Finding You Always

Chasing the Sun

Finding You Always

Chapter 51: Chasing the Sun

As they neared, the beanstalk looked much more ominous than it had in the distance.

"It's definitely not like they depict it in stories," Emma commented. Snow smirked.

"None of us are. To people in the Land Without Magic, I'm just some ditzy, helpless princess and your father doesn't even have a name. And Hook..." Snow started, but snickered. Emma chuckled.

"Has a wax mustache and a bad perm," she joked, as they laughed together.

Mulan ignored them and examined the beanstalk.

"It reminds me a death," she commented.

"Comforting," David replied wryly, as he put Summer down on her feet. The tiny princess clung to his leg, as she looked up shyly at the pirate. As gruff and uninterested in anything but himself as he tried to seem, even he had a genuine smile for the little one.

"So...we climb up there," David said.

"Not so fast, mate," Killian warned.

"All of the giants were killed long ago, but one remains. We start up that beanstalk and he'll know we're coming before we're halfway there," Hook said. David put his hands on his hips, in what Snow and Emma had affectionately come to refer to as his battle stance.

"Then what do you suggest?" David countered. The pirate held up two odd looking black cuffs.

"These will shield our presence from the giant. Getting the compass once we get up there will be the real challenge," Killian said.

"And where did you get these cuffs?" Emma asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"From Cora," he said cautiously.

"Great...and how do we know that once we get the compass that she won't just pop up and take it or that you won't turn on us?" David hissed.

"Because I may be a pirate, but that would be bad form. As for Cora popping up, I can't say what she'll do. Even when I was working for her, she never revealed all her plans," he countered.

"Fine...you and I will go up," David decided.

"With all due respect, mate, I believe Emma is more than capable to come with me. You and your princess have the little one, after all," he surmised. David smirked.

"You really think I'm letting my daughter climb a beanstalk with you?" David said incredulously.

"What's the matter, mate? Afraid she might like me?" he taunted. David clenched his teeth, but Emma intervened, before he could pummel the pirate.

"Daddy...it's fine," she assured him. Snow smirked. Emma truly had her father wrapped around her pinky. Pulling the Daddy card always made him putty in her hands.

"Em...you can't seriously be considering this. You and I should take the cuffs," David hissed. She quirked an eyebrow.

"You'd leave Mom and Summer down here with him when Cora could show up any time?" Emma challenged. David opened his mouth to respond, but realized that he was caught between a rock and a hard place. While he knew Snow was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, Cora was extremely dangerous and they would both need to protect Summer when it came down to it.

"Fine...just be careful and watch your back," he conceded, glowering at the smirking pirate.

"I will and I'll be fine," she promised with a hug. Killian handed her a cuff and she put it on, as her mother hugged her tightly.