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exhaustedpirate · 1 year

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parent for hire

guess who's back? me! and since I'm back, I have a chapter for you! hope you guys missed me! as the title suggests, this portion of the adventure will be divided into three parts. I promise you won't regret it! @kmomof4 was once more my guardian angel and made sure I had everything perfect just for you all!

Chapter Five - Misthaven (Part One)

word count: 12,475 words

rating: Teen and Up

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

The port wasn’t far from where they parted ways with the Arendellian royalty. Along the way, he realized it’d be better to let Emma know that they’d sail past Neverland on their way to Misthaven, just to prepare her. She got quiet after that, and he left her to her thoughts. It was only when, during the last stretch before arriving at the port, Henry held her hand as he retold the story of their defeat of the snow monster that he noticed her relaxing.

They reached the port not long after lunch. At that hour, it was bustling with activity and there were ships aplenty. It seemed that even Hans’ seizing of Arendelle hadn’t destroyed the town’s prosperous economy.

Killian urged Henry to stay close to them, since it was the first time they had all been around so many people in an unknown environment. Emma shared his concern.

“Why don’t we join them?” Henry asked, pointing down the docks. The two adults followed his finger to find a grand ship with sails mended with mismatching fabric. The crew gathered on deck was made up of about a dozen people.

Killian and Emma turned to Henry with matching looks of bewilderment and shock, but he took their perplexity in stride and shrugged. “There’s a small crew and they don’t have any flags.”

“They are probably pirates, kid.” Emma’s eyebrow was raised in doubt.

“Which means they can be bought, right, Killian?” The boy’s grin was wide and proud.

“What have you been teaching him?” Emma asked rhetorically, smacking his arm with the back of her hand even as an amused smile toyed at the corner of her lips.

“Well, the lad is right.” Killian smiled brightly at Emma while laying a proud hand on Henry’s shoulder.

The boy giggled as Emma rolled her eyes.

“Let’s go!” Henry urged, holding Killian’s wrist to pull him towards the ship.

Killian shrugged, still smiling at Emma before turning back to the boy. She joined them with an eye roll, firmly fixing her mask back in place, walking next to him. Close to the gangplank, Henry stopped. Despite his eagerness, it was still a large ship full of strange people. Emma laid a hand on his shoulder to pull the boy towards her side while Killian stepped forward, trying to identify the captain.

A voice called from behind them, startling the three of them. “Looking for something, friends?”

They turned around to face a man with shoulder length dark hair and a friendly face much younger than would be expected, his posture the only indication that he might be the captain of the ship. If he was, then apparently all ship captains had very quiet footsteps.

“It all depends on where you’re headed.” Killian took a couple of steps forward so that he could once more stand in front of Henry. “Are you the captain?”

“Aye,” he answered, his arms crossed and an easy smile even if Killian could tell he was inspecting them. “We’ll be docking at the Maritime Kingdom.”

Their map was ingrained in Killian’s mind and he knew that, with Misthaven’s port closed for decades, their only option would be to dock somewhere close by and make the remaining journey on foot. The Maritime Kingdom’s port was the closest to their destination.

“How much for us to join you on your travels?”

He watched as the captain looked at them curiously, his eyes specially focused on Henry. The air around them sparked with concern and caution from Emma and Killian moved slightly closer to his companions.

“Do any of you have experience on a ship?”

The question startled him. “Hmm, aye, I do.”

“Then I’m sure you can earn your passage, right?” He grinned before turning to Emma and Henry. “Can you two help as well?”

Emma shared his startled expression but she recovered more quickly as she nodded. Henry was excited at the possibility of helping on a pirate ship. “Yeah!”

The captain grinned even wider. “It would be bad form for me to leave a family stranded in this cold land,” he said before grabbing a satchel from the ground.

Killian turned to Henry and Emma, sharing their surprise at their sudden luck. Before they could say anything, the captain walked past them towards the gangplank. “Come aboard, my friends. Our journey awaits.”

Henry was the first to move to follow the captain, urging Killian and Emma to follow. Killian chuckled. Henry seemed much more interested in being in the company of a pirate captain rather than them, he observed.

“What’s your name, sir?”

In the middle of the gangplank, the captain turned to them with a smile. “Turner, Will Turner. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl!”

As they followed Captain Turner aboard, Killian began to wonder if the winds of luck were actually on their side for once. Killian focused on his surroundings - the motion of the ship, the different voices calling out orders around him, Emma and Henry’s presence as they tried to help as best they could. Anything that distracted him from remembering the harsh words, the sharp lashings, and the pain that accompanied most of his time spent on a ship.

A sharp wind ruffled the hair at the back of his neck, and Killian gazed up at the cloudy sky. He had to do a double take as he thought he saw the shape of a familiar ship high in the clouds. He shook his head, it was impossible.

---

Killian thought that suddenly becoming a part of a pirate crew would be difficult and they would be on the receiving end of animosity from the crew. However, it seemed that their time with Captain Turner and the crew of the Black Pearl was going to be full of surprises.

They were greeted with generally pleasant, if tired, expressions when they were presented to the crew. Killian and Emma chose to be called Jones and Swan, respectively, but Henry had blurted out his own name in his excitement. Captain Turner seemed surprised at the boy’s outburst but smiled fondly at him.

Thankfully, their caution and concern was misplaced. No one in the crew seemed to care about who they were besides an extra pair of hands to help.

Despite the crew’s main focus being on the work they were doing, they seemed to be more than happy to entertain Henry’s undying curiosity. Whenever Killian called on the boy to stop distracting the other pirates, he received a reassuring hand wave back from whichever crew member Henry had deemed the current target of his attention.

After a while, Killian stopped worrying so much.

For the past few hours, Henry had been following a duo of pirates as they went about their duties. He was told their names were Pintel and Ragetti and that they were harmless if perhaps a tad uncouth. Once in a while, he would hear Henry’s giggles from a different part of the ship. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so much, he would see smiles on the crew’s faces at the sound. From Captain Turner, especially.

With night approaching, Henry’s wandering calmed, the adrenaline of the day finally fading. “Henry is asleep against the cannon,” Emma informed him with fondness clear in her eyes.

His gaze quickly found the sleeping child. Henry’s mouth hung open and he had his back against the cannon’s body with his head - uncomfortably, he was sure - against the rough metal. Killian’s responding smile was just as fond. “I’m not surprised, he hasn’t stopped since we came aboard.”

They shared a laugh.

“We should have a couple of free bunks in the crew’s quarters,” Captain Turner offered, interrupting their moment. It was strange to have their moments together around a whole crew of pirates, innocent as they may be. “You’re free to use them.”

“Thank you.” Emma nodded before turning back to Killian. “I’ll take him downstairs.”

“Feel free to get your rest as well, Swan. I will be waking up my first mate and the rest of my crew shortly so they will take charge while we sleep,” Captain Turner informed them.

“I’ll help the captain get ready, then join you.” Killian smiled with a nod.

He assumed Captain Turner thought them a married couple traveling with their child and while he wouldn’t be opposed to play into his belief, he didn’t want to make Emma uncomfortable. He thought Emma had the same suspicion, if the way she touched his arm before going to Henry was any clue.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to fake the way his heart thundered in his chest, or the way he couldn’t take his eyes off her, or the smile on his face when she picked the child up and he mumbled something completely unintelligible. He didn’t have to fake the subtle wave towards them when she found his eyes once more before descending below deck. If any of his gestures and expressions were deemed too realistic, he would blame it on the watchful gaze of the ship’s captain next to him.

It didn’t take long before the night’s crew arrived above deck. There were introductions exchanged between them and he found Gibbs to be a respectful man, worthy of the first mate position. Killian found himself nervous to join Emma and Henry below deck - would they be set up to sleep in the same bed? If the bunk beds were anything like the ones he was used to, they would have to sleep really close. Would she be angry?

“Thank you for your help, Jones.” Captain Turner’s heavy hand on his shoulder took him away from his anxious thoughts. All around them, the night crew was already in their positions. “I think it’s time to get some rest, don’t you?”

“Aye, Captain.” Killian cleared his throat, hoping to disguise the nerves in his voice. They began walking towards the hatch that led below deck.

“The honorific isn’t necessary, you know.” He grinned. “You’re not officially part of my crew. You can call me Will. If you’d like.”

Killian couldn’t help but chuckle. He’d enjoyed himself today, and if he was honest, he wouldn’t mind being a part of Will’s crew. As it was, he wasn’t in the position to join them. Not while he had a child below deck who needed him.

“I appreciate that, mate,” he replied. “But since I am working on the ship, and you are the captain, I’ll stick with that.”

“Very well, mate.” With a final pat on the shoulder, Captain Turner left him to enter his cabin.

All his worry had been for naught, in the end. Once he finally located the crew’s quarters, thanks to some loud snoring, Killian found Swan in the bottom left side bunk. Like the captain said, there was another empty bunk on the right side. He approached them as quietly as possible and found her still awake. She’d removed her mask and Henry’s hands clutched her tightly, even in sleep.

Her eyes found his once he was close enough. “He asked me to sleep next to him.” Her whisper sounded apologetic and all he could do was smile. Her lips thinned as she waited for his reply.

For all his worry over their sleeping arrangements, having her grow closer to Henry was no part of his concerns. But he also never counted on the creeping disappointment he felt over not sleeping next to her.

