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exhaustedpirate · 1 year ago

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parent for hire

i'm back with a new chapter! i missed last week but here it is, part two! i owe everything to @kmomof4 and you all deserve to know it! hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter Five - Misthaven (Part Two)

word count: 12,214 words

rating: Teen and Up

tag list: @cocohook38 ; @bluewildcatfanatic ; @piraterefrigerator ; @sotangledupinit ; @booksteaandtoomuchtv ; @teamhook

Being back in civilization felt like a whole different world even if their journey aboard the Black Pearl had only lasted four nights. At sea, it was easy to pretend that nothing else existed except the vast blue horizon and the seagulls. Now, the noise of the port town brought them back to reality. It especially reminded Killian of their mission.

He and Emma helped Will and the crew dock the ship while Henry thankfully stayed safely seated by the wheel keeping Mr. Gibbs company. More quickly than he expected, they dropped anchor and everyone aboard cheered over their return home. Killian smiled at their joy. His eyes found Emma and her smile in the warm sunlight was breathtaking.

“Will!”

“Papa!”

Shouts from the crowd were ignored by the crew but not by their captain. The gangplank had barely been dropped before two figures ran aboard. The crew smiled at the seemingly familiar sight as Will ran towards them and embraced them tightly.

Killian could only see the woman’s dark blonde hair, as her face was hidden in Captain Turner’s neck and a small brown head in between the two adults.

Henry walked to his side and held his hook.

“They missed him.” His voice was quiet and wistful and Killian felt for the boy. He knew how hard it was to watch happy families around them and know that they had none. He could only hope that he and Emma could give Henry at least a taste of what he wished for.

“Aye.”

“I have our things.” Emma interrupted the heavy moment, handing over Killian’s satchel while fixing her own across her body. “We should get going.”

“Can we at least ask Captain Turner if Henry and I can play? Just for a bit?” Standing between them, Henry shot them his most effective weapon - his pout.

“Henry,” Killian sighed. “I’m sure they want to spend some time together alone after so long apart.”

“But-”

“It just so happens,” Will interrupted Henry’s argument with a smile, “that my wife has planned a feast to celebrate my return. It would be a shame to waste so much food on just the three of us.”

Henry’s pout was gone and a wide, brilliant smile took its place as he looked at Killian and Emma pleadingly.

The two adults looked at each other.

Killian shrugged. He wasn’t too keen on losing a day where they could make progress on their journey, but he was tired and the thought of a home-cooked meal was calling to him. Emma sighed and rolled her eyes, an exasperated smile making an appearance. It was clear she didn’t want to be the bad guy who would refuse such an invitation.

Besides, he could see that she thought the same as him.

“Are you sure?” Emma asked, looking at Will.

“Very.”

Emma held eye contact for a second, looking for a lie, for doubt. Finding nothing, she turned to Henry with a smile. “You’re a lucky kid, you know that?”

Henry’s smile grew wide and he hugged Emma tight. “Yeah, I do.” He hugged Killian next. “Thank you.”

Will smiled. “Come, I’ll introduce you.”

Henry Turner had a front tooth missing and he proudly explained that it was his first one. He was in fact three years younger than Henry, who boasted about his grown-up teeth, having lost his last one a month prior. Instead of jealousy, as might have been expected, the younger Henry seemed even more excited about his future grown-up teeth.

Killian was introduced as Jones and Emma as Swan, while the boys were excited at their shared name. Will presented his wife as “his Swann” but Elizabeth had corrected her husband, despite her blush, that she was in fact Elizabeth Turner. Their shared smiles were loving and Killian looked away from the tender moment.

The six of them walked together through the village, doing their best to avoid the crowds and the confusion while keeping the two boys in their sights.

It filled his heart with joy to see Henry acting like a child. There were times where Henry almost felt like another adult, already hardened by the danger they were in, having had to grow up much too fast. But now, laughing and running alongside the Turner boy, he was just like any other boy. He glanced at Emma and found her sharing his expression and smile.

He hoped this break would do them all some good.

The Turners lived in a cabin by a cliff overlooking the sea. It looked old but well cared for. A home.

“That’s the kitchen window. I was there when I saw Papa’s ship on the horizon!” the Turner boy pointed out eagerly.

“Yes, and you almost left the house in your skivvies!” Elizabeth mock-scolded her son and they all shared a fond laugh.

Once they were inside the cabin, an offer of a bath was extended to the visitors. Despite their reluctance to take advantage of the Turner’s hospitality, they accepted on the condition that they be allowed to help with the meals, to which Elizabeth reluctantly agreed.

As they did during their stay with Elsa and Anna, Killian and Henry insisted Emma use the bath first. Henry was far more interested in playing with Henry and his wooden ship than bathing anyway.

Killian watched, as subtly as he could, as Elizabeth handed Emma soft towels, some clothing and a soap. Their eyes locked and he inhaled deeply between his partly opened lips as a soft blush tinted her cheeks.

For an instant a picture of Emma in a bath invaded his mind, her skin pink from the hot water, the scent of rosemary and lavender from the soap Elizabeth gave her filling his nostrils. His chest tightened and he turned away and pretended to appreciate the cabin instead. Those were definitely dangerous thoughts and he’d do well to shut them down. As he turned away, he missed the way Emma’s eyes widened and she bit her lip before she moved to the other room.

The boys’ loud laughter broke him away from his reverie and he thankfully had the quick reflexes to catch a wobbling vase from a nearby end table as they ran past. Accident averted.

“Careful, Henry!” he called out only to be ignored as they ran to the younger boy’s room. Killian caught Will’s smile and crossed arms. “Apologies, he’s usually quieter.”

“My Henry is the same.” Will waved away his apology as he approached to stand next to him. “I think each other’s company will do them good.”

He knew that Henry needed to be taken somewhere safe. They were supposed to follow Cygnus to Avalon and then Henry would be safe. But here and now, with the boys’ carefree laughter filling the Turner home, Killian felt guilty over taking him away from this.

“I agree,” Killian sighed. “But we really must carry on our journey in the morning.”

Will nodded, understanding clear in his expression, even if Killian recognised the disappointment hidden beneath. He felt the same.

“You know where we live. You all have an open invitation.”

“Why are you doing this for us?”

“Why not?” Will winked before heading towards the kitchen where his wife was calling for him.

Could it really be that simple?

They’d only known each other for four days. How could Will trust virtual strangers enough to bring them into his home? With his family? How could he be so open and selfless?

Will didn’t seem the kind of man to have had an easy life. Killian recalled his kinship with the ship captain. He knew there was something about him that he could trust and maybe that’s how Will felt about them. Maybe there was something inside they all just recognised in each other. Maybe they had met for a reason.

But Killian wasn’t well versed in talks of destiny and fate.

Emma returned from her bath. She looked more relaxed than before. Her hair was tied into a wet braid that fell over her shoulder and her cheeks were still pink, from the hot water he suspected. She wore a gown lent to her by Elizabeth.

It fit her well. It was a simple gown, a soft lavender color. Elizabeth was slightly taller than Emma and so the skirt almost hid Emma’s bare feet. She was nothing if not practical and pulled up the sleeves from where they reached her palm. The neckline wasn’t plunging by any means but, after so long covered by her armor, Killian couldn’t help but notice it exposed her collarbones.

