1 : Straight On 'Till Morning
"Now that you've all gotten your sealegs, you'll need to learn how to man the ship. We've no crew with us so everyone'll have to do their part."
Hook stood in front of their small gathered group, looking them all up and down one by one. They'd been out at sea all day, and as it was nearing nighttime Hook had wanted to start everyone off on their duties for tomorrow. As he came down the line he gave each of them a job, with a description of what it entailed. His gait stopped as he came to Emma, the last in the row, and he leaned in closer.
"You, darling, will have the honor of being me first mate," his lips twitched up into a smirk as he leaned away again. "Which means that all of you will answer to Miss Swan here, and she will answer to me. Savvy?
David didn't look happy about it as his jaw tensed. He stepped forward, right up into Hook's face. "How about I be your first mate and you stay away from my daughter. Savvy?"
Hook just looked into the prince's face, his smirk still firmly in place. "No. This is my ship, highness, and though you may not be used to it, I'm in charge. I believe Miss Swan here to be the most qualified for the job. You, I'd wager, would take to hostility in your dealings with me." His eyes shifted to Emma and she stiffened slightly, not willing to let him get a reaction. "Besides, I'd rather have a beautiful woman at my side than an angry prince, wouldn't you?" David bristled at that, but Mary Margaret pulled him away with her hand on his arm and, reluctantly, he stepped back to her.
"Well, now we've got that sorted out, lets to bed. There are crew's quarters below decks. They're not much, but you've at least a few rooms to choose from. I'll be in the captain's chambers." And with that he turned on his heel and left.
David and Mary Margaret came to Emma, hugging her and cooing soothing words. "Don't worry sweetheart, we'll find him. We'll find Henry," her mother smoother her hair down lovingly, smiling sweetly, so full of confidence. David just put his arm around his daughter and squeezed in a way he hoped was reassuring. "Guys, I'll be fine. We're here. The hardest part is over right?"
"Actually, dearie, the worst is yet to come. We have to contend with the Lost Ones in order to get your son back."
Emma looked to Gold, brows knit in confusion. "What do you mean? I thought Greg and Tamara had Henry."
Gold just signed, a look of exhaustion overtaking him for a moment before he answered. "Indeed, but I fear the one they're working for has other agents as well."
Regina stepped forward, arms crossed. "And who, might you enlighten us, is that? You said the same thing before we came here, but I for one would like a name."
"Peter Pan."
Emma just stared blankly at the people around her. Regina seemed to tense at the name, yet Charming and Snow merely looked confused.
"You mean the little flying blond kid that didn't want to grow up?" She asked incredulously.
Gold looked at her and gave a small smile, as if amused by her naïveté. "No, Miss Swan, much darker than that. Your world's tale is but a children's story, meant to preserve innocence. No, the Pan in this world is no children's savior. He is a tyrant. I'm sure our new captain will be able to fill you in, as he's spent the most time in this land out of us all. I'm sure he's crossed Pan's path before."
"Regina, you look like you've heard of this Pan. Is what Gold says true?" David asked.
Regina looked gravely at him, her hands shaking a bit now, though Emma wasn't sure if it was due to the cold evening air or the thought of Pan. "Yes. The stories I've heard, well. Let's just hope we get to Henry before he's delivered to him." She turned to leave, making towards the stairs that led below decks as she pulled her coat tighter around her.
Emma didn't like what she heard. She looked at her parents, worry evident in her wide eyes, and David and Mary Margaret embraced her again, as they had in the mines.
"Well, I'll be off to bed then. Miss Swan, know that I'll do all that's in my power to help get Henry back. After all, he is my grandson." Gold gave a weak smile and left, leaving the three to themselves, holding each other close.
Later that night, after her parents had chosen their room and gone to sleep, Emma had lain awake on her cot, staring at the planked ceiling of her room. There were other beds there, sure, but she was alone in her occupancy. There had been enough sectioned off quarters for them to have four rooms. Regina slept in the room to Emma's left, her parents to her right and Gold off beyond them.
She listened for a while to the yawns and groans of the ship as it settled in the waters. She'd failed. Her son had needed her protection and she'd failed. Emma grimaced and turned on her side, facing the damp wall. How had they gotten him so fast? He had been with his grandparents, in their arms, when Emma and Regina had stopped the trigger device. That blast couldn't have knocked any of them out for more than a moment.
But maybe that's all Greg and Tamara needed. A moment. And now Henry was somewhere in Neverland, ready to be handed over to the apparently psychotic Peter Pan. And it was her fault.
Emma sat up and swung her legs to the ground. There was no way she was going to sleep tonight. She might as well explore the ship; try to find land on the horizon maybe. She took the wool blanket from one of the cots with her in case her coat wasn't enough, and slowly opened her cabin door. Looking up and down the hallway, she saw she was alone. So she slid through the opening and made her way to and up the stairs. As she got to the deck she stopped, her breath leaving her.
The stars.
There were so many stars. Emma quickly ascended the last few steps and dropped the blanket on the floor, looking up in awe at the brightness above her. She's never seen so many stars before in her life.
"They say the stars in Neverland live."
Emma whipped her head around at his voice, eyes wide with the still shock of their numbers. "Really?"
"Aye," said Hook as he walked slowly towards her. He leaned on the railing of the deck, hook swaying with the movement of his left arm. "They are considered inhabitants of this realm. Though they do not move, far as I have known." His eyes settled on hers, dark and stormy. "But seeing your eyes, I can believe in the lives of stars." He smirked and Emma just rolled her eyes at him, moving to pick up the blanket she had dropped. "Now you just ruined it."
"Indeed? Then my apologies madam, I meant no harm." His voice was lighthearted and teasing as he mock bowed to her, but Emma just frowned at him in response, then looked back up at the sky.
The silence stretched between them as she fell into thought. Henry.
"You're worried about him no doubt." Again Hook shook her to awareness. She gave him a sideways glance and just looked out to the deep murky waters. "I am. He is my son. But I'm sure you don't know anything about that."
"You'd be surprised, lass. I wasn't always so heartless as you make me out."
"Oh I doubt that. I know you. Look out for yourself and no one else, right?"
Hook pushed off the railing and came closer to her, stopping a foot away, yet towered over her frame. "You'd do well not to assume a singular view of me. I might just surprise you, princess."
"Don't call me that."
He smirked again, a single brow quirking at her. "My, my. Still so closed off. But as I said, you've no need to speak. You're still an open book." And to that Emma turned to him, eyes flashing a moment before she assumed a mask of indifference.
"Believe what you want. I'm only here to get back my son."
She walked past him, her shoulder brushing his ever so slightly, and descended to the lower decks and back to her room. Hook stood there for a moment more, staring at the place she had been, and then slowly turning his eyes skyward.
I know it was short, but I wanted to get at least a little bit of prose out so people can get a better idea of the story. Please, please, please leave your feedback in a review. I want to know what you all think. What you liked, what I can improve on, what you want more of, or less of. Really, it can only help me improve my writing for you all. And if anyone catches a spelling or grammatical mistake, please let me know so I can fix it. Thanks!