He crouched next to them. With Emma laying on her back and Henry’s head resting on her chest, all she had to do was turn her head towards him.

“That’s quite alright,” Killian whispered, reaching over to run his fingers through Henry’s hair, pushing away a few strands that had fallen over his face. He thought he heard Emma’s breathing change. “I’ll allow it for tonight,” he joked, a small smile upturning his lips as he turned to face her.

Her smile was amused and he felt her sharp release of breath on his chin. When he approached them on the bunk, he hadn’t realized how close that would make them. Their faces were only a few inches apart. He could see distinctly how the green in her eyes reflected the moonlight, how her nose was splattered with freckles. He wondered if she could tell he hadn’t taken a breath since he turned to face her. He wondered if she minded their proximity.

A particularly loud snore broke their silent stare and Killian cleared his throat as he finally stood. If Killian had paid closer attention or if it had been brighter in the cabin, he would have noticed Emma’s blushed cheeks or her equally irregular breathing.

“We should get some sleep,” Killian said, watching her nod through the corner of his eyes. “I’ll be in the next bunk, should you need me.” He gestured with his head, before striding towards the bunk after looking at Henry for a last time.

“Goodnight, Killian.”

He stopped midway through removing his coat to turn towards Emma, who was now looking up towards the top bunk. He could see the way her throat worked as she swallowed and he had to remind himself that she had spoken. Killian finished removing his coat, willing his heart to calm.

“Goodnight, Emma.”

It was a while before he fell asleep, too aware of her presence much too far away from him.

---

Killian awoke early the next day. He wasn’t surprised. Being on a ship, being in the confining crew’s quarters, reminded him too much of being on Silver’s crew. Once the sun shone on his face from the small window, he sat up so fast that he almost hit his head on the top bunk.

Memories of being dragged from his bed and lashed on the main deck for having woken up late made the scars on his back throb in remembrance. He sat there in panicked stillness as he waited for loud footsteps to invade the cabin, and the perverted grin of his former captain as he cracked the whip over and over again.

“Killian?”

It was miraculous how the soft voice of the boy broke through his frenzied thoughts, the way Nemo’s voice never could. He remembered his first year aboard the Caspartine clearly - he remembered the fear whenever he did something wrong, the panic whenever something wasn’t perfect. He also remembered the calm timbre of Nemo’s voice as he tried to get him out of that state. He remembered how long it took to do so but also the patience Nemo had had.

“Killian?” He heard the small voice again and his body was freed from his panic-induced, statue-like state.

Killian put his feet on the ground and turned towards the boy.

“Aye, lad?”

“Good morning.” Even when whispering, the boy managed to say it loudly. His bright smile made Killian’s heart feel like it would burst at any moment and he couldn’t help but smile back.

“I assume you slept well?”

“Yeah, but I’m done sleeping, the sun is out!” Henry said, sitting up next to Emma’s still sleeping form and pointing towards the window as if Killian hadn’t noticed. “That means Captain Turner needs his crew again, right?”

“Any captain would admire your work ethic, lad.” He grinned, before gesturing towards Emma. “Why don’t we let Emma sleep a bit longer?”

It was then that Emma seemed to lose the battle against the wide smile that now brightened her face. Killian noticed first but Henry noticed it louder.

“She’s awake!” Henry exclaimed and Killian was thankful for the lack of any sleeping crew mates in the cabin. He would have to teach Henry some cabin manners.

“How could I sleep when you shoved your elbow in my ribs when you saw the sun?” Emma’s tone was accusatory but the still shining smile on her face killed any trepidation it might have induced.

“I’m sorry!” Henry apologized, a sheepish smile on his face.

“You will be sorry.” Emma moved, faster than either of them were expecting, and grabbed onto Henry, bringing him back down on the bed, and tickling him.

In an instant, Henry’s giggles filled the empty cabin. His loud expression of joy pushed away any demons still waiting in Killian’s head to torment him with memories of the past. Emma’s joining laughter made him wish he could live in this moment for the rest of his life.

“It looks like someone is ready to work!” The captain’s presence was enough to quiet their raucous laughter. Killian could tell that the man’s authoritative tone was merely pretense. The smile on his face was pure joy and not for the first time, he wondered why the captain was being so kind to them.

He felt Emma’s eyes on him. When he met her gaze, he could see she was tense - she obviously wasn’t reading Will’s teasing and joyful visage correctly. He smiled and nodded at her reassuringly and watched as she relaxed.

“Yes, Captain!” Henry quickly scrambled out of bed to stand in front of his bunk with a smart salute.

The adults in the cabin tried to keep their amusement quiet at Henry’s serious expression and posture while his hair was a riotous mess and his clothes fell every which way.

“Very well, Sailor Henry.” Will placed his hands on his hips with a nod and a spark of mischief in his eyes. “All crew members are to present themselves on the main deck.”

“Yes, Captain!” Both Killian and Emma realized Henry’s intentions right away. Killian took a step forward just as Emma grabbed onto his wrist.

“You need to get dressed first, kid.” Emma’s voice shook with barely suppressed mirth.

“But the Captain is waiting!” Henry whined. From the corner of his eye, Killian watched as Will watched with fondness.

“And do you think Captain Turner will want a disheveled sailor in his crew?” Killian asked with a raised eyebrow as he tried to tame the boy’s hair at the same time Emma fixed Henry’s clothing. “I don’t think so!”

They hadn’t done that before. Henry was fairly independent, even during his more lethargic moments in the morning. There had never been the need to care for him before.

“And you need to eat, too,” Emma added to a pouting Henry.

“Not to worry, Sailor Henry.” They all turned to Will where he still stood by the doorway. “Our cook should have something for you to eat so you’re ready for a day of hard work.” Despite the way he spoke directly to Henry, Killian knew it was an invitation for them all. “I’ll see you on the main deck.”

“Yes, Captain!” Emma failed to hide her laughter when Henry saluted once more.

They made sure they all looked presentable to leave the cabin. He didn’t know where Henry’s energy came from as he spoke to everyone he found as he sped down the hall. In the galley, he seemed to be on a first name basis with the cook and he barely breathed as he ate, despite Killian and Emma’s admonishments to the contrary.

Thankfully they all made it above deck without any accidents. Henry was off like a shot towards the captain, eager to be given his tasks for the day. Killian watched the boy amusedly until a pained grunt called his attention back to Emma. She held onto the top of her hood trying to keep it in place. Without her mask back on, Killian could see the pained twist of her lips.

“What’s wrong, love?” Her eyes shot up to look at him. He swallowed drily as he realized that it was the first time he used that particular pet name for her. He tried to keep an impassive expression, as if it was normal - it was, actually. He would use that with any lass.

She cleared her throat as she looked away, and he could breathe again. “The wind is blowing my hood, I have pins to keep it in place and they’re pulling on my hair,” she complained.

“Why don’t you remove it?” Killian suggested. At her sharp glance, he wondered if he had offended her. “To spare you the pain.”

He was met with silence. Turmoil swirled in her eyes and Killian rushed to clarify.

“The weather in these parts is quite rough,” he added. He remembered how Nemo had avoided this region. As they approached Neverland and the Leviathan Shoals, the weather would get worse.

Still, she said nothing, looking everywhere but at him.

Thankfully - or not - Will called for him. He met her eyes and she nodded at the same time he did, although he was unsure of what she meant.

For the next few hours, Killian was busy pulling ropes, tightening knots, climbing up and down the rigging. By the time midday arrived, he was coated with a healthy amount of sweat and he was glad he’d left his great coat and vest in the crew’s cabin.

“Good job, mate.” Will grinned as they stood by the helm.

“It feels good to work for a good captain again.” The joy in his heart surprised him. As much as most of his memories aboard a ship pained him, he still remembered the freedom of the wind in his hair and the scent of the sea in his nose.

Something caught Will’s attention off to the side, making him turn back to Killian with a knowing smile. “It’s time for a break, don’t you think, mate?” Killian nodded, confused at the change in subject. “It seems your wife has some food for you.”

Still confused, Killian turned to where Will gestured.

Any thoughts he might have had of Will’s assumptions of his and Emma’s relationship were gone in a flash. Any thoughts whatsoever flew completely from his mind.

There, in the middle of the main deck, next to an energetic Henry, stood an angel. Emma’s hood was no longer hiding her golden hair, and the wind that had been so troublesome for the whole morning was now trying to break her hastily tied back hair free. She was laughing at something Henry was saying and he could swear there was a glow to her, no longer hidden by the shadow of the hood.

“Pick your jaw up off the floor, mate.” Will’s rough hand on his shoulder and subsequent laugh startled him out of his thoughts.

“Aye.” He winced at his rough voice, even as it made Will laugh more, and cleared his throat.

“Nothing to be ashamed of. Even after so many years together, I still look at my wife the same way,” Will confessed in a softer voice as they both looked at Emma and Henry. “Take your break, mate.”

With a last chuckle, Will focused back on navigating the ship and Killian was left trying to tame his thundering heart and racing thoughts.

Just when he thought he might be able to look at least somewhat casual, Emma’s eyes found him. Even at a distance, he could see the shine in her green eyes, imagined he could feel her breath on his skin. He only hoped the distance wouldn’t permit her to hear his faltering breath.

