The fearsome Captain Hook slammed down his mug, a sign to the barmaid to refill it. The redheaded lass on his arm giggled at the story he had just finished telling about the royal embargo he had foiled. Though Hook wondered if she was giggling because of his story or because of his dashing good looks. One way or the other that girl was, for lack of a better word, hooked.

When one of the men brought up a deck of cards, a game was started and soon bets were placed. The redhead on his arm got bored and started running her hand up and down his arm, trying to entice him, but Hook had his eye on the small swan necklace that his opponent had put in the pot. The silver gleam to the trinket reminded him of the curve of his hook.

The dastardly pirate himself gave a shout of victory as he placed the cards in front of him, revealing his hand to the crowd. Cries, some of glee and some of disappointment, rang out as coins were exchanged and his opponent got up from his chair. Hook took the loot he had just won with a victorious grin.

Hands appeared on the table, bringing swinging gold hair and the scent of salt and lemons.

"What are you boys playing?"

Hook looked up, his jaw going slack at the surprising appearance of the young beauty. Her eyes were flirtatious and surrounded by hints of charcoal while her mouth was stretched out in a smile that looked like it was trying not to mock him.

He waved his hand to the empty chair in front of him, quickly regaining his roguish composure. He now sat alone as the young redhead had abandoned him, realizing that she would not be getting any special attention from him. "Why don't you sit down and find out?"

She quirked an eyebrow. "But I don't have anything to bet with."

He tossed out his best smile. "How about your name, lass? I win this round and I get your name, you win, and you can take your pick of my winnings."

She took her place in front of him, and a quick rumbling came from their onlookers as bets were quickly placed.

He had a bad hand and he knew it, but he didn't show it. The woman before him studied his features, trying to seek out the cracks in his facade.

"You're bluffing. I won't fold," she said.

He quirked an eyebrow, and then showed his hand. "You win, love. Congratulations."

As slowly the crowd realized that the end of the round announced the end of the games, and therefore, the betting, they dispersed.

"Well, love, deal is a deal. Take your pick," Hook said, leaning back casually.

Her green eyes flicked across the random assortment of treasure. Her eyes sparked when she landed on something in particular.

"I want that necklace."

Hook shook his head in good nature. "How unfortunate, I was rather fond of that trinket."

She leaned across the table to take her prize, but to his astonishment, she got even closer to him than he thought. Her lips ghosted his ear as she leaned in.

"In these parts I'm known as Swan," she breathed.

He turned his head to look at her more. "Ah. That explains your fascination with the necklace, Lady Swan."

Her face briefly hardened before going back to her previous flirtatious attitude. "Well, Captain, you'll see that I'm no lady."

He chuckled darkly. "It seems we will have to remedy that," he muttered. His smirk came back full force. "Come back to my ship with me."

She leaned back from and pushed in her chair. "Sorry, Captain, but my shift starts soon." She pocketed the silver swan necklace and sashayed away, as gracefully as her apparent namesake, taking his attention with her. He scratched the back of his head with his hook, blaming his blush on the spirits he'd consumed.

He barely remembered heading back to the ship with the remainder of his crew that hadn't managed to find a bed warmer, he barely remembered the orders he gave to them, but he did remember the graceful barmaid who insisted she wasn't a lady.

Emma shouldn't have been as surprised as she was that he came back.

A pack of rowdy men stumbled in, seemingly inebriated although Emma could guess that they were all still sober, but meaning to change that very soon.

The pirate with that infuriating smirk met eyes with her from across the tavern, signaling for a round of drinks.

Emma gave a smirk herself. If Emma had herself an admirer, or at least someone trying to bed her, than the more tips she would probably receive. But of course she also couldn't help enjoying their little back and forth conversational battle they seemed to be starting.

"Back so soon?" she asked as she passed out the mugs to the men at his table.

He was known as Captain Hook, that much Emma could figure out by him being a captain, and well, that hook of his wasn't exactly in style among the masses.

Hook leaned forward, his shadowed eyes trying to lure her in. "Always for a lass such as yourself. Especially one who wears a gift from me."

Emma scoffed as she looked at the swan necklace around her throat. "Gift? I won this fair and square."

He chuckled. "Maybe so, but it is from me, and I did give it to you for winning a bet."

Emma smiled and shook her head playfully. "You flatter me, but I'm just here to serve drinks and get enough to pay for rent." When her tray was empty, she straightened up and headed back to the bar. She cursed herself. One of the unspoken rules of keeping a man coming back was to keep up the fantasy, never let them believe that their object of attention had an actual life, was a real person. Mentioning her struggle to pay rent broke that rule.

Luckily for her, and knew the correct way to continue with this game. If he chose to proceed.

Even with her faux pas, she wasn't too surprised to see him waiting for her when she had finished making her rounds.

"Is your shift over yet?" he asked, a hint of eagerness showing.

She rolled her eyes playfully. "It is a slow night, I could use a break." She pulled two tumblers from behind the bar and filled them with rum, leaving the bottle out as she went back to the other side and joining Hook where he sat.

He took a sip out of his tumbler. "I highly doubt someone would name their daughter, 'Swan'."

She also took a sip. "What's your point?"

"My point is that I don't know your name."

She quickly racked her head for something clever to say. "What's the fun in that? I don't know your name either. This way we're just ships passing in the night."

He licked his bottom lip. "Passing closely, I hope." He stuck out his only hand. "Killian Jones, at your service, milady." She flinched, but shook his hand anyway.

The air got a little too heavy for her when he called her 'milady', and she did her best to change the subject. "Most people don't come here two nights a row unless they live around here. And I'm sure I've never seen you before."

"Most men would take your avoidance as off putting, but I love a challenge," he said, his eyes sparking to life. "If you must know, we are here for ship repairs, we were caught in a skirmish between a vessel belonging to the Evil Queen and another hailing from Misthaven."

Emma barely contained a shiver from hearing about her mother. It had been a few months since she had left her naive palace life behind for making an honest living not supported by the misery of her mother's people, but she still missed her mother.

"Misthaven? Doesn't their blood feud with Queen Regina go back decades?" she asked, remembering the hazy stories she had heard from intoxicated patrons.

"Aye. But let's not talk about some spoiled royals sending troops to fight a pointless war, I'd rather get to know more about yourself. Let's start with your name."

Did their meeting disappoint you? Review and tell me that

Did their meeting make you squeal? Review and tell me that

Did their meeting inspire homicidal rage? Review and...on second thought, don't tell me that and seek help. But by all means, please review