#except neal wasn’t there to gloat

[walviemort]

hidden blessing (11/?)

Summary: Killian thought the only thing he was left with after Milah’s death was a broken heart and a thirst for vengeance. It’s not until he gets to Storybrooke, after so many years spent in stasis, that he discovers something else: he’s carrying her child. How does this new, tiny blessing change his path? (Canon-divergent from 2x12.)

rated T | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | AO3 | 4k

a/n: We're back! And should have a few more updates for you in the next few weeks! Hope you like this one!

After the general discomfort of the revelations in the Echo Caves, Killian found himself dealing with unpleasantness of a different kind—nausea again. Just before they made it back to camp, he had to duck behind a tree to deal with that; he couldn’t wait to get back to Storybrooke and talk to Doc to find out just when that was supposed to go away. 

He swished his mouth out with some rum, then spat it out before strolling back into camp. The rest of the group was gathered around Bae in conversation; as he approached, he heard him saying, “I know how to navigate the stars, but I can't fly.” Killian ducked his head to hide his smirk at that; he was glad to hear the now-grown lad hadn’t forgotten the skills he’d taught him, but it wasn’t the time to gloat about that. 

“I'm guessing that's where the Shadow comes in,” Snow said—and, to his surprise, passed a canteen to him, despite David standing in between them. He nodded his thanks and took a long drag. 

“That's why we have to capture it,” Bae replied—to which Killian nearly choked on his water. Was he mad?

“Capture it?” Emma exclaimed, in line with Killian’s own disbelief. “We've never been within 10 feet of Pan unless he wanted us to be. Sneaking up on him to steal his shadow? That seems insane.”

He was still in agreement that going after the shadow was insane, but at least had to clarify some facts for Emma. “Except that Pan's Shadow is rarely with him. It's an entity unto itself. It can carry out his will from miles away.”

David asked, “So what does that mean for us?”  

“It means we can get his shadow without having to be anywhere near Pan—as long as we know where to look,” Neal clarified. “And I know where to look.”

Killian shuddered—he did, too, and he didn’t like it one bit, even if (as he’d gathered) it was their best way off the island.

“Ok, you and I are on shadow duty,” Emma told Neal, and they moved to start to head out. 

It might be foolish, but Killian sure as hell wasn’t letting them go alone. “As am I,” he interjected. “This trek won't be easy. You could use another veteran of the island.”

Neal nodded and gave him a casual smile that reminded him distinctly of Milah. “Thanks, man.”

A quick plan was hashed out for after their mission—to meet up at Tink’s with Emma’s parents, and then (finally) make a move for Henry—and then everyone set about what they needed to do. 

At least—he was about to, but Snow intercepted him before he got too far (brushing past David to do so—pointedly, it seemed, as well). “I just wanted to say—congratulations,” she effused, grabbing his hand. “I wish you’d told us sooner; how are you feeling?”

“Uh, I’m fine, luv—thank you,” he replied, trying to make sure his appreciation at the sentiment came through even though David was staring somewhat dejectedly at their exchange. 

She continued to pepper him with questions—how far along he was, symptoms, and so on; he was touched she was so interested but was also fairly certain it was just a distraction. (One he didn’t mind indulging, but he had to prepare to leave, too.)

She thankfully picked up on his desire to get a move on. “Sorry, sorry; I just...have had that kind of stuff on my mind lately,” she said; that was rather obvious. “Just—be safe. All of you.”

“We’ll do our best,” he answered, then she stepped away to prepare for their own trek. He did catch David’s hurt gaze as she walked away, though, and tried to give an encouraging nod as the prince hurried after his wife. 

While Killian was glad he no longer had to hide his expectant state, he hoped he didn’t have too many more exchanges like that; the attention, while appreciated, was somewhat embarrassing. 

But when he walked into Bae’s cave to see what he could assist him and Emma with, he realized: he still had one more person to tell. (Well, and Rumpelstiltskin, wherever the bastard had wandered off to, but that was a low priority.)

Neal—Bae—he still wasn’t sure the best way to refer to him—was poking around his former home, looking for….what, he didn’t know. 

“Something tells me we won't find Pan's Shadow in here, mate,” he teased. 

Neal ignored the (attempted) joke. “Yeah, we're looking for something else. It's a coconut that's carved in two,” he said, gesturing the shape with his hands. “One part holds a candle, the other part goes on top—“

“Yeah, your star map,” Emma interjected. “We hid it. I'll go grab it.”

For the first time in well over a century, he was alone with Bae. 

“So, uh, how…how’ve you been?” Bae asked him. 

Killian opened his mouth to reply, but words seemed suddenly insufficient. Instead, he strode forward and wrapped the other man in an embrace. 

“Bae, I’m so sorry,” he said softly, his emotions suddenly thick. “I should never have handed you over like that, and I’ve regretted it every day.”

Unsurprisingly, Neal hadn’t moved at all since Killian hugged him. “Um, okay…uh, thanks?” he finally said, uncertain. 

“Sorry,” Killian blurted out as he stepped away, wiping away the tears that had sprung to his eyes. “I just had to say it, before we get too much farther.”

Bae rubbed the back of his head nervously. “I…I appreciate that, but it doesn’t really change what happened.”

“I know,” Killian agreed. “And I know there’s nothing I can do to fix it, but I wanted you to know.”

“Thanks,” Neal said, rather abruptly. Then, surprisingly, he chuckled. “Didn’t think you were the emotional apology type.”

“Uh, not usually,” he answered, laughing a bit himself. “Tends to happen when you’re pregnant, or so I’m told.”

“You’re—really?”

“Aye,” he said simply, and let his hand rest on his still barely noticeable bump. 

“Wow; who knocked you up?” Bae asked, bluntly. 

“Uh, well…” Now this was the part Killian wasn’t sure how to broach. “It was, ah…your mum.”

To his astonishment, Neal laughed. “Really? I don’t remember ‘your mom’ jokes being a thing in the Enchanted Forest. You pick that up in New York?”

Killian just tilted his head, confused. “No; it’s not a joke. This is Milah’s child.”

Now it was Bae’s turn to be speechless. “Seriously? That’s…you’re gonna have my sibling?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed, and it felt oddly like a confession. 

“How? That makes no sense.” Killian explained it as best he could, which eventually earned a “Shit,” from Neal. “Well that further complicates the family tree.”

“I’d imagine it resembles a web by this point.”

Neal chuckled nervously. “Congratulations, then,” and offered him his hand. 

“Thanks,” Killian said, taking his hand and smiling, “and I suppose I also owe you thanks for being so understanding about Emma and me.”

Neal still shook his hand, but his gaze narrowed. “Emma and you?”

Uh-oh. “Our dalliance.” Bae continued to look on in confusion. Shit. “We, ah, shared a kiss. Apologies, I assumed she told you.”

Neal dropped his hand rather pointedly. “Honestly, it probably slipped her mind. We're kind of focused on getting our son back.”

“Of course,” he agreed quickly, cursing himself for making things awkward again. Obviously, that’s when Emma returned. 

She strode in confidently, but paused when she picked up on the tension in the air. “Everything alright?”

Bae turned to her abruptly. “Couldn't be better,” he said, feigning nonchalance as he took the coconut from her. She asked how exactly the map was going to help on this particular task. “It's not a star map,” he explained. “It's what we're gonna use to trap Pan's Shadow.”

