Co written with Angelfan984


Chapter 8

"Emma!" Snow called bursting into the bedchamber. She stopped short when she saw Hook sitting up in Emma's bed. "Oh!" She said in surprise and covered her mouth with her hand. "I thought Emma was here—I didn't know—uh—what exactly are you doing in my daughter's bed?"

This was not happening. Hook closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "Snow. I would say this isn't what it looks like, but I'm not sure what it looks like." He said flippantly. He knew what it looked like, him sitting naked in her daughter's bed. Surely she wouldn't believe him if he said he climbed into bed with her to keep her warm. Of course more than that had occurred but that had not been his intention. And that wasn't pertinent information that needed to be shared with Snow.

Her hand came to her waist and she looked at him like she was looking at a misbehaving child. Brows raised and a frown on her pixie like face. "You know exactly what this looks like. Where is Emma?" She inquired as she glanced around the room expectantly.

"Not here." He replied some of his frustration slipping into his tone. Snow cocked her head at him as she took in his words.

She could see the frustration on his face and she felt sympathetic for the man. The fate of her kingdom rested solely on his shoulders.

"But she was—here… wasn't she?"

"Don't worry your majesty, I didn't do anything she didn't want me to." He told her sarcastically. He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. It was just his frustration talking and it really didn't have anything to do with the Queen.

"I know my daughter isn't an innocent Hook and admittedly that is partially our fault for sending her away. We can't change that, but if you hurt my daughter, body or soul you will have me to answer to." Snow informed him, she had never sounded so fierce. And her words rang with truth.

Hook had nothing against Snow and he even admired her for her willingness to protect her daughter at all costs. So he responded with three simple words.

"Aye, Aye your majesty."


The next day, Emma woke up feeling much better. She had slept hard and dreamless while in her sick state. It seemed the bug she caught had passed quickly. She dressed and headed to work. When she walked in, all the regulars gave a wave or said good morning as she passed. Everything was completely normal. But she didn't feel normal. Her dreams were real. It made her question everything. Hell it made her want to go get some sleeping pills and go back to sleep. She laughed at the thought; she wasn't one to use medication even when she needed it. She really just wanted to spend more time with him.

"Emma, I'm glad you are feeling better." Dr. Archie Hopper told her as she passed him. She gave him a smile and continued to the backroom.

"Whoa girl, you're glowing! You look amazing!" Ruby told her, looking her over. "I didn't know being sick could have that effect on someone."

"I am feeling better." She gave her a secret smile. "Hey, I think we need another girls night. Graham is going to be gone for the next week or so. Think we can fit it in? Or are you too busy with that cute mechanic you are seeing?"

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "A week?"

Emma nodded. "He had a case come up in a nearby town. They called him in to assist on it. It's for the best really. We can take sometime to think things over. Thus opening my schedule up for some girl time!"

"I am never be too busy to have a girls night! We are on!" Ruby promised her as she walked back out into the diner.

I'm glad you are feeling better Princess. The words floated around her coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. She turned in a circle looking for the source of his voice. Wanting to see his face.

"Hook?" She whispered feeling silly.

Aye, love. His silky voice caressed her and she longed to be asleep.

"Where are you? Why can't I see you?" She questioned continuing to whisper. Emma prayed that no one saw her right now. She looked like a crazy woman.

I'm in my room in the castle; the connection isn't strong enough yet.

"Isn't strong enough?" She voiced no longer whispering.

"Everything okay Emma? Are you sure you are feeling better?" Granny asked from behind her making her jump guiltily.

"I'm fine. Everything is fine. I just thought I forgot something at home—my deodorant isn't strong enough." She finished lamely and Hook's chuckle floated around her. It made her cheeks flush in embarrassment.

"Well then run home real quick and get some on." She told her gruffly. "We aren't that busy yet."


Hook watched Emma leave the diner and walk quickly back to her loft. He kept quiet as she went. When she closed the door to her home, she leaned back against it. Hook felt a smile spread across his lips. What he wouldn't give to be able to touch her.