“Killian!” Henry called, finally putting an end to their stare. “Come eat, there’s fish!”

He laughed in surprise. The boy acted like the cooked fish in front of him was a royal feast. He hoped Henry never lost his wonder. Killian would blame the rocking ship for the way his steps faltered, not on his companions matching smiles.

It was hard to concentrate on the, objectively, delicious meal when there was an enchanting blonde and a precocious young boy that made him believe that maybe he could be a part of a family again. Being aboard the Black Pearl and having Will assume that they were one hadn’t been a problem, the three of them acted that way already. They simply had to embrace those roles. What was a problem, at least for him, was how much he was beginning to wish for it to be true. How much it pained him to realize that it wasn’t.

But he could pretend. As they sat together and talked about their mornings, he could pretend.

The afternoon went just as the morning did. Killian rushing from side to side as he helped the crew, Henry running from side to side “helping” as well and Emma, well, he tried to keep his eyes away from her, to avoid distractions. Especially when, after finding her at the other side of the ship pulling on some ropes, he had gotten so distracted, Cotton had to pull on his arm so he wouldn’t get hit in the face, earning the laughter of the surrounding crew. The embarrassment was enough to force the decision to avoid the distraction that was Emma Swan.

Thanks to his early night the day before, Henry had managed to stay awake much longer into the evening. By the time the night crew began their shift, the boy was still running around the deck, no sign of tiring.

“Come on, lad, time for bed.” Killian grinned, scooping up the boy to put him over his shoulder.

“But I’m not tired,” Henry whined, his body limp like a ragdoll as Killian walked carefully across the deck.

“You need to rest so you can help Captain Turner some more tomorrow.” Emma spoke from behind him, probably so she could look at Henry. His hand on the boy’s legs tightened.

“I hate it when you guys are right…” Henry complained before using both hands on Killian’s back to raise the upper half of his body. “Goodnight, mates!” he called out in his best imitation of Killian’s accent.

“Goodnight, Henry!”

A feeling of surprise rose up in Killian when the majority of the crew above deck reciprocated Henry’s farewell, but it wasn’t at all surprising that the boy had managed to charm everyone on board. He couldn’t help but remember how Nemo’s crew was the same way with him.

“Today was fun.” Killian was glad that Henry remembered to whisper when they were in the cabin. All but two of the bunks were full of already sleeping crew members. He sat the boy down on his bunk. “Did you guys have fun, too?”

“I’ve never been on a ship before,” Emma answered and he had to purposefully turn his gaze away from where she was using her fingers to comb her long blonde hair. He wasn’t a lad anymore, he should be able to control himself. “But you’re right, it’s fun to help around.”

Killian felt Henry’s eyes on him. “Aye, I haven’t been aboard a ship in a long time,” he replied as he prepared for bed. “I like Captain Turner’s crew. Very much.”

“Was your last time on a ship that storm?” Henry’s blunt question surprised him but all he saw in the boy’s eyes was curiosity.

“No,” Killian answered, clearing his throat. “After the storm, I was saved by another captain. I was part of his crew for a few years.”

“Oh, I forgot. Was that Captain Nemo?”

He should not have been surprised that Henry remembered the name, since he had mentioned it a few times before, but his heart still skipped a beat. Killian could feel Emma’s eyes on them.

“Aye.”

Killian sat on the bed next to Henry who patted the bed on the other side of him urging Emma to sit there. The innocent gesture made Killian let out an amused breath. It was becoming a tradition, apparently, for them to have important or heartfelt conversations before bed, the three of them, in this same position. Regardless, he wanted them to know about his past and, in a room full of sleeping people, it was better to have it as close as possible.

“As I said, he saved me from the wreckage of the storm.” Killian took a deep breath, preparing himself. “Nemo took care of me when I had lost everything. He gave me a home.”

“What was he like?” Emma asked.

“He was…” He rubbed his hand over his thigh. “He was kind, patient, reliable. He was the one who taught me sailing could be fun.”

“What happened?” Henry whispered.

Killian sighed, scratching his forehead. How was he to tell them that he had had everything he could have ever wished for and had lost it due to his own stubbornness?

In a childish move, Killian fell back on the bed with a huff, thankful that it was wide enough to fit his upper body. He chuckled when Emma and Henry imitated him.

“All we’re missing is the night sky,” Emma pointed out after a few moments of silence as they all looked at the wood framing of the top bunk.

“Maybe tomorrow night, Captain Turner will let us sleep above deck,” Henry suggested, earning a soft laugh from both adults.

“I think the weather might be too rough for that, lad,” Killian warned, placing his hand behind his head.

“The stars will always be there, kid.” He felt Henry’s head leaning against his shoulder with a sigh.

There was a comfortable silence between them. Despite the question, Killian allowed this moment of comfort to wash over him, to help him through the most difficult part of this tale. He took a deep breath.

“Almost a decade ago, I lost my hand,” Killian began, taking a moment to settle comfortably on the bunk. “I lost my hand and my love on the same day. I swore vengeance on the demon who did it. I swore to hurt him the same way he hurt me.”

“Nemo was the one who helped me get better. He took care of me, as he had before, and he fitted me with the hook.” Killian raised his hooked arm. He watched as Henry’s hand wrapped around the steel. Despite his stabilizing breaths, he still felt the stinging in his eyes. Even as he lowered his arm, the weight of Henry’s hand was still on it. “He was trying so hard to help me and I pushed him away. I tried to run away in the middle of the night but he caught me.”

The memories crashed over him. He could feel the cold air of the night on his face, the pain in his left arm and the heavy satchel on his good shoulder. He could see Nemo’s saddened expression, the underlying disappointment Killian was sure he was feeling. He could hear the pleading tone in his voice as he asked Killian to stay. He could still feel the suffocating weight on his chest over leaving the only real home he had ever had.

“I left,” Killian finished with a sigh. “I didn’t want him to be disappointed in me and I didn’t want him to be ashamed of me, so I left.”

Killian lost his battle against the tears when he felt Henry’s arm around his torso and his head on his chest. He removed his hand from behind his head to rub it on the boy’s arm, his own head against Henry’s.

“Have you thought about finding him?” Opening his eyes, Killian found Emma’s. There was no pity, just compassion and understanding.

“Aye.” Killian cleared his throat, hoping to get rid of the wobbly tone of his voice. “Many times. Especially since we started this journey.” Killian felt Henry’s head leave his chest and the boy’s eyes on the side of his face. “I kept wondering what Nemo would do next.

“After you were poisoned,” Killian continued, “I just wanted to see him and beg him for help. He would know what to do.” He felt a second hand on his torso and looked down to see Emma had reached across Henry and placed her own hand on him as well, the lad placing his hand over hers. The silent support comforted him further.

“When I was growing up,” Henry spoke, seemingly out of nowhere, “Tiger Lily would bring me books to read. I used to read about heroes and adventures in faraway places. But my favorite story was about this boy who was all alone and a knight found him and took care of him. I used to read that story every night before bed. I wished for a father like him to come and take me away.”

The silence between them was heavy. It was as if they had all stopped breathing as they took in Henry’s words.

“Nemo was like that knight to you,” the boy continued. “He was a father to you and you miss him.” He shrugged.

Killian said nothing. There was nothing he could say. His only response was to reach over and caress the boy’s cheek with the back of his fingers. He was right.

“When did you get so smart, kid?” Emma asked in a soft teasing tone.

“Since I became a hard-working sailor.”

He feasted on the quiet giggles from the boy as well as Emma’s equally silent chuckle as she pushed away Henry’s rebellious hair.

“Well, I just thought that I would miss you guys if I lost you,” Henry continued in an even smaller voice. “You guys saved me and took care of me. I’m very happy I found you.”

Both Killian and Emma moved in sync as they wrapped their arms around the boy. He felt more than heard Henry’s satisfied sigh, his head nuzzled comfortably in his chest. All together in this tight huddle, Killian felt as if all the loose pieces of his heart stitched together.

“So are we, Henry,” Killian whispered, watching as Emma nodded against the boy’s hair. “So are we.”

There was silence after their conversation, after the declaration of this small found family. He felt Henry’s breath even out and he thought the boy had fallen asleep.

Killian felt Emma’s shoulders tense, their close embrace obviously becoming more real to her now that Henry wasn’t a conscious part of it.

She moved, probably trying to free herself from Henry’s grip to give them space. She had managed to release her hand from the boy’s when Henry grabbed it back again.

“Nope, not yet, please.” His voice was muffled on Killian’s chest but still clear.

Killian couldn’t help laughing at Emma’s surprised expression. He watched as she resigned herself to Henry taking her hand hostage but raised herself to look down at the boy.

“I thought you were asleep, kid.”

With her head down, her blonde hair curtained her face. It was both a shame and a blessing. He couldn’t see her face but never had he had such close proximity to such fair hair. It smelled like the sea.

“Not yet,” Henry said, laying back on the bed to look up at Emma, both their faces now curtained by her long hair. He heard the boy giggle before he saw his hands come up to play with it. His fingers dragged along the strands allowing Killian to see Henry’s delighted expression. “Your hair is pretty.”

“Oh.” Emma’s shoulders stiffened as she pushed the hair away from her face all to one side. The side that allowed him to see her eyes darting back and forth and the blush on her cheeks. “Well, the pins that were holding my hair were hurting me so I took them off…”

“I like it,” Henry confirmed, his fingers now focused on the gathered hair on her shoulder. For a moment, jealousy surged in him of the boy’s ability to do what he himself longed to do.

