Disclaimer: I do not own these characters (even though that would be awesome). The writers of OUAT are just as much a part of this story as I am.
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"So what do you plan on doing today?" Mary Margaret asked, filling two plates with sausage and toast. Emma sat on the floor surrounded by a few boxes, sifting through each one.
"Not sure. Right now I'm just happy I finally got my stuff," Emma said, holding up a sweater and sighing contently. "Which means I can finally stop wearing this." She still had on Killian's blue shirt from yesterday. Her heart lurched when she realized she would have to return it to him. Mary Margaret brought over her plate and Emma gave her a quick thanks before returning to the boxes.
"Are these all or are there more on the way?" Mary asked, observing the small amount.
"This is it. I'm not, um, sentimental." Emma looked up at her friend to see what she thought. Mary Margaret's face had turned a little sad, but she smiled.
"No I get it. It helps with moving," Mary said as she tried to sit at the table, but was interrupted by a knocking at the door. She and Emma looked at each other before she went to answer. "Henry? What are you doing here?" Emma looked up quickly. Henry strode in with his backpack over his shoulders.
"Hey, kid. You realize it's Saturday, right? No school," Emma said as she stood up.
"I know. I just thought we could hang out today," he said, helping himself to some of her sausage. She smiled at him without thinking. Mary Margaret observed the two, a small smile of her own playing on the corner of her lips.
"Well," Emma began, clapping her hands against her sides, "I guess we could do something. What do you have in mind? Do anything fun around here-wait. Does your mom know you're here?" Emma asked, already knowing the answer.
"Nope. I have to be home by five. That's when the town council meeting ends. So we better get going," Henry said. He sat down in one of the dining chairs, looking at her expectantly. "Is that what you're going to wear or…" he began. Emma rolled her eyes and looked through her boxes for some fresh jeans and a blouse.
"Let me go get changed." She went into the bathroom and took off her old clothes, folding the blue shirt neatly and setting it on the counter. She then took a quick shower and fixed her hair and makeup before getting dressed and meeting Henry at the front door.
"I don't think it's ever taken me that long to change clothes," Henry complained and Emma squeezed his shoulder.
"Where to, kid?" she asked. He thought for a moment.
"How about the beach? Or the docks? I never go down there, so the queen wouldn't think to check there," he suggested. Emma smiled down at him.
"Alright. Lead the way." Henry opened the door and began walking down the stairs. Emma looked back at Mary Margaret and waved goodbye. She gave a half smile and waved back before Emma closed the door.
It was a beautiful day. The sun seemed to finally want to appear from behind the usual dreary clouds, and the temperature had risen enough to make Emma consider taking off her leather jacket. The boats floated lazily in the harbor, waves lapping gently against them. A slight breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean and what must have been a nearby restaurant to the two as they walked. Emma was glad that the conversation that flowed between her and Henry came easily, as if they had known each other for years rather than a couple of weeks.
They walked down the docks, looking at each boat and commenting on the names of each ship.
"Oh look at that one! Seas the day," Henry pointed out, laughing.
"Nice, nice. But what about that one." Emma pointed at a boat with Keep'n it Reel painted in large letters on the side. They both laughed until Henry gasped. Emma quickly looked to see where he was staring.
"The Jolly Roger?" Emma said confused.
"Aye. She be mine," a voice from behind them said. They both turned to see Killian walking down the dock towards them. He walked up to Emma and tilted his head, smiling coyly at her. "I told you we would see each other soon, Swan." Henry looked between the two, as if trying to figure out how they could know each other.
"You named your boat the Jolly Roger? Why? It doesn't look anything like the pirate ship," Emma said, looking back at the large white sailboat. It was one of the biggest ones she had seen that day, looking as though it took multiple people to keep it afloat.
"She's had that name for as long as I remember. I guess it just suits her," Killian said, looking at the boat with fondness. She rolled her eyes as he continued to assign a gender to it. "May I ask what brings you to the harbor today? What makes you travel with the mayor's son?" he asked, turning back to her and Henry.
