Chapter 3: Hope
Emma awoke with a start.
"Wake up!" Regina stood over her, her regal features drawn back tightly. "Get up—now." She commanded.
Her eyes instantly popped open, fear gripping as she sat up. "What—what's wrong? What's happened?" She still felt slightly dazed from sleep. It had been difficult for them finding enough time to sleep between their journey and night shifts. So when Emma finally had the opportunity to sleep an entire night, it hurt opening her eyes again.
"Are borders are being breached." Regina stated vaguely.
Confused, Emma glanced up at her, then across their small camp to where David and Mary-Margret were also rising from their slumber, looking bleary-eyed.
"What are you talking about, Regina?" Hook's voice came out with a strong, reassuring authority. Emma's heart gave a small, stupid flutter. She turned her gaze to him. He was tugging on his black leather coat, which he must have slept on last night. Seeing him in just his vest and black long, sleeved shirt was a pleasant change. And damnit, why did he have to be such a handsome distraction?! His hauntingly blue eyes seemed to avoid her with careful caution. A swift pang of regret shot through her. If only she could trust him then maybe the idea of being with him wasn't such a bad one.
Please, she thought sarcastically, anything other than a torrid affair with Captain Hook was idiotic. Heroes and villains don't mix well. Her experience with having to deal with Regina on a daily basis told her as much.
Emma instantly shook off any remnants of sleep and clambered to her feet.
"I'm talking about the enchantments I put up last night during my watch." Regina said drily.
"Wait—you're using magic?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, so what? Its helping isn't it?" Regina countered. "Look-" She pointed off over Emma's shoulder. She turned around and saw a misty golden trail leading off into the jungle. It appeared to be something magical, like one of Regina's spells, telling them where to go—or stay away from.
"What does that mean?" Emma asked.
"Like I said, our borders have been breached. The spell just alerted me to something close by. It glows when it's been activated by someone." Regina explained.
"Or something," she murmured under her breath.
"We should check it out," David said, already slipping his belt on, gathering his weapon.
"It may be dangerous," Hook commented cautiously.
"Please, everything's dangerous here, Hook. You told us that." Regina snapped indifferently.
"Fine—then I'll go first." Hook stepped forward, his expression hard and flat.
Emma would've guessed that he was about to face a horrific battle, and knowing Hook, he probably knew that was exactly what they were about to face.
"We haven't ventured that way yet," Hook said. "And I know for a fact that Pan's hidden in this part of the jungle before. So that means they're dangerous."
"Why didn't you tell us that before?" Emma asked, stepping right besides, unsheathing her sword.
Hook casted her a brief sideways glance, not letting his eyes linger on her. "I'm telling you now, Swan."
Her name sounded foreign to her own ears as he said it so coldly, so indifferently. Especially since memories of how he whispered soft, passionate endearments to her last night still haunted her. Emma vividly remembered how it felt to have his overwhelmingly strong arms wrapped around her body. A sudden shiver raced up her back. But she ignored it and nearly bit her tongue at her traitorous thoughts. Stop it, she told herself firmly. Stop being foolish. It's time to focus. Something dangerous lurked in the jungle, and it was not the time to be mooning over a pirate. She gritted her teeth in mental preparation for battle.
Emma too refused to meet his eyes as she said irritably, "You could've told us before we camped here."
Hook too unsheathed his sword. "Haven't I proved myself trustworthy yet, Swan?"
Stunned, she finally let herself steal a glance at him. But his face was unreadable.
"We're right behind you, Hook." Mary-Margret said, before Emma could say anything to him.
Hook furrowed his brow, a dark hunter glint in his eyes as he stepped onto the enchanted pathway, and into danger.
Killian moved forward slowly, knowing who he approached by the way the Lost Boy's camp had been set up—because it was one giant death trap. Felix, the Lost Boy and Pan's right hand boy, was as smart as he was vicious and Killian couldn't help but be impressed by such an opponent. Felix was more ruthless than Rufio and Killian had only ever gotten away with the defeat of one Lost Boy. He stilled, hunkering down into the jungle brush near Felix's small yet treacherous campsite.
