It had taken a while for them to find a secluded tavern, it seemed that tonight was the night for the whole of Arendelle to be out drinking. Though the two were not without drink themselves, the bottle of rum that Hook held was almost empty and he was unsure upon his feet so he and Emma kept on bumping into one another. They would both laugh when they did.
There was a sudden bang and then a streak of lightening broke in the sky. Hook jumped from the sudden noise, which had Emma giggling at him. "Finally your predicted storm has hit, Captain," she told him with a jab.
"And I knew you were a liar. You aren't afraid at all are you lass?"
"Maybe I've over come my fear," she grinned back at him. "This place looks empty," she dragged him in just as another roll of thunder was sounded.
"Greetings," Emma greeted the surprised bar owner as the two walked in. The tavern was virtually empty apart from a couple people that Emma presumed were the usuals. They'd walked down some alley way and had come across the little enclave holding the tiny tavern. "Your finest rum, please good sir and two tankards as well. The man is paying," she stated as she slapped Hook on the back and made him pay up as she fell into a seat.
Hook joined her and placed their drink on the table and the barman put down their drinks. "So Goldie what game is it we are playing?"
.
"Ah ha!" exclaimed Hook as his empty tankard hit the table first, "I win!"
"How about best of five?" Emma suggested as she had already lost twice to him, she had only won the first. "Unless of course you don't think you could handle it,"
"Oh I can handle it," he grinned. "I'm just worried you can't," he slurred, "You know, why don't we take this game somewhere else?"
"We've already left one place are we really going to leave another?" Emma asked. Their faces almost circling one another, as the alcohol really took its toll upon them.
"I was thinking we go back to my ship!" his hook came up to brush a piece off her hair off her shoulder and he waggled his eyebrows at her,
"I told you. I would never have a nightcap with you,"
"You also told me you would never drink with me. So shall we go?"
"Best. Of. Five. If you win you can get my name and we go back to your ship as well," she offered him, her words almost whispered and dripping off her tongue enticingly.
"You'll have to win the next two rounds, if you want to win. I only have to win one,"
"Then let's get on with it then!"
His drink slammed down upon the table first again and he let out a triumphant woop and jumped up from his chair and offered Emma his hand. "So my ship milady,"
"There was no promise of a night cap," she reminded him.
"But there was a promise of a name. So tell me yours Goldie."
Emma pulled herself up with the help of his hand and slung her stuff over his Hook. She swayed slightly and tugged at his leather collar to keep her upright. "I'll tell you, when we're at your ship!" She ran off almost tripping on a chair on her way out and hurried into the night were the rain was now pouring down, the air cool and full of thunder and lightning. Hook hurried behind her.
She giggled as she ran, enjoying this game of chase, and spun around on her heels to grin at him. "Hurry up old man! What are you one hundred?"
"Try three hundred," he barked back.
Emma stopped running, her hands went to her hips as she regarded him. He caught up to her, "I'm not lying, love, I am three hundred,"
"But how?" her head tilted,
"Goldie, I have travelled to hell and back and yet I retained my youthful glow; that is all you need to know. That and I spy my ship up ahead. So let's get moving shall we? To the Rolly Joger."
She laughed at his drunken mistake and linked arms with him and together they walked back to the ship. His crew was nowhere in sight when they reached deck, obviously gone below in order to escape the horrific weather.
In Hook's quarters Emma's cloak and satchel were thrown onto his desk and he leant up against it and smiled over at Emma. Her golden hair clung to her face and his black hair did the same. "Now I recall being promised something?"
"You do look devilishly handsome," she giggled as she stepped forward to stand before him. He sat up on his desk and she took one more step and stood between his legs, her hands trailing up to rest on his exposed chest. She bit her lip absentmindedly and he stared down at her vibrant green eyes and flushed face.
"I know," he winked. "Now, Goldie, what is your name?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I'm just a curious mind,"
"It's Emma," she told him.
"Emma," he repeated like a cherished whisper, "Emma, that's a beautiful name."
"Emma Swan," she smiled at him as he slipped off the desk and cupped her cheek with his hand and his hook found its way to the small of her back.
