*warning... another time skip/fast forwarding past some parts that are written later on

The Enchanted Forest

The Jolly Roger rocks gently on the small waves coming into the port. But after these past few years, Calypso no longer feels uneasy with the motion. In fact, it didn't take her very long to get used to living on a ship at all.

She stands in front of a large, silver mirror. It takes up almost an entirety of a corner in their room. Killian had insisted on getting it even though Cali tried to convince him that they didn't need it.

Killian's chin rests on her shoulder, humming a little as Cali finishes her braid off. He moves with Cali as she turns to look out the window at the approaching dawn. Her fingers are subconsciously fiddling with her engagement ring, a habit that she picked up years ago.

Once they got away, once they were together, getting married slipped their minds. Adventure and treasure and rum and nights spent together became priorities over being husband and wife. They just wanted to be together.

"Come on, love."

Killian whisper's in her ear, pushing a bright red hat into her nervous hands. His deep voice shoots through her spine and vibrates in her bones.

"I don't like this plan one bit, Kai."

"I'll be fine, Cals. This is just our backup plan."

Mr. Smee, the pairs first mate, had been desperate for eternal life. Somehow the idiot had gotten his hands on a magic bean — and the attention of the Dark One. Cali's father. It had scared her to her very core to know that Rumplestiltskin was looking for her mother, and for her.

He wanted revenge, believing that the pair were dead. Because that's how Cali had left. Like a prisoner in the night. Like a ghost with no ties to the place its' soul had lived.

And he still believed that she was dead. He fully believed that Killian had killed her. And maybe he thinks that Killian killed Milah too. Only the gods know how close he was to doing that.

Cali hasn't kept tabs on her mother. But Milah's decision to disappear all those years ago, and the choices she made in order to, they were the reason that Cali had been able to accept Killian's offer at last. And now she was the fiancé of the most feared pirate captain in all the realms, as was he.

"Fine. Are you ready?"

"I am."

He turns Cali to face him. An affectionate smile on his lips as he looks into her eyes. He can see the doubts in her eyes. He can see her hands shaking before he takes them in his. Cali leans into him, taking her hands out of his in order to put them around his neck.

She smiles as his head dips in order to capture her lips in his. Killian's arms wrap around her waist to pull her flush against his chest.

Cali breaks away for a breath before chasing after his lips again. A furious blush in her cheeks as she grips the hair at the nape of his neck before he breaks it, gasping for a breath.

"Time to go, love."

Killian stands in the center of the cobble stone street, the same spot that he was confronted by the Dark One last night. His hand is resting on the hilt of his sword.

Cali hides in an alley adjacent to the street, a dagger twirling in her hand as she restlessly waits for her father to show.

Suddenly Rumplestiltskin appears, Killian's blade in his hand.

"Sorry, but killing a man with his own sword was just too delicious to pass up."

Begrudgingly, Killian takes up the spare sword that the Dark One tosses down in front of him. Then the duel begins. Each jabbing at the other. Parrying and blocking back and forth. Advancing and pressing the other back.

But after a few minutes, Rumple grows bored of not winning and uses his powers to gain an upper hand on Killian.

Cali's heart practically stops as Killian winces at the point of his own sword. She wants to scream, call this off and end it now.

"Go on. I'm ready for the sword."

Her mouth goes dry. Wait. She almost yells. He can't die. She can't lose Killian.

"No... Do you know what it's like to have your wife and daughter stolen from you? To feel powerless to stop it? It feels like having your heart ripped from your chest. Actually let me show you."

A cry slips from Killian as the Dark One's hand magically enters his chest in order to steal his heart. Blood pounds heavily in Cali's ears and she can't even hear herself screaming for him to stop. And her gut wrenches as Killian winces beneath him. As he mumbles a terrified no as she reveals herself to her father.

"Calypso?"

She was a bloody sight to him. A sword held around her waist by a leather belt that hung loosely against her pants. Her black leather jacket hung around her thighs and kept several daggers hidden from view. A leather corset over a white blouse that may belong to Killian keeps her shirt in place. A long braid hangs over her shoulder and her boots have suspicious stains around the soles.

This is not the person that he remembers as his previously dead daughter.

"Calypso... how?"

In his anguish, Rumple pulls his hand, empty, from Killian's chest. Cali's eyes watch his as she checks on him as Killian gasps for breath.

"Cali, you have to run."

"No. I am not leaving without you."

The Dark One's eyes glare, darkening as he turns his gaze onto his daughter.

"Oh, how sweet. It appears there's much more to this fairy tale than I know. Do tell me, Princess."

Cali winces at the nickname. Something she hasn't heard since she was small. Something she is and never was.

"Rumple, please. I can explain everything. Just don't hurt him."

"Tick tock, dearie, tick tock," he practically snarls. Cali takes a deep breath before she begins.

"When Killian and I met we, we instantly fell in love with one another. I never knew we would happen. I didn't know that it would happen like it did. I didn't know that it would come to this. But it did, we're engaged."

