymore! I’ll go! I swear I’ll go.”
 
“Get off my ship.” Killian snapped, letting him stand.
 
Will scurried to his feet and rushed off the deck, leaving a trail of blood and whiskey behind him. Killian took deep breaths, he couldn’t stop the rage inside. He quickly rushed to the upper deck, opening the door to the captain’s quarters. He leaned against the steep steps looking around the room. The bed was nicely made with fresh linens. A bottle of wine on the table, rose petals strewn about the room.
 
He took a shuddering breath, looking at his hand, bloody from beating the thief’s face in. Certain he had made the right decision to send Emma home. He looked up at the ceiling, drawing his sword from his belt upon the wall.
 
“Damn you Crocodile. Damn your blasted dark soul.”
 
He pulled back his cutlas and with one sweeping motion sliced through the flesh, muscle and bone of his left wrist.
 
*****
 
Killian woke to the gentile beep of a heart monitor. He glanced over to see his arm strapped to a board, Immobilizing it. The sound of the heart monitor grew quicker as he saw his severed hand upon a tray.
 
“Captain Jones, we’re rushing you to surgery. I can reattach your hand.” Dr whale said with confidence.
 
“No! Don’t you dare!” He begged. “You can’t! It’s been cursed! It’s evil!”
 
“I suspected as much.” The Doctor said gravely. “What other reason would a man have to remove his own hand? But Regina volunteered her services. She says there is nothing wrong with it. We can save your hand captain.” He urged.
 
“I DON’T WANT IT!” He shouted, the heart monitor rising to an alarm. “The Dark One cursed it! He did something! You can’t put it back! You can’t!”
 
Dr Whale dropped his shoulders. “If you don’t consent there is nothing I can do.” He sighed. “But I promise you Captain, there is nothing wrong with this hand.”
 
“The Dark One is more powerful than you can imagine Dr Frankenstein.” Killian felt his consciousness fading as his heart beat faster.
 
“I understand your fear Captain. But are you certain you want to live without a hand?”
 
“I’ve lived without it for years. Why should the rest of my life make any difference?” His voice cracked.
 
“Very well captain…” the doctor nodded to the nurses, turning to leave the room.
 
Killian felt himself slipping from consciousness. He prayed for the blackness. But as he did, he felt a presence. Looking up suddenly he saw his greatest foe standing on the edge of his bed.
 
“Y-you!” He said in fear.
 
“You ought to know never to blackmail me Captain.” He said with a laugh.
 
“If you’ve come to kill me just get it over with.” He murmured.
 
He was too weak to stand, his arm still strapped to the board.
 
“Why would I kill my most useful tool?” His voice rose to a higher decibel as he mocked the pirate.
 
“I’m no tool of yours! The Snow Queen could never fully control me, and you can’t either. So just leave me be. Haven’t you taken enough?”
 
“Ive not yet taken everything I need from you. I told you you’d be wanting this back captain.” Holding up the mast-hook and cuff, he approached the tray with the severed left hand. “I certainly didn’t expect that you would remove it yourself though.”
 
“Just go.” His voice cracked. He turned his head away from his tormentor.
 
“Regina and Dr Whale are right you know. There is nothing wrong with this hand. You could have had your old life back. You’re no hero captain. You can pretend you’re a changed man all you want, but as it turns out all you needed was an excuse. And now you’re Captain Hook once more.”

“
Hey!!!”

Killian and the Dark One looked up. Emma stood in the doorway in her red leather jacket and jeans.
 
“Get the hell away from him!!!” She shouted, rushing into the room.
 
“Until next time Captain.” Rumple laughed, raising his hand to disappear into a cloud of grey smoke.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Killian!” Emma rushed to his side as his head bobbed limply on his shoulders.
 
“E-Emma… what are you…?”
 
“Why didn’t you tell me Killian?” Tears pressed against her lashes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
 
“I thought I had it under control. I’m sorry I ruined our date.”
 
“You didn’t ruin anything.” She sat gently on his right side. “Henry is on his way with Calypso’s Balsam. You’re going to be ok.” She placed a gentile hand on his cheek. “What were you thinking?” She said almost bitterly. “Blackmailing Gold? What did you even have on him?”
 
“It’s probably best I don’t say.” He looked away.
 
“Killian… you don’t have to do things alone. You said you wanted me in your life remember? This is the kind of thing I want to be there to help you with. No matter how stupid you were for doing it in the first place.” She sighed. “Why did you do it?”
 
“I wanted to know what it was like… to hold you in both hands…” He turned to look away from her.
 
“Hardly seems worth it.” She laughed.
 
“It was worth it.” He turned back to face her. “I have no doubts. It was worth it.”
 
She leaned in slowly to kiss him.  “Henry will be here soon Killian. You’ll be ok. Though you still have a bad track record of two days on the near-death experiences. I’m gong to need you to do better than that.”
 
“Next time I’ll shoot for three days.” He laughed.
 
“Make it a week and I think I can work with it.” Emma smiled.
 
“Haven’t scared you off yet?” He asked, looking at his left wrist.
 
“You were so desperate to remain on the right track, you cut off a perfectly good hand. I like you just the way you are Killian. You don’t have to change for me.” She smiled.
 
“Good because… I think this is just who I am. I make the wrong choices. I suffer the consequences. I wish I could say things would get better but… I’m always going to try and do things the easy way.”
 
“It’s almost like you’re a pirate.” She laughed. “Pirate twins.” She took his pinky in hers.
 
“Pirate twins.”
 
“Grandfather!!!” Henry rushed into the hospital room. “I’ve got the balsam!”
 
“Are you ready Killian?” Emma asked, opening the pouch.
 
He nodded with his eyes closed. Emma took a deep breath pulling back the bandage. He winced as the gauze was peeled away to reveal his severed wrist.
 
“This isn’t going to… regrow your hand or something is it?” She asked.
 
“It only heals.” Killian managed a smile seconds before Emma spread the balsam.
 
“Ah! AHHH!!!” He gasped gnashing his teeth as his wrist healed.
 
He strained against the straps holding his wrist to the board. His shoulder twisting violently as a cold sweat grew upon his brow.
 
“Killian?” Emma asked as his body relaxed.
 
“B-better in a moment love.” He sighed as he lay his head back on the pillow.
 
“I’ll go get the nurse.” Henry rushed out of the room.
 
“You can have all the jello you want in recovery.” Emma chuckled.
 
“Any chance you have some more with rum in it?”
 
“No, but I have rum.” She took the flask from his jacket and handed it to him, kissing him on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a minute, I’m going to talk to dr Whale about having you released.”
 
Emma left the room. Killian looked down at his flask and then to his wrist, still aching from his second amputation. He felt terrible. He had lost to the dark one again, and put himself back in his path. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help but crave the comfort of rum. He tipped back the bottle, swallowing several mouthfuls of the burning bitter spirit as the sting of alcohol calmed his nerves and numbed his mind.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Regina…?” Belle said puzzled as she saw her at a library table, a stack of books in her hands. “Not that I’m not grateful for your help but don’t you have…other things…? To do…?”
 
“All I want to do is defeat the Snow Queen.” She grumbled. “It’s not my fault I’m the only one dedicated to it.”
 
“Regina, what happened? The other day when you lost your breath. That was more than that wasn’t it? You’re going through something. Do you want to talk about it?” Belle set down her stack of books.
 
“Clearly I don’t.” She sighed keeping her eyes down.
 
“You know… you can talk to me. I understand struggle.”
 
“You may have the Dark One and Captain Hook marked on your villain bingo card but don’t expect to catch me on there.” She did not lift her head.
 
“Well, as long as you’re hanging around the library… the offer stands.” She picked her books back up walking towards the back hall.
 
Regina sighed and looked up at the library ceiling. Tears forming on her lashes threatening to ruin her makeup. But with a deep breath she managed to hide them away.
 
“Regina!!!” Belle called from the hall.
 
Regina stood quickly and rushed after her, noting the alarm in her voice.
 
“What is it?!?” She asked coming around a stack of books.
 
She didn’t need to ask. Laying on the floor was a strapping young man clutching a book and a bottle of whiskey. His face was bloody and swollen, he was passed out next to the broken back window, clearly how he had gotten in.
 
“Is that all?” The Queen sighed looking at the drunken intruder. “Really Belle? You can’t handle the village idiot?”
 
“What am I supposed to do with him?!?” Belle looked from the unconscious man to the queen.
 
“Call the sheriff.”

*****

“That was David.” Emma hung up her phone as she drove the yellow bug home from the hospital. “Apparently Will Scarlet broke into the library last night.”
 
Killian sighed heavily from the passenger seat. His arm in a sling.
 
“David’s taking him to the hospital, before he goes to the drunk tank. Said he’s pretty beat up. I’m guessing you know something about that.” She said gently.
 
“I did it.” He confessed in a deep voice. “I thought it was my hand but… it’s me. It was all me. I deserve to be taken to jail.”
 
“Nah.” Emma shrugged.
 
“Aren’t you the sheriff? Isn’t it your job?”
 
“Apparently I’m a pirate because I don’t feel like it.” She laughed.
 
“Emma…”
 
“Killian. Just… let me take care of you on this one.”
 
“If you’re not taking me to jail where are we going?” His eyes were heavy as he looked out the window.
 
“Grannys for Grilled Cheese and Jello.”
 
“I beat Will Scarlet’s face in. I get Jello and he gets sent to jail?”
 
“You got your hand cut off. I think you’ve paid your dues.” She chuckled. “And the drunk tank is hardly jail.”
 
“You’re awfully cavalier about this whole thing.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
 
“You’ve come a long way from shooting Belle, kidnapping Hopper, stealing magic beans, and working with the bad guys. I know how hard you’re trying. And I’m guessing Will played a role in what happened as well. Did he?”
 
“I told him to leave. He wouldn’t.”
 
“There you go.”
 
“It’s no excuse for what I-“
 
“KILLIAN!” She said loudly, pulling up outside the diner and putting her forehead to the steering wheel. “Do you remember last night?”
 
“I’ll never forget it.” He smiled sadly.
 
“What you said… about my job as the savior?”
 
“You get to enjoy your life.” He nodded.
 
“No one has ever given me permission to just… be happy… the way you have. I need you. You made a mistake. You blackmailed the Dark One to give me a beautiful night. But, I’ve never felt more ready to fight than I do after that date. I can’t put you in jail. I can’t lock you away. I need you to keep fighting your darkness. Because it’s proof to me that I can keep fighting it too. Your demons are in your head, but mine are terrorizing a whole town. I’ve fought my demons to get you back before. And you fought yours to get me back. So please, come have Jello and Grilled cheese with me.”
 
He reached out, wincing to go over his healing wrist. But he found her hand and held it tight. She looked over to him and smiled.
 
“I’m with you Swan.”
 
They got out of the car walking in to the restaurant.
 
“Hey.” Killian said before they walked in. “As much as I want to punish myself… I’d rather take punishment

off

you.”
 
“See? That’s why I need you.” She smiled looking up into his eyes.
 
He leaned in and gave her a sweet kiss as she moved to his right side, taking his arm to walk into the restaurant.
 
“M-Marian?” Emma said in shock as they entered to see her and Robin in a deep kiss. “What’s going on?”
 
“I’ll tell you later.” Killian whispered in her ear.
 
“Emma!” Marian smiled. “How are you doing? How’s the fight against the Snow Queen?” She laid her head on Robins shoulder.
 
“It’s… going…” Emma looked from the husband and wife to Killian, confused.
 
“Oh good. I know you’ll be victorious!” She said with a pleasant smile. “I’d like to get more involved. Let me know what I can do to help. And of course Robin would be happy to assist too.” She looked at him with affection.
 
“R-right.” Emma stammered. “I’ll be in touch…”
 
She turned her head watching them walk out.
 
“I’m guessing that’s why Regina is stressed…” Emma sighed.
 
“Aye. That would be it.” Killian clenched his jaw.
 
“Let’s keep an eye out for the Evil Queen shall we?” She sat in the booth.
 
He sat across from her, wincing as he landed in the seat.
 
“How’s the arm?” She asked. “Does it hurt?”
 
“Mostly my pride.” He sighed as he raised his right hand to Ruby to order their meal.
 
“Do you think you’re up to coming to the loft after this for a battle meeting?” Emma asked gently.
 
Wincing, he took his arm out of the sling. He slid the leather cuff onto his wrist and fastened it into place.
 
“What’s a battle meeting without Captain Hook?” The silver mast hook glinted in the fluorescent light of the diner.
 
“You’re Captain Hook again.” Emma smirked as Ruby arrived with their food.
 
“I was always Hook love.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian walked nervously into the loft behind Emma. He half expected Prince Charming to deck him in the face again. But was surprised to be promptly doted on by Mary Margaret.
 
“Hook!” Cried the mother. “Thank goodness you’re ok! I was so worried!”
 
Killian looked wide eyed at Emma, who could only smile as she watched him struggle to accept the attention.
 
“I’ll be alright.” He gave a brief smile as Snow went to fetch him some tea.
 
“See, this is what happens when you let people help you.” Emma whispered as they sat on the couch.
 
“It will be different when she finds out what I did to Will…”
 
Emma gripped his hand. “She’s not

going

to. We have enough to deal with.”
 
“Oh good! You’re here!” Elsa came down the steps with Anna’s journal. “We can’t wait for the others!”
 
“What is it?” Emma sat forward. “What’s going on?”
 
“Belle thinks the Snow Queen and I are related.” Elsa dropped heavily into a chair, though her posture remained impeccable.
 
“What?!? How can that be???” Emma was shocked.
 
“There is a familiar resemblance.” Killian noted.
 
“Well, that would make sense as to why the Snow Queen wants Elsa, but why does she want Emma? What’s she looking for? Blondes?”
 
“There are a lot more blondes in the world than just me.” Emma sighed.
 
“Don’t I know it.” Killian laughed.
 
Emma elbowed him in the ribs concealing a smirk. A sense of relief to hear him joking.
 
“How are you related Elsa?” Mary Margaret brought out a tray of tea.
 
“Annas writing starts to get rushed.” She turned to the back of the journal, the runic growing increasingly erratic. “Something about an aunt. But our mother was an only child! There is no way!”
 
“Could your sister be wrong?” Killian asked looking down at the book.
 
“Other than an increased sense of urgency and a growing taste for ice cream she seems like herself.”
 
“Ice cream…” Snow said sipping her tea. “Didn’t Henry say the Snow Queen ran the ice cream shop?”
 
“Yeah, Sarah Fisher. We found her name in the census records but that was all we could learn about her.” Emma nodded.
 
“Well David searched the shop. Maybe we can try once more.” Snow sipped her tea.
 
“That helps us with her identity, but what about mine?” Elsa put her head in her hands. “It’s looking more and more like I’m one of these Ice Witches Zelena spoke of.”
 
“Hey.” Emma came around and sat next to Elsa. “No one gets to tell you what you are but you.”
 
“I just wish I could learn more. But I’ve read through both of Anna’s journals. She mentions something about our mothers sister but she is as confused as I am! I wish… I wish I could speak to my mother…”

Elsa sighed.
 
“Know anyone that can talk to the dead?” Emma said with her signature sarcasm.
 
“Actually…” they all looked up at Killian. “I might.”
 
“Might what?” Snow put down her teas.
 
“Be able to help… speaking to the dead…”
 
“You know someone?” Emma asked.
 
“Aye.” Killian closed his eyes tightly. “Me.”
 
“…you?” She laughed. “You can speak to the dead? Since

when?”

“…recently.”
 
“Wait, really?” Emma stood in alarm. “When were you planning on

telling

me this?”
 
“Never.” Hook laid his head back on the couch.
 
“Killian…” She said in frustration.
 
“It’s not something that people do. Speak to the dead. I’ll be the first to admit it has me a bit shaken up.”
 
“How do you do it? Can you summon her now? Will I be able to see her?” Elsa stood.
 
“Just hold on a minute. Hook, how do we know this is safe? Like you said, talking to the dead is not something people do.” Emma looked from Elsa to Hook.
 
“It started in therapy. Hopper thought it was hypnosis, but then it started to get more vivid.”
 
“How do you know you’re actually speaking to the dead?” Emma was on edge.
 
“Walsh Zoroaster Oak.” Killian sighed.
 
“W-what?”
 
“He told me his name. When you confirmed it…how could I have possibly known his full name?”
 
“You spoke to Walsh?” She breathed.
 
“First it was Milah, then my brother, Rufio, Baelfire. Walsh was last. I…I haven’t been back to Dr Hopper since.”
 
“How can this be?” Snow asked.
 
“Does it matter? Don’t many people in this town have abilities?” Elsa reasoned “I’m told the waitress at the diner can become a wolf. I just need him to-“
 
“We’re not

experimenting

on him!” Emma objected.
 
“Emma, if I can help I want to.” He spoke up.
 
She glanced at him with apprehension.
 
“Fine.” She said bitterly. “Elsa, you go with Hook to Dr Hopper’s see if you can… summon the dead. Mom, see if you can search the ice cream shop again.”
 
“I’ll call Ariel to babysit.” Snow went to work.
 
She walked towards door in a hurry.
 
“Emma? Where are you going?” Killian asked.
 
“I’m going to talk to Gold.” She drew her gun and pulled back the hammer.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Gold!” Emma shouted, the door chiming as she walked into the pawnshop.
 
“What can I do for you sheriff?” Rumple asked.
 
“Tell me what’s going on with Killian. Now.”
 
“Apart from too much eyeliner I don’t know what you mean.” He said with a slight shake of his head.
 
“How is it possible he is speaking with the dead? Did you mess with him when you gave him back his hand? Was it the Snow Queen? When she had him under her control?”
 
“Speaking to the dead? It can’t be done. Not without powerful magic. And apart from an enchanted hook I’m fairly certain the Captain was born without any.” Gold came around the counter.
 
“You don’t know anything about it?” She asked.
 
“Can’t say that I do.”
 
She carefully read his features.
 
“Then how is he doing it?”
 
“You see this ribbon?” He held up her wrist.
 
“The Snow Queens magic. What of it?” She pulled her hand away from him.
 
“Every day objects can be infused with magic. Much like your boyfriends hook. But it’s not always on purpose. There are powerful forces at work wether we want them to be or not.”
 
“You think Killians exposure to his magical Hook has given him abilities?” She raised an eyebrow.
 
“No. I believe its much more complicated than that. I believe it’s his ship.”
 
“The Jolly Rodger? What does that have to do with anything?”
 
“The Captains Ship is of great value. It is made from enchanted wood, and has the ability to travel realms. A rare power that only a handful of ships in existence can attest to. While a normal human being would pass their life upon such a unique ship unfazed, the captain has lived an exceptionally long life.”
 
“His time on the Jolly Rodger gave him magical abilities?”
 
“I don’t believe he does have magical abilities. It seems more likely that his connection to his ship has in turn given him some of its properties. After all, not only has he spent the greater part of his long life aboard it, but it has become a part of him. A part of his body.”
 
“His hook. It’s from the mast.” Emma looked off into space, her eyes wide.
 
“The land of the dead can not be so easily reached. I can only think of one method to get there. The method being death. Your Captain shares a strong bond with death as well. He calls himself a survivor. I call it a laundry list of near-death-experiences.”
 
“Is he going to be ok? Is it normal for this to happen?” Emma breathed.
 
“Normal? What about that man strikes you as normal?” He gave an impish laugh. “His connection to his ship and death has allowed him to pull back the veil to the other realm. If you ever expected your life with him to be normal, I suggest you stop now.”
 
Emma turned quickly and walked to the door.
 
“People don’t get something from me for nothing Ms Swan.”
 
She stopped and turned with a frightful anger in her eyes.
 
“You get to live.” She snapped.
 