"Emma Swan," he let out breathily, her name almost like a prayer on his lips. "Such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman," and then suddenly his lips were against hers. Her hands were on his collar pulling him further into her as their lips danced together. They parted for a second only for Emma to chase his lips back and join them back with her own.
Hook let out a deep chuckle and rested his forehead against hers, "Looks as if we both won tonight,"
"Oh, shut up," she told him as she took claim of his lips once more.
It wasn't long before their arms began to grapple at one another's soaked clothes peeling them off each other with desperate vigour, their lips not once daring to part as they did so. She fell back onto his bed her eyes blinking up at him as he smiled. "Emma," he breathed again.
"Just come here and kiss me pirate!" she demanded, for it had been too long since their lips had been joined.
"As you wish."
.
Emma awoke with a hand upon her stomach and a warm body behind her. Her head ached; last night had not gone as she had planned. She had meant to run away, but instead she had started drinking. Drinking far too much. She was meant to be far away from the Jolly Roger and Hook by now...Hook! Her body stiffened as she knew who the body was behind her and she was acutely aware of the fact that she was now naked.
Last night came back to her. They had kissed, and then done a lot more than kissing. "Shit," she swore underneath her breath. She turned her body slowly onto its back and took in the sleeping pirate next to her. She gritted her teeth and held her breath as she slowly lifted his arm from around her and got out of his bed. Slowly but quickly she hurried around for her clothes on the floor and put them back on. Her eyes watching the pirate, just praying he wouldn't wake up.
He didn't.
Her cloak was around her, her satchel over her shoulder and hidden underneath it. Her boots were on with dagger hidden inside and her hood pulled up. She'd be lying if she didn't give one last glance back at the sleeping pirate before she hurried out of his quarters. A couple of his crew were on deck, but they didn't even turn and see her as she crept off the ship. As soon as she was on land, she ran.
...
Emma trudged through the familiar forest, a piece of parchment held tightly in her hand. She had received the letter only a few days ago and how it had managed to get to her she had no idea. The past few months she had spent in Arendelle, after hiding far away from Hook he had sailed away after a few days and she had been able to breathe and began her new life in Arendelle.
After her month in Arendelle already the people had become aware of a thief who moved so fast and worked so cleverly with only the description of Golden locks. Emma knew she should have been more careful and try to stay more unnoticed but she kind of liked the theatrics of it all; it kept her from getting bored as she had nothing else to do. But what she hadn't accounted for was that the Queen and Princess of Arendelle were not as easy to steal from as she had previously thought.
Emma had managed a couple of excursions in and out, but on her third try she ran into the Queen. Queen Elsa, Emma would have been able to escape with ease if it hadn't been for the fact the Queen had magic, ice magic, which definitely came as a surprise. She'd been thrown into the dungeons, left to wait for the Queen's verdict.
"The Queen wishes to see you," a guard had told her after a few days in her cell. She was brought before the Queen, a woman of great regality and power.
"You are the thief that has been plaguing my Kingdom, over the past month yes?"
"Yes," nodded Emma.
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I doubt I can really say anything that can make you change your perception of me,"
"Perhaps so," nodded Queen Elsa. Emma took note of the way the Queen's sister, Princess Anna, stood next to her sister trying but not completely succeeding at looking menacingly at Emma. "What is your name?"
"I'm known as Goldilocks in the other kingdoms. I came here to get a new start, but old habits die hard. Especially when you need to survive,"
"Where have you come from?"
"The Enchanted Forest," Emma told them. The two sisters shared a look, telling Emma they knew of the Enchanted Forest and there was a tale there.
"I will not tolerate thieves in my kingdom,"
"Which is completely understandable," nodded Emma.
"Your punishment, shall however not be death. But imprisonment and you shall be released when I see fit. I want you to learn your lesson."
And then she had been brought back to her cell. A message had come for her, how it had found her she was unsure but a bird had flown to Arendelle in search of her. The letter had been intercepted by the Queen and Princess, and they were surprised to see it was from Queen Snow of the Enchanted Forest, and even more surprised to see it was for the thief in their prison.
