A/N: This story will contain acts of violence, nudity, and sex scenes. You've been warned.

Chapter 1: Set it Ablaze

It was when she watched her bedroom engulf in flames, that she realized that this wasn't only a new beginning, but it was an ending.

Emma received the note three days before her 20th birthday, warning her that the Evil Queen was coming for her on her birthday. Now it was the eve of her birthday, and Emma knew exactly what had to happen. If she was going to stay alive and protect her family, she had to leave. To prevent anyone from using magic to follow her, she set her room ablaze. The smoke grew thick much faster than she ever imagined, forcing her to make her escape through the balcony.

As she ran past guards and villagers, she ignored every sound around her. She ran for days, with rest few and far between. It wasn't until she crossed borders that she slowed down. Emma ventured into lands she'd never seen before, filled with a darkness she never knew existed. There has yet to be a time that she stayed anywhere longer than a days time, filled with fear that somehow the Evil Queen would find her.

The fire in her heart died the day she ran from home, and nothing has been able to reignite it since.

Five Years Later

The ocean rocked the ship as if it were a rocking chair in a child's nursery, calming Emma in a way she hadn't experienced in what felt like a lifetime. Out on the sea was the only place in the realm that she ever felt safe. With no land in sight and her name yet to be uttered in five years time, it felt like a blanket of protection.

For the first time in years, Emma was sailing towards the Enchanted Forest. Something about the place seemed to be calling out to her, and this time she couldn't quiet the urge. Her homeland was the most dangerous place for her to ever venture, but a part of her knew she had to do it. Though Emma knew she could get no where near the palace. Partially because she feared to be recognized, but mostly because she knew her parents had moved on. Less than two years after her disappearance, her parents had another baby. A boy they'd named Neal. He was now the sole heir to the throne, only three and a half and yet the world was at his fingertips. Part of her wanted to hate them for replacing her so easily, but she knew she never could.

Emma walked across the deck of the boat, calm until someone started shouting from somewhere behind her. "Pirates! Pirates to the East!" The simple phrase seemed to send fear through the crew. It wouldn't be the first time she'd encounter pirates. Some were worse than others, but they were the easiest to pay off for passage between kingdoms. Thankfully all her sword training with her father as a child paid off.

"Get the lady off the god damned deck!" The Captain shouted, drawing a sword. Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes and steal a sword from the sailor who tried to usher her below deck.

"I don't think so, buddy." Emma threatened, pointing the sword at the man whose eyes grew stormy with anger. But before he could launch at her, the ship was shot at, throwing them both against the wall of the ship, knocking the man out cold.

Within moments the ship was being boarded, while Emma struggled back to her feet.

"Surrender and you won't be harmed! Men, search the ship and bring me anything of value!" Someone shouted, Emma guessed the Captain of the attacking ship. He sounded cocky, over sure of himself. One day that will be what kills him, she's sure.

Seconds pass before she's met with two of his sailors who have the same look in their eyes as every pirate she's ever seen. Greed.

She held the sword out in front of her, trying to look as threatening as possible. They lunged at her without a second thought. Quickly, she brought the hilt down onto one of their shoulder blades, effectively bringing him to the ground with a groan. Immediately after she swung the sword at the second one, slashing through his side before she knocked him back with her foot.

The first jumped up and managed to slash her back open, yet she whipped around and shoved him against the wall so hard that he didn't try to stand again. Her long painful injury was currently being hid by her long blonde hair.

When she moved past them, she unintentionally locked eyes with the pirate Captain who quickly lit up with a sloppy smile that seemed to make him seem much younger.

"Well hello there, Love. Having fun?" He asked, far too happy. She quickly looked around her to see that the crew were all disarmed on their knees. She was the only one who fought for their life.

"You seem to have taken down a few of my men, I must say I'm impressed. Bit of a spitfire, aren't you?" His question mocking while his smile was bright. But when she looked into his eyes she didn't see greed. Only pain.

"You have no idea." She said, knocking away the man who was trying to sneak up behind her.

"Interesting," He grinned, looking her up and down with moderate interest. "You have two choices, lass. Come with us, or walk the plank. Which will it be?" His head cocked to the side in amusement as he watched Emma try and categorize every option before coming to her answer.

"I'd rather not die today, Captain." She said simply as she walked forward with the sword still in hand. He motioned for her to walk across the board that was now connecting the two ships. He was only two steps behind her, quickly passing her, his hand touching her back for a moment. Only she noticed it wasn't a hand, but a hook.

"You're Captain Hook." She said, her eyebrows slightly raised.

"Oh, so you've heard of me." He said jokingly. Because of course she had. It wasn't as if she were living under a rock. While she did live in the Dark Forest for three months, but you still hear stories. Especially ones of the most dastardly pirate in all the realms.

When she stepped foot on the Jolly Roger, all eyes were on her. The whole crew was on deck, watching her every move. It unsettled her, them looking her up and down like she was their newest collection of booty to be shared.