It sounded daft to Killian, but he dared not question it after the unease left by their prior conversation. “So what's our next stop on this mission?” he asked instead. 

“Dark Hollow.”

He shuddered again; the very name of that place put him on edge. His babe seemed to have picked up on his nervousness and began to move in time with his heightened anxiety. 

“Really? Why couldn't it be called something like Sunshine Valley or Rainbow Cove?” Emma complained. “What exactly is it?”

“Just what it sounds like,” Killian said. “The darkest spot on the entire island. Any light that makes its way in is snuffed out by the shadows that call it home. Even I managed to avoid it,” he shuddered. 

“Well, time to break tradition,” Emma said in a commanding tone. He couldn’t argue with that—not if it was their only way home. 

Against his instincts—yet again—he headed off with the other two, hoping they made it out of this in roughly the same shape as they went in. 

On the trek to Dark Hollow, Neal took the lead; Killian was inclined to let him do so. 

The hike was mostly silent—all three of them likely deep in their own thoughts about what lay ahead, both physically and emotionally. Killian, however, was also finding himself distracted by the sight in front of him: Emma’s backside (and he couldn’t fully blame it on his hormones). 

They hadn’t yet had a moment alone since the Echo Cave, nor had Emma made any comments alluding to his confession. He wasn’t so self-centered as to think she owed him an answer—that wasn’t why he revealed that—nor did he want to put her on the spot, especially when they were still in the middle of…a lot. 

But she was the one who had kissed him. On top of their other shared moments. He had to believe there was some level of attraction there. (Unless his senses were truly being thrown off by this pregnancy.)

He nearly ran into Emma while continuing his self-debate, not having noticed the other two had paused. 

He saw why as soon as he glanced up, though: the trail forward was covered in brambles too dense to pass through. 

“We're gonna have to cut our way through,” Bae announced, stating the obvious; Killian’s hand was already on his sword. 

Before he could offer assistance, he had to step back because metal was flying far too close to his face. 

“Here; use this,” Emma said, offering Bae his old cutlass. 

If Killian wasn’t mistaken, he was touched to receive his old weapon. “You find it in the cave?” he asked Emma.  

“No, actually; Hook gave it to me,” she told him plainly. 

Neal looked past Emma to him, smirking. “Since when are you sentimental?”

Since always, Killian thought, but instead said, “I thought Emma would wish to have something to remember you by.”

“Oh, thanks. But she’s got me now,” he replied tersely, then turned to begin hacking at the brush.

Emma whipped around to face him. “What was that about?” she demanded, not in an unattractive way. 

He sighed and told her about where the tensions between them began that day. “I assumed you had told him.”

“Why would you assume that?”

“Because I was hoping it meant something,” he blurted out. He hadn’t meant to let that slip, but it was true. 

“What meant something was that you told us Neal was still alive. Thank you,” she said sincerely—though that wasn’t entirely what he was talking about. “I realize you could've kept Pan's information to yourself.”

“Why would I have done that?” he wondered, somewhat incredulous; did she still think so little of him?

“I don't know,” she shrugged. “Maybe Pan offered you a deal. Why else would he tell you?”

Well…that wasn’t wholly wrong. 

“It was a test,” he explained. “He wanted to see if I'd leave an old friend to die, even if the old friend happens to be vying for the same woman I am.”

“And you chose your friend?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“You are a pirate,” she threw back. 

“Aye, I am—but I thought you knew me well enough by now to know I’m a hell of a lot more than that,” he countered. He didn’t typically have such high self-worth, but he’d gradually noticed that changing since he found out about the babe, if only because he had something to live for the first time in so long. And the fact that he was defending himself in such a manner was even more surprising. But his stomach was still uneasy with nausea and he suddenly found himself craving a very specific pastry that was only available in Agrabah, so his patience was running thin. “You can simplify whatever is going on between us if you like, but we both know it’s just another way for you to put up a barrier.”

“So what if it is? This isn’t some romantic vacation, Hook—my son’s life is still at risk. I can’t get distracted—even if I wanted to.”

“No one is asking you to lose sight of that. But you can’t deny what else is happening here,” he said, gesturing towards both himself and the direction Bae had headed off in. 

“This isn't a contest for my hand, Hook.”

“Isn't it?” he replied, chuckling slightly (but not out of amusement). “You're gonna have to choose, Emma. You realize that, don't you? Because neither one of us is gonna give up.”

“The only thing I have to choose is the best way to get my son back,” she insisted. 

“And you will,” he agreed. 

She seemed taken aback. “You think so?”

“I've yet to see you fail,” he affirmed; perhaps she just needed some of his own newfound confidence. “And when you do succeed, well, that's when the fun begins,” he went on, smirking. “Because when I win your heart, Emma—and I will win it—it will not be because of any trickery. It will be because you want me.”

Emma swallowed, clearly absorbing the depth of that statement. But then she started to sway back towards him, her gaze darting to his lips, and—

—And then Neal returned. “Guys!” he shouted, and Emma immediately stepped away. “I think I found it,” he said as he came back into their small clearing, passing the cutlass back to Emma. 

She found Killian’s gaze one more time, before turning to the newly cleared path and heading in. Neal glanced between his companions, somewhat confused, but Killian only offered a shrug when he asked with his eyes as to what was going on. Then they followed Emma in. 

As they moved into the thicker part of the jungle, his babe’s nervous kicks picked up again; how odd that he could already tell that—or perhaps it was just related to his own rising anxiety. It increased with each step, as what little light they had (despite it permanently being nighttime in Neverland) disappeared.

Neal and Emma had been carrying lanterns, which helped a bit, but when the passageway opened up into a large, dark wood, a stiff breeze put out the flames. 

None of them liked being there. The sooner they got this done, the better.

“So we just wait for Pan's Shadow to show up?” Emma asked, still holding tight to the cutlass.

“Yeah,” Neal confirmed. “And when it does, we'll be prepared,” he added, pulling out the coconut. 

Emma gaped a bit; for all she’d seen, there were clearly some things that stretched her belief. “You wanna tell me how that coconut works?”

Neal pointed out the candle built into the base of the device, and explained how, once lit, the flame would attract and trap the shadow. Killian had to admit—it sounded plausible…mostly. 

“Sounds like a fine plan—except for one thing,” he said. “Our lanterns went out. How the devil are we going to ignite that bloody thing?”

Bae pulled out a small silver device. “Welcome to the 21st century,” he said with a smirk. Killian quickly realized it was some modern, condensed version of a steel and flint—although none of the sparks it produced seemed to be catching. 

Emma asked for an update, but there was none to report. And what followed was something Killian was not quite proud of, nor could he fully blame it on hormones. 

Seeing that Bae was struggling to light the candle, Killian tried to intervene, taking the object away and attempting to use it himself—with equal success. 

Then, like schoolboys, they started an immature game of tug o’ war over the lighter—then watched in slow motion as it flew from their hands, glinting as it rotated in the air, then disappeared into a hollowed-out tree trunk. 

(Words may have been exchanged about trying to impress Emma; they weren’t entirely wrong.)

“Guys, we don't have time for this—look!” Emma shouted at them, equal parts angry and fearful. “Is that Pan's Shadow?”

