The motley and completely exhausted troupe of heroes—bandits, dwarves and commoners, displaced queen and landlocked pirate—reached the outer gate of the Dark One's castle just after dusk. There was nothing inviting about the vine-covered guard towers and looming stone walls, meant to caution all to reconsider continuing on. Robin Hood whistled what must have been a signal and the main portcullis opened with a series of clicks and creaks before it locked into place, letting everyone pass through. Upon seeing the ink dark windows of the house and the thorny remains of what might have been a stately rose garden once, Hook felt less welcome than if the Crocodile himself had been there to greet him personally, blade in hand and scaly sneer in place. There was no doubt in his mind though that Belle and Bae would have welcomed just such a scenario over Rumplestiltskin's total lack of presence. If Hook needed any encouragement not to overstay his visit and carry out his quest to return to the lovely Emma Swan, he needn't look further than this desolate place.

After another short walk across the courtyard, they reached the front entrance hall, where a noticeably subdued Belle gathered everyone close enough to hear her. "There should be plenty of room for everyone as long as some don't mind sharing space. I have no idea what state everything is in, but right now I'm going to guess no one minds. We can fix things up tomorrow after a night's rest. Regina, if you wouldn't mind lighting our way, I'm sure we'd all be grateful."

With a wave of her hand, Regina lit all the candles in the hallways and rooms. The gold accents of the trim on the walls and rugs glittered along the passageways, softening the starkness of the empty house. Belle pointed up the grand staircase, giving directions to David and Snow as well as Regina. Neal was heading into what looked to be the main room on this floor, but Hook was in no mood nor state to follow anyone. He must have looked as unapproachable as he felt because no one was seeking his company either.

Hook made for the east wing and entered the last room at the end of the corridor. His new quarters were far from palatial and smelled of dust and sorrow—fitting for an old, heart-weary pirate without his ship—but it did have a bed and a fireplace, so after stoking a small blaze to warm and lighten the room a bit more, Hook trudged over to the bed as if against a strong current. The corner location of the room provided two good sized windows facing the direction of the rising sun, which he preferred to wake up with because it reassured him he had survived the passing of yet another lonely night. He was never afraid of the darkness outside, but joined with the darkness he harbored inside, the totality of it became all-consuming, miring him in its depths. Like being kissed awake by the one you loved, dawn was usually a welcome start to his day.

Each bone in Hook's body felt as if there were an anchor chained to it, dragging him down. He barely shucked his boots and pulled his arms from his coat when he collapsed onto the bed. Before he could register if the bed was of the softest cushions or hard and lumpy as a sack of rocks, he was completely unconscious.

He feels tendrils of panic take root in his chest before he recognizes where he is. He's down on one knee and his arm is heavy with the shackle locked around it. Treasures surround him just out of reach; the most precious of them all stands in front of him—hair as golden as the coins he would pocket if he could only touch them, and smile as brilliant as the jewels in the crown he would handily steal for her to wear.

"Emma..." Hook whispers. For a moment the panic dies away and all he can feel is a surge of joy to look upon her and be even this close again. He stands and reaches out, but his arm is stopped short a hairsbreadth away from her. He tugs again roughly, searing pain shooting up his bicep and shoulder as he's pulled off-balance momentarily, still out of reach.

Emma Swan, looking exactly as she did the day they met, tilts her head and looks at Hook quizzically. "Do I know you?"

Narrowing his eyes, he swallows his immense frustration until it almost chokes him. His words are measured and carry a sharp edge. "Do...you...know...me?...Emma is this some sort of jest?"

"Maybe." She shrugs.

"Do I look like I'm laughing?" he asks through his teeth, standing tense and still, a leashed animal ready to rail against his bonds.

"Not so much. No. But you might as well get used to the question. I'm sure you'll be hearing it again." Emma sighs and moves closer to Hook, brushing the dust from his vest. At the feel of her fingers ghosting over his chest, he relaxes a bit and exhales deeply. He stills her hand by carefully wrapping his hook around her wrist.