Once Captain Hook was at her side, the glares seemed to die down, and then he spoke. "We now have a guest on this ship, lads. This means you treat her with the most respect and honor that this young lady deserves. You will not harm her, hell, you will not touch her. If I find any wrong doings are happening behind my back, you are to walk the plank! Do you understand me?" He shouted, his voice lacking the light humor filled tone that it had only moments ago.

"M'lady, I will escort you to your cabin. It's across the hall from my own, so if you ever need anything come knocking. Dinner is at sunset every night. I'll collect you tonight when that time comes. If you ever need anything while I'm occupied, feel free to call for the cabin boy. His name is Henry. Be kind to the boy, that's all I ask." The Captain said, his words rushed and seemingly nervous, bouncing around on his feet as he brought Emma below deck where their bedrooms were located. He opened the door to the left and waited for her to enter.

"If you need me, I'll be in the Captains cabin, m'lady." The Captain smiled before closing the door behind her.

The guest cabin was small, with one wall being all windows. The bed was small, and hard. She was not looking forward to sleeping in here. But the walls were bright and soft curtains for the windows. There's a separator covering a corner of the room where a nice white bathtub lies along with towels and soap. To the side was a wardrobe that held women's dresses of all colors and worth.

Emma quickly decided she was going to take a bath because she felt sickeningly dirty and wasn't eating dinner with the Captain for the first time in a dress she'd worn the entire boat ride to the Enchanted Forest. She peaked out of her cabin door and all but whispered his name, "Hook?"

She waited a moment before she finally stepped out of the room and knocked on his door with care, hoping she wasn't bothering him. Though she was certain she was, he is the Captain after all. She heard scuffling before his door opened lightly.

"I am in need of your assistance, Captain, and it's a sensitive matter." She said, her cheeks burning under his joyful gaze.

"What can I do for you, Love?" He said, his voice was nearly… compassionate. Understanding.

"I need you to boil me a bath and then… assist me." She choked out those last words. It wasn't that she liked the Captain, it was more that Emma trusted his crew about as much as she could throw them.

"Well dear, if you wanted to bed me all you had to do was ask," He chuckled, looking Emma up and down.

Emma rolled her eyes and turned around to her door. Just as she's about to open it, he finally says, "I'll be in momentarily, Love." She let out a sigh of relief as she re entered her room. She was no looking forward to this. Captain Hook assisting her bathing? That had to be the craziest story she's ever heard.

Unfortunately she needed him. Her injury was growing more painful by the moment and she's unsure if she could give it the attention it needs. So instead she shrugs off her torn and bloody clothes and wraps herself in a robe she found in the wardrobe, waiting for Hook to return with the water.

Minutes pass before Killian is swinging open the door and pouring an obscene amount of water in the tub, and when he finishes he goes and closes the door shut for privacy.

"So, M'lady, how may I assist you today?" Killian asked, his words practically dripping and oozing sex.

Emma sighed, braiding her hair into a crown around her head so it would be out of the way. Then she turns her back to him before lowering the robe to the very top of her ass. She heard a slight groan before Killian said, " Bloody hell lemme look at that for a moment. Get in the tub and I'll bring some supplies in for you." Suddenly he was gone. She let the robe drop to the floor gracelessly before settling into the steaming water. It made her ripped flesh burn but the pleasure the hot water brought to her senses was too enthralling to get out.

While Hook was gone, she started to scrub her skin with the grainy soap that smelled of the ocean.

When the door opened again, Emma automatically went to cover herself despite the separator. He peeked around it with a lazy but concerned smile. He dropped all of the tools he'd need next to the tub on the floor. He sat behind her head, so close it felt like her senses were on fire.

"Lean forward, Swan." He said gently, touching her naked shoulder to give her a slight push.

"Swan?" She asked as he poured a fiery liquid down her back. She bites back the pain, "What the hell was that?" She asked seething.

"It's rum, and it's a bloody awful waste of it if you ask me." He joked, ignoring her other question. His touches too her back were gingerly and compassionate. It was like every touch was the most intimate act he could ever do with her.

Apparently the Captain isn't as dastardly as they say.

When she hissed in pain, he pulled away from the gaping wound and placed his hand on her waist with such care that it almost unnerved her. But she couldn't help but melt into the touch.

"I suggest you drink all of this because what we have to do is going to hurt, Love." Killian said compassionately as he gave her his flask full of rum. She gratefully flooded her senses with spiced rum and the smell of the ocean.

Soon he began threading a needle through her back as if she were a shirt in need of a mending. Every time she hissed in pain he would stop and offer her his hand which she always took. Emma wasn't sure why it brought her so much comfort considering she's as anti-loving as it gets.

"I promise you, Swan, that I won't let anyone hurt you like this again." Hook said quietly, "And I always keep my promises."

Everything was deafeningly quiet as Hook finished up. When he was finished, his hand was still on her back, gently rubbing it with his good hand, while the hook was buried into the floor. ('Because I don't want to float away from whatever dream this is.')

"I'll see you at sunset, love." Was all that he said as he exited, leaving her naked, confused, and alone.