Emma stretches against Hook's side and looks around. He groans, "It is too early to be awake, love."
She laughs, "Sorry. Habit." She sighs, "I had the strangest dream about someone named Henry."
He quirks a brow at her, "Dreaming of other men while you are in bed with me?"
She shakes her head, "No, he was just a boy. 11 or 12. He somehow seemed incredibly important. Like he should mean something to me."
He props himself up on his hand and looks down at her, "Did you have some secret love child that I should know about?"
She laughs, "No, I think I would remember that and I would never leave him behind. No matter how appealing the pirate."
He smirks, "So you find me appealing? Good to know. Means I can have my way with you as many times as I want."
She puts a finger on his lips to hold him back, "Uh uh. You have a crew of pirates to look after, Mister. I would hate to be late for our next port."
He groans, "You are such a slave driver, Swan. Maybe you should be Captain."
She tilts her head to the side, "Hmmm. The men do like me and I know how to keep everyone's attention. Plus, I am not bad to look at. Maybe I will get them together and cause a mutiny."
She giggles and pretends to struggle as he climbs atop her and pins her arms down, "If you try such a thing I will not hesitate to make you walk the plank."
She fakes horror, "Oh, Captain Hook, you wouldn't dare!"
He leans closer, "Oh I would, my dear, I would."
She laughs as he playfully nibbles at her ear and is about to kiss him when a knock sounds on the door, "Looks like play time is over."
He growls, "What is it?"
Smee's voice sounds through the door, "The crew is up and ready to weigh anchor, Captain. We need your orders to do so."
He groans, "Do what you must. I will be up on deck in a minute."
Emma lifts her head to kiss him on the lips one last time, "Are you sure you don't want to switch positions for the day?"
He grins devilishly, "Oh I would love to switch positions, just not in the way you are thinking."
She rolls her eyes and wiggles out from under him, "Play your cards right, Captain, and you might get everything you ever wanted."
He rolls to his back, "Gods, woman. How did I ever survive before you?"
Regina felt a bit awkward. It wasn't right to witness such an intimate moment, especially with her son next to her, but the damn mirror wouldn't turn off. She couldn't exactly break it. Unless they wanted to sit in the dark and guess what was happening.
Henry sighs, "I will never be able to look at her the same way ever again."
Regina tries to think of something to make this whole situation better, "She is…I think…" She puts her head in her hands, "God, I don't know."
He laughs, "Don't worry. I will get over it soon enough. On the bright side she is dreaming about me. Do you think she is starting to remember?"
Regina looks up at him, "Maybe. The curse can be weakening and so memories are slowly starting to come back. Or maybe it is because you are her son and no matter how cursed she is there will always be that connection."
Henry considers what she said, "That makes me feel a little better." He looks back at the mirror thankful they both were on deck, "How will we know if we won or not?"
Regina takes a deep breath, "I think in order for us to win they both have to survive."
Realization spreads over Henry's face, "Meaning that if we or they fail one of them will end up dead."
She nods, "Yeah I think so, but on a very strange bright side that means we will all die and won't have to mourn for too long."
He laughs without humor, "At least we have something to look forward to."
Several weeks pass as they travel realm to realm. People came to fear Captain Hook and his Swan. Not because they ever caused harm to those who didn't deserve it, but because of the strength they shared together. With each passing day, Emma and Hook grow closer and closer together. Falling deeper and deeper in love.
But on one fine day at sea Smee approaches Emma, "Swan, can we talk?"
She smiles down at him, "What's on your mind, Mr. Smee?"
He swallows the lump in his throat, "I know who you really are. I didn't at first, but I did some digging. You are the daughter of the King and Queen. You are Princess Emma."
She looks around nervously and grabs his arm to pull him below deck to the first mate's quarters, "You haven't told anyone else of this have you?"
He shakes his head, "No, of course not. I have come to care for you, but my priority is to my Captain."
She frowns, "What are you getting at?"
He sighs, "You are putting him in danger! If someone finds out whom you really are or if your parents decide to come after you it is him who will suffer. He will fight to the death to save you."
She furrows her brow, "And I would do the same for him."
He shakes his head, "Whether that is true or not isn't the point. If you die he will fall apart. If he dies you leave a vessel and a crew without their fearless Captain and you have a family to comfort you. Don't you see? He will lose a lot more and so will we. You have to do the right thing."
She steps back and closes her eyes, "You are right. I can't believe what a fool I have been. Of course my parents will come looking for me. And they won't think to talk. They will just react." She touches his shoulder, "Thank you, dear Smee. Please, tell him that I am sorry and that I have gone to protect him."
Smee nods and watches as she disappears from the ship and back to her life.
Hook watches as Emma drags Smee below deck. What the bloody hell was that about? Did he do something to her? He would kill him! He shakes his head. Maybe it was a bad idea to jump to such insane conclusions. He would just wait until they returned. And they did. Or he did.
Smee walks up to the helm, "Sir, I have some bad news about Emma."
Hook growls, "What the bloody…Emma? You know who she is?"
Smee shifts nervously from foot to foot, "Yes, I, uh, figured it out and now she is gone."
He frowns, "Gone? What do you mean gone?"
Smee takes off his infamous hat and starts fiddling with it, "She said she didn't want to bring any harm your way so she went back home."
Everything in Hook's world stops. Gone? No, this couldn't be, "Take the helm, Smee."
Smee frowns, "But…"
He turns on him viciously, "Do as I say!"
Smee jumps and takes the wheel. Hook walks down to his quarters and looks around. She had to be here. Hiding. Playing some ridiculous game, but no matter where he looked she was not there. He falls back on his bed and brings the pillow that had cushioned her lovely hair to his face. It still smelled of her and for the first time in years Captain Hook starts crying. How could she leave him? Had she ever really loved him?
Henry groans, "Smee is such a rat!"
Regina nods, "No wonder Gold turned him into such a creature. Why would he say any of that to her? What did he have to gain? This is taking way too long!" With the last word the room around them rattles, "What the hell?"
Henry smiles, "Your magic. It is coming back."
She frowns, "How is that possible? I thought that something was blocking it."
He shrugs, "Maybe the curse really is weakening."
Regina shakes her head, "Or maybe it's like it was when I was first learning magic. When I had trouble doing some spells because it was all based on my emotions." She looks around, "Which explains that little display."
Henry stands up, "So if you practice we can get out of here and fix this?"
She sighs, "Henry…"
He shakes his head, "No! I will not watch them die! Or anyone else I love. We have to do something."
She pulls him in for a hug, "I will do what I can, but I think they are going to have to figure this out on their own."
He cries into her shoulder, "I just don't know how much more of this I can handle."
She puts her hands on each side of his face, "Don't give up hope, Henry. I believe they will find a way. We just have to be patient. Can you do that?"
He nods and lies back on his bed, "I just miss the outside. I don't remember what it feels like to be anywhere but here."
She laughs, "I know the feeling."
A/N: I think this is the most inspired I have ever been to write a story.
So, now Emma is back home in her castle and Hook is heartbroken on his ship. Will they be able to find each other again? Keep reading to find out and please enjoy. Keep up the reviews. I love to read them.
:)
