On the Jolly Roger On The Way to Neverland
"You're going to have to recover a little quicker Emma."
The blonde sent her father a quick but fleeting glare. She had to keep reminding herself it wasn't his fault she kept messing up, it was hers. But who could blame her? She hadn't grown up in the freaking Enchanted Forest where kids were taught how to sword play growing up as opposed to checking both sides of the street to not get run over by a car. (Where they taught to watch for horses?)
"Watch your feet Emma" Mary Margaret's soft, but firm, voice called from somewhere behind her.
Emma held back a frustrated growl when her father (once again) got the best of her and lightly tapped his sword at her lower back while letting out an amused "Dead"
It also wasn't Emma's fault that her parents where Snow White and Prince Charming, the magazine cover models of "For Sword, Bow and Arrows Lovers". She wondered if such a thing was even real but, hey, with all the crap magazines in existence back in her world there had to be something along those lines. Maybe when they got back to Storybrooke she would subscribe them to it.
"E-mm-a" David said in a sing song voice, bringing her back to reality. A smile was tugging at his lips and his eyes were sparkling with delight. He was enjoying this way too much. "Care to join us back in the real world and resume our lesson?"
She let out a huff and put her legs in the position David had taught her not too long ago. But how long had it been since they started this? Three? Four days? Emma couldn't exactly remember and she blamed Neverland's wacked up concept of time. Hook had warned them time and time again not to get caught up in the seemingly endless days and hourless nights because the moment they did, memories and trains of thoughts would begin to go with them. They had to keep focus and always remind themselves why they were here. Which was, of course, Henry.
Emma's throat constricted lightly at the thought of her son. His smiling face. Curious personality. The general goodness and air of innocence that was always about him. She could never, ever, forget that.
"Ready?" David inquired with a light swish of his blade.
It had been their first day in the new realm, probably a hour after making it through the portal, that Hook had finally gotten his bearings and announced they hadn't had made it as quiet as close to the island as he would have hoped. There was a decent amount of distance between them and Neverland so they would have to spend some time at sea. Needless to say, no one had been happy over the news. Days out at sea meant being stuck close to each other in a confined space with no real buffer to ensure no one would commit murder. At least if they had landed on the island all their thoughts and energy would have been directed to finding Henry.
So now, the worst possible group in the world (the Charmings, the Evil Queen, Rumplestiltskin, and Captain Hook) had to find some way to coexist and not tear each other's heads off by the time they made it to Neverland.
In an attempt to put good use to the time (and perhaps avoid any possible opportunities for some kind of stupid fight to break out between anyone), it had been Emma's idea to learn how to properly handle a sword. Sure, she had defeated a freaking dragon (which she liked to point out any chance she got) but even Emma couldn't deny a beast was a lot different from another human being carrying a blade with a much more skilled hand then she. She couldn't even use her experience in the Enchanted Forest as one of her glory moments since a majority of her battling had been against mindless zombies and the fact her mother and Mulan had taken up most of the grunt work. She had thought her fight with Hook had been pretty impressive (because, come on, she had basically knocked Captain freaking Hook right on his ass) but he had burst that bubble the first day in Neverland.
"So kind of you to return that by the way".
Emma let out a surprised gasp and twirled around to see Hook leaning against the doorway of the weapons cabin. She had come down here out of curiosity and the need to know the Jolly Roger in and out since they'd be spending some time on it. She hadn't really explored it that much on the trip back from New York. Coming down here also gave her the chance to escape Mary Margaret and Regina's useless and annoying bickering above deck over God knows what.
"W-What?" She asked, slightly annoyed he had come to follow her down and destroy her small moment of peace. "Aren't you supposed to be sailing the ship?"
"Don't worry" He assured and began to saunter his way over to her. "My lass knows which way she's going. She can suffer a few moments without me, an impossible feat I must admit for any woman."
Emma simply rolled her eyes and didn't bother to honor the statement with one of her own.
Hook took it all with stride and his usual smirk and came to stand next to her. "And I was just expressing my gratitude over you returning the blades you had pilfered from me back in your world. I think you can recall, love, it was around the same time you had stolen my ship." The accusation in his voice wasn't hard to ignore.