"What is it?" Emma asked softly from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, searched her face and saw a fearless, almost reckless determination in her eyes.
By God she was beautiful. He swallowed that thought very quickly as he shook his head. "It's a Lost Boy."
"Just one?" David asked.
"He's the best of them," he replied solemnly. He searched and his gaze landed on Regina. He motioned for her. She carefully stepped forward and stopped before him. "I need you to disarm his traps. Can you do something like that with your magic?"
"I can do more than just disarm them," she replied coolly. "Where are they?"
Killian pointed out the first of the traps which was a large, severed tree stomp connected to a rope that suspended up high. Its purpose was designed to swing down and pummel the person who stepped on the trip wire. It was called a dead-man's fall. The next trap was a simple pitfall covered with dried earth and leaves. But he could decipher the subtle differences in the jungle to see where the covered pit lay. Its deathly spikes turned upwards to catch whoever fell in.
He analyzed the site before him—if the person was smart enough to avoid the dead-man's fall, they would run straight into the pitfall, and if they managed to avoid that, then there was only one thing was left to kill them and that was Felix.
And Killian knew exactly where he was.
"Now," He commanded. Regina took aim with her hands and directed her power towards the dead-man's fall first. A fire ball shot out from her palms hitting the trap with a fiery burst of light. It exploded and collapsed in on itself. The enflamed tree stump rolled off the burnt rope and into the pit, destroying them both at the same time. He saw Felix then, as he stood back in the far end of the jungle, enraged.
Killian sprang from the brush and ran straight to the Lost Boy. Felix, caught off guard by the sudden attack, raced ahead instead of pulling his sword. They followed in hot pursuit. But he knew they wouldn't continue this foot race long, Lost Boys were the best evaders when it came to Pan's jungles.
"Snow—hit him with a bow!" Killian ordered in a shout as he continued chasing after the boy.
Snow White stopped while the rest carried on on with the chase. Snow withdrew her arrow, took aim, and fired. The bow hit Felix in the back of his shoulder. He spun, stumbled and fell to the jungle floor. They raced to him, Killian and David reaching him first. David hauled the boy to his feet and held him against the tree. The arrow had pierced deeply into the back of his shoulder.
"Where's Pan hiding?" David demanded in a breathless, adrenaline fueled pant.
"I'm not telling you," Felix spat out in disgust.
Killian stepped forward, making it a point to shine his silver hook in front of the boy. He watched as the youthful Lost Boy's eyes widened in fear at the hook. The Lost Boys heard the tale of how he defeated Rufio and knew that it involved a garish death by a curved hook.
"You know we want Pan, Felix. I suggest you give up his true location or I just might let the prince beat on you a bit before I take a stab at it myself." Killian drawled out dangerously.
The boy tensed. "You wouldn't. You barely had the stomach to finish Rufio. Pan said you did it out of mercy—not murder. You're weak Hook. And Pan can't wait to get his hands on you."
"Really? You believe me weak, boy?" He abruptly moved, grabbing Felix out of David's grasp and shoving him violently into a tree. "Tell us where Pan is and I won't show you what I did to Rufio—it involved opening him up—bit by bit." He dragged his hooked hand up the boy's stomach, all the way to his chest.
Felix's dark eyes widened but he still smiled coldly at him. "Go ahead, pirate. I'm not afraid of you."
"Fine—then how about me!" Emma suddenly pushed herself forward and shoved her blade right up under the boy's chin. "I'll rip you're throat open—I swear I will." She breathed out.
Killian eyes darted to Emma, amazed. He'd never seen her so ruthless. It was startling, but necessary.
"You don't have it in you either," Felix mocked. "Just like your pirate here. Both of you are weak."
"I may be weak compared to you but I'm angry. Angry that you killed Neal and that you stole my son. And now—I'm seriously pissed off because this has taken too long to get him back. Now tell me where he is or I swear on my life that I will cut you open, Lost Boy."
Felix trembled beneath her grasp. "Fine! I'll tell you where Pan is keeping Henry."
Emma's blade never wavered from his throat. "Show me—on the map."