“You’re going to kill the Dark One? That’s a bit harsh for you savior.” He laughed.
 
“You misunderstand me. You get to keep living in this town. This is my town. I am the sheriff, I am the protector, I AM the savior, you really think you should be messing with me?”
 
“Tough words without your magic.”
 
“Then do something about it.” She held open her arms.
 
Gold simply gave her his knowing stare.
 
“Killian won’t tell me what he tried to blackmail you with, but I’m guessing it has something to do with Belle. You have maimed him, tortured him, killed his loved ones. But the biggest mistake you made was messing with me. You better hope I don’t get my magic back Gold, because once I’ve finished with the Snow Queen I am coming for you.”
 
He laughed.
 
“You think this is a joke?” She drew her gun.
 
“I think it’s amusing that all I have to do to set off the savior is toy with her boyfriend.”
 
Without warning Emma turned her gun to each of the glass display cabinets and fired. Shards littered the floor as she emptied the clip, silence ringing through the shop along with the distinct smell of gunpowder.
 
“This is your final warning Gold. Don’t mess with my pirate.”
 
The doorbell chimed as she left.
 
“Rather spirited, this

sister

of yours.” Gold turned to see the Snow Queen standing behind him.
 
“She’s always been that way. Ever since she was young.” Ingrid smiled gently.
 
“I’ll be happy to be rid of her.”
 
“I’m sure you will be.” She stooped and picked up a shard from the floor placing it on her necklace.
 
“What can I do for you Ingrid?”
 
“Nothing. I’ve come to honor our deal.” She held out the round box frozen in ice.
 
“You’ve collected all your pieces?”
 
“I’ve assembled the last of the troll glass. Only one thing remains.”
 
“You still need Elsa.” Gold looked at the box, his eyes wide with greed.
 
“Once my sisters are by my side I will cast the Spell of Shattered Sight on the entire town. They will rip themselves to shreds and I will be left to have the life I always wanted. The life I always deserved.”
 
“Around here we call that a Happy Ending.”
 
“What is your happy ending Dark One?” She waved her hand over the box, melting the ice.
 
“All the power in the world, no strings attached.” He took the box. “And for that, I too only need one ingredient.”
 
“Good luck Dark One. And do remember to stay out of my way.” She said coldly.
 
Rumple looked around the broken glass of his shop. Looking into Ingrid’s eyes with a cocky half-smile he raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Every display case was repaired instantly. There was no trace of glass or damage. Even the smell of gunpowder was gone from the air.
 
“Luck has nothing to do with it.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian tipped back his flask as he walked with Elsa to Dr Hoppers.
 
“Is everything ok?” She wondered.
 
“Why do you ask?” He kept his eyes ahead.
 
“I haven’t seen you drink since Arendel. You were in a pretty bad state then Hook. It seemed like you had gotten better.”
 
“I had gotten better. And then I had to go and muck it all up talking to the dead and blackmailing the Dark One.” He drank again. “I’m far more accustomed to running away from spells than towards them. I’ve had about enough of bloody magic for the time being.”
 
“Magic isn’t bad.” She shrugged.
 
“That isn’t my experience.” He sighed.
 
“Emma has magic. You don’t seem to want to run from her.”
 
“More like the other way around.” He drank once more.
 
Elsa laughed.
 
“Something funny?”
 
“You really have no idea how she feels about you.” She shook her head.
 
“Why? Did she say something?” He asked urgently.
 
“Hey!” Emma came jogging up the street from the pawn shop.
 
“How did things go with the crocodile?” He stepped towards her tucking his flask into his back pocket.
 
“About how you’d expect…” she sighed.
 
“You’d be surprised what I expect.” He raised his left arm.
 
“So how does this work? The whole talking to the dead thing?”
 
“Each time I’ve been in therapy. I was hoping Hopper could help put me in whatever trance I need to reach the other side.”
 
“Alright Haley Joel, let’s give this a try.” Emma said nervously.
 
Hook and Elsa looked at her blankly.
 
“Sixth Sense…? I see dead people…?”
 
The Queen and Pirate exchanged a glance.
 
“Remind me to have a movie night so that my jokes land.”
 
They walked up the stairs to the office in silence. Emma glanced at Killian’s hook as he climbed the steps. It had never occurred to her that the Jolly Rodger was a part of him. But truly, he was one with the hook. Even when he tried to escape it, he ended up connected to the ship once more. Hopper greeted them with pleasant surprise in the hall.
 
“Hook! How are you I haven’t seen you since-“
 
“No time for that… I need you to… um…” Hook turned to Emma.
 
“We need you to hypnotize him so he can speak to the dead.” Emma said quickly.
 
“Beg your pardon? What makes you think I can do that?” Hopper looked at the three of them with a confused smile.
 
“Hook has a magical boat that can travel realms, apparently so can he.”
 
“Come again?” Killian asked wide eyed.
 
“Long story. It’s what I got from Gold.” Emma shook her head looking back to Hopper.
 
“I…I can do my best…” the doctor stepped aside to let them in. “I don’t know what you expect though.”
 
“We need to speak to my mother.” Elsa wrung her hands nervously.
 
“That’s where this gets complicated…” Killian scratched his head. “I’ve only ever spoken to people I know.”
 
“Captain, are you saying that in our sessions you actually spoke to the dead? How can you be certain?” Hopper sat in his chair.
 
“They were able to tell me things. Things they wouldn’t otherwise know.”
 
“How did they appear? When you spoke to them?”
 
Killian looked at Emma. “They…they were on the Jolly Rodger.”
 
“Gold was right.” Emma whispered.
 
“I have an idea. Elsa, we’re going to need you for this. Captain, lay back.” Hopper sat forward.
 
“I’m not sure how I feel about group therapy…” he glanced around.
 
“Apparently it’s not therapy it’s magic.” Hopper sighed. “Last time you ended up on the floor. This is just a precaution.”
 
Hook obeyed and laid back on the couch, feeling a profound sense of unease as his shoulders remained rigid and tense.
 
“If you want this to work you’re going to have to calm yourself Captain.” The doctor said gently.
 
“Let me know how calm

you

are the next time

you

speak to the dead!” He barked.
 
“Hey.” Emma stepped forward, sitting on the edge of the couch. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to Killian.”
 
“I want to help.” He said, his shoulders relaxing as she took his hand.
 
“I’m going to be right here.” She kept her grip.
 
He turned to dr hopper and nodded.
 
“Close your eyes, try and picture what you did when you spoke with your loved ones. Imagine everything the same. Take yourself back to the Jolly Rodger.”
 
Eyes shut, his head relaxed back against the pillow. After a moment his limbs relaxed. Emma tried to contain her alarm as his eyelids fluttered rapidly, as though he were in a deep sleep.
 
“Captain?” Hopper asked. “Can you hear me?”
 
“The Jolly Rodger… It’s dawn.” He said quietly. “Just like before, but there’s no one here. I’m alone.”
 
“Elsa.” Hopper turned to her. “Please tell us about your mother.”
 
“Queen Gerda!” She said enthusiastically. “H-her name was Queen Gerda of Arendel. She was gentile and calm. But she loved to dance, and cross stitch. I loved to watch her as she embroidered Arendel Crocuses into my dress…”
 
“Elsa…” Killian said, his eyes still shut and moving about. “Did she have red hair?”
 
“Yes! She did! Like Anna’s!”
 
“Hello Queen Gerda.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian stood on the Jolly Rodger at Dawn. The kingdom of Arendel could be seen in the distance upon the water. Queen Gerda came down the steps of the Jolly Rodger with a regal nobility.
 
“Your majesty.” Killian gave a slight bow of his head.
 
“Who are you?” Her question was more of a demand.
 
“Captain Killian Jones. I am an envoy from the land of the living. We’re aboard my ship. The Jolly Rodger.”
 
“I know you. You’re a pirate. Captain Hook isn’t it? Why should I trust the word of a Pirate?”
 
“Because I’m working with your daughter Elsa.” He sighed. “She needs your help. We need to know about your sister.”
 
“I’m assuming you mean Ingrid not Helga.” She sighed.
 
“You had two sisters? Elsa seemed to think you didn’t have any. Why is that Queen Gerda?”
 
“The only magic we have in our realm is troll magic. Trolls are incorrigible tricksters, but they’re quite adept at memory magic.”
 
“Please your majesty, anything you can tell me to help us with the Snow Queen… your daughters life may depend on it. Both of them.”
 
Tears fell from the queens eyes.
 
“I was last in line. I was never meant to be queen. We all knew Ingrid was the crown princess and next to assume the throne. Helga and I were so happy for her. She was regal, headstrong and powerful.

When she was young her powers were small. Snowflakes, toys made out of ice, a cold drink whenever we wanted.” The queen laughed. “But as she got older there were more and more accidents. A family pet frozen. A palace guard with frostbite for startling her. And then… she killed a man.”
 
“She…she killed somebody?” Hook said with a breath.
 
“It was a mistake! He was trying to hold Helga and I for ransom! Ingrid never meant to hurt him. She just wanted her sisters safe. But she was never the same after that day. She called herself a monster and locked herself inside. If I had known fear was her greatest enemy I would have done things differently. But I was young…
Helga always knew what to do. How to treat her. How to calm her. As sisters we all shared a bond. But Helga and Ingrid’s was exceptional. I was often jealous. But they understood me. And they were patient with me. I thought I could be the best sister to them so long as I had their support. As Ingrid’s magic got worse, we journeyed to the kingdom of mist haven.” 
“The Enchanted Forest.” He nodded.
 
“There is a great sorcerer, Merlin. His hat has the power to manipulate magic like none other. To change it. Not break its laws but bend them. Ingrid desperately wanted to be rid of her magic. Helga and I tried to discourage her. But she was so filled with fear…” the Queen looked at her empty wrist.
 
“The ribbons?” The captain asked.
 
“We traded them for the hat. To the wizards apprentice. But Helga and I begged Ingrid not to use it. Not to change. To be herself. But she was so filled with fear that she traded our bond, our love, for the chance to be different. Something she wasn’t.”
 
“What happened? What changed her into what she is now?”
 
“An accident.” The Queen hung her head. “Helga… she was frozen. Like nothing we had ever seen. Ingrid was distraught. She was begging for my help. I didn’t know what to do. So I locked her away in the hat. I locked away her memory. And assumed the throne with a heavy heart.”
 
“But your daughter was an ice witch too.”
 
“I saw Elsa growing up just like Ingrid did. And I made the same mistakes with her that I did with Ingrid. I let her exist in fear, when I should have told her to let it go and be herself.”
 
“She’s better than Ingrid. More loving. More powerful.”
 
“It was Anna who brought that out in her.” She smiled. “Anna isn’t like me, or Ingrid. Anna is like Helga.”
 
“What can we do? How can we reach Ingrid?”
 
Tears fell from the Queens eyes.
 
“I locked the memories of the kingdom in a stone. Troll magic. Only I remember the other two Princesses of Arendel. My sisters. Ingrid and Helga. The stone was among my things. I hid it. But I can sense it in your world. Your… Brooke of stories. I’m not sure if it can help you. But my sisters deserve to be remembered. Both of them. Can you tell Elsa? To return what I stole?”
 
“I shall your majesty.” He nodded with respect.”
 
The sun began to set as quickly as it rose. But unlike his other times on the Jolly Rodger he did not fade from the realm between life and death. He looked around the ship. The stars were brighter than he had ever seen them. But the water began to glow an otherworldly green. He looked down and saw the visaage of people floating in the misty verdurous waters.
 
“W-what’s happening?”
 
“Who are you?” Came a voice.
 
Killian drew his sword.
 
“I am the Captain of this vessel! And you are trespassing!” He said as he turned to see a man with bright red hair in a deep blue and black suit.
 
“It is YOU who trespasses in MY realm.” The man paced the deck with confidence. “This is the
land of the dead
. And I am its lord.”
 
Killian felt a familiar feeling of unease.
 
“W-why does it look different?” He watched the light rise from the green sea.
 
“You’ve slipped into Tartarus Captain. You have touched Paradise and Limbo. Welcome to where you belong. The deepest circle of Hell.”
 
“It’s… almost beautiful.” He breathed.
 
“That’s because you are an

uninvited

guest. I assure you, when you die you shall pass into my domain and see the true depth of your darkness. Your depravity.”
 
The pirate laughed. “I’m going to hell? Tell me something I

don’t

know.”
 
In a flash the man was in front of him holding his throat. He lifted him off his feet without effort, his hair alight into a blue fire.
 
“What sort of man would presume to mock the god of the dead?” He asked in a low monotone.
 
“Captain Hook. The great survivor. Laughing in the face of death is what I do.” He said through his teeth, a flash of red in his eyes, as his feet hung above the deck.
 
“Killian…” He could hear Emma’s voice echoing all around them. “…come back to me.”
 
The lord of the dead looked at his hand, seeing it burn in a flash of bright light. He dropped the pirate and looked at his hand as it returned to normal. Hardly startled, he glanced up at Killian.
 
“What is this…?” He asked calmly.
 
“Savior magic.” Hook smiled. “My time in your realm has some to an end. I’m going back.”
 
“Make no mistake Captain, I shall be here when your time comes. There is many a chamber in Tartarus waiting for you.”
 
“You have to catch me first.” He grinned as a light broke all around them and he felt himself begin to wake.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma stared intently at Hook as he lay still on the the sofa. Killian had recounted out loud for the past few minutes in a strange trance, but suddenly gone silent. His shoulders tensed and his breath caught in his throat as though he were being strangled.
 
“Captain! Wake up! Can you hear me?!?” Hopper said urgently as his body went rigid.
 
“Hook!” Elsa gently shook him.
 
“Killian.” Emma leaned in slowly. “If you can hear my voice, come back to me.”
 
His breathing was quick and labored. Emma brought her lips to his, calming him almost instantly. She framed his face with her hands as she held him in the gentile kiss. After a moment he opened his eyes, and smiled gently to see her.
 
“Emma…”
 
“You did good Killian.” She returned his smile.
 
“Elsa? Are you Ok?” Hopper asked.
 
“No…” she said quietly. “The Snow Queen is my aunt… I can’t help but feel like I’ve gotten a vision of my future.”
 
“You’re not her Elsa. You’re not trying to destroy the whole town, you’re just trying to help your sister.” Hook said gently.
 
“Perhaps I can try talking to her? If she’s my aunt, I may be able to reach her.”
 
“I’m not going to lie, if you had suggested that this morning I would have never thought it would work. But…maybe we can reach her. Maybe she’s just like any other villain who has come to this town.” Emma gripped Hook’s hand. “Maybe she just needs patience.”
 
“It’s worth a try.” Hopper nodded.
 
Killian stood off the couch holding his head as the room briefly spun. Emma held out her arms to steady him.
 
“Emma, why don’t you take him home to get some rest?” The doctor suggested. “I’ll take Elsa back to the loft. We can discuss what to say to the Snow Queen.”
 
“That sounds like a good idea.” Emma smiled. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
 
“Don’t worry about me love. A tad dizzy but it’s fading fast.” He stood on his own.
 
“You’ve had a busy couple of days.” She laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with getting some rest.” She held the door as they made their way down the stairs.
 
“I don’t think there’s any such thing as rest in this town.” He chuckled.
 
“I know what you mean.” She looped her arm around his as they walked toward the marina. “Were you going to tell me you could talk to the dead?”
 
“That one I planned to keep to myself.” He sighed. “It’s strange, even for this town.”
 
“My parents are Snow White and Prince Charming. My son was adopted by the Evil Queen. I’m dating Captain Hook and he can speak to the dead because of his love affair with his magic boat. Try being me sometime.” She laughed.
 
“You certainly know how to put things in perspective.” He smirked.
 
They walked for a moment in silence.
 
“Love affair with a magic boat?” He asked raising an eyebrow.
 
“Of course, the Jolly Rodger is the only woman that could take you away from me.” She looked up at him with an amused smile.
 
“I’ve traded her to get to you before. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” He kissed her softly as they came up to the door of his apartment.
 
“I love my yellow Volkswagen too but I must admit, I’m not expecting it to imbue me with otherworldly abilities.” She trudged up the stairs in front of him.
 
“To be fair, neither was I.” He shrugged.
 
Emma walked into the paint peeled apartment with its familiar musty smell.
 
“Thanks for your help Killian. I know it wasn’t easy.”
 
“Working with the heroes never is. I’m not much of a hero.” He scratched his head.
 
“I don’t need you to be a hero.” She chuckled.
 
“What do you need me to be?”
 
“Just what you are. A pirate.”
 
He looked at her with shock. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her face. She knew him better than he knew himself. The ordeal with his hand and speaking to the dead suddenly felt distant as he leaned in and took her in a kiss holding her close. Feeling his mind go blank, he was unable to keep himself from her any longer.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma felt the sensation of his tongue running over hers. Parting her lips as he held her tenderly. She pushed his jacket off his shoulders letting it fall to the ground. Slowly unbuttoning his vest as he continued to kiss her. She felt his hand slip under her shirt, his fingers gently brushing the bare skin of her waist. His vest soon followed his jacket.
 
Her heart raced as she reached for the hem of her blouse and lifted it over her head. Once she was free, He pulled her close to him. The sensation of his hand pressed against her bare back. In her haste to open his shirt a couple of buttons clattered to the floor. He let escape a breath of laughter.
 
“Sorry. You have so many buttons.” She chuckled. “How do you fasten them all with one hand?”
 
“I may only have one hand but I’m rather skilled with it.” He unclasped her bra in a single swift motion.
 
She tore open his shirt the rest of the way, no longer bothering with the buttons as she pulled it down off his shoulders. He kissed her desperately. The bare skin of their chest’s warm and inviting against one another. Emma pulled her brastaps off her shoulders as Killian quickly unfastened the leather cuff on his left arm. Taking her into an embrace he stepped her backward towards the bed, slowly laying her down as their tongues brushed gently upon one another.
 
He kissed her neck down past her clavicle. She felt the pleasurable sensation of his hand upon her breast. Fingers gently pressing into her skin causing her to let out a breath.  She hooked her fingers into the waist of his pants finding his belt buckle.
 
“Emma…” he whispered as she ran her hand over his jeans.
 
He sat up as his zipper came free, glancing down at her in the moonlight, he was captivated by the curves of her body. Her golden hair falling over her bare shoulders. She undid her own zipper and quickly kicked off her jeans. With a coy smile, she crawled backwards on the bed pulling back the sheets, tossing her panties to the floor as she slid beneath. Killian quickly freed himself from his jeans and boxer briefs as he pulled back the white linen to find her waiting.
 
He held her close, his lips meeting hers once more. Her naked body against his had his passion at its peak.
 
“Killian…” she exhaled.
 
He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek as he looked into her eyes.
 
“Emma… is this what you want?” He asked as she slowly brought her knees up on either side of him.
 
“I want

you

Killian.” She pulled him close.
 
He brought his waist into her hips taking in a breath as he felt himself upon her threshold. He moved into her, his mind on fire at the sensation of her all around him. Her pine forest hair, her smooth skin, the taste of her lips.
 
“
Ah
…” she moaned as she felt him press inside.
 
“Are you alright?” He asked quietly.
 
“Y-yes.” She gasped.
 
He began to roll his hips against her, the gentle motion filling her with waves of pleasure. She pressed her head back into the pillow as he gradually sped his pace. He hooked his left arm under her knee, pushing her leg up to her chest as he thrust against her.
 
“Ah-!” She let slip her voice as she felt him deep inside. “Killian-!”
 
She wrapped her legs behind him as she pulled him in, her shoulders shuddering as she felt the pleasure surge through her. He kept his pace, kissing her neck as she cried out in ecstasy.
 
“

Ahhhn-!!!”