It was a lovely domestic sight, if he was honest. Perhaps too in tune with his thoughts of family and a seaside cabin. But it still took his breath away, making his heart hammer in his chest. A desire rose up in him to reach for her, hold her, make her laugh and pull her into a slow dance in the middle of the room.

Emma turned to him. He hoped his thoughts weren’t so clearly visible in his eyes but he couldn’t look away. Killian smiled and she returned it instinctively. What a sight. Killian caught his breath.

“The water will be getting cold soon.” Emma broke the silence, the red of her cheeks deepening.

“Perhaps Henry should go first,” he suggested, not ready to leave her presence.

“I think he is doomed for a cold bath.” She grinned shyly and he mimicked her action, his eyes tracing her round cheeks. “You go, I’ll try to get his attention while you do.”

They chuckled and he tried to keep his eyes from following the movement of her lips for too long. When he looked back into her eyes, she was watching him and he felt her warm touch on his arm.

“We have a towel for you, Jones.” Elizabeth interrupted, handing him his own towel. Killian noticed a shirt and a pair of trousers on top and he rushed to grab the bundle. “These are Will’s, I think they should fit you.”

“Thank you very much, Mrs. Turner,” Killian smiled. “You’re far too kind.”

“And you, are a charmer.” She tapped his cheek with a smile. “Now, go, before the water gets cold.” She waved him away before leaving the room again.

Killian winked at Emma who shook her head amusedly as he walked away.

The still hot water felt like heaven on his sore muscles. It had been four grueling days at sea and it felt particularly satisfying to spend at least a few minutes relaxing in the moist heat. Not wanting Henry’s water to be cold, he hastened to clean himself.

The clothes smelled washed - not that he was surprised - and felt soft. Thankfully, they fit him perfectly. The white shirt was loose over his shoulders and the sleeves hid his brace. The trousers were made of soft fabric and stopped at the ankles. He was glad the warm weather allowed him to stay barefoot.

“Just another minute.” Killian heard Henry’s whine once he exited to the corridor. Smirking, he followed the boy’s voice.

“In a minute the bath will be cold, Henry,” Emma informed the boy and Killian watched as she placed her hands on her hips. The younger Henry sat cross-legged on the floor holding onto the older boy’s sleeve. “You’ll be back in no time.”

Killian couldn’t help but imagine this domestic scene as a possibility for them. A house near the sea, toys scattered all over the floor, perhaps another child for Henry to play with. Another dangerous thought.

“But, we were playing pirates.” Henry had never been this difficult before, but then again, he had never had the opportunity. “We were about to defeat the kraken.”

“Yeah!” Little Henry agreed, holding up a roughly hand-carved octopus.

“Come on, lad.” Killian decided to intervene. “The quicker you go, the quicker you can come back to play.”

“But-” Henry looked between the two adults with pleading eyes before groaning in defeat. “Alright…” He turned to his playmate. “I’ll be right back.”

Hastily, Henry stood from the ground and grabbed the bundle Elizabeth had already prepared for him before running to the room Killian had just left.

“Make sure you scrub! With soap!” Emma shouted after him before the door closed. She sighed before looking at Killian, defeated. “This is going to be the quickest bath on record.”

Killian let out a bark laugh and Emma chuckled, as well. A huff of impatience from behind them caught their attention. They looked to find Little Henry with his elbows on his knees and his head on his fists. A perfect picture of childish agony.

“He’ll be back in no time, lad,” Killian reassured, crouching in front of him and pointing to his toys. “Why don’t you tell me about your crew?”

He thought he felt eyes on his back, aware of Emma’s presence still in the room, but he made a conscious effort to pay attention to the boy’s enthusiastic explanation, instead.

As expected, barely enough time for a thorough washing had passed - only minutes really - before Henry returned to the room. His hair was wet and he was wearing clean clothes. It was really all they could ask for. Elizabeth had found some hand-me downs that she had been mending and saving for when her Henry was grown that fit Henry like a glove. They were a similar combination of a shirt and trousers that matched Killian’s clothes.

Just like at the Agrabahn tailor, he felt a twinge of pride at the similarity.

The boys were playing again in no time, and Emma and Killian were being actively ignored. Wanting to make good on the deal they’d made with their hosts, they headed for the kitchen to help with their meal, bringing their clothes in with them.

“I can put your clothes on the line for the night,” Elizabeth offered, holding out her arms.

“No, please,” Emma countered. “You’ve done enough, we’ll do it.”

Brown eyes clashed with green in a battle of wills that Killian found immensely entertaining to watch.

“Alright,” Elizabeth finally conceded, crossing her arms. “I’ve already put Will’s out so just put them next to his.”

The domesticity continued once they were outside. Between the calmness of the task and their shared smiles, it was like their journey had hit a pause and they were free to be… well, free.

Back inside, they helped with dinner while Will tended to the garden in the back of the house. Killian could see tomatoes were ready for picking. While he cut the vegetables, Emma kneaded and cut the dough into rolls.

“Where are you two headed tomorrow?” Elizabeth asked from where she stood by the stove.

Killian and Emma shared a look before answering.

“We’ll try to find some manner of transportation in the village,” Killian said, letting his thoughts go to Roger and hoping that he and Elsa and Anna are alright. “We’re heading east.”

“Be careful on your way,” Elizabeth warned. “Try not to cross too close to Misthaven.”

“How so?” Emma asked.

“The kingdom has been abandoned for a long time and a powerful witch placed a spell around it,” she explained. “It doesn’t sound good. Just be careful.”

“We will,” Killian reassured her, finding Emma’s gaze. It felt wrong to add another lie to their relationship with the Turners, but it would do no good to worry them. Besides, they already had more than enough experience with witches.

Will walked through the kitchen door with a basket under his arm. “We should have potatoes soon, my love.” He kissed Elizabeth’s head before placing the recently harvested vegetables on the counter.

“Thank you, dear.” She returned his loving gaze.

Finished with her task, Emma handed the tray of rolls to Will so he could put them in the oven, before joining Killian and helping with his task. Their hosts moved seamlessly in the kitchen, completely in sync, soft and happy smiles directed at each other every time they crossed.

Killian hated to admit it, but his chest tightened with jealousy at the sight.

“How long have you lived here?” Emma asked, curiously even as she purposefully avoided looking too long at the couple.

“Almost a decade?” Will answered, looking to Elizabeth for confirmation.

“We got married and wanted a family,” she agreed, a fond smile curving her lips. “We moved here and repaired this house.”

“Thankfully, we were finished by the time her belly was so big she couldn’t move,” Will teased, receiving an elbow to the ribs from his wife.

“Why here?” Killian asked.

“We came from Port Royal, a few miles south from here,” Will answered. “It was close enough to home while still being safe.”

“We had to leave after we were sentenced to hang,” Elizabeth added with a hint of bitterness in her tone. But it wasn’t her tone that had Emma and Killian looking at them with shock and worry. Will noticed and allowed a small smile to escape.

“Elizabeth was captured during a pirate attack on our town,” Will explained. “I joined another pirate to save her. It didn’t exactly go as planned.”

“Yes, almost dying was never in the plan.” Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at her husband who raised his hands defensively.

“We survived, didn’t we?” She rolled her eyes and Will grinned.

“Barely, Jack had the worst plans and we were even worse at following them.” Her tone was fonder now, even if still exasperated.

“Aye.” Will sighed now, a mournful look in his eyes. “Jack became a friend along the way but he was still a pirate, and Port Royal wasn’t very fond of them. Because of that, he was imprisoned and sentenced to hang the next morning.”