"Hook?" She asked out loud. Then she thought, damn it's like I'm talking to a ghost. He laughed.

"I assure you I am no ghost." He told her answering her unvoiced thoughts.

You can hear my thoughts? She silently asked.

"Aye that I can. It isn't an ability I normally have, it must be the connection we share." He responded his thoughts traveling to his conversation from so long ago. Maybe the connection they had was True Love. Hadn't he watched as Snow and Charming had silent conversations right in front of him? Maybe it was just something that True Love pairs shared. The thought warmed him.

Why the hell didn't you tell me you could hear my thoughts? Instead of making me look like an idiot talking to myself? He could hear the frustrated anger in her thoughts. Oh god, then he knows how hot I think he is too. He couldn't hold back the laugh at her panicked understanding.

"No worries love I don't listen to all your thoughts. I can only the ones you direct at me." Hook reassured her.

Thank god.

"But you're not so bad yourself, love."

You are incorrigible!

"Aye that I am. But that isn't why I'm here. I wanted to let you know that I am going away with your father to slay a dragon. I'm going to leave my necklace with your mother for safe keeping."

Emma panicked at the thought.

My mother? My father? A dragon? Leaving? Her jumbled thoughts fired at him. He could feel the confusion coming from her. So she didn't fully believe yet. Which explained why he could only talk to her.

"Take a deep breath love." He instructed as he caressed the mirror over her face. Wishing he could brush her hair back and kiss her goodbye. "I will be back before you know it."

Keep him safe. Stay safe.

Emma felt the connection go away. And she found herself surprised by the ache that settled in her chest soon after. Who knew how long it would be till they spoke again?


Emma had gone through her day on autopilot just wishing for night to fall, so that she could go to bed and dream. Had her conversation been a hallucination? Maybe she wasn't completely better. The cold medicine might not have filtered out of her body yet. She supplied endless excuses for her mental conversation with her dream man. But her mind kept circling around back to the physical proof she had, that damn blue ribbon on her bedside table, it now sat atop the un-crumpled up drawing of Hook that she had retrieved from the floor next to her waste bin.

She picked up the ribbon and ran it through her fingers in silent reflection. Was she making things up? Was it all in her head? Maybe she had forgotten she had this ribbon. She had been pretty sick after all. Picking up the drawing of him, she stared down at his eyes imagining the striking blue of them staring back at her. Sighing, she placed both items back onto her bedside table and went to get ready for bed.

Lying down on her mattress she closed her eyes and waited for sleep. It didn't come. She tossed and turned for the better part of the next 3 hours. Getting up frustrated that sleep wouldn't come she went into the kitchen. Warm milk would do the trick; only she liked hot cocoa more so she pulled out the stuff to make it. After warming up the milk she added the mixture and a dash of cinnamon. Inhaling the scent close to her nose she sighed in contentment before taking a sip of the hot liquid.

"Mmmm, so good." She murmured talking to herself, only now no one answered.

Finishing up she rinsed the cup in the sink and then went back to bed. Sleep came easily for her now that she was relaxed.


Opening her eyes she was in the castle and empty hallway she didn't recognize. Emma wished that Hook was here to guide her, to talk to her but she knew that wasn't the case. She started to walk, but it was as if the connection and pull she normally felt was missing, so it was a random path she took. Getting turned around and lost she hoped for an area she recognized. A raven-haired beauty appeared in her path, the purple smoke settled around her. Magic.

"Princess, are you lost?" The woman purred at her.

"Yes. I can't seem to figure out where I am." She told the woman honestly, hoping she would help. Emma was stunned by how beautiful the woman was in front of her. But her grin looked quite evil and Emma found herself a bit leary of this woman.

"Hmm, lucky for me then. I wanted to have a little chat, but you are always with that pirate or your idiot parents."

"W-ho are you?" Emma asked unsure if she was a friend or foe.