Overhead, the humanoid shape of a shadow flew into the hollow, completely devoid of light save for the unsettling white orbs of its eyes. 

“Shit—yeah, it is!” Neal confirmed as Emma grabbed the coconut. 

Behind Pan’s shadow were two others; Killian drew his blade out of instinct, even though he knew it would do nothing against a metaphysical foe. 

Bae mentioned something about the others being under the control of Pan’s shadow, not that it was really relevant—or helpful, especially when one of them came up behind Killian, dragging him into the air and slamming him against a tree. 

He cried out in pain as he hit the bark, arms wrapping around his midsection. Somewhere beyond his awareness, he thought he heard Emma shouting “Hook!”

But then the shadow began attempting to remove his own, and everything devolved into a blur of pain and praying to whatever gods were listening that nothing would happen to the babe. 

He’d never felt a sensation like the one of his shadow being ripped from his being. It was hard to describe, but he knew that’s what it was. 

With as hard as the other shadow was yanking on his, he was certain it was about to take his life. But something seemed to be tethering his to him—the babe, if he had to guess. 

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but suddenly, the sensation of his shadow being pulled away ceased—and was quickly replaced with that of him meeting the ground. 

Immediately, he curled in on himself, hand again rushing to his stomach. Before he made any further move, he waited for a sign that his little one was alright. How had he been so bloody foolish as to risk their life like that?

“Please,” he whispered to himself, and then—he felt it: those same steady flutters and wriggles he’d been feeling for the past few weeks. And he breathed the deepest sigh of relief. 

A hand appeared in his vision—Bae’s; he took it and let the lad—no, man—help him up. “You okay?” he asked. 

“Aye, I think so; you?”

“I’ll take some bruises and scratches if it means I get to keep my shadow,” Neal said lightly, as if they hadn’t just been through a near-death experience. 

Then they turned their attention back to Emma, who was sitting against a rock with the coconut in her hands—closed tight. She’d done it—she got the shadow and saved both of them. 

Neal wasn’t thrilled with her method of lighting the flame—magic—but Killian frankly didn’t care (and thought it was a bit cruel of Bae to hold his prejudice towards magic against Emma of all people). It was done, they’d succeeded, and now they needed to get the hell out of here.

Emma led the way, charging ahead, anger obvious in the rigid set of her frame and the extended length of her stride. Killian and Neal followed behind her like two children aware they were in trouble. 

Once they were a safe distance away from the Hollow, Bae spoke up. “Hey, Em—I'm sorry. I know I screwed up.”

She stopped and turned on a dime, a fire in her glare that made Killian take a step back. “Yes, you did. You both did. We almost lost our shot at capturing the Shadow because you two were fighting over a lighter,” she lectured.

“It wasn't the lighter we were fighting over, love,” Killian admitted, ashamed.

Emma closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then gave them an even firmer stare. “Okay, let me be very clear about something: If I had to choose someone—I choose Henry. He's the only love I have room for in my life.”

And without another word, she put her back to them and continued on.

She wasn’t wrong. Henry was why they were all here, after all—this was far from a romantic rendezvous. And he was especially in tune with her parental instincts after what had just happened—his hand hadn’t left his belly, afraid if he did, he’d lose track of his babe’s movements. He was chastising himself and feeling guilty enough just because of that; as valid as Emma’s ire was, he didn’t need it to know he’d made an error in judgment back there.

(But he also thought he’d made it abundantly clear by now to Emma that, while he was aware of where her priorities lay, that didn’t mean there wasn’t room for more. Now was not the time to argue, though.)

They finished the rest of the trek back to Tink’s house in relative silence, save for the passing around of canteens (Emma all but forced him to drink more than his fair share, but he supposed some was the babe’s share, too).

Finally, they were on the familiar path to the tree house, and they could hear Emma’s parents talking with the fairy—who, if he was hearing correctly, still wasn’t confident in their ability to get off the island, especially once she heard the shadow was involved. “I'm not lifting a finger until I see proof you've actually got it,” she was saying as they entered the space below her tree.

“Hey,” Neal called out. “Here's all the proof you'll need,” he said, holding up the coconut (which he’d tied shut with some vine on the hike.) “Been a long time, Tink.”

The petite blonde smiled. “Bae, is it really you?”

“Yeah. But most people call me "Neal" now,” he answered, and Killian made a mental note that he’d have to try harder in that regard.

Without any further time wasting, they confirmed Tink’s help in their plan, then made the decision to rest a bit at the camp and then make their move on Pan after that. 

But as they made their way back to the camp, he noticed that Emma and Neal hung back. Part of him was curious to eavesdrop, but he knew that would be rude. Besides, Snow had found him and was playing the role of doting mother that he knew Emma was hesitant to allow; given the odds of her actually being able to achieve her not-so-secret desire anymore, he let her fuss over him (especially when he relayed what happened to he and Neal in the hollow—she practically sat him down on a log and refused to let him do so much as get a mango to eat on his own).

Emma and Neal rejoined the group shortly, but if anything had changed between the two of them in their sidebar, she was characteristically keeping it under wraps. (For his part, Neal was casting long glances her way, but they were not reciprocated; Killian felt a bit bad for him…but not that bad.)

He winced after that, though; his babe had apparently located his liver, and was pounding on it with abandon. (Goodness knew that had been abused enough for one lifetime.) But that was a firm—albeit repeated—reminder that he needed to stay focused enough on finishing the rest of this task and getting the hell out of Neverland to avoid putting the babe in any more danger.

Then, like he said—that’s when the fun would begin.

—----------------------------------

thanks for reading! tagging @cocohook38​​​​​​​​​​ @wyntereyez​​​​​​​​​​ @jennjenn615​​​​​​​​​​ @superadam54​​​​​​​​​​ @ashley-knightingale​​​​​​​​​​ @justsomewhump​​​​​​​ @teamhook​​​​​ @captainhookfan (let me know if you want a tag!)

#cs ff #killian jones ff #killian mpreg #hidden blessing #My ff

[iridescent-glitter-dragon]

Randomly thinking about White Collar, and I love the bit at the end of this one episode (I think it was The Portrait) where the authenticator guy looks at the back of the painting, sees what Neal wrote (something like “I know what you saw here last time,” which was the artist saying “keep this forever” to the person he gave it to), and goes ‘yes this is absolutely the real painting’

#white collar #neal caffrey #the portrait #I think it’s also great that peter could tell that neal was up to Shenanigans #authenticator guy knew his sleaze was caught #the museum had no right to the painting #you know what #that moment’s kinda similar to when leverage pulls the gotcha on the bad guy at the end #except neal wasn’t there to gloat

[lilacmoon83]

A Darker Curse

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 21: Fallout

The stares and whispers this morning in the bank, his bank, had been bad enough. So bad that he had sequestered himself in his office, but nothing could get him to concentrate on work. He had been all prepared for the mid-morning board meeting, but had received an e-mail from one of the leading board members that they were postponing the meeting until further notice. It was unsettling, to say the least and all because of a scathing article in the Storybrooke Mirror this morning.

Lewis Dior was not at all accustomed to being the subject of such scandal. He was a very rich man and had always had the means to buy discretion when it came to his business deals. But the tides, in a town where he owned all the leases that Mr. Gold didn't, had just turned. His money had failed to protect him this time and his daughter.