It was true, after the battle with Cora Emma had gone back to the Jolly Roger to return the swords she had taken for her and Neal. It hadn't seemed right keeping them and the ship was safe enough to go to since Hook (or so she had thought) had been left in New York.
Emma turned away from him and went back to focusing on the sword mounted on the wall. "I'm not explaining myself again as to why I did that. And, again, I'm not apologizing." She said all she needed to say on the matter. Gold was Henry's grandfather, Neal's father, and she wasn't going to sit and watch him die. Deep down, though, in a place she would never reveal to Hook, there was some guilt gnawing at her over the whole occurrence. It wasn't like she didn't realize saving Gold also meant thwarting Hook and his 300 year old revenge.
"Always such a tough lass" Hook murmured ruefully but also with some admiration.
Emma chose her next words carefully, "Besides, I thought you've turned over a new leaf." She didn't want to sound to flippant, or condescending, because she knew the effect abandoning his revenge was probably taking on Hook. Even more so now that he had to practically live with the man he had been so intent to kill for so many years.
"Aye," Hook said quietly, so quietly she also missed it, "that I have. But it was like you said back at that food establishment Swan, I think it's time I stopped trying to be alone and finally start being a part of something". Then he looked at her, his sharp beautiful blue eyes boring into her own as if there were more words he wanted to say but was choosing to express them just through his eyes. They were so intent, so blue, so knowing and honest, that Emma couldn't bear to look at them anymore and turned hastily away. Whatever he was trying to say to her, she was too scared to face it.
Defiantly time to change to subject. "I was just-just looking around. I figured we'd need all this eventually enough since you keep kindly pointing out to us how deathly and murderous Neverland is." Not that the information wasn't helpful it just also reminded her Henry was there and under the same threat. But she knew Hook wasn't aware of the effect it was having on her or he'd surely stop at once. That fact alone made her heart beat a little faster than usual.
"Aye. Especially you lass."
Um, what? Emma's eyes narrowed. "What the hell does that mean?"
The smirk was back and in full force. "Just saying love, your little performance back at the lake-well, let's just say it wasn't exactly up to par and leave it that."
"Up to par?!" Emma growled. "If I remember right, I wasn't the one on. My. Back. Unconscious. That, buddy, was you."
His hand rose up and his index poked her playfully on the nose. "While I much rather discuss to what thoughts ran through your mind with the image of me on my back, that is neither here or there love. I, being the gentleman that I am, let you win that fight."
"Bull shit."
Hook chuckled deeply. "Such a dirty mouth for a princess. Not that I mind."
"I won that fight, fair and square!" Emma exclaimed.
"Love, whatever helps you sleep at night. Alas, as you said, I've left the helm unmanned and should return to it." And then the bastard twirled on his heel and began to walk away, knowing full well the storm he had just stirred in her.
"Hook! Hook!"
And so here she was, on the deck on the Jolly Roger with the sun beating down on her, learning how to sword fight. Seriously, what had her life come to?
"Watch your left!" Mary Margaret called just as David swung for it. Emma blocked it quickly, the metal clashing together just at the last minute. But the Prince was relentless (or in reality, just trying to be a good teacher). He kept coming for her, his sword flying at her from every angle and at every speed. Emma was blocking more then she was fighting back and she didn't even have enough time to be pissed off about it. But she just couldn't find an opening or even five damn seconds to swing back at him. And then, before she even processed what was happening, David's foot had curled around her ankle and tugged, sending her sprawling to the floor right on her ass.
From above at the wheel, Hook's howl of laughter consumed the whole deck. Emma glared up at him to see him doubled over, tears spilling down his face he was laughing so hard.
Emma's head snapped around to see even Mary Margaret holding back a fit of giggles.
"Real nice guys!" Emma snapped, pushing herself up and pointedly ignoring David's out stretched hand (who, just like the rest of the traitors, was laughing his ass off).
Regina had strolled over at this point, probably out of boredom because why the hell us would she want to hang out with them, and was smirking her infamous smirk. "I guess the apple does fall far from the tree."
