"There you are – for minute there I thought you were going to skip out on saying goodbye to me darling." Hook found Emma upstairs in one of the antechambers. She had traded her ball gown for her familiar tunic, pants, and boots. Her hair in a loose ponytail. She had been staring out the window when Hook came in.

"I'll see you tomorrow before you leave. I wasn't really in the mood to stay at the party." She said, uncomfortably.

Killian came to see what she had been looking at through the window. The harbor and the sea bathed in moonlight and the brightly lit ballroom and castle windows. Reflecting in Emma's eyes.

Emma tilted her head and sighed, still gazing out the window, " I'm going to miss being by the sea. It just so…"

"Aye I know what you mean love." Killian said, leaning against the window frame, looking at her "She's a fickle lass the sea. So beautiful…deep… dangerous." And, as he tried to catch her eye, he couldn't help himself from saying it, "Much like you."

Emma's eyes flicked to his and then back to the window. "So open, free…I'll miss it."

Killian sensed rather than saw the slight threat of tears in Emma's eyes.

"I'll miss you too." She sighed, finally looking up trying to muster a smile.

He didn't know what possessed him to do it. But before he could think about it he had leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers, his hand coming up to cradle her jaw. He paused for a moment afterwards, realizing what he had done, just an inch or to two from her lips. Then he leaned forward again – fully intending to kiss her more fully, let his hand sink into her lovely hair, let his hooked arm encircle her waist, pull her closer to him…

"Killian." She said, an ever slight stiff and alarmed warning in her tone that told him to stop. To not kiss her. He knew her too well. She called him "Hook" for casual conversation, "Jones" when she was angry, and "Killian" only when she was very serious about something. She didn't want him to kiss her because she liked him too much, and for the safely of her kingdom and it's people she had to marry another man in just a few days.

He hovered still. Her sweet lips tantalizingly close. But not for him.

He wrenched himself away.

Stepped back.

"Goodnight princess." He said. A short good bye – 'princess' – a reminder of the distance between them. With a stiff little bow he left quickly. Lips pinched together. Blood pounding in his ears.

He strode down the hall, a sad aching anger roiling in his chest that Emma had pushed him away. Pushed him away when he had stood by her, fought with her, won her trust, and secretly loved her for so long. With one word, one crippling delivery – turned his own name against him with a tone that….What more was he supposed to do to earn…?…And worst of all he knew, he knew that deep down she had feelings for him too. Feelings she smothered, kept behind her ridiculous walls of abandonment and pain. She didn't want what they had to end either – she was an open book to him – the way she talked about the sea and missing it – missing their time together sailing it.

Well, he thought angrily, A man, or woman, unwilling to fight for what she wants deserves what she gets. And she wasn't getting him. Not if she…

No.

What did Emma want really? Most of all? He asked himself.

To protect her family. Came the little answer in his head. Of course. Because he knew that behind those thick wall around her heart was a heart of gold. The gold that this pirate so badly wanted for his own. Scratching away those walls for days, weeks.

He couldn't be angry at Emma for pushing him away. Not really. He loved and understood her too much for that. But the pain was still there.

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.

And he, Hook, had fought for her. But this Prince Vale-whatever his name was – had waltzed right in with his old contract and laid claim to Emma's hand in marriage, just like that. Killian gritted his teeth. He may have a rubbish claim to her hand, but not her heart. Emma would be going into a loveless marriage – to man who was only interested in the wealth and influence he would get by marrying her. Killian slammed the door to his castle chambers, and aggressively threw his boots off.

And Emma, his dear Swan, would be miserable. Not free and open like the sea she would miss.

And he would be alone, sailing an empty sea without her.

Feeling to tired and weighed down. Killian collapsed onto his bed, fully clothed. He closed his eyes.

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants - deserves what he gets.

He opened his eyes. And what about him? He knew, could no longer deny, he wanted Emma. Not just physically. Any man would have to be blind not to be attracted to her, but more than that – he wanted her heart and her future at his side. Although raised in a different world she understood him like no one else. When she was with him he felt that he could be the man he wanted to be. Killian Jones. Not the dastardly Captain Hook - but himself, and the best version of himself. Wasn't that why he, a pirate, had cozied up to royalty ?– agreed to become a privateer? Gone on dangerous mission after dangerous mission? So that he could just be near her? They had such potential. Their future together could have been so wonderful.

He had fought alongside her, for her – did he deserve her?

I deserve her a whole lot bloody more than that dope of a prince. He thought. But that didn't make a difference. He honestly believed that Swan would be happier with him on the open seas than shackled to a man she hardly knew - she wouldn't be as rich – but he knew his Swan didn't care for riches. For all his fighting it wasn't enough to save her. And he was out of options. He had nothing. Except for a boat, crew, a few coins, and whatever royal reward he chose tomorrow.

Thinking of the reward he was still to choose … his mouth turned up into a grin.

Oh what a dastardly plan was coming into his mind. But, as he always said- a man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.

Preparations for Emma's bridal journey the next day inevitably ( as anyone who has ever planned a wedding or to leave on a trip knows) took longer than expected. Which suited Killian just fine. He slept in after staying up much of the night making his own, secret, preparations for the morrow.

When he did wake, he dressed (devilishly handsome as ever he told himself), ate the now cold breakfast left for him by the servants, and went to meet Smee who was trying to persuade the guards to let him into the treasury. "I'm the first mate!" he attempted," The cap'n wants me to help him…"

"Stow it Smee – I've got other work for you." Hook said, grabbing Smee's collar and pulling him away from the treasury guards.

"Sir? Have you decided? Did you take the magic cup of wine that never empties because-"

"No, Mr. Smee. I've far more important things on my mind than wine. Besides I prefer rum. Now," he dropped his voice to a confidential whisper as they rounded the corner." There's going to be a little mishap down at the docks today and I need your help, get down to the ship and…..

Colinodonewithyou and NShadows thank you for your reviews! More reviews = next chapter. Let me know what you think!