I really liked the part in Episode 2 when Emma has that Lost Boy pinned down, blade at his throat but she stops because she's a bit of her in his eyes. I thought I'd run with that same Lost Boy which means "hello, Henry". I also plan on this chapter being the beginning of Hook and Emma realizing that they care for each other more than they even know and it has nothing to do with righting their past wrongs or saving Henry. Enjoy and follow or review!

Henry tried to listen to what the boys were saying from where he sat against the tree, the ropes around his feet and hands keeping him in place. The only information he'd managed to gather since Peter had tricked him was that the boys were frustrated over an event that had taken place a couple of nights ago. Peter was confident about the outcome, however, that fact making Henry wonder exactly where both his mothers were if they were even on the island.

"You need water?"

Henry looked from the boys gathered in the group out of earshot to the older boy who stood guard just several feet away. He hadn't uttered a word nearly the whole time he'd stood there so it was only natural that Henry would forget he was close by while vainly attempting to overhear the group just yonder.

"That'd be great, thanks."

"I'll get you some when my shift is relieved here in about five minutes."

Henry gave a small smile, not sure where the sudden courtesy had come from but he wasn't about to question it. There was something on the boy's mind, though, and he decided it was worth picking at. This guard seemed less hostile than the last several ones he had so it was worth a try.

"Are you okay? You seem like you have a lot on your mind. More than a drink of water," Henry started, testing the waters.

The boy didn't answer; just turned his face like he hadn't even heard Henry's question. After enough minutes of silence had passed, Henry gave a long sigh and continued to sit quietly, watching as the group of boys in the distance shuffled off behind one of the larger rocks down the trail, effectively blocking his view of them.

"Is your mom…does she have light hair?"

The question was mumbled, so quietly said that Henry wondered if he'd even heard it at all.

"What?"

The guard didn't turn to look at Henry but he repeated his question and Henry felt a new wave of hope wash through him. She was here! Somehow, some way Emma had made it to Neverland.

"Yes," Henry replied in a whisper, not willing to talk normally in a way that would cost him the random kindness of at least this member of the Lost Ones.

"She spared my life. Why did she do that?"

"Well, she is a mom. That and she probably understands you. She didn't grow up with parents either."

"What?"

"She was an orphan. No parents."

Silence passed between the two of them before Henry decided to risk it.

"Was anyone with her?"

Several more minutes of silence passed this time as the boy seemed to ponder whether or not he should answer that question.

"Yeah. There were four others. A man, two women and…Hook. Captain Hook."

As Henry tried to comprehend this another Lost One strolled up to the two of them, bow and arrow in hand to relieve the first boy who had dared to whisper anything to Henry regarding his family. Henry didn't even care if he came back with water. The news he had given was enough.

Emma was here…and he could guess that the two women were his mom and Snow. Of course, if Snow was here that meant his Grandpa was here, too. The only thing he couldn't get over was Hook. The man who had taken off with the magic bean, nearly killing off a town of Fairy Tale characters was now playing on the same team as his grandparents, legends of the greater good? It explained how they were able to access a portal to get here, but still. It was a lot to grasp.

"Why are you so happy?"

Henry snapped his attention to the new guard, a stocky boy with a menacing snarl. "I'm a true believer. I'm supposed to be happy."

The kid just grunted, looking away in the direction of the trees while Henry continued to think of his family and Hook; a happy thought that kept the dread of Peter's games at bay.

Regina swore under her breath as she finally stepped out of the tree line of the jungle and onto the white sand beach of the Lagoon. The place was exotically beautiful, the fauna and flora gorgeous beyond belief and the rocks along the waterline glistening in a myriad of colors. To her left Feather Falls could be seen about half a mile away, thundering amazingly quiet into the still, shallow waters below.

"Hook wanted us to climb that? Bloody pirate," she hissed under her breath as her eyes took in the height of the Falls that stood close to the height of an 80 story building.

"Yeah, right. Over my dead body."

To her right a wall of beautifully colored rocks formed the barrier that separated the Lagoon from the ocean.

