AU: Instead of Neal dying, at the last moment, Emma kisses him, and true love's kiss brings him back to life, and he is able to be saved, as well as Rumple, in their own separate bodies and minds. Then Emma is left once again with both Neil and Hook trying to impress her and win her affections, but this time she is feeling somewhat more swayed by Neal because when Henry regains his memories he is so excited to have his dad back, Emma can't help but think about what it would be like to have their family together finally. Everything that happens in the show though still happens, with Zelena cursing Hook's lips, and Emma losing her magic when she saves his life, and all of them banding together to stop her from performing her spell at the last moment.

Zelena collapsed in a heap; her magic gone the moment Regina held the amulet in her hand. Almost simultaneously, her once enchanted flying monkeys reverted back into the people they had been, crash landing across the barn.

"Is this what she was doing with everyone that was missing?" David asked. "Turning them all into monkey slaves!"

"At least they're back now," Robin said. He grinned and gave one of his missing friends a hug.

"Hey, this one's not looking so good," Hook called out, drawing everyone's attention to a girl in the far corner. Her body was awkwardly collapsed across a stack of crates and as far as anyone could tell she wasn't moving.

"Is she alive?" Little John asked, though from everyone's silence, it was likely they were all thinking it.

No one moved for a moment and then finally Hook knelt beside her and pressed two fingers to her neck for a pulse. "She's alive. She looks pretty banged up though."

"Well, maybe she fell when she stopped being a flying monkey," Robin said.

"She needs medical attention," Mary-Margaret said.

"Little John," Robin said, turning to his man, "can you take her to the hospital?"

Little John moved to retrieve her, but Hook stepped in the way. "It's all right, Mate. I've got this one."

Emma frowned. "Hook, why don't you let Little John take care of her? I was hoping we could talk…"

"I don't think there's anything for us to talk about, love. Go be with your family now," he said. "I'll take care of the girl. You've all got your own matters to attend to." Without another glance at Emma or another word to anyone, he leaned down, lifted the unconscious girl into his arms, and turned to leave.

David followed him away from the others, still cradling his new baby in his arms, and stopped Hook at the door to the barn. "Take my truck," he offered. "You can't walk all the way to town carrying her like that. I'll ride back with Emma."

Hook prepared to refuse, but he knew David was being sincere, and he nodded. "I appreciate it, Mate." He took the girl to the truck and set her carefully across the front seat with her head resting on his leg once he had taken his position behind the wheel. She hadn't stirred at all, but from her slowly and steadily rising chest he could tell she was still breathing.

When he arrived at the hospital, he parked outside the main doors, ignoring the "no parking" signs posted, and carried her in.

"This girl needs the doctor," he said to the first person who would attend to him.

"What's wrong with her?" the nurse asked.

"Do I look like a bloody doctor?" Hook asked. "Where's Dr. Whale?"

"I think he's on break," she said.

"Well break's over, he's got a new patient," Hook said. "Now be a dear, and point me to a bed."

The nurse called for a second nurse to assist and led Hook to an empty examination bed. He placed the girl carefully on the exam bed. Her head lolled to the side, and he brushed strands of her honey brown hair away from her face automatically. Her breathing was still steady, but her skin was cold and her lips were more pale than before.

"She needs the doc, now," he said.

One of the nurses left to retrieve Dr. Whale, and the other immediately began checking the girl's vitals and hooking her up to a myriad of machines. Hook lingered in the background, letting the nurse, but not willing to leave until he knew everything was going to be okay.

Dr. Whale rushed over, pulling a lab coat over a pair of slacks and blue dress shirt. "Who's this? What happened to her?"

"I don't know," Hook said.

Dr. Whale frowned.

"She was one of the unfortunate lot that got themselves turned into flying monkeys, and when the witch's magic was taken they were all turned back," Hook explained. "Everyone else woke up fine, but she was like this. Maybe she hit her head or something."

"Who is she?" The doctor asked. He was already leaning in to inspect her.

"No clue," Hook said. "Nobody seemed to recognize her."

The doctor was quiet for a few minutes. Hook waited. The doctor gave a few orders to the nurse standing by and then turned back to the girl.

"Well?" Hook finally asked. "Is she all right?"

"Hmm?" Dr. Whale looked up, almost as though he had forgot Hook was still in the room. "Oh, umm, yes, seems to be a concussion." He said. "She has a contusion here on the back of her head, she must have hit something when she fell, as you said. I will want to do further examination of course, and x-rays to be sure there is no further damage."

Hook nodded. "All right then, seems my work here is done."

"Whom should I contact when she wakes up?" Dr. Whale asked.

Hook shrugged. "Ask her. I'm just the delivery guy."

The next morning, Hook was innocently passing by the hospital headed towards the Diner, with absolutely no intention of entering, when Emma spotted him on her way to visit her parents and new brother.

"Hook," she said, addressing him, he thought, a little more roughly than absolutely necessary. "We need to talk."

"Do we, now?" He asked. "About what, might I ask?"

"You know what," she said.

"Do I?" he asked.

"Don't be that way," she said. "I'm not in the mood for your games or flirting, or whatever this is for you right now."

