A/N: DoubleDee068….this chapter is for you! Enjoy!

Killian:

There was something about the ring on her finger… but Killian couldn't quite place it. His father had told him that that ring would lead to true love. But Killian hadn't found it yet. Yes, the ring looked perfect on Emma's finger, as if that was where it belonged. But that whole idea was ridiculous, and therefore impossible. Seriously who ever heard of a pirate and a prince getting together? Nevertheless, both Emma and Killian had agreed to never utter a word of their…intimate? conversation to anyone.

Now on the terms of Graham and Chelsea well that was a whole different story. He hadn't had a chance to talk to Graham yet. If was almost as if the huntsman was avoiding him.

Speaking of avoiding….Emma had been doing the same thing too. Avoiding him. Killian had no idea why. Did he smell bad or something? Killian sniffed his armpit. No he didn't. So what the heck was her problem?

That's when he heard the shouting on deck above him. He looked up but of course didn't see anything. Killian then stood up and walked outside the door and down the hall to the stairs leading to the deck.

The closer he got to the deck the louder the noises got. There was yelling, and swords clashing. A bunch of the crew ran down the steps past Killian shoving him up against the wall. They were yelling something about cannons. Finally when they all passed Killian ran up the steps and onto the deck no knowing what he was going to find.

At first he was blinded. The sun was shining brightly making it hard to see. Killian put a hand over his eyes and his vision cleared. He saw pirates fighting pirates. Swords were banging against one another. He saw punches being thrown and people falling to the deck of the ship with a sword through their gut. It was gruesome. He then felt someone bump into his shoulder. He whipped around to find himself face to face with a random pirate.

The man seemed shocked but recovered quickly thrusting his sword at Killian. Killian ducked and ran to grab one of the swords attached to the mast. (Emma had them there in case they ever got into a situation like this and they had no weapons on them). He spun around wielding the sword dangerously.

"Fight like a pirate Killian. It's a dance."

Killian and Emma had fought several times together, her always defeating him. It was to train him to fight dirty, to not be afraid to throw a punch and knock someone out cold. Speaking of the devil…

Killian saw Emma fighting with a pirate on her own. Her hook glinted in the sun's rays and her hair shone as if it was being powered by the sun. She was wearing a light, very thin material, moss green shirt which puffed out near the cuffs. Over top she wore a brown leather vest/corset. She wore brown cotton pants which were tucked into her deep, forest green boots. Willing himself not to be distracted Killian turned his attention back to his foe.

Killian studied the way the man fought and analyzed it. He was clumsy, favoured his right hand which meant that he had injured his left and couldn't fight very well with it. So Killian changed tactics. He swerved around and began attacking the man's right hand. The pirate switched the sword to the left and Killian smiled because he had gained the upper hand. He danced around the pirate aiming his sword for the man's stomach or somewhere around that area. He managed to hit his target and the man went falling to the ground.

Killian turned around to go further into the battle. That's when he saw Emma struggling with this oversized pirate. He began to run to Emma's aid but was stopped by his own brute. Killian sighed and rolled his eyes. He ducked and swung out his leg knocking the pirate off his feet. That pissed him off. The pirate jumped up and grabbed Killian and punched in him the stomach. That knocked the wind out of Killian. He quickly caught his breath and lunged at the pirate. He swung his sword for the brute's neck but it was stopped midway by the pirate's own sword. The pirate pushed Killian to the floor and smiled.

"Good bye pretty boy."

The pirate raised his sword and was about to stab Killian but instead he fell to the ground unconscious.

"His name is Handsome actually."

Killian looked up to see his saviour was Emma.

"You saved me."

"Not about to let one of my crewmen die on me."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Really."

Emma stuck out her hand and Killian gladly took it pulling himself up to his feet.

"Emma…"

Emma's gaze followed to where Killian was pointing and she swore. Killian cringed at her language. He wasn't used to a woman having such a foul mouth. He looked over and saw Chelsea and Graham fighting together, using each other to defeat the enemy. That gave Killian an idea.

He grabbed Emma by the waist and pulled her up. She looked shocked as he raised her above his head, and he pleaded with his eyes for her to trust him. She rolled them and indicated fine. He smiled and threw her towards the pirate who was advancing on them. He watched as she pointed her feet and spun through the air like a drill, towards the pirate. She crashed into him and he fell to the ground. She finished the deed by decapitating him.

Killian was in awe. But unfortunately did not have enough time to dwell on it as another foe approached. This time though Emma took charge. She motioned for Killian to crouch, which he did and she stepped onto his back and pushed herself off with much momentum aimed at the enemy. She raised her sword into the air and threw it into the pirate's head, splitting him in two, creating two perfect halves. She hit the deck with a thud and smiled at Killian.

Emma began running at Killian as he was facing her, an angry look on her eyes and her sword pointed at him. His eyes grew wide but she flung herself into his chest, the sword going over his shoulder and her hook resting on his chest. He heard a grunt behind him and a body collapse. He turned around and kicked the body. No movement. He faced Emma again and saw a pirate come up behind her. He grabbed her, put her back to his chest, wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her. She used her feet and kicked the man to the floor where one of her crewmen took over.