The only thing missing from the picturesque scene before her were the ferocious mermaids that Hook had warned the party about. This is obviously just another one of those things that has changed about Neverland since the last time he was here.

Regina started towards the Falls to see if there was some sort of rock trail that would help her cross the wide expanse of water. There had to be something helpful to help her cross or else this wouldn't have even been an option for her to get closer to Henry.

As she walked along the beach, the unsettling sense that she wasn't alone started to worry her mind causing her to look over her shoulder and make sure she wasn't being followed. Nothing of danger or great concern struck her, but the feeling didn't cease either. She continued to stand still, listening to her surroundings until her heart settled in her chest to a steady rhythm instead of sporadic beating. Turning around, she continued down the beach, her boots sinking into the sand and kicking rocks.

She had only made it several more feet down the beach when again the unsettling sense that she was being watched caused her to turn around. This time, however, she realized she wasn't alone. And instead of fear, she felt love, loss, hope and pain overwhelm her senses drawing her close to the waters' edge.

"Right!"

Hook shouted as he wrapped his arm around David's waist, helping him struggle along. A large part of the right side of David's torso was covered in the black mark, a sure sign that the poison was slowly spreading through his body. Mary-Margaret jogged in front of them at a steady pace that still didn't manage to keep up with Emma's breakneck run. Hook could tell from watching her that Emma was not only good at running; she was a downright professional.

"Take a left at this tree with the low hanging branch!" Hook shouted again.

Emma's blonde hair glistened in the sun as she ducked and ran left with Mary-Margaret in pursuit.

"Sorry to slow you down," David muttered.

"No problem, mate. To be honest I'm not sure I want to see the first five minutes of Emma catching up with Regina."

That got a slight laugh out of David soon followed by a wince of pain.

Finally, they broke through the jungle's tree line and stumbled on the white sand beach of the Lagoon. Mary-Margaret could be seen at her jaunty jog but it was too bright to see Emma ahead of her.

"Leave me here and go get them. I'm only going to slow you down and cause trouble."
Hook hated to do it but David had a point. He helped him settle onto the grass before giving him something from his pocket.

"Face the trees, don't look at the water. If something happens, blow the whistle."

David nodded at the direct, simple orders and Hook was off at a sprint, chasing down three women for completely different reasons than he was used to. Usually when he was chasing women, there was the promise of an evening romp in the Captain's quarters. This chase would more than likely lead to a head injury or his own demise.

"Emma! Emma!"

Hook came at the top of a slight incline and saw Mary-Margaret standing on the beach looking out at the water helplessly. He shed his coat and then began to run down the decline yelling at Mary-Margaret to get to David as he passed her. He didn't even check to see if she did as he said. He was diving through the air, crashing through the water and then pushing himself off of the Lagoon's bed toward the surface of the water. Silence met him as he started to tread, attempting to get his bearings.

"Emma!" he bellowed out, praying that she answered.

There was the sound of water being disturbed somewhere to his left causing him to turn just in time to see her climbing onto a rock, her clothes weighing her down. He started toward her, reaching for the dagger in his boot because if he had learned anything from past experience, it was that these waters weren't kind and the mermaids were even worse for wear.

"Regina! Stop!"

Hook continued swimming even when he heard Regina's voice scream at Emma to let go. It was a haunting sound and there was something that filled it that sent chills up and down Hook's spine.

"That's my mother! Why can't you or your family just let us alone?"

"That is not your mother! You're in the Lagoon. That is a frickin mermaid you idiot!"

He had to smile even with the blade of the dagger between his teeth. He finally reached the rock as Emma continued to negotiate with Regina who continued to desperately scream at her to go away. He got his footing and started to pull himself up on the rock, an exhausting effort that fell short when he felt something wrap around his ankle and start to pull him under.

"Oh, bloody hell!" he cursed loudly.

Emma turned around just in time to meet his gaze and he couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked with her hair wet and hanging around her face. It was like the moment was on pause while he continued to take her in but then she took a step forward, the spell was broken and life went into play again, the monster on his leg pulling him completely under into the inky black.