Chapter 3: Trust Me and I Won't Disappoint
I'll lead you into the lion's den

Trust was not an easy thing to give out, especially not for Emma. She had been hurt too many times. She had known betrayal far too often. And she had learned first hand that it was the people you trusted most that hurt you the deepest. Though she did not admit it, it was part of the reason she couldn't call her parents mom and dad. And it was part of the reason why she had given Henry up. Yeah, she wanted to give him his best chance, but she also didn't want to betray him. She didn't want to let him. Down. And now that he was back in her life, she would make sure she did her best to never do just that.

"Penny for your thoughts, love?" Hook walked up beside her. They had left their campsite in the early hours of the morning. They had an appointment to keep. And the sooner Hook met with the Corra, the sooner she would open the portal, and the sooner they could get back to their world. His hands were no longer bound, a feat Emma had fought for. The others were all too keen on tying the pirate up again, but he had been with them the entire night while they slept unawares without incident, and they were trusting him with such an important mission. It would be a show of good faith, she had reasoned. It would give him incentive to not want to betray them. In the end, Snow had taken her side, and so the others had had to follow. Though, now she was really wishing she hadn't intervened.

"Go away," she mumbled.

"Why my dearest Emma, I couldn't get away from you if I tried," he said smoothly. "You have entranced me."

She rolled her eyes. "Do those lines actually ever work for you?"

He laughed. "You'd be surprised, my sweet. Many a fishermen's wives have been swayed by such words."

"Lucky for me then that I'm not a fisherman's wife. What do you want now?"

"I wanted to thank you for keeping me unbound," he said, holding his hook up to inspect it as they walked. That had been a stretch, even for her. But they were travelling into the unknown, in a land wasted and run over by ogres. If something happened, none of them could be disabled.

"It seemed like the better option," she shrugged.

"So it wasn't a matter of trust?" he glanced at her.

"What do you think?"

"I think I want to know what I have to do to get you to trust me," he said, though her question had really been a rhetoric one.

"Hmm I don't know, jump down a well?"

The ever present smirk was gone from his face. He looked rather vulnerable for a moment before he masked it over with an expressionless face. "I'm serious," he said. "What would I have to do to finally earn your trust?"

She sighed. What could he do? She didn't know. It wasn't anything with him, or Mary Margaret, or David. It was the fact that she refused to trust anyone. She couldn't. She wouldn't be hurt like that again. "I don't know," she admitted to him. "I don't really trust anyone."

"Not even your mother?" he raised an eyebrow.

She just shrugged. "I trust her," she said. Because she thought she did. Mary Margaret had not betrayed her once yet. And she was sure she wouldn't. But she couldn't open herself to the woman, not yet. She wanted to trust her mother, and her father, but she wasn't sure how to.

"That'll be my goal then," he nodded to himself. "To earn your trust."

She just shrugged again. "Did you – trust again?" she asked quietly. "After Gold – Rumpelstiltskin killed Milah. Did you trust again?"

He thought about it for a second. "No."

"Then you understand why you'll have a bit of a problem getting me to trust you then," she said.

He just smirked. "Ah but I do trust you, Emma Swan. I don't know if it's because you're supposed to be our savior, or if it's your beautiful face, or your amazing legs, but I trust you."

"Why?" that really surprised her. They hadn't been together long enough for her to warrant his trust.

"You freed him."

She just looked over at him. He really set a lot of store in this life debt thing, didn't he? Before she could respond to him, her mother called back to them.

"We're here," Snow called out.

They came to a cliff with the ocean ahead of them. "That's where I have to meet her," he pointed at a spot on the beach about a mile away from them. She saw he was smiling. He looked so much more at home here, near the ocean. She supposed that made sense, since he was a captain and all.

"When do you have to meet?" Mulan asked, looking around warily.

He looked to the sun and the shadows on the ground. "In an hour."

"You two should get going then," Aurora said.

Snow looked worried. She hugged Emma tightly. "Please, please be careful."

"I will be," she promised.

"And don't underestimate Corra. She's Regina's mother after all, and she's a million times worse."

"Okay," she smiled reassuringly at her mother.