"Apple jokes, real original dearie." Gold commented with a lofty grin. He had been leaning against the rail the whole time silently observing the lessons, probably having nothing better to do either (and he and her dad had this weird almost friends thing going on), but was also the only one not to have laughed at her little display. That already had him at the top of Emma's I-Don't-Hate-You-At-The-Moment list, a list everyone personally had on the ship.
"She's getting better" David commented, always at the ready to defend any member of his family. "Just needs a little more practice."
"Yea right, a just little more." Regina murmured under her breath.
"Well with you instructing her, mate, a little might as well mean every waking moment for the next week. Maybe even two." Hook had walked down from the helm to come and join the rest of them at this point, a rare sight in itself because he always seemed to make himself scarce when Gold was around and vice versa. But apparently Emma making a spectacle of herself was enough the risk.
"Is that so?" David asked, his tone conveying he didn't much appreciate any advice from the Captain. They didn't so much have an almost friends thing going despite the odd fact they called each other mate every chance they could. Mockingly of course but still.
"Aye." Hook smirked with confidence. "Apologies your Majesty, but anyone can tell you're going easy on the fair Princess."
Emma grumbled something way too inappropriate to say in front of her parents but loud enough for Hook to hear because she hated being called that. Of course he also heard because he had walked right up to her side, breaching her personal space as usual. Damned pirate.
"Why do you have it in your head everyone's going easy on me?" Emma snapped.
"Well I know the world always seems bit easier by having that pretty face of yours," David growled and took a step closer to him, "But of course you don't notice love since you're the inexperienced one. Go ahead, just ask your doting parents." Hook turned to Mary Margaret. "Milady, care to shed some light on the situation?"
The brunette looked like she was going to refute what Hook had to say, as she would with probably any word that came out of his mouth, but when Emma turned to her as well the way she guiltily nibbled on her lip was all the answer needed.
Abashed, Emma twirled over to the now guilty looking David. "You're going easy on me!? Easy!? Now I feel more like an idiot!"
"Emma, come on honey, why on Earth would I go hard on you with you being so inexperienced as you are?" David protested.
"I don't need easy I need to learn." She groaned and banging her blade against the deck with frustration.
"Oi, don't take it out on the ship!" Hook cried.
Mary Margaret walked over and put a hand to her daughter's shoulder. "It's not that big a deal Emma. You'll get better-"
"I need to get better now for Henry!" She snapped none too nicely, and everyone on board seemed to cringe. Great, she had effectively killed the mood in point five seconds. And it was turning out to be one of the rare moments all six of them were getting along. Sort of.
A regretful sigh escaped Emma's lips. "Look, I'm sorry it's just-"
"I have a solution!" Hook announced with a jovial pump of the fists. His tone, shockingly, was optimistic and the smile genuine. It was an obvious attempt to regain back the happy mood (or perhaps, to a reason only known to Hook, to make Emma smile again and lessen the stress of her lost son) and it was one that wasn't lost on anyone, especially Emma. She eyed him wearily but with a small glimmer of hope that he wasn't about to screw up an actual genuine moment on his part. Because she swore to God if one more innuendo slipped past his lips…
"I'll take over lessons for bit. I'm sure that would motivate her more."
David scoffed. "Like I'm letting you anywhere near her with a sword."
The thought of sparring with Hook, while tempting, also made her a little nervous. As obvious from David, her own father, kicking her ass, Hook's proclamation that he had let her win was looking more like the truth with every second. And yet, she still couldn't help herself. "I wouldn't want to embarrass you like last time."
Hook grinned seductively her. "I promise love, I'll have you on your back this time." Oh God the way he said that…
"That's it" David snapped, rushing forward and placing himself right between his daughter and the pirate. "How about you and I have a little friendly go mate?" Friendly indeed.
"I think it's a good idea." Regina suddenly said out of nowhere. Everyone, even Gold, looked at her like she had three heads. She shrugged. "Think about it, its obvious David is going to go easy on his own daughter and Emma obviously isn't going to try and run through her own father. You're both holding back even without thinking about it."