His hand gripped her backside pulling her to him as she felt the sharp curve of his shoulder blades under her fingers. His breath upon her neck as he pulled all the way back just to thrust deeply once more. Her voice caught in her throat as she drifted from one pleasure to the next. His rough chin against her nape as he kissed from her shoulder to whisper in her ear.
 
“Emma, I’m…” he said in a breath.
 
“Yes-!” She gasped. “Killian… I want you…”
 
He wrapped his arms around her, lifting the arch of her back into him as he rocked in an increasing rhythm.
 
“AHHH-!!!”
She cried out as her pleasure spiked one last time.
 
“Emma-“ His voice cracked as he reached his climax.
 
They fell into the sheets, breathing heavily. Caught in a torment of linens. She looked up at the ceiling, feeling a rush as emotion swelled within her.
 
“That was… amazing.” He sighed happily. “Emma…?”
 
He held her close, looking into her eyes as they shimmered in the moonlight. She wore an expression of surprise. Tears brimming against her lashes.
 
“What’s wrong?” He asked sitting up in alarm. “Did I hurt you? Is everything alright???”
 
“Yes! I’m…I’m fine…” the tears fell from her eyes and soaked the pillow.
 
“Did I do something wrong?” His hand cradled the curve of her neck.
 
“No, that was… everything I could have wanted. I don’t know why I’m crying… I feel like such an idiot.” She sniffed covering her face with her hands.
 
“Hey, it’s alright.” He lay back and brought her close, resting his chin upon her hair as she held her head to his chest. “You’re not an idiot. You had me worried for a moment though.”
 
She wiped her eyes and placed her hands on his chest, pushing him back so she could look into his forget-me-not eyes.
 
“You have nothing to worry about. I just… was a little overwhelmed that’s all.” She laughed.
 
“In a good way?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“Yes.” She kissed him. “In a good way.”
 
“Emma.” He locked her gaze. “I…I can’t remember the last time I was this happy.”
 
“Me neither.” She felt another surge of tears, but managed to suppress it. “I’m happy when I’m with you Killian. I’m just glad that after all this time… we’ve finally found each other.”
 
“Aye love, me too.” He rolled to his back.
 
She lay her head on his chest, hearing the beating of his heart slow to a gentle pace as they fell asleep in each others arms.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Emma.” Dr Hopper said, surprised to see her waiting outside his office. “If you’re here about Hook speaking to the dead I’m afraid I can’t help you. I have no idea how-“
 
“Actually it’s about me.” She said quickly. “Have you got time?”
 
“I always have time for the savior.” He held out his hand welcoming her in to the office. “Is everything ok Emma? You seem shaken.”
 
“I…I just need to sort some stuff out…” she sighed.
 
“Like what?”
 
“Why would…why would someone cry after sex?” Her question was more of a demand.
 
“Well, that all depends.”
 
“It’s pathetic, right? To cry? To get emotional? It’s just sex!”
 
“Sounds like it

wasn’t

just sex.” He sat in his chair. “Is this about Killian?”
 
“What? No- maybe… this was a mistake.” She rushed for the door.
 
“Emma!” Dr Hopper stopped her. “It’s ok to talk about it. It’s ok to WANT to talk about it. Why is it bothering you?”
 
She sat nervously.
 
“Go ahead Emma. You can say whatever You wish.”
 
“Killian and I… finally… got together.”
 
“I assumed as much. Isn’t that good?”
 
“He…he’s been with a lot of girls. And one guy apparently.” She sighed.
 
“Is that what’s bothering you?”
 
“No. It doesn’t bother me. I’ve been with plenty of people myself. That’s why it’s so weird!”
 
“What’s weird?”
 
“That…that I cried.” She looked down in shame.
 
“You had an emotional reaction after sex.”
 
She nodded.
 
“That’s perfectly normal Emma. Sex is a very chaotic activity.”
 
“That’s one way to put it.”
 
“Pupils dilate, arteries constrict, core temperature rises, heart races, blood pressure skyrockets, respiration becomes rapid and shallow, the brain fires bursts of electrical impulses. It’s not unlike a stress response. When it’s all over, you’re a sea of churning hormones. It’s understandable that someone could become emotional in that state.”
 
“But not ME. I don’t get emotional after sex.”
 
“You’ve never had this kind of response?”
 
“Not really.”
 
Hopper smiled knowingly. “What do you think made this time any different?”
 
“I…I don’t… I was hoping you could tell me…”
 
“That’s not how this works. What was different? What was it about this time that could have changed from other people you’ve been with?”
 
“It… took longer…”
 
“The… the sex?” Hopper asked confused.
 
“No! The build up! Killian and I have known  each other for years! We’ve flirted, we’ve fought, we…finally found each other.”
 
“Emma. What is different?”
 
“Nothing! Nothing is different! We were two people in a relationship, we had sex! What else is there to say?”
 
“How do you feel?”
 
“W-what?”
 
“About what happened between you and Killian. How do you feel?”
 
“Good. Obviously. He actually turned me down a couple of times. I wasn’t sure we would ever get there. But then it just

happened

and I-“
 
“How do you feel about Killian?”
 
“I like him. Of course I like him. He’s the only one that I feel like actually gets me. Even with Graham, Neal, Walsh. There was always something missing. Like they understood most of me but not all of me.”
 
“But Killian understands all of you?”
 
“He…he once told me he knows me better than I know myself. And I actually felt that way… when we were together. I felt like he…” she turned her head to look out the window.
 
“Did you like the other people in your life? Graham? Neal? Walsh?”
 
“Yes. I liked them, but that’s why I’m so confused. That’s why it feels so different. I thought I knew how much I liked them but with Killian everything is more intense.”
 
“What do you feel for Killian?” Dr Hopper asked.
 
“I told you. I like him.” She crossed her arms.
 
“You’re holding back Emma. But you don’t have to. I know it’s frightening to admit to yourself. But after all this time, don’t you think it’s possible you cried because you felt… cared for? Maybe in a way you’ve never felt before?”
 
Her mouth fell open as she let out a short sharp breath.
 
“How do you feel about Killian Emma? How do you really feel?”
 
“I…I think I’m in love with him.”
 
*****
 
Standing on the sidewalk outside Dr Hoppers office, the Savior let out a heavy sigh.
 
“Emma!”
 
She jumped as Killian came running down the street towards her.
 
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you! You didn’t answer the phone.” He gasped in his haste.
 
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
 
“What’s wrong? You were
gone!
I… I thought because of last night, I had hurt you. If I did something wrong please tell me Emma. I wanted everything to go well, but when I woke up and I couldn’t find you I knew I must have done something to upset you.”
 
“You didn’t!” She stepped quickly to him placing her hands on his shoulders. “Killian, you didn’t. Everything was perfect. I had a wonderful night.”
 
“You did-? Then why-?”
 
“I was just a little overwhelmed. And then I was embarrassed that I was overwhelmed. It’s… been a while…” She looked down.
 
“Aye love. Me too.” He smiled, letting out a breath of relief. “I have to meet Elsa. Can I see you later?”
 
“Of course.” She leaned in kissing him sweetly before he walked away.
 
“You’re not going to tell him?” Hopper asked, Killian had not seen him standing in the doorway.
 
“I…I can’t…” she whispered.
 
“My door is always open if you need to talk Emma.”
 
“Thank you Dr hopper. You…you’re not going to tell anyone are you? What I told you about Killian?”
 
“It would be unethical. You could say, my conscience won’t let me. But why don’t you want to tell him?”
 
“Because it’s different this time.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian walked into the loft to find Regina, Belle, and Elsa on the couch. Snow sitting by the bassinet and baby Neal.
 
“You look like you’re in a good mood.” Belle laughed as he sat down.
 
“W-what do you mean?” Killian chuckled.
 
“You’re smiling.”
 
“Can’t a man smile?”
 
“Emma didn’t come home last night. Perhaps she slept with him.” Elsa shrugged.
 
“Elsa!” Snow gasped.
 
“Did I say something wrong?” She looked around confused. “Do they not sleep in the same bed? Is that not a comfort? Anna is always happy to wake next to Kristoff. It’s how I knew they were good together.” She shrugged.
 
Snow composed herself and stood to make tea. Belle stifled a laugh as Elsa continued to look confused.
 
“Now that we’ve aired the pirates dirty laundry…” Regina sighed. “Why don’t we get down to business?”
 
“Regina and Belle’s suspicions that the Snow Queen and Elsa are related is true.” Hook accepted a cup of tea from Mary Margaret. “Her mother had two sisters. That appears to be what she is trying to recreate with Elsa and Emma. The yellow ribbons belonged to her sisters she has one more for you Elsa.” He said gravely.
 
“Why hasn’t she given it to me yet?” Elsa wondered.
 
“It has to respond to your power. With Emma she needed me to unlock her potential.” He clenched his jaw. “I don’t know what she will try and do to unlock yours. But if it’s anything like what she had me do to Emma… it’s not going to be good.”
 
“Are you alright Killian?” Belle asked.
 
He nodded his head. Jaw still clenched. “I just want her gone.” He glanced up seriously at his friend. A brief flash of red in his eyes at the thought of the Snow Queen.
 
“This woman’s power is akin to a god. You’re the only one here who has had dealings with god’s Captain. We’re going to need you on your game.” Regina said seriously.
 
“Trust me. When it comes to the Snow Queen, I’m ready to fight.”
 
“I’m still hoping to reach her before it comes to that.” Elsa sighed.
 
“In case it doesn’t work… practice that deep breathing love.” Hook shook his head. “We’re going to need your help too.”
 
“We may have more problems than just the Snow Queen adding Elsa to her happy little family.” Regina groused. “We think she’s trying to cast the spell of shattered sight on the whole town.”
 
“What?” Snow gasped. “How???”
 
“The legends we’ve found of Snow Queens share one thing in common. Her mirror which shows you the worst in yourself.” Belle swallowed a catch in her throat. “Both Killian and I saw the same thing when we we looked into her mirror.”
 
“What did you see exactly?” Elsa asked.
 
Belle and Hook exchanged a nervous glance.
 
“It was a dark version of myself. Telling me my worst fears. That… Emma was going to be with Walsh. That I could never escape my darkness. That I would be a villain forever.” Killian sipped his tea.
 
“Mine told me Rumple would never chose me over power. That his dagger was fake. And he would always be the Dark One everyone fears and not the man I love.”  Belle held back tears.
 
The pirate clenched his jaw and looked away from the scholar.
 
“Why would she cast it on the whole town?” Snow breathed looking with concern to Neal.
 
“She wants to have her own realm with her sisters.” Killian held his nose in frustration. “She wants us all to destroy ourselves.”
 
“How do we stop her from casting the spell?” The mother asked.
 
The phone rang and Snow rushed to answer it. “David?” She asked “the ice cream shop? They’re on their way.”
 
“That was David. They found something. Emma will meet you there.”
 
As they left the apartment Killian could not help but glance at his friend. He felt terrible to hear her greatest insecurity.
 
“Belle…?” He asked gently as they got to the street. “About what you said… about the mirror?”
 
“Killian!” He turned to see Emma running towards them. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” She said looking down.
 
“I’ll catch up to you later.” Belle gave him a bright smile and walked in the direction of the ice cream shop.
 
“Emma? What is it?” He asked with concern.
 
“I…I just wanted to say I was sorry. For leaving this morning.” She looked down. “I didn’t mean to scare you. But if I had woken up like that I would have thought something was wrong too. So, I’m sorry I didn’t think of your feelings.”
 
“It’s alright Emma.” He smiled. “I’m just glad I didn’t do anything to hurt you.” He placed his hand on her shoulder.
 
“You didn’t.” She looked up at him brightly. “I can’t remember the last time I had… a night that good.”
 
“Well there plenty more where that came from.” He raised an eyebrow with a grin.
 
She laughed.
 
“But if you don’t mind my asking, why

did

you leave?”
 
“I… I don’t have such an easy time with my feelings Killian. It’s always been easier for me to detach myself, ever since I was a little girl. And I like you. So I ran.”
 
“You left because you

like

me?” He wondered.
 
“Old habit.” She sighed. “But I promise, I won’t run away next time.”
 
“Oh good. Then there will be a next time?”
 
She stepped in and took him into a deep kiss. He expected it to end, but she took him deeper, turning her head to run her tongue over his with a fierce passion. He wrapped his arms around her lifting her slightly onto her toes in the embrace.
 
“There will

definitely

be a next time.” She smiled looking into his eyes with a coy grin as she walked down the street.
 
Letting out a breath, he shifted his belt buckle and ran his fingers through his hair as he turned to follow her. Never seeing the Dark One watching them from the alley across the road.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They walked into the ice cream shop. All of the ice cream was still frozen.
 
“We’ve been monitoring this place… none of the machines work, it’s all magic. So… be careful what you touch. We don’t need anyone getting frozen like Marian did.” David remarked.
 
Emma, Belle, and Hook all glanced at Regina. Seeing their gaze she quickly moved along.
 
“What did you find?” She said with exasperation.
 
“There’s a wall that looks like it’s been covered. We think it may be a hidden room. Which explains why we couldn’t find it before.” Charming lead them into the back.
 
The entire room was covered in a layer of ice. But even under a dusting of snow, they could barely make out the seam in the drywall.
 
“Elsa? Do you think you could-?” David pointed to the opening.
 
“Stand back.” Elsa threw her cape behind her and held up her hands.
 
The ice began to melt, dripping away slowly so they could get to the wall. Emma drew a knife stabbing it into the drywall.
 
“That’s going to take forever!” Regina sighed. “Stand back. You’re useless without magic.” She pushed past Emma.
 
“Regina!” Belle chided.
 
“Get over it.” The Evil Queen said under her breath as the drywall turned to dust, falling to the ground.
 
Emma looked down sadly as everyone walked through the opening.
 
“Chin up love.” Killian said quietly to her. “We’ll get your magic back.”
 
“Some savior I turned out to be.”
 
“Emma, I have lived over 300 years. I’ve met witches and wizards, gods and goddesses, you’re the only savior I’ve ever met. I promise, the only one that knows how to be the savior is you. We’re not judging you. Regina is just having a hard time.”
 
“Yeah but she still has her magic.”
 
“Not having magic isn’t so bad.” He shrugged. “I’ve managed for the last couple centuries.”
 
“Uh… Emma…” Said David from within the hidden room. “I think you should see this.”
 
They walked inside to find a wall covered in photos of a young blonde girl. A child’s paintings and drawings, along with writing and essays.
 
“T-that’s me! When I was a kid! What’s going on?!?” Emma asked in alarm.
 
“This is from your childhood?” Charming asked with a sad smile.
 
“Why does the Snow Queen have this?!? How could she-“
 
The Savior stopped short looking at a photo in the middle of the wall of her in her younger years sitting on a couch with the casually dressed Snow Queen.
 
“It…it can’t be…” She ripped the picture off the wall and turned it over to examine the date.
 
“How old were you?” David asked.
 
“Thirteen. I was… I was thirteen. The dates span months. That’s the longest I was ever in one home.”
 
“It was?” Her father marveled with surprised sadness.
 
“I…I ran away a lot.” She looked from David to Killian, then back to the wall.
 
“It doesn’t look like you wanted to run from her.” Hook reached out for a photo of a young Emma smiling as she held Ingrid in an embrace.
 
“She said I would love her. Maybe this is what she meant.”
 
“How the hell did this woman get to raise my daughter when I didn’t?” The prince said bitterly.
 
“That’s what I would like to know.” Emma’s voice was terse.
 
“There’s more.” Regina was looking towards the back of the room at a large stand-alone door frozen in ice. “What the hell is this?”
 
“I don’t know for certain.” Elsa examined it.  “But those are Arendel crocuses. This door is decorated with the culture of my people.” She placed her hand on the ice. “And I can’t seem to melt it.”
 
“I think we know how the Snow Queen got into this realm.” Regina crossed her arms.
 
“But why me?!?” Emma said in alarm. “Why did she focus on me?”
 
“When I was with her, she said her sisters were those that shared her ability.” Hook placed a hand on Emma’s shoulder. “I think she knew the chances of finding another Ice Witch were low, so instead she found the next best thing.”
 
“The Savior.” David looked at his daughter with wide eyes.
 
Emma glanced down at the ribbon on her wrist and left quickly.
 
“Emma wait!” Killian followed her.
 
“I have to be alone right now.” She said shortly.
 
“Are you sure that’s a good idea love?”
 
“I’m… I’m scared.” She turned, and looked at him with tears in her eyes. “What if this person has been manipulating me my whole life? Leading up to this moment?”
 
“No one gets to manipulate you Emma.” He said with confidence.
 
“How can you SAY that?!? After what she did to the town! After what she did to you! She said you would open a portal to another realm and you did without even KNOWING you did it! Belle and Regina think she’s a god! How can I stand up to that? How can I stand up to her?!?”
 
“Because you’ve done it before Emma!” He quickly rushed to her, gazing into her eyes. “I remember being under her control! I remember every second of it! It was hell! She took all the good out of my head and left me with nothing but suffering! But you still wouldn’t let me go! You fought to get me back Emma. And you succeeded. Why can’t you fight just as hard for yourself?”
 
“Because I’m not the savior anymore!!! I’m just… me… and that’s not enough.”
 
He took her quickly into a tight embrace.
 
“It’s enough Emma. I swear to you. It’s enough.”
 
“How am I supposed to fight the way I did before when I don’t have my magic?” She asked through tears, falling onto his shoulder.
 
“Because this time you’ve got me.” He said  with a caring grin.
 
She managed a tearful smile as the others filtered out of the room.
 
“Are you ok Emma?” David asked.
 
She nodded sadly.
 
“We should show this to Snow…” David scratched his head. “She should know how deep the Snow Queens connection to Emma is.”
 
“I have a box of things from my childhood in my car. Maybe we can find something in there that will give us a clue.” The savior sighed.
 
“We’ll get back to the loft and catch Mary Margaret up.”
 
“I’ll gather the things we found and meet you there.” Killian gestured back to the hidden room.
 
The company left in a hurry. Hook turned back to the wall covered in photos of Emma. As frightened as she was by it, he couldn’t help but love to see a younger version of her. Smiling, laughing, being a child. He pulled down all the pictures and memories, placing them in a bin from the back room. Stepping out he stopped short to see Rumplestiltskin standing in the shop.
 
“C-crocodile!” He dropped the bin a drew his sword.
 
“Hello Captain.” The Imp smirked. “We should talk.”

Raising his hand the two of them disappeared in a puff of smoke.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Where am I?!?” Hook looked around in alarm, his sword still at the ready.
 
They were standing in the woods near the wishing well.
 
“Someplace we won’t be disturbed. We need to be alone for this.”
 
“I’m flattered but I’m afraid I’m spoken for.” He said through his teeth, keeping his sword at the ready.
 
“You can joke all you like Captain. You were going to tell Belle about the dagger earlier. Weren’t you?”
 
“Y-you were following me?”
 
“Nothing happens in this town without my knowledge.”
 
“Like one, that on a lonesome road

Doth walk in fear and dread,

And having once turned round walks on,

And turns no more his head;

Because he knows, a frightful fiend

Doth close behind him tread.”

“Call me a fiend all you want. You threatened my marriage. I can’t let that go.”
 
“She deserves to know! She really believes in you, and you’ve been lying to her from the beginning! She’s my friend! I can’t lie to her!”
 
“I’m afraid you’ll

have

to.” He laughed. “At least for a little while longer.” He waved his hand, a round box appearing in his palm.
 
“I-is that…? Merlins hat?”  Killian breathed.
 
“It is. I assume you learned that from speaking to the dead. It’s a shame I haven’t found a way to use that interesting new ability of yours captain. Unfortunately it seems I won’t get the chance to properly exploit it.”
 
“What are you doing with that?!?” The pirate shouted, still ready for a fight.
 