Regina knocked the Lost Boy out with a sleeping spell. David then tied and gagged him to a tree, in a very high tree. So if he eventually escaped, it would at least give them some time to go after Henry—who was only half a day's walk from where they currently were. Victory was surging through Emma now. They were close. Closer than they had been in days! She could almost hear Henry's voice shouting out her name when they finally rescued him.
Pan couldn't stop her now. She had regained what he had planned on taking from her on this quest for Henry and that was hope. He wanted this journey to devastate her—but he couldn't, not when she had Hook.
Captain-friggin-Hook had pulled her back from the edge, she thought in surprise and… relief. He saved her. He gave her back her hope of finding Henry.
They returned to their camp, collecting their things quickly. Hook told them he had to get something from Neal's cave and would be back momentarily. Emma, feeling the surging adrenaline of victory pulsing through her, followed him explaining to the other's she had to use the bathroom before their journey began.
Emma brushed away the jungle leaves as she emerged from the pathway to see Hook standing at the mouth of the cave, empty handed and grim faced.
He saw her and stopped short. "Swan—," he began with a sheepish smile. "You were brilliant today. I've never seen a Lost Boy shake in his boots quite like that before."
Emma suddenly couldn't breathe from the fluttering butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous, but not afraid. The manacles of her fear dropped from her limbs as she walked towards him. Feeling unshackled since the first time she stepped on the island, and maybe longer, Emma boldly went to him. His eyes widened in surprise as she stepped forward, grabbed him by the collar of his leather jacket and pulled his face close to hers.
"Shut-up for a second," she whispered before her lips parted and without invitation, took Hook's mouth for her own.
Emma felt her heart expand to the point of bursting with pent-up emotion and need. Oh God she needed this—she needed him. She opened her mouth to his sweeping tongue and gave in to his demanding, conquering kiss. Why had she denied him? Why did she ever deny this?! This felt so right, so wonderful…
"Emma, Emma, my darling," he whispered against her mouth. His tongue delved into the sweet vault of her mouth again, greedier this time. It was met with equal fervor. Hook lowered his arm and encircled her waist with his hooked hand. The other hand slid down her spine to the small of her back, pressing, urging her closer. With such an intimate positioning of their bodies, she knew at once the hard evidence of his arousal and was surprised by her reaction. Not shock—but hunger. A burning, aching hunger to never stop kissing him.
She rose to his kiss, opening her body to his hold, his touch. She ached to know fulfillment, held as she was in a prison of her own desire for him.
Her hands crept beneath his coat of their own volition, plastered themselves against his warm, taut waist. With a groan, he leaned into her and kissed her more deeply, making her heart pound so furiously she thought he'd hear it. Or feel it. Her hands roamed over the hard muscles of his chest, feeling the power beneath her fingers. An exciting anticipation filled her. She realized then how much she wanted this moment to continue, but somewhere secluded, isolated from the world—somewhere involving a bed and him naked, wearing nothing but his roguish grin. Her body trembled at the thought.
She felt his hand move from her back, over her stomach and towards her breasts. She gasped against his mouth as his hand captured her fully, kneading her gently yet urgently. His expert fingers toyed with her nipple over her shirt, letting it peak into his palm as he palmed her. Hook trailed hot, wet kisses down her jaw and over her neck, thrilling her. Barely able to catch her breath, Emma clung to him for support, her knees weak from the desire coursing through her.
Fully aroused and feeling recklessly wild, she lifted her leg and wrapped herself around the pirate like a vine. Pressing his full, thick arousal into her, letting him feel her ache for him. Hook groaned hoarsely into her neck and if Emma hadn't been holding him so tightly, she wouldn't have felt the tremble his body gave.
"Killian…" she whispered his name then, wanting the intimacy of their moment to mean something. And for him to know that she wanted this—wanted him. "Kiss me damn you."
"With pleasure, love." His mouth covered hers again in the most exhilarating kiss imaginable. Or was it exhilarating because his hips now rocked into her, making her tremble this time.
