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Astrid pulled the sheets off of the sofa and then sat down on the top of the couch next to where Hook sat. She had already healed herself and was also in a clean set of clothes.

She had an arm propped on her adopted father's shoulders. "What is it?"

Hook glanced up at the girl before he admitted, "It's just, um, a lot has happened between us..."

Astrid furrowed her brow, starting, "What's wrong?"

"I'm the problem. You sacrificed yourself again to save all of us. You took away your sister's and my darkness. You did it out of love. I was weak-" Hook began.

"No. You're still the same man I look up to, the same man who... doesn't ever give up and taught me mostly everything that I know." Astrid assured the pirate, "And I wouldn't change things because I would sacrifice myself for all of you in a heartbeat. It's okay."

"You raise the bar very high, AJ." Hook sighed, "The fact is, I don't measure up."

Astrid moved a hand on top of his head as he glanced back up at her. "Let me be the judge of that. You're always there for me, and I'm always going to be there for you."

Hook smiled up at her just as there was suddenly a knock on the door.

Astrid shared a curious look with the pirate before standing back up and stepping off the last step and moving over to the door and opened it to reveal a man.

"Hey, can we help you?" Astrid spoke up towards the man who looked over at Hook in shock and let out, "Killian."

Hook's jaw dropped somewhat as he stood up and moved over to his daughter and brother at the door. "Liam?"

Liam stepped into the house and commented, "So, the rumors are true. After all these years, my little brother is finally here."

Astrid widened her eyes, having heard many stories about the Liam Jones and how Hook looked up to him and all. "Wait. As in the Liam, your big brother? The one you looked up to?"

Hook nodded, saying, "Aye. That's the one." Liam was confused of who the girl next to them was, but Hook soon introduced her to him, "Liam, this is my daughter, Astrid."

He wrapped a fatherly arm around her shoulders while Liam raised his eyebrows and replied, "So, I guess that makes me an uncle. It's nice to meet you."

Astrid grinned, saying, "Likewise. I've heard a lot of good things about you."

Emma stepped into the room and noticed the three of them and spoke up curiously, "What's going on?"

"Liam here is Hook's big brother. This is Emma, my sister and his love. It's sort of complicated, but he'll explain it to you." Astrid commented, first to her sister and then towards Liam, "In the meantime, I'm gonna go see my husband and son."

Astrid skipped away from the three of them and moved upstairs, finding Peter reading a storybook to Zephyr who was laying down.

She leaned against the doorframe and watched the two loves of her life and smiled.

"...And then the brave yet fierce queen took off running through the jungle until her king suddenly caught her in his arms, both laughing and was happy with one another," Peter finished the story, "They had many adventures together, but they equally enjoyed the day that their son, the prince, was born. So, the little charming family lived happily ever after. The end."

Zephyr rubbed his eyes sleepily with one hand as he spoke up, "Are they still happy, Daddy? Do they still have one another?"

"Yes," Astrid began as she announced herself, stepping over to her husband and son, "That family always find a way back to each other. And no matter what, they're happy because they have one amazing family."

Zephyr smiled and was now being held by his mother who kissed him on the top of his head. "I love you, Mommy, Daddy."

"We love you more, Kid," Peter lightly told the five year old who then drifted off asleep in his parents' arms.

Astrid smiled down at her son before looking up at Peter, starting, "I don't want him growing up without both of his parents. We have to find a way to save at least you-"

"We will, love, and we'll save you, too. We will all get out of here and go home again. I promise." Peter assured his wife, kissing her on the lips.

"When did you become the hopeful one?" Astrid smirked, but genuinely she liked that he was hopeful now.

"When you came into my life. You taught me that there is always hope, and it's important to fight for what matters." Peter admitted, "Us. Family. Love."

Astrid's smirk soon fell into a light grin on her face as she replied, "I love you. Always and forever."

"I love you, too-- forever and always," Peter murmured, now kissing her on her forehead. "And as long as we have each other, we'll always be home because you're my home, A."

