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Chapter 6

When Hook and Charming made it above deck, they found Emma in a heated discussion with Snow and Regina. "It's too dangerous," Hook heard Emma say to them as he joined. "You guys can't just leave and wander around the island…this isn't the Bahamas!"

"What's the problem?" Hook asked. "And what is a bahamas?"

"They want to take the other row boat and search for Henry while we're gone," Emma told him, ignoring the last question. "Tell them it's too dangerous, because I'm not getting to them."

"It is too dangerous," Hook told them but only looked at Snow. "But I have a feeling you have your mind set on it."

"Regina does," Snow said as she looked over at her. "And I'm not letting her go alone, so…yes, we're going."

"I'm going to see if I can sense Henry," Regina told him. "Using magic…I'm quite capable of doing this alone."

"No one goes off alone," Snow insisted. "No arguments."

"Please wait," Emma pleaded. "We won't be long…just wait and we will go with you."

Snow gave her daughter a small smile as she touched her cheek. "Don't worry…we'll be fine…and we won't go far…we're just scouting the area and see if we can get any sort of read on where he might be. It's a good plan, Emma…we can't just wait here and do nothing."

"She's right," David said as he put a hand on Emma's shoulder. "I don't like it either, but she's right…Gold and I will stay behind and guard the ship while both of you are gone."

Emma sighed as she realized she was losing her argument and deep down she knew it was the right thing to do. "Just…please, don't do anything stupid…be smart…don't go on some suicide rescue attempt…promise me."

"We're just going to see what we can find," she assured her. "It'll be okay…we're not planning on going too far inland."

"Wait until we leave," Hook advised Regina. "And do try to stay close to the shore as possible…the more inland you go, the more dangerous. As for you," he said turning to Snow. "There's a bow and quiver of arrows with your name on it in my weapon's chamber. I'll feel better if you took it with you before you left…I've seen what you can do with a bow and arrow, sweetheart…you're quite deadly."

She gave him a look when he winked at her. "And if anything happens to my daughter on your watch, you'll see just how deadly I can be."

He just grinned as he shed his long leather coat…he was more quick and nimble without it. "You Charmings…always so vicious with your threats." He hung the coat on the end of the boom and gave a nod towards David. "Your husband and I already talked about it…I won't let anything happen to her."

"I can take care of myself," Emma said firmly. "Now let's get going…we're wasting time."

Emma gave her parents a quick hug before climbing into the boat and Hook followed shortly after. "No talking until I tell you," he said as David and Gold began to lower them down to the water.

Emma gave him a nod of understanding and since she was facing him and the way he looked at her always made her a tad uneasy, she wandered her eyes towards the dark outline of the island…of Neverland.

Neverland…she was in Neverland, in a small rowing boat…with the Captain Hook. It was so…surreal. She always thought this was nothing but a fantasy…a beautiful, childish fantasy…but it was very real…and very dangerous.

"What's going on in that head of yours, Swan?"

His soft, low voice made her jump and it was only then that she realized they were moving…that they had been moving for awhile since they were out of the cove and were now a ways from the shoreline. "Sorry…I was just having a surreal moment."

He gave pulled the oars for one last hard stroke and then rested a moment and let the boat glide. "And what's that?"

She huffed out a breath. "Where to start?" she began keeping her voice at almost a whisper. "I'm in Neverland….sharing a rowboat with one of Disney's most infamous villains…well, it wasn't Disney at first…it was a play first by James Barrie…but there were several movies…including the Disney movie…but I think my favorite movie was Hook…that was a good one…Dustin Hoffman played a very good Hook…he's a lot older than you and…" She trailed off and took another deep breath as she rubbed her temples painfully. "It's a lot to take in, is all…it gives me a headache if I think about it too much."

Hook stared at her a moment, completely perplexed and then finally shook his head. "Honestly, Swan, I didn't understand half of what you just said…but I understand it can be overwhelming…that's how I felt when I was in the village of New York."

Emma looked up and couldn't help but smile. "I'm sure it was…I'm sure you drew a lot of attention…well, on second thought…I'm sure New Yorkers have seen weirder."

He lifted a brow. "So, I'm weird, am I?"