Every muscle in Killian's body came alive. Her lips were even tastier than he remembered, honey-sweet and warm as summer. He could spend hours kissing her, touching her. He'd never met a woman like Emma Swan—so bold, so stubborn, so bloody seductive. If he could, he would take his time with her. Show her how much she meant to him and worship her body unlike any other lover she encountered.
But now was not the right time. She had to get back to Henry.
He pulled back from their kiss. Her lips were reddened and eyes heavy.
"Absolutely breath-taking, my dear…" he said softly. "And as much as I would love to continue this—don't we have somewhere to be?"
A cool clarity crossed her face and a soft, horrified moan escaped her. She dropped her leg from his waist and ran a shaky hand through her long blond hair. "Oh God…" she said. "What was I thinking?"
He held her close still, his own arousal unabated. "I am unclear of that myself. Though if you wish to think it later, after of course we rescue your son, I will be more than happy to oblige you again."
A weak smile curled her lips. "Of course you would."
Unable to resist, he gave her a self-satisfied smile and kissed her forehead.
She glanced around where they were and gazed up at him. "Why did you come back here?"
"I wanted to say my good-byes to an old friend."
A sadness came quickly to her eyes as she looked away from him. "I didn't think you cared about him that much."
Killian swept her hair over her shoulder with a gentle caress. "I cared that his death affected you as it has." His thumb moved up over the underside of her jaw to her soft lips. "But I also came to apologize to his memory."
She stared up at him curiously. "Why?"
"For wanting what is his. For wanting you."
Killian didn't give her a chance to reply as he dipped his head and with a softness he had never shown her before, he kissed her. It was gentle and warm, more of an asking than a taking. Emma hesitated for only a moment before wrapping her hand around the back of his neck and accepting his tender kiss.
It was she who pulled back before the kiss could deepen. "Thank you, Hook." Her eyes shone up at him. "For giving me hope. I feel like I can't lose if you're with me."
"We'll get him back, Emma. I promise."
She nodded, tentatively moving away. Reluctantly, Killian let her go.
"I should go back first, Hook." She said. "I don't want them sending out a search party."
"Of course." He watched as she turned to leave but stopped when he said. "It's Killian—not Hook."
She smirked. "It's Emma—not Swan."
They smiled at each other and she quickly turned back to the path and left him. A serene happiness and shock filled him. Emma came to him this time. Her actions proved to him of her desire—she wouldn't be able to deny him anymore. He took a deep, lunge clearing breath and straightened his jacket, feeling the need to compose himself after such a passionate embrace.
"Don't move," said a hard male voice from behind him.
Killian froze and lifted his hand and hook. He felt a distinct point of a blade press into his back. "Not moving as you can see."
"I knew we couldn't trust you."
Killian suddenly recognized the voice from behind him and he turned. It was David—Emma's father.
"And why ever not, Prince?" he asked in mild amusement. He wasn't sure how long Charming had been standing there but apparently long enough to know what he had just been doing with his daughter.
"Stay away from my daughter, Hook. Or I'll make sure you lose that other hand of yours."
Killian arched a surprise eyebrow. "Will this be before or after you're six-feet-under?"
An enraged look crossed over David's face as he stepped forward, blade point now over Killian's heart.
"If you so much as go near her again…"
"I am here to help your family—not hurt it!" Killian patience with these supposed heroes had grown thin. He had given everything he had on this journey back into Neverland. He risked his own life, yet still they questioned his loyalty. And for what? Because he was a pirate? A villain?
"I really don't care what you have to say, Hook. It doesn't change your past or what you've done." David said coldly.
"I'm here now." He retorted, though he knew David may never trust him. Not after what he saw. But it didn't matter—he had to try, convince him that his intentions were honorable. "And whatever false beliefs you have of me, know I will never hurt your daughter."
Before David could say anything, a sudden darkness fell on where they stood. The jungles knowing silence of what was there, made Killian reach for his sword. Pan.
"Hope I'm not interrupting," said a youthful, playful voice.
Peter Pan suddenly emerged from the dark jungle, his Lost Boys flanking him. He may have the appearance of a young boy, but he was more powerful and dangerous than any foe Killian had come across—including the Dark One.
