Author's Note:

Apologies that it has taken me so long to finish this. I was really hoping to make this longer and I had some great ideas for Neverland but I guess I've lost the drive to continue it. Also, I had to prove to myself that I was able to finish something.

However I hope that it isn't terrible and that you at least had some fun reading it.

I have started another, much shorter story which I'm going to upload the first chapter of either tonight or in the coming days.

Without further ado, the conclusion to Not What It Seems.

Not What It Seems

Chapter 8: O.A.R – Of a Revelation

Hook groaned as he heard a far-off voice calling out to him. He desperately wanted to stay in the blissful darkness, at least a little while longer, but he breathed deeply and secretly hoped it was Emma singing his name. It wasn't long before his wits were about him and he slowly opened his eyes to take in his surroundings.

"Hook!" Ruby's voice was insistent, pleading, and a little unsure. Unsure perhaps because she didn't want to trust him and she wasn't completely positive she heard him right. Did he really want her to take him to Snow and David's loft apartment? And maybe if she was just a little honest with herself, she was concerned that he needed a doctor as much as the mysterious woman. The Jeep Wrangler had been totaled when she had found him barely coherent trying desperately to get the brunette out. She sighed in relief when he started to stir.

"How long was I out?" the pirate wheezed slightly.

"Just a few minutes."

"Have we arrived at the Charming's place of residence?"

"Yes, but are you sure I can't talk you into going to the hospital?"

"No, lass, there are things of import that must be discussed with the Charmings and Emma."

"Alright, if you insist," there was only a vague hint of annoyance in Ruby's voice.

She quickly climbed out of her parked car and surreptitiously watched as the captain attempted several times to do the same. Silently berating herself she jogged around the front of the car to offer any assistance. The infamous villain roughly shook off any help but the werewolf was persistent.

"If you can't get out of the car on your own, how in the Hell are you going to get you and your friend up the stairs?" Ruby asked incredulously.

Deciding not to respond, Hook allowed the woman to haul him to his feet. His vision swam momentarily and he leaned against the metal frame. Once the vertigo passed he felt a sense of urgency return like an explosion from a canon on the Jolly Roger.

Gritting his teeth in resolve, Hook faced the open door, bent inside the waitress's car and carefully hauled the unconscious woman from the backseat. His breath hitched as his ribs, and basically his entire body, screamed in protest at the action. He heaved Katelynn's inert form over his right shoulder and slowly stepped away from the vehicle, the German Shepherd close on his heels.

"Are you sure you can carry her?" Ruby asked watching the leather clad man struggle with his burden through the entryway.

The pirate turned slightly and looked at her pointedly. Then he slowly started to climb the stairs, silently praying he'd make it to the second floor. Halfway up the steep flight of steps Hook heard Katelynn moan quietly and he could feel her begin to stir. Once they reached the top, he gently placed her on the wooden floor with her back propped against the wall. When Hook looked down at the brunette his blue eyes met gray ones.

"What happened?" she whispered, voice hoarse and breathy, gray eyes at half slits. In her delirium, she reached out to stroke JR's neck, simply knowing that he would be at her side.

Hook regarded the injured woman before replying quietly, "we were chased down and your car ended upside down in a shallow gully. An acquaintance heard the commotion and come to offer assistance. I brought you somewhere safe. Wait here, lass."

As the captain approached the Charming's open door he could hear the chatter from within the apartment. The discussion he was eavesdropping on did not surprise him in the least. Stopping short of the entrance, he placed his hand against the wall to catch his breath. A lot had happened in the span of two days and none of it easy on his still healing body; the scuffle with Maleficent and surviving the car wreckage. Steeling himself, he decided on a grand appearance to the hero types.

Pushing off the wall Hook strode into the living room, sweeping his hard before him, "from the mouths of babes! I would say the lad has a point." What he wasn't anticipating was a swift punch to the face from the prince.

"That's for the last time we met. Tell us why you're here before I use something other than my fist," David threatened.

"I think threatening to kill me is a bit redundant when we're all about to die anyway."

"No thanks to you. Regina just told us that you've been working with Greg and Tamara to get your revenge," Emma added, turning to face the pirate.

"That was before they told me I had to die to get it."