Between the two Kingdoms they had set up a deal, they would provide passage for Emma back to the Enchanted Forest but she was never to return to Arendelle, not as a theif anyway. For Queen Elsa and Princess Anna were kind rulers and deemed if Emma returned as Emma, not Goldilocks she would be welcomed.
So here she now was, trudging through a familiar forest, the trees so homely yet foreign to her. Her sword tapped against her leg underneath her long brown cloak. Emma couldn't help but feel on edge, as if the Evil Queen's men would appear out of nowhere and take her away. But that wasn't the only reason why she was on edge, she was nervous, scared to see her friends again. She wouldn't have returned had it not been for the promise she had made to Graham to do so.
Her eyes flickered up to the castle, she smiled to herself imagining the bandit that she knew living there. A lot of things had changed since she left. She arrived at the palace gates the guards standing there eying her curiously. "I am here to see the Queen. She is expecting me,"
"Is that so?" grumbled one of them,
"Yes it is," Emma retorted, "Tell her Emma Swan is here. I promise she is expecting me. I was invited here myself," she flourished the invitation at them for the wedding.
"You may come inside and wait for the Queen," the gruff voiced man told her. He led her in and made her wait as he went off to send a message to the Queen. It was strange for Emma to think of Snow as a Queen. To think of that girl fighting for survival to now live this life of luxury
She could hear the sound of two three pairs of feet walking upon the stone flooring, one pair she was certain was walking more hurriedly than the others. Then sure enough around a corner first appeared Snow, in all her Queenly glory. She was clad in rich clothes, whilst Emma stood in rags hidden beneath her cloak. Snow's face seemed to shine with joy as she lay her eyes upon Emma and hurried to receive her friend.
"Emma!" Snow exclaimed joyfully. Her head turned back to look at the man walking next to the guard. "David this is Emma, Emma this is David!"
"Hi," Emma said peering around Snow to give him a nod. "Or...um," she awkwardly curtseyed and David laughed,
"Don't worry about that," he told her, his face already comforting and friendly towards her. "Lovely to meet you Emma, I've heard all about you,"
"Even my penchant for pretty things,"
"More like expensive things," Snow corrected her before pulling Emma forward by her arm and taking her into a tight embrace.
Emma felt uncomfortable. Hugging wasn't really her thing, showing affection wasn't her thing. And being friends with royals, it felt strange, she was a thief. How was this even possible? Snow eyed her curiously once she relinquished her grip, but quickly put her smile back on.
"I'll take you to your room so you can put down your things. Then we can have a meal and catch up,"
"I bet the food will be better than prison food," Emma joked. Snow grimaced and Emma could see Snow awkwardly shuffle, but David let out a genuine laugh.
"I bet!" he nodded. "Snow, I'll make sure everything will be prepared. I look forward to learning all about you Emma. And find out if some tales are true,"
"Sure," Emma nodded and watched him walk away.
The room Snow had given to Emma literally took her breath away. Never before had she seen such luxury let alone be told that this was where she was staying. She suddenly became very embarrassed of herself. "I think I best keep my cloak on," she told Snow as she let her fingertips grace the silk sheets, the material like a blessing upon her fingertips.
"Don't be silly,"
"I don't think I'm dressed quite for such a place. And I don't have any other clothes,"
"We can get you some. I owe you Emma, you looked after me back in my bandit days. Let me look after you now...How are you?"
"I'm fine. Arendelle prison isn't as bad as you think. I'm pretty sure I've been in worse situations. They treated me quite nicely actually."
"Let me take your cloak," Snow said taking hold of the material,"
"Really, Snow, it's fine,"
"Emma," sighed Snow, "Come on,"
"Okay," she sighed. Feeling completely self-conscious she shrugged off her cloak and placed it gently upon her bed. She was worried how Snow would perceive her rags, she no-longer wore the clothes she had wore all those months ago with Hook. She'd been given clothes, kindly, by Queen Elsa. Just a blue dress to accommodate her. "Right, so what's on the menu?" Emma asked Snow, her hand going self-consciously to her stomach.
Snow's eyes widened as she took in her friend, "You're pregnant!"
