Once Upon The Underworld (Once Upon A Time)

Chapter 8: "I Hope You Make The Right Choice."

Hook's POV:

"We're home!"
Milah and Izzy walked through the door to the lower deck. We decided to stay on my ship until things settled down. Until everything was figured out. "Dad!" Izzy said, running to me and hugging me. Milah smiled. "Izzy, darling, why don't you go make sure everything's okay above deck really quickly while I talk to your father?" she said. Izzy rolled her eyes, grinning. "If you say so, Mother. But I'm not a little girl anymore." She scurried out. Milah sighed. "Yes, dear, that's what troubles me," she said sitting down beside me. She flashed a half smile. I took her hand. "What's troubling you?" I asked. Milah tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and adjusted her shawl. "Nothing serious. It's just that I ran into your 'old flame' today. Needless to say, she was far from happy with me, and I her." I frowned. "Really?" There's no telling what Emma had to say. Milah nodded. "Oh yes. She had much to say to our daughter." This frustrated me more than it probably should have. I got up from my seat on the windowsill. "My god!" I shouted. "Why did she have to come here? What did she say?" Milah's eyes were fixed upon me as if she was remembering what had been said. "How Izzy had betrayed her by not telling her who she really was. That if she could have just told the truth, you two would be back together." "Never," I snarled. Milah stood and put a hand on my shoulder. "I know that," she said. "But she doesn't. She's purely an ignorant woman who can't let go." She strode around the room in light steps. "I suppose I can understand her, though. Maybe even have pity on her." "Yes, well I can't," I grumbled. "Every ounce of love I ever had for that woman is gone!" In my anger, I punched the side of the ship, leaving a hole in the wall. Milah stared in awe, and I sensed a slight notion of fear in her eyes. "I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for her!" I said. "Killian, calm down, please," she urged. "No!" I exclaimed. "I've been too calm when I should have spoken my mind!" "Why are so angry?" Milah questioned. "Because I don't know whether to stay here and keep our family together or go back to Emma! I just don't know what to do!" Milah bared her teeth and narrowed her eyes. "Well then," she spat. "I suppose I'll let you figure that out." With that, she turned away from me and stalked out of the room. "Milah, wait!" I called after her, as Izzy appeared in the door way. There was a look of shock and pain on her face. "Dad," she spoke softly, almost in a whisper. "You lied." I couldn't tell if it was a statement or a question. "Izzy, love, I never lied. I am glad we're together and I do want us to be a family. It's just hard to leave Emma. Maybe one day when you're older you'll understand." She brushed her hair behind her ears. "I'm fourteen, Dad," she said, like the words were painful to croak out. "I understand plenty. You said every once of love you had for Emma was gone. But now you want to go back to her?" I scratched my head. "Izzy, it's complicated, ok? In case you haven't noticed, when my temper comes out I have a tendency to say some things I don't necessarily mean. I may not understand why Emma came after me, but it doesn't mean I hate her, no matter what I say." I turned so I was no longer facing her. "But I also don't want to hurt your mother. All these years have gone by and I was definitely on the verge of moving on." I faced her again. "That's another thing you've yet to comprehend." Izzy shook her head and shoved her hands in her pants pockets. "Maybe you're right," she murmured. "But that doesn't change the fact that you told Mother you might go back to Emma." "Izzy," I pleaded. "Please. I told you I say things I don't mean!" My daughter looked up at me with eyes that said it all. It was as if she could see right through me. "I know, Dad," she said. "But I also know when you mean them. I'm going to go find Mother." She preceded out the door. "But," she said, popping her head back in. "I hope you make the right choice." And she was gone again. I sighed, sitting down on the seat where Milah had sat beside me. Truth be told, I don't even know what the right choice is anymore.

Mary Margaret's POV:

"David, how can you expect me to just leave her be? Especially at a time like this!" My husband had just finished telling me how I should let Emma fend for herself right now. But watching her curled up in a ball on the loft bed, I didn't understand how he could just watch. "Snow, trust me, it's no time for you to be pushy," be whispered. "She needs to be alone." "Pushy?" I scoffed. "It's pushy that I want to help my daughter, how could you say that?" I proceeded to hurry up to the loft, listening to Charming mumbling behind me. Emma barely turned around when she heard me. I sat on the edge of her bed and softly patted her arm. "Hi," I said bleakly. She turned and and said, "Hey." But I could tell it wasn't a real "hey" it was more of a sympathy-for-Mom "hey." "What are you doing?" I asked. Emma turned around and brought her knees up to her chin. "What does it look like?" I sighed. "I'm sorry." Emma shrugged. "It's whatever. Killian's with Milah now and I guess I just have to accept that." I turned my head to the side and saw David waving me downstairs. I shook my head. "Emma I just want to help you, and I don't want you to just ignore me. Maybe it's for the better that Hook's gone," I blurted out. Charming smacked his hand against his forehead. She gave me a stunned look. "I'm sorry," I said again. Emma quickly jumped off the bed and ran downstairs and out the door. "Emma!" David called after her. "Wait!" He turned to me. "This is why I told you to leave her alone!" he shouted. "But you just can't do that, can you?" I took a step back. "David, I-" "No Mary Margaret!" he said. "No! You've said enough." With that he grabbed his jacket from the coat rack and tore off after Emma. I collapsed on the couch and put my head in my hands. "How?" I mumbled to myself. "How do things manage to get so lost in translation?"

Regina's POV:

When I came to, I was tied to a chair by my ankles and my hands were bound behind my back. "What the..." I mumbled. My head was spinning and ached. "Regina," a familiar voice said. I looked all around but I didn't see anyone. "Reveal yourself," I demanded. "You don't know who you're messing with." "Oh, I think I do," the voice chuckled. Out from the darkness stalked someone I never thought I'd see again. Graham. He looked the same as the last time I saw him, except more evil and discriminative. "Graham?" I questioned, stunned. "Is it really you?" I couldn't help but remember how he'd gotten here, and my role in it. "Yes," he said, propping himself up against the wall. "It is. Why, look at you Regina, you haven't changed a bit." I tugged at the rope that held my hands. "Well it sure seems you have," I said, my voice strained. Graham's eyes narrowed, and had a devilish glint to them. "Suppose I have," he shrugged. He moved closer to me. "Death can do that you." "Listen, Graham," I said. "I was a different person the last time we spoke. I've changed now, really." He rolled his eyes. "Sure you have." I yanked at the ropes again. "Graham, why are you doing this?" I asked, trying not to reveal the desperation in my voice. He smiled mischievously. "For a little thing called payback, Regina. You say you remember the last time we spoke. Well then you should remember how you treated me. I was your toy, Regina. You had full control over me and my heart! Now it's time for you to feel the same thing- nothing!" Before I could even process his words, his hand thrust into my chest, emerging with my heart in it! "Graham, please," I pleaded. "I've changed I promise!" Graham shook his head. "I'm sorry, Regina," he said. "But I'm afraid not." He gave my heart a slight squeeze, and I cried out in pain. "Mom!" shouted a voice from the doorway. Graham released my heart a bit and we both looked up to the doorway. Henry stood there, his face stunned. "Henry!" I said as he ran to me, hugging me. "Sheriff Graham?" he said. "Let my mom go!" Reluctantly, Graham pushed my heart back into my chest, while Henry untied me. I shot Graham a nasty look and gripped Henry's shoulder. "We'll be going now," I grumbled. Graham smirked. "We will meet again," he promised. "You can count on that."