A Little More Conversation

Captain Swan. A series of much needed conversations following Neal's death. [Hook & David,Emma & Snow, David & Snow, Hook & Emma, Emma & Henry]

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Hook & Emma

"How's the babe?" He asks as he walks up to her at the viewing gallery in the hospital. She's been standing and gazing at her baby brother for almost an hour now.

"He's good," she tells him without looking back at him. "He's safe now."

"Good." He tells her as he joins her up the glass. "Have they settled on a name yet?"

"No," Emma smirks. "They're announcing it at the coronation at the diner later."

"Aah yes," Hook nods. "The young prince."

He pauses before he says, "That would make you a princess."

Emma snorts at that. "Saviour, yes. Princess? No."

They watch the baby sleep in silence for a few minutes.

"Does it hurt?" Hook asks quietly. "To see your parents with a second child so soon?"

Emma's smile fades a little, but she shakes her head. "It's hardly 'soon'. It's been twenty-nine years. They deserve a chance at happiness."

"What about you?" He asks her. "What about your happiness? I saw your face in the cave Emma. When your mother declared her secret. You looked like a lost little girl."

Emma shakes her head. "That hurt..."

She pauses to consider her feelings for a moment. "But that was a year ago, and they've had enough time stolen from their lives. I'm happy for them."

When she adds, almost to herself. "And you can't miss what you never had."

She turns her head to look at him at that, knowing he'd know what she's talking about.

"Aye..." Hook says, nodding at her. He turns his attention back to the babies.

"That's why I couldn't tell you about the witch's curse," he says quietly after a long pause.

Emma gives him a curious look.

"I knew your boy's father when he was just a lad. I thought we'd be a family – like Milah had always wanted," Hook gives her a sad smile. "Sadly faith had other plans and I had to part with him too."

Emma looks at him sympathetically. She hadn't even stopped to consider Neal's death on the pirate. Even though they had mourned her former love on the ship almost a year ago.

"I'm sorry," she tells him.

"It's okay, we mended our relationship before his passing," he tells her. He says sadly. "But talking to him again and spending time with Henry reminded me of what I once had."

He turns to Emma for his next words, "And when she threatened your lad I couldn't let that happen again."

He turns back to the babies but Emma studies him a little longer.

Finally she turns back to the glass as well.

"That's why we need to go back to New York," she says, again as if to convince herself. "So I don't lose him again."

There is a pregnant pause before Hook asks, "So when are we leaving?"

"What?" Emma says, not sure she heard him correctly. She turns to look at him.

"When are we leaving for New York?" He asks her like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"What do you mean 'we'? You're not coming." She sounds confused, but there is a tone of finality in her voice.

"Swan if you're choosing to return to a life that is a lie so be it," Hook tells her looking her in the eye. "But you and Henry were never truly safe there. I'm coming to ensure that you are."

"We don't need your protection," Emma tells him.

"Aah yes, because your first response is always to marry one of the monsters that comes into your life," Hook points out.

"I didn't marry you," Emma mocks, her tone defensive.

Hook lets that one slide. "But you did kiss me-"

"Yeah almost a year ago!" Emma points out.

"But it meant something to you," Hook tells her. "You told your mother about it."

"It was a one time thing," she tells him. Her tone is defensive yet again.

He stares at her for a moment before saying, "You once said we had an understanding. 'Look out for yourself and you'll never get hurt'?"

Emma is thrown when he repeats her words back to her. She remains silent, watching him.

"I know you've been hurt before Emma, but you're stronger than this." He tells her gently.

"This isn't about me, this is about Henry," Emma tells him, finding her voice again.

"Don't lie to yourself Swan," Hook says as he looks her in the eye. "You've been searching for your family your whole life. Don't run away from them now."

"I'm not running away," she answers. "I'm giving Henry his best chance. As long as we're here the curses and the monsters will never stop."

She pauses. "I'm tired of being the saviour. It never ends."

"Your father has a saying, 'look for the good moments'?" Hook tells her, turning away to face the babies. "I'd say your little brother is quite the good moment."

They watch the babies in silence for a minute before Emma quietly admits, "I'm tired of losing people."

Hook gives her a sympathetic look. "That's what I'm here for."

"You almost drowned," Emma points out.

"And then you saved me," Hook argues. "I've said it before. We make quite the team."

"Well that was a one time thing," Emma says looking back at the babies. "I don't have my magic any more. If something happens I can't save you again."

This makes Hook turn towards her. Sensing his movements, Emma mirrors them and turns towards him.

"When the first curse ended I promised I would never stop thinking of you," Hook tells her. "Now I urge you to start thinking of yourself. How much longer are you going to deny yourself love?"

Emma swallows, her eyes flitting down to his lips before going back up to his eyes. "Why are you trying to so hard to keep me in Storybrooke?"

"Because all lost children want the same thing," he tells her as he takes a step closer. "To find their way home."

"My home is in New York," Emma tells him, turning to leave.

Before she can Hook grabs hold of her arm. "No it's not."

"Yeah, and what makes you so sure?" She asks, a challenging tone in her voice.

"Because you're not one to inspire idle hope, Love," He tells her, his voice just above a whisper. "And the day I made that promise, I know you saw where your happy ending lies… And the thought of losing that scares you."

Emma doesn't say anything, she just watches him instead. Hook returns the favour.

"You can't lose what you've never had," she says after a long beat. She looks down to pull her arm from his grasp, but for a second neither of them is sure he's going to let go.

She's still looking at him as she begins to back away. Then she turns to leave, keeping her head down to keep from turning back to look at him.

"I said I'd be in this for the long haul, Swan. I meant it," he says loudly so she can hear. "So when you tire of running, you know where to find me."

Emma quickens her pace after that, trying to shake his words out of her mind. Because despite what she tries to tell herself, she knows everything he says is true. Maybe she is running away

Sometimes her gift is both a blessing and a curse.

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A/N: Sorry the update was so late! Work came up and I was swamped. But also I felt like the show was bound to have the conversation eventually and I wanted to see what they would do before I did anything – especially since these fics are an exercise in wish fulfilment for conversations I'd wish the show would have between some of it's characters. I think I did a decent job here. I didn't want to dwell on the Neal angst as much because I feel like they both really did say their goodbyes during the first episode of the season.

I'd like to thank everyone for their lovely comments and messages. That really meant a lot.

If you have any thoughts, comments, questions or concerns let me know! And if you enjoyed this please check out my other stuff on tumblr, or AO3!