Heart of the Sea

Chapter 1 - A Rough Start

The Charmings were taking a family walk in the park, laughing and having a good time. David, Mary Margaret (who was pushing Prince Neal in a stroller), Emma, Killian, and Henry all walked together. The grass was a beautiful green and the lake was as blue as a sapphire. Killian's eyes crinkled at something Henry had said and he was just about to reply when he heard a sharp, cold voice call him. "Captin!!" He turned to see who had spoken just to have a fist slam into his jaw. He yelped in surprise and was about to defend himself when a knee shot up in between his legs. "It's wot y' get f'r abandoning us, y' damn pirate!! I've been lookin' f' you f'r how bloody long an' here you are, strolling in the middle of a sodding field!! Have you no shame?!" she yelled as she knelt above him, her fist raised to deliver another blow when David grabbed her wrist. She whirled to attack him but received a strong right hook, knocking her out.

She groaned, taking a moment. "Bloody hell. Whoever put me out's got a strong arm." She shifted her sore jaw, stretching it until it popped. She opened her eyes and made to stand up but was yanked back down roughly. She took in her surroundings, noticing the handcuffs binding her to a chair. Her feet were shackled to it also. She laughed, a deep chuckle in the back of her throat. "Clever." Her bright blue eyes assessed the room. She was sitting alone at a metal table. There was a door to her left and a very large mirror in front of her, lockers behind her. There was an empty chair across the table from her. Her eyes flicked to the door as it opened, and an attractive smirk pulled at the corner of her lips. "Hullo love." David sat down in the chair across from her. She looked him over appreciatively. "You're the one that punched me, aren't you? Good arm y've got there. Nice face, too."

"Who are you?" he demanded, undeterred by her flirting, crossing his arms over his chest.

She rolled her eyes. "Where's the captain?" she countered, matching his seriousness.

"None of your business."

The smirk that curled her lips was cold, and David got the feeling she wasn't afraid of him. She leaned her head down to scratch beneath her cobalt blue beanie. "If it's anyone's business, love, it's mine."

"Who are you?" David asked again, curious this time.

"Wouldn't you like t'know," she mocked, her eyes hard as ice.

She seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

"You will tell me eventually."

"Y'could be the bloody king an' I wouldn't give a fluffy damn. I'm not sayin' another bloody word until y'let me see the captain," she said finally.

David barely resisted rolling his eyes; he sighed wearily and got up, going out the door to where the rest of the family was gathered. He looked at Killian, who shook his head. "Y'can try an' talk to 'er all y'like, mate. She's not saying anything else until I go in there." His jaw had swollen where she'd hit him; he was holding a bag of ice to it.

"Are you up for it?"

"Might as well be; she won't be telling us anything else otherwise."

"Do you know her?" David asked curiously.

"Never seen 'er before in m'life, but she's too familiar t'be a stranger."

"There's something about her I can't put my finger on," Emma murmured.

"I know; that's what I was thinking," David agreed.

"I'll see wot I can get out of 'er," Killian grunted, getting up, balancing his bag of ice in his hook as he opened the door.

"I'd know those footsteps anywhere," the girl murmured, her eyes closed. She hadn't bothered to turn her head as he came in. "Hello Captain."

He grunted again as he sat down across from her, his lips twitching slightly in pain as he sat down, holding the bag to his jaw.

"I take it you found a tooth missing?" she asked, her eyes opening.

"Aye," he replied warily.

She nodded. "That's what I thought."

"Who are you?"

She chuckled. "Oh come on, Captain. You know I'm not going to give in that easily. You've got to figure it out." She crossed her arms over her chest.

His eyebrow rose. "I see you've freed y'self?"

"Halfway, anyway. Don't worry, I've done t' you what I wanted. I won't be hurting you anymore."

"Figured as much."

"Now then, back to the question of the day." Her eyebrow matched his. "Wot d'you know about me?"

He decided to play along; it seemed to be the only way to get any answers. "Well, y'seem t'know me though I've no idea who the hell you are."

She grinned.

"You're angry with me for one reason or another, but y'too young to be a lover I cahn't remember."

She laughed.

"Y'too familiar is wot you are," he decided finally.

"There's something else that's staring you in the face, Captain."

He arched an eyebrow.

"Oh come on; it's not that bloody hard, use y'brain! It's been through a lot, but I know it's still bouncing around in there! Come on, Captain! All y' landlubbin's dulled y' head, come on!"

"I don't know!" he replied, volume matching hers; she was getting on his nerves.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll give you a clue. It's on y'bloody face. Think back t'when I pummeled you; yeh, I know it 'urts, but come on. Wot part of you did I not hit that would've been a hell of a lot more satisfying t'me and painful t'you?"

The memory flickered in front of his eyes before they locked onto hers. "My nose."

"Aye."

"Y'didn't break my nose but you were plenty angry t'do so."

"And why didn't I break your nose?"

The light had already dawned on him.

"Because y'care." Only someone who cared would take the time and effort to avoid breaking a nose, marring features.

"There y'bloody go."

"But wot's that supposed to prove? I still don't know who you are. Wot did I do t' you?"

She snorted. "Wot did you do? Wot did you do??" Her laugh was cold and hard. "I'll tell you wot you did. You remember, about thirty years ago? When you ditched your crew, you abandoned your ship, y'whole bloody life to team up with that bloody witch?! Y'remember that, Captain?? D'you remember? D'you remember when you abandoned us?? Hm?! I tell you wot, your brother would be ashamed of you," she continued, tears filling her eyes, shaking her head. "He would've been bloody ashamed to see wot you've become! You're a traitor and a liar an' you're a disgrace to the name of Jones!! You hear me?! Liam would've been ashamed of you!!"

He flinched, his heart cracked in his eyes, and he swallowed hard, eyes slamming shut as he took deep breaths. The ice rattled in the bag as his fingers clenched tighter around it and started shaking. He tried to keep control of the emotions roiling around inside him. He was different now. He wasn't a villain anymore. He wasn't that man anymore. Not anymore.

"...Bloody hell," she murmured quietly. "You...you really aren't him, are you, love." Her eyes flicked over him, brow furrowed as she studied the man sitting in front of her. He clearly wasn't her captain. "C..Captain, I'm so sorry, sir. I..I thought you were different, but..I didn't know you were this different. Shit, I'm so..I'm so sorry. I..I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear. I just...wanted to test you. I didn't know who you were, and I had to be sure."

Killian finally managed to open his eyes and look at her.

She knew she'd better explain, and that quickly. "I honestly didn't think I'd survive that," she offered, smiling nervously. "Um, I...I see now that I was wrong about you, sir. You are not the man I..that accusation was meant for, and I..I cannot tell you how sorry I am, sir; I've no doubt your brother would most certainly be proud of you. And I thank you for your mercy. At least, I hope this is mercy, and..not the calm before the storm." Shit. She was rambling. She scratched behind her ear. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling. I wanted..I wanted to be sure of who you are becos..." she took a deep breath. Just get it out. She shut her eyes tight. "BecosI'myourdaughter." She peeked an eye open.