Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed part one, here is the second part. I changed the formatting a little bit in this part to make it easier to read. I hope it was successful :)

Please leave me a review, if you can. Any comment is fine, I'm just really curious what people think of my writing. The final part will be up soon :)

When he was seated on the couch in her study, she went to pour them a glass of her famous apple cider while watching him closely from the corner of her eyes. He seemed to be lost in thought with a serious expression on his face and he was not paying attention to her actions. She had never seen him like this, she was used to his confident and very alert demeanour and now he almost looked like an innocent puppy.

/What am I even thinking about?/

She shook her head to clear her mind and walked towards him She stood next to the table indecisively for a moment and then sat on the couch right next to him. Her movement startled him and he gave her a large grin, noticing the proximity between them.

/Why am I doing this? Why did I not sit opposite him like with every other guest?/

Regina was confused, but decided not to question herself too much and just enjoy the company, even if it was nothing but a drunken and lonely pirate. She didn't get any visitors these days, not even Henry had shown up after the night of Cora's death and she suddenly felt very sad and somehow lost, thinking of her son.

With a quick movement she finished her drink with one sip and turned towards the man next to her when she heard a light chuckle.

"Are you nervous, love?", he winked and smirked playfully which made her roll her eyes.

Her voice was full of sarcasm when she replied: "Oh yes, of course. Your presence makes my heart flutter and I get so nervous that I have to gulp down my drink to cope with your handsomeness, my dear Killian."

She emphasised his name and a wicked smile appeared on her face while she leaned back into the couch, letting her eyes wander over his ruffled hair, the rough outline of his face and the part of his chest revealed by his shirt.

/This could be fun./

She crossed her legs and looked him in the eyes, waiting for one of his usual flirtatious remarks or an ironic comment, but she was taken aback by what she saw. She didn't know if it was the alcohol or if he was just being careless, but it felt like she could see right through him into his soul, his eyes showing so much hurt and pain.

/Is that what's hidden behind those walls? A damaged man, not wanting to show real emotion?/

This reminded her a lot of herself and she couldn't help but let out a suppressed chuckle that sounded more edgy than cheerful.

If he noticed he didn't let it show, he just sat there with a rather fake smile on his lips, sipping on his drink while leaning back into the couch, slowly closing his eyes.

/What if he falls asleep with the glass in his hand? I don't want cider all over the place./

She gently took hold of his hand, noticing the warmth radiating from it and shook it lightly. He opened his eyes and gave her a questioning look and with a soft smile she said: "I don't think you should hold your glass and close your eyes at the same time. In case you fall asleep. I really don't want to clean up cider from my furniture later."

He smiled and replied with a husky undertone: "Am I right in thinking that you're actually expecting me to fall asleep on your couch and stay here, your Majesty? I wonder what you have planned."

His eyes darkened significantly showing her that he was back to his usual self and she couldn't help but smile back at his innuendo, even though she tried to put up an annoyed look on her face.

"In your dreams, Captain," she used his title, not wanting to address him on a personal level, "I'm only saying that anything is possible in your state and I would advise you to be careful."

The look in his eyes showed her that he didn't really believe her, but he didn't reply to her diplomatic answer and instead just put his glass on the table and closed his eyes once more.

His facial muscles relaxed and she was surprised to see such a calm, almost dreamy look on his face. He really was handsome and she had to admit that she was attracted to him. She fought an urge to caress his cheek and started playing with the ring on her finger instead. It used to be one of her mother's and she had put it on so it was like she was always with her. Her thoughts drifted away, back to the day when she had paid a visit to Cora's coffin in the family vault.

Flashback

It was dark. She couldn't hear anything apart from someone breathing close to her and her own heartbeat. She opened her eyes and tried to focus on her surroundings, but couldn't make out anything in the dim light. Suddenly she realised her position.

/I am lying on the floor, with Hook's arms around me. What the –/

She could not finish her thought, as in this moment the man behind her pulled her closer to him and whispered softly in her ear: "Shh, your Majesty. Try to relax, no quick movements. We don't want you to faint again. I'm here, no worries."

"You're here? How comforting, pirate!" she replied venomously and tried to laugh, but it got stuck in her throat and she fell silent.

His heartbeat and the warmth of his body comforted her and she took a few deep breaths, inhaling his scent of sea water, wood and a hint of masculine cologne.

/I didn't know pirates wear cologne. Or maybe he took a fancy to it when he came to Storybrooke./

She shook her head in embarrassment and shock.

/What is this? I need to stop thinking about the way he smells and try to get up, out of this awkward position./

Moments passed and her eyes began to get used to the light conditions so that she could now see that they were leaning against the wall opposite Cora's coffin. She was tempted to use a magic force to stand up and push Hook away, but the thought of her promise to Henry stopped her. He was the only thing she had left and she didn't want to risk losing him too.

Regina snapped out of her thoughts when she felt his strong arms lifting her up and holding her in a standing position.

"Try not to forget to breathe, love. Not that I would mind catching you when you fall, but I think it's in your own interest to remain aware of all that is happening."

She could hear the suggestive tone in his voice and turned towards him, while taking a step back to get out of his hold.

"Very funny, Captain. I would suggest you leave my vault and don't come back. What were you doing here in the first place?"

Back to her regal, composed self, she gave him a frustrated look and waited for his answer. His smile faded and a hurt expression appeared on his face, she was not sure if it was real or just one of his ways to toy with her.

Why do I even care?

And then the realisation hit her. She actually cared. For him. For his emotions. How was that possible? That was unthinkable and ridiculous. She shook her head violently as if to get rid of the thoughts, but they somehow got stuck in the back of her head.

When she looked up again, he was walking towards the door and she immediately missed the feeling of him beside her.

"I was walking through the graveyard when I saw you entering the vault, your Majesty," he used her title, but it didn't sound respectful, more like an insult, "and when you stayed in there for a rather long time, I came down to see if everything was alright."

He looked at her with an intense glare and the unspoken /I was worried about you/ hung in the air.

She was taken aback by his emotional response and for the first time since she could remember, the Mayor was speechless. She opened her mouth, but the words didn't come and so she just returned the look.

For a moment she could see a full array of emotions in the depth of his eyes; worry, anger, surprise and something she could not determine. It was soft and felt somehow familiar; she could feel a flutter in her stomach and her heart rate increased once more. Before she could get lost in his sky-blue eyes, he broke the contact and she could see his walls go up again. Without another word he turned and left the vault at a quick pace.