A/N: I will be posting about once weekly (Unless I finish early) Also send me messages at my blog firstmateswan on tumblr! (ask questions about the story, predictions, any ideas you'd love to see play out, that sort of thing) Also send some prompts, I'd love some! (Captain Swan, Outlaw Queen, Snowing, Frankenwolf, ect)

PS. I had two people guess with extreme accuracy components of this story. But don't worry, I have some surprises up my sleeve.

P.P.S Check out the tumblr tag for this fic #SecondTimeAround

Chapter 2: Dinner for Two

It was when she was left alone that embarrassment hit like a wave of nausea. The Captain, literally the man who forced her onto this ship, just saw her naked and completely vulnerable. Emma stood and wrapped a dark red cloak around her bare body, trying to ignore the way his fingers felt like fire on her skin. Her wet hair was stuck to her back as droplets of water ran down her leg.

Behind her, the dimming sunlight was flooding into the small room, and the ocean seemed to go on forever without a thing in sight.

Not wanting to waste away in her own emotions, Emma stands up straight despite the pain sent down her back. With a little too much force she throws open the wardrobe to look for something that would fit. She was far from picky these days, food had become more important than a long gown or a fresh cloak.

Quickly she pulled on the second gown she saw, it was thin and slightly loose. A deep blue color that reminded her of the pond that had been outside her window as a child. She used to see swans swim in the waters, graceful and beautiful. Sometimes she'd sneak down and sit on the waters edge just to watch them float upon the water.

Emma paced back and forth, most likely wearing a hole through the floorboards. The room was so bare, with not a thing to do. Though going out and venturing the Jolly Roger alone sounded like a possible death sentence. The only thing in the room that held her interest was the book shelf that had more books than she'd seen in many years. All the spines were worn from many uses, most likely much treasured books.

On the inside of the most worn book had a message written inside of it.

Mother would have wanted you to have this

Liam

She knew better than to ask anyone who Liam was, or whose book it even was. It's even possible the books were picked up along their travels. Emma prefered her tongue in her mouth rather than nailed to the mast.

Absent mindedly, Emma picks up another book that felt familiar in her hands. The way it fit in her palms, and how the smell felt like home. On the inside cover were three words written in beautiful script,

For My Swan.

Shaking her from her thoughts, there was a knock on the thick wooden door before it swung open. "Excuse me, miss, my names Henry. Captain asked me to show you around. If you're up to it, that is." The boy asked. He was young, younger than any pirate she'd ever seen. Her heart throbbed in her chest, barely keeping her mouth shut when she wants to ask why a boy so young was a pirate.

"Oh yes, I'd love to." Emma said weakly, barely able to muster a smile on her face. She was sure he knew she was forcing it. Two paces behind Henry, they exit the room and turn at the end of the short tight hallway where the light became non existent. Next to her a light brought the dingy room to color. Even with the light of the lamp Henry was holding, it was a dreary dark place she would rather not visit.

"This is where the brig is. Hopefully you never have to come down this way. To the right is the treasure room, which only Captain can access." Henry said simply as he pulled her up a set of stairs up onto the deck of the ship.

"And here is where all the action is. Honestly I don't expect you up here too much but Captain said you're welcome to. And you have to come up here to get down to the Galley on the other side of the ship where that door leads, and the crews quarters are currently directly below us," He continued, pointing at the door that lead into a small room where the stairs were. Though Emma's attention was drawn towards the duel going on towards the railing of the ship. She didn't recognize the men, but she saw the Captain watching boredly from the helm.

"So what should I call you now, because I have a feeling you'd get annoyed by being called M'lady for the remainder of your stay," Henry chuckled, noting where her attention lied. He didn't blame her, every other woman whose eyes landed on the Captain were star struck. He most certainly preferred her to all the woman that he'd paraded around the ship before he'd ever met her.

"Call me Swan, I rather like that." The name brought a bright smile to the boys face, like she was part of an elaborate inside joke.

The sunset over the ocean was glorious. It always had been. Ever since the moment she first stepped on a merchant ship sailing to Arendelle. She never got to spend time on ships as a princess, Emma tended to be landlocked and stuck behind castle walls no matter the kingdom.