“The Snow Queen was kind enough to glive it to me for helping her find the pieces of the Troll glass.” He smirked.
 
“Her mirror. You helped her complete it… I might have known.”
 
“Her sister callously contained her in this hat some years ago. I accidentally released her from it when I attempted to use its power. I never suspected it could possibly contain such a powerful sorceress.”
 
“Why would you want it?”
 
“This hat has the power to bend the laws of magic. Every dark one in existence has sought it for one reason. To cleave themselves from the control of the dagger.” Rumple held open his other hand. The dark knife appearing in his palm.“But every Dark One has failed. Do you know why?”
 
“I don’t particularly care.” He said through his teeth.
 
“Because the Dark One is immortal. Merlin is no fool. He knew each of us would seek it, so to protect it from unleashing the full power of the Dark One to any individual he put in a fail safe.”
 
The imp raised his hand. Roots and branches bent to his will, pulling Killian back, binding each of his arms outstretched to the trees.
 
“No! No let me go!” He shouted struggling against the magic.
 
He felt a panic rise inside him. Recalling his trip to the past. The torture he endured at the hands of the Dark One.
 
“The only way to detach oneself from the daggers control is by sacrificing a heart. I would have thought it was a powerful heart. The heart of your girlfriend.”
 
“Emma… you can’t use Emma!!!” He shouted in a panic.
 
“Turns out Merlin is more clever than even I give him credit for. Dark Ones live a long time captain. The heart required belongs to someone who knew the Dark One before their transformation. Before they had the power.”
 
“W-what?” The pirate breathed. His stomach dropping at the sickening realization.
 
“As it turns out, you’re my oldest friend!” He laughed, pulling back his hand and passing it through him.
 
“AH!!!” Killian gasped as he felt the Dark One’s fingers close around his heart from inside his chest.
 
Ripping his hand back in a swift motion he smiled at the glowing red mass, marbled by darkness.
 
“Who would have thought I would be so fortunate to know you then? My greatest foe. The survivor. Because of you, I shall be the only Dark One in history to achieve true power.”
 
“Just do it!

Crush

it then!” Killian shouted hanging his head, unable to break the hold of the branches.
 
“Not yet Captain. I still intend to

use

you.”
 
“It won’t work.” He breathed heavily. “I can

resist

your hold. I can resist your power.”
 
“You were never fully under my control, yes. But I was content to punish you when you misbehaved. This time you won’t be so lucky as to receive torture when you disobey.” He opened his hand, the branches letting the pirate go.
 
“The stars are not yet in alignment to complete the ritual. So you shall remain my servant until they are. Consider it a gift. For your usefulness. Time to say goodbye to your loved ones. Of course, you won’t actually be able to

say

goodbye.” He laughed.
 
“I won’t!” He stood. “I will

fight

you!”
 
“If you do, Emma will suffer.”
 
“The Snow Queen wants her! Even you fear the Snow Queen!”
 
“True. I can’t harm Emma physically. But I can hurt her parents. I can hurt her friends.”
 
“She
needs
me. I can’t just abandon her.” He shook his head.
 
“She’ll get over you. After all,

you

got over

Milah

.” An impish laugh escaped the Dark Ones lips.
 
“

RRRRAAAAAAAA!!!!!

” Killians eyes flashed a deep and burning red as he ran at the Crocodile.
 
His sword raised, hook drawn back to strike as he came at him with a speed that surprised even Rumple.
 
“Not so fast Captain.” He squeezed the heart.
 
“

Ah!!!

” He fell to his knees.
 
“Get ready for your

final
days.”

“Y-you can’t stop me from telling them! I’ll tell all of them what you’re planning! I’ll tell Belle!”
 
“Oh no you won’t. Like I said, I let you off with mild torture before. This time won’t be so easy.”
 
He held the dagger above the heart. Killian felt the horrible sensation of his arms and legs moving against his will as he was forced to stand.
 
“Something to say captain?” Rumple asked with a chuckle.
 
He opened his mouth only to have it snap shut on its own. He breathed in short gasps through his nose. Taking the dagger away, Killian fell once more to the ground. Sitting up on his knees and looking at his foe in defeat.
 
“That’s more like it.” The imp smiled.
 
“P-please… Dark One… if you have

any

mercy, don’t make me hurt her. Don’t make me hurt Emma.”
 
“That all depends on your cooperation Captain. If my plan goes off without a hitch, the only one that will suffer and die will be you.”
 
“I…I can live with that.” He looked down.
 
“You won’t live long Captain. Welcome to your final days.” He tucked the heart into a small pouch and placed it inconspicuously on his belt. “Now run along home.”
 
Killian stood against his will and began to walk out of the woods.
 
“Oh and Captain?”
 
He stopped at the Dark Ones command.
 
“In case you have any doubts that I am

enjoying

this. I didn’t
plan
to take your heart until I actually

needed

it. You did that to
yourself
when you tried to slip my secret to Belle. Once again you are the Captain of your own suffering. I truly look forward to crushing the life out of you.”
 
He turned back and marched towards town. His jaw clenched and his chest aching with a panic he could not express. After a moment he felt himself slipping into darkness, though his feet continued to obey the crocodile.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Where is Killian?” Emma wrung her hands as she sat on her parents couch. “He should be here by now.”
 
“You found all of this in the ice cream shop?” Henry looked at pictures of his mother when she was his age.
 
“And Hook is bringing more.” David sighed.
 
“Emma…” Snow marveled. “You’re so beautiful.”
 
“Are you missing the part where she’s hugging the Snow Queen?” Regina asked with annoyance.
 
“I have more things…” Emma nervously placed a cardboard box on the table.
 
“Things from your childhood?” Snow sat next to her daughter.
 
“I don’t like to look at it.” She sighed.
 
“Why not?” Her mother opened the box.
 
“I didn’t exactly have a happy childhood. I thought my parents abandoned me. I thought they didn’t want me. Just because I know now that they did doesn’t change the fact that I grew up feeling that way.”
 
“Emma…” Mary Margaret took her hand.
 
“Perhaps I should make the tea this time.” Elsa excused herself to the kitchen.
 
“We’ll figure it out Emma.” Belle said gently. “I should get home to Rumple, it’s getting late. And you should spend some time with your parents.”
 
“I should get home too.” Regina stood.
 
Emma sat in shock on the couch with her parents on either side of her. Henry was in the kitchen helping Elsa figure out the electric stove.
 
“You know we never wanted to abandon you.” Snow gripped her daughters hand.
 
“Maybe that’s not enough though.” David held her other hand. “Emma I think we owe you an apology.”
 
“W-what?” She looked at her father.
 
“When we were in Neverland and I was dying of Dreamshade, Hook said something to me. He said it didn’t matter why we left you. It didn’t matter that we had a good reason. All that mattered was that you were alone. Even if we did it to save you. Even if we did it because it was for the best. We still abandoned you Emma. And I don’t think I’ve ever told you how truly sorry I am for that.”
 
“Killian said that? All the way back in Neverland?”
 
“He’s right Emma. You deserve an apology.” Snow scooted closer to her. “I’m sorry too.”
 
“I…I understand why you did it. But… I think that was something I never knew I needed to hear.” Tears fell from her eyes.
 
Each of her parents put their arms around her, holding her close.
 
“It’s going to be ok mom.” Henry approached with tea. “We’re going to defeat the Snow Queen. Like we always do.”
 
There was a knock at the door. Henry rushed to answer it.
 
“Grandfather Hook!” He shouted in glee to see him.
 
“Hello Henry. How’s your mum?” Killian walked into the apartment carrying the bin of photos.
 
“Coming around.” Emma sighed. “What kept you?”
 
“Just didn’t want to destroy any evidence as I took it down.” He placed the bin on the table. “I can be a bit clumsy with only one hand.”
 
“These are crazy.” Henry looked through the photos. “Mom, you have a folder of my stuff just like this from our time in New York. So does my other mom.”
 
“I still have all the drawings Anna used to slip under my door when we were little.” Elsa looked over Henry’s shoulder.
 
“I have things too. Things from my boy. My Baelfire.” Hook said with emotion.
 
“These are not things you keep if you don’t care about somebody.” Emma pieced through her old drawings. “If the Snow Queen, if Ingrid cares about me… why would she do this to me?”
 
“And why would she take your memory?” Snow wondered aloud.
 
“Did you make sure to search the rest of the ice cream store?” Henry asked.
 
“Every inch.” David nodded. “We didn’t want to miss anything again.”
 
“What about her truck?” Henry asked.
 
“Truck?” Emma looked up. “What truck?”
 
“Her ice cream truck.” Henry looked around.
 
The adults were confused.
 
“You didn’t search her truck?”
 
“We didn’t know she had one. How did you?” Emma puzzled.
 
“Because I’m kid. And I like ice cream.” Henry laughed.
 
“Alright Henry. Welcome to the team.” David smiled.
 
“I’m offended you didn’t think I was part of it already.” The boy crossed his arms and smirked.
 
“Quite cunning lad.” Killian rubbed his head affectionately.
 
“I get it from my grandfather.” Henry laughed.
 
“Who me? No. We’re not even related. You get that from Baelfire. He was the clever one not I.” The pirate sat in a chair.
 
“Modesty isn’t usually your style.” Emma raised an eyebrow.
 
“All this talk of childhood has me recalling Bae.” He looked at the box.
 
“Not your own childhood?” Emma asked.
 
“I was just an insignificant whelp. It was Baelfire who was truly exceptional.” He looked through the photos.
 
“Well, we can reconvene tomorrow to check her truck. Maybe we’ll find another clue in there.” David nodded.
 
“Can I come? Since I’m part of the team?” Henry asked.
 
“Probably best not lad. Take it from me. Your grandpa. Stay home where it’s safe.”  Hook placed a hand on his shoulder.
 
“O-ok. If you say so.” Henry raised his eyebrows.
 
“How come you never listen to me when I tell you what to do?” Emma laughed.
 
“You’re my mom. I’m supposed to disobey you.” Henry stood and made his way to the stairs and up to bed.
 
Emma walked Killian to the door placing her hand on his back as they made their way into the hall.
 
“Thanks for you help today Killian. It’s been tough without my magic. But you’re right. I can do this. Even if I have to do it the hard way and not the easy way.”
 
“Happy to ease your mind love.” He turned to her with a dead eyed smile.
 
“David mentioned something you said in Neverland. I was a bit surprised.”
 
“Surprised how?” He asked.
 
“That you knew me so well. Even then. I guess we were twins even before we realized it.” She smirked.
 
“Twins?” He asked.
 
“Y-yeah. Pirate twins.” She looked at him confused.
 
“Yes of course.” He nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow love.”
 
He leaned in and placed a gentile kiss goodbye on her lips. She touched her mouth lightly as she watched him walk down the stairs. She made her way back into the apartment and looked out the window watching him walk towards the marina. A strange feeling in her chest.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Killian woke suddenly. Glancing at the clock, he despaired to see it had only been an hour. He couldn’t sleep. He could feel the Dark One constantly watching him. The night before had been agony. To be around Emma and Henry, knowing he was going to die in a few short days. Try as he may to cry out to them, to warn them, he worried more that any warning he could give would lead to their suffering. The Dark One had said it was a gift to spend his last days with them, but it felt like his worst torture yet.
 
He stood and walked to the bookshelf opening the old tome. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Its melancholy message a heavy but welcome comfort as sleep eluded him.
 
An orphan's curse would drag to hellA spirit from on high;

But oh! more horrible than thatIs the curse in a dead man's eye!

Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse,

And yet I could not die.

“And yet I could not die…” He whispered.
 
Glancing at his belt hanging with his jacket on the wall he took he cutlass and held the blade to his neck. He felt the sting of the sharp steel as he began to draw his across his flesh. His hand stopped. His voice caught in his throat.
 
“~You can’t escape me captain. You can’t be free of me. You took my son. Left me a broken man. And now I shall break you. You are the key to my everlasting power. You think me a god?~”
 
Killian cried out, dropping his sword as he fell to his knees. Feeling the imps fingers close around his heart in a painful ache that radiated through his whole body.
 
“~watch me become one. It will be the last thing you see as I crush your heart. I, Rumplestiltskin shall become the god of all darkness. And I couldn’t have done it without you.~”
 
He gnashed his teeth as the crocodiles voice echoed inside his head.
 
“~Now go to bed Captain. Tomorrow is another day closer to your death. You best enjoy your life while you still can.~”
 
His legs lifted him against his will, carrying him to the bed, he lay heavily back down. His favorite poem clutched in his hand. As his head hit the pillow his senses were alight with the smell of pine forest shampoo. He let out a pained breath. He had her for one night. One amazing night that would be his final comfort.
 
He looked up at the paint-peeled ceiling of the apartment. Unable to move, unable to fall asleep, he watched the light rise through the window, covering the small musty apartment in the light of dawn. Gulls called on the dock outside. The sun broke over the ocean. Killian Jones waited for the day of his death. Greatful for the life he had lived. But broken to leave her behind.
 
“Perhaps we shall meet again one day Dark One. In the deepest circle of hell where we both belong.” He said aloud.
 
“~I am immortal Capatain. You shall rot in hell in eternal torment, while I get everything I want.”
 
*****
 
Emma woke suddenly. Glancing at the clock, she despaired to see it had only been a couple of hours. She couldn’t sleep. She felt as though the Snow Queen was constantly watching her.  She got out of bed and went downstairs to the kitchen. It was still dim, but the first light of day was beginning to break through the apartment.
 
Sitting on the kitchen counter was an envelope. Henry’s latest batch of photos. It was one of her favorite things to page through them. See the world as Henry saw it. She stopped to see a photo of her and Killian sitting at the counter at Grannys. Having his first drink of rum since he had decided to work on himself returning from Arendel. She had seen a photo like it before. From back when he was Cruca. The photo that has helped her realize who she was in New York. She looked around the apartment. Everyone was still asleep. She tucked the photo into her pocket and reached for her coat.
 
Making her way down the steps she pulled out her phone sending a message to Killian.
 
-You up? I’m going to Granny’s.-
 
As she arrived at the diner she saw some of the dwarfs, ever the early risers, beginning to filter in for their morning coffee.
 
“Emma?” She looked up to see Marian holding two cups of coffee. “I didn’t expect to see you here so early.”
 
“I couldn’t sleep.”
 
“Robin and I will be helping with the raid on the Snow Queen truck today. I look forward to returning to the fight since being frozen.” She smiled.
 
“It will be nice to have you back. We need all the help we can get with my magic not working.” She looked at the ribbon.
 
“It must be amazing to have magic.” Marian chuckled. “You must miss it.”
 
“I’ll see you at the raid of the truck later Marian.” Emma stepped up to the counter feeling defeated.
 
“Couldn’t sleep?”
 
Emma jumped, turning to see Killian standing behind her.
 
“You got my message?”
 
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep either.” He raised his hand to Ruby ordering a coffee.
 
She looked up into his eyes. The hint of dark circles forming beneath them. She wondered if she looked the same. Though he appeared to have had a worse night. His hair was a bit disheveled and he looked gaunt.
 
“What happened here?” She asked pointing to a two inch cut along his neck.
 
Thought it was shallow, it appeared to have bled down his neck. The hint of a bloodstain barely visible upon the dark collar of his shirt. He quickly raised his hand to cover it, pulling up his collar to make it less visible.
 
“J-just an accident with my hook.” He flashed a nervous smile. “A bit embarrassing. But it happens. I can be clumsy with it.”
 
“Are you Ok? You don’t seem like yourself.” She walked over to a booth and sat down with her coffee.
 
“How do you mean love?”
 
“I don’t know, you seem less confident. You’re not usually one to get down on yourself about every day things. The opposite actually.”
 
“I thought a little less arrogance would be a good thing.” He nodded to Ruby as she came by with a bowl of jello and a plate of eggs.
 
“I kind of like your arrogance.” Emma smirked taking a bite of her breakfast. “I mean, I didn’t always. It used to make me want to punch you in the face. But now it kind of gives me confidence.”
 
“What’s changed?” He asked drinking his coffee.
 
“I- uh- well it’s-“ she stopped herself from stammering and took a deep breath. “I see you as a different person now. I’ve gotten to know you. Your arrogance is your way of taking charge even when you don’t feel in control.”
 
“Some astute psycho analysis Swan. You could give Hopper a run for his his money.”
 
He began to sound like his old self a bit. She laughed and took another bite of her eggs.
 
“Marian and Robin are coming to the raid of the truck later. Do you think Regina is going to be ok?”  Emma asked.
 
“The Queen is strong. She will endure.” His voice was low and serious.
 
“Well if you slept as little as I did we’re already down two people. It won’t be good if Regina is off her game.”
 
“I may not have gotten sleep, but I assure you, I am sharper than ever.”
 
“That makes one of us.”
 
“I should stop by the ice cream shop before we leave. See if I can find the truck keys.” He stood laying down payment for his meal. “I’ll see you later.”
 
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Emma watched him walk out the door. Her hand drifting up to her face where he had kissed her, with the strangest feeling of dread. She turned back to her breakfast, then stopped. Surprised to see his untouched bowl of jello.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Regina? Are you sure this is where the truck is?” Emma asked, puzzled as they made their way down a wooded path with Hook, David and Elsa. “It’s a truck. I was sort of expecting a parking lot. Or a garage.”
 
“My locator spell is working fine thank you! Unless your pirate grabbed the wrong keys.” Regina groused.
 
“Those were the only car keys in the building.” Killian sighed.
 
They rounded a corner to find Robin and Marian with a large derelict truck.
 
“How did you two find the place?” David asked.
 
“It’s Robin.” Marian laid her head on his shoulder affectionately. “He’s an incredible tracker.”
 
“It’s not hard.” Robin laughed. “Trucks don’t exactly leave a subtle trail.”
 
“Let’s get this over with.” Emma headed down the hill.
 
She stopped, seeing most of the company in front of her. Turning back she saw Regina at the hills crest, looking up at the canopy of trees. A shimmer of emotion in her eyes.
 
“Regina? Are you going to be alright?” Emma made her way back up the hill to her side.
 
“I’m fine!” Regina brushed her off. “Everyone needs to quit asking!”
 
“Regina… I know what you did to save Marian. What you gave up.” Emma said quietly.
 
“Oh? So I’ve impressed you?” She laughed.
 
“Don’t do that…” Emma sighed. “I’m trying to compliment you.”
 
“Well save it! It’s bad enough I’m stuck with you and Captain Guyliner groping eachother like teenagers. Now I have to see

them

too.” She glared at Robin and Marian.
 
“Groping like-? He

told

you?” She asked in shock.
 
“No. Of course he didn’t tell us.” Regina looked away. “Elsa let slip that you didn’t come home the other night. She’s not very good at subtly.”
 
“

Everyone

knows?” Emma asked wide eyed.
 
“Certainly your mother, Belle and I. I’m fairly certain Elsa has no idea.”
 
“But I’ve stayed the night before how could anyone tell…?” Emma let out a labored breath.
 
“Don’t blame the pirate. All he did was smile.” Regina rolled her eyes.
 
“My

mom

knows?”
 
“All anyone has to do is look at the big stupid grin on his face and they’ll know.”
 
“Does he seem…

different

to you?” Emma asked.
 
“Other than the grin? Couldn’t say.” Regina continued to compose herself. “Perhaps a night with the savior changes a man.”
 
“No, not that. I mean… he’s not acting like himself. He’s acting different. He’s being self deprecating and… practical.”
 
“He’s a lot of things but practical isn’t usually one of them.” Regina started down the hill.
 
“Yeah, that’s kind of what I’m talking about…”
 
“How should I know? He’s

your

boyfriend.

You

ask him.
Clearly
relationships are not my area.”
 