Kathryn hadn't even bothered to come to work yet, but he wasn't surprised. The article shredded her as well. So badly that he would be surprised if she dared to show her face anywhere. If he wasn't the only bank in town, he might have been worried about losing business, but fortunately, there were no other choices in this small town, with the exception of Mr. Gold and no one usually made a deal with him unless they were desperate. Still...the damage to his reputation was already considerable and he had no idea what consequences might be coming at him. And strangely, he had no idea how to handle any of it.

Under the Mayor-ship of Cora Mills, he had never even had to entertain the possibility that something like this could happen. He never thought the possibility that she could lose her office was even on the table. He had never worried about anything at all and had always enjoyed a life that only a pure elitist knew. But one article and Cora's ousting had brought it all crashing down. Needless to say, he was at a loss. He crumbled his copy of the Storybrooke Mirror up and threw it in the trash, as he stalked out of his cushy corner office that he enjoyed as CEO.

The stares from customers were unnerving to say the least and even his employees couldn't help themselves. The words in the article had effectively torn him to smithereens and he stormed out, as he made the short walk to the Court House.

The looks were worse there. These had even more disgust in them and some were even smug, like they were enjoying his fall from grace. He couldn't believe people were actually rooting for his low class, disgraceful soon to be ex-son-in-law.

"Have you seen this trash?" he hissed, as he walked into Albert Spencer's office.

"Of course I've seen it," Spencer spat irritably. Obviously he had been experiencing a morning much like his own.

"Cora would have never allowed this to see the light of day," he complained.

"You're right...which is why it's a very good thing that my Mother is no longer the Mayor," Regina said, as she now stood in the doorway with a smug smirk.

"I see you've come to gloat too, Ms. Mills," Albert spat.

"Mayor Mills...you better get used to it," she warned.

"Or what? Not even the Mayor has the authority to fire a district attorney," Spencer challenged. Regina smirked.

"You're right, but if you go to jail on human trafficking charges...I won't really need to fire you, now will I?" she cooed in response. The color drained from his face.

"You...you can't seriously be thinking of pursuing charges against us. David is an adult...he could have refused the marriage," Albert claimed.

"You could make that argument, but money exchanged hands when he married Kathryn. Trust me, a jury isn't going to see it your way. But there may be a way you can avoid prison," she replied.

"And that is?" Lewis asked with interest.

"Flip on my mother. I know you must have incriminating evidence on her dealings during her time in office. She's the one I really want to see behind bars, so if you give up the goods on her, I'm sure I can convince the Sheriff to cut a deal with you if it means he gets a bigger fish to lock away," Regina replied.

"Betraying your own mother?" Lewis asked in horror.

"She was never much of a mother," Regina retorted.

"No deal...Cora still has more power than you know. Betraying her would be suicide," Albert refuted. But Lewis looked uncertain.

"Lewis...don't do this," he warned. Regina smirked.

"Think about it. I'm a reasonable person and I'll give you a day. If you don't, I'll be sending the Sheriff your way with arrest warrants," she replied, as she walked out with a smile. That was fun. Her only regret was not bringing Snow and David with her so they could enjoy it. She decided she'd head to the diner though to tell them all about it.

~*~

Graham flipped through some of the paperwork and finished a few reports. Patrol had been quiet this morning and was allowing him to get a bit caught up. Emma would be in soon and he would let her take the afternoon patrol. As he started on the backlog of filing, three people walked into the station and he didn't recognize any of them.

"Can I help you?" Graham asked.

"Are you the Sheriff in this town?" the man asked.

"I am," Graham answered, watching as the man flashed his badge.

"I'm Detective Michael Bishop from the Portland, Oregon police department," he said introducing himself. Graham looked surprised.

"Oregon...that's a long way to come. It must be for a good reason," he said.

"It is...I'm not sure if you're aware, but you have at least one fugitive in your midst, possibly two," he replied. Graham approached him and opened the first file, as the detective handed it to him.

"Oh...Neal Cassidy, he's new in town and the son of the local pawn shop owner," Graham said, as he opened the second file and his eyes widened.

"No…" he uttered.

"No...you must be mistaken about Emma. There is no way she is involved in anything nefarious," Graham refuted.

"So sure?" the woman asked.

"And you are?" Graham asked in return.

"Detective Tia Bellum. It's well known that Emma Swan and Neal Cassidy were involved. Word has it that they even have a kid together," she replied.

"That doesn't mean that Emma helped Neal in any larceny," Graham argued.

"You seem close to this Emma Swan," she observed.

"She's my deputy, so I know she's not involved in this," he admitted.

"Be that as it may, we can't take your word for it. We need to arrest Neal Cassidy for sure and at least bring Emma in for questioning," Michael said.

"Did they really send three detectives here for two possible fugitives?" Graham questioned.

"Oh, I'm not a detective. I'm Greg Mendell and I work for the District Attorney's office in Portland. I'm here to handle the legalities of extraditing Neal Cassidy and possibly Emma Swan back to Portland," Greg clarified.

"It's in your best interest if you just take us to them if you know where they are," Michael added. Graham sighed.

"Yeah...I know where they are, but this is my town, so you'll follow my lead," he said sternly.

"Lead the way," Michael agreed.

~*~

As they entered the diner, hand in hand, all eyes were on them. It wasn't terribly unusual, as they had been attracting a lot of attention. To David, without his memories, it had been a bit unnerving. These were the same people that had always been too afraid to lift a hand to help him when he was being abused by Kathryn, but now they were taking an interest in his life? He had scoffed at that. Now with his memories returned, he knew that it wasn't truly at their fault. He knew if Granny hadn't been cursed, then she would have been in his corner. Same with Ruby and many others.

Now seeing the looks and interest in them with his memories was just funny and he felt like riling a few people up.

"Wanna make a bet?" he whispered to her.

"Depends on the stakes," she retorted.

"If I kiss you right now, I bet we get no less than three gasps, some hushed whispers and maybe even some furious texting," he joked.

"Behave…" she teased.

"Oh come on, you know how much fun it is when we wager and how much fun it is for the winner and loser for that matter," he replied. She eyed him with a sultry look, which she was sure was getting plenty of buzz from the nosy patrons in the diner.

"Baby...if you want to tie me up in bed, all you have to do is say so. I have some scarves we can use or we could always swipe a pair of handcuffs," she whispered to him, before winking and going to join their family. He grinned at her and then slid into the booth beside her, kissing her soundly. There was hushed chattering at that.

"I'm going to take you up on that," he whispered. She gave him a naughty smirk.

"You better," she agreed, as Ruby took their orders, before they turned their attention to Emma, August, Neal, and little David, who was eating tiny pieces of pancake that Emma had torn up for him and placed on his tray.

Emma had finished her pancakes and bacon, as well as fries they were all sharing and Ruby deposited another basket on the table.

"Fries for breakfast?" Snow chided them.

"I prefer to call them breakfast potatoes. They aren't fries until eleven," Emma reasoned. Snow rolled her eyes.

"No question where she got her sense of humor," she said, as she looked at her husband, who was eating fries too.

