Thank You

Watched the finale and wrote this. Emma tries to thank Hook for helping them. I didn't realize until afterwards that this is influenced by a Spuffy scene from the Series 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Buffy thanks Spike for withstanding Glory's torture to protect Dawn. "I won't forget it" was unintentionally drawn directly from that scene.


It was infinitely difficult getting him alone.

Everyone was always everywhere, all over the ship.

And if they weren't, they were hovering around her, waiting for her to break down.

The lack of privacy was frustrating.

But here, now, in this moment, no one else was on deck.

She joined him at the helm.

His eyes were fixed on the horizon.

She didn't know what to say.

She finally went with the obvious.

"Thank you," she murmured.

He turned to meet her eyes, and she looked away. It was too much.

"There is nothing I could ever offer you that means as much to me as Henry," She said, "Henry is my everything."

She took a deep breath, and barrelled on, still steadfastly avoiding his eyes.

"We understand each other," she said slowly, repeating her earlier words from the diner, "So I understand the risk you took, aligning yourself with us and trusting us."

"Listen, Lass, I—" he started to interrupt.

Her eyes flashed up and met his.

"I won't forget it." She said. "This means everything to me and I will never forget it."

He said nothing.

She held in another torrent of words about trust and family and trying something new and stepped back.

A smile twisted his face. "Trust me when I say," he straightened his shoulders and stared at the horizon, turning the wheel expertly, "I will not forget this either, Swan."

She smiled back, turned on her heel, and walk down the steps, boots clicking.

He called out "Same time, same place, tomorrow, Swan."

She stopped, and turned back to look up at him, brow furrowed. "What? Why?"

He smiled, a full, shining smile that seemed more real than any expression she'd ever seen.

"Because I'm going to teach you to sail my ship, Lass," his eyes crinkled, "If you want to be my First Mate."

She rolled her eyes, amused. "Really?"

He was serious. "Really, Emma."

And there it was.

Trust.