“They really liked to hang people, huh?” Killian joked, with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Will laughed and Elizabeth smiled wryly behind him. “Thankfully, we were able to save him and he escaped. We owed him that much.”

“Unfortunately, because of that, we were deemed traitors and they wanted to arrest us.” Elizabeth stirred the pot a bit too strongly, until Will’s hand found her arm.

“Jack returned the favor and took us away from Port Royal. We stayed aboard his ship for a couple of years.” Will fell quiet with those words, and Emma and Killian looked between the couple for the rest of the story.

“He died during an attack by an old rival. We managed to get the ship to safety but he didn’t make it,” Elizabeth continued in a quiet voice. “He passed the ship onto us.”

“It has been ours ever since. Once we decided to settle down, I decided to pull away from piracy. The Black Pearl is now a merchant ship.”

“We are thankful for the crew, too. They were Jack’s first but they cared for Will and were more than happy to make this change with us.”

“It all worked out, then,” Emma commented quietly, like she didn’t want to ruin the moment.

“I think,” Elizabeth began with a smile, “that we worked hard to be where we are. We lost our home and we made a new one. We had hope. And it was worth it.” Will smiled back, placing a soft kiss on the back of his wife’s hand.

“Mom!” The younger Henry called from the stairs. “Where are my swords?”

Elizabeth put on a faux-exasperated expression as she stood in the doorway. “I’ll be right there, baby,” she called before turning back to the other three. “Wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.”

As he had suspected, the Turners were very similar to them. They had also lost their homes. Lost friends and family. But still they persevered. It was impressive to say the least.

Dinner was a merry affair. Never had Killian laughed so hard in his life. They traded stories, as best they could with the near constant interruptions from the two boys. The older Henry proved to be as charming as ever and the younger was adorably funny. While Will had been relaxed during their journey, it was a whole different story while at home. He was no longer the captain, he was just Will. He wondered if there was such a distinct difference in himself.

“This meal was delicious, Mrs. Turner,” Killian complimented as he sat back in his chair.

“Agreed,” Emma nodded, her hand holding her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten this well.”

Elizabeth waved away the compliments. “It was nothing special, but thank you. And please, call me Elizabeth.”

They smiled and spoke at the same time. “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

She smiled and grabbed the dishes. “Please, allow us.” Killian stopped her hand, standing up.

Emma nodded. “It’s the least we can do.”

“If you insist.”

Together, they took the dishes back to the kitchen leaving behind a big discussion over which game to play now that they finished eating. Standing side by side, they worked together to do the washing up.

By accident, Killian bumped Emma’s hip as he moved. By no accident at all, she bumped back with a wide smile.

“You’ve been doing that a lot,” Killian commented, earning him an inquisitive look from Emma. “Smiling,” he clarified, a smile on his own face.

“Oh.” She looked down at her hands self-consciously but he bumped her hip one more time to bring her attention back to him.

“I like it,” he confessed, in a lower voice. “You have a beautiful smile.”

“If this is you trying to get me to go easy on you for whatever game they choose, you are going to be very disappointed,” she informed him, her eyebrow raised at him pointedly.

“Come now, Emma. Have I told you a lie?” He raised his own eyebrow with a smirk.

She looked into his eyes intently and he couldn’t look away. Her smile grew soft and she shook her head. “No, I guess you haven’t.”

Killian was sure to have sore cheeks for the rest of his life from the way she made him smile. And he would gladly suffer it a million times more if it meant that he would be able to see her smile back at him. A beautiful smile, indeed.

“Do you know how to play crazy eights?” Henry asked from the doorway.

“Aye.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re on my team,” he announced. “We are so going to win.”

They watched Henry excitedly go back to the others.

“Does he know that crazy eights don’t have teams?” Emma asked.

“Apparently not,” Killian answered with a grin.

To everyone’s surprise, Henry Turner won the game. Killian suspected his father had given him a hand but he had also been trying to help Henry win so he wouldn’t cast the first stone.

So much excitement for one day had the boys yawning by the end of the game. The fire was hot, the food had been fantastic, and Killian longed for a warm bed at this point, too.

Of course, not even the boys’ clear need for sleep was able to stop them from wanting just one more game. Just one more story.

“What about you two sleep in Henry’s room and I sing you a song until you fall asleep?” Elizabeth suggested to the tired boys.

The younger Henry quickly grabbed the bigger Henry’s arm, excited. “Yes! Mama sings the best songs, you have to hear it.”

“Are you sure?” Killian asked, holding out his hand. Henry was their responsibility, after all.

“Of course,” she quickly reassured. “I do it every night for mine and we all know they won’t want to be apart for a second.” She then turned to the boys. “Why don’t you start getting ready for bed?”

Killian had never seen Henry so excited to go to bed. As the boys rushed down the hall, he heard the younger Henry’s quiet question.

“Does your Mama sing you songs?”

From the corner of his eye, he watched Henry glance at Emma. “Yeah. She sings good, too.”

“You two can sleep here.” Elizabeth caught their attention as she rose from her chair. “Will will help you,” she added before following the boys. “Goodnight.”

They watched as Will moved some cushions around on the couch. “This is quite comfortable, I’ve actually slept here a few times before,” he reassured them with a wry grin. Emma and Killian laughed, even as a hint of discomfort shone through on Emma’s countenance. “I’ll grab you some blankets and pillows.”

They were left alone and Elizabeth’s soft singing reached them from the boys’ room. He caught Emma’s gaze and he saw the same emotion reflected in her eyes.

“We don’t both have to sleep there,” Killian offered, quietly. “I can sleep on the chair.” He gestured towards the grand chair in the corner.

“They think we are married, they expect us to sleep in the same bed.” Emma’s tone was determined but was undermined by the way she hugged herself around the waist.

“I don’t care about what they think.” His tone brooked no argument. “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

A small, relieved smile broke on her face and her arms loosened. “It’s just sleeping, I can handle it.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, her eyes never leaving his.

Maybe she had been worried that he’d take advantage of the situation. Despite her proclamation of trust, it was clear that was something very new to her. Maybe his own wishes for her comfort had been enough to reassure her. Maybe it didn’t matter.

He had no plans whatsoever to take advantage of her, nor was he only pretending to care. She could probably see all of that in his eyes. If he could read her, then he would assume the opposite also held true.

Will placed the pillows and blankets on the couch.

“Will you be alright?” he asked.

“More than,” Emma reassured him.

Will nodded. “Goodnight, mates.”

“Goodnight,” they said at the same time.

They were left alone. The singing had quieted and he assumed the boys had fallen asleep. A door down the corridor closed and they were left in silence.

“You first,” Killian offered, trying to keep his nerves out of his voice.

“Yeah, okay,” Emma mumbled, grabbing one of the pillows and settling on the left side of the improvised bed.

Once she did, he opened the blankets and helped her cover herself and the still empty side. He laid down next. The couch, while admittedly comfortable, wasn’t too wide. Even with Emma laying on her side, she was still near enough for him to feel her warmth.

The silence stretched between them.

“It’s strange not to have Henry with us,” Killian commented, keeping his eyes on the ceiling.

“Yeah,” Emma agreed. “That and no stories.”

That made him smile and turn his head to her. “Do you want me to tell you a story, Swan?” he teased.

“No,” she answered, with a smirk. “Besides, there are no stars.” She gestured towards the wooden beams of the ceiling.