"She has a point...they are potatoes and it is still breakfast," he agreed. She pretended to roll her eyes, but her insides were melting, for they grinned at each other, same smile and thick as thieves. It was everything she had always wanted and she was screaming for joy on the inside that they finally had each other.

"Well, I don't know if I'm enjoying all the looks or scrutiny, but your article certainly made waves, honey," Snow mentioned.

"Enjoy it, Mom...some people deserve to be knocked down," August replied. David nodded in agreement.

"I agree and maybe we poked the bear, so to speak, but we know Cora. She is going to retaliate, even if we did nothing," David said.

"Dad's right...she's been trying to destroy us the moment we walked into town and the situations she forced the two of you into...all of us really...we can't let her get away with any of it," Emma said.

"Emma's right...I know revenge has never been your way, but if anyone deserves it, it's you and Mom," August added.

"Plus...everyone else deserves to be freed. I mean...I don't know Abigail, but she doesn't seem to be herself exactly," Emma mentioned. David shook his head.

"She wasn't like this...not even close. She even helped me escape George when I called off our wedding and encouraged me to find your mother, even when I thought she didn't feel the same," David said, as he looked at his wife and Snow squeezed his hand.

"She'll be horrified by what Cora has cursed her to be," he added. Snow put her head on his shoulder.

"Maybe now that the curse is unraveling, she'll start to come to her senses. I mean...you did say that she seemed more confused than angry the last time you talked to her," Snow said, as the diner door opened and Kathryn walked in, before slamming the door closed.

"Yeah...something tells me that dying fire in her just got stoked again," David replied, as the blonde stormed glared over at their table. The look on her face was one that would have made his cursed self cringe and he could still feel the fear that she used to cause in him. He hated it, but she had done some terrible things to him, even if it wasn't really her fault. She was just a vessel that Cora had been driving. She was the true abuser, but it was still hard for him to look at her, especially when she was in a full blown rage like this. She stormed towards their table and Emma plucked her son out of the highchair.

Kathryn slapped the papers down on the table.

"Did you sign them?" David asked and she gave him a furious glare.

"No, I didn't sign them and I'm not going to!" she screamed and all eyes were on them. He sighed.

"Kathryn...this is getting pathetic. Just sign the damn papers so we can both move on," he said.

"Oh, but you already have!" she shouted, as she gestured to Mary Margaret.

"You've walked out on your marriage and you're sleeping with a woman that has a son your age, but you want to talk to me about pathetic!" she snarled.

"This is between you and me. Leave Mary Margaret and her kids out of it," he said sternly.

"She's the reason for all of this!" Kathryn said, as her rage turned to the raven haired beauty that had stolen what was hers.

"Everything was fine, until you came into this town and wrecked our lives, you evil tramp!" the blonde ranted. Emma and August were ready to jump in to defend their mother, but they wouldn't have to, as David practically flew out of his seat.

"Fine?" he growled.

"FINE?" he roared.

"Nothing about our marriage was ever fine or good for that matter!" he shouted, as the entire diner was eating up the scene.

"Oh yes, poor abused David! I've heard it before. You told your entire sob story to Dr. Hopper and anyone that would listen lately," she hissed.

"Well, sign the papers and you'll never have to hear my story or from me for that matter ever again," David said in exasperation. She yelled in rage and it was truly scary, as little David started to whimper and they all stared in shock, as she kicked the highchair away. It tumbled to the floor and broke to pieces.

"Dammit David...you need to listen very carefully. I'll speak slowly so you can comprehend what I'm saying in your tiny brain," she said.

"David is not stupid and you need to leave him alone...now," Mary Margaret growled, as she stood up. She knew that Kathryn was cursed, but there was only so much she'd allow her husband to take from this woman without stepping in to defend him.

"You...you're the reason for all of this!" she cried, as she held her head like she was in agony.

"You and your bastard son! Do you know how humiliated my poor father is?!" she raved.

"Your poor father?" August asked, looking at her like she had grown four heads.

"You mean the guy that could probably fill a swimming pool five times over with money and swim in it?" he asked incredulously.

"Your father is an entitled, disgusting person that thinks he can just buy whatever he wants. Even people. Whatever humiliation he's getting is well deserved," August said coldly. Kathryn glowered at him and ripped the divorce papers to shreds.

"The only way you're getting a divorce is over my dead body," she spat, before storming out and nearly running over their newly minted Mayor. Regina watched her go and then looked at the floor.

"That's a lot of rage…" Regina said, as she saw the shredded paper.

"We're trying to remember that it's not all her, but she's making it difficult," Snow said, as her step-sister sat down.

"I hope you have another copy of those," Regina said to David. He shrugged.

"Gold says he has as many as we need, but at this rate, I'm thinking we really will have to have a Judge force her to sign," he replied.

"Or we could just break the curse already," she muttered.

"And I'd love to...but no one seems to know how, except that I'm supposed to do it," Emma said.

"And you will, honey...we don't mean to pressure you," Snow soothed. She nodded.

"I know...I'm just anxious to do it too," Emma replied.

"You will...you're strong and amazing, just like your mother," David told her, bringing a smile to her face.

The diner bell rang and Graham entered with three people trailing behind him.

"Hey...you're white as a sheet. Is everything okay?" Emma asked.

"I'm afraid not," he replied, as his eyes went to the people with him.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I have to arrest Neal...and ask you some questions," Graham replied. Neal sighed.

"Where are they from? Portland or Phoenix?" Neal asked.

"Portland P.D., Mr. Cassidy and you're under arrest," Detective Bishop announced. Graham turned to him.

"This is still my jurisdiction, so this is mine to do," he argued.

"And if you don't cooperate with the extradition, your department is going to be in a lot of trouble," Greg chimed in.

"Who are you people?" Snow snapped, as she stood up and David held her trembling hands.

"And you are?" Tia asked.

"I am Emma's mother," Snow answered.

"Mr. Cassidy is a wanted man and we got a tip that he was here in this town," Michael said.

"A tip? I just bet you did," David muttered in disgust.

"And your daughter is going to have to answer some questions. We have reason to believe that she was privy to some of Neal Cassidy's crimes," Tia said.

"She wasn't…" Snow hissed.

"Then you should have nothing to fear in our questioning," he replied, as Graham cuffed Neal and Emma looked at her mother.

"I've got him," Snow said, as she took her grandson from her.

"My papa...he's going to flip out," Neal said, but David put his hand up.

"We'll get him and be right there," he assured.

"Don't say anything until we get there," Snow called, as they were led out of the diner. The whole place was abuzz now, earlier with the confrontation between David and Kathryn, and now this.

"I thought Storybrooke was hard to find?" David questioned.

"It is...there's no way they got here without help," August replied.

"This has my mother written all over it," Regina growled.

"And I'm going to kill her," Snow said, as she stormed out and they hurried after her.

~*~

Cora smirked deviously, as she hung up her phone. Sidney confirmed that Neal Cassidy was just arrested.

"It seems my plan is in motion," she said, as she got up with the intention of leaving to go to the station. These were fireworks that she didn't want to miss, just as Kathryn stormed in.

"Let me guess...David continued to refuse you?" she questioned.

"He did and he has the audacity to sit there and kiss that woman in front of the whole town! He has humiliated me for the last time!" she growled. Cora smirked.

"I may have something that will lift your spirits," she said.