Out in the hallway, Katelynn remained on the floor propped against the wall, lazily petting the dog, listening to the quasi argument coming from where Killian disappeared. While she wasn't entirely surprised to hear that he wasn't exactly a stand-up guy she was slightly taken aback by the threats sent his way. And what were they talking about him getting revenge and willingly working with Greg and Tamara? That didn't sound like the man that helped her but then again she had to admit that she didn't know him that well.

Deciding it was in her best interest to glean as much about these new people as possible, Katelynn lowered herself onto the wood floor and closed her eyes, pretending to be unconscious. Once a con artist, always a con artist she reminded herself.

"Well, I know where Greg and Tamara are," Hook informed the small group.

"Fine. I'll go with him and if he tries anything I'll shoot him in the face."

"Before we go, there's someone who needs help," the pirate confessed as he backed out of the apartment. When his gaze fell upon Katelynn, slumped over, he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He rushed to her side and struggled to lift her dead weight.

"Someone else is out here?" David's voice echoed against the hard surfaces in the hallway. Hook looked up as the prince approached. "Who the hell is this?" he demanded, the harsh tone belied the soft expression written on his facial features.

"I'll explain but first help me with her."

Together the prince and the pirate carried Katelynn into the apartment and laid her on the couch, JR never far behind. Snow, Emma and Henry collectively gasped when they noticed the dried blood on the woman's face and clothing, only Regina seemed uninterested.

"Hook! What the hell? Who is she?" Snow asked shrilly. She dropped to her knees next to the unconscious stranger on her living room sofa.

"Is she from there? How do you even know her?" Emma questioned simultaneously.

"Her name is Katelynn. I met her several days ago, at least I believe it was several days ago, in the forest not far from the town's edge. She was attacked by some men who are after her and I helped her escape. She took me to another town for a little and then dropped me off at the docks and we parted ways."

"That still doesn't explain why she's here now or why she's injured?" Charming continued to interrogate the pirate.

"I have not been able to speak with her about why she is back in Storybrooke but I deduce that she must have seen me in New York before Tamara and her ruffians smuggled me out of the city. She located me and I believe her intent was to retreat out of town but we were run off the road in her car and it rolled into a ditch."

"So, let me get this straight, you thought it would be a good idea to bring someone from this world to our apartment with everything going on?" the shrillness remained in Snow's voice as she tossed another question to Hook.

"Aye. My reasoning is because of this," he stated and pulled something from an inner pocket of his leather coat. Hook unfolded the paper and handed it to Emma. The blonde, David and Regina looking over her shoulders, studied the photo.

"Who are these two?" Emma asked?

"Mary Margaret, come look at this!" David's eyes widened as he looked at the couple staring up at him. He waited with bated breath for his wife to review the photograph their daughter held. As Snow approached and looked down she grabbed the picture from Emma's hand.

"Buttercup."

"And Westley, or as you probably have heard him called, the Dread Pirate Roberts," provided Hook.

"Wait, why do I know those names?"

"It's from the Princess Bride, Mom," Henry offered.

"So, that story is from the Enchanted Forest too?"

"Yes. Everyone knew of the timeless love of Buttercup and her Westley. But they disappeared not long before Regina enacted her curse. Everyone just assumed she did something to them," explained Mary Margaret.

"I didn't do anything to that incipient girl and her obnoxious pirate," Regina admonished. "Although I should have," she added under her breath.

Katelynn decided that now was the perfect time to make it known she was awake. "What the fuck are you people talking about? Killian what's going on? Did you take that picture from the beach house?"

"Lass, you're awake."

"Yeah…awake and pissed. Who the fuck are you people and who do you think I am?" the brunette struggled into a sitting position, trying to find a more defensive position.

"You really need to take it easy," Mary Margaret insisted holding her hands up in a placating manner. "I know you must have a million questions but I promise you we are not going to hurt you."

"It's not who we think you are. It's who we think your parents are," a mostly subdued Regina stated.

"I heard that and you people are out of your minds if you think my parents are Buttercup and Westley from 'The Princess Bride' – great movie by the way…but they're fictional characters!"

"I know how difficult it must be to take it…" David began before being cut off by the stranger who was beginning to get hysterical.

"And who are you supposed to be then? Aladdin?" Katelynn demanded. "And what about you?" she gestured at Snow.

"I'm Snow White."