“Hey.” Emma put a hand on her shoulder. “I know this is hard on you, but you’ve come a long way Regina. You deserve credit for the good you’ve done.”
 
“Not that it matters.” She rolled her shoulder shaking her hand off. “Once a villain always a villain.”
 
“That’s not true. It’s not true for him and it’s not true for you. The sacrifice you made to save Marians life is nothing short of heroic.”
 
“And yet I’m miserable. Villains don’t get happy endings Ms Swan. If your pirate is acting different, maybe it’s because he knows his happiness is short lived.” She walked ahead to the truck.
 
As they got to the truck Emma took Marian aside. “Hey, I uh, wanted to ask you a favor.”
 
“What is it?” She asked, hiking her quiver up her shoulder.
 
“Could you… could you take it easy with the PDA and Robin?”
 
“The what?” She asked confused.
 
“Right. No abbreviations in the Enchanted Forest. Public Display of Affection. I just thought, to make things easier on Regina you could-“
 
“Are you telling me not to show my love for my husband?” Marian accused.
 
“What-? No, I just-“
 
“How is it any of your business?”
 
“Look Regina sacrificed a lot to bring you back. Out of respect it seems fair to take it easy with the hugging and kissing around her.”
 
“Like you’re so subtle with Captain Hook?”
 
“It’s not the same thing!” Emma began to grow annoyed.
 
“Listen savior. Robin and I were happy before Regina sentenced me to death. If you have a problem with me carrying on with my husband I suggest you take it up with the Evil Queen.” She joined Robin.
 
“Is it just me or is everyone acting strange?” Emma grumbled to herself.
 
“Is there a key?” David asked as they stood behind the truck.
 
“The keys to the cab don’t open this door.” Robin tried each key again to be certain.
 
“Stand back.” Killian raised his hook bringing it down on the padlock.
 
“You’ll think of any excuse to use that thing won’t you?” David sighed.
 
“It certainly comes in handy.” He held up the prosthetic.
 
“Handy! Quite amusing.” Elsa smiled.
 
“Thank you your majesty. Now let’s have a look shall we?” He opened the door to a cloud of cold mist.
 
The company raised their respective weapons. As the fog lifted they made their way inside the compartment.
 
“What is it?” Emma squinted trying to see clearly as the snowflakes settled.
 
“No…” Elsa whispered. “Anna.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The frozen forms of Anna and Kristoff stood inside the truck. Each of them with their hands raised as if to guard from an attack. Their blue shapes like a cold glass.
 
“Anna… ANNA!!!” Elsa rushed into the car.
 
She threw her arms around the shoulders of the vitreous Anna. Her tears freezing into snowflakes as they fell from her cheeks. Looking up she placed a gentile kiss upon her sister’s forehead. Stepping back and waiting for a response. The company held their breaths. A silent despair as Anna remained frozen in ice.
 
“No…” Elsa whispered. “No! It’s not working! Why isn’t it working?!? Like last time Anna! Please! Come back!” She cried.
 
“T-the Snow Queen can guard against the love of family…” Regina said quietly. “It’s why we couldn’t revive Marian…”
 
“Then how do we save her?!? How do we stop her?!?” Elsa looked desperately around the company.
 
The air grew cold as she began to lose hope. A flurry of snowflakes hanging in the  still crisp air around them.
 
“With Marian we had to use romantic love. It was the only magic that could stand up to the queen…” Regina let slip a rare expression of sympathy.
 
“That can’t be!!!” Elsa shouted. “That can’t be the only way! Anna’s love is frozen!” She turned to Kristoff and put her hand on his shoulder.
 
“Then there’s no hope.” Hook said, an uncharacteristic callousness in his voice.
 
“Killian!” Emma snapped. “You’re not helping! Elsa…”
 
There was a flash. A light of bright blue energy that emanated from the Queen of Arendel. The chill in the air quickly dropped to a brisk and driven wind as a heavy snow began to fall.
 
“Elsa! This is not over! We will find a way to revive your sister!” Emma said with determination.
 
“No hope…” She held her hands to her head as the temperature plummeted.
 
“Elsa! Don’t lose hope!”
 
“NO HOPE!!!” She shouted.
 
They were all thrown backwards out of the truck. Emma held her hands in front of her face expecting a heavy impact, but landed instead into a pile of light snow.
 
“Oh no…” Emma got slowly to her feet looking around the forest.
 
Everything was covered in snow. Storybrooke was layered in a cloak of winter as far as the eye could see. Looking up she saw crystals of ice beginning to grow around the truck.
 
“Elsa listen to me! We’ve come this far and we’re not giving up now! We can save your sister! We can help her! We just have to find another way!”
 
“I’m afraid you can’t.” They turned to see the Snow Queen, standing barefoot in the harsh new weather covering the land.
 
Elsa turned suddenly. Her blue eyes flashed a cold white as she held out a threatening hand to the Snow Queen.
 
“What have you done?!?” She shot a blast of ice the witches direction. “How long has she been like this?!?”
 
Ingrid waved off the attack. “Almost a year now. She tried so hard to get back to you. But in the end I froze her.” The Queens voice was empty of emotion.
 
“You’re a monster!!!” Elsa cried.
 
“No more than you my niece.” She smiled.
 
“What my mother did she did for the good of the kingdom!” Elsa marched forward.
 
“I’m sure a part of you wants to believe that. But the truth is my sister betrayed me. Just like yours will betray you. How long do you think you can keep this up? How long do you think you can pretend to be something you’re not?”
 
“Ah!!!” She sent a blast of ice towards her aunt.
 
Ingrid disappeared from in front of her. Reappearing behind her in a flurry of snow.
 
“Look at yourself. So much fear.” She said quietly. “Imagine what you could do if you only learned to control it? I would tell you that everything is going to be fine. But your worry… your fear… is exactly what is needed right now.”
 
Elsa dropped to her knees surrounded in a whirl of snow and wind. A yellow ribbon appeared on her wrist. She held her head as her power grew, uncontrolled.
 
“Welcome to our family my darling niece. Emma and I are the only ones that understand you. The only ones that ever will. Now I have access to both of your incredible powers. And with that power my spell of shattered sight will soon take over the town, and the three of us will be the only ones remaining in it. They say you can’t chose your family. Watch me.”
 
In the blink of an eye Ingrid was gone. Leaving Elsa in a torment of magic and emotion. Emma made her way forward against the wind, trying to speak over the gale force. Elsa looked up at her friends being held back by the wind. Looking down at her hands she stood quickly and ran. The worst of the weather following her as they were left in the cold and silent wood.
 
“Elsa!” Emma started after her.
 
“Wait! It’s dangerous!” Killian reached out to take her arm.
 
“Let go!” She brushed him off. “What were you thinking?!? No hope? Elsa needs us right now! You of all people should know that there is always hope! I don’t know what’s going on with you Killian, but if you’re not going to help then stay out of the way!” She ran after the footprints in the snow.
 
The others turned to follow. Killian stood still, stepping back and ducking behind a tree.
 
“Crocodile.” He said through his teeth. “You have to let me go!”
 
“Not a chance Captain.” He looked up to see the imp standing before him.
 
“You’ve made it clear that I am to die. If you truly are a man of your word, and you don’t intend to harm Emma let me spend my final days helping her.”  He looked up with heavy sleepless eyes to his tormentor.
 
“Do you take me for a fool? I don’t care about the Snow Queen’s plan. I have no intention of helping to stop it. And I won’t release my hold on you.” He laughed.
 
“I’m not asking you to! Just let me speak freely! If Emma discovers your ruse then Belle will learn your secret!”
 
“I’m listening Captain.”
 
He looked down. “Give me my voice. Let me help Emma. No one will learn of your deceit.”
 
“You’re clever Captain. But I can just kill ms Swans family for your cooperation.”
 
“There’s no need. I’ll… I’ll make a deal.” His voice cracked.
 
“Your voice for your obedience?”
 
“If I can spend my final days helping Emma, I’ll do anything.”
 
“Oh I do love it when they say that.” He laughed. Very well Captain. You have a deal.” He extended his hand.
 
With deep heaving breaths of pain and anxiety he took the Dark Ones hand. The imp gripped him tight, pulling him in to speak into his ear.
 
“Know this Captain. I will be watching and if you let slip a single word of my plan, not only will I make Ms Swan suffer, but it will be by your hand.”
 
He released him. Hook fell backwards into the snow as Rumple held the dagger over his heart. He felt his limbs release from his hold, suddenly able to move freely. With a final smirk he squeezed the marbled heart.
 
“Ag!!!” Killian held his chest.
 
“We have a deal now dearie. And no one breaks a deal with me.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“A surprise! What’s the surprise! Is it a good surprise? I love surprises. I mean, there are scary surprises like AH!!! And then fun surprises like Ah! I like both. Which is this?” Anna rambled on.
 
“You’ll see.” Elsa smiled.
 
“Oh oh! Let me guess! A new sled for Kristoff! Wait we already got him a new sled. He doesn’t need another. Maybe… chocolate? No chocolate isn’t much of a surprise. Oh I know! Nesting dolls!”
 
“Nesting dolls?”
 
“You know, you open one and there’s another inside? Surprise! That’s a good surprise.”
 
“Why would I surprise you with nesting dolls?”
 
“I don’t know. Seems like a proper surprise. Except I don’t know why they call them nesting dolls. They open up like an egg. They should call them egg dolls. But eggs go in NESTS! I just got it! Wow. That was a great surprise.”
 
“THIS is your surprise.” Elsa smiled reaching the door at the top of the stairs.
 
“An attic!” Anna smiled.
 
They opened the door and stepped in.
 
“A…dusty… attic. Is the

attic

the surprise?” She turned to her sister.
 
“No.” Elsa laughed. “THIS is.”
 
She opened an armoire. Anna gasped.
 
“A wedding dress! You got me a wedding dress?” She asked with a bright smile.
 
“No. Mother did.”
 
“That’s kinda hard. Moms dead. Unless she’s NOT dead! Oh that would be a

great

surprise.”
 
“Just the dress I’m afraid. But it looks like it will fit you perfectly!”
 
“It’s beautiful Elsa. TOO beautiful! What if I ruin it? What if I spill wine on it?!? What if I spill chocolate on it? There’s so much chocolate at the wedding! Whose idea was it that brides should wear white?!? I look much better in green!”
 
“Anna.” Elsa stepped up to her with a sisterly grin. “It’s going to be fine. You’re going to look beautiful.”
 
“How did you find all this stuff?” She looked around the attic.
 
“Well, you know the castle so well, all that time exploring. I thought I should take a look around your world.” She shrugged.
 
“I was never aloud up here. Mom told me it was dangerous. So of course I HAD to try and get in. I could never get through the lock though.” She chuckled.
 
“It’s easy with magic.” Elsa leaned against her sisters shoulder affectionately. “Why don’t you try on the dress?”
 
“Really? Isn’t that bad luck?”
 
“Only if Kristof sees it.” She looked around the room as Anna stepped behind the armoire.
 
“This stuff is all mom and dads?” She called from the other side of the door.
 
“It would seem so!” Elsa opened a roll top desk. “It appears to be storage more than anything but there are so many things! We could search this place forever and never find it all.” She laughed opening a journal.
 
“Well? What do you think?” Anna stepped out in her dress. “Elsa?”
 
A flurry of snow hung in the air. The temperature in the attic grew cold.
 
“Hey! What’s wrong?!?” Anna rushed to her side.
 
“T-this journal… it was moms… it says they went on their journey… the on where they died… because of me.” She held an alarmed hand to her mouth.
 
“What?” Anna took the book from her as snow began to fall. “But… but it doesn’t say what they were looking for…”
 
“Does it matter?” Elsa sat heavily. “Their death is my fault.”
 
“It’s NOT Elsa!” Anna knelt next to her. “Things were complicated with mom and dad. You know that.”
 
“I-I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your surprise. But, I need to be alone.” She stood and rushed for the door.
 
“Nope!” Anna grabbed her wrist. “You have a sister. You’re never going to be alone.”
 
“Anna I am the reason our parents are dead! They left to find something to help me control my powers! If I hadn’t lost control all those years ago, they would be here to walk you down the isle.”
 
“I don’t need them to walk me! I have you!” She hugged her brightly.
 
“How can that be enough? How can we be a family with just sisters?”
 
“I think we’re already more family than most people can handle! What with my talking, your magic, and then there is Kristof and Sven. Don’t get me STARTED on those two.” Anna laughed.
 
“Anna, you know I love your humor and your optimism. But I don’t see how this is anything but my fault.” Elsa shook her head.
 
“Then we’ll go find out!” The younger sister smiled. “We’ll go to Mist Haven where mother and father we’re going! We’ll find out what they were looking for.”
 
“Anna, I am Queen of Arendel. I can’t just leave.”
 
“Well… I can.” Anna shrugged.
 
“What about your wedding? This journey killed mother and father! I can’t just let you-“
 
“Mother and father left during a storm. That’s how they died. It’s the best time for sailing right now! I’ll only be gone a few weeks!”
 
“And your wedding?”
 
“I can’t get married unless you are as happy as I am.” She smiled. “Come on. Let’s go tell Kristof! Oh no… Sven is going to be mad. I don’t think they let reindeer on boats.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma ran down Main Street. She heard the sound of footsteps behind her as her family and friends caught up. There was a path of ice frozen through the street. Elsa stood at the end, her power out of control. Buildings froze with hanging ice as she continued to panic.
 
“What’s going on?!?” Snow approached from the apartment, the baby in a sling around her chest.
 
“Careful! She doesn’t have control!” The prince held his hand cautiously to his wife.
 
“Elsa let us help you!” Emma approached.
 
“You can’t! You can’t help me! No one can help me!” Elsa held her head. “I’m alone! No Anna! In a strange land! I can’t control it! I can hold it back!”
 
“Then don’t!”
 
They turned to see Killian running up the street towards them.
 
“Elsa you said it before! Holding back is exactly what prevents you from controlling your power!” He approached her with his hand extended cautiously. “I spoke to your mother Elsa. She regretted letting you live in fear. She regretted telling you to hold back.”
 
“It doesn’t matter! We’ve be losing this whole time! My mission was doomed from the start! Anna is frozen and we have no way of bringing her back! The Snow Queen now has access to my power! Even coming to this realm in the first place was all a part of her plan!”
 
“Aye lass. No one knows better than me the agony of being manipulated. But Emma is right. You can’t give up hope yet.”
 
“But you said-“
 
“I said that because I haven’t got any hope. I’ve spent my life making bad decisions and losing everything I love because of it. But I have seen you chose good from the moment I met you. You have hope Elsa. And you have us.”
 
“He’s right!” David stepped up. “This isn’t over Elsa! No matter how bleak it looks we have always succeeded! I promised we would help you when you came to this town. And we will! We will not stop trying to save Anna!”
 
“We found a way to save Marian from the Snow Queens curse and we can find one for your sister!” Robin said determined.
 
“We want to help.” Snow nodded.
 
“But we can’t if you’re not with us! Anna isn’t lost yet Elsa. She’s only lost when you give up.” Emma smiled sadly.
 
“I don’t know what to do! I don’t know how to make it stop! I don’t know how to hold it back!” Elsa looked down at her hands, pulsing with power.
 
“Stop trying.” Hook’s eyes were gentile. “Your mother knew what you needed, but could never tell you. You know what you need too Elsa. You said it yourself. It’s time to stop holding yourself and your power back. Be who you are. And let it go.”
 
Elsa’s eyes opened wide. She took a deep breath. The wind died down as her shoulders relaxed. Looking up at the sky she held out her arms. The air grew warmer and the snow and ice began to recede. Elsa fell weakly to her knees in a faint. Robin, Marian, David, Snow and Regina rushed to her side as she collapsed. She blinked and gave a weary smile as they helped her to her feet.
 
“Killian.” Emma approached. “You got through to her.”
 
“We all did love.” He smiled sadly.
 
“What I said earlier…” She looked into his melancholy eyes. “Is… is everything alright?”
 
“Why do you ask?” He studied her face like it was the last time he would see her.
 
“If you look at me any harder you’re going to drill a hole in my head.” She laughed.
 
“I’m just… relived we haven’t lost yet.”
 
“What you said about not having hope… you don’t really believe that do you?”
 
“It can be hard to have hope when you’re a villain.” He flashed a sad smile.
 
“But after everything, it seems like you of all people should have something to hope for. You’ve given me more hope than anyone. In Neverland you told me to believe in myself, against Zelena you told me not to run from my happiness, in the past you-“ she stopped, glancing at Elsa and then quickly back to Killian with a sudden realization. “-you should have died!”
 
“You’ll have to be more specific love, that happens to me a lot.”
 
“No! In the past! When Rumplestiltskin stabbed you! But I was able to heal you with the wand remember?”
 
“A-aye.”
 
“Elsa!” Emma rushed to the queens side. “I may have thought of a way to save your sister!”
 
“Y-you did?!?” Elsa exclaimed in surprise.
 
“We have to find Belle! We have to get the Dark Fairy’s wand!”
 
“The Dark Fairy…?” Regina asked in disbelief. “That wand is a legend! Too powerful for even the greatest of sorcery. No one has seen it in years. What makes you think it’s here?”
 
“The wand was what we used to get home from the past. It was in the Dark One’s secret vault!”
 
“But that means…” David glanced at the pawnshop.
 
“It must be with Gold.”
 
“You better hurry love.” Killian looked out at the water watching a cloud of shimmering dust rising from the direction of the Snow Queens iceberg. “Because that looks like the Spell of shattered sight.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“We-we failed…” Elsa gasped looking at the growing cloud of glass creeping towards the town.
 
“I failed…” Emma breathed.
 
“Emma you did not fail!” Killian turned to her. “You want me to have hope? Well here it is. You haven’t failed so long as you’re alive. It may be difficult for me to have hope, but not when I look at you. Not when I can speak to you.” He looked down.
 
“Killian, I am a savior without magic. That is the most powerful spell we’ve seen since the Dark Curse! Without magic I can’t-“
 
“You don’t need magic!!! You never needed magic! Magic isn’t what makes you the savior!” He placed his hand on her shoulder.
 
“He’s right Emma.” David stepped up to her. “You were born the savior. Magic came with it but it doesn’t make you who you are.”
 
“I don’t know what to do…” She looked desperately around the group.
 
“Yes. You do.” Regina sighed. “You always do.”
 
“When things go wrong, you know exactly what you’re doing.” Robin nodded.
 
“Your idea will work. The wand will work.” Killian nodded.
 
“But without my magic I can’t even USE IT!”
 
“You’ll find a way.” Snow looked out at the approaching cloud. “You find the better way Emma. You’ve done it before and you can do it again. We believe in you.”
 
“Tell us what to do.” Her father stepped up.
 
Emma turned to Elsa who looked nervous, but nodded her head. Emma took a deep breath.
 
“We have to get the wand. Marian, Robin, spread the word. Anyone who can lock themselves down to avoid hurting anyone under the spell needs to be secured quickly. Mom, dad, I need you two to go to the sheriffs station and lock yourself in cages.”
 
Mary Margaret and David exchanged a look, and nodded.
 
“Regina… This spell brings out the worst in people… is there some place safe you can-?”
 
Regina took one last glance at Robin and Marian. “I’m going to lock myself in my vault.” She sighed. “For the protection of all.”
 
“The Snow Queen wants Elsa and I. I get the feeling that we’re immune.” She looked at the ribbon on her wrist. “But so are you Killian. The spell can’t be cast on a person a second time. I need you to find Henry and get him to safety.”
 
“Aye lass. Not to worry.”
 
“Elsa, you and me, we’re going to Golds to get that wand. With its power not only can we save your sister and Kristof but we can stop the Snow Queen.”
 
“Wait!” Snow stepped up to her and took her into an embrace. “I need you to take your brother.”
 