"And you're mine," Astrid murmured, kissing him now as the couple now laid there and talked about different things while Zephyr was asleep in his parents' arms.

***

Astrid sat on the countertop as Peter stood next to her with Hook on his other side. Emma, Liam, and Regina also stood around the kitchen.

David carried a box of clothes and placed it on top of other counter as Snow grinned, saying, "In the world above, this is where I found the storybook, so..." She began looking through the box before not finding the book. "Sorry."

"Are we really surprised?" Regina spoke up, "That book is the embodiment of hope, and there's not a lot of that here in the Underworld."

"Let's keep looking," David replied as Peter helped his wife off the counter and parted, all starting to search the home for the storybook.

Astrid picked up her son's backpack while Hook picked up Henry's and both emptied the bags, looking through the stuff.

Hook looked up over at the stairs and noticed his brother and then Emma step down them as he asked his love, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Fine. Let's keep looking." Emma sighed, glancing over at her sister who knew that she was lying and wasn't fine.

Astrid was about to say something until Henry suddenly entered the home and began, "Hey. What's... going on?"

"Oh, looking for the storybook," Snow remarked, "You know, Underworld Edition."

"Really?" Henry replied, just as David, Regina, and Peter moved over to them, "Well, I think I might know exactly where it is."

Simultaneously, both David and Astrid stepped forward and asked curiously, "How would you know that?"

"The Apprentice. I saw him at... Granny's," Henry told them, "He said the Sorcerer's mansion is down here and there's a bunch of his stuff inside, like the storybook."

"Finally, some good news," Regina sighed in relief.

"Well, sort of," Henry commented, "The house is locked with magic, and the sheriff has the key."

"Your evil twin is sheriff?" Hook started, "Hades has panache, I'll give him that."

Astrid glanced down at the floor at that just as David replied, "Well, it's time for my brother and me to have an overdue chat."

"Well, you won't be alone," Snow said, "I still owe him a punch in his pretty mouth for kissing me."

"He kissed you?" Both Astrid and David remarked, their arms now folded across their chests.

"Thought it was you," Snow told her husband who looked over at her and replied, "Let's go."

Astrid stopped her parents from leaving and added, "Just... if you find him, tell him about me. Let him know that I'm okay. James did care about me from the time I spent with him, after all."

David nodded, saying, "I will." He kissed the top of her head and followed after his wife out of the apartment.

"In the meanwhile, we should all go about our usual business." Liam spoke up, "Hades has eyes everywhere. We can't have him learning what we're up to."

"Fine plan-" Hook started just as his adopted daughter stepped over to the two and cut in, "Yeah, can't wait to see the look on his face when he learns a valuable lesson-- one should never mess with the Brothers Jones and me."

Astrid smirked and turned, walking out of the house.

"I approve of your daughter, Killian. She's a lot like you. A hero." Liam remarked.

"Trust me, Astrid's the best hero I know-- aside from you, that is." Hook commented proudly.

***

"The mansion is here. I guess the old White Beard was telling the truth." Hook spoke up as the group stepped onto the porch of the large mansion.

"Do we have the key?" Liam asked.

"We have it." Astrid answered as she held up the said key, "But there's a protection spell on it. Could be dangerous to open, so allow me."

"No, no, I suppose I should do the honors. I've been dead the longest. I'd say I have the least to lose." Liam stopped her.

"You always were the noble one, weren't you?" Hook smiled before nodding at Astrid who then gave the key over to Liam, which he used to unlock the door.

The group stepped inside of the house and now looked around as Hook sarcastically remarked, "Wonderful. I love what they've done with the place."

"We should split up-- Move fast." Liam suggested.

"Um, yeah, I guess," Emma slowly agreed before facing her son, "Henry, uh, you got to stay here."

"But this was my idea." Henry argued, "I'm not gonna stand behind and do nothing."

"You're not doing nothing." Emma assured, "You're the lookout."

"Lookout?" Henry started in slight disbelief.

"Don't argue with your mother," Regina told her son who began, "But-" Regina gave him a look and told him, "Or your mother."