"Maybe you should take my sword too," Snow looked down at the weapon on her side contemplatively.

"Mary Margaret, I'll be fine," Emma promised. "Don't worry. I am the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming after all." She smiled at her mother.

And finally, her mother smiled back. "Yes, you are," she said, tears coming to her eyes. "And just remember, your mother wants to take you back to your father. So just come back in one piece, alright?"

"I will."

Snow turned to Hook too, and hesitated for a moment. "I'm trusting you to watch out for her."

He bowed his head slightly. "On my life."

The others looked wary at this, but Emma understood. He meant the life debt. And suddenly, she didn't feel so worried about this. She was sure Hook wouldn't betray them now.

"And," Snow paused a moment too. "You be careful too. She may think you're in league with her, but she's dangerous."

"Don't worry, princess, I know her kind too well," he held his hook up. "I will be cautious. And rest assured, I will bring your daughter back to you. That is a pirate's oath."

Snow White looked taken back for a moment. "Thank you."

He simply bowed his head and turned to Emma. "Shall we, darling?" he offered her his arm.

"I'm not touching you," she glared at him as she stalked off to the beach. He followed her quickly.

The smirk was back on his face. "Why, Emma, dearest, you forget. We're deeply infatuated with each other. In fact, we want to bump uglies and shag like rabbits. You think she'll buy our little ruse if you're repulsed to even touch me? I mean look at me. You should be throwing yourself at me. By the way, while we're gambling with our lives, maybe you should let me do the talking. She trusts me after all."

"Or I could settle for just throwing you," she rolled her eyes. "Maybe into the ocean."

He chuckled. "I'm simply looking out for your wellbeing. I did promise your mother after all. A pirate's oath and everything. Would you have me fall back on my word?"

She stopped in her tracks and thought about it for a moment. He had a point. Not his pirate's oath crap. That was just bullshit to get a reaction out of her, but the touching them. After all, being – involved was part of their back story. She sighed and linked her arm through his. Oh she hated him.

He just smirked wider and led her forward. "You know, I might be a tad bit biased, but I'm sure if a third party were here at the moment, they would tell us how good we look together, what with my good looks and your amazing chest."

She glared at him. "I'm going to call this off if you don't stop being such a perv."

He just laughed, He leaned in close, his lips almost touching her ear. "No you won't," he whispered. "You need to get back to Henry."

She could feel his breath on her skin, making her shiver. Okay so maybe he had a reason to be so cocky, but that did not mean she was going to buy the flirting. She turned her head slightly. "Maybe, but to get back to Henry, I don't think we need you to have your face perfect."

He just smirked, and pulled away. "So you admit I have a perfect face?" She pretended she didn't hear him.

They stopped when they reached a certain spot on the beach. How he knew exactly where it was, she wasn't sure. But here they were. His eyes looked around the beach before he turned to face her, putting his hook-free hand on her waist. She froze, tensing up at the touch. He stepped closer to her, and tilted his head down. She did not move, knowing he was just messing with her.

"I think you have quite the face too, Miss Swan," he said softly before leaning down and capturing her lips with his.

She was too shocked too react. He was kissing her! That she had not expected. He pulled her closer to him, and she surprised herself as she molded her body to fit his. Okay, maybe he infuriated her, and maybe she wanted to punch him half the time, and maybe she knew his flirting was all fake, but damn the pirate could kiss. She was growing lightheaded as he pried her lips open and softly thrust his tongue in. It was a soft kiss, an intimate kiss, but very demanding. She couldn't even think as his other hand wrapped around her waist as well and pulled her closer still.

And just as quickly as it had started, it ended. He pulled his mouth away, though his hands remained wrapped around her, holding her to him. She tried to catch her breath.

He leaned in for another kiss. But this time, he whispered against her lips before pecking them softly. "She's looking," he whispered, before pulling his mouth away. He kissed her temple before pulling away completely, stepping to the side of her, and keeping only his arm around her waist, holding her to his side. "Corra," he greeted.

Corra approached them, a quizzical look on her face. "What's this?"