"I didn't realize I was playing any games," he said. "What is it you wanted to discuss?" He followed her into the hospital and they walked slowly in the direction of her parents' private room.

"About how my magic wandered off…" she said. "You know, when our lips touched…"

"Miss Swan, you saved my life," he said, "and I will be eternally grateful, but it's not as though we actually kissed or anything scandalous like that, sweetheart. You can rest easy." He winked and turned to leave again.

"Hook…" she touched his arm and stopped him.

"Something else on your mind, love?"

"What Zelena did to you, in order to get to me, it wasn't fair, and it jumps to conclusions about us that I'm not sure we've had a chance to talk about…" she said. She was looking down, mostly, fiddling almost aggressively with the keys she was holding.

"Let me save you some breath and trouble there," he said. "I think perhaps things have gotten a little out of hand, and perhaps it's time for me to correct them before they go any further."

"No, Hook, it's fine…"

"Please let me speak," he said. "I put myself in the way before. I was too eager to play the hero, and step in where I was neither needed nor wanted. You have your own family, and I have no part in it. That is very clear to me," he said.

"It's not that you aren't needed," she said. "Or wanted," she added, a little more quietly, "but it's complicated."

"No, sweetheart, it's not," he said. "You have your family to think about. I understand that. Henry needs his father, and even if you refuse to admit it, you need him too."

She was quiet.

"Don't be ashamed," he said. "Baelfire is a good man. One of the best I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I consider it an honor to lose a woman to him."

"I didn't say you lost me," she said. "I just said it's complicated. Neal and I have such a confusing past…"

He shrugged. "Well, you know where to find me if you ever make up your mind."

"It's not like I don't want you around," she said.

"I'm not going anywhere, love," he said, "I'm just not standing in the way of your family, anymore." He offered her what he hoped was a sincere smile. "I'm glad you and Bae have this chance to make it work. I know what you and Henry mean to him, and I'm not going to be the fellow that messes that up. Understood?"

"But what if he and I aren't meant to work out?" She asked. "I mean, what if it's just not right with him…"

"Miss Swan, I understand that you've got some things to sort out in your head about what love is and how it fits into your life, but I'm not sure I'm the right piece for your puzzle," he said.

She frowned.

"Like I said, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here, if you decide again that perhaps Bae isn't the man for you after all, but if I'm not to be honest a man has a right to guard his heart too, doesn't he?"

"What are you saying, exactly?"

"I suppose what I'm trying to say, is that perhaps I've waited long enough for you to make up your mind, and you might be best suited returning to your family now, and let's just leave it at that," he said.

She didn't answer. They had almost reached the room, and Hook assumed Emma wasn't eager to have this personal conversation in front of her parents.

"Right," he said. "And on that far too honest note, I believe I'll be taking my leave." He smiled a little, fought the urge to reach out and touch her cheek, and turned to leave.

"Hook…" she called after him.

He thought her voice sounded a little quiet and unmotivated, however, and he didn't turn around or respond.

Hook had just made it to the front doors when Dr. Whale caught up to him.

"I'm glad you changed your mind," Dr. Whale said.

"About what?" Hook asked, still preoccupied by his conversation with Emma.

"Coming back," he said.

Hook gave the doctor a quizzical glare.

"To visit the girl," he filled in.

"The girl," Hook said, "right." He shook his head. "No, I wasn't here for her."

"Oh…" Dr. Whale glanced down at his hands, which he had folded solemnly in front of himself. "That's a shame."

"I told you yesterday, I don't know her, she isn't my responsibility," Hook said. "I brought her here to be healed, that's it."

The doctor nodded. "And I'm sure she's very appreciative," he said. "I just thought you might want to check in and see how she was doing." He paused. "She hasn't had any visitors."

Hook shrugged.

"It's been almost twenty-four hours," Dr. Whale said. "Nobody has come to see her at all. I mean, I have, naturally, but no friends, or family…"

"I'm not her friend, Doc," Hook said.

Dr. Whale was silent for a moment, and then he nodded, and turned about to leave. He glanced back briefly. "She's awake," he said. "I thought perhaps you would want to know."

Hook watched the doctor leave and considered his options. He knew he should leave, just walk out the door, not get involved, and go about his day minding his own business. And yet, a few minutes later, he had inquired with the nurse's station for her room number, and was preparing to enter the mysterious girl's private room. He paused just outside, straightened his long jacket, smoothed back his hair, took a deep breath, and knocked twice before entering.

"Hello," he said, quietly, not wanting to wake her if she was sleeping. He was surprised to find her sitting up in the bed, propped up with pillows, reading a book. Her hair was tied back away from her face, letting him get a good look at her for the first time, and when she glanced up, her clear blue eyes momentarily mesmerized him.

"Captain Hook!" She said.

"I'm sorry, have we met?" he asked.

"No," she answered quickly. "Of course not," she said. "The doctor mentioned that you were the one who brought me here, so I just assumed…" she glanced at his hand. "The hook is a bit of a give away."

"Right," he said. "Good to see you all bright eyed and whatnot."