Astrid patted her nephew's shoulder as he looked over at her. "Hey, why don't he look with me? I'll keep an eye on him and he'll get to be a part of this, too."

Henry smiled and nodded at that idea while his two mothers shared a look and agreed, "Okay. Stay with Astrid."

Astrid winked a little at the boy and nodded in a separate direction as they walked that way while everyone else went different ways.

***

Astrid and Emma both stepped over to where they had found Liam outside beside the well as Astrid spoke up first, "Find anything?"

Liam turned around and faced the girl in surprise, letting out, "Astrid. Emma. I'm afraid a ship's captain can only be cooped up for so long. I had to come out and get some air."

Both Emma and Astrid slowly nodded, sharing a small look between the other. "What brings you two here?" He added.

"I wanted to show you this," Emma started and removed her love's ring and showed it to him.

Liam froze slightly and looked at the piece of jewelry before saying, "Oh. It's the ring I gave Killian. I noticed he wasn't wearing it. I figured he would have gave it to his daughter here."

"He gave it to me." Emma began, "And you know what he told me when he did? That it belonged to a much better man than him. You're his hero. He doesn't think you can do no wrong."

Liam smiled a little.

"Which is why we can't figure out why you would be bloody lying to him," Astrid finished for her sister just as Liam's smile dropped and Hook walked up to them in somewhat confusion.

"Liam, Emma, Astrid... What's going on?" The said one-handed pirate started.

Liam simply looked over at him, saying, "They think I lied to you."

Emma shook her head and sighed, "I don't think it. I know it. He took the pages. I can prove it. Ask him to show you his hands. He's been hiding them since we got here."

Liam began, "Look, if it would help to clear things up, I'd be happy to-"

Hook shook his head and stopped his brother, "That won't be necessary. I don't need proof to know what's really going on here." He looked over at Emma. "Emma, when are you gonna admit that this isn't really about my brother?"

Emma looked at him in confusion and answered with another question, "Then what else is this about?"

"Us." Hook admitted, making Emma stiffen some. "You think if you can prove that Liam is a villain, then I'll somehow feel like I was less of one. That you can convince me I'm worth saving, and that we've got a future together."

Astrid widened her eyes some while her voice broke some as she began, "You agree with him?"

Hook glanced over at his adopted daughter and sighed, "Kid, you shouldn't have healed me. I should be the one down here. You shouldn't be the one to go through this. You deserve good.."

Astrid gave him a look and stepped over to him, an eyebrow lifted. "Are you bloody serious right now? You are a very good man, Dad. And you're family. You have people who care about you. You just have to forgive yourself. I've bloody forgiven everyone, including you, and even myself."

A single tear fell down Astrid's face as she continued, "Thing is... No matter how many times I tell you, or anybody does, you have to bloody do it yourself."

Then Astrid turned around and walked away with Emma following beside her, taking her hand in hers in reassurance.

"Astrid, kid." Killian sighed regrettably.

But Astrid wiped her face and just kept walking away.

***

Astrid felt her father figure's pain and appeared in a cave where fire crept around the edges and beneath them. She noticed some sailors and Hook laying on the floor near the edge in tears almost.

Hades was standing in front of Hook just as a white light shone as Hook let out, "What's happening?"

"No," Hades began, "You'll pay for this." He then disappeared just as Astrid quickly ran over to the one handed pirate and knelt in front of him.

"Astrid?" Hook started, the two now hugging one another as he moved his hand on the back of her head. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere."

Astrid nodded quickly in the embrace and then noticed Liam suddenly rise up in a row boat behind them. "Dad."

Hook also looked behind him and noticed his brother and stood up along with Astrid, letting out, "Liam. You're safe."

"Yes, it appears I am," Liam also let out, adding, "I suppose this is the sacrifice I should have made long ago. And now I can finally depart."

Astrid kept a light hand on her adopted father's arm while Hook nodded, saying, "Then go. All of you. Now that you finally know the truth, your unfinished business is complete as well."