"I doubt anything could do that right now," Kathryn lamented.

"Even seeing Mary Margaret Swan lose her precious daughter?" Cora questioned. The blonde looked at her.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"It would appear that Emma's baby daddy has had some trouble in the past. He's a wanted man and I called in a little tip. Now there are some people here to take him back to Oregon to prosecute him for his crimes," Cora explained.

"What does that have to do with Emma?" Kathryn asked.

"Oh I'm quite certain that Emma Swan was privy to her ex-boyfriend's misdeeds, which means there is a very high chance that she is going to be extradited to Oregon as well, even if they end up not charging her. She'll have to leave Storybrooke to clear her name before the court and if I haven't lost my touch, I'm going to do my best to convince the detectives that she deserves to face the same charges as Neal Cassidy," Cora replied. Kathryn smirked.

"This is happening now?" she asked. The former Mayor nodded.

"Yes and if we don't hurry, we might miss the moment when Mary Margaret Swan has her precious baby girl ripped away from her," Cora replied. Kathryn smirked.

"I'll drive...because I'm not missing this or the opportunity to rub salt in her wounds, while I figure out how to make David pay," Kathryn said.

"Don't worry dear...I can assure you that hurting his precious Mary Margaret and her daughter will hurt him far more than you can imagine...perhaps even more than anything we can do to him directly," Cora asserted.

"Then I can't wait to witness you twist the knife in that little tramp and revel in her misery," Kathryn said, as she followed the other woman out. Revenge would still be hers and they would rue the day they decided to cross her...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #August W. Booth #Neal Cassidy #Swanfire #Rumplestiltskin #Regina Mills #evil Cora #AU #CORA cast the curse #warning #mentions of abuse #nothing graphic #romance #adventure #family #a darker curse

[lotornomiko]

The Dark Flavor Of Addiction Chapter Eight

3B cannon divergence with a heavy focus on a secret sexual relationship between Hook and Belle. Both devoted and swearing to love others, Hook and Belle both can’t deny the irresistible passion and attraction they have for one another, leading to repeated secret trysts, hurt feelings, and a whole lot of jealousy. But what happens when feelings unravel completely,& secrets come out?

Captain Beauty Endgame…so not safe for work….

Moments like this, when it's just us, my body pressing so insistently against hers. My lips on her skin, the scent of her rising, my rough and calloused fingers gentle on the plump fat of her breast. There's been hundreds of times like this before, years worth of moments, of memories, and yet my eyes have never been as open as they are now. I see what I hadn't before, the woman I handle meaning so much more than just sex and revenge. She's solace, she's passion, Belle every desire I've had made real. She's what Emma was not, Belle able to feel, and to feel it with ME.

It is new appreciation that colors my gaze, my eyes taking in the signs of her distress as I ease back. My hand on her breast, immediately lifts up to touch her cheek, the tears there having wet the skin. Her crying before me is nothing new, even if the reason behind it is, Belle disturbed by what I have said, by what my words have implied. I think her beautiful even at her most teary eyed, those trembling lips beckoning, the soft skin of her reddened cheeks a luxury gone unappreciated for too long. It's a fool who ignores a woman's passion for the cool indifference of another's, and there's been none greater than I.

Fool that I've been, I can see now to the damage that I've done. Belle's hurt, the wounds I've given her running deep, pain and misery seeping out of them, out of her. I want to lave my tongue over them, over her, soother her in the way that I know best. It's all I can do not to drop to my knees, the idea alive in my mind, alight in my eyes as I stare at her with a hunger that is gnawing. It doesn't matter that she pushes me away, that Belle tries to cling to a love that can't be true. Her heart is divided, what Belle wants at war with what she THINKS she needs. Belle lets the conflict confuse her, actually tries to hide within it, but we both know the hurt and jealousy wouldn't be there, that I wouldn't be there, twisting emotion inside her otherwise.

I can't even truly be sorry, not for making her feel. This lust that I have had for her, has always been first and foremost a selfish, cruel thing. It's a want that has desired, consumed, has danced ever close to destroying, and gloats now over the depth with which she suffers. It's not love that I feel, but it's not hate either. It's some damnable need, this wanting, that ties us together, some twisted urge that goes beyond comfort. I want to posses Belle, to have her completely, to thoroughly own the woman that both makes me feel and in turn feels by me so strongly. It's not a happy ending I now seek, it's something darker. Something befitting of the villain that I now know myself to be.

It's Captain Hook that eats up the sight of Belle's distress, that pushes back the remnants of the good man that I had tried to become. That man, that would be hero, had never stood a chance, so unwanted, so unloved. Tolerated at best, reviled and ignored more often than I cared to count, the mistakes of a soiled past cannot be erased by the half hearted attempts of a wannabe be hero.

Tainted as I am with a soul riddled with mistakes and bad choices, I acknowledge what everyone else already has. The pirate, the villain, the evil that has no place in a world full of heroes. I turn my back to them, to Emma and her family, to the people of this town. I turn and look forward, to the one woman, the one soul who had seen me at my worst, and accepted me even then. Belle, who I've used, manipulated, slapped, and even tried to kill. And she had never once turned it against me, accepting my brand of darkness as easily as she does Rumplestiltskin's.

Belle knows me for who I really am. Not only knows but responds to it, wants the pirate as much as he wants her. She wants the fire, the danger, lets herself be scalded by my touch. Let's herself in turn be tainted by my filth, that darkness that should have swallowed her whole a long time ago. Instead she blazes bright with a hurt that is chiefly the fault of my own. I'm the reason she cries now, that she rebels against what I tell her. It's torture to her, the thoughts I have given her, but I don't believe for a second Belle's distress centers around her unfaithfulness to Rumplestiltskin.

I was the one to hurt her, to wrong her, time and time again. I've neglected what matters most, Belle's heart, her feelings in tatters. I've done to her a sampling of what Emma has done to me, but made it so much worse. I've hurt her, and put in shambles the relationship that should have been formed. I've run rough shod over Belle's feelings and our chances, too blinded by my pursuit of Emma for so long.

The crimes that I've done Belle, would send a noble man running. Would make a good man leave, the chance of her, the chance of us, forever lost. The bad man that I actually am, doesn't believe in giving up, will dog Belle to the ends of the world if need be. I want her, and I will have her, and it's not just comfort and sex that I am after but the rare, passionate woman that can see my darkness, and accept it.

There's a double edge to that kind of passion, to the kind of feelings Belle and I are both capable of. It's both the good and the bad, to feel so strongly, to want but to hurt just as badly. I take in her pain now, marvel at it and her strength to withstand it all. Not just what she remembers, and what I have done, but the year that Belle, that just about everyone in Storybrooke has forgotten. Thoughts of that year both make me smile and flinch, a sting of pain, of betrayal, coloring the happy. Because now I understand better why she would leave me, why Belle would just up and disappear one day after spending nearly the whole year by my side. Because that time had been tainted, spoiled by my longing for a woman who wasn't there, who had never been there.

Corrupted by my heart's focus on Emma, it wouldn't have been half as easy or as pleasant a time for Belle, what with having to comfort and distract a man so consumed by his longing for another. Emma, the thought of her, must have haunted us both, and I can no longer feel anger over Belle's abrupt leaving. I understood and I forgave, but more than that I repented, determined to make things right, to win the woman who had quietly endured more than I had understood.