“That’s true,” he agreed, glancing at the ceiling for a second before turning an innocent smile towards her. “I guess you should sing me a song then.”

That seemed to surprise her as her grin widened. “I’m not going to sing for you.”

“Oh, but I thought that was the deal,” Killian argued, matching her smile. “No stars means that you sing a song.”

“You are not a child, Jones, so no song for you.” She pointed at him, her finger dangerously close to his nose.

He pouted, even if it was ruined by his grin. “Not even a small one?”

She pressed her lips together to hide her smile, albeit unsuccessfully, and shook her head.

“Guess I’ll have a terrible night, then.” He sighed, defeated as he looked back up to the ceiling.

“Don’t be so dramatic.” Emma rolled her eyes, cushioning her hands under her cheek.

“Fine, fine.” He turned his head to her, his eyes soft. “Goodnight, Emma.”

“Goodnight, Killian,” she whispered back, closing her eyes.

Just like the night before, it took a long time for him to fall asleep. He was acutely aware of her presence at his side, her warmth, her slowly deepening breathing and how close she was. They had never been this close without a 10 year old boy between them.

He dared to watch her in the dying firelight for only a few seconds. He watched the curve of her lips, the shape of her brow and the fluttering of her lashes. His fingers tingled with the urge to touch her cheek, to feel the softness of her hair, to pull her against him.

He pushed it all aside. That wasn’t good form and his brother would have surely cuffed his ears for such ideas. He closed his eyes and tried to put it all away.

And, just like the night before, his dreams were all of her.

---

He was warm. The fire should have been out by now. The sun was shining in his eyes and there was something tickling his chin. Finally opening his eyes, he discovered the source.

Emma’s head lay on his chest, half of her body over his. Her leg had tangled with his and her hand lay on the exposed skin of his chest. His left arm was wrapped around her waist and if he was remembering correctly, his right hand had been over hers.

This wasn’t good.

Actually, it was fantastic… But no, it was not good.

He quickly lifted his left arm away from her, hoping to make their position more innocent, but the movement made her stir. He held his breath. He felt the difference in her breathing as she woke up. He really needed to breathe at some point.

He gave her a moment to get her bearings. Maybe he could pretend that he was still asleep and grant her the illusion of his ignorance. No such luck. Her sharp inhale was followed by her quick disentanglement. She pushed her hands against him and the couch, her arms taut, jostling both of them. He could only look up into her wide eyes.

“I-I-” She stuttered and he watched as she tried to come up with an excuse, any reason to be tangled up with him.

He could help. He couldn’t bear to see her so distressed.

“It was a small bed,” he offered in justification. “I’m glad you weren’t uncomfortable.”

“Hmm, yeah.” She nodded, still a little slow in the morning. “Not enough space.”

“No need to worry, love.” He flashed her a grin. “I’m not complaining.”

Killian had hoped his teasing would be well-received, like last night. But Emma’s panic was palpable and her hand still lay on his chest. He hoped this didn’t ruin any progress they had already made.

“Why don’t I give you some time?” Killian offered, gesturing down the corridor.

Emma’s eyes bore into his own for a moment before she nodded, finally removing her hand from his chest. He tried not to mourn the loss of her touch.

Killian stood up from the bed and took a step towards the corridor before turning back to her. “I won’t speak of this, Emma, not unless you wish to.”

Her eyes were still wide where she sat on the couch and he nodded, finally moving away. He could still feel the warmth of her body, the ghost of her touch.

As he left the room, he thought he heard her whisper. “Thank you.”

---

The boys were awake by the time Killian returned to the living room, effectively ending the quiet in the seaside house. Which was not a bad thing at all. After so long, running away from villains and all sorts of dangers, it felt good to be around such innocence and joy.

Unfortunately, they did have a mission and they had already lost enough time. Henry had managed to win another hour with Little Henry with Will and Elizabeth’s offer to break their fast together. As well as their offers of supplies.

How they had gotten so lucky he didn’t know.

Emma had avoided his gaze until they all sat at the table together. Killian had tried to keep his more dangerous emotions bottled up, wanting to help calm her down, wanting to reassure her of his promise.

It seemed to have worked. She smiled.

Slowly but surely, their relationship returned to normal. There was still a hint of hesitation in her, but when she smiled, he counted that as a win.

Leaving the Turners was hard.

For Henry especially, but they had all formed such a deep connection with each other. He would miss Will’s reassurance and fun, Elizabeth’s strength and care, and young Henry’s innocence and cheer. But they did have a mission.

“Remember,” Henry told the younger one with a serious expression, “If the kraken escapes-”

“I’ll call Davy Jones to come get him,” Little Henry finished with a serious nod. “Just like you taught me.”

Killian wasn’t too proud to admit that the sight made him emotional. The boys had bonded quickly and he was loath to separate them. He would also miss the domesticity of the Turner home.

It took a while to separate the boys and Killian ended up promising to return as soon as they could. He hoped it was a promise he could keep. Henry looked at him with hopeful eyes and he sensed Emma’s disapproval. They were all reluctant to leave.

The gloomy cloud over Henry’s head was displayed prominently even after they silently made the hike back down to the village. Now, if only they could find a horse, or a carriage.

Emma’s head was covered by her hood once more and he tried to keep his eyes away from the dark green fabric while they began their search. He didn’t notice the growing distance between them and the boy.

“Oof!” he heard Henry exclaim. From a distance, he saw Henry with his hands on a horse’s side. Could he have bumped into it? Thankfully, he’d kept his feet under him. As they got closer, an older woman appeared from the horse’s opposite side, a concerned look on her face.

“Are you alright, dear?”

“Yeah,” Henry answered, a soft smile on his face as his hand reached for the animal’s head where it was nuzzling him. “I guess I didn’t see your horse.”

Killian reached where Henry stood at the same time as Emma.

“We’re so sorry about this,” Emma apologized, placing her hands on Henry’s shoulders. “We lost him for a bit, there.”

“No problem at all, dear.” The woman smiled kindly as she rubbed her thumb over Henry’s cheek. “Just let me know if you folks need some help.”

“Do you know how to get to Misthaven?” Henry asked, too quick for his companions to stop him, his focus on the calm horse.

“As a matter of fact,” the woman answered. “I’m headed that way myself.” She gestured to her carriage.

Well, this luck of theirs was getting ridiculous, Killian thought. By the look on her face, Emma seemed to agree.

“My name’s Johanna,” the woman introduced herself. “I’d be happy to give you a ride.”

“We really don’t wish to impose,” Killian tried to decline as politely as he could. The woman seemed fairly non-threatening but they surely couldn’t trust another stranger.

“You wouldn’t,” Johanna reassured. “It’s a long trip by foot and I would appreciate the company and the help. I’m certainly not getting any younger.”

Killian looked at Emma. He wasn’t too eager to make the trip by foot or spend what little coin he had left on transportation, but it couldn’t be this easy.

Emma looked intently at the woman. “How do you know you can trust us?”

“I don’t.” Johanna shrugged, without a waver in her smile. “But you look like you need help and if I can help such a sweet little boy, I will.” She touched her index to Henry’s scrunched up nose. “Besides, I have no riches and you don’t seem the type to harm someone for something so small.” She gestured towards her old carriage.

“We don’t,” Henry shook his head. “We only fight villains.”

Killian chuckled nervously. “We’ve been traveling for a long time, we’ve seen all sorts of people along the way,” he tried to explain.

