Author's Note: Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed and liked this story! You guys are the best!

"I don't get it."

Emma sighed. That was the second joke that Emma made that Gregory did not get. She had made a grand total of three jokes within the past two hours. She had run out of things to talk about in the first fifteen minutes and she had let Gregory do most of the talking. She had discovered that he loved to talk and that he had an awful lot to say about the correct way to tie a bale of hay.

He was the most boring man she had met. He was good-looking enough, but dear god, he could not tell a story to save his life. He had no sense of timing and why did he have to speak in a monotone? Emma sighed. This was the longest walk of her life and she regretted agreeing to it. They had taken a stroll around the palace gardens and greenhouse, and they were now headed in the direction of the maze. She would hate if they entered the maze – it was one of her favourite places and she would hate to have it ruined by this idiot.

Perhaps if they did something other than talk? Emma noticed that Henry and David had left their wooden swords out near the door of the eastern wall.

"Gregory, how about we have a little spar?"

Gregory stared at her as if she had three heads.

"A spar? With you?"

Emma did not take well to his tone.

"Do you think that I wouldn't be any good?"

"I just don't think women should be fighting."

Emma groaned internally. Boring and misogynistic? He was the worst. She planned on asking Mary Margaret the most polite way to kick out a guest tonight. But first…

"Humour me."

Gregory's breeding and manners would not let him deny her request, so he dutifully took the sword she handed him.

"And spar!"

She lunged at him out of the blue, and he almost dropped his sword in shock, barely managing to block her blow. She parried and thrust once more and was successful in disarming him.

"You really should fight, your highness. It isn't ladylike," Gregory remarked as he picked up his sword.

Emma's eyes narrowed. That was it. She couldn't deal with him anymore.

"Thank you for the advice, Gregory. I think I've had enough for the day. I suggest that you get ready for supper."

He nodded, not noting the iciness of her tone.

"May I accompany you back?"

She smiled sweetly at him, a smile that would have caused a toothache had he being paying attention.

"I have to go fight a few more men, and then I'm going to cavort with some pirates. I'll be a little late for supper."

Gregory stared at her in shock.

"You highness?!" he stuttered.

Emma rolled her eyes.

"Please leave, Gregory."

He nodded, but still looked horrified, and hurried off.

Emma turned away from the castle, wondering if she could find a tree to punch to release her anger.

"Well done, love."

Emma groaned out loud.

"Not now, Hook."

She turned to face him. Where'd he come from anyway? He kept sneaking up on her. Damn pirate and his sneaky ways!

He grinned at her.

"Didn't you need some pirates to cavort with?" he asked playfully, his eyebrow doing that ridiculous attractive waggling thing that it did.

"You heard that?"

"Afraid so, darling."

She buried her face in her hands.

"He is the worst."

"I did tell try to tell you that, love."

"Shut up, Hook"

He grinned.

"Come on, Swan, let's take a little walk to let you cool down. I might even let you punch me."

She offered him a small smile.

"I'd like that."

He linked arms with her and steered her towards the maze, and strangely, Emma was fine with that.

"So tell me about Lord Lemon."

She laughed.

"Oh god, Hook, he's so-"

"Call me Killian."

His request was soft, with a slight hint of hope at the end of it.

Emma looked at him, and he did not meet her eyes.

"Killian."

He shot her a grateful smile and gestured with his hook for her to continue.

"He's even worse than I thought…"

By the time they reached the gazebo at the centre of the maze, she had recounted the entire afternoon to him, and Hook had not stopped laughing.

"Stop laughing!" she chided him, but she couldn't stop smiling either.

He wiped tears of mirth from his eyes.

"I'm not laughing at you, love. I'm laughing at that idiot."

Emma leaned against the banister of the stairs that led into the gazebo.

"Really?"

Hook smiled at her and moved closer to her.

"Of course. You are headstrong, determined and dare I say it, stubborn-"

Emma swatted him on the arm for that.

"-but that's what makes you unique. You shouldn't change for anyone, let alone a wanker like that."

He had stopped laughing. He was so close to her that she could see the seriousness in his eyes. He was taller than her, but he didn't tower over her the way Gregory did. The perfect height. The perfect height for what? She asked herself, a light blush dusting her cheeks. God, his eyes are so blue. Gregory's eyes were a watery sort of blue, but Hook's were so bright. Like cornflowers.

Hook got the hint and leaned in further, his breath ghosting along her cheek. He's going to kiss me, thought Emma deliriously. She could hear her heart in her veins, rushing through at a speed she hadn't felt in a very long time.

"Mistress Emma?"

Hook swore under his breath and pulled away.

Emma was overcome by sense of disappointment and embarrassment, and lowered her head while she pushed past Hook.

"Yes, Lillian?"

The young maid relayed that dinner was to be served in an hour, all the while blushing furiously while sneaking glances at Hook. A little pang of jealousy surged through her, but she pushed that thought away.

"Thank you Lillian. I'm heading back to get ready now."

Emma strode away without looking back at Hook, hoping that he wouldn't notice the little shiver in her shoulders.

"I am afraid that I cannot stay any longer. I fear that the princess and I…are incompatible."

Gregory's announcement at dinner shocked nobody, and Mary Margaret, realizing that he was waiting for a response, conveyed her feelings of sincere disappointment, and nudged Emma until she too conveyed her disappointment in Gregory's decision. She turned to look at Hook, who was seated next to David on the opposite of the table, and he smiled a mischievous grin at her, one that she returned.

Mary Margaret watched the pirate carefully, and took a sip of her wine thoughtfully.