“What? But I’m-“
 
“-the safest place for him to be right now.” Tears fell down her cheeks.
 
“But I don’t know what to do! I don’t know what’s going to happen!!!” Emma looked alarmed at the baby.
 
“You’re going to solve this thing Emma.” Her father smiled sadly.
 
“And then you’re going to come and save us.” Snow helped tie the baby to her daughter’s chest.
 
“Mom… Dad…” she looked at each of them with tears in her eyes. “I love you.”
 
“We love you too Emma.”
 
They all turned and left for their respective assignments.
 
“Hook!” Emma called as he began to walk away.
 
He turned back.
 
“I just… I just wanted to say I’m sorry for accusing you of acting strange earlier. And just in case this doesn’t go well…”. She looked down.
 
“Take care Swan. And don’t lose your hope. You’re not alone anymore. You’ve got friends and family who believe in you. We know you can succeed.”
 
“And you?” She brushed a tear off her cheek.
 
“Aye. And me.”
 
She let go of his hand and turned to follow Elsa towards the pawn shop.
 
“~ The Queens Spell is at hand captain. I must prepare my family. You will bring Henry to me. And tomorrow night, you shall breathe your last as I crush the life from you.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma and Elsa rushed to the pawnshop. Upon arriving neither of them was surprised to find a magic barrier across the door.
 
“Elsa? Do you think you can…?” Emma gestured her head towards the door.
 
“Stand back.” Elsa raised her arms and opened her palms towards the shop.
 
Nothing.
 
“No…” Elsa looked down at the ribbon on her wrist. “My magic!” She looked up at Emma in alarm.
 
“She needed both of your powers to cast a spell of that magnitude.” They turned to see Belle standing in the door.
 
“Belle!” Emma explained happily.
 
“Come in, hurry! Rumple cast a spell over the shop preventing it from being hit by the spell.” The scholar ushered them inside as shimmering bits of glass began to blanket the town.
 
“Where’s Gold?” Emma demanded.
 
“He went to see if he could find a way out of the Queen’s containment spell on the town line. What do you need? How can I help?”
 
“Where does he keep his most powerful magic items?” Elsa asked.
 
“Well, in the enchanted forest he kept them in an underground vault that had no door.”
 
“I don’t suppose he has one of those here?” Emma sighed.
 
“He doesn’t think I know about it but…” Belle rushed over to the cash register, disappearing behind it.
 
Emma and Elsa hurried to the counter to see Belle pulling up floorboards.
 
“Damn. You’re pretty smart Belle. How did you figure that out?” Emma asked as Belle opened the lid to a metal box.
 
“These floorboards creaked. I’m naturally curious.” The scholar smiled.
 
Inside the box were some familiar items. An ornate hand mirror, Pandora’s box, a handful of scrolls, and a long velvet bag. Emma reached for the velvet parcel and opened it to find the dark fairy’s wand.
 
“All these things are…?” Elsa asked.
 
“Too powerful for the Dark One.” Emma sighed.
 
“How did this get in here?” Belle asked finding the Gauntlet of Camelot among the hidden items.
 
“Now all we have to do is get these ribbons off.” Elsa held out her hand.
 
Emma held the wand over her wrist, but nothing happened.
 
“Your magic is still locked by the snow queens love.” Belle looked at the wand. “In order to access your power and use the wand, you have to remove those ribbons.”
 
“But I’ve been trying for weeks! How can I remove it now?”
 
The Snow Queen may have given you just want you need. Belle looked out the window to the cloud of glass blanketing the street.
 
“My loved ones trying to rip each other apart?” Emma sighed.
 
“Hatred.”
 
“I don’t remember asking for hatred for Christmas.”
 
“Those ribbons are made of love.” Belle ignored Emma’s sarcasm. “In order to remove them…”
 
“We can use opposing forces!” Elsa said happily. “Emma who hates you the most in this town?”
 
“Uh oh…” Emma swallowed. “We may have to set loose the Evil Queen.”
 
As Elsa and Emma ran out of the shop Belle looked down at the contents of the hidden box. And then glanced at the gauntlet.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“We had a deal crocodile!” Killian said through his teeth as his legs moved against his will. “You said you’d let me spend my final hours helping Emma!”
 
“~She told you to make sure Henry was safe Captain. What safer place is there for him than with his grandpa?”
The Dark One’s voice echoed through Killian’s head.
 
“You can’t take him from his mothers! You can’t!” The pirate begged.
 
“~Regina will be dead. No doubt killed by the citizens of this town for her crimes. And Emma will be living a blissful life at the side of the Snow Queen. The safest place for Henry to be is with his only remaining family. Me. I can spend the time with him that I missed with my boy. When you took him.”
 
“No matter what I have done to wrong you Dark One, Henry doesn’t deserve this. You can have your power and save this town. You can have Belle! You know, she truly loves you! Don’t do this!”
 
“~I don’t have to chose between the love of my family and my power. I can and will have both. Bring Henry to my shop. Even if you have to drag him there by force.”
 
His legs carried him up the stairs to the loft. He found the door locked.
 
“Henry?” He asked through the door. “I need you to come with me mate.” He shook his head.
 
“Go away! I’m not going anywhere with a dirty pirate!” Came the boys angry voice through the door.
 
“Dirty? I bathe quite frequently thank you.” He grumbled as he began to pick the lock.
 
“I don’t like you! I never liked you!”
 
“Sounds like you’ve been taken by the spell.” He looked around at the glass hanging in the air like a fog.
 
“I like you even less now that you and my mom are…together!” Henry said angrily.
 
Hook stopped picking the lock. “Did Emma use that word? Together?” He smiled.
 
“Get lost!!!”
 
“Look, Henry.” He finally got the door open and stepped inside. “I know you don’t believe that I-“ he slipped and fell hard onto his back.
 
“You should have taken my mom up on movie night.” Henry’s angry face looked over him holding a bag of marbles. “This one is from a little movie called

Home Alone.”

Killian sat up and looked around at the marbles he had tripped on with a heavy sigh as Henry ran down the steps and out onto the street.
 
“Henry! Don’t go out there!!!” He made his way to his feet careful not to trip on the minefield of marbles.
 
As he rushed down the steps after his grandson he stopped to see a figure standing in the door to the street.
 
“I’ve been looking fer you.”
 
“Will Scarlet.” Killian sighed. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
 
“Come to pay you back for that shiner you gave me. And me nose. And me jaw.” He gestured to his healing face. “What are you going to do without your girlfriend around to protect ya?” He held up his fists to box.
 
“You don’t want to get into a fist fight with Captain Hook mate. Rarely ends well for the other fellow.” His eyes flashed red.
 
“Don’t care. I can’t think of anything but me anger right now. And me anger wants you!” He rushed at him.
 
Killian quickly wrapped his left arm around the young man’s neck and held him in a tight grip.
 
“I’m sorry for what I did to you mate. Though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think you deserved at least one good punch that night.”
 
“Once a villain always a villain!” The thief said through his teeth.
 
“You may be right about that. But since I can’t have you following me trying to get yourself killed…” he pushed him forward into the wall.
 
Wills forehead made contact and he fell to the ground unconscious.
 
“You may have another bruise to add to your collection, but you’ll be alright.” Killian smirked looking down at him before rushing out into the street to find Henry.
 
Looking up and down main he saw the boy running towards the ice cream shop. He managed to catch up to him and lift him by the back of his collar.
 
“What do you think you’re doing?” Killian sighed.
 
“I’m going to eat all the ice cream I want! There are no adults around to stop me!”
 
“There’s one.” The pirate dropped him to his feet leading him by the jacket towards the pawnshop.
 
“Let me go! You’re not my grandfather!” He struggled.
 
“Yes yes, I know, we’re not related.” Killian mumbled.
 
“No! I mean you’re not

him!

You’re not
Hook!
Something is

wrong

with you!”
 
“W-what?” He stopped looking into the boys eyes.
 
Shards of glass reflected back in Henry’s hateful glare.
 
“Hook doesn’t call himself my

Grandpa!

He’s my grandFATHER! You called yourself my grandpa the other day! You’re
not
him! You’re not
Hook!
” He continued to try and shake the pirates grip on his jacket.
 
“Henry you know-

hgk

-!” Killian let go of the boy falling to a knee and holding his chest as he felt Rumplestiltskins hand close around his heart.
 
“~the boy knows nothing captain. Get him to my shop now. And not another word about his suspicions.”
 
“You can’t deceive them forever Crocodile.”

“~I don’t have to. Tonight is your last night Captain. Tomorrow the stars will align and I shall have my untethered power. Now get that boy. Once he crosses the threshold to the shop the spell will be broken and he shall be safe.”

“Y-you swear he won’t be harmed?” Killian asked, his voice a trembling whisper as his chest ached.

“~Think what you wish of me Captain. But I love my grandson. The last remnant of my boy. No one will touch him.”

Hook stood, feeling the grip on his heart release.
 
“Henry!” He called running down the street.
 
“Let me go faker!!!” Henry snarled as his grandfather looped his arms under his shoulders.
 
“I’m sorry lad. It will be over in a moment.” He dragged the boy, kicking and flailing his arms towards the pawn shop.
 
As they approached the door Killian kicked it in, quickly tossing the boy inside. There was a flash of magic as he crossed the threshold.
 
“Henry!” Belle helped him to his feet.
 
Killian doubled over, breathing heavily as he looked up to check on his grandson.
 
“W-what’s happening? What’s going on? Grandma? Grandfather?” He looked from Belle to Hook.
 
“It’ll be alright Henry.” Killian straightened.
 
“My moms! My grandma Snow and my grandpa David! I have to help them!” The boy got to his feet and made for the door.
 
“You can’t!” Belle stood in his way. “Rumples dispel only works in here. Once you leave it will still be upon you.”
 
“Then I’m trapped?” He looked wide eyed at his grandfather.
 
“I’m sorry Henry, it was the only way.” Killian sighed.
 
“G-grandfather… what I said to you… I’m sorry.” Henry looked down in shame.
 
“It’s not your fault Henry. No one knows better than I the gravity of the Snow Queens Spell.”
 
“Will you help them?” Henry asked. “Will you help my moms? And my grandparents?”
 
“Emma and Elsa went to the graveyard! If you hurry you can still catch them!” Belle urged.
 
“You can count on me lad. So long as I live, I won’t let any harm come to Emma. And so long as she lives, there is hope for this town.” He rushed to the door.
 
“Killian!” Belle stopped him. “Please be careful.”
 
“Aye. And you.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “And Belle? Whatever happens, now or in the coming days, watch out for my grandson. Watch out for Henry.”
 
He ran outside into the street. Belle threw her arms around Henry and held him close. He hugged her back.
 
“It’ll be alright Henry.”
 
“I don’t know…” the boy said quietly. “Something is wrong. Something is wrong with Grandfather… he seems sad.”
 
“He does doesn’t he?” Belle glanced at the door.
 
“Grandma, I know we can’t leave, but is there anything we can do?” He turned to her.
 
“We can certainly try. Help me search the shop.” She turned quickly to the back room and then paused.
 
The Gauntlet of Camelot sat upon the counter where she had left it. A painful ache in her chest, she turned away from the glove and helped Henry search the shop for anything they could use.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I don’t like this Anna…” Elsa said sadly as the sailors loaded the ship with supplies.
 
“We’ll be back your majesty!” Kristoff saluted awkwardly. “You have my word as ice master!”
 
Anna couldn’t help but laugh. “Why don’t you help them load the supplies?” She planted a sweet kiss on his cheek.
 
He smiled at her affectionately and made his way up the ramp with a large barrel over his shoulders.
 
“He’s not mad?” Elsa asked. “That you postponed the wedding?”
 
“He wants it to be right. Just like I do.” She smiled. “That’s how I know I’m marrying the right man.”
 
Elsa let escape a brief grin before falling once more into a sad expression.
 
“Be careful on your journey Anna. Don’t forget, this is how mother and father died.”
 
“And don’t YOU forget that I will see you again. Later. This doesn’t count seeing as I haven’t left yet. Seeing you now and seeing you later are two different things. I mean, of course they are that’s what we’re talking about. When I stop seeing you, leaving on the boat I mean, THEN I will see you again.” Anna laughed.
 
“I found this among mothers things. It must have belonged to her.” Elsa held a necklace containing a small purple stone. “I thought it may help you. I thought it may remind you that you have family waiting for you.” Elsa looked sadly down at the dock.
 
“It’s beautiful!” Anna turned allowing her sister to fasten the clasp of the necklace behind her. “But I don’t need this to remember you Elsa. I’m coming back. Kristoff and I will get married. And it’s going to be the best party Arendel has ever seen!”
 
“I hope so.” The Queen looked down sadly. “Please be careful. Be careful on the sea, and be careful once you reach Mist Haven. Who knows what dangers await in a land with magic.”
 
“I will.” Anna made her way onto the ship before the ramp was drawn. “Take care Elsa!” She waved, Kristoff waving behind her.
 
“And take care of Sven!” Kristoff added.
 
“Watch out for Pirates!!! I love you Anna, don’t forget!”
 
“You’re my sister Elsa! I could never forget! I love you too!”
 
*****
 
Elsa and Emma ran through the graveyard towards the Mills mosoleum. As they reached the small stone building they could hear a raged screaming coming from inside.
 
“Is that… Regina?” Elsa asked wide eyed.
 
“The worst version of her.” Emma said with a sigh.
 
“I thought she was unpleasant now…”
 
“Swan!”
 
Emma turned.
 
“Killian! What are you doing here?”
 
“Belle said you’d be here. Henry is safe at the pawnshop.”
 
“Thank you.” She stepped forward with a tremble in her lip.
 
“It’ll be alright Swan. What do you think? Can Regina remove your ribbons?” He asked.
 
A shrieking wail rang out from deep within the mosoleum.
 
“I should think so…” Emma glanced over her shoulder at the building.
 
“Do you need my help?” He asked.
 
“C-could you take my b-bother?” She began to cry, untying the sleeping baby from her chest.
 
“Of course.” He said sadly cradling the child’s head as he took him.
 
“My parents are locked up at the station.”
 
“We’ll check in on them.” He looked into her eyes. “It will be ok Emma. You’ll see your family again. I’m glad I got to see you again before…”
 
“Killian, I’m not the tearful goodbye kiss type.” She looked up into his sad eyes. “But maybe just this once.”
 
She pulled him in and kissed him with a sad passion. She could die in this fight. She may never see him again. But her chest ached at the thought of saying those three words. Even now after everything they had been through. She couldn’t bring her self to tell him.
 
They had been together for one beautiful night. She let fall a tear to think it could have been their last. She cursed her stubborn reluctance to say how she felt. The only words that could possibly express her gratitude and connection to the man who had come with her so far. But she stepped back from the embrace, looking down sadly, and then up into his forget-me-not stare.
 
“Goodbye.” He whispered, turning quickly away and heading back towards town.
 
“Are you alright Emma?” Elsa asked, placing a gentile hand on her back.
 
“No.” Emma’s voice shook as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “But I’m ready.”
 
They flung open the doors to the vault and descended the stone steps towards Regina’s enraged screams.
 
“What do we do?” Elsa asked as they peeked around the corner to see the Evil Queen pacing angrily.
 
“Uh… just follow my lead. And whatever I say, go with it.”
 
“But how are you going to make her hate you?” Elsa whispered.
 
“She already hates me.” Emma sighed. “I’m just going to dial it up to eleven.”
 
The two ran into the hall. Stopping short as Regina glared at them with a deep and unyielding rage.
 
“You!” She barked. “Daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. How DARE you step foot in my vault?!?”
 
“Woah. Little late for Halloween.” Emma said seeing Regina in the flowing rich gown she recognized as her attire from the enchanted forest.
 
“I hate you!” Regina spat.
 
“See?” Emma whispered to Elsa. “How do you walk in that thing.” She asked, gesturing to the severe dress.
 
“With the poise of composure of Queen.” Regina placed a hand on her hip. “Perfect timing miss Swan. I was just reading up on how to turn you into a garden topiary! What is she doing here?” Regina glared at Elsa.
 
“I wanted to see your face when you leaned the truth.” Elsa said coldly.
 
“The truth about what?” Regina snarled.
 
“I lied to you about Marian.” Emma said confidently. “I knew who she was all along. I brought her from the past on purpose to take away your happiness.”
 
“Tell me something I don’t know.” The Evil Queen squared her shoulders.
 
“What you don’t know is why. Not only did I want to break your heart, but I wanted you to see me and Hook together. To see the happiness you could never have and ruin it again. Just like my mother did.”
 
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” Regina said through her teeth casting a fireball their direction.
 
Emma grabbed Elsa by the wrist and held the ribbons in the air as the fireball broke the magical barrier keeping the Evil Queen inside and burned the ribbons of their wrist with a painful blast.
 
“Ah-!” Elsa gasped as her flesh burned in the queens fire.
 
“Nnn-“ Emma looked down at her own burn.
 
But the magic had done the trick. They were free of the ribbon. Thinking quickly, Emma turned and held out her hand. A blast of light sending Regina to the ground.
 
“Run!” She shouted as Elsa ran up the stairs.
 
Coming out the the vault she quickly took Elsa aside and held the wand over their burnt flesh. Emma closed her eyes. Once again she saw their bodies as forms of light. The wounds a dark spot. She channeled her will into the wand as felt the light heal the burns.
 
“T-that’s amazing. Maybe it

can

save Anna.” Elsa marveled.
 
“SWANNNN!!!!” Regina bellowed as she came up the stairs.
 
“Not if we don’t get out of here. We better hurry.” Emma turned and rushed out the graveyard with Elsa close behind.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma and Elsa ran through the woods towards the truck. It was getting dark, but the ice crystals Elsa had formed around the vehicle were still there.
 
“Are you Ok?” Emma asked.
 
“Just… nervous. What do we do if this doesn’t work?”
 
“Hey.” Emma said placing her hand on Elsa’s shoulder. “We try something else. I won’t give up.”
 
“Ok.” Elsa nodded. “Let’s go.”
 
They stepped inside. Elsa’s shoulders tensed to see her sister in such a way. Emma took a deep breath and closed her eyes, raising the wand in front of her. She gasped. She could see Anna and Kristoff as silhouettes on light. But the lights were dim and faded. She raised the wand and concentrated her will. The light began to grow brighter and brighter.
 
“Emma!” Elsa exclaimed. “It’s working!”
 
Emma kept her concentration. She could feel her energy drain as the powerful magic abated. As soon as light was bright enough she opened her eyes and dropped her arms heavily.
 
“Anna!” Elsa rushed to her sisters side and held her up.
 
Kristof fell heavily to the floor.
 
“Wha-what happened?” Anna looked around.
 
“The spell.” Emma gasped as she struggled to stay on her feet. “The spell of shattered sight. It’s not affecting them.”
 
“Could it be because they were frozen?” Elsa asked.
 
“What’s going on? Who are you?” Anna looked at Emma. “Elsa!!!” She turned and hugged her sister with tears in her eyes.
 
“Last thing I remember some woman had come to the farm claiming to be your aunt.” Kristof held his head and looked up at Anna.
 
“Kristof!” The princess dropped to her knees to check on her fiancé. “Elsa what’s going on? How did you get here? What’s happening?”
 
“There’s a lot to catch you up on.” Elsa wiped a frozen tear from her face with a smile.
 
“Anna do you know where the sheriffs station is?” Emma asked.
 
“Sure. Though admittedly we avoided town as much as we could after the dark curse. It’s like one thing after another with you people! First we got to Mist Haven and everything was magic like

shazah!

And then before we knew it some dwarf is running through the street shouting about a dark curse. And then we ended up HERE and this world was even CRAZIER than the magic! There were flying monkeys! Have you SEEN the flying moneys?!?”
 