“I bet you win, don’t you?” Johanna grinned at the boy.

“Yeah, we always do!” Henry matched her grin.

“Come on, then.” The woman raised to her full height, a good foot shorter than Killian, urging them to follow her to the carriage. “There’s no time to waste.”

Emma kept her hands on Henry’s shoulders preventing him from following the woman, nervously looking between Johanna and her companions. Henry looked up into Emma’s face.

“Are we really trusting her?” she asked. “Doesn’t it seem strange that we were this lucky?”

“She’s not a villain, Emma, she’s just nice,” Henry protested but Emma was more focused on Killian’s assessment.

“We have to be practical, Swan,” he tried to reassure. “She is right, we need the transport and I think it’s safe to say, she is relatively harmless.” Killian watched how Johanna moved things around in the cabin of the carriage. “You can stay inside the carriage with her and Henry while I drive.”

Emma looked into his eyes for a moment before nodding. He trusted her to keep Henry safe, she knew that. Despite his belief that they would be safe, they both knew they had to be cautious.

“Okay, yeah…” Emma nodded a few extra times for emphasis, her hands clenching and unclenching on Henry’s shoulders. The boy’s head landed on her stomach so he could look at her with a smile. “You’re right.” She returned it.

“Can we go now?” Henry asked, his gaze still on Emma’s. “I think I smelled something sweet from inside the carriage.” His small body began shaking in excitement and Emma’s smile widened.

Killian cursed her hood for not letting him see the entirety of it.

“I should have known you’d be easily charmed by candy,” Killian teased with a fond smile.

Henry’s put-upon innocent smile made them laugh. He felt eyes on them and he turned to see Johanna look at them with a fond smile. “Are you folks ready?”

“Yeah!” Before they could stop him, Henry rushed inside the carriage with Emma following close behind.

“I’ll take the reins,” Killian told the older woman.

“Of course, dear.” Her smile was full of understanding as she climbed inside the carriage.

The horse was black. It reminded him of Roger. Killian took his time to stroke his head before sacrificing one of the apples the Turners gave them to it. After a pat on its forehead, he took his seat with the reins safely in his hand.

“Hi!” Henry’s loud exclamation startled him and it was only thanks to his careful hold that he didn’t drop the reins.

Turning around, he found Henry’s head framed in a small window of the carriage behind him, a wide smile and laughs sounding from behind him. He couldn’t help but smile back.

“If I keep this open, we can still talk!” Henry pointed out, stepping aside from the opening for him to see Emma sitting in the middle with Johanna on her left and an empty seat on her right that likely belonged to Henry.

He found Emma’s eyes and even in the shade of the carriage and of her hood, he could still see her bright smile towards Henry. And when she finally turned her smile towards him, well… he was glad to have an unlimited source of air.

“That’s a great idea, lad.” Killian smiled, focusing on Henry. “Take a seat, my boy! Adventure awaits!” He winked at him before turning back to the road ahead. He heard his excited giggle and he ignored any strange look he got for the wide smile on his face as he urged the horse forward.

---

The Maritime Kingdom was just as beautiful and peaceful as he first thought. On their first day there, they had only seen the port and the limited sights of their hike to the Turner’s home but now, their path took them through the town.

It was a fishing town, of course. The smell of fish and sea and salt wafted through the streets. There were men and women shouting about their fair prices for quality products and children running up and down the streets happy and free.

It would be a good place to settle down. To start a family.

Killian shook those thoughts away for what felt like the millionth time.

He directed the horse along dirt roads out of the town, where houses became sparser until there was only a calm forest, beautiful and colorful flowers lining their way, following Johanna’s map. There were birds and squirrels in the trees and he thought he saw a deer between the far away bushes.

Henry had, in fact, been right. Johanna had an abundance of sweets that she gladly shared with them. They looked and tasted delicious. But not even the tasty sweets were able to quiet Henry - the journey so far had been filled with him telling everyone about his and Henry Turner’s adventures. He was glad he was keeping to more innocuous topics.

They stopped by a river to fill their canteens and have some of their rations to eat. The water was clear and reflected the equally clear sky. As Killian crouched on the river bank, he felt a prickling on the back of his neck. The water reflected a dark figure above in the sky. When he arched his neck to see it, it was gone.

Perhaps he was tired.

He was pulled back to the group by a loud laugh. Henry’s. Killian quickly looked at them to see Henry with his trousers rolled up to his knees splashing water onto Emma who was in exactly the same position, the water hiding her bare legs and her grin just as bright as the boy’s.

“We should arrive at Misthaven tomorrow,” Johanna called his attention from his companions, smiling fondly where she had also noticed Emma and Henry’s shenanigans.

“We’ll make camp tonight,” Killian offered, a last look at his companions before storing away their belongings.

He didn’t notice Johanna’s help. “They are quite precious, aren’t they?” He whipped his head towards her. “I can see you love them very much.”

His eyes went to the laughing duo unconsciously. “Hmm.” He cleared his throat. “I care for them.”

Emma looked up and caught his eye. His heart pounded against his chest, and his throat resembled the Agrabahan desert. Killian was losing count of the times her mere gaze produced such a profound reaction from him. He smiled, the grin widening when Henry, catching Emma distracted, kicked water at her. He laughed as Emma grabbed Henry by the waist and pulled him into her arms, tickling him mercilessly. His laughter echoed over the clearing.

Killian could just see from the corner of his eye Johanna nod with a fond smile. Maybe her words weren’t so far from the truth.

“We should carry on!” Killian called out over their sounds of joy.

The resuming of their journey had Emma and Henry trying to tickle each other’s bare feet until they had finally dried enough for them to slip on their shoes. Their laughter filled his heart with longing.

“Wow,” Henry gasped from the side window of the carriage. “What’s that?”

Making sure the road ahead was clear, he turned to look at where Henry was pointing. It was a large clearing, unassuming at first. A closer look told him that the ground wasn’t just barren, it was dried up, as if a great body of water had been there before. A glint out in the middle of the empty basin made Killian wonder if the sun was reflecting off just a small bit of leftover water. It was hard to imagine a lake of this size completely dried up.

“That,” Johanna answered, her voice sounding from next to Henry’s, “was Lake Nostos.”

The name sounded familiar but it had been a legend at best, decades old.

“It was, once upon a time, a great lake. It was said to be able to cure curses.”

“What happened to it? There’s no water.”

“The lake was protected by a siren, who had been cursed never to leave it. But, about three decades ago, someone killed the siren and the lake dried up.”

“Oh.” Henry’s quiet word was loud in the small carriage. “Why would someone do that?”

He heard shuffling in the back seat. “Some people abuse the good of the world, Henry,” Emma spoke softly. “All we can do is try and protect what we can as best we can.”

He thought of how pertinent her words were to their situation and he wondered if she realized it. She probably did. Knowing her, she probably said it for that purpose alone.

“Yeah, that’s what heroes do,” Henry said confidently.

Henry thinking of them as heroes wasn’t new. It was true that he had done a lot more good in the time he’d been with the boy than in the past 10 years, but…there was still much to atone for. Killian hoped Henry understood, that for him, he would try to be one.

Thankfully, conversation quickly moved towards easier subjects. Johanna used the moment to ask Henry more about his heroic adventures while staying with the Turners and the boy was more than willing to tell her all about them.

The boy knew how to tell a story and had them laughing in no time. Killian welcomed the laughter.

