Prompt: "I'm not really surprised that you murdered him"

Rating: T

Setting: Season 2 Episode 15: Canon divergent scene

"I'm not really surprised that you murdered him," she whispered, each word that fell from her lips a pardon he did not deserve, though he would take them all the same.

He was nothing if not a pirate.

"I'm not gonna lie—you'd know anyways, wouldn't you?" she asked, her footfalls steady against the rocking of his ship as she moved to stand beside the helm, not bothering to allow him an answer to her question (they both knew what it would be) before she continued. "I should be angry. I should have knocked you out and left you in New York, or at least cuffed you below deck, but…he really did deserve it—"

The volume of her voice had steadily dropped as she spoke, her words barely discernible even though she stood a mere arm's length away as he guided the Jolly back to Storybrooke. Henry was safely distracted below deck by Hook's insistence he explore the trappings of a real pirate ship, and though there was no one else aboard to hear her, he understood that it was harder to admit out loud that you'd fallen than it was to suffer the realization in the quiet of your mind.

"—and more than that," she cleared her throat and took a step closer, her fingers reaching and pressing firmly against his arm, pulling his gaze first to the pale arc of creamy skin over black leather, and then to the resolute acceptance of her gaze. "I wanted him dead. When I realized what you'd done, I didn't care that it was my job as Sheriff to protect him. I just felt…relief. I'm glad he's gone. He was a danger to Storybrooke, and I'm glad he won't be around to meddle in my life—in Henry's life—anymore."

"I won't lie to you either, Swan—we both know how that's gone in the past. I'm pleased we've finally come to an agreement on this. It will certainly make my stay in Storybrooke much simpler."

"You're staying?"

"Aye." He dragged his gaze slowly to where her fingers still clutched his arm, lingering for only a moment before he sought the green of her eyes once more. "I think I may have reason enough to do so, don't you agree, Swan?"

She didn't answer him, but there was a thoughtful lean to her head and a small, resigned smile at the corner of her lips that he found encouraging. They were both perceptive, and he'd known for some time that there was something between them. Perhaps now with the Crocodile out of the way he could finally set out to discover what that might be.

"There's something else, Hook. There was a man in New York…"

He was sure Emma had noticed the tension in his muscles as his grip tightened on the helm, but she merely stroked the leather of his coat reassuringly and continued. "He may try to get to Storybrooke now that Gold is dead."

"I take it you'd prefer for that not to happen, then?"

"Yeah. Painful history. He's Henry's father and he…he left me to rot in jail for his crime."

Her eyes finally left his, searching the horizon as if it held her answers. She's an open book, and it's as simple as breathing for him to make out the etchings of loss and resentment on her features. He finds a new hatred in his heart for whomever had caused her such pain.

"That's bad form," Hook muttered darkly, quelling the anger that seethes beneath his skin whenever he is confronted with the cowardice of another. "I know I've said this before, Swan, but I think we make quite the team, and you've my word I'll do everything I can to keep this man away from you and your lad."

She nods slowly, her fingers finally leaving his arm. For a moment he feels their loss, perhaps far more than he should, but then his heart soars with something long forgotten as she brings them to his face and tenderly brushes his cheek.

As she turns and heads back below deck, her parting words are a final gift on the wind.

"Thank you, Killian."

A/N: Suggestions for prompts are more than welcome, though I do not guarantee that I will work on, or be interested in, each one. Whatever inspires me will take the lead there. Please leave reviews, thoughts, support, critiques, or questions if you have any. The entire purpose of this series of drabbles is to prevent myself from getting to caught in details, wording, and plot. It is writing for the sheer joy of actually banging something out, so hopefully I will be updating every other day or so. Wish me luck!