Brave, beautiful soul that she is, I must believe that Belle has it in her to forgive me one last time. To give to me what I would otherwise take, her heart, her everything, her all. My thumb caresses along her damp cheek, my gaze touching upon her lips before dragging up to stare into the pretty blue of her still teary eyes. Belle trembles and trembles even more when I touch my forehead to hers, the hundreds of unspoken memories, and the dozens more of what might be a million apologies lingering on my lips.

"Belle I...." She never once breaks her gaze from mine, not even when I lick my suddenly too dry lips. The words make my tongue fumble, my confession and the sorry not coming easy to my lips. "I'm so..."

The sound of the shop's front door banging open, swallows up the rest of that word. Belle's back already against the table, jars it further with her attempt to pull free. Her hands push at my shoulders, actually trying to shove me away. The sudden intrusion into our private world, is enough to set me off balance, my hand reaching for her, not caring what it looks like, or who will see. Belle ducks under my arm, her own hand to her face, fingers working to brush away the tears. She can do nothing about the distressed color of her skin, but soon it doesn't matter, a familiar voice calling out what should have been glad tidings.

"He's alive!" It is Emma who shouts it, and shouts yet again. "Gold's alive...!"

Belle stops up short, her shoulders shaking. "Rumple's really alive?" She whispers it just before Emma bursts into the room. The blonde haired Savior takes in the sight of Belle's face, and misreads the distress as a sorrowful joy.

"Yes, and so's...."

Neal enters, looking dazed and confused. He's gripping his hand, rubbing fingertips over that strange burn mark in it's palm. His skin seems paler than it had been in the hospital, and there's dirt and twigs staining and stuck to his clothing.

"What happened?" I ask, and watch as both women react, Belle flinching, Emma frowning.

"Hook." She says it with all the disapproval that she can muster. "You were supposed to stay with him..."

"Yes, well he wanted to leave." I counter then add gruffly. "Besides, I'm not the only one not doing what he was supposed to."

"David had to see to Mary Margaret..." Belle quietly reminds, but she won't meet my gaze. "I was perfectly fine on my own..."

"Fine isn't the same as being safe!" I retort, aware Emma is giving me a strange look now.

"Rumple would never let anything hurt me...not even that witch." Belle insists, then reaches to take Emma's hands. "Where is he? Where has he been all this time? And where is he now?"

For some reason Emma looks away, her green gaze seeking out Neal's. "Perhaps you better sit down for this..."

For one second Belle looks as though she would argue, but her need for answers wins out over any further protests she could make. Belle lets Emma lead her past me, towards a seat at the side of the table. Neal comes to stand besides her, his fingers still playing on the burn mark.

"Well?" Belle asks in a voice strained with exhaustion.

Emma shares another look with Neal before speaking. "Did you, did you find out anything about that burn mark on Neal's hand?"

"No nothing. Not yet at least."

"It's the mark of the Dark One." Neal's voice draws all three of us to stare at him and the hand he holds up. The wound is just as red and raw as the day it must have been made, as though it would never truly heal.

"The mark of the dark one?" Belle echoes, her lower lip trembling with what might be fear.

"It's all right....they are both all right..." Emma is quick to reassure her.

"Then why isn't Rumple here?!"

I wondered that too, even as I fight a grimace, not liking the complication that will be Rumplestiltskin back in our lives. "What happened to the crocodile?"

"He died." Neal whispered. "He died and I brought him back to life."

"To life, but how?" Belle asked. A touch on her hand, drew Belle's gaze back to Emma's.

"We don't have all the details...there simply wasn't enough time. But because of that witch's manipulations...Neal nearly died as a sacrifice to bring the Dark One back."

"I don't...I don't understand..."

"That makes two of us." I mutter.

"I SHOULD be dead." Neal stated. "I would be, if not for my father, and for Emma." It was a loving smile the blonde haired woman gave him, Emma's green gaze so soft and warm in a way it had never been for me. Once such a look would have sent me reeling, would have tightened my chest with a stabbing sharp pain. The insecurities would have risen, the pain born on a fact that I had never wanted to acknowledge, that of Emma's heart belonging to another. It would have sent me spiraling on a self destructive course that would have seeped into Belle's path.

Now instead, I looked, saw, and accepted with an indifference that would have shocked Belle, had the brown haired beauty bothered to look my way.

"Then...?"

"The original magic, it would have seen Neal dead. But Gold...he did something, forced them to share a body."

"Share a body?!" Belle exclaimed with a guilty sounding gasp. It was all too telling, that sound and the way she quickly glanced my way before gazing up at Neal. The young man and the savior didn't seem to sense anything was wrong, not even the way Belle's hands formed white knuckled fists in an effort to control her shaking.

"It was to save my life. One body, one life force..." stated Neal.

Belle stared up at Neal. "Then all this time...Rumple was here with us?"

"Sort of...."

"Then why didn't he......"

"It's not something he was able to control." Emma quickly explained. "And when I separated the two....well Neal SHOULD have died."

"I believe I WOULD have died, if anyone else had performed such a magic." Neal corrected Emma. "But the fact that you are the savior and the woman that I love...."

"True love." I can't help but sneer, and all eyes are drawn my way, even Belle's. "It's miraculous magic was at work again."

Emma doesn't blush, doesn't do much except stare at me with a cold kind of sympathy. Neal is not exactly embarrassed, but my words have made him flustered all the same. Belle's expression is the hardest to take in, the hurt there an accusation that I have earned. Her lips trembling with it, she continues to stare at me as I ask the question whose answer seems to have gone forgotten. "So where IS the crocodile again?"

"Er...." Neal hesitated, sharing a look with the blond haired woman. "That is."

"We miscalculated." spoke up Emma. "Don't worry, he's not dead!" She quickly added at the distressed sound Belle had just let out. "It's only....with the two life forces separated....the witch....she's now able to use the dagger to it's full potential."

"And by using the dagger, she can control Rumple." Belle whispered.

"So that's it then." I say. "We're all doomed."

"Not quite.." Two simple words spoken by Emma, but they set off a world of unease inside of me. "There might be a way...."

"Might?" I snap sharply but the sinking feeling inside me says I already know what Emma will say.

"I wouldn't have believed in it before, but I have seen it at work...with Henry, and now today, stronger and more miraculous with Neal."

"True love's kiss." Belle whispered in a soft reverent tone.

"No..." I say, but it's as if no one hears me. "NO!"

"You're the only one, Belle." Emma speaks gently. "The only one who can break Gold's curse, free him from the dark one, the dagger, and the witch's control."

My gaze narrows, my stare almost hateful as I glare at the woman I once thought I could have loved. "Do you have any idea what you're asking?! What risk you might be placing her in?!"

Emma is startled by my outburst. I don't know what she finds more troubling, the hate filled look I am giving her, or the way I move to protect Belle. "Hook...this is the only chance we might have..."

"Belle is not someone expendable!"

"No one in this town is." A burst of anger sparks in Emma's eyes. "I wouldn't be asking her to do this, if I wasn't going to be right there to protect her."

"Protect her?! And what good would your magic do against the Dark One?!"

"I am the Savior." She reminds me.

