He was just stepping out of the bathroom, shaking his wet head and with a towel around his waist, when he realized Emma was sitting cross-legged on his bed. He noted with relief that she was fully clothed.

"Good morning," she said. "Thought I heard you shower last night."

"That one was for self-preservation," he replied. "This one was for hygiene."

She layed back on the bed. "Wanna pick up where you left off? Or are you still doing the noble prince thing?"

He clenched his jaw, realizing that it was slightly sore from doing that so damn much. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"Curiosity." She rolled up off the bed and sauntered over to him, extending her hand until she hooked a finger just under the edge of the towel, low on his belly. "That's quite a happy trail you've got there."

His eyebrows went up. "Happy trail?"

"Mmmm-hmmm. That's what we call it when the hair starts here," she touched his chest, "And then trails down, to here..." she moved her finger slowly down, following the line of soft hair, back to the edge of the towel. She leaned in to deliver the coup de grace.

"I've been thinking about how you felt against my hand...and the rest of me...and I'm betting you'd feel even better ins-"

"Emma..." he reached out to grasp her wandering hand before it could slide inside the towel, and he twined his fingers with it, bringing it up to his chest.

"Seriously," she continued. "You don't have to be a martyr here. What your Princess doesn't know won't hurt her."

He gave her a wry smile. "What my Princess doesn't know is already hurting her. And me."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," he said, kissing her fingertips, "That no matter how ungodly tempting a morsel you are, I have to remain a gentleman for the time being."

"Careful," she said, with a slow, calculated grin. "You're starting to sound like a challenge."

She flipped her hair over her shoulder, then turned and walked through the door to her room. Killian massaged the side of his aching jaw, then grabbed his clothes and started pulling them on.

A short time later, Mr. Smee appeared as requested, and Killian ushered him in.

"Just a moment, Smee."

He knocked on the adjoining door and waited a moment, then knocked again.

"Are you looking for Emma, sir?"

Killian looked over his shoulder. "She's not in there?"

"No, sir. She'd in the restaurant having pancakes. I didn't know you were including her in our conversation."

"Was she alone?" Killian asked, with a glower.

"Yes, I - I think so."

"We need to find her talisman. And her father's as well. I just have no bloody idea what his could be. His sword, perhaps?"

"What does his sword look like, sir?"

Killian rubbed his ear. "You know, for the number of times he's drawn it on me, you'd think I'd have it committed to memory, but I doubt I'd recognize it. Emma would, though. Whom else can we enlist?"

"I don't know, sir. The only other person I can think of, I doubt you'd want to talk to."

Killian's brows knit together. "The Dark One."

"Only, he's not The Dark One here. He's Rufus, our town librarian."

"He's without magic?" At Smee's answering nod he froze for a moment. He could end the man easily, if he were without magic, particularly if he was laboring under the delusion that he was the town librarian. He could end him and bring David back to himself, and there wouldn't be a Dark One anymore. He drew in a gust of air when he realized he'd stopped breathing.

Priorities, Killian. The man may have some usefulness. He may know where to find the others, or the compass. Once he got what he needed, he'd see to the demon.

"And no sign of Regina?" he asked Smee. "What about Belle?"

"No to either, sir," Smee replied. "I'm sorry."

"I need as many allies as I can get," Killian said, pacing. "And I need allies who might be able to shed some light on the magic at work here." He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair and headed for the door.

"Come along, Smee."

"Uh, Captain - I need to get back to the kitchen, sir," Smee said apologetically. "The pancakes aren't going to cook themselves. I told Will I'd only be gone a minute."

"Will? Will Scarlet? He's in the restaurant?"

"Well, of course he is, sir," Smee answered. "He's my waiter."

Killian threw open the door, heading down the hallway at a dead run. He caught sight of Emma, sitting in a booth, laughing at something her companion - whom he could only see from the back - was saying.

He came to a skidding halt, and his hook clamped down on the man's shoulder, pulling him up and out of the booth. Killian pulled his arm back to lay him out with a punch when Robin's voice finally registered.

"Killian! What the hell!"

"Yeah, Killian," Emma said with a smirk. "What's the problem? Can't a girl have breakfast with a prince around here?"

Killian dropped his fist. "Sorry, mate. Wasn't expecting you."

"I told you I'd come after you if you weren't back in ten hours," Robin reminded.

"So you did," Killian said. "My apologies. We've hit some complications."

"Obviously," Robin agreed, gesturing around. "Where are the giants?"

"Dunno," Emma said, stuffing her face with a forkful of pancakes. "But Killian's right at home here."

Robin looked at Killian. "Come again?"

"I've had some dealings with people from this land," Killian supplied, gesturing for Robin to sit back down. He slid into the booth next to Emma. "I wasn't expecting it to be here, however."

"Were you able to find the compass?" Robin asked.

Killian shook his head. "Not yet. But I believe we might...uh...might know where it is." His eyes slid sideways to Emma, who blinked at him owlishly, the picture of complete innocence...all except for the hand she'd just slid onto his thigh under the table.

"Yeah, we're looking," Emma said to Robin, "But's it's just so hard." She punctuated the word by sliding her hand further over, right onto Killian's crotch and giving it a friendly squeeze. "We're hoping we can get in on the inside," she continued. "There's definitely a need to go deeper. Much deeper."

She squeezed again and Killian's eyes narrowed, promising retribution. She held his gaze, and her smirk promised that she'd like that retribution.A lot.

Killian casually slid his hook under the table, looping it over her arm and replacing her hand on her own leg. Emma rolled her eyes and ate some more pancakes.