"Sure you are… and I'm Tinkerbelle," she sneered. "Killian, you believe all this?"

"I do, darling," Hook admitted while staring into her gray eyes.

Before Katelynn had a chance to retort, an earthquake shook the entire building, cups and other trinkets rattling loudly in cupboards and on shelves.

"We don't have time for this!" Regina insisted harshly.

"You're right," Emma cut in. "David, you go with Hook back to the Cannery to retrieve the bean. I'll go with Regina. Mary Margaret, take Henry and Katelynn to Granny's and then gather as many of the towns people as you can."

Hook took the photograph back from Mary Margaret and approached his friend. Holding the picture out to the brunette he waited only a moment before she took it from his outstretched hand and stared at her parents.

"I'm sorry, lass. When this is all over, I'll explain everything to you if you would like."

"Hook! Let's go," David nearly shouted at the pirate, who immediately headed for the door.

"Wait!" the con artist demanded halting everyone's movements. "Hook? As in Captain Hook?" she asked incredulously. The pirate gave her a winning smile and winked, then in a flourish exited the apartment with David. "I'm dead. That's gotta be it. I'm dead and this is some weird version of Heaven."

"I promise you, you aren't dead," Mary Margaret assured the young woman.

"Were you born there?" Henry piped up from the near the door, waiting patiently.

"Was I born where?"

"Ya know… the Enchanted Forest? My mom was born there but she grew up here."

"Ugh… I was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1983," answered Katelynn saying each word slowly to ensure both the woman with the severe pixie haircut and kid understood that she believed they were crazy.

"Do you think you can walk? We really should get moving," Mary Margaret asked.

"Yeah. I think so," Katelynn slowly pushed herself up from the couch, gripping the padded arm. Mary Margaret grabbed a backpack full of odds and ends and then moved next to the injured woman and, without asking permission, pulled an arm over her shoulder.

The trio, JR ghosting behind them, left the apartment and descended the stairs, Katelynn struggling to stay upright. She wanted to believe that it was only due to her injuries from the car accident that she was lightheaded, but she knew it was also because deep down she felt a strange connection to these strangers. Maybe she should tell Mary Margaret that she needed go to the hospital, maybe even request a 72 hour hold.

"So, where are your Mom and Dad? We could really use your Father's help," Katelynn was pulled from her reverie by her matronly companion. She averted her eyes at the mention of her parents and then cleared her throat.

"They passed away about 11 years ago."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…" Mary Margaret started.

"It's fine. It was a long time ago."

"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"

"They were killed by a drunk driver after visiting me during my sophomore year at MIT. My younger brother was with them, he didn't make it either. Nobody would have," the last part was said more to herself than anyone else.

"I knew your mother. She was a wonderful, amazing, and strong woman."

"Thanks," was all Katelynn could bring herself to say.

"So, how did you meet Hook?" Mary Margaret questioned the young woman, curiosity plaguing the timbre of her voice.

"You mean Killian? I refuse to call him Hook. Mostly because right now I can't remotely begin to comprehend what you all just revealed but also because I don't believe he is evil or a bad guy. I've never felt threatened by him," Katelynn stopped herself realizing that she was rambling.

"He is a pirate and one of the most cunning and dangerous out there."

"Still having a hard time letting that sink in…"

"We just have a block and a half to go before we'll be at the diner. Do you think you can make?" Katelynn only nodded in response. "Tell me though, when did you first meet him?"

"Ugh, well, I witnessed the whole accident with him getting hit by that car. He saw me behind some bushes before the paramedics took him away," she answered honestly.

"Hook had mentioned to Emma that he saw someone in the woods but everyone, especially the paramedics, believed it was a hallucination from the injuries he sustained."

"I had assumed that everyone would write him off because he got hit by a car going at least 40 miles an hour, it's kind of amazing he didn't get more hurt. Anyway, I snuck into the hospital to talk to him and it didn't seem like he remembered me, so I left."

"You snuck into his hospital room? What did you pretend to be a nurse or something?" Mary Margaret asked incredulously as they turned into the patio at Granny's diner, leaving the German Shepherd outside.

"Yeah, pretty much," the con artist answered not providing any further details.

"Okay then…don't feel like elaborating?"

"Nope."