"Savior you may be, but your magic is from an inexperienced hand at best!" I retort. "Belle is not going to..."

"I'll do it." Her trembling hadn't stopped, but Belle was sitting up straighter, her eyes touching on each of us individually. "I will break Rumple's curse."

"Belle, thank you..."

"Are you out of your mind?! I won't allow it!" My snarl raises the eyebrows of all present. I know I am coming off as irrational, and uncharacteristically protective of a woman I had once tried to kill. A woman who by all accounts I supposedly despised for her close ties to the monster that had cost me everything once. There was no room there for my near violent reaction, my furious anger and protests, and I just didn't care. I'd blow Belle's secret to high water, before I let her risk herself for the town on him.

"I would have thought you'd be the first to be all for it if it saved your own hide." Neal mutters. I want to hit him then, taking an aggressive step towards him that doesn't distract me one bit from my need to keep Belle away from Rumplestiltskin. "Emma told me how you stole the bean, how you were willing to leave and let all of Storybrooke perish."

It was all too tempting to play his game, to fall into the trap of arguing who had hurt Emma more. But I wasn't about to be distracted, wasn't about to hurt Belle by letting Neal manipulate me into acting like I still cared one bit about the Savior.

"Don't speak on what you can't possibly begin to know about."

"OH?" Neal was glowering now. "You'd do well to take that advice to heart as well."

"What is that supposed to mean?!" I demand as Emma gives a sharp voice gasp of Neal's name.

"Just that your not exactly in your element when it comes to true love and it's kiss..." Now Belle added her gasp to Emma's, my fist finding it's way to the other man's jaw before either woman could have stopped me.

"Neal!" Emma not only pulls him away, she steps in front of him as though she would shield his body from my fist. The sight of her, so protective and strong, isn't what deters me. It's Belle, her hands on my arm, her urgent fingers digging into my coat's sleeve as she tries to drag me away from the Savior and her lover.

"Hook, stop it, please!" Her pleading is colored with her high agitation, drawing my gaze to her, as I take in the strain Belle's continued distress is having on her.

"Belle..." I let out a deep breath, trying to control the anger that they all have roused. Neal for his insults and insinuations, Emma for the danger she wants to expose Belle to, and the beauty herself for agreeing to risk it. "You can't." I state firmly.

"You can't decide for me." She counters, her blue eyes defiant as she gazes up at me.

"The hell I can't!" I roar. "Belle I..."

"Your worry is misplaced." Her own gaze narrows at me. I'm sure the tic in my cheek is dancing in anger, my frustration making it show. "Rumple would never hurt me." Belle adds. "He LOVES me."

My words are a nasty whisper meant for her ears only. "But can you honestly say that you still love him back?" It leeches the color from her face, Belle taking a step back with a muted gasp.

"I..." It's almost violent, the way that she shakes her head, the way that she looks past me towards Emma. "When do we do this?"

"As soon as we can gather Regina and some of the others." I don't buy for a second that the Savior hasn't carefully taken in our interaction. I wonder what she makes of it, of what she might assume. Does she realize there is something more going on, or is she too blinded with need to protect a whole town, that she’d willfully ignore the truth hinting before her, to place Belle in danger?

"Don't worry, Hook." Emma draws and holds my gaze with her own. There is something there, some acknowledgement that had been missing just seconds before. "I'll be there, and so will Regina. Together we will not fail Belle."

It's not the reassurance I want or need, and it shows on my face. The pity that Emma now throws my way, hints that she thinks I am back to pursuing yet another unattainable woman. She still doesn't know the half of what is going on, will be shocked to learn my desire hasn't just been one sided.

"Emma, you don't know..."

"Can I have a word with you, Captain?" Belle interrupts me, her voice louder and more forceful than I have ever heard it.

"Belle?" Emma asks, uncertainly. She's not reassured by the look Belle gives her. I give a terse nod, and watch as Neal all but drags Emma from out of the room, muttering something about needing to make some calls. I then hear Belle let out a breath, a long, weary exhale of a sigh.

"Just what do you think you are doing?"

Those words of hers make my back go rigid, the anger and the agitation surging stronger within me. "I should be asking you that very thing!" I hiss like a snake, and move just as fast, turning towards her. Belle takes in the angry color of my face, the glare darkening my storm blue eyes, and the barely leashed violence that even now coils through me. I'm this close to reaching out and grabbing her, of shaking some sense into her and it shows. Belle pales and takes a wise step back, but her eyes for all her fright, don't lose their defiant gleam. She actually lifts her chin, her haughty head proud and determined.

"I thought you prided discretion above all else, Captain."

"It's Captain now, is it?" I demand, and it's all I can do not to lunge that small distance to her. She again takes a step back, the tiniest of unease clashing with her defiant stance. "It won't work. You can't distance yourself from this or from me. Not with names or the lack of them, and certainly not when the truth is glaring you so obviously in the face."

"And what truth is that?" Her tone is a whisper, but unlike me Belle isn't hissing. She's trying to maintain control, to put up a tranquil facade. I see right through it, through her, to the hurt and the heart of the matter. Belle's still clinging to what she thinks is the truth where my feelings for her and Emma Swan are concerned. That little exchange with Neal probably hadn't helped matters in convincing Belle of otherwise, and I was ready to throttle the man all over again for the setback he had caused me.

"You don't love him." She lets out an indignant scoff at that, trying to deny it. "You don't. I know it, and you know it, and Rumplestiltskin, hell the whole of Storybrooke will know it, when you kiss him and fail to break his curse."

"I..."

"Is that what you want?" I ruthlessly question her. "For all of Storybrooke to know?" I give her a cruel grin, my anger a taunting evil thing. "Love, there's easier ways to accomplish it then that." Is it just the endearment that now makes her flinch, Belle cringing as I loom closer? "And all we need do is tell them."

"No..."

Another cruel twist of my lips, my hand touching her face. "Perhaps we need not even do that...." It happens too quick for Belle to be wary, my fingers sliding across her skin, into the curls that border the line of her hair. It's a cruel pull of it I do, forcing her head back, my lips going to but not actually touching her mouth. Waiting for her to scream, for Belle to make some sort of sound that will draw the Savior and her lover back into the room.

Her distress though is a soundless thing, Belle trying to push me away and squirm free. But my fingers' grip is harsher yet, my body becoming an immovable, rigid force that won't yield to her in this.

"You don't love him." I remind her.

"It's not you that I love either." She gasps after it has been said, mortified outrage on her face as Belle realizes what she has basically admitted with that defiant utterance. "I...I didn't..."

"You did..." My grin is something gentler now, but no less wicked. "You did!" I insist as she continues to protest softly. Those quiet sounds are swallowed up entirely, as I cover her open mouth with mine. That gasp that I experience through her own breath, warms my black heart, and just like that the worst of my anger is tamed, the victory she's given me singing through me. Belle doesn't love me, but then she doesn't love him either. There's both a chance and a hope in the woman acknowledging what we both had already known to be fact, a tangible power that even Rumplestiltskin can't deny. Belle once already mine, would be so again, even if it damned Storybrooke and the world.

#once upon a time #ouat #captainbeauty #fanfic #Killian Jones #Belle #Notsafeforwork #thedarkflavorofaddiction #captain beauty #captain hook #captain book #killian x belle