She and Killian then went back to back each fighting a pirate with their sword. The sun had slowly faded but was still a shining beacon. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. If they weren't fighting pirates, Killian would have loved this. Unfortunately he was wielding a blade and killing pirates right and left.

He and Emma switched sides facing each other's enemies. Emma kicked the guy where it hurts the most and he tumbled to the ground. Killian got fed up fighting the guy and dodging his blows. He punched him in the face and the pirate went tumbling down. He and Emma shared a sideways glance, both smirking and laughing with their eyes. Their time was abrupt however as they found themselves being stuck together, back to back, surrounded by pissed off pirates pointing their swords at them.

"Now Captain Hook, dear, it'd be so good to see you again."

"Barbosa."

Emma:

Emma rolled her eyes. Barbosa would be here too. Emma smiled at him. There were many threats on the seas but Barbosa wasn't one of them. Sure he could be an absolute pain but threat? Emma knew better. He was all talk and no game. While she was all game no talk.

"Now what's a lass like you doing off that island?"

Emma smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"How'd you do it?"

"I never tell secrets."

"Ah yes. The infamous Captain Hook, the secret keeper. Does he know you're here? Back from Neverland?"

Emma stared hard at him knowing exactly who he was stalking about.

"Who?"

"The Dark One."

Emma gulped and felt Killian tense behind her. The whole crew was listening to this conversation, well his crew anyway. She had no idea how she was going to play this to her advantage. She'd have to try anyway.

"And what do you know about him and I?"

Barbosa smiled. "I know that he be looking for you and has a little deal to settle."

Emma scoffed. "And you know about this deal?"

"Doesn't matter when there be a nice booty on your head."

"So you'll sell me out. After all we've been through."

"Aye lass. I would."

"Charming. Cept there's one thing you failed to remember."

"And what'd that be?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow. Didn't you know? He's off the island, and rumour has it he's looking for you."

Emma smirked as the shock registered on Barbosa's face.

"He can't be. No. Impossible."

"Well, I did get his ship."

Barbosa looked around in amazement as his memory triggered. Black sails, and a crew. Speaking of which…

Emma smiled as she saw her crew surround Barbosa's crew.

"Well Barbosa, looks like you'll be swimming with the fishes. Men? Sick em."

Emma's crew lunged at Barbosa's crew and flung them off the boat.

"Let's go boys!" Emma yelled at them .Her crew ran to their stations and the Black Pearl moved quickly away from Barbosa and his crew who were floundering in the ocean. Emma laughed but then noticed Killian fuming, gripping onto the rail as if it was a life force. She walked up to him.

"You alright?"

"The Dark One? You're going after the Dark One? That's suicide! How could you be so stupid? Idiotic! You're asking for death!"

Emma was offended. He was yelling at her? He had the audacity to yell at her? He had no idea why she was doing this!

"Shut it Killian. Now you listen and you listen good. You have no idea why I'm after him. And no right to judge! Honestly! You're being so ridiculous! I am a full grown woman perfectly capable of handling herself! Don't question my actions!"

"You're kidding right?"

"No bloody hell I'm not!"

"You're practically wanting to die!"

"No Killian. I don't. I know what I'm doing."

"Sure you do."

Emma finally had enough. She raised her hand and slapped Killian's face. Hard. Shock registered on his face and Emma, who was fuming, whispered in his ear.

"Stop trying to read me Handsome. You'll get nowhere."

She turned around and walked back to her cabin leaving Killian clutching his face in pain.

Killian:

Killian couldn't believe she slapped him! He was simply looking out for her safety! Like a gentleman does and here she was! Accusing him and hurting him! How dare she! He was royalty! A prince!

"You okay?"

Killian looked up to see Graham standing there looking at him.

"I'm fine."

"Didn't seem fine. What happened? What'd you do?"

"What makes you think I did anything?"

"She wouldn't get pissed otherwise."

"Doesn't matter. She acted irrationally. Wrongly."

Graham rolled his eyes. "You're a prince right? Which makes you a gentleman and someone who clearly needs a lesson in how to treat women."

"What are you talking about?"

"You've been around royalty your whole life. You've been so used to women bowing down to you and doing what you request. Hook isn't like that. She will speak her mind and she won't let you keep her safe. You may think it's your job, but it isn't. Not unless there's a ring on her finger!"

Graham laughs and Killian doesn't know what to say. Graham has no idea how close that statement was to truth. Technically she did have a ring on her finger. His mother's and grandmother's ring. But she never kept it because it wasn't hers. But Killian still felt a strong need to protect her. Was that what had been bothering him lately? Killian shook his head.

"I need to talk to her."

"That wouldn't be a good idea Handsome."

Killian turned around and saw Chelsea standing there in front of him.

"Why not?"

"You don't want to talk to her when she's mad. Puts your life in danger."

"She needs me though."

"Maybe so…but anger can be a strong motivator and can blind someone to how they should be acting. Basically she could kill you and not even question it as she committed the action. Maybe after she'd feel regret. Maybe."

Killian swallowed. "So what you two are saying is….give her some space."

"Exactly." Both of them said at the same time. Graham blushed and Chelsea's face went beet red.

