A/N: Late update! But not as late as other! Cx sorry! Hope you like it! I did use a line or few from the actual show :P This chapter is prob my longest one! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the show! just my ideas!

You Bested Me

Captain Swan Shipper © KaraStephenson 2013

Chapter 6: Magic

"It's magic, you know never believe, it's not so."-Pilot

A small, prideful smirk escaped Emma's lips. By the looks on everyone's faces she had successfully fooled them, which in turn fooled Cora. "Okay guys, you can pick your chins up off the ground and put your eyes back in your sockets," she teased.

"Well played, Swan." Hook's voice held a certain tone. There was a hint of hurt still echoing in his words.

Emma's expression slightly dropped. She could see in his eyes, she wasn't entirely forgiven.

"Yes, very smart tactic," Mulan agreed.

"That's my daughter. Once a Charming, always a Charming," she bumped her shoulder to Emma's. "Although, I wish you would have let me in on the trick."

"It would've been less convincing. Plus, I wanted to make sure none of you got hurt." Emma pointed to the sky. "It'll be sunset soon. If we want to make most of this lead, we better get going."

"But, where would we go?" Aurora inquired. "We were being lead to Cora, when all along she was with us, and we didn't get the portal dust."

"You mean this?" Hook held up a bottle filled with ashes.

Emma reached for it, but Hook pulled back. "How did you get that?"

"We all have our tricks, love," he smirked. Hook walked with a slight limp. "I'm not called a pirate for no reason."

Emma was a little skeptical. How did he manage to steal from Cora? Tricking her is one thing, but actually getting close enough to steal is another. She knew he was the actual Hook, but something in his voice made her uneasy. She didn't entirely trust him. However, Emma was beginning to think it was more shame. Leaving Hook back at the beanstalk hadn't been just to fool Cora. The worst part, she was thinking of duplicating the act again except with the portal dust.

"Oh, and don't even think about pulling another stunt like on the beanstalk, Swan." Hook replied as if reading her mind.

"Who said I was going to?" Emma crossed her arms in defense.

He gave a small laugh, "you didn't have to." 'Open book' he mouthed.

She shot daggers at him. "Keep it up and—"

"Emma! Focus. Remember? Now, the portal dust isn't going to work on it's own. Right now its just ash. We need a way to restore it's properties," Snow insisted.

"Lake Nostos!" Aurora chimed. "I've heard it has the ability to return what was once lost."

Emma remembered when Henry talked about Lake Nostos. He mentioned Prince Charming had traveled to the lake to retrieve water to free Princess Abigail's love. Her love had been turned to gold while trying to save King Midas, thus turning him into gold. The water of Lake Nostos broke the curse and set him free.

"It does, Ro. The only problem, the lake is gone. I traveled there a long time ago to find a dried up lake. The siren had been killed resulting in the drought. Nothing's left."

"What about magic? Couldn't we restore the lake?" Emma was willing to try anything to get home to Henry. Just a few months ago she didn't believe in magic or fairytales being real, but now she'd believe for her son.

"There's a slight possibility we could attain some. It's about a day's journey, but I know some old mines. The smallest of diamond could work," Mulan suggested.

"Okay, we better get going if we want to stay ahead of Cora." Emma motioned for Mulan to lead the way. She turned to see Hook unmoved. "You coming?"

A small light sparked in his eyes. "Not going to leave me behind?"

"Not this time. You've got the portal dust," the corner of her lips lifted. "But don't think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second."

"Oh, so you're just using me now?" He walked in front of her. "Aye, Swan, I'd despair if you did." Hook followed the three women.

Emma knew they had spoken those words just a few days ago. It wasn't Déjà vu, but another chance. Leaving Hook on the beanstalk had been terrible; she knew the feeling of abandonment all too well. She had used him to hold the compass and that guilt made her stomach churn. She knew she needed to apologize, but at the same time she felt she shouldn't have to explain herself.

"You're afraid to talk, to reveal yourself, to trust me."

Hook's words echoed in her head as if to remind her of her faults. She was never good at trusting, but maybe she could trust Hook, just a little. She did owe him the chance.

"Things would be a lot smoother if you do."

"You better hope so, for both of our sakes," she whispered to herself.

XxXxX

"The sun's going down. We'll have to stop for the night."

Emma was about to argue, but she could see the exhaustion in everyone. "Let's take turns guarding while the others sleep. I can take the first shift."

Snow started a fire and the two other women sat around taking in the warmth.

Hook secluded himself to a tree, which he sat against, taking in the night sky.

Emma found herself looking at him. He looked peaceful, yet miserable. Somehow, the night made him look drained. His face was disheartening and his eyes were as mysterious as the sky. He had the same expressions Emma herself once wore. The blonde looked away before sympathy could make her do something stupid.

"Hey, I thought you could use some tea."