"My name is Regina, but that isn't important. Look, this is getting old, you little princess happen to be our only savior—" she sneered the last word at her like it was vile "—so we all need you. We need you to save us from the curse I cast. What ever they are doing to make you believe hasn't worked, so it is time for me to try. All of this—" she paused and gestured around grandly "—will be gone. All you care for in this land will be dead. If you do not start to view your dreams as reality, you will kill us all. The blood will be on your hands."

"I am no one's Savior." She told her backing away.

"That is where you are wrong, my dear. Unfortunately for me, I have to rely on my enemy's daughter to break the wretched curse that Rumpelstiltskin manipulated me into casting. I would kill him if he wasn't already dead." She added absently before continuing. "Hopefully you aren't as stupid as the rest of your family."

"My parents are not stupid!" She exploded and took a step back towards the horrible woman. They may be a dream but they were everything she had ever wanted in parents and more.

"Look, Princess, just remember before I have to take matters into my own hands. Your parents may be safe from harm from me, but your dear pirate isn't." She threatened and then vanished in front of her.

"Emma! Emma!" Snow called out to her from the corridor in front of her.

"Mom! I'm here! Mom!" She cried out running towards the comforting voice of her mother.


Adjusting himself in the saddle for the hundredth time, his behind protested. Hook was not made for a horse; he much preferred his ship as a mode of transportation. A sound of pain slipped from him and he grimaced, he didn't want Charming to know he was struggling. He had come with the damn man when he insisted on going to be the hero and save the village from the dragon.

"You alright back there, pirate?" Charming inquired with a grin. He was enjoying seeing the man uncomfortable, he was always so cocky, anything to knock him down a peg or two. But he withheld his chuckle; he had after all volunteered to travel with him. Insisted really.

"I'm fine." Hook gritted out holding onto the reins tighter and his horse pranced beneath him making him even more uncomfortable.

"Loosen up, the horse senses you're tenseness." Charming advised him taking mercy on the man. At his words, Hook tried to do as he said but only ended up kicking the side of the horse. His mare took off at a gallop and his ass bounced off of the seat. A humph left him each time his behind made contact. He heard the King's laughter ring out behind him.

Charming grabbed for the reins and pulled them in, stopping Hook's horse in its tracks. Hook's body however did not stop as abruptly and he went toppling off of the side of the horse. He hit the ground with a thud. A whoosh of air left his lungs and he saw stars. When Hook opened his eyes, Charming was grinning down at him offering him a hand up.

"Maybe we should walk for a while." Charming offered kindly as Hook grasped his hand. A scowl covered Hook's face and he had to hold back another laugh at the man's expense.

"I can do anything anyone else does. Just because I've got a hook for a hand, doesn't make me less of a man."

"I didn't think it did." He replied, "I just needed to stretch my legs a bit and I thought maybe you would be okay with that. But if you want to continue to ride, I guess I can manage."

"Indeed?" Hook questioned his eyebrow going up in disbelief. Why was the man being kind to him? He knew that Charming didn't need a rest, he looked as though he could ride for days. But he wasn't a fool. He would take the offering. "I guess I could manage walking for a bit, stretch my legs as you've mentioned."

Charming smiled brightly at him and handed the reins to his horse back to him and started to walk, whistling as he went. Hook glared at the man's head; surely he didn't plan on whistling the whole time. He did. It seemed the King took great pleasure in testing his limits. Maybe it was a test to see if he was good enough for their daughter. Whatever it was Hook kept his mouth shut and suffered through the whistling.

After they made camp and Hook unrolled his bedroll he settled down on it and stared at the stars in the night sky, through the break in the dense forest. They looked so different beneath the forest than they did on the open sea. He wished for Emma to be by his side to view the wonder that this world held. He wondered if she had returned in her sleep and an ache for her started in his heart surpassing the ache that was his whole body from a day of riding.

"Do you think Emma returned tonight?" He asked the King breaking the comfortable silence that had settled around them.

"If she did, I'm sure Snow has kept her in good company." Charming responded. "Let's get some sleep, there is another day of riding tomorrow."

Hook sighed and drifted off to sleep wishing for dreams of the princess, even if they would truly be only dreams.


A/N - Thoughts/comments?