"Emma, love, wake up," said Killian, shaking her gently.
Emma's eyes flew open, and the first thing she noticed was the fact that she was pressed flush against the leather-clad pirate. Her cheeks turned red. She stood up and went over to her mother. "What did Henry say?"
"We are going to go to Rumplestiltskin's cell. He kept a vial of squid Ink there. It will help us to immobilize Cora," said Mary Margaret.
"Let's go," said Emma.
Mary Margaret shook her head. It's the middle of the night, Emma. The ogres are out. It's too dangerous. We'll get going at dawn." Mary Margaret shot her daughter a sly grin and lowered her voice. "Get some more sleep. You and Hook looked rather cozy."
Emma glanced over at Killian, who was gazing at them with pointed curiosity.
"There's nothing there," said Emma quickly.
"For you, nothing always means something," said Mary Margaret.
"All that matters is getting back to Henry," said Emma.
Mary Margaret nodded. "Of course, but Emma, once we're back—"
"Nothing's going to happen," said Emma resolutely.
Mary Margaret let the subject drop. Hook was a pirate after all. Still, Mary Margaret swore that she'd seen a spark between them.
-/-
Killian had volunteered to take the night watch while every one else slept.
He sat on the ground near the fire. He glanced over at Emma, who was curled up beside her mother. What had this woman gone through that had left her so broken? He wanted to know. He wanted to know everything about her.
It was strange that he found himself caring for someone else after 300 years of living only for revenge. He tried not to dwell on the fact that he was starting to finally put Milah behind him. Of course, he would always love her. She would always have a special place in his heart, but for the first time in centuries, he thought that maybe it could be possible for him to find love again. To find his happy ending.
Killian shook his head in effort to clear it. They'd only known each other for a day, and besides, she was the Savior. She couldn't possibly want anything to do with a good for nothing, one-handed pirate.
"So, Captain, I see you've made your choice," said a voice, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Killian stood up and whirled around only to see Cora.
"I haven't a clue what you're talking about," said Killian.
"You really are a terrible liar," said Cora, "but if she means so little to you, perhaps I'll just take her heart now. My daughter would certainly thank me for it." Cora swept over to Emma. "She certainly is a pretty little thing, Captain," she cooed, "As pretty as her mother. I cannot fault your taste."
Killian scowled at the woman.
"Speechless are we?" asked Cora. She knelt down beside Emma, reaching for her chest.
"Don't," said Killian.
Cora smirked. "I'll make you a deal Captain. You can keep your little princess if you hand over the compass. I'll return to Storybrooke and the five of you can start a new life here in this ogre ravaged land."
""You think I would give up 300 years of revenge for a woman?" said Killian.
"I do," said Cora. "Because love is weakness, Captain, and after only twenty four hours Miss Emma Swan has already become your new weakness. Don't even bother trying to deny it. I know you too well. Now give me the compass and no one will get hurt."
"No," said Killian.
Cora smirked. "Well then, my dear Captain, we're going to have to do this the hard way." Then she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
-/-
"You look like you've seen a ghost," said Emma, coming up to him not a half an hour later.
"Go back to sleep, love" said Killian.
Emma sat down beside him. "What's wrong," she asked.
Killian looked away.
Emma gazed at him for a long moment.
"I have to trust you, Hook, if you're going to come back with us," she said softly.
"Cora paid me a visit," he said.
"What?"
"She offered me a deal for the compass," said Killian.
"What were the terms?"
"That's not important," said Killian. "I didn't take it."
"I thought pirates only looked out for themselves," said Emma offhandedly.
"I have a code, Emma. When I make a promise to someone, I keep it."
Upon seeing the pain in his eyes, Emma instantly regretted her words. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't dwell on it, love. I'm used to it."
"That doesn't mean you deserve it," said Emma. "I can take over the watch if you want to rest."
"I won't be able to," he said.
So they sat together in a companionable, watching the embers die down.
-/-
"What the hell is that?" cried Emma, pointing a little ways ahead of them.
The others glanced in the direction where Emma was pointing. A mob of reawakened corpses was trudging across the barren hills and they were closing in.
"It's the villagers," said Mulan.
"Cora must've sent them," said Mary Margaret, drawing her bow.
"Can we outrun them?" asked Aurora.
"No," said Mary Margaret. "This is the fastest route to the cell. Draw your weapons and charge."
Mulan, Emma and Killian drew their swords as Mary Margaret began shooting arrows at the corpses.
The mob closed in on them from all directions. Emma was still rather inexperienced with a sword, and was hacking wildly at the attackers. Killian attempted to keep Emma in his peripheral version as he sliced through Cora's abominations.
"Emma, behind you!" cried Mary Margaret, firing several arrows in a quick succession.
Emma whirled around, brandishing her sword wildly, but five of the corpses closed in around her, knocking her to her knees and dragging her in the opposite direction.
"Emma!" cried Mary Margaret.
Killian turned just in time to see Emma and her captors disappear in a purple puff of smoke. "Cora," he growled. "You'll not take her from me."