Now that she's had a deep breath of sea water and a taste of freedom, she knew she could never go back.

"Are you ready for dinner?" A gruff voice asked from behind her. Hook. She didn't say a word, just watched the waters in front of her.

With a shuffle, Hook sat down next to her, allowing his legs to dangle between the railings off the edge of the ship. They sat in silence for a while, food in the Captains cabin growing cold. There was barely any scuffle behind them, the crew having been told to make themselves scarce at sun down.

"What were you doing on that ship, lass?" Hook asks curiously, breaking the silence. Emma turns her head to face him. His stormy eyes were trained on her like beacons cutting through fog. The intensity made her stomach flip, she smiled at him nervously, sure that he'd be able to cut through her lies.

"I was travelling to the Enchanted Forest." She said honestly, shrugging, hoping that he wouldn't ask for an explanation because she was sure she would sound insane.

"Beautiful place for a beautiful lady." Hook shrugged as he retrieved a flask from a pocket on the inside of his leather jacket. Taking a long drink before offering her a drink. She graciously accepted, because anything that could numb her thoughts was welcome these days.

"What were you doing out this way?" Emma asked carefully, taking another sip before passing the flask back to Hook. He took it without looking back at her as he stuck it back on the inside of his jacket. Silently he raised his hook above his head and hung it around the railing comfortably. His sigh was unmistakable. Pain.

"I was searching for something I lost," He said, sounding uneasy. His eyes refused to meet hers as if she'd been the source to all his pain. Emma didn't know what to do, so she simply asked "Did you find it?"

"Aye, I did." Was all he said. It was mysterious and vague but it pulled her like a magnet to him. She put a hand on his, letting it rest there without ever mentioning it.

"I'm glad, Hook." Her smile came easy, much easier than it had in many years. If she didn't know better, she'd say the same for him.

"Killian," He said carefully, refusing to move his hand as if he knew it would scare her off like a timid animal.

"What?"

"My name is Killian, call me that." He mumbled by something she couldn't quite understand. ('I never liked it when you called me Hook.)

"Alright, Killian." She smiled, pulling her hand back to her body slowly. All the fire in her fingers died in that moment. Disappointment flooded her veins but she refused to let her show such a thing. Getting lovesick over some pirate she'd only met today was far too wanton for her tastes. Emma still held herself to standards that had been engraved in her since birth. Those of a Princess.

"So, Swan, I think I ought to change those bandages for you. I wouldn't wish any illness on you," Killian said, sounding sincere and he pulled himself to his feet by his hook. Quickly he offered Emma his hand to help her to her own feet. She smiled at him carefully, nervousness washing over her. It had been easier to convince herself to undress in front of him when she had a potentially life threatening wound. But now she knew nothing would be her undoing today, and that terrified her.

"I'm sure I'm fine, Captain. Don't worry about me," She said, her eyes darting anywhere but him.

"Love, I insist." He said firmly, offering her his hand. Something in her chest thumped as if it were screaming at her to take his hand. Emma internally compartmentalized, shoving that desire into a box that would never be opened again. So instead she brought herself to her feet and pushed the budding feelings deep down where they may as well never be seen again.

"Show me the way then, Captain," She mumbled, showing no amusement on her face that had been there only moments before. Killian hid his frown under a comical smirk as he lead her back to his cabin. A part of him hoped that Smee had… done away with Plan A. When he opened the cabin door he sighed with regret. Of course the rat hadn't.

Candles on the table had melted down to nubs, barely keeping the room alight. The food had grown long cold and unappetising. Frankly, Killian surprised himself when he was able to shake his emotions of embarrassment. Swan was smiling, looking only a bit guilty. Knowing her there were probably dozens of emotions lying underneath, but Killian wouldn't allow himself a look. She may be an open book to him, but for now it was a book she wouldn't forgive him for reading.

Killian quickly blew out the candles before lighting a lamp, and then cleaned up the mess while Emma took a seat at the small table next to the window. As he cleared the untouched food, Killian scolded himself for the stolen glances. The last thing he wanted was to spook the beautiful Swan.

"So Captain, what was this treasure you'd lost?" Emma asked, tracing her fingers along the ridges in the wooden table. Killian's breath audibly hitched and his face grew trouble if only for a moment before he regained composure.