Especially as the forest became darker. As they carried on, there was less noise. He had grown used to seeing and hearing the birds around them but they dwindled to nothing as they rode along. The trees were less alive. The flowers less colorful.

He tried to chalk it up to the approaching night, but even he knew it felt unnatural.

As soon as the sun set, he decided to stop. He had never been afraid of the dark, but he was carrying precious cargo now. He stopped at a clearing off the dirt road. They were quick to build a fire, not only to warm them against the cold night but also to chase away the darkness.

The feeling of being watched that had followed him from the river had only intensified.

“Johanna,” Henry called from where he had curled up against Killian’s chest - he had wanted to keep him close. “Do you know any stories?”

Killian and Emma smiled. The night became a little less dark.

“As a matter of fact,” Johanna smiled fondly, tightening the blanket around her, “I do. Have you heard of the Princess and the Shepherd?”

He heard Henry’s gasp before he saw his surprised expression. “I have! Killian told me that one before.”

“I’m not surprised.” Johanna smiled at Killian. “It is one of the most famous stories in the Enchanted Forest.” Killian nodded in recognition.

“Yeah,” Henry continued, glancing at where Emma leaned against a tree next to him. “He told us about how they fell in love and lived happily ever after after defeating the Evil Queen.”

Killian watched Johanna thin her lips, her eyes shifting away from Henry’s face. By the way the boy’s shoulders tensed, Killian knew he noticed, too.

“Did they not live happily ever after?” he asked in a small voice, looking between the adults.

“Well, they were happy,” Johanna began. A vicious protective instinct surged up in him as he tightened his arm around Henry and hoped that the older woman wouldn’t keep talking. He wasn’t so lucky. “But unfortunately, it wasn’t ever after.”

Henry shot sad and slightly accusatory eyes at Killian. He didn’t know what to say.

“Not everyone knows this part of the story,” Johanna defended, bringing Henry’s attention back to her.

“Can you tell it to us then?” The boy asked determinedly. Killian looked at Emma and he felt her nervous energy match his.

“Hmm.” The older woman looked between the other two adults before landing on Killian. He nodded, knowing the boy’s curiosity wouldn’t be sated if she didn’t. “Sure, sweetheart.”

“As you know, the princess married the shepherd.” Johanna sat back comfortably, warming her hands by the fire. He felt Henry burrow against him. “They managed to thwart the Evil Queen’s plans and there was peace for a while. They were happy.”

“Then the good news spread, the queen was to have a child. An heir for the kingdom.”

Misthaven was a mystery to all. A kingdom so deserted that the news that there had been an heir told him that this story was not going to have a happy ending. He pulled Henry even closer to him.

“On the heels of the happy news for the kingdom, dark murmurs began to spread of the Evil Queen’s return.” Killian heard Henry’s soft inhale of breath. “There were rumors of a dark curse that she planned to unleash on the kingdom. A curse that would destroy everyone’s happiness.”

“Why was she doing that?” Henry’s voice was quiet, a question asked almost to himself.

“The Evil Queen believed that the princess destroyed her chance at love when she was a young child, around your age.”

“Do you think she did it?”

“No,” Johanna’s tone was incontestable, a strength to her belief that niggled at the back of his mind. “She was kind and caring, she would never do such a thing.”

“Then why did the Queen think she did it?”

“Sometimes,” Killian answered in Johanna’s stead. “people let themselves be changed by grief.” He spoke from experience.

He felt Emma’s eyes on him and when he turned to her, he saw a quiet understanding fill them. He wanted to hold her hand, feel her touch on him, an extra helping of reassurance. Henry, feeling his turbulent emotions, tightened his hold around his torso.

“Didn’t the princess try to explain what happened?” Henry asked.

“She did, but the Evil Queen refused to see reason,” Johanna answered. “She blamed the child for her lover’s death.”

Henry sighed. Johanna stopped for a moment. He knew Henry always looked for and saw the best in people, believed that everyone deserved redemption, but given what they’d seen of Misthaven so far, Killian knew there was no room for believing in second chances in this story.

“Okay.” The boy nodded. “The Evil Queen didn’t believe the princess and tried to kill her…” He took a deep breath. “Now, the princess is going to have a baby.” He looked at Johanna, urging her to continue.

The older woman smiled kindly over at them before nodding.

“The kingdom was in celebration, after so many years of worry and danger, there was peace and calm and hope for the future. Even with the Evil Queen’s new threat, the royals wanted to keep hope, and wanted to keep believing that they would defeat her once more.

“They had a baby girl,” Johanna’s eyes shifted for a moment. “There was a grand celebration in the kingdom. The festivities lasted for a week. Everyone was happy and hopeful.”

“And then the Evil Queen showed up,” Henry surmised in a low tone.

Johanna’s nod was sad, a burden he hadn’t recognised before. “She did, she threatened the whole kingdom with her curse and the queen and her prince searched for a solution, something to save them all.”

“Years before, they had managed to imprison a dark sorcerer.” Killian shivered instinctively at Johanna’s words, the memories of a heart turning to ash forefront in his mind. “They went to him for help and he told them that their baby was the answer, that she would be the one to save them. But they had to destroy the curse, or else there would be nothing to save.”

“They made a deal with the sorcerer.”

“Why would they do that?” Henry asked, shocked. “Don’t they know dark magic is bad?”

“They were desperate,” Johanna explained, a somber look in her face. “People can do crazy things for love.”

“Did they trust him?”

“Nooo, absolutely not,” Johanna continued, drawing out the negative to make her point. “They knew he would want something in return, and they were prepared to give it as long as it meant keeping their daughter and their kingdom safe.”

“How did they do it?” Emma asked, finally speaking after sitting so long in silence.

Johanna’s smile softened as she looked towards Emma for a moment, a tenderness in her eyes that surprised him. He couldn’t help but think that there was something behind that smile, something important.

“The sorcerer asked them only for a hair from each of them and to keep his presence in the dungeons a secret.”

“That seems too good to be true,” Killian commented.

“They thought so, too.” Johanna nodded. “They were told that it was possible that the hairs were a way to concentrate the magic of their True Love, a magic that was as powerful as it was rare. And they assumed he wanted to keep any enemies from finding him. His cage kept him powerless and while not in danger, it did leave him vulnerable.”

“Did they accept it?” Henry asked.

“They did. They each handed him a single hair from their heads and placed a protection spell around his cage. He then told them what to do. He told them how the curse looked and where to find it.”

“How did he know?” Killian asked suspiciously.

“They didn’t ask. I believe he had something to do with it. The queen and her prince didn’t waste time with such considerations, they needed to act fast.”

“What was the plan?” The boy’s quiet voice asked from his cocoon within Killian’s embrace.

“They separated. While the princess distracted the Evil Queen, her prince destroyed the curse.”

“Did it work?”

“Yes.” Johanna’s smile didn’t take away from the sadness in her eyes. He wondered if Henry could see it, too, or if he was just too tired. Killian’s eyes met Emma’s and he knew she noticed. “They destroyed the curse but the Evil Queen still managed to get to them.” She took a deep mournful breath. “We found out the next day that she had killed them when she appeared in the courtyard with their bodies.”

Killian’s hand rested over Henry’s head, the boy’s body impossibly close to him, hoping to give him some support. There was a moment of silence and Killian focused on Henry’s breathing, looking for any indication of distress.

“What happened to the baby?” Emma asked, her arms around her knees.