She looked tense, uncomfortable. He hoped it wasn’t because she regretted trusting them enough to drop her armor. He hoped instead it was because she did trust them and that was scary. He could understand that. “I like it, too.” Killian found himself saying, her wide eyes on him making his breath catch in his throat. Emma looked like she was searching for something. All he could do was let her search, and hope she found what she was looking for.

She smiled and his heart felt like it was trying to beat out of his chest. “Thank you.” Her eyes were no longer on him but on Henry, whose eyes were beginning to droop.

He could breathe again when she laid back down next to Henry, and turned toward them. Killian took a moment to focus on the wood of the bunk above to try and control his heartbeat.

“Emma,” Henry said, his voice quieter than it had ever been, “will you tell me a story?”

Both of them looked at him with surprise.

“Me?” Emma gave voice to their mutual shock. “I thought Killian was the storyteller…”

“Well,” Despite his exhaustion, Henry’s smile was smug. “There are no stars so it’s your turn.”

“I don’t really have any stories, kid.” Emma fumbled, her nerves obvious.

“Then can you sing me something?” Henry’s eyes were pleading and Killian knew it was only a matter of seconds before Emma agreed.

She bit her lip and between that and the possibility of hearing her sing, he knew he needed a moment to prepare his heart. Killian waited with baited breath as the other two settled in more comfortably.

And then she started humming. He knew, consciously, that he shouldn’t have expected her to sing but his disappointment was short-lived. He glanced their way and saw Emma’s eyes on the boy, whose eyes had closed, though it was clear he still wasn’t asleep.

Killian took Henry’s lead and closed his eyes as well. There was something soothing about Emma’s song. Despite its melancholic tune, there was hope in it, a belief that she hid deep down, a hope he knew she was scared of. He let it fill him, feeling like he understood her just a little bit more.

---

He wasn’t sure when they fell asleep and he could only imagine what it looked like to the others who saw them. Two adults and a small child huddled in a narrow bunk.

Killian’s legs were still on the floor with his upper body stretched over the width of the bed. Henry had stretched himself over the length of the bed, legs over Killian’s torso and head next to Emma’s curled up body. She was turned to him, her untied hair resembling a halo around her head, one of her hands under her head and the other on Henry’s head.

He couldn’t help but appreciate this moment. The relative silence surrounding them. Their peaceful expressions as they slept. The trust in him they showed which allowed them to rest fully.

Of course, such a peaceful scenario couldn’t last. A particularly loud thump above deck, woke Emma immediately, the alarm in her green eyes disappearing when her eyes found his. Henry awoke more slowly, rubbing his eyes and yawning. But as soon as he saw the beam of sunlight hitting the top bunk, he was up in a flash.

That day proved to be a continuation of their new routine - Killian helped around the ship along with Emma while Henry ran around the deck. The three of them got together for a meal around midday before going back to work.

By the time the sun set, Henry was worn out. Killian watched as the boy fought sleep as he lay on the main deck, thankfully out of anyone’s way. Emma smiled fondly at the boy.

She joined Killian as he stood at the helm next to the captain. A large map, larger than the one he owned, was stretched over the wood. They both watched as Will checked the stars and his compass to confirm their course.

“It looks like your namesake is guiding our journey.” Will grinned as he turned towards Emma.

Emma looked stunned at the captain and then at the sky.

“I see that as a sign of good luck, mate.” Killian smiled fondly as he looked towards Cygnus and Emma.

“So do I,” Will agreed, receiving curious looks from the two of them. “My wife, she was Swann with two n’s before we were married. I used to say that the swan would guide me home,” he finished, gesturing towards the sky.

Killian was speechless. What were the odds? It did, however, explain his kinship with the captain.

“You have a wife?” Emma asked.

“Aye.” His voice was wistful, a soft smile on his face. “She will be waiting for me when we dock, her and my boy, Henry.” Killian and Emma turned sharp eyes to the now amused captain. “Believe me, I was just as surprised as you are. When I saw you three in Arendelle, I thought I would be able to help you with passage but upon finding out your names, I couldn’t stop thinking that perhaps you were meant to be on my ship.” With his eyes on the horizon, Will sighed. “That’s if you believe those kinds of things.”

Killian couldn’t help but smile. His gaze found Henry on the main deck, finally having succumbed to sleep. At least he had seen the stars. “We might be starting to.”

Just like the night before, Killian took Henry in his arms to take him downstairs, followed closely by Emma. Once in the crew’s quarters, Killian laid Henry carefully down on the bunk they slept on the night before. He stepped back and Emma sat on the bunk to brush away Henry’s hair and kiss his forehead.

“I’ll sleep with him tonight,” Killian offered. “You should have a restful night without small elbows and knees interrupting your sleep.”

They both laughed quietly.

“Thank you,” she whispered, standing up from the bed after caressing Henry’s head one last time. Killian caught his breath at how close to each other they stood.

Her hair was even more beautiful in the moonlight. His hand clenched by his side as he felt the urge to run his fingers through her hair, down her cheek.

“I’m glad you took my advice, Swan.” His whisper seemed to startle her and it took a second before she realized he was talking about the lack of a hood on her head.

“Oh.” There was a bit of self consciousness in her voice, also made apparent by the way she held on to the ends of her hair. “Well, you were right.” She stopped, her eyes darting away for a moment. She took a deep breath and Killian waited for her to continue. “Besides, I don’t need it with the two of you.”

He didn’t expect her to actually voice what he had suspected, and to hear it now filled his chest with what could only be deemed as hope. Hope that she trusted him. Hope that she might be starting to care for him, as he cared for her.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her, felt like he hadn’t taken a breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He wondered if she could hear it as well. They were definitely moving closer, but he wasn’t sure if he was swaying towards her or if she was leaning towards him.

A quiet grunt from the bunk shattered the moment between them. Turning to the right, they could clearly see a frown on Henry’s face. He must have been having a bad dream.

“I should…”

“We should get some sleep,” Emma said with a final nod as she took a step back to remove her boots and prepare for bed.

“Aye,” he agreed, going through the same motions before he joined Henry on the bed. “Goodnight, Swan.”

“Goodnight.”

For just a moment, he wished he could know what was going through her mind. And if it was remotely similar to what was going through his.

---

The next day, they were met with low dark clouds and a tumultuous sea when they joined the crew on the main deck. With concerned frowns, they joined the captain where he was giving orders.

“This will only get worse, mates,” Will informed the crew. “We’re passing through Neverland.” Killian’s hand tightened on Emma’s arm to help keep her steady. “We will need all hands on deck for this stretch of the journey.” Will turned to them. “I would suggest you keep your boy below deck for his safety.”

Henry wouldn’t like it, that was for sure. The boy was much too stubborn for that. Even if Henry looked like he could feel the difference in everyone’s demeanours and the gravity of the situation, he seemed determined to act as usual.

“Captain, why don’t I stay with Henry below deck? To make sure he stays safe and away from danger?” Emma suggested and he wondered if Will could also see the unrestrained fear in her eyes.

“This passage is dangerous for even the most seasoned sailor,” Will said with an empathetic smile. “We should be alright with your husband’s help. Stay below deck and keep safe.” With a nod, the captain returned to his crew.

“Will you be okay, Swan?” Killian asked, standing in front of her.

“Yeah.” She nodded, finally catching his eye. “I’ll help by staying below deck with Henry. It’ll be safer for all of us. Just,” she paused and grabbed his left arm with a tight grip. “Be careful.”

There was more she wasn’t telling him and he could only hope she’d share it with him later, when they weren’t dealing with this nightmarish situation. His internal battle eased as he gave into temptation and cupped her cheek with his hand, his thumb caressing her soft skin. Surprise colored her face at the gesture, but, to his relief, she didn’t pull away from him.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Emma, I’m a survivor.”

Her lips parted, her eyes shining and Killian was sure she wanted to say something else.

“I’m sorry, mate,” Will shouted, clearly chagrined as the rain began to fall. “But we need you at the top sail. And Swan, get yourself and Henry below deck!”

“Aye, Captain,” Killian yelled over the wind, before turning back to Emma with a reassuring smile. “Take care of the boy for me?”

She smiled and nodded at him before rushing to Henry’s side. She knelt in front of him, uncaring of the wet deck.

He expected to see Henry’s obstinacy but Emma put a stop to it quickly. Once the hatch closed behind them, Killian could breathe once more, no longer having to worry about their safety.

The sea was determined to take them. The ship rocked from all directions as the crew struggled desperately to keep her afloat.

There wasn’t an inch of Killian that wasn’t soaked and he tried to focus on the loud voice of the captain instead of on the cold wind against his skin or the feeling of drowning when a particularly strong wave vaulted over the gunwale. Killian kept his focus on pulling and tying ropes instead of on the abrasions they created on his hand.

“Steady, men! The ocean depths won’t take us today!” Will’s strong voice rose above the raucous sound of the waves and every crew member answered with a shout.

The camaraderie amongst all the crew members lifted his spirits and helped him banish the memories of the last time he’d been in a storm like this.