"What are we doing here, love?" he asks gently this time, searching her eyes. Her closeness dissolves more of his uneasiness and starts his heart beating again.

"I don't know. This is your dream, not mine. If this were my dream, we'd be doing something else entirely." Emma says, her lips quirking in amusement as she glances up at him.

Hook raises an eyebrow in return and draws Emma closer. "Oh, is that so?" He gives her his most charming smile as he leans in toward her ear and whispers in a low voice full of wicked promise. "Well now, this is puzzling...I'm sure if this were my dream, you'd already be disrobed...in my bed...crying out in ecstasy, rather than fully clothed, standing in a giant's castle being saucy." He catches a lock of her hair from her shoulder twines it around his hook.

Emma gazes back at him, giving a small snort and half a smile. "Wow. You're confident. Still. Not my dream."

Hook releases Emma abruptly and closes his eyes, taking in a deep, shuddering breath. Holding out his cuffed wrist, he says, "Please, darling,...unlock this so we can leave. Together."

"You are going to have to free yourself—I'm sure a pirate with your talents can manage it. I don't have the key. But I do have to go now and get back to Henry." Emma squeezes Hook's arm briefly and backs up. Their fingers brush one last time as she steps out of his reach again.

Hook strains at the end of his iron-linked tether, every muscle driving him toward her. "Swan! Wait! If you are going to leave me here again, love, at least tell me...when I am free, how will I find you?"

Emma lifts her hands, palms facing the ceiling. "I dunno. Just do what you're good at. It's worked for you before."

Hook laughs with a tinge of desperation and holds out both arms. "But, lass, I excel in so many areas. Care to narrow down the field for me? I would hate for our reunion to take place in the next life."

She gives him a sympathetic smile. "There's no one I trust more to find me," she says.

"Heartwarming as that sounds, darling, it's hardly an answer."

The room begins to shake with the footsteps of the giant getting closer. Hook struggles to steady himself and yet not lose distance from Emma as she turns and walks toward an opening in the wall. She is lost to the brightness of the sun as the thundering footsteps become louder and more persistent. He hears her say one last thing before the noise of the walls shaking and treasure toppling drowns out all other sound. "I'll be waiting, Hook."

"Hook!...Hook wake up!" The pounding on his door was as relentless as the bright sunlight slanting across his eyes. He wasn't ready for either and chose to ignore both.

"Uhhh..." he grunted, turning over and showing the door and windows his back. Maybe if he could sleep a little longer, Emma would come back and tell him how to find her...

"Hook!" the distinctly female voice shouted.

"Swan..." he said, still half in his dream.

"Humph. Hardly. Hook, wake up dammit!" If her tone was any indication, the queen of impatience was going to be a difficult housemate to be sure. Hook rubbed his face with his hand and struggled to sit up as sleep and his dream were slow to release him.

"Bloody hell, woman, stop shouting," he bit out to no one but himself. Hook swung his legs over the edge of the bed and put his feet on the cold floor. "I need a moment, if you don't mind," he barked back.

"Fine. Collect yourself and meet us in the great room," she commanded. In what seemed like an afterthought, she added, "Please."

"Aye." With that, Hook could hear the rustle of her clothing as she turned and left his door. At least she hasn't blown it off its hinges, he thought. Small mercies today.

Hook stretched as he stood up, then re-tucked his shirt and adjusted his vest. Running his hand through his tousled hair, he put it back in some sort of rakish order, then, with his hook, picked up his coat from the floor where it had slipped from the bed during the night. He rummaged around until he found his flask in one of the hidden pockets. During one moment of rest along the way to the castle, Hook had found a stream and decided to swap out what was left of his rum for water. He could not afford to lose himself while he looked for Emma. He took a long pull on the bottle, swished it around in his mouth then spit it into the fireplace. Until he found the Jolly Roger and his own possessions again, this would have to do.

Shrugging on his coat before going to meet the others, Hook tried to hold onto the notion that Emma trusted him to find her. He hoped that would be enough to guide him.