"Now, now, Swan. Sometimes secrets make things all the more funner." He taunted half heartedly, motioning for her to come over and sit on the edge of the bed as he retrieved the bandages. It felt like butterflies and pixies were dancing around in her chest. She watched him rifle through a cabinet for supplies with a care she hadn't expected.

"Love, there is a cloak in the far wardrobe that I'm sure will fit you, if you wish to cover yourself during this process." Killian spoke without meeting her gaze. She nodded, and silently went to the wardrobe. Like the one in her room it was filled with dresses. These more simple but surely elegant. She couldn't help but wonder whose they were but she thought better to not ask.

Soon she found the cloak he was speaking of, it was beautiful. The clasps were a swan joined by a hook around the neck. She shivered, trying to shrug all her questions long black cloak felt like it was made for her. While his back was turned she quickly pulled her dress down so he could access her wound. Even under the cloak she felt naked and absolutely vulnerable. Every gaze he cast her felt like it was searing through her infamous walls that she'd built to protect her. As if there were a door made just for him.

Stop it! Her thoughts screamed at her as Killian strode back to her with bandages and rum in hand.

"Please tell me you're not going to pour that down my back." Emma aid weakly, eyeing Killian nervously.

"Relax, love. This here is for us." He said, shaking the bottle for good measure before taking the longest drink he could manage. He needed to be drunk or else the moment she leaves would ruin him.

"Oh is it now?" She smiled as he pushed the cloak off her back, making sure she was covering everything else. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable.

"Of course. My rum is your rum, love." Killian chuckled as he pulled the old bandages away. His stitchwork was holding well, thankfully. As long as she doesn't rush into battle, she'll be fine. Although keeping her from danger had always seemed impossible.

Emma smiled gratefully when she took the bottle from him as he started to rebandage her back gently. She would have never expected such care from the terror that is Captain Hook.

Then again, this is Killian Jones.

They sat in silence, passing the rum back and forth for what seems like hours. The bandaging long finished and yet neither of the moved away. Killian's hand still rested between her shoulder blades, his thumb tracing over her skin carefully.

This must be what it's like to be cherished.

She shook the thought away violently, mad at herself for ever thinking such a thing. With a life like hers, there was no room or chance to be cherished and she long forgot about her wishes for such a thing. Yet here was someone trying to change her ways of thinking in one simple gesture.

"Why in God's name are you so damn nice to me, Hook?" She asked accusingly, looking at him with anger as if he'd called her all the awful names under the sun and stars.

Killian retracted his hand violently as he stood up and away from her, "There you go Swan, building those walls so high up that you can't see the truth anymore!" He yelled exasperated. She quickly covered herself with the cloak as she stood to walk out, her face read 'Disgusted' all over it.

"It's not like I have all the reason to trust you of all people, Hook!" She yelled in response, already half way to the door.

"Well maybe you do, did you ever bloody think of that, woman?" He yelled back, his face showing every emotion that crossed it, Pain, Hurt, Betrayal, Loss, Love.

"What the hell is that ever supposed to mean?" She asked, dumbstruck. "You kidnapped me off my ship and now you expect me to just trust you?"

"I was hoping so, yes! Do I really mean nothing to you?" He asked, his voice breaking, emotionful and raw.

"Why would I do that, Pirate?" Emma yelled as she yanked open the cabin door, about to storm out.

"Because we were in love once, you thick headed Princess!" He shouted, hoping those few words would draw her back. Even if it were just to yell at him some more. In his mind, endless fighting was better than the distance they'd had between them since the day she'd left.

Emma stopped dead in her tracks and looked at the Pirate Captain in shock.

"Don't speak of things you have no understanding of, Pirate." She spat out before leaving the room in fury.

When Emma retreated to her room, she let her lean against the door in shock. She had no idea what was going on anymore. Emma was in love once, but it certainly wasn't with that.. that Scoundrel! It had ended painfully and left her alone in the world. She wouldn't let that happen again.

But before she built her walls to the ceiling, she let herself cry. Let herself long for home. Except you can't long for home when you don't know where it lies any longer.