"And so, here we are. You've come to save the love of your life, your twoo wuv- the pirate. I didn't realize the power of true love before. It is impressive, and I'd hate to break it up. Actually, no, I'd love to—"

Killian gasps as his sword digs into his side once again, but Cali stops Rumple, begging him to just let them be.

"Please, I owe Killian everything, I won't let you kill him."

Rumple chuckles, glancing at his daughter before turning back to killing the pirate.

"Ah, so sweet. Again. But I'm still gonna kill 'em."

"Even though we have something you want?"

Cali pulls out the red hat with a smirk. Her brow rises in a challenge and her eyes glitter. Adrenaline is pumping through her veins and this, this is the feeling that she's become addicted to as she becomes more of a pirate.

"Now where did you get that?"

The Dark One snarls, yanking the sword out of Killian's side as he recognizes the cloth.

"Oh I think you know exactly where I got it. I may not know what the Dark One wants with a magic bean. But I have it. Now, I've heard that you like making deals?"

Cali was cocky. Why on earth would he try anything? She now had the one thing that he was chasing after even more desperately than the so-called "killer" of his wife and daughter.

"Oh, I feel a proposal coming on."

"The bean for our lives, deal?"

"I want to see it first."

Killian is supported by Cali as they board the Jolly Roger with the Dark One close behind.

"Captains, what happened?"

"Doesn't matter," Cali snaps, "fetch some water. And bring me the bean. Now!"

At their captain's orders the crew jump to attention and rush to do as Cali has asked.

She kisses Killian quickly, wanting to go through with the deal as swiftly and as soon as possible. Only Killian grabs her hand and pulls her back as her father boards the ship, capturing her lips in his one more time. Her eyes latch onto his, a lovesick spark in his eyes and an adoring smile on her features.

Cali is passed the bean a moment later, and Rumplestiltskin examines the ship and crew as they stand at wait for new orders. Most eyeing the Dark One with distrust, a handful with hands on the hilts of their own swords protectively.

"Well, well... seem like you finally found a family that you like. Or do you like this one any better?"

"We're not here for your snark Dark One. You're here for this."

Cali holds up the bean, sneering when he tries to snatch it only to fail as she slips it away from his hand with a mocking shake of her head. Tossing it directly across the deck to Killian in a swift motion, he catches it easily and pockets it.

"You asked to see it and now you have. Do we have a deal? Are you ready to go out separate ways?"

"Do you mean - do I forgive you? Can I move on from the fact that you ran away and never came home? After you abandoned your family like your family? I can see that you twooly in love."

Rumple mocks her, trying to gain ground back. But the thick skin Milah gave her under Rumple's ignorant eyes leaves him with less chance to manipulate her than he would like.

"Good."

Relief almost fills her stomach. Finally able to leave the past in the past. Her father leaving her and her love alone and alive. Her mother long gone from her thoughts and doubts.

"Just one question."

Dread rushes through Cali. His hands flourish and panic overwhelms her senses.

"How could you leave, Bae?"

The rigging comes undone and snaps as it whirls and winds around the ship. The Dark One approaches Cali growling and she hurriedly takes several steps back until she hits the railing.

"Do you know what it was like, walking home that night—"

"Rumple!"

Cali takes another step back, losing her balance and nearly falling overboard. Killian rushes forward, and their crew draw their swords at the imminent threat to their captains. Only the rigging wraps across Killian's chest, tying him to a mast.

"Knowing I had to tell your little brother—"

"Please!"

The crew are left battling their own ship as Cali teeters on the edge.

"That his mother and sister were dead!"

He's so so close now. Cali's eyes water and nightmares flash before her as terror overtakes her senses. She stumbles over her words, reverting back to that kid that couldn't stand up for herself.

"I was wrong, to, to never have come back. To have just run—"

"You left us! You let your mother leave! You abandoned him!"

But anger fills Cali at his words and she pushes aside her fears to get in his face instead.

"How dare you! She abandoned you because she despised you! You were a liar and a man who was so scared of being a coward that you didn't even realize that you were already one! She left you because you gave her nothing after you broke your damn foot! And I didn't abandon anyone, you, you abandoned me first!"

Cali glares into his eyes as she pants and anger fills Rumple's chest as he explodes.

"You should be sorry! You let him go!"

"Oh I am sorry! Sorry that I let my misery cloud my judgement!"

"And why were you so miserable?"

"I was being abused! You ignored everything that she did to me because it was easy. She hadn't loved me since she had Bae, neither of you have! You make excuses, about being here for me? But you're just here for yourself."

Cali pushes a finger into his chest, forcing him to back up in shock as she screams at him. And then he moves, grabbing her by the throat. Her eyes roll, almost blacking out as fear takes her from reality. She shoves tears and memories away as the air begins to grow thin and she can hear Killian struggling in the background.

As Rumple's hand lets go of her throat, it enters Cali's chest in turn. She groans, a half-hearted scream slipping from her lips as she collapses to her knees. Everything blazes in flames and is numb as ice all at the same time as he squeezes her heart.

"Death almost seems too good for you Princess... besides, we did make a deal."

He releases her heart only grab Cali in a chokehold and hold her back against his chest. She's gasping for air, tears falling heavily, and struggling against him with all of the strength remaining in her bones.