"You know, you actually have a point Regina." Mary Margaret said with a delighted smile. Out of everyone, it was her stepmother she liked most to repair the broken relationship with.
"Besides," Regina continued with her devilish smirk, "Think about how delightful it'll be if one of them actually stab the other."
Snow's smile dropped loudly. "And then you go and ruin it."
"Well I don't think I'd mind seeing that either. I have complete faith in Miss Swan." Gold quipped.
The pirate glowered. "I assure you all, if I wanted to stab Swan with my sword I'd have no problem doing it and I don't think she'd mind much either."
"Oh. My. God." Mary Margaret groaned.
David was already raising his weapon. "Alright, let's go. Right here, right now, I swear to God-"
"Dad" Emma warned catching his hand with her own. Oh, she was taking out the big guns now using the Dad card. It was still taking some time, calling them both by those titles, but Emma was warming up to the idea better with every passing day. And every time she did use it the two nearly died on spot with the happiness it brought.
And, of course, it worked like a charm as David halted his onslaught. Hook, the infuriating ass, was grinning like an idiot beyond pleased with all the chaos he was creating. He almost liked pushing Charming's button as much as he liked flirting with Emma. Almost.
Pushing David lightly away, Emma reared on the ever present thorn in her side. "Alright smart ass, you want to go then let's go."
"Oh lass, you don't know how much I've been dying to hear those words pass from your lips." Hook sighed blissfully but nonetheless raised his blade. "Now try and remember all your father's mediocre advice, I shan't go as easy on you like I did last time."
And Emma didn't even bother to put him in his place. She just lunged.
The swords were clanging against each other with every passing second and their feet moving back and forth with each other like they were part of some intricate yet deadly dance. Unlike with David, Emma's entire focus became fixed on Hook. His dark leather clad figure was all she could see, his scent (one mixed with the sea, rum, and something uniquely Hook) was drowning her senses. Even his increasingly haggard breathing and small grunts were echoing dominantly in her hearing. With every move he made her body did it's best to respond to just as his was doing the exact same with her. Emma's adrenaline was thumping, her pride driving her to prevail, but her body was beginning to give her another equally passionate and demanding feeling. One that was making the blood in her veins buzz with warmth, her breath come out short and panting, and her head grow dizzy. It was a feeling that was affecting her especially in one certain place in her body, something that was extremely, extremely, inappropriate right in front of her parents.
An opening suddenly appeared, Hook having left his legs defenseless, and Emma swiftly went to slash at it. But Hook wasn't just like any sparring partner as he had his own personal weapon to work with. He caught her blade with his hook effortlessly and arched it and Emma's arms around in a large circle till they were raised right above her head. Then he pushed his body against hers, plummeting her back hard up against the nearby mass.
Emma gasped breathlessly at the contact and instinctively arched away from the wood…and right up against Hook's body. He let out a low groan at the feeling and dipped his head down to her ear, his breath coming out hot against her skin and making her whole being tremble. "Oh Emma…" He whispered, his lips fluttering against her ear. And before she could do anything about it his tongue darted out and curved along the shell of her ear.
"Killian!" Emma gasped. The name was laced with shock. Fury. Astonishment. And, damn it all, desire. The asshole pirate was making her want him. And, oh God, that was the first time she had ever said his first name. His first friggin name. Why on earth had she done that?
And before anything else could be said or done Hook's body was ripped from Emma. The disappearance of his warmth was immediately missed.
She recovered from whatever the hell had just happened quick enough to see David's fist connect right with Hook's face. "I have had an absolute enough with you." The Prince spat, already rearing his fist back to deliver another blow.
"Dad!" Emma cried just as Mary Margaret rushed forward with a distressed "Charming!". She latched on to her husband's arm and effectively pulled him back. "We need him in one piece!"
Emma was now right between her father and Hook, starring pleadingly at her father but not daring to look back at the pirate. She was too flustered, to embarrassed, and the heat of his stare on her back was not helping at all.
"Well that was entertaining!" Regina exclaimed and giddily clapped her hands. "So glad I thought of it!"
