Off to Never, Neverland
Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT I'm merely borrowing some material.
A/N: Story picks up right where ep. 2x22 left off and will develop into a Captain Swan story line. First publicly viewed writing attempt I've made in a few years, so be patient with me as I struggle through the errors. Reviews are welcome! :)
Chapter 1
Standing at the helm of the Jolly Roger looking out into the dark waters of Neverland that surrounded her, Emma Swan had never felt so defeated. Neal was gone and thanks to Tamara and Greg so was Henry. Below deck the others lay sleeping but she hadn't been able to rest since they left Storybrooke and came through the portal. Her son was out there somewhere and she had to find him, but how exactly she didn't yet know.
As she sat lost in her own despair she didn't hear the sound of boots walking across the deck toward her. A hand rested lightly on her shoulder causing her to jump.
"It's alright lass. I just came to check on you tis all." Killian Jones, best known to others as Captain Hook, looked into her eyes with genuine concern. He had watched her distantly these last 2 days aboard ship unsure of how to help her or if he even could. Emma looked back at him with a glare that would scare away most other men.
"I don't need you to check on me Hook I can handle myself." Emma shrugged his hand away and turned back around to face the darkness that surrounded them. Neverland, she had come to find, was indeed not the place she had imagined from the story. It felt eery and dark here. Thinking about it and knowing Henry was out there somewhere without her only made her feel worse about the place.
"Of course darling but yet here you stand two nights in a row while the others sleep below." Killian retorted with a smirk. Emma, now angry at the sarcastic pirate, swung around to face him.
"Well excuse me if I'm the only one more concerned about Henry and finding him then getting some damn sleep!" She shouted. Feeling as though she might as well have slapped him, Killian stepped back and puffed out his chest in defense.
"No one is daft enough to doubt your concern Swan, and everyone aboard this ship will do all in our power to get the boy back of that you can be sure." He stated abruptly.
Emma sighed and instantly felt bad for going off on him. If anything she knew she should be thanking him. If he hadn't of turned the ship around and come back with that last bean she would have had no chance of getting to Henry.
"You're right Hook I'm sorry. I appreciate you caring. You really showed me a different side of you yesterday. I didn't think you'd come back at all, and we wouldn't be here in Neverland without you so... thanks." She stuck out her hand for him to shake and he laughed instead grabbing it and pulling her close to him.
" I think I deserve far more than a handshake wouldn't you agree lass?" He whispered in her ear making her weak in the knees and sending her heart racing. He leaned his head forward until his lips were merely a breath away from hers. Staring into his blue eyes she felt a spark of passion she didn't see coming and quickly took a step back.
"Ok, so NOT the time Hook." She glared at him as she mentally tried to talk herself out of whatever feelings she may have just felt. He smirked again and put his hook up in the air.
"Well I wouldn't be a very good pirate if I didn't at least try now would I love? Try to get some sleep Swan. Neverland is not a place to be when you're weary." He said turning away and heading below deck to his quarters smiling the entire way.
At that same moment Mary Margaret walked up on deck passing Hook with a look of concern for her daughter. She knew Emma hadn't been sleeping as she herself hadn't gotten much rest the last two nights.
"Emma? Is everything alright? You should try to get some rest." She said with a voice full of a mothers concern. Emma nodded her head in both agreement and defeat.
"I know. I'm heading down below now, I just needed to clear my head." Emma said hoping this wasn't going to turn into one of Mary Margaret's heart to heart chats she loved to have so much. Instead she just reached out to take Emma's hand.
" We will find him Emma. You have to trust that. I know it's hard to believe right now but we WILL find him." She said hoping to give her daughter at least a small piece of hope and comfort. She knew all too well how Emma must be feeling right now. Together the two of them walked off the deck and down below to where the sleeping quarters were. Mary Margaret stopped at the bed she shared with David who was, despite everything, able to sleep. She turned and gave her daughter a hug. "Good night Emma. I'm always here if you need to talk." She said reassuringly.
Emma nodded, "Good night." She left Mary Margaret, walked over to an empty bed and laid down. She stared at the ceiling thinking again of Henry. "I will find you kid, wherever you are." Her eyes welled up with tears and she rolled over physically and emotionally exhausted and finally drifted off to sleep.
Hook who had been in the galley watching from a distance took a swig of rum from the bottle sitting in front of him. Not since Milah had he experienced the kind of feelings he was beginning to develop for Emma Swan. He wasn't entirely happy with himself over it either. Here he was chasing after the grandson of the crocodile all to help this woman rather than getting his revenge! The mere thought that Rumpelstiltskin was sleeping just feet away from him angered him immensely. Taking the bottle in his hand he drank the remainder of the rum and slammed the bottle back down on the table. Getting up he started to walk towards his quarters but stopped in front of Emma's bed. She looked peaceful for the first time in days as she slept. Hook couldn't help but smile at her.
"What the bloody hell is this woman doing to me?" He whispered to himself. Shaking his head he walked off into his quarters and went to bed confused.