"Dr. Victor says I have you to thank for that," she said. "Apparently I wasn't in the best condition when I arrived yesterday."

"All I did was deliver, the doctor is the one who worked all the real magic," Hook said. "But you're feeling all better now, yeah?"

"Well, apparently I have a concussion," she said. "Which I guess explains why I am getting blackouts occasionally, and I have this terrible ringing in my ears, but Dr. Victor says it will go away with time. And I have some bone bruising and the like, but nothing that won't heal."

"You seem to be in fairly good spirits despite it all," he said.

"It could be worse," she said. "I could still be a monkey."

Hook grinned. "That you could," he said. "Though I must say, this form suits you much better."

She coughed hard for a few moments, and her head slumped back on the pillow. "Pardon me," she said.

"Not at all," he said. "Are you all right?"

She gave him a slight smile. "Right enough, I suppose. I might have been a bit optimistic before. To be honest, it hurts when I stay in one position for too long, and at times it still hurts when I breathe the wrong way."

He moved to her side instinctively. "You should probably lie down," he said.

"Actually, I think it might help if the pillow was just lower on my back," she said. "Do you think you might possibly…"

He moved to assist her before she even had a chance to ask. He placed his hook arm behind her back to raise her up slightly, while using his good hand to shift her pillow lower. "How's that?" He asked.

"Better," she said, smiling a little, "thank you."

He nodded and stepped back. "Now, how about telling me your story, love? Or at least your name?"

"You can call me Lilah," she said.

He frowned slightly, pondering the name she gave. He couldn't explain how or why, but he knew it wasn't right. It was the same feeling that he'd had since the moment he saw her, the feeling that something was familiar, but also all together completely mysterious about her. He couldn't explain it to himself, and he certainly wouldn't be able to explain it to her or anyone else, but it was why it hadn't been too difficult for Dr. Whale to persuade him to come and visit her today. Hook felt a need to see the girl again.

"That's not your name," he said.

The girl's smile faltered briefly, but after a moment her eyes only brightened and her smile returned. "It's what you can call me," she said again. "I'm sure 'Hook' isn't exactly the name you were christened with."

"Fair enough," he said. "Welcome to Storybrooke, Lilah."

"Yeah…so what exactly is this place?" she asked. "And how did I end up here, and as…a monkey?"

"You weren't part of the first curse I take it," he said.

"Curse?" she asked. "Is that what you call this?"

"It's a long story," he said, "but all you really need to know is that we've all be transported here from the Enchanted Forest as part of a curse, in a manner of speaking, but it was for a good cause, at the time that is."

"When is a curse ever a good cause?" she asked.

"It had to do with a witch and escaping from another curse…" he said. "I'm sure there is someone else who could explain all this loads better than I can."

"It's all right," she said. "You're doing fine."

"The witch is gone now though, which is why you're no longer one of her monkeys," he said.

"But we're still stuck here, in this…Storybrooke?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm not sure if that's something that can be reversed actually," he said. "Again, not the best authority on the subject."

"You said 'second curse,' so are you implying this has all happened before?"

"Well, yes and no. It was different the first time, but similar. We were still transported here from the Forest," he said, "but for different reasons. I suppose it's just a bit of bad luck that you got caught up in it this time around."

"I tend to be pretty good at bad luck," she said. "I should have known something like this would happen if I went back to that place."

"That place?" Hook asked.

"The Forest," she said.

He frowned, not entirely understanding.

"I left when I was little," she said, "and I swore I'd never go back. This is the first time I've been back in many years, and of course, I had been there less than a day when this curse thing happened."

"You left," he said. "How? Why?"

She smiled. "A magic bean took me out of the forest, and the why is my own business," she said. "Let's just say there were some people I was eager to get far away from."

"I've had that feeling before," he said. "Where did you go after you left the Forest?"

"Here and there," she said. "I've been all over to be honest. I don't tend to stay in one place very long. I've traveled through multiple lands and realms."

"How?" he asked. "Do you have an endless supply of magical beans hiding away somewhere?"

"No," she said, "unfortunately I've only been lucky enough to come across a couple of those in my life. I've had to be creative. I've used portals, and magic spells, and ships…" she lingered briefly on that word, but something in the way she had said it gave Hook pause. He almost asked her about it, but she quickly continued. "I even hitched a ride with a mermaid once."

"You are quite the traveler, aren't you?"

"Like I said, I don't like to stay put."

"Well, I'm afraid you won't have much choice here," he said.

She just smiled. Hook couldn't help thinking about how sweet her smile was. Even though her skin was pale with her weariness, her full lips were still faintly pink, and the corners turned up just slightly even when she wasn't smiling.

Her eyelids slipped shut slowly and when she opened them again, it seemed a little forced.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

"I'm just tired," she said. "Everything's still a little foggy."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I should go. You need your rest." He headed towards the door.

"It was good of you to check on me," she said. "Thank you for stopping by."

"Of course. If you wouldn't mind, perhaps I could stop by again tomorrow?"

"If you'd like," she said. "Dr. Victor says I'll likely be stuck here for a few days at least."

Hook nodded. "I'll come by tomorrow," he said.

She smiled again, and again he thought it was sweet.