"Get on board, men," Liam agreed while both Astrid and Hook steadied the boat to allow the crew to hop aboard the boat. "What about you, brother?"

Hook looked over at Astrid who also glanced at him. "My unfinished business isn't done yet. Not until Emma, Astrid, and I have defeated Hades... And even then, I won't be leaving my daughter anytime soon."

Astrid smiled a little while Hook wrapped a fatherly arm around her shoulders as Liam nodded and replied, "Tell Emma I'm sorry and I was wrong. She does want what's best for you-- like my niece here."

Astrid smirked a little, saying, "Thanks, Uncle Liam."

Both the Jones brothers laughed somewhat as Liam added, "And don't worry about reaching that bar anymore, Killian. You've become a true hero in a way I never could. Goodbye."

He reached out towards Hook who grabbed his lower arm and let out, "Goodbye, brother." The two then let go as the boat then took the men and Liam to a better place.

Astrid spoke up in slight amusement, "I'm gonna miss him. He really wasn't so bad."

Hook chuckled and pulled his daughter in a more relieved hug, kissing the top of her head in assurance. "Yeah, yeah, he wasn't. And kid, you were right. And all of us are getting out and going home."

***

Peter, Hook, David, Emma, Regina, and Snow stood around the counter in kitchen of the Blanchard loft while Regina flipped through the storybook.

"There's nothing in this entire book about Hades." Snow began.

"Liam ripped out every page." Hook sighed before adding, "On behalf of my brother, I'm sorry."

Emma spoke up optimistically, "Maybe there's something else in here that can help us. Our storybook had all kinds of secrets in it."

"Well, Henry's kind of the expert on storybooks. Where is he?" David spoke up.

Peter had his arms folded across his chest as he answered him, "He's upstairs talking to my wife-"

"And also going full emo teenager," Emma cut in with Regina adding, "And he doesn't want to talk to anyone right now-- except for his favorite person and aunt known as Astrid."

David shrugged, "Maybe he doesn't want to talk to his mothers." He left to go upstairs and walked to the room his daughter and two grandsons was in. "Hey there. What's my favorite grandsons up to?"

Astrid was sitting Indian-style, her legs folded, as she faced her nephew on the bed while Zephyr was sitting in his mother's lap.

"Nothing. Just thinking." Henry sighed.

"Mind if I think with you three?" David began as Henry shrugged some while the said man moved over to the bed and sat behind him. "So, what are we thinking about?"

"I don't want to talk about it." "He doesn't want to talk about it." Both Henry and Zephyr simultaneously commented in that order, making Astrid kiss the side of her son's head.

"Okay," David nodded, adding, "Let's talk about me." He sighed. "I had a pretty bad day today. I learned that my twin brother resented me his whole life."

"I thought he grew up a prince," Henry started.

"He wanted something else." Astrid spoke up softy, "What my dad. A loving mother."

"She's right, like always," David nodded.

"Please don't make this a lesson." Henry sighed with a small smile on his face.

"Too late." David replied, "See, some people would give anything to have a family like yours, Henry. Because whatever's going on with you, you know you always have someone you can talk to."

Astrid chuckled softly, adding, "Or if you just wanna stay up here and be a teenager, that's cool, too."

She stood up after her son and patted Henry lightly on the back before moving over to the door. "Wait. I need to show you something."

The four of them came downstairs as Henry then showed everyone the magical pen in his hand. "The Author's pen? I thought you destroyed it." Regina began.

"I did, but that just brought it here." Henry explained, "The Apprentice told me where it was. I thought if I used its power, I could be a hero."

Regina looked at him confused and inquired, "Henry, what made you think of this?"

"At first, it was Cruella. She wanted me to use it to bring her back to life." Henry reluctantly admitted.

"Why would you help her?" Emma began also in confusion.

Henry looked over at the said woman and replied, "To help you. She said you have all this guilt about killing her, and that's when I realized I have all this power, and I ignore it. I just live in everyone's shadow. I want to be the hero instead of the one the heroes rescue."

Emma nodded, saying, "I understand that, but that's not the way to do it."