“She disappeared.” Johanna looked down at the ground. He could feel the shame and guilt overtake her - he had enough experience with that. “I was tasked with guarding her, along with a group of their best soldiers.” She took a deep steadying breath. “I don’t know what happened, but, before I knew it, the soldiers and I were waking up from the ground and the crib was empty.”

“Someone took her…”

“We looked everywhere. I heard her cry. It was coming from outside. I thought I was going crazy because I could have sworn I saw a dark figure flying away, the cries going with it.

“I couldn’t stop it.” Johanna was crying now, likely reliving those moments all over again.

Killian watched as Emma reached out a hand towards Johanna’s arm. At the contact, Johanna looked up, their eyes meeting. The older woman’s eyes filled up with determination and relief.

He felt Emma’s nervous energy, a soft discomfort to the strength of Johanna’s emotions.

“What happened to Misthaven?” Killian asked, interrupting the moment between the two.

“The Evil Queen took over,” Johanna answered, wiping away her tears and focusing on him. “It is a desolate, ruined kingdom. Some escaped, looking for peace. Many tried to fight, many lost, many were forced to serve her. But many still fight to this day.

“The ones who still fight believe that the child will return to them. That she will save them.” Johanna’s eyes glanced towards Emma. “I am one of those people.”

“How long has it been?” Henry asked, his voice hushed and tinged with tiredness.

“28 years since we lost them.” Johanna sighed, for the first time in their journey, she showed her age, the burden of time catching up to the spry older woman she had seemed to be.

Killian noticed Emma’s frown as she looked towards the ground, a look of concentration on her face, confusion and denial. He ached to comfort her.

“You were close to the family then?” Emma’s eyes were blank as she looked up at Johanna. He could feel the spark of determination in her, a need for answers.

Johanna nodded, a quick flash of understanding in her eyes. “I was the princess’ caregiver since she was a child. I watched her grow up, it was like she was my own.”

Henry’s body felt heavier against his, his steady breathing against his chest and his arms loosening around him. The boy was falling fast asleep. Carefully, he ran his hand up and down his back, hoping to grant him some comfort even in sleep.

“And you did the same for their daughter, didn’t you?”

He watched Johanna’s throat work as she swallowed, her smile sad and her eyes widening. She nodded.

“So you know more than you say.” Her tone grew accusatory, a hint of desperation in it.

“I-” She stopped, taking a deep breath. “Her name was Emma.” He felt the air spark around them. “She was barely half a year old before she was lost to us.”

“What do you remember of her?” Killian asked in a quiet voice.

Johanna closed her eyes. “She had light green eyes, like her mothers, and there was a waft of light hair on the top of her head. She was so small but she would grasp onto your finger with an unbelievable strength.” There was a smile on her face and Killian watched as tears began to form in her eyes. “She loved it when we spoke to her, you could see her little eyes following you. She would fall asleep to her mother’s singing.”

There was a shine of tears in Emma’s eyes and he saw it: the lost girl who was so afraid to hope. His hand clenched as he restrained himself from reaching for her, knowing that Henry’s presence on his lap wouldn’t allow it. The boy shifted but remained asleep and Killian took a deep breath to center himself.

“She was born in the winter, on a very cold night. I remember wrapping her up tight in the blanket Granny Lucas knitted for her.” Her eyes remained closed, lost in the memory. “It was white and soft and it had her name knitted in blue yarn. She-”

“It wasn’t blue,” Emma interrupted, her hands shuffling around a piece that he recognised as her blanket. He hadn’t noticed her removing it from her satchel. “It was purple.”

Johanna’s eyes widened as she laid eyes on the knitted piece Emma had turned towards her. Killian saw her hands shake as she looked at it for a moment longer. When her eyes found Emma’s, there were tears streaming down her cheeks. A look of hope that seemed to take Emma’s breath away, even if he could still see the caution in her.

“I knew it was you.” Johanna’s voice shook, her smile wide and emotional. “When I saw you, I just knew it. You have your mother’s chin, and eyes, and you look so much like your father.”

Emma held her breath, obviously trying to stifle her emotions.

“I wanted to be sure, I didn’t want to trick you or lie to you. But it is you.”

With the piece of the blanket on her lap, Emma wrapped her arms around herself. It was obvious that she wanted to push aside Johanna’s emotional response, focusing on getting her answers, on not letting hope take over.

“So my parents…they’re gone?” Johanna nodded. “They didn’t abandon me, then.”

“No, Emma.” The older woman’s voice shook, the emotion getting the better of her. “They fought to give you a future, to allow you to grow up in a world without this evil hanging above your head. They were hoping for a victory. They had started planning your first birthday celebration.” Her smile was overwhelmingly sad.

“Why didn’t they stay with me? Why didn’t they let someone else fight instead?” The anger in her tone, the resentment, were on full display and Killian longed to hold her, comfort her.

“I asked them the same thing, my dear,” Johanna sighed, understanding. “They felt like it was their fault, it was their kingdom and they needed to fight for it. They were confident they’d be successful and they’d come home to you again.”

“They were reckless.” Emma sat back against the tree, her eyes angry.

“They were hopeful.”

There was silence after that. He watched, powerless, as Emma struggled with these strong emotions. She seemed relieved to have answers, to know what happened, but he could also see the way she resented them, thought it was their fault she grew up alone.

He understood. He felt her distress like it was his own.

“I think we should get some rest.” Killian spoke quietly, hoping to interrupt the moment. “We have a long day tomorrow.”

“Yes,” Johanna agreed, discreetly wiping away her tears and wrapping herself tighter in her blanket. “We should follow the boy’s lead and recover our strength.” There was a soft smile on her face that didn’t completely hide the tornado of emotions in her eyes.

Emma simply nodded, turning towards Henry’s back. He watched Johanna turn to the opposite side. His eyes found Emma’s, sure she could see the concern behind them.

She nodded at him, the corner of her lip pulling up in an attempt at reassurance. He appreciated it more than he could express. He smiled back at her, hoping to show her his support. She understood. Of course she did.

He wrapped the blanket tighter around him and Henry and watched Emma do the same around herself. She closed her eyes and he made an effort to rest as well.

---

Emma was the first to wake the next morning. A rare occurrence but Killian assumed the complicated night before had something to do with it. He could see her from his spot against the tree as she tidied up their things in the carriage. He didn’t think Johanna was asleep. She was too still and he thought she might be too lost in thought.

Henry was still asleep against him when Killian woke up. He had felt him stir and squirm during the night and decided to let him rest as much as he could. It wasn’t long before the boy stirred awake. Killian was still as he looked around, realizing where they were.

“Killian?” Henry whispered in a hushed tone.

“Aye, lad?”

“Is Emma okay?” The boy raised his head still keeping close to him.

“I hope so,” Killian sighed, looking towards the hooded figure by the horse. “I think it’s been a tough night for her.”

“Did Johanna tell you anything else? I think I fell asleep.”

Killian smiled fondly, the tip of his hook touching the tip of Henry’s scrunched up nose. “She did.” He worried if he should be honest or if he should leave it to Emma. “She told us about the baby, do you remember it?”

Henry nodded looking around. He wondered for a moment what was going on inside his head as he spent a few minutes studying his surroundings. Then Henry spoke, in a tone that didn’t beg any doubts.

“Emma’s the baby, isn’t she?”

“Why would you think that, my boy?”