The trio made their way inside the diner, Mary Margaret leading Katelynn to a booth just to the right of the door and then stepped away. The young woman practically collapsed onto the red leather bench, exhausted from the short trek from the apartment. Henry plopped down across from her and stared at her intently.

"Your dad is the Dread Pirate Roberts, cool!" he exclaimed, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice.

"So says you people," was Katelynn's flat retort.

A few minutes passed in silence. Katelynn allowed her eyes to close and she was beginning to drift when Mary Margaret returned, gently placing a hand on her shoulder, causing her to lash out. Faster than anyone could process, her right hand had Mary Margaret's wrist in a death grip. Yanking the other woman towards her, she reached up with her left hand, letting it close around her throat. Fire blazed in her gray for a fraction of a second before she realized what she was doing and that there was no immediate danger.

"I'm…I'm sorry," Katelynn whispered, letting go of the other woman.

"It's okay. I should have known better. I want to introduce you to Ruby and Doctor Whale. Doctor Whale is going to take a look at you and make sure you're okay." The con artist stares at the doctor, warily regarding him before she concedes and nods her head.

"I'm Doctor Whale. Can you tell me your full name?" he begins while pulling out a stethoscope from a leather bag he is carrying.

"My name is Katelynn and that's all you're gettin' buddy."

"Do you know where you are, Katelynn?"

"Crazy town?" she mumbles sarcastically. Whale gives her a pointed look and she sighs before adding, "Storybrooke, Maine."

"Good. Do you remember what happened to you?" he asks, placing a blood pressure cuff around her left arm.

"My Jeep flipped," is her short response.

"What caused your Jeep to flip? What were you doing before that?" he presses, moving on to inspect her various visible cuts and bruises.

"I was tailing Killian," the truth coming surprisingly easy with her captivated audience. She notices Whale cock his head slightly at the name. "Seriously…you too? Ugh, Captain Hook or whoever you people think the guy is," she made sure to place a great deal of emphasis on the work think.

"That's where I recognized the name," Ruby said almost breathlessly.

"I happened to see him go into an apartment building in New York after the blonde sheriff, the kid, a dude in his thirties and the old guy with the cane. When they left and he didn't, I went in and found him locked up in a basement storage closet. I had to hide when Tamara and a couple hired thugs came in after me. I watched them put him in the back of a U-Haul and then I followed them here. I tracked him for a few days until I saw him leave the cannery. He got in and my plan was to get outta Dodge but the road was blocked by a black Suburban. It chased us down, shots were fired…I remember the Jeep flipping and then the next thing I knew…I woke up on the floor in a hallway."

"That's a pretty wild tale," Whale commented dryly.

"Any more insane than you people trying to convince me that you're all fairy tale characters and that my parents are too?" her sarcastic tone hanging in the air.

"I guess you are right. Well, I think you're okay. Without doing a CAT scan I can't be one hundred percent sure but I think you have only a mild concussion. Luckily you don't have any broken bones or other signs of serious injury. You are one lucky woman." As the doctor gave her a fairly clean bill of health, others began to enter the diner. "Let me just clean and bandage these cuts and I've got something for the pain too."

As Doctor Whale finished his exam Ruby sat down in the booth next to Henry. Katelynn surreptitiously studied the woman, wincing as Whale disinfected several cuts on her face. The other woman regarded the con artist for a few moments before finally speaking, "I went back to your Jeep and I grabbed your belongings."

"Thanks."

"I put everything over by the door," Ruby gestured to the entrance. "You don't have a lot, do you? I mean it was one suitcase and stuff for the dog."

Katelynn simply shrugged in response. She didn't know this person, hell she didn't know any of them. So she just stared right back in the other woman's dark eyes.

"So are you running from Greg and Tamara?"

"Please. Run from those two idiots? I have more intelligence in my pinky finger than they have combined."

"Who are Greg and Tamara? Who do they work for?" Snow interjected.

"They work for a man named Harvey. He runs an extremely intricate crime syndicate specializing in white collar crimes. I've worked a few jobs with them."

"You're a thief?" Henry exclaimed, unable to hide the intrigue out of his voice.

"I prefer con artist," she replied, winking at the boy.

"When was the last time you worked with them?" Ruby asked.

"Oh, probably two-ish years ago…I think we worked a job in Prague together or it might have been the Dublin heist in 2008. I can't say for sure. But I've worked with them enough to know that they always seem to have an ulterior motive. But that's pretty typical when working with thieves."