"This is my mom. My real mom. We just decided to go for a walk," Henry answered. Killian raised his eyebrows and looked at Emma in surprise. She just pressed her lips together, not sure about his reaction. He recovered quickly.
"Ah! And of course you came here. There's nothing like the fresh ocean air to fill the lungs and clear the mind," Killian said, flourishing his arms.
"I suppose that's why you're here too," Emma commented.
"Aye. That, and I work and live here." Killian tilted his head at her again. She noticed for the first time his attire. He had on a tan, well-worn sweater and dark jeans. She tried not to notice how they hugged his lean leg muscles in all of the right places. He also wore distressed work boots, an apron, and work gloves. Now that she thought of it, Emma didn't remember ever seeing him without the gloves on. At least on the left hand.
"You live on a boat?" Henry asked, his eyes lighting up. Killian smiled and nodded at the boy.
"Kind of a cramped living space isn't it?" Emma asked, eyeing the boat again. It was big, but it didn't look large enough to hold an entire living area.
"I prefer to think of it as…cozy," he said with a roll of his eyes. "But to be close to the water every night… A limited amount of living space is a small price to pay for such luxury. I manage the docks and harbor during the day, and get to return to my home on the waves at night." Emma couldn't help but admire the way he spoke of the ocean, and how his face lit up at the subject. She realized she was staring again and quickly looked away before he noticed.
"So you know how to sail a ship?" Henry asked, as curious as ever.
"Of course, lad," Killian answered, then thought for a moment. He leaned down to look Henry in the eyes. "Would you like to learn?" Henry's entire face lit up with excitement.
"Boating lessons from the Captain Hook?! Yes!" he said, forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be keeping the curse a secret. Killian looked up at Emma puzzled. She smiled and shrugged.
"How would you like to get started? Assuming it's okay with your mother?" he added, looking up at Emma. She checked her watch. 10:45. They had plenty of time.
"Sure. We hadn't really planned anything else today. Maybe get something to eat later," she said. Henry beamed at her and started to run towards the "Jolly Roger". Killian stopped him before he got too far.
"Eh, eh. Where do you think you're going boy?" he asked, laughing.
"I'm going to sail the ship. Like you said," Henry said confused. Killian chuckled.
"You have a lot more to learn about sailing before you are ready to actually get on a boat, lad," he said, still chuckling. "We have to start from the beginning. Learn what every good captain needs to know. Such as…" Killian looked around for a moment, then motioned them to follow him. They walked to the end of a pier, where frayed ropes lay in a pile. He gathered some of the shorter ones and held them out for each of them to take one.
"Every sailor needs to learn how to tie a rope properly," he said with a grin. Henry frowned and gave him a disbelieving look.
"Tying a knot? But-" Henry began to protest, but Killian stopped him.
"A proper knot could make the difference between smooth sailing and abandoning ship. Everyone has to start somewhere." He looked up at Emma. "And hopefully, that first deed will be the beginning to something great." He gazed into her eyes again, and she had to look away. The water was as blue as his eyes. She fiddled with the rope in her hands and he began their first lesson.
And that's how they spent two hours trying to tie those stupid ropes the exact way he wanted them. He showed them the different ways to tie it to a post, and then showed them a few "simple" knots used regularly. Henry seemed to enjoy himself. Emma, however, would have preferred an activity that didn't cause her to acquire rope burn on her palms.
"You're doing great, lad! Well done!" Killian praised Henry. Henry beamed up at Jones, no doubt thinking how cool it was to have Captain Hook compliment him. Emma was sure almost every boy wanted to be a pirate at some point in their lives. Killian walked over to her and observed her rope.
"You, however, could use some work," he teased her. She shot him a look and continued working.
"I'm doing just fine, thank you," she told him. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her poor excuse for a knot again.