The dark fog remained around them as well as the strong winds. Killian kept his eyes away from the port side and the whirlpool of Leviathan’s Shoals. There wasn’t much to see to starboard due to the heavy fog and he tried to determine how long it had been since Henry and Emma had secured themselves below deck - the sky was dark and he swore he could see two stars high in the sky, the one on the right shining brighter than the other. For a moment, he wondered if the water was affecting his vision as he watched dark shapes float over the Neverland sky.

After what felt like days, the winds finally calmed and the sun shone lower in the sky. There was a collective sigh of relief throughout the crew as the ship settled in the calm seas.

No sooner had he taken a deep stabilizing breath, when it was taken away again as short strong arms wrapped around his torso. A fleeting thought ran through his mind that Henry was probably getting soaked as well from the contact before he kneeled on the wood to wrap his arms around the boy.

“It’s alright, my boy,” Killian whispered in the boy’s ear, as his hand ran through Henry’s dark hair. “We’re alright, it’s passed.”

“I wanted to come and help you but no one would let me.” His small whisper made Killian smile even as his eyes stung with relieved tears.

“But you did help, lad,” Killian assured him, causing the boy to pull his head back with a frown from where it had hidden in the crook of Killian’s neck. “I knew you and Emma were safe and that helped me and the other crew members do what we needed to do. You know all I want is for you to be safe.”

Henry rolled his eyes even as his lips lifted in a small smile he clearly hoped to hide. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“I do,” Killian chuckled.

“But you did help, Henry.” Emma’s voice made them look up from where they were still hugging. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her hands holding on to her upper arms. He wondered if she was cold and he regretted not being able to give her his soaked through coat. “The kind of help you were talking about,” she continued. “You helped the surgeon and the rest of the crew secure the ship.”

“See? We couldn’t do it without you,” Killian added with a smile and he made a conscious effort not to be distracted by Emma’s responding nervous smile.

He wanted to ask what she was thinking, to know what was going on in her mind, but Henry rolled his eyes once more with a much more open smile before hugging Killian again.

“Henry!” Captain Turner called out jovially from the other side of the ship catching the boy’s attention. He was off like a shot.

“Be careful!” Both Killian and Emma called out in warning, the only indication that Henry had even heard them being the slightly slower speed of his running feet.

They both laughed. She was beautiful when she laughed. It was true when he could only see her eyes. It was true when she’d trusted them enough to remove her mask, and it was especially true now with her blonde hair shining in the late afternoon sun.

Her green eyes sparked with mirth as she turned towards him. He was sure he sported an idiotic smile that he just couldn’t hide. Despite his reasoning that he’d be able to keep Emma and Henry out of his head once he knew they were safe, it had been much easier said than done.

Her laughter died down and the fear returned to her eyes. He didn’t say anything, he simply gave her time and space to deal with what was going on inside her, taming his smile to a softer, more encouraging one.

“I hope you know… I wanted to stay here with all of you and help,” she started in a softer voice, her eyes looking at everything except him. “But… with Neverland so close, I-”

“You don’t need to explain, love,” Killian interrupted. He had suspected that was the reason she seemed so frightened earlier - despite her inherent bravery and strength, he couldn’t imagine that being so close to such a traumatic place had been easy. “I understand.”

He hoped she saw the raw truth in his eyes, because he did. He understood.

“I’m-I,” Emma stammered and he noticed the way her hands tightened around her arms in discomfort. He waited. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“I did tell you I was a survivor.” He smiled softly at her with a raised eyebrow. He was happy to see her respond with a reluctant smile, so reminiscent of Henry’s that his smile grew wider.

“Yeah, a wet survivor, maybe,” she teased, pinching the collar of his shirt with a feigned disgusted expression on her face. He was glad that she had managed to avoid his exposed skin even if he was helpless before her with the way her nose scrunched up rather adorably.

His lips stretched in a mischievous smile and she frowned in confusion when she noticed, only to widen her eyes immediately when she realized his plan. Before she could move away, Killian shook his hand vigorously from where he had placed it on his hair to sprinkle Emma with the water still lodged in it.

She laughed in surprise as she placed her hands in front of her face in a futile attempt to protect herself. He joined her, delighted to hear the joy in her laugh. When he stopped, she looked up at him, her laughter restarting once more.

“What?”

“Your hair!”

Emma’s laughter was reduced to amused chuckles as she reached up to fix it. He felt as if his heart stopped beating as he felt her fingers running through his hair. He wasn’t sure what was happening on his face but whatever it was, it must have made Emma realize their current position. She removed her hand slowly from his hair with frightened eyes.

He couldn’t help but wonder why she was so afraid to be close to him, to let herself feel. But then again, he didn’t really need to wonder, he knew. It was the same reason he tried to push away his own growing feelings towards her. It was the same reason they had struggled to trust each other. It was the same reason he had latched on to the need to protect Henry.

They had been hurt before.

“Mates!” The captain’s voice called everyone’s attention. “I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to sail with, thank you!” There were deafening cheers from across the ship. “We should arrive home tomorrow for some well-deserved rest!”

As they crossed the ship towards where Henry stood next to Will, they heard the excited and expectant chatter of the crew as they spoke of their awaiting loved ones.

“So you all live in the Maritime Kingdom?” Henry asked.

“My crew and I have been sailing together for a decade,” Will answered. “When I settled down with my family in the kingdom, they decided to join me.”

“You have a family?”

“Aye, my wife should be expecting me tomorrow and my boy as well.”

“How do they know you’re arriving tomorrow?” Henry frowned.

“Well,” Will chuckled. “I have been sailing for a long time, and they know approximately how long my journey will take and so, they’ll be keeping a weather eye on the horizon everyday waiting to see my ship.”

Henry was clearly fascinated and Killian smiled wistfully as he couldn’t help but put himself in Will’s shoes. He wished to have the same certainty of an awaiting family even as his heart and mind struggled to settle on whether he wanted Emma and Henry to be waiting for him or to join him on his travels. Even as he struggled to think of anyone else but Emma and Henry as his family.

“If I was your son, I would want to travel with you.” Henry brought him back from his daydreaming and he smiled at the boy’s wistful expression.

“He does, sometimes,” Will placated with a laugh. “He’s still young, though, a little younger than you, and this journey is dangerous. I feel better knowing he’s safe with his mother.”

At the word mother, Henry swayed towards Emma who stood behind him and she placed her hand on Henry’s shoulder. The boy startled slightly, making Killian think that he hadn’t meant to do it.

“What’s his name?” Henry asked.

Will’s smile grew wider and Killian and Emma both turned to watch Henry’s reaction to the answer. “Well, his name is Henry.”

Henry’s jaw dropped in surprise before it changed to a frown. “No, it’s not. You’re lying,” he accused looking between the three adults around him.

“I am not, lad.” Will held up his hand while the other lay on his heart. “I swear to you.”

Henry narrowed his eyes and inspected Will’s face before relaxing into a smile. “Can I meet him?”

They all laughed at Henry’s excitement.

“I’m sure he would love to meet you,” Will answered before glancing at Killian and Emma. “But, I will leave that up to your parents.”

Killian felt like he choked on his laughter and Emma tensed up next to him, as Henry looked up at them in expectation. He knew Will thought them a family, had referred to them as such for the entire journey, and none of them have had the heart or the courage to deny it. Besides, they felt like a family. They’d shared those sentiments with each other already. But to have it said so explicitly by someone else outside their little circle was still jarring. But the assumption didn’t seem to bother Henry.

“Uhm,” Killian fumbled after too long a silence for such a simple question. “We’ll have to see when we dock.”

If his voice wasn’t convincing or if his expression seemed odd, no one had time to react as Will’s attention was called back to his crew and the three of them were left alone.

“We need to carry on to Misthaven. There is no time to waste,” Emma declared, clearly believing that their game of pretend shouldn’t get in the way of the mission.

“Aye,” Killian nodded, his thumb hooked over his belt. “It’s still an almost two-day journey to the kingdom by horse. Who knows how long it will take to walk it.”

Henry’s frown deepened, clearly displeased with the answer. “I think we can stop for a night at least. I would like to play with someone my own age, for once.” His crossed arms and set mouth were still far more adorable than aggravating.

“You know how important our mission is, Henry. Villains are still looking for you. They haven’t stopped. We need to carry on as quickly as possible,” Killian reminded the boy, Emma nodding her head in agreement.

“I know that,” he said. “They want the Heart of the Truest Believer, and that’s me.” Henry’s expression was exasperated as he whispered his title before his expression fell. “But Captain Turner has been so good to us and I’ll miss him.”

“I know, lad.” Killian sighed, kneeling in front of him. “I will too, but the mission is too important. Let’s just enjoy the time we have with him now.”

Henry’s fallen expression remained and he couldn’t help but feel like the worst person in the world for denying him this but they had to keep going.They didn’t have time to waste.

“I know…” Henry sighed, but then a glint of mischief shone in his eyes. “Then can you teach me to sword fight?”

Killian’s eyes widened at the gall of the boy, pride swelling in his chest at his scheming. Emma’s expression was the first to fall apart, a smile stretching her lips even as she tried to hide it. Henry’s pout was losing the battle against a smile at Killian’s expression. He huffed in amusement as he shook his head.

“You drive a hard bargain, lad,” Killian grinned. “But I’ll accept.”

Henry’s smile was wide and bright. “When do we start?”