"We believe the compass may be in the possession of The Dark One," Killian said. "He's known by another name here."

Robin's eyes widened. "The Dark One! I've heard the legends, of course, but...he exists? He actually exists?"

"Oh, he exists, all right." Emma's voice turned hard. "And you'd better come up with a plan in the next thirty seconds, or I'm going after him myself. I'm tired of waiting around."

"Perhaps a diversion?" Robin suggested. "If we could find an armory - "

"No." Killian stared at Robin. "No - not swords. We'd be better off with something different."

Robin looked at him quizzically. "What do you suggest?"

"I don't know," Emma interjected, licking the pancake syrup off her fork with a swirling tongue. "I like the good, hard thrust of a sword." She glanced up at Killian, smiling placidly.

Killian took in a breath, trying to keep a leash on his growing temper. His arm shot out, grabbing Will Scarlet as he walked past and nearly causing him to drop a tray of pancakes and eggs.

"Oi!" Will protested.

"Get me Smee." Killian's voice was a growl, as Will shook his arm off.

"All right," he said. "Don't get your knickers in a twist." He set the plates down at a nearby table, and headed off to the back. Mr. Smee rushed through the doors a moment later.

"Captain? You needed to see me?"

"Captain?" Robin questioned.

"I have ship now, remember?" Killian said.

"Not for long," Emma grumbled under her breath. Killian raised a brow and gave her a look and she stared back, stoney-faced.

"Mr. Smee," Killian continued. "Where in town might we find a bow?"

"A bow, sir? Probably the hardware store. That would be your best bet."

"A bow?" Robin looked skeptical.

"Trust me."

Robin nodded, then turned his attention to Smee. "I don't suppose you have a room I can use for a short time? It was a long climb, and I'd love a bath."

"There's a shower in my room," Killian said. "It's like a bath but you remain standing."

Robin shrugged. "I'll manage."

Killian passed him the room key. "Just down the hall, second door on the left."

"Thanks. I'll be back shortly." He gave Emma a nod and took his leave. Killian signalled Mr. Smee for some pancakes and then moved to take Robin's seat, opposite Emma.

"Running away, are we?" she said, smirking over the top of her coffee cup.

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "You have got to get a grip on yourself."

"I was getting a grip," she purred. "Didn't you like it?"

"Stop."

"Or would you rather I paid attention to this?" She reached across the table, stroking his hook with caressing fingers. "This could be fun..."

"Emma." His voice bit out a warning.

"Calm down, loverboy," she said, rolling her eyes.

Will Scarlet chose that moment to arrive with the pancakes.

"Trouble in paradise?" he asked Emma.

She opened her mouth to answer him, but Killian talked right over her.

"Get out."

"I work here," Will reminded him.

Killian reached up, gripping Will's collar in his fist and pulling his face down to eye level. "Not today, you don't." His eyes held Will's and Will slowly straightened up.

"I suppose I could use a bit of time off," he said. "I'll just...see myself out."

"Do that." Killian dismissed him, digging into his pancakes. They ate in silence for several tense minutes.

Finally, Emma pushed her plate aside and sat back in the booth with a sigh.

"You are seriously no fun," she said. "No one with a face like that should be such a total waste of time."

Killian paused with his fork halfway to his mouth and gave her a look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'm done here," Emma said, sliding out of the booth. "I've got better places to be."

"Wait!" Killian called, following her down the hallway. "Where do you think you're going?"

She didn't stop walking. "I'm going to get my stuff, and then I'm getting out of here. I've got things I need to do, and apparently, you're not one of them."

She put the key in her door and had just started to open it when Killian pushed her inside and shut it behind him.

"Now you listen to me," he said, backing her up as he spoke. Emma's legs hit the side of the bed and she went down on her back. Killian kept right on going, bringing himself down on top of her. Emma's eyes widened and her mouth parted slightly, her breathing accelerating as he brought his face close to hers.

"You are far from done with me, love," he said in a low, crooning voice. "I have plans for us."

"Oh you d- "

"Shush." He put a finger to her lips before going on. "I have many, many plans for us, and some of them involve that succulent body in all sorts of exhausting, ecstasy-inducing positions. I'm going to kiss you and stroke you and rub and touch and inflame you until you are a vibrating mass of sensation, reduced to your basest, most animal urges. I'm going to have you whimpering, sobbing, screaming your pleasure and when you're done, I'm going wrap my fist in your hair, drive myself deep, and start all over again."

He tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling gently as his lips brushed hers. "We're going to burn together, you and I. I swear to you, Emma, we're going to incinerate from the force of it."

His lips finally settled on hers, and true to his words, she let out a whimper when his mouth pulled away from hers to move on her neck, sucking and pulling at her skin, licking and trailing fire while he pressed his body against her. He kissed her once more, lingeringly, then he pulled away again. They were both breathing harshly, and Emma finally found her voice.

"Let me guess...that time isn't now."

He gave her a slight smile and brushed his lips against hers. "No, love, it's not. I wish it could be. You can't imagine how badly."

"Well don't suffer too long," she said, reaching up to push the hair off his forehead. "I like you, Killian, but I get bored easy."

He pushed himself to his feet, offering her a hand up. The sound of a door opening and closing again alerted them both that Robin was done with his shower and most likely looking for them.

"We'd better get him before he leaves," Emma said.

"You're right."

She walked over to the door and had just grabbed the knob when his voice stilled her hand.

"Emma?"

She glanced back over her shoulder. "Yeah?"

"I'll see that you don't get bored in the meantime. I promise."