Chapter 2- Life on Deck

'Untie me! Quick untie me now!' Belle panicked and shouted at the crew members who walked past her idly.

'Hold your horses love we'll untie you soon enough.' Hook called back from the helm, the spokes spinning making the boat lurch sideways. That wasn't the only thing that lurched. Belle fought back the nausea with everything she had but this being the first time on a boat it wasn't going too well.

'Would you rather I throw up over the deck?' She choked not having a hand to put over her mouth. She wasn't sure if the look of distress he gave her was intended for her or his precious boat, but he leapt from his place and cut the ropes using a dagger at his belt. A man with a ridiculous moustache offered a soapy bucket but she ran straight to hurl over the edge.

'Don't splatter the sides. She just had a paint job!' The Captain exclaimed when she came up for air. Belle wobbled to find something to sit on. The motion of the waves could make even the iron stomached feel wretched. Hook examined the side where she had just been then removed a bottle from his shipmate's lips and handed it to her. 'You'll find that it settles the stomach.' He offered scrunching his nose at the lingering smell. Belle swigged the contents spluttering in the process. He studied her for a moment before he regained his place back at the wheel and commanded for the sails to be adjusted.

'Where exactly are we going?' Belle hiccupped nursing her head. The bottle of what ever it was, was now empty and it might have settled her stomach but now her body felt numb and silly with the alcohol. It didn't help that she had an empty stomach as well.

'Where do you think? It wasn't only you that I stole from that tower. I happened to acquire something else as well.' He tapped his belt and Belle dipped her head and saw a rolled parchment tucked there. 'You my dear are a budding cartographer. Ever thought of turning pirate?' He winked teasingly at her.

'You stole my map! That was awfully inconsiderate of you.' She gurgled not entirely sure of the words that were frothing from her mouth. She should be furious, angry, upset about what this man was planning on doing but she could hardly focus on anything.

'Uh, pirate?' He laughed before surveying the deck below him. 'Mr. Smee!' He demanded. The outcast of the crew jumped from a nap and stumbled toward him.

'Yes Cap'n?' He answered with reverence and a quick salute.

'Take the lady below decks. Looks like she can't handle the drink as well as the sea.'

'Anywhere in particular?' Mr. Smee asked. 'She can't go with the rest of the crew surely?' Hook glared at him, his eyes fierce then was instantly replaced with something else. He closed his eyes and bowed his head for a moment, the ship drenched in silence. Not even the crew stirred. Then re-animated once again he took a breath and steadied himself.

'Put her in Milah's cabin.' He said in almost a whisper.

Belle woke up to the waves. She was tucked in a fragrant patchwork quilt with a bucket beside her. The motion sickness was still nagging at her insides but it wasn't as strong as before. Belle found it elating not to be surrounded by her familiar stone and black tallies but she remembered that this was just a new kind of prison. She would only be free when she was back…back with him. There was an awful smell in the room and she realised with horror that it was coming from her. She got up and knocked her head on the boards above her. As she tried to stand her legs bowed and the ship used that moment to turn sending her sprawling to the floor. Belle fell against a chest which spilled out and over the floor.

Feeling refreshed having changed into some clothes that she found in the chest she wondered up onto deck. She found it startling to be deserted out at sea. Miles and miles of blue on all sides, no land in sight. She looked up at the crow's nest when a hand caressed her hair.

'M-Milah?' A small voice whispered behind her. She quickly turned and found Hook inches away with a lost look on his face. It was an expression which seemed out of place on him and she couldn't be more surprised. Seeing her he reeled backwards confused before recovering and then his arrogant self returning in seconds. 'You're awake then. Good. You can get to work.' Mr. Smee came over with a heavy set grin and a mop and bucket.

'Does that mean I don't have to do it anymore?' He inquired with hope in voice.

'Exactly. Get to it love. The deck doesn't scrub itself.' He raised a humorous eyebrow and waited with folded arms for her to take the bucket.

'Firstly, don't call me love. Secondly, there is no way I'm mopping your deck.' She said defiantly. Hook gritted his teeth and having no understanding of the limits of personal space leaned in toward her.

'I think you'll find that I'm the Captain of this ship. You'll do as I say… love.' His jaw jutted out in a mixture of frustration and the delight of a challenge. Belle not scared of an ego-filled pirate stood her ground.

'Or what? You'll throw me overboard? I wouldn't be here if I wasn't important to your cause.' Belle with a sense of victory folded her arms to match him. Hook smoldered at her for a moment before turning his back to her.

'Looks like we have a feisty one here lads! A right little Lioness!' He faced her once again. 'You know exactly what makes a man tick don't you? Oh yes, that crocodile never stood a chance with you now did he? That courage of yours will get you in trouble one day Lioness, you should be careful,' He lifted the bucket from the deck and placed it back into Mr. Smee's hands. 'Don't forget the wax.' He said before stalking off back to his pride of place.

They had been at sea now for over two weeks and ever since that first day the nickname Lioness had stuck. Belle might have fought over not having to work but after two days the boredom had set in and she found herself helping the hopeless Smee. At times Belle had to remind herself that she wasn't supposed to be enjoying herself, that this ship was just another prison but she had always the urge to adventure to far off places. She remained wary of the infamous Captain, who since the start of the journey had got increasingly distant. Her presence seemed to provoke some feeling in him. She had often wondered who Milah was, the owner of the cabin she now resided in and she didn't even want to think of the reasoning behind Hook's hatred for Rumple. That was why she thought it strange when that night she was invited to dine with the Captain.

'I had arranged for a game of dice with the crew this evening.' Belle said with mock sadness. 'You lost me at least ten gold.'

'How could you love a monster like that?' He sparked instantly not even looking at her. He sat at the end of a rustic wooden table and she slid into a chair that was placed at the other. She had been waiting for this sort of question to be raised.

'He's not a monster. Underneath all that hatred and beneath the evil that has taken hold of him there's good. I've seen it. Just like any man he desires love, to believe that he is capable of it, worthy of it. He wouldn't believe that I did. That I do. I love him.' As she spoke she could see the memories of that time resurfacing. Floating in front of her eyes like some ghostly apparition. They dissipated with the sound of his voice.

'But how, how could you possibly see past that? It is incapable of love. I've seen it.' He stared into her eyes as he said it. Each word slow and heavy on his tongue. Belle gulped softly before speaking.

'I don't know what he did to hurt you but I know that wasn't him, not his true self. I found that in him. That is who I love.' It was her turn to look down as his stare seemed to sting her. The table was laden with fruit and fish but Belle's hunger seemed to ebb away.

'Oh I think a bit differently I'm afraid. You see I think he was nothing but himself the day he murdered Milah, my true love.' He waited for Belle's reaction and wasn't disappointed. Belle couldn't believe him and didn't want to.

'He's changed. I know he has.' Belle could see that neither of them would admit defeat.

'Still the Lioness I see.' He flicked an apple into the air and caught it on his hook, the juice dampening his cuffs. 'I just hope you don't get in the way when I kill him.'

'Oh you can count on that.' She countered taking a swig of ale and let it settle in her cheeks before swallowing. His hearty laugh returned.

'That's what I'm afraid of.'