David's sword withdrew from Killian's chest and pointed towards Pan. "What do you want?"
Pan smiled cruelly at them. "I want a fair game."
Killian glared at him in disbelief. "We haven't cheated—and you bloody well know it."
Pan began to lazily stroll around them, the Lost Boys eyes upon them, watchful and hard.
"The Savior has an unfair advantage." Pan said.
"Oh really? And what could that possibly be?" Killian asked.
Pan turned to Killian and gazed at him curiously before saying, "You."
A sudden rush of panic jolted him as he felt his body being hulled backwards, flanked by four Lost Boys. Their hands gripping his arms, knocking the sword from his hand.
"NO!" Hook howled, fighting against them.
"Don't fight it Captain. You know what will happen if you do." Pan threatened mildly.
Hook stilled. "I am no threat to you, Pan. You and I both know it."
Killian swallowed his pride and let his words hang in the air. Yes, he remembered how easily the boy had defeated him and how he had tucked his tail and sailed out of this horrible place because of him. Captain Hook had only been defeated by Peter Pan and the Crocodile—and that was because of magic. Something he could never possess. Now things had changed. He came back to Neverland to save Henry. For her—for Emma.
Killian took a sharp breath as he realized the truth.
He had come back to the most evil, vile place on earth for Emma Swan. Not in memory of Neal. No, he did it for his darling… the feisty, stubborn, passionate woman who somehow managed to steal his heart. Killian stilled. Emma, without either of them knowing it, had his love. His complete and utter love. And he came back to this place knowing it may mean his death. But he always knew he would die for love—he just didn't expect it to be for Emma.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, giving in to the hands that shackled him. Pan would surely kill him this time.
Pan's dark gaze searched his face. "Yes, I know you're not a threat, Hook—but you're knowledge of Neverland is. And I can't very well have Swan finding me before I'm through with Henry. Take him back to camp, boys. And be sure to remove his hook this time."
The Lost Boys scowled and with a violent yank, Killian felt his arm wrap behind him, his hook ripped from him.
"Let him go!" David commanded, sword drawn towards Pan.
Pan arched a curious eyebrow at him. "Just a moment ago I saw you with a sword at his chest—now you wish for his life?"
A Lost Boy sucker punched David from behind, hitting him in the kidney and sending him to his knees in an instant. Killian watched in horror as David clutched his already injured side, his face pinched in agonizing pain.
"The dashing Prince is weaker than I imagined…" Pan murmured, stepping forward.
"He's been poisoned." Said one of the Lost Boys.
"Yes, that explains it. My, my… this is an unexpected surprise." His evil gaze turned to Killian. "How long does Prince Charming have?"
Killian lowered his gaze, regret washing over him. "A few days."
Pan's expression turned calculating then.
A sudden fear shot through him. Pan was devious as he was dangerous. Killian knew him well enough to understand that every action Pan made was for his own gain, even if they seem minor at the time. He kneeled before David now, taking his jaw in his hand, staring at him like a bug about to be squashed.
"Leave him be, Pan. You're quarrel is with me." Killian said, attempting to save David against the impossible.
"You are right, Hook—however the game is with Emma and I want the whole family present when they find their precious Henry."
Pan's face contorted and his eyes blackened. Killian watched as Pan's dark magic flowed from his hands and cured the poison from David's body. The pain on David's face vanished, then his features slackened and he fell weakly to the ground, unconscious.
Killian stared in disbelief at Pan. The boy grinned at him. "Never know when the debt of a Prince's life may be useful to me."
He should've known—Peter Pan's intentions were never good, nor was he merciful. He lowered his head submissively, feeling hopeless. How he had actually believed they would make it off this island alive. Emma's strength and determination infected him with the belief they would win. That they could actually defeat the evil that cursed Neverland.
Emma was being manipulated in every turn and now Killian would not be there to protect her. He could not be there with her in battle against Pan and his Lost Boys. He failed. Just like he always had with the women he loved. But this time it felt different—it felt worse.
"Let's go boys." Pan said and they returned to the darkened jungle but this time with a pirate as their prisoner.
TBC