"Thanks, Ro." Emma took the tin cup and slowly took a sip. The heat helped keep her awake. "I thought for sure you'd be asleep," she joked.

"I've slept for twenty-eight years. Right now, I just want to enjoy my moments of being awake."

Emma nodded in agreement. "Twenty-eight years of waiting. Guess that's probably my fault. Let me guess, true love's kiss did the trick?"

Aurora gave a giddy smile. "Of course. I better not fall under anymore sleeping curses though, otherwise who'll wake me up?" Her joking faded into sadness. After a moment of silence she smiled. "Sorry. I still cannot believe he's gone. I loved him. I remember when I first met him and instantly we clicked. Our eyes met and it felt magical. It took sometime to fall in love, but I could feel something special. Just like how I can see it between you and Hook."

Emma joked on her tea. She covered her mouth to muffle her coughing. "What?"

"I may not be the brightest, but when it comes to connections, I can see it."

The blonde raised an eyebrow. "And you think there's one between Hook and I?"

"Yes. I saw a spark. Whether it'll lead somewhere, I can't tell that. Future predicting is out of my 'magic'. I think you two have something special."

"I'd agree, m'lady."

Emma glanced at the tree where Hook no longer rested. She turned to see him standing behind her.

"Didn't anyone tell you its rude to eavesdrop?"

"Didn't anyone tell you its rude to talk about someone behind their backs?"

Aurora giggled. "Touché. But we weren't really talking about you." She gave the most unconvincing yawn. "I better go try to sleep." Winking, she poked Emma's shoulder, before returning to the campfire.

Hook shifted his weight back and forth. "Mind if I join you?"

"Sure." Emma awkwardly, shifted over for him to sit. There was an uncomfortable atmosphere. They hadn't really talked since the beanstalk.

"So." Both of them spoke simultaneously.

"Ladies first."

"Couldn't sleep?"

Hook leaned over. "Truthfully, I didn't want to fall asleep. You never know what might happen."

"I thought we established no one was going to ditch you?" Emma teased.

He put his hand over his heart. "Did we? I'm touched." He gave a chuckle. "I have to hand it to you, you bested me. Marvelous performance on the beanstalk."

The ache in her stomach returned. "I'm told I could be an actress," she tried to cover up her guilt.

"Except, you weren't faking were you? Like you are now." His tone had become serious with a hint of bitterness.

Emma made sure to not show any signs that he was right. She'd been questioned before, but she managed to out-lie a polygraph. "I wasn't pretending."

"Really? Because I saw the look on your face and it seemed completely real." Hook huffed, "You still don't trust me."

"Don't give me that look." Emma crossed her arms. "So, maybe it wasn't entirely an act. Sorry."

Hook flashed his famous smirk. "See, I was right. Remember I said you're much of an open book. I just wanted to get you to admit it."

She pursed her lips. "Don't make me regret feeling bad."

He put his hand and hook up in defense. "All is forgiven, just don't do it again. I hate being double crossed."

"But, you don't mind double crossing," she mocked, "You would have done the same."

"Actually, no." He looked at her with the utmost honesty.

Emma's face dropped. His expression made her stomach clench. She could tell that the abandonment had hurt him. He was just someone she met a few days ago, it shouldn't have bothered her; he was a stranger. Yet, something about him was different. She was never quick to admit her faults. "I'm sorry. I guess I wanted to cross you before you could cross me. I couldn't take the chance that I was wrong about you."

"Any yet, you left me with the compass. Why? It wasn't because trusted me."

"I knew Cora would try to get the compass from us, so I needed to hide it. So, as I helped you up, I slipped the real compass into your jacket and showed you the false one. I left you because I thought you'd be upset and Cora would believe you didn't have it. But, I did trust you. I left the compass with you."

"What if I had double crossed you?"

Emma smirked, "but you wouldn't, you just said so. I trusted that if you found the compass you'd realize what I did and I don't know," Emma shrugged. "You'd find me or I'd find you. We made a deal and I wanted to honor it. Consider yourself lucky, I don't trust many people."

He gave a small grin. "So, you said you couldn't take a chance to be wrong about me. Were you wrong?"

"Don't know yet. I'm still getting used to this trusting you thing," she teased.

Hook knocked his shoulder with Emma's. "Swan, why don't we put this behind us? You did save me from Cora. I think I can look past you chaining me up for ten hours."

"Call it even? Am I off the hook?"

"Was that supposed to be puny?" he laughed, "that was horrific."

Emma laughed with him. "Sorry, no pun intended." It felt nice to laugh with someone. She didn't realize how much she needed one after all the curse breaking madness. Talking with Hook seemed comfortable after awhile. A piece of her hoped she'd be wrong about him. She hoped he wouldn't just be a flirtatious pirate. Last time she was involved with a thief, she ended up in jail, pregnant. Maybe trust is like magic, and you've just got to believe.

E/N: Did ya like it? Reviews much appreciated!