“When we make camp on land. It would be disastrous to teach a landlubber like you to sword fight on a ship,” he teased.

Henry scrunched up his nose at the term. “Do you promise?”

“Aye.”

Henry nodded and Killian noticed Emma’s fond smile on her face as she watched the negotiations. “I’m holding you to that.”

Without another word, Henry stepped away, joining the other sailors. Killian was quite sure he intended to ask about the stormy journey from their perspectives. Emma and Killian watched in silence for a bit longer before they laughed.

---

The rest of the day was calmer. Everyone still seemed to be relaxing after the stressful journey. The warm sun dried them and the deck, making it a far more pleasant trip than any of the previous days. When the sun disappeared behind the horizon and the stars began to appear, Killian found Emma and Henry sitting with their backs against a crate.

“What are you two doing?” Killian asked as he stood next to them.

Both looked at him in surprise and his smile grew.

“We’re watching the stars,” Henry answered excitedly, pointing up and disrupting the blanket Emma placed over the two of them. “Join us.”

He looked around the deck. Everyone was focused on their jobs and the crates were placed away from the busy sailors. The weather was pleasant. Why not?

“Make some room,” Killian said, to the happy expressions of his two companions. He sat down with Henry settling between the two adults, the blanket stretched over their laps.

The sky was clear. Not a cloud to block their view. The stars were shining bright like they knew it was their last night aboard The Black Pearl. The night was calm and quiet, despite the noise of the crew.

Killian diverted his gaze away from the sky to watch as Emma turned to it instead. Their time on the ship had been so idyllic that he almost wished they could stay there longer. But Henry needed them. Looking down at the boy, he found him looking at him, expectantly.

“What?” Killian asked, in surprise. He hoped he hadn’t caught him looking at Emma.

“We have stars,” Henry answered, gesturing towards the sky as if Killian was supposed to know what he meant. When neither adult made a noise, Henry sighed. “You can tell me a story now.”

Killian laughed boisterously at Henry’s expression as he put his arm around the boy’s shoulders, drawing him closer. He caught Emma’s fond smile in the corner of his eye. “You’re right. How could I have forgotten?”

Henry smiled widely as he settled more comfortably against Killian’s chest and took Emma’s hand to hold in his lap. Killian waited for Henry to stop his fidgeting and looked at the blonde amused. She shared his smile, the eye contact, unfortunately, not lasting long before she looked up to the sky. He did the same, looking for a constellation he recognised.

“Do you see that constellation that looks like a fish’s tail?” Killian asked, pointing towards the southeast. The constellation was brightest in the sky as it always was when there was a full moon.

Henry hummed in the affirmative, keeping his eyes on the sky as Emma did the same. His eyes rested a minute too long on her fetching profile.

“It tells the tale of a mermaid,” Killian started, focusing on his story. “A mermaid who became a collector of human things. She created her own treasure trove under the sea but it wasn’t full of gold or jewels. It was full of books, boxes, paintings, even cutlery; she found those to be more precious than any gem.”

“What happened to her?”

“Her love for humans wasn’t restricted to just objects. It was said she met a man she saved from drowning.”

“Was it love at first sight?” Henry asked with a frown.

“Anyone who told the story would say yes. The mermaid made a deal with a sea witch that would turn her into a human for three days, to allow her to get close to the man, who actually turned out to be a prince. And that only True Love’s kiss would turn her into a human forever.”

“And you don’t believe that?” Emma’s question tinged his cheeks pink and he thanked the dark night for hiding it. Talking of love had become much more difficult in her presence.

“I believe that the mermaid was thrown into the world she coveted. By saving the man she got a taste of what she yearned for.” Killian took a deep breath, wondering if he was letting his personal experiences influence the story. “I believe that she grew to love the prince because they shared the same interests, a love for life and adventure.”

Even after a decade, he could still see her. His Milah. Her bright eyes would hang on to his every word, her hand under her chin, barely any space between them - almost as if she could live his tale if she were just an inch closer.

“I agree.” Henry’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight, catching his attention and Killian smiled. How different his life would be without this boy.

“Is that the whole story?” Emma asked, discomfort showing on her face.

“No.” Killian cleared his throat. “The mermaid got her legs and met the man she saved. For three days, they were inseparable. They could be seen around the kingdom, exploring, laughing, telling tales of adventure. Love blossomed between them.”

“In three days?” Emma’s eyebrows rose in disbelief.

“There were no walls between them,” Killian answered. He almost regretted it when Emma turned her head back to the sky, but she needed to hear it. “They understood each other and wanted the same things. It was inevitable.”

Emma lowered her head, a frown barely visible in the dark. Was she thinking the same thing he was? He felt Henry snuggling closer to him, eyes drooping.

“The sea witch, who’d made the deal with the mermaid, didn’t want her to succeed. She turned into a giant monster so she could get rid of them. Despite her interference, the mermaid and the prince defeated her, together.”

“Did she become a human?” Henry mumbled.

“Aye.” Killian’s hand rubbed up and down the boy’s arm soothingly. “It is said that when the setting sun touches the waves, you can still see the mermaid and her prince on walks along the beach, exploring, laughing and talking.”

Henry’s head was heavy against his chest and he pulled the boy closer to keep him comfortable as he slept. Emma’s presence, usually calming, was making him uneasy for some reason. Killian focused on the quiet setting surrounding them and on Henry’s calm breathing.

He heard Emma’s deep breath. “For someone whose happy ending involves murder, you are quite the romantic,” Emma commented, her tone slightly accusatory.

“I have had a great love taken from me. I think I earned the ability to be both, don’t you?”

“You fill his head with such happy endings. Don’t you think we should be preparing him for the reality of the world?”

Her words felt as if she had thrown them all the way back to the beginning of their journey. But Killian had already seen her smile. He wasn’t willing to let go of that progress.

“What has you so scared?”

Her eyes widened and her lips parted. He kept eye contact with her, opening himself up to her, silently urging her to trust him. She sighed, defeated.

“What doesn’t?” Emma whispered. “You’ve seen what he has been put through. And who knows what we’re heading into? How can you not be scared?” Her eyes lowered to her hand, where Henry’s grip had loosened in sleep.

“Believe me, love, I am scared.” There was a small soft smile on his face when her eyes whipped to his. “I have known fear all my life. And every step we take, every mile we walk, I am more scared than I have ever been. I am scared something will happen to him… to you… because of me.”

“Henry needs me to guide him. He needs me to be strong, and so I carry on despite my fear. I keep going because I must. Because I will follow Henry wherever he goes.” He let his words settle for a moment. “And I imagine the same goes for you.”

Emma was silent. Her eyes were on his, fear and hope battling each other in the deep green. They understood each other. He could only hope she could see the confidence and trust he had in her in his eyes. Finally, she looked down, her thumb rubbing Henry’s hand, Killian’s eyes following the movement.

“I never thought,” she began, in a quiet voice, “that Henry would become so important to me. I didn’t count on him. I didn’t count on you and I was so angry that things became so complicated. I thought it was just anger, but I realized I was just scared.”

Killian’s eyes found hers in an instant. She was already looking at him. Her small smile didn’t mask the chaos of emotions in her eyes, but he saw hope win out, her courage rising.

“All my life I’ve been alone. I have been running for as long as I can remember and that’s how I survived. In Neverland, I ran to stay alive. When I left, I ran when things got complicated… when I was scared. I didn’t want to stay still. That left you vulnerable, and being vulnerable got you hurt.”

Killian didn’t speak, lest he break the moment they were having with Emma trusting him with her story. But he wanted to comfort her, to let her know that he was there for her. With as subtle a movement as he could, Killian placed his hand on her arm. Emma didn’t flinch and he counted that as a win.

“When I joined the two of you,” Emma continued, her eyes on the sky and her voice quiet, “I was scared to trust you. In the end, I was scared that trusting you meant being vulnerable, meant that you could hurt me.”

Despite his best efforts to remain silent, Killian felt the need to reassure her. “Emma, I would ne-”

“I know.” The strength of her belief, the trust and vulnerability in her eyes, quieted him instantly.

For a moment, Killian wondered if he had fallen asleep and this was all a dream - Emma’s trust, Henry’s peaceful presence and the feeling of safety surrounding them - until he felt her touch his hand, her fingers brushing his with a softness he never thought he missed.

“I know,” Emma repeated, her small confident smile making his heart beat faster.

He wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to keep her safe. The sudden thought had been buried in the back of his mind for a while, he realized. He hadn’t felt that way for anyone in so long.

“I trust you.” Even with the confidence in her words and in her eyes, she still sounded hesitant. Old habits die hard, he assumed. “And I’m going to do everything I can to keep the two of you safe.”

“Me too.” For someone typically never in short of words, his lackluster response was pitiful. He watched as Emma’s smile grew shy, and he stopped breathing.

It had to be a dream.

The warmth of her hand still touching his reassured him.

“I trust you, too, Emma,” Killian said, holding her hand properly. “I don’t know what’s coming next, but I will be by your side. We will be by your side.”

Her smile reached her eyes now, with creases on her nose and dimples in her cheeks. He wanted nothing more than to touch her cheek, to taste her smile, to live in her light. Killian smiled with her.

He stayed stock still as she leaned toward him, his thundering heartbeat overwhelming any other sound. And then her lips brushed his cheek, a soft touch that stopped his heart. He probably shouldn’t die right now, it would be bad form.