"Please. I could tie a knot one-handed better than you are right now," he said. Emma stopped what she was doing and rolled her eyes up to the sky, then pushed the rope into his chest.
"Oh really? Fine. Why don't you try then?" she retorted. He gave her an amused look and started working on the rope one-handed, finally using his teeth to tighten the knot in the end. It was perfect.
"See?" he offered the rope back to her smugly. She pursed her lips and snatched it from him.
"You didn't say anything about using your mouth," she accused. His eyes turned darker and his lips quirked. He leaned in until their faces were only inches apart and only she could hear him.
"I was hoping that would be implied," he told her suggestively. His tongue ran over his bottom lip and his gaze flickered to her mouth. He finally stepped away after a moment and Emma allowed herself to breathe again.
"Do you have to do that?" she complained.
"Do what?" he asked innocently, eyebrows furrowed in mock concern.
"Turn every conversation into some…lame attempt at flirting," she said, rolling her eyes at his expression. His smile faded a bit, but then he smirked at her.
"What? Afraid my advances will lead to more…amorous activities?" She just gave him a look. Before she could retaliate, her phone began to ring in her jacket pocket. Emma gave him one last warning look and flipped her phone open. It was Mary Margaret. She hit accept.
"Hello?"
"Emma? Thank goodness you answered! You'll never believe who just visited the apartment looking for you," Mary said frantically. Emma frowned.
"Who?"
"Mr. Gold."
"Mr. Gold? What did he want?" Emma asked. Killian's head snapped up and Emma pressed her finger to her lips. He paid close attention to the rest of her conversation.
"He was asking about Ashley Boyd." Mary Margaret sounded worried.
"Who?" Emma asked again.
"She's a girl in town; works as a maid. She's nine months pregnant." Emma finally realized. The girl from the laundry room. The one she had given the advice to.
"What did he want with her?" she asked suspiciously.
"Well, he didn't go into detail… But he said that she had stolen something from him, and now he can't find her. He didn't want to involve the police, so he came to ask you to help find her," Mary Margaret finished. It sounded as though she was about to cry. Emma didn't know what to say. She had told the girl that she was the only one who could control her life, but she didn't think she would go this far.
"Emma? Are you still there?"
"I'm still here."
"I'm really worried about her. She could be due any time now. She doesn't need to be on her own." Emma thought for a moment, then decided.
"I'll try my best to find her." Mary Margaret thanked her and hung up. Emma turned back to find the two boys staring at her.
"What was that about? Did something happen?" Henry asked.
"Why were you talking about Mr. Gold?" Killian asked, suspicious.
"Ashley Boyd has gone missing. He wants me to find her," she told them both. Henry still looked confused, but Killian immediately seemed to comprehend.
"Ah. I see," he said, not sounding happy.
"What do you mean, 'I see'?" she said.
"Well, her situation isn't exactly a secret," he said, scratching the back of his head.
"Situation?" Emma looked at him again and he sighed.
"Her deal with Mr. Gold. To give up the baby in exchange for large sum of money." Emma looked at him in horror. She had sold her baby? But yesterday, she really seemed to want to keep it. Killian noticed her distaste.
"I don't agree with it either. I can't believe anyone would want to do that. But I can believe that he would want be the one to force her to give the child up. I've never liked that man," he finished with a disgusted look.
"Emma. We have to go find her and keep her away from Mr. Gold," Henry said, looking up at her with wide eyes.
"Oh no. You are not coming with me. Your mom would kill me if I involved you in this. Then kill you. Then kill me again," she said with a grimace. The kid was already setting down the rope and pulling on his backpack. He looked up at her with wide brown eyes that Emma was finding harder and harder to refuse.
"We don't have time to argue. She might be in danger," Henry insisted. Killian nodded.
"Aye. I agree with the boy," he said, and she gave him an annoyed look. She looked back and forth between the two, then sighed in defeat.
"Come on Henry. Let's try to do this before your mom notices you're missing."