"There's been a change of plans," he said smoothly. She remembered his advice on letting him do the talking. Right now, her head was still spinning from the kiss. It was just because Corra was looking, she reminded herself. That's all that was, just a part of their ruse. "Emma here will be joining us in our journey. I'm going to need someone to guide me in this new world. And who better than the sheriff of the delightful little town herself. And if she can keep me warm at night, then that's just an added plus." Oh she was going to kill him after this! He was making her sound like a pirate's wench!

"Oh really?" Corra raised an eyebrow. "Says who? You forget, darling, I am the one opening the portal."

"And you forget, witch, I am the one with the compass to guide us."

She looked at him for a moment. "And where is the compass?"

"It's safe," he said automatically. "I will bring it when you open the portal. Call it leverage if you will. I take it your preparations are almost complete?"

"Yes," she said. "We should be able to depart tomorrow."

"Then I shall being the compass tomorrow," Hook nodded once. "If that's all for now…"

"Hold on," Corra said, looking at Emma. "Where's your charming mother?"

Emma tensed. "I don't know. We left her with Mulan and Aurora."

Corra laughed at this. "You really expect me to believe that Snow White actually let you go without her, and side with me?"

Emma's expression grew cold. "My mother does not control me."

"Now why would I ever believe you?" Corra asked.

"Because I need to get back to Storybrooke," Emma said. "Henry is there, and I need to get back with him. If you're my only way to do that, then I'll 'side with you'," she said pointedly. "Snow White does not understand that."

"But she's your mother," Corra said mockingly.

"As of a few days ago," Emma countered. "I spent 28 years without her. I can do it again." The words tasted bitter on her lips, but she couldn't show hesitation. Corra was looking for lies, she could tell. And they needed Corra to believe them.

"If you're done interrogating my woman," Hook finally interceded. "We'll be going. I want to show her one last time the – magic – the Enchanted Forest has tonight before we leave. We will meet you here on the morrow."

Corra smiled, though now that Emma knew her personality, it looked more wicked than before in the cave. "Yes, I will see you both tomorrow morning."

And she disappeared in a purple flash of smoke. Emma breathed out as soon as she was gone. "That was close."

"I'm a believable man," Hook smirked at her, pulled her in again. "Now, if you want, I really could show you the magic the forest has to offer. We can just take a detour on the way back to your mother. I can guarantee you will be satisfied."

She pulled away from him. Corra was gone now. There was no point in pretending right now, and the touches and innuendos were starting to make her feel uncomfortable. Oh she could handle the pervs and the pigs and everything they through at her. But after that kiss, after that dream that night, she couldn't handle it from Hook right now. It was just – unnerving when he did it. And she needed to keep her focus right now. "You wish."

"Oh my sweet Emma, you have no idea how much I wish it."

She shifted uncomfortably. "Let's get back to the others," she changed the topic. What was it about him that made her so uncomfortable?

He just smiled, and ran a find softly down her cheek. "Don't worry, love, I'm sure I'll have you eventually, and when I do, you'll regret not doing it sooner."

She rolled her eyes. "Keep dreaming, Hook."

"Oh I will," he smirked.

They started walking back to the others. Emma tried to walk as far from him as possible. But for some reason, he kept coming closer to her. She sighed, and tried to think of something else. But all she could think about on their way back to her mother and the others was that kiss. She knew it was just for show, but why the hell did it feel so – right?

NEW UPDATE! I knowww it's shorter than the last, but trust me, it NEEDS to end there for the next part ;) Yes I updated again so quickly lol you can thank the fact that I now live at home and because of said captivity I have so much time to write haha BUT ANYWAYS, hope you enjoyed it! Thank you guys so much for all the reviews and thoughts and feedback! It really makes me smile :D Let me know what you thought of this chapter! THEY HAD THEIR FIRST KISS? Too rushed do you think?

AnimeRose93: I'm taking a regular genetics class. And you definitely need to watch that episode!

Xandera-Orelia: This is what I do when I'm bored and obsessing with a new ship :D And yes I am planning on going into the Storybrooke side soon. Just not yet!

To everyone else, thank you guys so much! Your reviews and feedback mean so much to me!