“I have noticed that, this whole trip we’re on, has been leading us to important places.” Henry sat up, next to Killian against the tree. “It led us to Emma. It led us to Elsa and your last link to Liam, and now it’s leading us to Misthaven where a baby has been missing for a long time. I think Johanna was right and their lost child has returned to save them. Emma.”

Killian smiled fondly as Henry caught his breath after his passionate speech.

“You’re a very clever lad, you know?” Henry looked at him with a frown to his brow but smiled shyly soon after. “Why don’t you go and give your good mornings to Emma? I’m sure she’d like one of your hugs.”

“Yeah!” Henry quickly scrambled to stand up.

“Lad.” Killian stopped the boy with a hand on his wrist. “Let Emma be the one to tell you.”

“I won’t push her.” Henry nodded solemnly.

“Thank you.”

They smiled at each other before Henry ran towards Emma.

“He’s a very special boy.”

Killian’s eyes found Johanna’s from where she now sat against a rock. She turned to see Henry giving Emma a strong hug, one she desperately returned.

“You have no idea,” Killian whispered.

“Do you think Emma will be okay?”

He nodded. “She’s strong. It will take some time but she will.”

“I trust you and Henry will be there to help her.” Johanna’s tone was soft and her smile even softer.

“We will.” He nodded with an unspoken promise.

Johanna smiled, throwing a last look towards where Emma and Henry were excitedly talking - well, Henry at least - before standing up. “I’ll fill our canteens.”

Alone, for the first time in a week, Killian took a deep breath. If Henry was right, and he was sure he was, they needed to prepare for whatever Misthaven threw at them.

---

They all ate together.

Emma stayed fairly quiet, unless someone spoke to her directly. He was sure she had noticed his concerned looks towards her but she hadn’t made an effort to acknowledge them.

Henry had gotten up to refill their canteens for the last time after they ate with Johanna accompanying him. Emma had made her way to the horse and carriage when Killian finished putting away their things.

He joined her.

He saw her look at a piece of paper, so old he was surprised it still held together. There was a sketch of a long haired woman and he was able to read the words “Snow White” on it before she put it away in her bag.

“Hey.” Killian tried to keep his presence from startling her but he should know better.

“You know, I could feel your worry from a mile away.”

He was anxious that she might be annoyed with him but he noticed her lips pulled up at the corners.

“I am fine, Killian,” she assured before turning towards him.

“Are you?”

“Aye.” Emma raised her eyebrow in a terrible imitation of his accent.

Killian chuckled, shaking his head. “Are you sure? I know last night was hard, but-”

“It was,” Emma interrupted, crossing her arms. “But I’m glad I have answers. Now I know they didn’t abandon me. I know I was loved.” She shrugged, helplessly.

His hands clenched and he focused on his words instead, hoping to give her some support.

“You are still loved, Emma.”

Her eyes whipped to his, startled by the sentiment.

“We were brought together for a reason.” He shrugged, trying to downplay his conviction. “I think we needed each other.”

She cleared her throat, looking down before looking back at him. “Henry needed us.”

“Emma.” He tried to control his emotions but it was futile. “You know it’s not just about this mission.”

From a distance, he heard Henry’s chatter become louder. Right in front of his eyes, he watched Emma’s walls slam up with him on the opposite side.

“We need to focus on what’s coming next.”

Defeated, he sighed. “As you wish.”

“Killian,” Henry called, and Killian turned to see his excited smile. “Can I sit next to you?”

He felt Emma’s nervous energy spike behind him. He imagined she didn’t want to stay alone with Johanna in the carriage, not after last night. But he also couldn’t deny the boy anything.

“Of course, lad,” Killian smiled, ruffling the boy’s hair. “But only for a bit. We don’t know what is awaiting us as we approach Misthaven.”

“Deal!” He grinned widely as he rushed to pat the horse’s side and sat down in the front seat.

“Time to go.” Killian smiled at the two women before joining the boy.

He tried to ignore the tension between their companions as they entered the carriage. The window stayed open between the inside and the outside but Henry didn’t try to interrupt the environment inside it.

He suspected the boy hoped that Johanna would be able to talk to Emma and reassure her, but he didn't have the heart to try and dissuade him of the notion. He thought he heard a semblance of a conversation from inside the carriage - words like “names” and “snow” and “charming” drifting outside - but his attention was focused on the boy’s redundant game of guessing what he was describing. They were crossing through the woods, everything was either a tree or a flower.

Halfway through their ride, just as the forest around began to look withered and dead, Killian stopped so that Henry could get back inside the carriage.

As predicted, it didn’t take too long before they reached a crumbling wall, being taken over by the forest around them. Killian stopped the carriage a few feet away.

Johanna was right. Misthaven was desolate and ruined. But anything they imagined paled in comparison to the reality.

There was utter silence among the ruins, no life inside its boundaries. He could see some of the houses closer to the walls had been burned to the ground. He wondered if it continued the further they walked into the kingdom. Someone had cemented shards of mirrors in the walls that still stood - in some of the stones from the outer wall, in the houses, even on the ground.

He had heard stories about the greatness of Misthaven. A light in the middle of a valley.

This was darkness.

They all exited the carriage. Killian took a moment to stroke the horse’s side before he grabbed his satchel from where Emma was handing it to him. Johanna stood next to it.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you inside.” They all turned to the older woman.

“Why?” Henry asked, a touch of indignation in his tone.

Johanna smiled sadly. “The Evil Queen has barred anyone from entering the kingdom. But I suspect she is expecting the three of you.”

“So we’re heading into a trap,” Emma surmised, looking at the ruins behind them.

“I remember Snow telling me that the Evil Queen always seemed to know things. That she could see them. I remember her asking the servants to remove the mirrors from the castle one by one,” Johanna explained.

Killian didn’t question the use of “Snow” as a name. He assumed that had something to do with their conversation inside the carriage. He looked back at the walls, more specifically at the shards of mirrors that now seemed to take on a different purpose. A new danger.

“She can see us,” Killian finished.

“I believe so.” Johanna nodded, nervously.

He heard Henry take a deep breath. “This is where Cygnus is taking us, this is where we’re meant to be.” It felt like he was convincing himself just as much as them.

They ignored Johanna’s confusion at the mention of the constellation as they looked at each other. They have been in battle together before and won; he believed they would do it again.

“I guess we’re going in.” Emma nodded determinedly, fixing the strap of her satchel on her shoulder.

“My dear,” Johanna began as she reached for Emma. He noticed her flinch in response. “I know this is difficult for you. I understand, truly, I do. But know this. You have my faith. You have your people’s faith. We believe in you.”

Emma looked uncomfortable. She still wasn’t used to this sort of sentiment.

“Thank you for your help, ma’am.” Killian took a step forward, catching the older woman’s attention.

She nodded. “Be careful and take care of each other.”

Henry held onto his hand and took Emma’s as well, who smiled at him.

“We will, thank you.” Henry smiled and Emma nodded at the woman, looking more at ease.

They watched for a moment as the woman sat down on the front seat of the carriage. They turned back to the ruins just as the carriage began to move away.

They would be okay.

---

“Our guests have arrived, mirror,” Regina grinned widely as she watched Killian, Emma and the Heart of the Truest Believer, walk towards the empty space between the walls within the black frame of the mirror.

She waved her hand, willing the spell around the kingdom’s border to allow them passage. There was a maniac gleam in her eyes and an anxious spark surrounding her.

“Let’s give them a warm welcome, shall we?”