Killian treaded through the Neverland thicket at a brisk pace, cutting the overgrowth and dream shade out of the groups way. He had had lost sight of the others behind him some time ago, but was glad for the distance.
Deciding it best to let them catch up, he rested against a boulder. He was ready for a drink. Something to help him dull the ache in chest. Cora and the crocodile themselves had not even inflicted this much pain when they both laid their hands on his heart, he mused. He allowed himself a chuckle when he considering the absurdity of it all. He was evil personified and yet he was in love with the product of True Love. He was beneath her. He was a pirate. But yet he had given him hope to be more. She made him feel like he was an honorable man again. She made him feel like Killian and not the self-loathing Captain Hook.
True Love. There was something he had never know anything about. Had he truly loved Milah? If so, why had he felt such an instant pull to Emma when he met her in the Enchanted Forest? And why was he so eager to have helped her in the first place and lose sight of his quest ? Didn't he owe it to Milah's memory to avenge her ? Not to be out traipsing about trying to be a hero to a woman who had her own happy ending walking through the Neverland jungle with them. Worse yet, her own happy ending was Baelfire, Milah's son. Bloody Hell!
He raised the flask to his lips, and closed his eyes. The rum was now bitter and awful. All that he could think about was the taste of Emma's lips on his and how she would never choose him. He tossed the flask over his shoulder, disgusted at himself for ever thinking he could be more a villain.
Killian gazed back down the path he, looking for the rest of the group. He began to worry that he had let them get lost in his haste, but remembered that Baelfire knew the island just as well as he did. Baelfire or Emma's Neal. Whatever he went by these days would be able to lead them the rest of the way.
The sound of a footfalls crunching of leaves, broke Killian from his thoughts. The Prince emerged from the brush, looking angry, eyes trained on him. Killian braced himself for what was sure to a right hook and a stay away from my daughter speech, which at this point would just be a waste of breath. He was not sure if he could stay away from her despite everything that had just happened.
"I am only going to say this once, began Charming, "If you truly love Emma, you will fight for her. The past does not matter. Only what you do now. True Love isn't easy, but it must be fought for because once you find it, it can never be replaced. What you did today for Emma, you put her happiness and feelings above your own. That you would do anything and everything for her, I gather. But you need to let her know that as much as you can, because Emma has never really know what it was like to be put first and just loved for being Emma. "
Killian sat in stunned silence, as the prince, continued "There is always hope, Captain". Charming tilted his head in a nod and reached down for the flask laying at their feet. "I need a drink. Before Killian had a chance to respond, the rest of the group came through the clearing. Emma leading the way, followed by Snow and Neal having an animated discussion. Emma's eyes briefly drifted to Killian's and for a brief moment a small smile played at her lips as she gazed at him.
The ache was back.