Emma and Killian hadn't confronted the two lovebirds yet. They wanted to get some fun out of them first. He remembered walking back to the ship laughing and joking with Emma about the ways they could use the blackmail. They came up with some devilish ideas. It was a little disturbing about how dark Emma's mind could go, but it was all in good fun. At least that's how Killian liked to look at it.

"Well then…how much time do I have to wait before I go and apoligize?"

Chelsea laughed. "You want to apologize already? Bloody hell Killian."

"You called me Killian."

Chelsea rolled her eyes. "Not what we were talking about. You should leave it for a while. Angry sex is the best."

Killian stared wide eyed at her and Graham's face went red.

"What did I say?"

"What did you say?"

"Oh come off it Killian. You're telling me you can't see the sexual tension between you two? Oh my gosh…you can't! Well this is priceless!"

Killian was absolutely bewildered! There was no way Emma or he felt that way. Chelsea had no idea what she was talking about.

"You know nothing."

"Puh – lease. I am her SECOND IN COMMAND! You think I don't know her? And you know her soooo much better? You're being naïve."

"I am not!"

"Don't push it Chelsea." said Graham.

She huffed. "Fine. But as soon as you both wake up and realize it…I will be saying I told you so."

With that she turned on her heel and walked up to the wheel to steer the ship. Killian looked at Graham and he simply shrugged.

"Leave her alone for now."

Graham left to go to the kitchen and get some food from Mum. He was his favourite. Killian turned to look over the sea and think about what Chelsea said.

I will never be with someone like her. Ever.

Emma:

Emma was fuming from the earlier encounter with Killian. Oh how he made her blood boil right now. Emma looked over at her destroyed cabin. She really did a number on it. Vases smashed, ink bottles staining the carpet and floor, her sheets torn off the bed, pretty much anything that her hands could touch was smashed to smithereens.

Yeah. The prince pissed her off.

After she had literally just FOUGHT with him, (he wasn't too bad…still had to learn how to play rough though), he had the audacity to get mad at her for her motives? Bastard!

"Wow. You did some major damage. What'd he do this time?"

"Barbosa decided to inform his crew about my issue with…him."

"Really? Him as in the one who took away –"

"Yes. Him."

"What an ass."
"You're telling me. I know he doesn't know everything but he felt some stupid need to protect me."

"I wonder why."

Emma peered at Chelsea. "What do you know?"

"It's subconscious. The boy's been raised as a prince his whole life so he treats women a certain way. He's always polite but always looking out for them. He doesn't get the fact that you don't need to be looked after. He just is doing what he thinks is right. Plus it's kinda cute."

Emma shot Chelsea a look clearly stating disbelief.

"Hey I'm just saying. Handsome is being cute as in a little kid way. Trying to be all macho for the girl he likes."

"He does not like me!"

Chelsea rolled her eyes.

"You are so naïve! He totally does…although he doesn't realize it…"

A dagger whizzed past Chelsea's face and Emma was back to being angry.

"Okay…I'll just leave now and go up deck…"

Chelsea quickly made a hasty exit leaving Emma exhausted. Killian was really taking a toll on her. Now people though he liked her? Idiots. As if. A pirate CAPTAIN falling for a prince. Right.

She rubbed the ring around her neck. This ring had so much pain…and yet so much hope wrapped up into it. It was a wedding band. From a long time ago.

He had left. Quickly and efficiently. She didn't want him back. He was a bastard. He took what she loved most. Her son. Emma could feel the tears begin to bubble in her eyes.

Henry…He had only been a baby when Balefire had taken him away from her. Declared her an unfit mother. She knew his father….Rumplestlikin…the Dark One…had something to do with it. She later learned that Balefire had disappeared to pursue some wench and left her son with his grandfather. It turned out that Rumplestlikin had manipulated his son into going off after his "true love". It's not that Rumple didn't love his son…he simply needed the baby for other purposes and the father was an issue.

He later arrived on Emma's ship to make her a deal. She could see her son…occasionally…as long as she became a worker for him. Basically what that meant was when he had a task he couldn't do...she would do it. She would beckon at his call.

She accepted. But when Balefire learned of this… he left his father's side, and took Henry too.

Rumple became furious and took it out on Emma, chopping off her hand. He disappeared but not without telling Emma it was her fault that his son abandoned his father. Emma became angry for days…seeking revenge on Rumple. Once she succeeded with that, she would find her son. He was probably ten by now. Ten years since that traumatic event occurred. The deal with Rumple had broken. She was done playing his little game. She never even saw her son. Not once. So much for keeping his end of the bargain.

And that was why Emma wanted revenge. It was the only thing that kept her going, kept her sane.

And she blamed Killian for making her think of it. She wanted to keep it buried, and only bring it up when she was losing hope. That's the hope part of the ring. That she'd be able to see her son, and bring him home, onto her ship. So she would play this game with Killian. She'd dance around him, poke and prod his soft spots and make him realize why people fear Captain Hook.

Because he was getting too close. And he was starting to think he could actually talk to her. Well she'd have to prove him wrong. She'd have to be extra careful because he was making her feel.

Because that's the name of the game.