She let out a soft laugh. "No…but you definitely stand out…in my world at least."

"Hmm…I suppose." He picked up the oars and started pulling them through the water once more. He was keeping the boat parallel to the shoreline of the island heading towards the west side of the island.

"So…where are we going exactly?" she asked. "I'm not enjoying this being left in the dark business…a little information would be helpful."

"You won't be too much longer," he said as he kept a steady pace with his strokes. "So, tell me…in your versions of Neverland…what do they say about mermaids?"

She frowned slightly. "Mermaids? What do you mean?"

"Well, are they good-hearted mermaids or vicious ones…I'm curious is all."

Emma pursed her lips as she thought about it. "Well…they weren't much of a factor in most of them…although, in the Disney version they were a little bitchy…jealous of Wendy and tried to pull her in the water."

"Closer than I thought," Hook said with a nod. "Most of the mermaids here are quite vicious…if you give them the chance they'll pull you down by the ankles and chances are you'll never see the light of day again. "

She gave an uneasy glance at the waters and moved a hand on the dagger. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked as she looked back at him.

"I just want give you all the facts…however there's one mermaid who…" Before he could finish there was a quick splash of water that came out of nowhere and smacked Hook in the face. He sighed as he ran his good hand over his face. "All these years later and she still hasn't changed…that's still not funny, darling."

Emma looked at him funny and then out towards the direction where the splash came from. "Hook…who are you talking to?"

Before he could answer her, it came out of the water like a flash and even as she quickly drew her dagger, she saw the wet mermaid leaning over their boat and actually spit a long stream of water into Hook's face. "Don't be ridiculous, sweetheart," the mermaid said with a delightful laugh. "It's always funny."

"Such a pleasure to see you, too," he said dryly as he wiped his face once more.

The mermaid laughed as she sat down on the edge of the boat, causing it to rock slightly and then to Emma's shock and amazement, she leaned over and gave Hook a hard, loud, smacking kiss. "Killian Jones, back in Neverland…thank all the gods…it was getting so dull around here."

"Oh, I highly doubt that," he said with a grin.

She finally looked over her shoulder at Emma and narrowed her eyes at her. "Who's the blonde with the dagger?"

Emma cocked her head as she stared right back at her. She had a striking face, there was no denying that…and her bright blue eyes were so big they practically swallowed her face. Fiery wet ropes of hair framed her triangular face and cascaded down her back and into the water. She didn't seem vicious…maybe a tad bitchy, but not vicious. "Yes, Hook…please introduce us," she said dryly as she finally looked over at him.

He just grinned at her and then leaned his head towards the mermaid. "That's Emma…she pulled a dagger on me the first time we met, too."

The mermaid put her hands on the boat and twirled around so she was sitting next to Hook and facing Emma. "And do we like her?"

Emma just lifted a brow as she looked over at him and that only made Hook's grin widened. "Well…she can be quite the pain in my ass…she's all kinds of stubborn…but, yes, darling…we like her."

"I'm confused here, Hook," Emma finally said as she finally sheathed her dagger. "You were just telling me that the mermaids here are vicious and now this one comes a long and lays one on you and flirts with you…"

"Jealous, Swan?" he asked with a smirk.

She gives him an annoyed look. "Just…explain."

"I didn't say all mermaids were vicious…just most of them."

"Although I use to be," the mermaid pointed out with a sly grin. "Then this one saved my life eons ago and then I all of the sudden grew a conscious."

Hook smiled at her. "She's been mad for me ever since."

"It's true…I would do anything for, Killian."

"Hook," he corrected.

The mermaid rolled her eyes. "You'll always be Killian to me…you fooled everyone when you came back, even Toodles…but not me…I knew who you were."

"Yes, I'm aware."

She gave his cheek a little pat before turning towards Emma. "By the way," she said as she gave him a nudge. "You haven't introduced me yet…show a little manners, Jones."

He placed his hook on his chest. "My apologies….Emma, may I introduce you to our ally…Ariel."

Emma's jaw dropped. "Ariel? As in, The Little Mermaid?"

Ariel laughed. "There's nothing little about me, sweetheart." She scooted closer to her causing the boat to rock again and then held out her hand. "Nice to me you, Blondie."