Another chapter? So soon? And a long one at that. I'm still not quite happy with it, but I've gone through it at least ten times and its not getting any better, so whatever.

Reviews make me happy, and reviewers will get the chance to share a bottle of rum with out pirate. So type a few words into that friendly looking box down there.

Charlie

xo

Red made her way through the forest, and shivered a little at the icy wind as it cut through her clothes. She couldn't help but flinch at the crunching sound of her boots cutting through the silent night air. She reached the clearing expecting Killian to be there, waiting as he always had. Instead, she found a picnic blanket and a duffle bag sitting in his place. She practically skipped to the cliff, stumbling a little on a stray tree root.

"Killian?"

No answer.

"Killian!"

Still no answer.

What if he's been arrested? Or kidna-

A pair of hands grabbed her waist from behind, picking her up and and spinning her around.

"BOO!"

She thrashed wildly against her attacker, throwing punches at the direction of the voice until her fist collided with a hard surface. She was released immediately, and she spun around to face her foe, expecting to see the King or a masked mugger. She found, instead, Killian looking up at her cautiously, rubbing his forehead with his hand.

"You," she heard herself say.

"You really have to work on those manners of yours, Miss Lucas," he smirked as he moved his hand away, revealing an angry bruise beginning to form.

"Oh, god! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Do we need to go to the hospital? Do you need a doc-"

"I'm fine, Red. Really. Although this wasn't the reaction I was expecting after going through the effort of putting together a picnic," he said in mock offence as he set himself down on the blanket.

"And you should know better than to jump out at innocent maidens happening to pass you by," she smiled as she set herself down beside him.

"Indeed I should. And yet, I shall miss those brain cells greatly."

"As you should. You obviously have precious little to spare."

"This is what I get for going through the trouble of organising this...feast? I'm not sure I want to share anymore."

"Too late," she giggled as she began digging through the duffle, pulling out a container and grabbing a strawberry from it's depths.

"Now that's just rude, Red."

"Oh, is that so?" she teased, biting into the juicy flesh. She chewed loudly, sucking each of her fingers dramatically.

"Indubitably. Don't you know that manners matter? Your granny will be so ashamed. And after all of the effort she put in to raise you right," he cried dramatically, smiling as he heard her soft giggles.

"You really shouldn't have expected so much from me, Killian, dearest."

"I'll never learn, will I? I'd come get it off of you, but I don't want to endure your wrath yet again. I hear my face is my greatest asset."

"Your only asset, obviously."

"Was that your twisted way of giving me a compliment?"

"Of course not! Who do you think I am?"

"Admit it. You think my face is pretty."

"Just keep telling yourself that."

"It was only a matter of time before you gave in to my charms. Everyone eventually does."

"Keep dreaming, kiddo."

"Well I think your face is very pretty. The least you could do is pay back the compliment."

Red felt her cheeks burning and hoped the darkness would hide it from him.

"Silent, eh? That's an obvious sign of agreement. I've always been told I'm a pretty boy."

"Stop it!" she laughed, playfully shoving him away.

"Tell me, what else about me do you think is pretty? My dashing good looks are endless in description. My windswept hair? My high cheekbones? My lips? My smouldering gaze?" He struck a mock pose and winked at her.

Yes, stomach. This is the perfect time to practice your backflips.

"Silent again! I shall take that as confirmation of all said attributes."

She shook her head at him, and began digging through the duffle.

"Hey! As instigator of said picnic, I believe that is my job." He pulled it from her and pulled out two thermoses, setting one in front of her.

She eyed the mug before twisting it open to find a steaming, orange liquid.

"I present to thee, entree, quality pumpkin soup. Courtesy of Granny's Diner." He motioned for her to drink before raising the cup to his lips.

She did as she was told, and she immediately felt the not liquid warm her cold insides. She found herself disappointed as the soup slowly disappeared, before she was finally finished.

Killian laughed at her dejected expression, before digging out another two bottles, filled with a pink liquid.

"Is that...?"

"Alas, no. You will find that is quite difficult to find a strawberry milkshake outside of the diner, so this is just strawberry milk. You have already found that there are, in fact, strawberries in this bag, but no more dessert until you've finished your food, yes?"

She nodded obediently as she sipped at her strawberry milk. It was still to sweet to her liking, but perhaps she could learn to like it. She watched as another container was pulled out of the bag.

"For mains, I present carbonara pasta with roast chicken. Courtesy of...well, me," he declared, opening the lid of the large box.

"How do I know you're not trying to poison me?" She teased.

"You don't," he smirked confidently. He pulled out two forks, handing her one and keeping the other. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he spoke. "I kind of ran out of containers, so we're going to have to share. Is that...okay?"

She grinned at the hopeful expression on his face. "No, brainless. Of course it's not okay," she deadpanned. "I'm willing to risk starvation and refuse delicious food because I'm scared out cooties." She stuck her fork in the pasta and began eating.

Killian followed her lead. "And there's another one of your twisted compliments."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Delicious food? Even you can't deny that was a compliment."

"Maybe it was. You'll never know."

The rest of the meal was eaten in comfortable silence, and it wasn't until he was putting away the container that she spoke up.

"Can we have dessert now?"

"Patience is virtue, young grasshopper."

"Please?" she added, pouting just for good measure.

He sighed in mock annoyance and produced three boxes of strawberries and a small container of a white substance. He set them down before pulling two large bottles of Dale and Jeffery's Best Brewed Rum.

"I present dessert, strawberries and cream, along with a good bottle of rum."

She dug into the strawberries first, eyeing the alcohol cautiously. It was a stark contrast to the pirate, who was already a quarter through his bottle.

"You know, if you don't want your rum, I'll gladly have it."

Red instinctively closed her fingers around the bottle protectively. "You have your own."

"But I've yet to see you drink any of yours."

"Then I will."

"You should."

"Good."

"Fine."

"Fine!" she yelled, twisting off the lid and taking a large gulp. She tried not to wince at the bitter tang it left in her mouth, savouring the burn as it slid down her throat.

He looked at her with an amused expression.

"I bet I can take my alcohol better than you."

"Are you sure you want to mess with a pirate?"

"Is the great Captain Hook scared of losing?"

"Never."

*Let the games begin.