Emma kissed Henry’s temple next and he wondered if she did it to mask her emotions. His heart beat a steady pace in his chest and his breathing returned to normal. He watched with regret as she pulled back the blanket from her legs.

“We should probably take him to bed.” Her fingers ran slowly through Henry’s hair, uncovering his open-mouthed sleeping face.

Emma smiled and he smiled with her.

“Aye, I’ll carry him down.”

Killian reveled in the way she walked beside him. He hoped the darkness below deck hid his blush at the way she touched his arms to help him down the stairs, while he still carried Henry. He tried to hide his disappointment when he realized they would have to part for the night.

“Would you mind if I slept with Henry tonight?” Emma asked, after he lay Henry down on the bunk and she sat next to him.

Killian didn’t expect her to sleep next to him. Nor did he have any special desire to be the one sleeping with the boy. He could tell she needed the comfort, love, and easiness Henry’s presence offered. So he smiled.

“Of course, love. But beware of bruising limbs.”

His smile grew to a smirk and she laughed, a soft joyful sound that nestled neatly in his chest. Killian took off his coat to keep his hands busy.

“Thank you,” Emma whispered, and he watched her lie down. “Goodnight, Killian.”

Killian sat on his bed. “Goodnight, Emma.”

It was a long while before he fell asleep. The feel of her lips on his cheek, her touch, her smile, her eyes, filled his head. And when he finally fell asleep, his dreams repeatedly asked him what if.

What if she had kissed his lips instead of his cheek? What if he had touched her the way he wanted to? What if she had confessed to something else, something greater than her trust in him? What if he had confessed instead?

It had been a decade since he had fallen in love. He knew it wasn’t love yet, but his dreams made something quite clear: it easily could be.

---

Killian woke up to a shout from above. He looked around to find the cabin empty - that wasn’t too strange. What was strange, was to find that both Henry and Emma were awake and out of bed. He had never slept so late without a hangover.

When he finally joined the crew above deck, he found it much fuller than it had ever been.

One look at the horizon told him the reason for the excitement. He could see land in the distance. Within the hour, they would dock at the Maritime Kingdom.

“Look, Killian! We’ve arrived!” Henry’s enthusiastic shout called Killian’s attention to him and brought Emma’s attention to Killian.

For a moment he worried that she regretted her confessions from the night before. He worried she would shut him out. His unease vanished when she smiled at him - he could still see the fear behind her eyes but he could also see how she stubbornly pushed it down.

He could do nothing but smile back.

A/N: Henry's "waking up with the sun" attitude was actually a little self-insert: When I was young, I used to wake up my parents by shouting that "sun's out! sun's out!" and no one else could go back to sleep. I thought why not? Hope you enjoyed!

#cssns23 #carolina writes #killian jones #captain hook #emma swan #captainswan #captain swan #henry mills #once upon a time #ouat #ouat ff #cs ff #will turner #potc #thanks for the patience guys #so glad to be back #parent for hire

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thatdeadaquarius · 1 year

Text

Genshin Impact Sagau/Isekai:

You still have acces to characters! ...by possessing them. 👻

PART 2 (you're here!) / Part 1

All art by me! :] leave me a iced coffee?? :0

HEY!! REALLY QUICK PLEASE READ!

STOP tagging my posts as "Yandere Sagau", "Sagau Cult AU", "Sagau Imposter AU" or other related dark content tags.

I'm sick of seeing reblogs that tag my work as dark content, when I'm specifically trying to LIGHTEN UP THE SAGAU TAG 😭😭??

Please be more respectful of this. Actually read the work before you just tag it incorrectly. Tags do matter.

/nm /gen

☆

Sun: Gender Neutral Reader (they/them)

Planet: Misc. Genshin AUs

Orbit: Headcanons, Scenarios

Stars: Tighnari ft. Cyno, Alhaitham, Collei

Comets & Meteors:

Content Warnings: Mild violence (bandit attacks/non-graphic), Reader/you possess people non-consent (mild/consent given eventually)

& Trigger Warnings: Reader/"you" possess people non-consenually for short times, but given consent eventually.

(pls comment if any more!)

Edit 9/7/23: 1,000+ NOTES?? WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY- THANK YOU???

Edit 12/24/23 + 4/5/24:

☆

My goofy ass forgot to put this here .-.

Anyway this is a full length fanfic now ;)

…mistakes were made.

bad decisions were had, and okay, mayyybbbeee you could’ve taken more precautions against people finding out you were “real”.

afterall, you did see the Eremites reaction, even if it was only two guys (one from each camp) that you possessed :/

word spreads quickly amongst the Eremites groups, you guess, bc next thing you knew, after you’d moved closer to floating around Gandharva Ville,

they’d called that entire bit of forest haunted.

BUT IN YOUR DEFENSE-!! how were you supposed to know they’d blab to the whole camp they didn’t remember the past 20 minutes after you unpossessed them?? and immediately be on guard and jump to possession?? (Irminsul works hard but eremites/sumeru people work harder u guess)

And by the time you were happily patrolling with Collei, the forest rangers were just so chill you didn’t really expect anybody would think a ghost was possessing them (or whatever you were now… maybe,, just code?? it’s unclear)

so when u start to see Tighnari squint at people who’ve technically just “woken up” after you possessed them, mumbling under his breath more and more as a file he carries around gets thicker and thicker-

you start to think,,, maybe.

okay, mayyybbbeee,

you’ve fucked up.

◇

You really can’t help it, first it was making sure Collei got back safely from patrols (she’s ur skrunkly okay, you can’t help it, you’re still aware she’s capable but- the urge to skrunkle overpowers you- )

but then-!! You managed to spot Cyno! :D its ur boy!! ur little meow meow, who can throw people over his shoulder!! He really doesn’t need you, hovering around, but eh ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

what could it hurt! …it’s not like he can see, hear, or feel you anyway…

(unless u possess some animal/machine he thinks is friendly, which. sumeru is not exactly known for cuddly creatures. you don’t feel like experiencing death when possessing stuff just yet-)

imagine ur panic and shock as the General Mahamatra takes on a camp of criminals on the run, only for one of the old ruin machines (the ones that are just LEG and DEATH)

to hear the ruckus and come stomping around a thick patch of trees, it launched missiles!! You can’t warn Cyno, he can’t hear you!! No one can!!! The criminals are unconscious, there’s no other wildlife nearby they all ran off!!! FUCK-

You look at him and try to imagine his perspective as vividly as you can, he’s looking over the criminals, but now he’s turning, so people passed out and the tree-line got it-

Congratulations! You’ve possessed Cyno. 💀

It completely disorients you for a second, but then the panic of dodging the missiles comes back in time for you to make his body dive and roll off to the side, for as long as you can manage a roll too since you remember that’s the best way to dodge missiles in the game

…which works really well! bc he’s so fit and agile tbh

It was weird to finally run again after so long (two months now in teyvat?? wow)

with your feet suddenly in sandals, and feeling the breeze chilling your bare chest (Cyno’s chest??)

yeah its a shock considering most of the ppl you’ve possessed lately have been fully clothed rangers lol

you quickly imagine your ghostly form again, and just like that you’re drifting out of Cyno in ur “ghosty” form, having floated out and away from his back

Poor guy looks so fucking confused, and immediately is wielding his spear again, and is about to get out the crouch you put him in behind the dilapidated stone wall (dammit he better not waste ur efforts to keep him alive-)

until missiles slam and explode against it, he ducks back down (thank fuck) and Cyno just looks around one last time before hopping the wall and running to fight the thing

you notice that when the electro user goes to use his powers, they seem stronger than they were in his fight with the goons??

Maybe he was just going easier on them, since they are only human?

…so why does even Cyno look surprised when he goes to make a simple swipe with his charged spear and a bolt of lightning cracks out from his spear instead…?

…weird.

◇

Tighnari knows you’re here.

You figure he must have collected the reports of people “blacking out” or “sleep-walking” or whatever else and begun to suspect the worst.

…to be honest, you’re not sure what to do.

on one hand, it would be great to have someone know you actually exist, as yourself,

but on the other…

What would Tighnari think?

Of you possessing his rangers?? Temporarily taking ownership of someone without permission??? You’re afraid he’d think the worst of you…

tho u didn’t do so often, as u realized how messed up this could be, and u never did more than make them walk or talk normally for a few minutes before leaving them alone!

… afterall, you missed interacting with people. You were honestly a little worried abt going crazy, which is the only reason u were desperate enough to possess human people in the first place and continue doing so, just to talk to someone and have them look you in the face again like you really did exist as a person here-

(u thought u remember reading somewhere back on Earth that someone can only last 3 days of no other human contact until they start to lose it? but even if that’s not true, at the very least, u dont think talking one-sidedly to yourself all the time is healthy…)

so when Tighnari seems to get that file you’ve seen him adding onto, and gather up supplies, mentioning a day trip to Collei and the others to Sumeru City for some

“further research into these ‘blackouts’, and also contacting some of my colleagues who might know something…”

there’s no way you’re not going with him.

you feel increasingly anxious all day, and at one point when you were sure Tighnari was walled-in by books at the House of Daena, decide to go blow off the anxious energy by possessing an animal to get some food!