Rumple looks Killian in the eyes as he whispers in Cali's ear.

"Time to go, Calypso."

"No!"

Killian let's put a strangled yell as he cuts himself loose from the rigging and lunges at the Dark One with a hook. He stabs Rumple in the chest and all three look at it in surprise before the Dark One starts laughing.

Horror takes a hold of Killian's heart as the Dark One chuckles.

"It'll take more than that to kill me, Dearie."

Cali's eyes widen. She pushes against her father's arm as Rumple raises his other hand with his sword in it.

"I love y—"

She tries to scream it before the Dark One slashes down with his sword and a red mist takes the pair away from the coast, away from the Jolly Roger, away from Killian Jones.

The pair appear in a lavish room. Overly decorated and Cali feels as though she's going to be sick as she finally gets away from her father's grip.

She pulls a dagger out of her pocket and points the blade at him with shaking hands.

Let me go!"

"I can't lose you too-"

"Lose me? You never had me! You just tried to kill me and the love of my life!"

"Oh no, I haven't lost you yet."

A hand drops from the Dark One's and Cali's eyes widen as she recognizes it as Killian's. The one Rumple thought the bean was in. But she knows that Killian is smarter than that. She knows that Rumple has nothing.

Yet fear still builds in her as Rumplestiltskin presses into her space. Tears still run down her cheeks and her chest aches with sobs held in.

She looks to her engagement ring. For just one last comfort before she loses a battle she never could've won. Only it's gone.

Cali looks at her father in horror. Black takes the edges of her vision. She's falling in slow motion as the world mutes. Then all she sees is back, and all she knows is gone.

Images flash before her eyes and she struggles in sleep. Grabbing hands and horrible whispers. Something soft beneath her and a hand holding her own. But all she can see is what's before her.

Killian kidnapping her and her mother in the dead of night.

Cali struggles against the dreams, wanting to cry and scream against this because that is not Killian. That's not what happened.

Him killing Milah and throwing her body out to sea.

Tears fall from Cali's eyes and a strangled sob takes off from her lips as she struggles against whatever is changing her mind.

She knows that this is fake.

Every horrible thing that he does to her. Every horrible thing that happens.

But everything feels wrong until the feelings begin to battle with her head and tell that this is right.

That Killian used her in a deal. Planning to sell her off for some money and supplies.

But Cali calls him Killian! Why would she call her captor by his name if she did not choose to be there. Air comes hard to find as Cali struggles weaken against the images in her head.

Rumplestiltskin rescuing her out or no where. Taking her away from the pirate who had screamed as they were torn apart—

Cali's heart is screaming that there is something wrong in her head. That she needs to fight it or else-

Gasping, Cali wakes and it's so hard to see through the curtains of tears falling from her eyes that she hardly see anything around her. But someone pulls her close and she knows that it's her father and so she lets go, sobbing into his chest.

"Don't worry, Princess. I won't let him find you again," Rumple whispers against her ear as she cries. Only there's a twisted smile on his face as he holds the last person he can call family, all his own.

Killian stares at the spot Cali disappeared from only a few moments ago. Blood had leaked onto the deck from his amputated hand, spreading across the boards. His gaze shifts to the hook he had stabbed the Dark One with in a desperate attempt to save her. Now it's where his hand was, a reminder of what and who he failed.

Yet in the mess of blood a glint of silver shines. Killian's eyes soften and he almost weeps as he picks up Cali's little engagement ring from his blood. He slips it onto his pinky, the only finger he now has that will fit it. It was never much, a silver band with a small diamond set in the middle. It doesn't quite match the rest of his pirate attire, nor does it fit his persona, but it's her's and that's all that matters to him.

He holds the damned magic bean close to his chest before throwing it overboard. The water begins to swirl and the Jolly Roger dips as it begins to sink into the portal.

"Captain! Where are we headed?"

"Neverland!"

And Killian vows to himself in a whisper as his ship falls between worlds.

"Cali, you will always be stuck in my head, until I find my way back to you..."

OLD NOTES / [ ➤𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤? 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭.➤ ➤𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧?➤ ➤𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮! 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞!➤  ➤𝟏𝟎-𝟏-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎➤  ➤𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐓𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐚𝐢. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐊𝐢 ➤𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟗-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎➤ ]

NEW NOTES / mwhahaha only the oldest of my readers would remember the last time this chapter was posted. one of the hardest that I've had to write (as most of it was in first person and it's so much pain).

I know that there are a lot of blank spaces in the story right now, none that not many people know to put together but I do promise that all questions that you have will be answered in a chapter very soon!!

there are a lot of changes from the last version of this chapter, but I found a few plot changes I wanted to write. Cali's character also changed with the rewrite so believe me, this fits her so much better.

also ✨ IT'S MY BIRTHDAY ✨

i would love to hear your thoughts? maybe even if I made you angry or if you cried? feedback just really helps me feel motivated to write!!

anyways, don't forget that following me and/or my insta is really helpful to getting this book updated more often. but I also do have other books, although you're all free to look at those too. I write a lot of different fandoms <3

hope you enjoyed it💕
09.02.2022