A/N – Just as a fair warning, this chapter doesn't have a lot of Emma in it. But it is needed to move the story in the direction I am taking it. We will be back to Emma's POV in the next chapter. Once again, I do not own any of these characters; I just like to play with them in my sandbox. I do not have a beta, any mistakes are all mine.

Thank you so much for the reviews of the last chapter. They mean so much to me! {{Hugs}}

Chapter 2

It had been a month since Hook had admitted to Emma that he had let her win that sword fight in the Enchanted forest. What he said was true, he didn't want to see her die because she thought she could fight, Neverland held to many dangers for someone that had never been here before, and he was going to do his best to keep her safe. Besides it had the added bonus of letting Emma unwind, she had clearly needed it if her stomping around the deck that morning had been any indication.

But that wasn't what had him leaving his cabin and heading topside in the middle of the night. No, that would be other thoughts of Emma or nightmares to be honest. He kept having this nightmare that they find Henry, which wouldn't be a nightmare by its self. It was the horrific events that follow in the nightmare; they are running hand and hand through the dark forest back to his ship with Henry, exhausted but happy, when Peter Pan himself appears in front of them blocking their path. Emma thrusts Henry and him behind her prepared to use her magic to save them, that is when Peter Pan reaches out and rips her shadow from her body leaving her screaming in pain and falling to the ground. "NO!" He screamed throwing himself down to the ground next to her, both Peter Pan and Henry forgotten in his fear. He woke up in a cold sweat knowing that there was nothing he could do to save her and she would soon die without her shadow attached, a feeling of helplessness engulfing him, his mind still trapped within the nightmare.

Emerging topside to the cool ocean breeze helped to ease his mind, until his gaze fell onto his first personal demon, Rumpelstiltskin. He silently cursed under his breath and headed to the helm, trying to avoid the demon or whatever he was.

"Nightmares, Hook?" Rumple inquired in a knowing tone. Hook stopped in his tracks and turned slowly on his heel to face the monster that took his love from him all those years ago.

"What do you know of that?" Hook said studying his impish face closely for any clues of what he knew.

Rumple giggled and with a flourish of his hands a magical item appeared on a crate next to him. It appeared to be a looking glass. "I know more than you think, Dearie." Rumple picked up the looking glass and examined it like it was the first time he had seen it.

"I'm not interested in your games," Hook muttered his jaw setting in anger, "I may have let my revenge go to save Swan's boy, but that does not mean that I will do anything but tolerate your presence aboard my ship." He declared glaring at the Imp.

"Oh, you misunderstand, no games here." Rumple quipped in his shrill voice, his voice had changed along with is skin when they emerged through the portal in Neverland; this was the Dark One that he remembered. The coward dressed up in magic, Hook reflected.

"No?" Hook drawled biting his lip and widening his eyes in mock surprise, "then what is that for?" he gestured to the small looking glass.

"This?" Rumple chirped, "This is my way of seeing what has passed." He caressed it lovingly like it held a great many secrets.

"What does that have to do with my nightmares? Have you cursed me? Is killing my love not enough for you?" Hook snarled, the only thing holding him back from attacking him is the knowledge that he wouldn't survive the attack. He had to be alive to help Emma find her son.

"I don't need to curse you, Hook" Rumple stated completely serious, all impishness evaporated from his tone, "you acquired a curse all on your own at some point in your life, I must not be the only one that wanted you to suffer."

"What are you talking about?" he implored, "What curse?" He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach at Rumples statement. There wasn't a question in Rumples tone, he knew something, and he was going to tell him or Hook would offer him to the mermaids, with or without his promise of a truce.

"You have been cursed to live your life alone. You will never find your happiness." Rumple announced with surprisingly very little glee.

"You are making no sense," Hook complained cocking his to the side, "that has nothing to do with my nightmare or as far as I can see anything to do with that. . . . . thing." He gestured at the looking glass Rumple still held in his hand.

"This will provide the proof I see you need, so that you will believe me." He waved his free hand in front of the glass and held it out facing him. Hooks gaze was instantly transfixed on the looking glass.

'A picture started to form in the glass, of a time long ago after Bae had left him in Neverland the first time. He had gone to the fairies to find out where the Lost Ones had taken Bae; his guilt for handing him over to them in the first place had been eating at him. Mr. Smee had tried to talk him out of it, and he should have listened. He knew the fairies were spiteful creatures, with fleeting alliances. But he had been desperate to rescue him from the fate he had sentenced him to. The whole thing had blown up in his face, like many things seemed to do. He had pissed off a spiteful fairy named Tinker Bell when he didn't bring her the proper color ribbon, and she had went to Peter Pan and told him of Hooks plans. He had thought that was all that she had done. But it seems that she also put a curse on him.'

Well, he thought, he had definitely been doing that for more years than he could remember; he couldn't remember a time where he wasn't suffering or alone. No, that was a lie, when he was with Emma he forgot about everything. His only thought to make her notice him, as though he was desperate for her attention. Was that why he was having nightmares about her having her shadow ripped from her? He knew what that did to someone; he had seen it happen to a few of his fellow pirates. They had died in agony and there was nothing that he had been able to do to prevent it. Did that mean that he cared for her more than he told himself, did he think of her as more than just a distraction? He would examine that later, when he didn't have to deal with the Dark One.

"So, Dearie, I have a deal for you, I will remove your curse and you will owe me a favor, just one single favor." Rumple grinned gesturing at Hooks form with his free hand; like it was an item of clothing he could just have Hook remove.

"A deal?" Hook repeated feeling unsure. He knew it was stupid to make deals with the devil. But if he could love and be loved again, if he could just not be alone, it was almost worth it even for a day. Just almost, "What sort of favor?" He questioned him, looking up at him with his eyebrows drawn down in thought.

"Oh, a simple one I'm sure, I'm a simple man." Rumple lied with glee.

"You could do this, it won't be a trick of yours?" He questioned still not convinced.

"I can." He said simply, standing taller.

"How will I know it worked?" Hook asked his long time demon, not believing that he was actually going to do this.

"Don't worry about that, you will feel it as soon as the curse is lifted" he giggled falling back to his impish voice and gestured with his hands, the looking glass disappearing into a puff of purple smoke as he did so.

"Fine, just get it over with," Hook commanded closing his eyes tight. Waiting for the pain he expected, instead he felt warmth encase him and he could see a bright light beyond his eyelids. He felt as though he was floating and a weight had been lifted from his soul, and then Rumples insane giggle broke through his thoughts.

"It is done!" Rumple chortled in joy, "I will let you know when I want that favor." With that he took his cane that had been leaning on the crate and made his way below deck. It filled Hook with unease, but there was nothing to be done about it now. He would deal with the devil when he had too.

A/N ~ What is the favor Rumple is going to want from Hook? Oh no, it can't be good. What did you guys think? I promise this was a very needed chapter. I'm so excited about this story. Reviews feed my muse, and makes her happy. I have chapter 3 almost completed and it should be up tomorrow.