…you’re not really feeling comfortable enough to possess a living being into eating yet, that seems hella nonconsensual, and u kinda would be taking the joy of the meal from them tbh-

so u possess a cat!

a ginger cat, bc u like to think if u do anything weird, that ppl in Teyvat have the same type of cats back on Earth and excuse it as just:

“unhinged ginger cats being unhinged ginger cats yep makes sense” lol

you’d managed to be really cute (and wasn’t that weird, having to mimic animal behaviors like rubbing ur side against a person’s legs..)

and convince one of the cooks of Lambad’s Tavern to give u some leftovers, and been about to go off to try out sunbathing before the chore boy, little shit he is, tried to chase you off with a broom!! >:( the audacity!! you clearly have a little plate and everything!!

luckily, you’d finished eating, but still! Ouch!! those bristles fucking hurt-!!!

…you look and see a Sumeru-ified version of a skateboard, and u just know ur little cat face is just ✨v✨

and u steal the little shit’s skateboard as revenge! HAHA thats what you get animal abuser!!!

The kid’s yelling at you as you speedily skate away with ur little cat paws (LMAOO), but the cooks are calling him back in so he can’t pursue, (oh good u hear them get onto him for chasing u off)

and as u slow down to coast along the Sumeru streets,

you feel someone’s eyes staring you down.

You assume it’s just people being amused at a cat skateboarding, obv

but when you look just ahead of you to see a smiling Sumeru citizen or eremite-

Oh. It’s Alhaitham.

and he’s just… watching you.

he’s stopped reading whatever he’s got in his hand, and is slowlyyyy turning his head as you pass by…

You decide to just keep skating away. LMAO

◇

it’s already sunset by the you’re accompanying Tighnari back from Sumeru City, floating along behind him

and you’d been expecting a calm walk back, tbh you’d been feeling a little better bc the ranger hadn’t found much to identify you, yet, luckily-

but bc u can never catch a break:

Tighnari didn’t see the bandits dropping from the goddamn trees BEHIND HIM- and they had like claymores out- those were definitely gonna be killing blows-!!

so yeah.

You possessed Tighnari.

turns out ur pretty good at dodging bc this is second time now you’ve helped dive away for someone in an ambush, ur kinda proud of urself tbh💀

and as you make him take a few leaps back, ur ears twitch in the wind as you duck behind a tree, then float away and out of his body

The poor hybrid ranger visibly sways, then shakes his head out of it, and he flicks his ears in different directions, squinting into the woods, he’s pulled out his bow, so you’re at least reassured he’s aware there are enemies

Like Cyno last week, he too gives up and rolls for the next tree for cover and begins to shoot and take down the bandits

the rest of the week is kinda a blur after that, bc it’s mostly filled with Tighnari running in circles around the camp checking for blackouts, writing letters to Alhaitham and Cyno apparently, and you not possessing anybody out of paranoia :/

Most notably however,

you’ve unfortunately discovered one of the few drawbacks of ur possessions

(y’know, besides not existing essentially, what with no one being able to sense u outside of possessions)

apparently, if someone walks thru you, they accidentally force you to possess them 💀??

while it’d already happened once with a random ranger that you didnt notice was walking up behind you,

you didn’t want to test it again just yet bc it kinda made YOU nauseous and incredibly dizzy when this happened

(as in, u stumbled like a drunk after this poor ranger woman ran thru u, until you were so dizzy and the world spun sm u had to make her sit on the literal ground, luckily she just thought she was just really dehydrated when she came back into herself 😭)

so obviously, you’ve avoided crowds to keep this forced possession thingy from happening all the time

like at the Forest Rangers meetings or something, ur watching off to the side, instead of standing with them or beside them

so needless to say, after about a week and half since possessing Tighnari,

you definitely did not mean to possess Collei.

She’d been in her wheelchair today, the Eleazar flaring up and tiring her body out

so her wheels had been entirely silent when she rolled up to where you and Tighnari were leaning over some strange experiments of his- you were just trying to figure out what all these mirrors were for, didn’t he do plants more-?

you didn’t even know what the hell happened, you just felt that familiar dropping sensation, like a small drop on a rollarcoaster, blinked, and then suddenly you were sitting instead of standing/floating???

Oh god-

before you could even begin to process that Tighnari was in front of you instead of beside you, the world was shorter,

The fox-eared ranger yelled in triumph, grinning with sharp fangs and spinning around to look at you (Collei)-

“Ah-ha! It worked! Finally, I saw you! I saw you, I-?? Oh gods, Collei, NO-!”

And with quick reflexes, Tighnari’s summoned his bow, but he’s clearly confused on what to do about this situation, taking aim, but also holding the air glowing with dendro not as taunt as you’d seen him in the battle with the bandits

You scramble to raise your hands up, brown poofy sleeves rise to your command, light green hair you can feel on your shoulders, everything is familiar, but not-

“WAIT! I’m sorry!! This was an accident, I promise! I don’t intend to hurt Collei, or you!! Please, just, don’t shoot me, I think you’ll just hurt Collei instead…”

You talk him down and decide, that if he’s put this much effort into finding out about your existence, is an incredible leader and friend to everyone around him, and was able to accept the traveler and many other strange things that’ve (probably? maybe?) already happened in Sumeru (god fuck u dont even know where in the timeline you are)

that you can probably trust Tighnari with your existence, and your powers.

…He nearly passes out.

◇

Life has gotten a lot funnier, and happier, since you told Tighnari (and some of the more trustworthy rangers and Collei by proxy) about ur existence (or really, confirmed it)

He’d been wary at first, appropiately cautious and demanding answers, of which you were happy to give and explain yourself

luckily, after a whole lot of “hmm, I see, no, I think I’m understanding-” , finger on his chin and everything

he’s said it’s okay to hang around the rangers, so long as you don’t possess anyone anymore without them knowing about you/with permission (outside of emergency situations that is)

tho he did seem surprisingly understanding and accepting of you doing it before after you explained how u were just unbelievably lonely and were lowkey paranoid of going crazy-

The rangers seem to believe you’re some kind of god/spirit thing, as you had no explanation yourself as to what you were ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

Tighnari’s also given you the rule to help out around here if you’re going to “ghost-laze around”, as he puts it lol

you’ve redirected ruin machines/feral animals away from rangers many times by now, to the many thanks and gratefulness of the rangers

you’ve even managed to even figure out how to push Collei’s wheelchair around when she uses it!

mostly by possessing tree after tree and using vines, or occasionally a fungi that can fly so you can nudge her along

she has insisted that you possess a ruin guard and carry her just to try it… however, Tighnari overheard her talking to the forest rangers’ dog (you) and immediately knew shit was up and banned you from doing it (at least not yet)

While most rangers are okay with you possessing them for a few minutes (and they’ve developed this bandana wrapped around their upper arms policy of “red = no possess, green = go ahead”)

Collei is the most okay with it and for longer, so you “won’t be that lonely ever again!” :’)

Tighnari is busy with stuff, so you can’t possess him as often, but the ranger has developed a theory that the more you possess someone, the more they can sense your feelings during possession/while floating around in ghost form too,

so he’ll occasionally feel you in the room with him, and start talking out loud in some one-sided convo to make you feel more included to make up for not being able to interact with him sometimes :)

(after taking you off his list of worries he’s still pretty swamped, not that he’ll tell you that, as he’s still not quite sure why he’s so, warm and safe feeling when you’re around, so willing to trust you so naturally, that it makes him want to at leats pretend to be worried abt a possessing ghost god/thing hanging out with the rangers now)

◇

basically everything is great!

the rangers are okay with you, they got a system to interact with you consensually, Tighnari and Collei are fond of you, you get to finally have something to do instead of floating around all the time (joining ranger missions)

and look!! they’ve even been kind enough to build you a little shrine or altar of sorts! Notes about Sumeru life, recipes for you to try, occasionally some books for you to read, and even some snacks/desserts for you to try out the next time someone possesses you and gives consent! (you leave them a little note stuck on their hand with your question for specific actions like that, if there isn’t another ranger there to ask for you when you unpossess them)

and everything is so cool, and everyone is so sweet and accepting

…Until Alhaitham shows up in Gandharva Ville, knocking on Tighnari’s door.

☆

AHHHH idk if this is any good! sorry it took so long, it was mostly the art 😭😭

anyway its not the best (the writing or the art) but i hope it’s at least some content to look at and be entertained for a minute!

also figured it was a good day to post what with the attack on our beloved Ao3 (tho i think it’s back up now?)

anyway, feel free to leave critiques on this one! (which I’ll probably turn this into a real fic one day soon, but not sure what to do with the plot/do a diff setup than this or what)

☆

sorry abt the radio silence! I just needed to close my mailbox bc i had a lot of stuff to answer, ur welcome to send submissions to chat/non-requests!

and also this took time to make (once again, mostly the art, bc thats how it always is with art isnt it 😭)

☆

Safe Travels Stranger,

💀♒

☆

♡the beloveds♡

@karmawonders / @0rah-s / @randomnatics / @glxssynarvi / @nexylaza / @genshin-impacts-me / @wholesomey-artist / @thedevioussmirk / @the-dumber-scaramouche / @justlostintheinternet / @assassinsnake101 /@sun-wokung

If ur tag is here and didnt work, idk why!

Maybe see if your listed as a "searchable blog"?

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