When Emma approached Hook, he automatically knew what was coming. And as much as he didn't want it to happen, he knew there was no way around. Once she had made up her mind, there would never be any changing it.
But when the words came out of her mouth, they still managed to surprise Hook.
"Would you watch Henry for me?"
Hook opened his mouth to reply but not before Emma beat him to the punch.
"Look, I know it is not fair for me to ask you this. I know you would much rather be fighting the Witch by my side. But I need you to do this for me."
Although the two were not officially together, and they had not shared an intimate moment since their passionate Neverland kiss, both knew that they were definitely more than just friends.
"Swan-"
"Please," she barely managed to choke out, the tears beginning to well up in her green eyes. "For me. Do this for me."
Hook sighed. He reached up with his good hand to gently cup her cheek and, on pure instinct, she leaned into his touch. "One question, lass. Why?"
Emma inhaled through her nose, closing her eyes, and exhaled through her mouth, seeming to gather her thoughts. When she finally opened her eyes, they automatically locked on his blue ones.
"If you take care of Henry while the fighting is going on, I know he'll be safe," she whispered. Emma managed a small smile before quietly adding, "I know you'll be safe. And right now, I can't afford to lose either of my boys."
Hook gave a soft laugh and a smirk, her boys, before running his fingers through her golden curls. "As you wish, my love."
And with a magnetic pull, the two were enveloped in a comforting hug. Emma sighed, leaning into him as he continued to run his good hand up and down her back.
"It's going to be alright, love," he gently whispered into her ear, sending chills up her spine. "You'll be fine."
When Emma released him, she gave him another small, reassuring smile and, taking his hand in hers, gave it a gentle squeeze. Knowing that the others were probably waiting on her by now, she forced herself to turn away from Hook, negative thoughts flooding her mind.
"One last thing, love," Emma heard him call from behind her as she stopped in her tracks. "Perhaps a kiss for good luck?"
Emma playfully scoffed, as she twirled around to face him. But it caught her by surprise that he had caught up with her and they were now standing eye-to-eye, no more than a breath between them.
"In your dreams, pirate," she jokingly jabbed with a small smirk dancing across her lips as well, mirroring his.
But then his face softened, right before her eyes, and his tone grew serious. "Always, Swan."
And that was all it took. Emma closed the tiny distance between them, cautiously pressing her lips to his. Although it started out slow and tender, it was rapidly getting passionate as the seconds ticked by. He pressed his hook into the small of her back as his other arm snaked around her waist. She moaned into the kiss as he took it deeper and practically begged permission for his tongue to enter. The two held onto each other for dear life, afraid that they moment they let go, the other would be taken away.
When the two finally parted, unwillingly of course, they stood there, foreheads pressed firmly together, breathing in each other as their noses awkwardly bumped one another.
"Good luck, Emma," he said in a hushed voice, as if he spoke any louder it would break the silence. Break the moment.
"You too, Killian," she whispered, tears threatening to spill over once again. His eyes went wide, and she didn't even have to ask why. She had finally called him by his real name.
No more words were required between the two. Emma reached up to press one more chaste kiss to his lips before turning on her heels and heading towards the battle in front of her, confident in now knowing that her boys, her men, would be safe.