Chapter 4

The room was silent, save for the crackling of a fire. David's heart sped up a few beats. He could only see Hook's silhouette, but he would recognize that voice anywhere. The last time he had heard his voice that sinister was when he had still been hunting Rumpelstiltskin. The man he had come to respect, and even like, was gone.

The pirate crossed the room and David stood up out of the chair. When Hook's face came into the firelight, he understood why he would want all the mirrors covered up. Hook looked like someone had taken a knife and slashed his face and body with it. His hair was messy, sticking up in all directions, and he had a crazed look in his eye that David had never seen.

"Sorry, don't mean to interrupt, but I couldn't help but overhear your lovely conversation. So, let's have it," Hook said, "Are you working for the Crocodile or not?"

"No, I'm not. My name is David-"

"Yes I heard you shouting that at my door earlier." David's look shifted from cautious to annoyed.

"And you didn't answer?! Goodness, I was standing out there for-," he cut off, trying to calm himself, "Anyway, I know of a way to help you and the people of this castle and for that I'll need your help, and his."

"I'm not working with that reptile. He'd be dead before he came through the door."

"You don't have to work with him. I need his help getting to another realm, the world without magic. But I know you have a memory potion. I need it."

"What makes you think I have a memory potion?"

"Because we told him, you dingbat!" Will snapped.

"Shut up, candle," Killian sneered, not turning his attention away from David, who heard Will faintly whine, "I'm a candelabra," while Robin looked on with sympathy.

"He needs the potion that you refuse to take," Regina said, "If anyone can help us, Hook, it's this guy." Hook pondered that for a moment.

"What do you need it for?"

"As I said, I need to get to the other realm. My wife and daughter are there, but they don't remember me or that this world even exists."

"And you think one memory potion will help with that? The vial isn't exactly big."

"I was hoping Rumplestiltskin could help me on that front too."

"Relying on the Crocodile for help. You're crazier than I thought."

"And that's saying something, coming from the likes of you," Will muttered. Hook ignored him, apparently pondering what David was saying.

"Your wife and daughter, what are their names?"

"Snow White and Emma Swan."

Hook paled a little staring into the fire, as though the sound of Emma's name had struck something in him, some memory.

"Swan?" he murmured.

"Yes, Emma. Do you remember her?" Hope flared in David's mind. He had seen the "yearning looks and doey eyes" that Regina had referred to, even if he hadn't wanted to acknowledge it at the time. Hook continued to look stricken for a moment, lost in his head, before turning back to David. His guard was back up, but the hostility was gone.

"No, just the name...it matters not. So you want my memory potion. What do I get in return?"

David was taken aback.

"What do you mean? I just told you that I can help break this curse if you give me the potion."

"Aye, but I want proof that you're not screwing me over. I want a chance to help break it myself. You give me that, then I'll give you the potion. Also, you may stay here, your wife and daughter as well."

David thought that over. It really was a good offer; he wasn't asking much at all, and he was going to help.

"Deal. But you may be in line with Rumplestiltskin if you do that."

"It's not him I'm helping. It's me."

Always the pirate, David thought, smirking to himself.


"The Dark One lives in the village, an hour's ride from here," Robin said from the ground, where he was standing next to Regina. David was stepping inside of a horseless black carriage, out of the rain. What had started as a drizzle the night before had turned into a storm that was still going strong. Hook had been the first one to go back to his room after the conversation in the common room yesterday. Regina, Robin and Will had offered him dinner and a bed to stay in. The castle had looked immense on the outside, but the sheer amount of rooms inside had only amplified its vastness. They had found him a room in the east wing, and the warm bed and blankets were a welcome change from forest floors and barns.

"Thank you all, for everything. I'll be back as soon as possible," David promised.

"We wish you safe travels," Robin said warmly, while Regina looked towards the castle. Henry had wanted to come and say bye to David, but she had said no, that she didn't want him to get wet. He was standing in the doorway next to Will, who had also opted out of saying a formal goodbye.

"I don't want me flame to go out in the rain," he had said. David had nodded in understanding, picking up Henry.

"Good luck Grandpa," he had said, giving him a cheeky grin, "Bring mom and grandma home, okay?"

"I will, don't you doubt it," he had said solemnly, and placed him gently on the ground next to Will.

And now as he looked back at that dark, dreary castle, another memory returned to him, one that at the time hadn't seemed important. At the town line, when they were watching Snow and Emma leave, Hook had a faraway look on his face, as if his happiness was driving away in a small yellow car. The same way David had felt.

Hook was lying to himself even if he didn't realize it. He wasn't just helping to break the curse for himself. He just needed a little push in the right direction to realize it.


Killian looked on through the window in the west wing as the black carriage drove away, taking his guest from last night with it. He watched it until it was out of his sight, and then turned back into his lonely dark room. He had chosen the biggest one in the castle of course, the one with the softest bed and the tallest windows with the best view (even if he kept the curtains closed on it most of the time now).

He slumped down in his chair, resting his forearms on the piles of drawings of swans and leather jackets and green eyes and a slightly crooked smile, one that had been floating around in his dreams since he had woken up in this castle. Or should he say dream, because it was the same one again and again: standing across from the beautiful blonde woman, telling her that not a day would go by without him thinking of her. And her reply, that one word, so faint that it was almost a whisper. He had kept his promise, in his own way. Now he had a name to put to the face. Maybe.

He had to admit that he had been acting odd since the attack a few months back. He had been closed off, but was he actually crazy like Will had said? That was definitely possible.

But he did know one thing. He had been lying to David; he wasn't just doing this for himself. He was doing it for the girl in his dream.

For Emma.