Gold, while slightly amused (because who doesn't like seeing Hook get slammed in the face?) was more repulsed at the thought of the pirate actually finding another woman in his life (especially if it was one who use to be with his own son for Pete's sake). So, he rolled his eyes and began to limp away, his cane thumping loudly against the deck of the ship.
"I think that's enough sword lessons for today." Snow said with finality. It was the kind of tone only a mother could use and the way she was looking at the rest of them, Hook included, left no room for argument or the chance for any further shenanigans. And like dutiful children, they all slightly hung their heads and went to go to some other task. Regina had slipped away already, obviously sensing there was no more mischief she could cause.
Charming gave Hook one more lingering and intimidating glance before he allowed Snow to guide him down to the lower decks, Emma following close behind them. She couldn't help but think she was a teenage girl who had just been caught by her father with a boy in her room. It was an experience she never had and was somewhat grateful for if it felt like this.
"Emma" Hook called just before she disappeared along with everyone else. Right now they were the only two left on the deck. There was a considerable amount of distance between them and Emma wouldn't dare try to move closer. So she simply turned on her heel and looked at him expectantly. But even this far away she could see his crystal blue eyes as clear as day.
"I'd rather much like if you kept doing that."
Her heart pounded hard against her chest. "Doing what?" But she knew exactly what he was talking about.
He seemed to sense this as well. His head ducked and maybe for the first time ever, Emma saw Captain Hook actually being shy about something. And damn it all if he didn't look adorable doing it. "Calling me that….calling me Killian." His voice was so anxious, shaking a little at the fear of her rejecting the request. No one had called him by that name in hundreds of years let alone him actually even asking for it.
While a small part of Emma wanted to make Hook squirm a little (because, come on, he did it to her practically all the time) she found her heart wasn't really in it. No, her heart was beating a million miles a minute by the small and simple request. But she knew it wasn't so small and simple to him.
"Okay" She said quietly and gave him an equally shy smile.
Hook's eyes flashed up to hers as if he actually expected her to say no. He smiled, a handsome hopeful smile that Emma suddenly had a desire to see all the time. It was that smile that finally pushed her over the edge and made her walls come rushing up with a trembling fear. "Well, good night" She said hastily, turning away and running below deck before another word could be said.
Hook watched her go not even minding a bit she was, once again, running away from him. But this was different. Everything was different. Now he wasn't Hook, he was Killian. And for once in a very long time, he was happy he had finally decided to be a part of something.
Authors Note: So I couldn't help it, I needed to right about all these whacky and awkward adventures these six idiots are going to get themselves into. I'm going to have way too much fun writing this fic.
For all my "Finding the Way Home" followers, please don't kill me. I know I am way beyond late with my update and I am so so sorry for it. I have in no way abandoned the fic, not even close. I promise a chapter will be coming this week, pinky swear. This idea just came to me and would not go away till I wrote it down.
Originally it was just going to be a one shot but more ideas just kept coming to me as I wrote so I've decided to make it a series of one shots. Next chapter hopefully next week or hey, maybe even this week because I'm already anxious to write it. Also, just as warning, I'm planning on messing with the timeline in this fic. For example, this chapter was them on the ship to Neverland but next chapter might be them actually on the island, while the third chapter will once again have them on the ship still on their way to Neverland. And then, furthering the example, the fourth chapter could possibly be them and Henry on the way back to Storybrooke. So sorry if that was confusing but no fears I will be sure to mark at the beginning of every chapter where they are at that point in time.
And if you haven't guessed, this is a Captain Swan fic. Sorry, that's just my forte. But not every chapter is going to be lovey dovey but more of our playful bantering (maybe even fighting) because as I said I'm messing with the time (so while she may be calling him Killian now there maybe be one chapter they're still on the Hook level).
But I also want to make clear this fic is NOT JUST a Captain Swan fic. I wanted a story where I write about all about the characters who at any point can find themselves in any situation with any person. Because who doesn't want to see more Hook and Charming bromate adventures, maybe Gold actually try to bond with his could have been daughter-in-law Emma, and see if the damage can be healed between Snow and Regina?
So basically, creative license to the max with the story :) Hope you like it and please review and give me your input!