“Saw them? I dated one.” Emma sighed.
 
“Oh.” Anna looked confused. “It must just be me then.”
 
“Anna, this is very important so listen closely. I need you to go to the sheriffs station and find Killian Jones.” Elsa looked at her sister intently.
 
“Killian Jones? That sounds familiar.” Anna scratched her head.
 
“Isn’t he Captain Hook?” Kristof asked.
 
“That’s the one.” Emma couldn’t help but smile at his notoriety.
 
“So… I’m looking for a pirate? Are we supposed to… fight him?” Anna looked at Kristof nervously.
 
“No.” Elsa smiled. “He’s a friend. He’ll catch you up on what’s going on.”
 
“But you have to be careful. There is a powerful spell on the town and everyone in it. Anyone you meet may attack you.” Emma shook her head.
 
“So…I wake up in an ice cream truck, I’ve been frozen for how long-?”
 
“A year.” Elsa looked down.
 
“-everyone in town is a crazed lunatic and the only one who isn’t is… the notorious Captain Hook…?”
 
Emma and Elsa exchanged a look.
 
“Yes.” Emma said.
 
“Ok. So long as we’re clear. Wait what exactly are you doing?” Anna looked to her sister.
 
“We have to go fight our evil aunt Ingrid.”
 
“Of course you do.” Kristof got to his feet with Anna’s help.
 
“Are you sure we can’t help you? I mean, If you’re going to fight I want to help.”
 
“It’s a magic fight.” Emma held the dark wand tightly by her side. “Trust me you’re safer with Hook.”
 
“The notorious pirate?” Kristof raised an eyebrow.
 
“…yeah.”
 
*****
 
Anna and Kristof stood in the sheriffs station wearing a look of shock after Killian recounted the entirety of the tale.
 
“And they’re mean and nasty because of the spell? This isn’t just what they’re like?” Anna looked through the window at Snow and David yelling at one another through the bars.
 
“Trust me. David is

not

this guy. Not usually. He was invited to our wedding.” Kristof scratched his head.
 
“My relationship with the prince notwithstanding, he is actually more pleasant than this most of the time.” Killian casually finished changing Neals diaper on the office desk.
 
“I’ll admit, I certainly didn’t expect to wake up to evil David and… good Hook. No offense.” Kristoff raised an eyebrow to the pirate.
 
“You should have seen me a couple of weeks ago. This is a hell of a spell.” He lifted the baby with his hand gently on his back.
 
“And you’re dating the blonde. Emma?” Anna asked
 
“Aye.”
 
“And she’s
their
daughter?” She pointed to Snow and Charming.
 
“Aye.”
 
“And that’s their

son

…”
 
“Aye.”
 
“And he’s named after YOUR son, who is… the father of your girlfriends child?”
 
“Welcome to Storybrooke love. Wait until you see how the Evil Queen figures into all of this.” Hook patted the baby’s back.
 
“No thank you.” Anna said with wide eyes. “So what are we supposed to do? Just sit here while Emma and Elsa fight evil aunt Ingrid?”
 
“Not quite. I have a plan.” Killian sighed. “Your mother told me of a stone containing the memory of your aunts.”
 
“My

dead

mother. Who you spoke to because of your magical boat?”
 
“…Aye.”
 
“I miss Arendel.” Kristof sighed.
 
“Well if it’s a little stone it could take DAYS to find! I’m guessing we don’t
have
days.” Anna trailed off.
 
“Some of us less than others.” Killian looked out the window at the glass fog hanging over storybrooke.
 
“Where do we start?” Anna asked with a sigh.
 
“Kristof was it?” Hook asked.
 
“Yeah.”
 
“How are you with kids?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“You’ve got to be

kidding

me.”
 
“Sorry lad. Someone has to look after young Prince Neal. Anna? You’re with me.”
 
“Hey.” Kristof stopped him while holding the baby. “That’s my fiancé. Don’t let anything happen to her ok?”
 
“We’ll be ok.” Anna smiled. “Trust me. By tomorrow night you and I will be home in Arendel getting ready for the wedding!”
 
“Best that we move along your highness.” Killian placed his hand on Anna’s back to usher her out the door then went rigid collapsing to the ground.
 
“Hook!!!” Anna exclaimed kneeling at his side. “What’s going on?!? What’s happening?”
 
Killians body tensed, his eyes rolled back as he seized. He saw a flash of the Jolly Rodger and Queen Gerda. She stood on the ship with her hand extended to him. His body relaxed, a cold sweat on his brow.
 
“Captain! What’s going on?!?” Anna shook him gently as he came back around.
 
“I’ve got some good news.” He sat up, looking at Anna’s collar. “I think I found the stone.” He pointed to her necklace.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma clumsily brought the Jolly Coastman up to the iceberg, wincing as the boat scraped the edge of the ice.
 
“Are you sure it’s ok that we use this?” Elsa asked.
 
“Too late to go back now.” Emma sighed jumping onto the snowy surface. “Trust me, of his two boats this is the one he’s less…attached…to.”
 
“Emma.” Elsa stopped her. “If it comes down to it, I’m not sure I can hurt her. I’m not sure I can kill the Snow Queen.”
 
“She brainwashed my boyfriend, cast a curse on my town and has some weird fixation with me. If it comes down to it, I will be the one to kill her.” Emma gripped the wand tightly in her fist.
 
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Elsa said wide eyed.
 
“Hello my sisters.”
 
Emma and Elsa turned quickly to see the snow queen.
 
“How nice of you to join me.”
 
“When are you going to get it through your head lady? We’re not your sisters! We’re never going to love you! We don’t even LIKE you!” Emma snarled.
 
“Not yet, but you will. Y-your ribbons!” She said in alarm looking at their wrists. “What have you done? Those were made of pure love!”
 
“And your spell is made of pure hate. We found a way.” Elsa put her hands on her hips.
 
“I know that you actually believe that, and it makes me sad.” She paced along the snow. “But I know that sadness won’t last because soon you’ll see you’re wrong.” She held out two purple stones.
 
“What are those?” Elsa asked, though she feared she knew.
 
“Lovely memories which each of you has shared with me.” The Queen looked at the stones warmly.
 
“I hate to break it to you lady but magic can’t make someone fall in love with you.” Emma glared.
 
“You’re right Emma, magic can’t create love. But if someone loved you in the past it CAN make them love you again. After all, just look at your friend Robin Hood.”
 
“That’s different we had to do that to save Marians life! From YOU!”
 
“Manipulating memory is a terrible thing to do!” Elsa objected.
 
“Just look at what your memory meddling did to Hook! You nearly destroyed him!” Emma spat.
 
“I know it’s hard for your to realize, but you both did love me. And you will again. That’s why now, you’re not doing anything. The only way to stop this spell is to kill the caster. And yet, you’re both hesitating.”
 
Emma looked down and away. Elsa slowly lowered her hands.
 
“Emma I can’t hurt her.” Elsa whispered.
 
The savior bit her lip, looking at the fog of glass shards hanging all around them.
 
“Yeah well, I can.” Emma raised the wand.
 
“Swan wait!!!”
 
Emma turned to see the Jolly Rodger coming up alongside the iceberg. Killian pulled the anchor and rushed to the rail, wrapping a rope around his arm and swinging down to land on the iceberg surface.
 
“Oh no I can’t do that. I’m a princess not a pirate, if I try to do that I’ll break a leg!” Anna called from the rail holding a rope to keep her balance. “Maybe I’ll come down the slow way it will be better. Hi Elsa! Hi Emma! Hi aunt Ingrid!”
 
Anna slowly stepped down the side of the ship holding tight to the rope.
 
“Anna? What are you doing here?!?” Elsa cried.
 
“Swan! We found it! We found the stone containing the kingdoms memories!” Killian ran to her.
 
“It doesn’t matter!” The Snow Queen laughed. “I’m going to kill you and the spare!”
 
“You don’t want to fight Ingrid.” Killian locked her eyes.
 
“How
dare
you address me in such a way! I am a Queen!”
 
“I spoke to Gerda!” He shouted.
 
“Impossible.” The Queen pursed her lips.
 
“This stone contains your most precious memories of your sisters.” He extended his hand, the purple pendant glimmering in the starlight. “All you have to do is touch it and you’ll see.”
 
“Killian be careful.” Emma gripped the wand.
 
“M-my sisters hated me…” Ingrid whispered.
 
“If you really believe that then you have nothing to lose.” He stepped closer with the stone outstretched.
 
The Snow Queen slowly reached out. As her hand came down over the stone, Killian gripped her hand tightly.
 
“No! What are you-?” Ingrid began before her eyes rolled back.
 
Hook and the Queen fell to the snow in a cold faint.
 
“Hook!” Elsa rushed to his side.
 
“No wait! Don’t touch him!” Emma stopped her. “Look.”
 
His eyelids darted about, as though he were in a deep sleep.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Where am I?!?” Ingrid looked around.
 
She recognized Hooks ship. It was dawn. Looking out at the sun rising over the sea she saw the kingdom of Arendel in the distance. A tear coming to her eye to see her home.
 
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?”
 
Ingrid recognized the voice, but did not turn her gaze from the horizon.
 
“What are you doing here Gerda? You’re dead.”
 
“I haven’t been able to move on. As it turns out I had unfinished business.”
 
“You expect me to believe that’s me?”
 
“Actually it’s my daughter. Elsa.” Gerda’s voice was low and serious.
 
“Afraid she’d turn out like me?” Ingrid turned to face her youngest sister.
 
“When I was alive that was my worst nightmare.” Gerda looked down. “But now it is my fondest dream.”
 
“Don’t lie to me sister. Our time is short.”
 
“It’s true Ingrid. I was terrible to you. I turned away from you when you needed my help more than anything. My measure was weighed, And I was found to be lacking! But my girls, they faced their own challenges. Weighed their own measure! And they were victorious.”
 
“Elsa shall be happy with me.” Ingrid whispered. “And so will Emma. It’s the only way. My sisters and I must be the same! Or it all falls apart!”
 
“It’s already fallen apart Ingrid! Our family is broken! And the pieces of the past cannot be put back together. But I beg you, don’t tear my girls apart. They went through so much to find each other. Just because I wronged you don’t make them suffer.”
 
“Easily said by the person that wronged me!!!” With a swift threatening step Ingrid approached her.
 
“And what would

you

like to say? To

me?”

They turned to see the middle sister coming down the steps to the main deck.
 
“H-Helga!” Ingrid stepped back in fear.
 
“It’s alright Ingrid.” Helga nodded to her older sister. “I’m here because of this.”
 
She raised her wrist to show the yellow ribbon.
 
“O-our bond…” Gerda looked at her own wrist to see the ribbon. “It’s been restored!”
 
“It was never broken.” Helga smiled. “I remember what happened that day Ingrid.”
 
The Snow Queen turned away in shame.
 
“You never meant to hurt me Ingrid. It was an accident. Do you remember why?” Helgas hand rested gently on her sisters arm.
 
“I…I was afraid… afraid that man would tell my secret.” A tear fell from her cheek. “But then he pulled you in the way…”
 
“Fear.” Helga said with certainty. “The same thing Gerda felt to find me dead. Fear does terrible things.”
 
“I’m sorry Ingrid. I let my fear destroy our bond, and I let the same fear overcome my daughter Elsa.”
 
“Ingrid.” Helga took her older sister in her arms. “I forgive you for your mistake. Can you forgive Gerda for hers?”
 
“You don’t understand! After all that I’ve done! I’ve let fear darken me!”
 
“You know what you have to do Ingrid.” Helga held out her arm with the shining ribbon.
 
“And we will be here waiting for you.” Gerda placed her hand on her sisters. Her own ribbon beginning to glow.
 
“Gerda. Helga. Thank you.” Ingrid placed her own glowing hand with theirs, disappearing into a blinding flash of white light.
 
*****
 
Killian opened his eyes and sat up. Emma and Elsa helping him to his feet.
 
“W-what just happened…?” Anna asked.
 
“Your Majesty…?” Killian asked.
 
“Elsa… Emma… I owe you all an apology. Even you Anna. And… Captain.” Ingrid wept quiet tears. “I let fear turn me so far from the path of good. But my sisters… my sisters brought me back.”
 
She looked at the yellow ribbon on her wrist. holding it to her cheek, she closed her eyes. Looking up to the sky she raised her arms.
 
“What are you doing?!?” Emma looked around in alarm as the fog of glass began to swirl overhead.
 
“I

am

a monster. Not because of my powers, but because of what I let them turn me in to. I have to undo this.”
 
“Ingrid! You’ll die!” Elsa wept.
 
“I know.” The queen looked to her nieces with tears in her eyes, and a warm smile. “It’s ok. Elsa, Anna, you found each other! And Emma, you found your family! You found love! Even if it wasn’t with me.” She held out a hand with the memory stones. “You deserve your memories.”
 
Waving her hand above them the stones began to fade.
 
“You are so special. Don’t ever forget that.” Glass swirled around the Queen. “Years ago a prophecy told me that you two, Emma and Elsa, would lead me to my happiness. And you have given me just that. All I wanted was to have my sisters love. And now I have it. Now I get to join them.”
 
The Snow Queens form faded into snowflakes, along with every shard of glass.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Am I missing something?” Anna asked. “What happened? How come the Queen and Hook fell over? And why was she nice after?”
 
“You did something didn’t you?” Emma smiled at the pirate as he regained his balance.
 
“I assure you, I did very little. It was Queen Gerda. And her sister Helga.” Killian handed the pendant to Elsa.
 
“This is the stone containing the memories of the lost princesses?” The Queen of Arendel looked reverently at the necklace.
 
“It was her last wish that her people remember them again. If I’ve learned anything about royalty, it’s that the best sovereignty are honest with their people.” He nodded to her. “Your mother wanted to do the right thing Queen Elsa.”
 
“Thank you for you Help. Both of you. Because of you I found Anna.”
 
“Holy crap! My parents! They’re locked in jail!” Emma gasped.
 
“And we left Kristof with the baby!” Anna put her hands on her head.
 
They fastened the Jolly Coastman in tow and boarded the Jolly Rodger back to the marina. The temperature rose as the ship drew closer to town. The stars glimmering in the sky above them. Emma let out a heavy yawn as the ship drew in to the dock.
 
“Had enough adventure for one day Swan?” The Captain asked.
 
“Enough for a lifetime.” She rested her head on his shoulder closing her eyes.
 
“Why don’t you get some rest Emma? Anna and I will check on your parents and Kristof.”
 
“Rest? How can I rest? Still… have to… get you… home…” The savior could scarcely raise her head from Killian’s shoulder.
 
“I’ve got her.” He smiled lifting her into his arms and carrying her down the boat ramp to the boathouse apartment.
 
“I can walk you know…” Emma mumbled in his arms.
 
“I know you got very little sleep last night and your adrenaline has worn off.” He laughed struggling to hold her and open the door at the top of the stairs.
 
“Neither did you.” She objected sleepily as he lay her on the bed. “You didn’t even eat…”
 
“I’ll be fine.” He laughed pulling a blanket up around her shoulders.
 
“I couldn’t have done it without your help Killian.”
 
“I doubt that very much. Especially seeing as you’re the master of finding another way.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
She laughed settling into the comfortable mattress.
 
“Well, maybe I don’t WANT to do it without you. “
 
“Best get some rest Swan.”
 
“If I have to rest so… do… you…” Her head turned into the pillow as she quickly drifted off.
 
“You did it again.” He smiled. “Got your magic back, Saved Anna, Saved the town. You’re incredible Emma.”
 
Her breathing slowed to a gentile rhythm as she relaxed into a deep restful sleep.
 
“I could have spent lifetimes loving you.” He whispered. “But I’ll settle for the time we had.”
 
Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, he leaned in placing a soft kiss upon her forehead as he stood and walked out of the apartment. The slightest hints of sunlight began to break across the horizon. He walked up on to the deck, tipping back his flask. He perched on the tail of the Jolly Rodger, resting an elbow casually on his knee.

“The Sun came up upon the left,

Out of the sea came he!

And he shone bright, and on the right

Went down into the sea.”

Taking the occasional sip from his flask, he sat on his beloved ship and greeted his final dawn.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Emma blinked. Sunlight streamed in through the window. She heard the calling of gulls out on the dock. She turned her head on the pillow to the the golden light of evening flooding the apartment. She at up quickly looking around.
 
“Killian?” She asked, to the silent apartment. She stood and found her jacket.
 
Walking out onto the dock she saw the sun making its final descent through the sky. Looking down at her watch, it was half past six. She had slept nearly all day. She made her way quickly into town. The citizens of storybrook had begun the ritual of cleaning up the town after the Spell of Shattered sight. Coming around the corner to Grannys, she saw the dwarfs hard at work repairing the fence and tables outside the diner.
 
“What happened here?” She asked approaching Leroy.
 
“Let’s just say Happy is a mean drunk.” He sighed.
 
“Fair enough. Hey have you seen-?”
 
“Your family? Check inside. Hook told them to let you sleep. They figured you’d be around for grilled cheese and cocoa soon enough.” He smirked as he tinkered away. “Surprised it took you so long!”
 
Emma rushed inside. Mary Margaret, David, and Neal all sat happily in a booth across from Anna, Elsa and Kristof. Henry and Regina sat at the counter. The savior breathed a sigh of relief to encounter such a normal scene.
 
“Emma!” Elsa stood. “Did you sleep well?”
 
“Like a rock apparently.” She laughed.
 
“Emma…” Elsa started. “Your memories of the Snow Queen, did they return?”
 
Looking down at the table she sighed. “Yes. She was my foster mother she tried to adopt me. But then she jumped the gun and told me about the magic. I thought she was crazy.”
 
“She visited me as a child.” Elsa looked out the window. “I was losing control and she just appeared, helping me with my magic. She was right. It was a pleasant memory.”
 
“So you two really did have nice moments with her.” Snow smiled.
 
“Evil Aunt Ingrid wasn’t so evil after all.” Anna smiled.
 
They sat, eating grilled cheese, drinking hot chocolate with cinnamon. It all felt strangely normal. But something was missing. As the time past Emma looked out the window at the dying light. It wasn’t until the doorbell chimed and he came in that she felt a sense of relief as Killian walked in to the diner.
 
“Swan, a word?”
 
*****
 
“No need to draw it out Crocodile. I know my fate.” he sighed. “I’ve said my goodbyes.”
 
Killian stood with Rumplestiltskin, concealed in the dark alcove of an alley.
 
“What a shame. Because you have one last thing to do captain.” The imp laughed. “I have a message to deliver to ms Swan. Something to get her out of my way.”
 
“Deliver it yourself. I have no interest of seeing her again.” He swallowed the catch in his throat.
 
“It amuses me that you think you have a choice in the matter.” He closed his hand around the marbled heart.
 
Killian fell to his knees holding his chest.
 
“Your cruelty knows no bounds! Are you going to deprive a man of his final word?” He gasped.
 
“Not to worry Captain. You won’t be speaking to the savior. I will be.” He raised the dark dagger over the heart.
 
Killian felt his arms and legs move against his will as he straightened up.
 
“No! Please! I don’t want the last time she speaks to me to be this! I can’t let the last words out of my lips to her be yours!”
 
“I’ve already given you far too much leniency Captain. Don’t forget you are merely a tool for me to use as I see fit. If you believe for one second that I care about your pitiful farewell, you overestimate your own importance.”
 
“No. I won’t do it! Ah-!”
 
His voice caught in his throat as the dagger strengthened the Dark Ones control on him. He fought with all his will, but before long he realized the futility of his struggle. His feet carried him down the street. His each step agony as it drew him closer and closer to his last time seeing her. He cried out from inside his head, a passenger in his own body. Seeing her golden hair through the window he felt a sickening drop in his stomach.
 