"What kinds of things do you steal?" Henry interrupted.

Katelynn turned her piercing gaze on the preteen, looking straight into his eyes, "mostly priceless ancient artifacts and on occasion an art piece or two."

"Really? Wow!"

"Don't encourage him," Snow reprimanded.

"Seriously? You think you are Snow White and you're worried about me talking about white collar crimes will give him a skewed sense of reality?"

Before the princess could retort, the bell over the door jingled as the door opened, several townspeople entering the diner. They looked at Mary Margaret and immediately started to demand answers. The petite woman moved to the center of the diner, closer to the small crowd. Ruby and Henry following her lead, got up from the booth.

"Everyone! We have a plan but we need to wait for David and Emma to get back before we can make any decisions."

As she spoke, the bell chimed again, Emma entered looking frantic. Quickly approaching her mother she didn't have time to inform her of what happened when the door was thrown open a third time. David and Hook rushed in. While the prince gravitated to his family, the pirate hung back closer to the door.

Katelynn observed the entire scene before her. These people really did believe they were going to die or try to escape through a magical portal. At least that's what she believed she was listening to. She was moved by the speech the ginger-haired man with the glasses made, it playing out like a scene from a movie. Then her friend, or Captain Hook, or whoever he was grabbed the small pouch and walked away from the group.

In the end, he conceded and surrendered the pouch. Katelynn felt relief wash over her for some reason. Her gray eyes stayed on Killian as he stared at the floor lost in thought. Rising from the booth she walked over to him and placed a gentle hand on his leather clad shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Aye, lass," was the almost hollowed response Hook provided.

"Take me with you."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't try to con a con artist, Killian. I saw your sleight of hand trick."

Hook stepped closer to Katelynn and gazed deep into her eyes, blue boring into gray. When she didn't back down from his silent intensity he shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, if you insist. But I don't know if it'll be possible for you to ever come back here," he warned.

"Well, I guess it's good that there's nothin' here for me anyway."

Together they left the diner, grabbing her belongings near the door and headed for the Jolly Roger, JR trotted along with the duo. As they approached the ship, Katelynn stopped and stared in shock.

"You…everyone…were telling the truth," she sputtered as they climbed the gangplank. "I don't know a damn thing about sailing, so I'm not sure what you want me to do," she added while unceremoniously dropping a large duffel bag from her shoulder.

For the next ten minutes, the captain barked orders at his new crew member and it wasn't long before the Jolly Roger was leaving port. With Killian behind the helm, Katelynn sat down on a set of stairs close by and studied the ship, her mind still reeling. "Who died?" she asked suddenly.

"Someone whom I failed," Hook responded, regret evident in his tone.

"What happened?"

"My love was murdered in front of me and my hand was cut off."

"And let me guess, that's when you became Captain Hook and you've been hunting the person responsible ever since?"

"Aye. Nothing gets by you."

"Then why do you look like you bit into a lemon?"

"Why whatever do you mean?"

Katelynn regarded the brooding man, "Stealing that magic bean, it's got you all torn up inside right now."

"And how would you know, Lass?"

"I can see it in your eyes now. Just like there was something in your voice and your posture when you did the sleight of hand trick," she observed. "You like the sheriff, don't you?"

The pirate captain sputtered and stuttered until he finally stopped. He gazed out over the calm waters of the bay and finally nodded in agreement. "I am intrigued by her if nothing else."

"Uh huh. So, what now?"

"I don't understand," Hook stated, playing dumb.

"Oh, yes you do. You like her. Do something about it."

"She's a princess, the product of True Love. I'm a pirate, a villain."

"God that sounds so ridiculous. I really must be losing my mind," she muttered. "I don't see you as a villain. I see a man who went out of his way to help a stranger. I see a man whose real story hasn't been given a chance to be told."

Hook considered his new companion until he finally shrugged, "While I appreciate your kind words, Katelynn it doesn't change that I am in fact a villain to all of Storybrooke, including Emma."

"Like I said, do something about it. Prove them wrong," she said with conviction, staring into his eyes.

Another moment past in silence until Hook forcefully turned the helm and sharply set a course back for land. He steeled himself as he made his decision.

"Woah, what are you doing?"

"Proving them wrong."

The End