Walking into the diner, he wanted to weep to see her face. To feel her warm skin upon his fingers once more. She locked his eyes, looking into him to find some answer for his strange behavior. He wanted to cry out to her. To say his final words. To speak his love. But he was forced to watch, forced to listen, forced to speak words that were not his own. Even when her hand gently touched his cheek and she looked into his eyes. All he could do was look back.
 
As his feet carried him away he was overcome with an incredible urge to remain. To stay near her, to never part from her. He reached out, holding her with a trembling hand before he felt the power of the dagger upon his heart force him to let go. The door bell chimed, the agony was over. He met Rumplestiltskin on the street outside the clock tower. The hold of the dagger finally let go and he stumbled to his knees. He heaved, retching onto the street as he felt the painful sensation of his resistance raging to the surface. The stars began to appear in the sky. The light dying on the street around him as the sun went down on his final day.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“A word Swan?” Hook came in with an uncharacteristic swagger.
 
“Killian! I was hoping you’d come by!”
 
“Come celebrate. For I may not be the savior but I’ve just saved the day.” He poured two drinks from his flask.
 
“Throwing me for a loop on the whole arrogance thing.” She smirked. “Ok, I’ll bite, what exactly are we celebrating?”
 
“The portal to Arendel is unfrozen.” He smirked taking a drink.
 
“It-it is?”
 
“Yes. The whole ice cream shop has melted, including the door.”
 
“That’s amazing! We can get them home! Come on! Let’s tell them!”
 
“Alas, I’m afraid I bruised myself in the final battle with the Snow Queen. Really need to get it seen to.” He gestured to his head.
 
“Hey! Killian.” She stopped him as he turned to leave.
 
She placed her hand gently along his face looking intently at him. His eyes were deep pools of forget-me-not melancholy expressing a pain the rest of him could not show.
 
“What’s wrong?” She said quietly. “You are acting

strange
.”

“Nothing. I’m fine.” The smile did not meet his stare. Leaning in he placed a soft kiss upon her lips. “See you around,

love

.”
 
As he went to leave he gripped her arm. His hand shuddered, then let go. He continued to the door stepping outside. Emma’s eyes were wide with shock. She walked slowly over to the table.
 
“Emma?” Elsa asked. “What’s wrong?”
 
“Killian says the portal to Arendel is unfrozen. You can go home.”
 
“We can?!?” Anna exclaimed. “Wait isn’t that good news? Why do you look upset?” She asked.
 
“I… I can’t see you off. Something is wrong. I have to go.” She turned to the door.
 
“Wait, Emma if something is wrong I’d like to know about it.” Elsa approached.
 
“I… I can’t say for certain that something IS wrong…” She looked to the door. “But I let him walk out of here alone once when I shouldn’t have. I’m not going to make that mistake again.”
 
“I’m coming too.” Elsa said with certainty. “Anna get ready to go. I have to help Emma.”
 
“Elsa, you should get home.” Emma said shaking her head.
 
“Hook is my friend. He risked everything to get me here. He helped me find Anna. If not for him we wouldn’t have been able to speak to my mother and defeat the Snow Queen. If he’s in danger, I’m helping.”
 
“Thank you.” Emma smiled.
 
They ran out the door onto the street.
 
“Where was he going?” Elsa asked.
 
“He said it was going to the hospital.” Emma looked left. “But…” she slowly glanced to the right. “He went this way.”
 
“How do you know?” Elsa asked.
 
“I just do.”
 
The closer they drew to the library the worse Emma’s dread. They summoned the elevator and took it up to the clock tower. Emma pulled the Dark Fairy’s wand from her pocket. Impatiently waiting for the Elevator to carry them all the way up.
 
“Elsa, I think this is bad. This could be worse than the Snow Queen.” Emma cautioned.
 
“Then it’s a good thing there are two of us.”
 
Emma flashed her a look of immense gratitude. The elevator opened on the upper room of the clock tower. Emma looked up over the clock’s mechanism to Hook and the Dark One standing behind the clocks face. A bright purple light emanating from a round box resting on a crate.
 
“Gold! Stop!” Emma shouted seeing Killian’s marbled heart in his hand.
 
“I’m sorry I can’t.” He smiled. “I waited too long for this. And I’m too close.”
 
He raised his hand, but Emma lifted the Dark Fairy’s wand. Rumples spell faded through the air.
 
“Clever ms Swan.” He tucked the heart into the sachel at his waist.
 
With the Dark One’s dagger in his fist he stabbed it into the wooden crate, next to Merlin’s hat.
 
“No!” Killian looked at his greatest foe. “You swore you wouldn’t hurt her!”
 
“The deal has changed captain.” He smirked descending the stairs to meet the two sorceresses.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Emma no! He’s too powerful!” Hook leaned over the rail.
 
“Not another peep out of your Captain.” Rumple said, placing his hand on the heart.
 
Killians lips closed against his will.
 
“I told you to leave him alone Gold. And now you’re going to pay.” Emma stepped back, holding up the wand like a sword.
 
“And I suppose you’re the one who’s going to collect?” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“Not just her. You’re dealing with me too!” Elsa opened her hand, a blast of ice freezing the Dark Ones feet in place.
 
Emma stepped forward slashing out with the wand. A blade of light flew from the end of it, cutting across Gold’s chest. He looked down in surprise as a bloody gash opening through his suit.
 
“Why you…” he said through his teeth, sending a blast of energy towards them, knocking them both off their feet.
 
Emma stood, brandishing the wand once more. Elsa raised her hands. The ice at Gold’s feet rising up his legs. He looked down and opened a hand, stopping Elsa’s magic. Emma raised the wand and his hands snapped to his sides.
 
“Clever savior. But not clever enough.” His fingers closed around the satchel containing the heart.
 
“Ah-!” Killian gasped, falling to his knees.
 
“No!” Emma cried, breaking her concentration on Gold.
 
Rumple raised his hand, paralyzing her in place.
 
“E-Elsa… get… the… dagger…” Emma could barely speak.
 
The Queen ran up the steps but, Gold turned and stopped her as well. He looked down and waved his hand. The ice at his feet crumbling away.
 
“That was quite the effort Savior. You nearly had me there. In fact, you WOULD have had me. If not for your one weakness.” He pulled the heart from his waist. “And now, you will watch me get rid of MY one weakness. Maybe not everything has gone to plan, but this next part I’m really going to enjoy.” He gave an impish laugh and began to squeeze.
 
“Ah-! GAH-!!!” Killian cried from the balcony.
 
Emma’s eyes went wide with horror as he fell to the ground. There was nothing she could do. She couldn’t move. But suddenly, Killian’s cries of agony stopped.
 
“I don’t understand…” Rumple looked at his open palm, no longer crushing the heart. “…why can’t I-?”
 
“Because I commanded you

not

to!”
 
Emma felt the spell release her. She fell forward onto her hands and knees, looking up to the balcony to see Belle holding the Dark One’s dagger.
 
“I’m so sorry Killian. If only I had known sooner.” Tears fell from her cheeks as she locked her friends eyes.
 
The scholar slowly descended the stairs with the dagger in her fist.
 
“You didn’t save Killian for me. You saved him for yourself! Because you needed him for this ritual!”
 
“No! Belle! I’m doing this for us! So we can be free of the dagger!” Rumple begged.
 
“You must think I’m a fool.” She spat. “Maybe I am a fool. A fool to think you could change. A fool to think you would ever be anything but the Dark One! A fool to think… that you loved me.”
 
“I do love you Belle!” He pleaded.
 
“If you loved me you would know that what we had was enough! You wouldn’t try to manipulate me or kill my friends! You know how I found you Rumple? I used the Gauntlet of Camelot. It leads you to the thing a person loves the most. You know what it lead me to when I asked it to show me what you love? It lead me to the real dagger. Because that is what you love. Not me.”
 
“Belle no! We can have both! Love and power!” He stepped towards her.
 
“Stop!” She shouted. “Stop lying! You hid the gauntlet from me! Because you knew it could lead me to your deceit. But I’m through with you. You’re taking us to the town line, and I am banishing you from Storybrooke for good.”  A tear fell from her cheek.
 
“Belle no!” His confident expression cracked with fear.
 
“Dark One, I command you. Drop the heart.”
 
Emma reached out and caught the satchel before it hit the ground.
 
“Now.” Belle wiped a tear from her cheek. “Take us to the town line. Because we need to be alone for what comes next.”
 
Rumple raised his hand, and the husband and wife disappeared.
 
“Killian!!!” Emma ran up the stairs. “Killian are you alright?” She helped him to his feet.
 
“E-Emma…” he stammered.
 
She threw her arms around him and held him in a tight embrace. Weeping into his shoulder.
 
“Hook! You’re ok!” Elsa came up the stairs.
 
“How did you know?” He asked.
 
“It was Emma. She just knew.” Elsa smiled.
 
“Let’s go.” Emma wiped her tears. “I think it’s time we celebrated for real.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The company sat at a booth at Grannys. Henry, Emma and Elsa sitting with Killian. Anna and Kristof one booth over with Snow and David.
 
Hook drank deeply from his flask taking a breath as he put it down.
 
“Easy there Captain.” Emma smirked. “You haven’t had your last drink just.”
 
“I

thought

I had.” He sighed. “Rum has never tasted so sweet.”
 
“How about Jello?” Ruby asked putting an especially large portion of gelatin in front of him.
 
He eagerly took a spoonful.
 
“How long were you under his control Granfather?” Henry asked.
 
“I’m guessing since we found the Snow Queens hidden room.” Emma laughed.
 
Hook stopped mid bite. “That’s spot on actually.” He said through a mouthful of jello.
 
“Fat lot of good it did. If I had known sooner I…” she pursed her lips and looked away.
 
“Emma.” He placed his hand on hers along the table. “You figured it out. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” He smiled.
 
“It’s good that you’re safe Hook.” Elsa grinned.
 
“Thank you your Majesty.” He let out a grateful sigh.
 
“In all the chaos I haven’t had a chance to give this back to you.” Emma placed the satchel containing his heart on the table.
 
“My hook was disenchanted after Regina removed the Snow Queens spell from it. I think I’m going to require your assistance for its safe return.” He looked in her eyes, his usual confident charm returning.
 
Emma laughed and removed it from the pouch.
 
“Hey! This is a restaurant!” Granny called from behind the counter. “If you’re going to be shoving hearts into people go upstairs to the lodging! It’s not like anyone is staying here.” She huffed.
 
Emma laughed. “Come on. I’d like to get this back to you sooner rather than later.” She stood.
 
“Couldn’t agree more.” He followed.
 
Emma turned as she came to the top of the stairs.
 
“I almost forgot.” She held her hand open over his heart, a shimmer passing over it.
 
“What was that?” He asked.
 
“A protection spell. I learned it from Regina. Now if someone gets it, they can’t use it to control you.”
 
He let out a sigh of relief. “Should have known you’d be the best person to protect my heart.”
 
“Are you ready?” She asked, hoping to hide the hint of a blush on her cheeks.
 
“Just be gent-
OOF!!!”
He grunted as she shoved it roughly into his chest.
 
“Sorry!” She grimaced. “I just thought if I did it quickly it would be like ripping off a-“
 
He took her into a passionate kiss. Stepping towards her until her back was to the wall. He kept her locked in an embrace, his heart beating within his chest. He drew away, resting his forehead against hers.
 
“I told you Swan. I’m a survivor.” His voice was deep and low.
 
Emma pulled him in by the back of his neck engaging him once more in the kiss. She put her arm around his shoulder and held her body close to his. She felt his hand on the small of her back holding her to him. Her tongue ran across his lip as she felt her pulse racing. She ran her hand down his chest, slipping it down past his belt buckle, running her palm over the zipper of his jeans.
 
His mind was on fire as he stepped her backward down the hall. Still engaged in the kiss, Emma felt along the door to the first bedroom for the knob. Killian jammed his hook into the lock with a sharp twist. The door came free, the two of them stumbling inside sharing a laugh.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

He had thought so many times during his captivity of never being able to touch her again. Emma lay on the bed facedown, glancing over her shoulder at him. He kissed up the shapely curve of her spine to her bare shoulders. Lifting her leg with the crook of his left elbow he rolled her slightly to her side. He pressed slowly into her. She let out a breath as she felt him deep inside. He kissed her nape as he rolled his hips in a gentile motion. His breath on her skin causing the hair on her neck to stand on end. She gasped as he thrust in a short sharp motion. She could hear the gentile sound of pleasure escaping his lips in a sigh as he felt the warm sensation of her all around him.
 
He pulled back her hair exposing her neck. She felt his teeth gently bite her skin as he kissed up to her ear. His tongue upon her lobe as his breath excited her once more. He took her into an embrace. His hand holding her chest tightly as he continued to rock his hips in and out of her. As he sped his pace her pleasure spiked. She let out a moan of ecstasy throwing her head back against his shoulder.
 
“Killian I- I’m-“ she gasped.
 
“Don’t hold back love. I want all of you.”
 
Her legs trembled in his grasp. She shuddered before relaxing with a contented sigh. Her arousal still peaked, she turned to face him pushing him onto his back as he looked up at her with affection and awe. She lowered her hips onto him letting out a breath as she again felt him within her. She ground her hips against him, desperate to ride the waves rapture as she drifted from one climax to the next. She turned her head up as her voice caught in her throat. A moan of elation ringing out that made him ache for more.
 
He wrapped his arms around her middle, turning her to her back. He entered her so deeply she cried out. He sped his pace. Lifting her knees with both arms until he could press no further.
 
“Emma, can I-? Ah-!” He gasped.
 
“Yes, Killian, I’m- AHN-!”
 
His rhythm slowed as he drew in and out of her at his pleasure. With a final thrust he felt his legs go weak. Falling to lay upon her, feeling her soft skin against his own. The scent her pine forest hair giving him a comfort he craved.  She pressed her lips to his in a caring and gentile kiss.
 
“I never thought I would get to feel you again.” He looked into her eyes. “Emma I… I never want to be apart from you.”
 
“Then don’t be.” She held him close. “I won’t let you go Killian. Now that I have you.”
 
“Aye. You have me. All of me.”
 
“Pirate Twins.” She smiled.
 
“Pirate Twins.” He laughed.
 
She lay her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat slow to its natural rhythm as they drifted to sleep.
 
*****
 
“Really guys?”
 
Emma and Killian sat up with a start. He held his arms around her as she pulled the bedsheet up to cover herself.
 
“You had to break the door?” Ruby sighed with her hands on her hips. “You could have just asked I’d have given you the key!” She rolled her eyes.
 
“S-sorry.” Emma hid her face in embarrassment.
 
“I’ll fix it.” Hook laughed, not embarrassed at all.
 
“You bet your ass you’re going to fix it! How impatient ARE you!?!”
 
“Would you rather we use the hallway?” Killian raised an eyebrow.
 
“Could you give us a minute Ruby?!?” Emma kept her face hidden.
 
“A minute.” She scoffed. “I’ll CHARGE you by the minute next time! Don’t you two have a bed of your own somewhere???”
 
“

Ruby!

” Emma said loudly.
 
“You’ve got an hour!” She left the room shutting the door behind her.
 
“That was embarrassing.” Emma sighed.
 
“She seems ok with it.” He chuckled.
 
“I feel like a teenager sneaking around.” Emma looked for her clothes. “That seriously doesn’t bother you at all?”
 
“Emma I’d make love to you on Main Street if you asked me to.”
 
“You

would

wouldn’t you?” She found her jeans and tossed him his.
 
“Any time any place.”
 
“I just hope my parents don’t find out about this. God, now I really DO sound like a teenager.”
 
He found his hook and fastened it to his wrist, using it to pull on his pants by the belt loop. Emma sighed, enjoying the sight of his rugged chest in nothing but his jeans. He approached her and gently kissed her bare shoulder.
 
“Thank you.” He smiled at her with his blue eyed stare.
 
“For what?” She asked.
 
“Saving me. From… the crocodile.” He ran the blade of his thumb over her cheek.
 
“I wish I had known sooner. I SHOULD have known sooner.”
 
“If I’ve learned anything from that man, it’s that he can deceive anyone. You’re not to blame.”
 
“I wasn’t even the one that saved you.” Emma sighed. “Belle did.”
 
“Belle…” he looked down sadly. “I should make sure she’s ok.”
 
Emma placed her hand on his cheek. “She probably needs you right now.”
 
“Then you don’t mind? If I spend time with her?”
 
“Now that I have you to myself I’m no longer jealous of your platonic librarian friend.” She laughed. “I’ll be at the loft. Tell Belle I said thank you. For saving my pirate.”
 
“As the pirate I will be certain that I do.”
 
They left the room and ran promptly into David as they came down the stairs.
 
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Emma sighed.
 
The Prince grit his teeth and shook his head.
 
“Ok now I understand the embarrassment.” Killian whispered to her as they quietly went their separate ways.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Belle walked into the pawnshop in a state of shock. She crossed to the back room and sat heavily in a chair. Her eyes wide.

The bell on the door rang as someone came in.
 
“We’re closed.” She said, still staring blankly.
 
“Not here on business. Strictly as a friend.”
 
She looked up to see Killian standing in the doorway. He approached, kneeling in front of her,  he took her hand.
 
“I owe you my life Belle. How can I ever repay you?” He looked up into her eyes.
 
“Will you play me that song? The one you played in the library?” She asked. Tears brimming her eyelashes.
 
He stepped to the old computer, pressing a few buttons. Smooth tones cracking through the speakers.

“
~I make it along, when love is gone.

Still you made your mark, here in my heart.

One day I’ll fly away.

Leave your love to yesterday.

What more can your love do for me?

When will love be through with me?~”

“I thought he loved me…” she whispered.
 
Killian sat next to her putting his arm around her shoulder. She leaned into him crying. He held her until her shoulders stopped shaking. The song slowly drifted out.

“~One day I’ll fly away. Fly fly away…~”

*****
 
“I guess this is goodbye!” Anna shrugged. “Wait, it’s a door. We can just come visit whenever! Well, not WHENEVER. I mean, Elsa is Queen she’s kinda got a lot going on, and I don’t exactly do NOTHING. You know I have a job as princess and it’s important! If I don’t do it it doesn’t get done!”
 
“Anna?” Kristof smiled. “Are you ready?”
 
“Oh! Yes!” She smiled. “It was nice to meet all of you! Next time let’s leave the battle for our lives out.”
 
“I knew I was going to like you.” Snow hugged her.
 
“Kristof, looks like we’ll be attending your wedding after all.” David put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s only a door away.” He gestured to the portal.
 
“Yeah, that is kinda neat. How come all portals can’t be this easy?” Emma laughed.
 
“No offense to your ship Hook, but I prefer this portal too.” Elsa smiled.
 
“You should have seen the mermaid Portal.” Killian laughed. “That’s some bumpy portal travel.”
 
“Thank you both so much.” Elsa hugged Hook and Emma with each arm. “You have a truly remarkable bond. I am glad to call you my friends.”
 
“Likewise your majesty.” Killian nodded with a glimmer in his blue eyes.
 
“Anytime you need us, you know where to find us.” Emma smiled.
 
As the door closed behind the royals from Arendel, the company breathed a sigh of relief. Emma looked at Killian as they stepped out onto the street, the sunlight catching his handsome features, leaving her in awe of him.
 
“Well Swan, to another evil successfully vanquished.”
 
“I know, what are we going to do with all our free time?”
 
“I have an idea.” He raised an eyebrow.
 
“All the free time in the world and that’s all you can think of?” She elbowed him with a smile.
 
“Did you have something else in mind?” He laughed.
 
“A girl likes to be romanced a little!”
 
“We will certainly make time for romance.” He drank from his flask.
 
“Just what I needed.” She took the bottle from him. “Rum and Romance.”